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xlxo

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About Me

  • Location
    PNW
  • Interests
    Cruisin!
  • Favorite Cruise Line(s)
    HAL, Princess, Disney
  • Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
    AK

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  1. xlxo

    On the fence

    I enjoyed the Yukon train/bus combo. I think it goes the furthest North (Cariboo crossing) compared to the other train combo's. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moNz-VKYYek The summit return train return only showcases the East side of the Canyon. The bus combo's showcases the West side of the Canyon.
  2. My worst AK port is the one that rains. So it changes each year I'm in Alaska. In general, I love Skagway for the train combo's, Liarsville, and so many activities compared to the other ports. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF1l3vfKWAM Right now, the biggest downer would be the RRA/RRF dock and needing to bus/tender into town.
  3. For a first time visitor... I lean towards spending the day Capilano Suspension Bridge after your luggage drop. Free bus shuttles pickup right outside the cruise terminal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWm2vgMomrs After the bridge, bus or taxi 7 minutes North to Grouse Mountain to check out the Gondola and wildlife if you are here between June and August. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx-ClLHK3Yg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngyK9ct-u5Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59rl7FyI4fA When you return on the Grouse Shuttle back to the cruise terminal, look at your time to see whether you need to retrieve your luggage. If there's time, check out Fly Over Canada and/or explore Gastown. Check websites for latest admission prices to Capilano and Grouse.
  4. Is this your first time in Vancouver? When are you visiting? How big is your group?
  5. One of the biggest benefits at night are the calm protected waters trying to sleep. The waters on the other side of Vancouver Island is much more rougher. at this time of the year, there's sunlight until 10pm. The sunlight also returns around 4:30am. Darkness is very limited near the land of the midnight sun.
  6. Check this link of the previous route from this morning... https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:4033390/zoom:7 The Majestic Princess came through the Graveyard of the Pacific instead of the South Inside Passage.
  7. This Capilano shuttle schedule may be helpful... https://www.capbridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20_Shuttle-Bus-Digital-Schedule-April-2023_v3.pdf fyi... Vancouver has several alternative suspension bridges in the area... Lynn Valley https://lynncanyon.ca/ SkyPilot at the Sea 2 Sky Gondola top https://www.seatoskygondola.com/ Cascade Falls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGZp_bJZQOc Lion's Gate Bridge Alex Fraser Bridge Port Mann Bridge Pitt River Bridge Whistler's Cloudraker is not a suspension bridge, but still impressive... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi_Nn8tX5MY
  8. I haven't been there yet, but here's a yelp review... https://www.yelp.ca/biz/chop-steakhouse-and-bar-vancouver For steaks... Elisa https://elisasteak.com/ Gotham's https://www.gothamsteakhouse.com/ Hy's https://www.hyssteakhouse.com/ Victor https://www.parqvancouver.com/food-drink/the-victor/ The Porterhouse are my fav, followed by the Tomahawk.
  9. If cost is a factor... Costco offers this incredible Polish Combo for $1.50 Canadian. No longer available in the USA, it's still offered in Vancouver stores. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/costco-getting-rid-of-polish-hot-dogs-from-menu-and-social-media-is-not-happy/ lots of affordable Chinese food around Food courts offer value If cost is not a factor... Elisa and Gotham's are the best steakhouses in the city. Reservations are recommended. lots of ethnic foods and opportunities to explore. May I recommended Dim Sum? yes we have seafood. If there's a group of 6 to 8 of you, think about Alaskan King crab Vancouver style as it runs across your table. Just don't ask for boil 'n butter. we just launched our spot prawns season if you want to try something local the next few weeks. what are your thoughts about trying a Geoduck? Harvested locally in nearby waters, it looks like a big *****. For big eaters and want to warm up your belly to the ship buffet... have you heard about our many food challenges?
  10. Yesterday's departure reverted back to the the South Inside passage Northbound... One possbility for the one time detour sailing the Graveyard of the Pacific Northbound is to avoid congestion in the South Inside Passage. - while the Koningsdam is racing to Seymour Narrows this weekend 0527, there's three incoming ships racing to Vancouver... RCL Brilliance of the Seas, ms Noordam, Celebrity Eclipse. Does the Koningsdam need to stop at one point to allow these three ships to pass? Majestic Princess does the Graveyard of the Pacific Northbound and Southbound without restrictions at 19 knots. But the extra distance puts the ship 3 hours behind Koningsdam going to Alaska. - In addition to boats 'n ships, there may have been whales in the waters which would demand the ship to reduce speed and minimize sonar use in navigation.
  11. I just tracked the Koningsdam activity the last two days for you... sunset at this time of the year is 9pm, twilight for about 45 minutes afterwards so you get 50% of the South Inside passage segment in daylight. Sunrise is 5:15am with twilight beginning around 4:30am. 0526 20:20 2 knots leaving Ketchikan 0526 00:00 13 knots just oustide of Prince Rupert and going into Haida Gwaii protected waters 0526 02:00 19 knots middle of Haida Gwaii 0526 07:30 exiting protected waters of South Tip of Haida Gwaii 0526 09:30 17 knots halfway between Haida Gwaii and South Inside Passage 0526 13:30 16 knots enters the South Inside Passage 0526 15:15 14 knots passing Port Hardy 0526 16:50 12 knots passing Port McNeil 0526 20:30 12 knots passing Sayward BC 0526 22:00 10 knots passing Rock Bay 0526 23:05 12 knots entering Seymour Narrows 0526 23:40 12 knots passing Campbell River 0527 01:35 14 knots passing Courtenay 0527 03:25 19 knots passing Parksville 0527 05:20 18 knots passing Bowen Island 0527 06:16 8 knots passing Lions Gate 0527 06:45 docked at cruise terminal 0527 17:00 departing cruise terminal 0527 17:40 10 knots passing Lion's Gate Bridge 0527 20:30 15 knots passing Lasqueti Island 0527 22:15 15 knots leaving Texada Island and Powell River 0527 00:20 11 knots at Campbell River 0527 01:00 13 knots at Seymour Narrows 0527 03:00 20 knots at Sayward 0527 05:00 20 knots at Alert Bay and Port McNeil at sunrise 0527 06:11 19 knots at Port Hardy 0527 07:50 17 knots exit the South Inside Passage
  12. Depends on which month you are cruising. May to July, there is daylight until around 10pm. going Northbound, the ship travels very slowly through the South Inside passage allowing you to still see the Northern half in the morning. going Southbound, the ship travels much of the South Inside passage in evening with daylight for the scenery and the ship slows down around Parksville at bedtime as it meanders slowly for the 6am Lions Gate crossing the next morning.
  13. fyi.... Looking https://www.marinevesseltraffic.com/vessels/KONINGSDAM/CURRENT-POSITION/9692557/244830547 and https://www.cruisemapper.com/?imo=9692557 it appears the Koningsdam is back to doing the South Inside Passage going Northbound. I was on the Koningsdam the week before and yes we did the South Inside Passage both NorthBound and SouthBound.
  14. Can you confirm it's the Rotterdam for Alaska? Or is it some other dam ship. You are getting me excited. The Rotterdam normally sails Northern Europe.
  15. Depends on how long do you plan to be outside and how well can you tolerate the cold winds. If you are watching the glaciers in the Lido or the MDR, you won't need to pack those heavy clothes.
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