CruisingCoral

We're using super shuttle from the airport and it's $45 with tip for four people with luggage.

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We leave on June 20th.

Thanks! Have a marvelous time!

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When do you leave on the Grand? I sail on June 30th and waiting to hear who the cruise director will be!

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How are you getting from Seward to the Anchorage airport?

It is quite a distance away.

Either a Holland America transfer or a tour company.

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The fleetwide, world wide policy is to have every one off by 9:30am, if not delayed by things out of the cruise line's control.

Thanks

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Hi everyone! I have a quick question. I am looking at doing a Northbound cruise on the Noordam (Vancouver to Seward). What is the latest time I can get off the ship in Seward? The flights leave very late from Anchorage and I would love to explore Seward. Thanks!

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If it shows as a "service call" then the ship doesn't do the transit to the glacier. They meet the catamaran, the usual excursion size boat, like tendering in a port w/o docks.

If there is too much ice in Tracy Arm they will substitute Endicott. Endicott has a glacier at the head like Tracy, but not quite as spectacular. Don't do what I did on my first trip.

When the ship made the turn at "the elbow", and saw Tracy was ice filled and announced Endicott, I went to my cabin for a nap.

(P.S. note the time for Tracy Arm is 10:00 to 10:30. )

Oh my! I'm so sorry to hear that but at least you have a great story to tell! Lol. I'll make sure I'm well rested that morning incase they change glaciers on us!

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Yes, that's what it means. The ship will only stop for those pax to disembark at the tender level to get onto the catamaran. A true scenic cruise, via the ship, of Tracy Arm will take about four or five hours.

Thanks for clarifying! I thought I'd be seeing Tracey Arm. I'll have to look into that excursion.

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Please note the Tracy Arm stop only connects with separate excursion catamaran for the

trip up the fjord.You will need to reserve that early on.

 

On getting to the Sawyer Glaciers I am currently batting about .200.

 

That said the Vancouver R/T is a special favorite of mine. Fly in a day early and stay at the PanPacific.. i just love the transfer from the hotel to the ship being a 5 minute elevator ride.

I did notice on the Vancouver roundtrip itinerary, it shows Tracey Arm as a "service call" and was wondering what that meant. Does that mean the ship doesn't actually go all the way to the glacier?

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I think the northbound Noordam gets you Glacier Bay, a priority destination. Does the Vancouver round trip get you Glacier Bay? If so, I would do the Vancouver round trip. If only the northbound to Seward does, take it. Glacier Bay is worth it.

The Vancouver roundtrip has both Glacier Bay and Tracey Arm. Northbound only does Glacier Bay.

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You don't say where you're from, which might make a difference. We have found that by the time we pay for a flight from ANC to YVR it isn't that much more to stay on the ship for another week and sail back, assuming your schedule allows.

 

 

 

You will certainly see more going all the way north.

Thanks! I am slightly considering doing a back to back cruise though I'm doing an Alaska cruise a week and a half after I get back from the one I'm planning so I think it might be a bit overkill. I'm from Southern California so the prices aren't horrible. Especially Anchorage to LA is pretty reasonable.

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The northbound cruise leaves you in Seward, with a very long day. You disembark very, very early, then have a long ride into Anchorage. Check on the times for flights out---many leave during the night. On top of that, it's a longer flight to get home than a flight out of Vancouver would be. If you like the one-way route, consider getting that longer flight out of the way first, when the time zone changes are in your favor, and when you can rest & recover on the cruise south.

 

 

 

I am fond of the Volendam, and especially fond of her Alaska itinerary. She offers a shore excursion where you can take a catamaran from the ship at the mouth of Tracy Arm. Then, you tour Tracy Arm, standing a decent chance of getting near at least one of the glaciers, and seeing all this from a small boat perspective.

 

The Volendam also leaves on a Wednesday, so shares the ports with fewer other ships and passengers. You will also share the airport with fewer passengers at the end of the cruise.

Thanks Ruth!

I've been researching flights and transfers and prices and everything and have noticed that flights leave late from Anchorage. Though I have some friends who live there so I'd probably spend the day visiting them.

I do not have any interest in doing the southbound route since it stops at Haines and not Skagway. I'm looking at doing the cruise the week of June 12th (last minute). I already have a 10 day cruise on the Grand Princess to Alaska booked on June 30th which stops at Haines so I don't want to go there twice so soon since I've read it's a small port and not much to do.

I have done three Alaska cruises already but I have never done a Vancouver roundtrip itinerary before so I am interested in doing it. Just a bit hesitant taking the Volendam since it's a smaller ship and I'm worried there won't be much to do onboard. Though I know if I sail on it, I'll enjoy it and make the best of it!

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Hi everyone! I finally narrowed down which voyages I'm looking at doing for Alaska. Either the Northbound sailing on the Noordam or the Vancouver roundtrip cruise on the Volendam. I've never done a Vancouver roundtrip Alaska cruise before. Does anyone have a preference on which itinerary to do? Also, which ship-Noordam or Volendam? I normally sail Princess. Thanks!

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You might want to consider the fact that Seward is 126 miles from the Anchorage airport.

Very long bus ride ( beautiful scenery ) and that many flights leave late at night ( in my case the ONLY non-stop to PHX departs and 1:25 AM ). Makes for a long day.

I'm thinking about taking a few days it explore around Seward if I were to do the one-way cruise again.

Do you remember how long the bus ride from Seward to the Anchorage Airport is? I would love to be able to explore the town of Seward!

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Spot on!!! Zaandam is one of my favorite HAL ships (mainly because of its smaller size and "loud" decor) while Noordam is my least favorite Vista class HAL ship (because its decor is on the bland end of the scale). JMO

 

Whichever you choose, I hope you enjoy your cruise.

Thank you so much! It's a last minute trip so I know whichever ship I end up on, I'll have a great time!

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I was just on the Zaandam, with ten sea days. I had as much to do or as little to do as I wanted. It's a great ship. I think it will depend on what you think you want to do. If you want to look for wildlife from the ship, for example, then the size of the ship won't matter. Another thing, a smaller ship is easier to get around. (I also like the Noordam, too.)

Thank you for the info! Makes me feel a bit better! We'll definitely want to relax and participate in some of the activities. It will be my fourth cruise to Alaska and my friend's first one so I'm sure he'll be wanting to look at the scenery most of time-which i'm fine with! Lol

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Check how long you are in the ports. Also decide which ports you prefer to see.

That is how we decide on cruises -- itinerary.

I prefer the Noordam over the Zaandam -- newer ship.

BUT -- looking at the itineraries -- I prefer the Zaandam's itinerary. We have been to Haines a couple of times -- it's not high on our list of ports to see.

Thank you! The funny thing is that I'm booked on a cruise on the Grand Princess for June 30th that stops at Haines. The Zaandam itinerary sounds better but I'm a bit nervous about the ship being small and not much to do. This would be my fifth Alaska cruise.

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Hi everyone! I'm looking at doing a cruise to Alaska next month, (yes, I know last minute. lol). I'm looking at either doing either a Northbound (Vancouver to Seward) or Southbound (Seward to Vancouver) voyage. The ship choices or either the Noordam (Southbound) or the Zaandam (Northbound). Does anyone have any prefaces of a ship and why? Thanks for your help!!

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We have stayed in those and we love them! We also love the Riviera deck and try to get it every cruise we take if the ship has one. I would grab one and mark no upgrade!

Thanks! Glad to hear! I'm booked on the Royal for 15 days cruising the Mediterranean right before this cruise and we're booked in one of these sideways cabin. It looks like the Caribbean only has two of these type of rooms. Did you hear anything above you in these room?

Take a look at R743-R745...yes, all the way at the back of the ship.

Nothing above you except for the swimming pool deck where the loungers go. You can hear occasional noise in the AM when the loungers are set up, but not much else.

The great thing about those cabins is that you are steps away from a door that lets you out directly on the deck where the pool is and up a flight of stairs is a bar and Horizon Court.

We book here whenever we can, it's like having a great big semi-private balcony.:D

Thanks! I was also looking back there! The open deck at the back looks very appealing!

We were not in these cabins' date=' but were on the Riviera deck of the Caribbean Princess in December, 2015. No issues with either noise or motion. It was very convenient to make a run for a diet Coke or some munchies.[/quote']

 

 

Thanks! That's definitely an interest to me-that it would be very convenient to get to the top decks for food and what not.

Hi everyone! I'm planning on taking a 12 day British Isles cruise next summer on the Caribbean Princess. We are planning on getting an interior room. An option, are staterooms R407 and R403. They are "horizontal/sideways" interior cabins. Would you recommend choosing one of those rooms over the typical interior cabin? Also, the Lido deck is above them (but it looks like the pool is over those rooms), would noise be an issue? Last question, being that high up, would we experience the rocking of the ship more? I appreciate any feedback and sorry for the tedious questions. Lol. Thanks!

Check out the Bolt Bus. They offer reasonable fares and they go from Seattle to Vancouver (or other way around). It is still a 10-15 minute cab ride from the Seattle port to where the bus picks up. You can take the metro from the Vancouver bus station to right nearby the cruise port and walk 5 minutes. Bolt Bus website should be their name plus .com.

Thank you! I'll definitely check them out!

I just checked the Vancouver cruise ship schedule. The Celebrity Infinity and Noordam will be docked in Vancouver the same day we are. I'm a bit worried because I've read how the Port of Vancouver becomes a zoo when 3 ships are in. That's the day we have to head back to Seattle to get on the Ruby. Should I be worried?

Done it. Actually did three over four days when we had three Princess ships one season. I digress.

 

 

 

Previously, Princess has offered a transfer from pier back to pier. This has not been the case recently.

 

 

 

Personally, I would rent a car one way from either National or Alamo at Canada Place. It gives you the most control over border crossing times and if you have time to get Global Entry or NEXUS before your cruise lets you skip the inevitable delays at the border. Prices can be surprisingly reasonable especially if more than one person is traveling. You'd prefer to drop off at the downtown office, but frankly, an airport drop is not out of the question.

 

 

 

Another option would be QuickShuttle or the Amtrak Thruway bus service. It's subject to delays at the truck crossing into the US and these cascade through the morning and into early afternoon. Be on an early departure.

 

 

 

You'll want to be on an early walk-off group from the ship either way. Travel light.

Thank you so much! Didn't even think about renting a car! Great idea! I'll definitely look into the QuickShuttle and Amtrack Thruway.