Floridanamaw

I've just noticed the same in Seattle, our hotel isn't too far from the cruise port so have the same query.

Which pier are you leaving from? There are two different ones.

We stayed at The Inn At The Market last month for our pre cruise. Our ship was at Pier 66. It also is within walking distance BUT with suitcases and the up hills and down hills we took a taxi for less than 10.00. It was worth it!

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We stayed in Vancouver after our cruise last month and spent 2 days there. We need at least 2 or 3 more days!

We stayed at the Blue Horizon and really like the hotel and the area. The first day we were there we explored Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. This is a wonderful place to visit. We really enjoyed walking in the tree tops and walking the paths. The second day we walked to Stanley Park from our hotel. About a mile walk, I think. Then we spent the next 3 or so hours walking the seawall, walking the hiking paths and enjoying the most beautiful views and weather.

We had an early (7AM) flight out on a Monday morning. We left the hotel at 3:30am and we were at the airport a little before 4am. Everything went fairly quick because we were some of the first people there and in line. We actually had to wait on the security section to open up at 4:30. We were completely through all check in areas and having breakfast before 6am.

Here is a small slideshow I did on photobucket in Vancouver. I wished we had of been able to spend several more days there because there is so much to see and do. We just didn't have enough time.

http://s1347.photobucket.com/user/vrjordan/slideshow/Vancouver%20BC

Reading everyone's different experiences in traveling Alaska makes me want to do a DIY all the more. I loved our cruise but now I want to see all the places we didn't get to experience on the cruise. We have friends that have spent 3 and 4 months traveling Alaska in a pop up camper and they are planning on doing it again. I really hope that after I retire in a few years that a DIY Alaska trip will be one of the first things we do.

If I were a couple of decades younger, I'd travel the Alaskan coast on the Alaska Marine Highway ferries, from Bellingham, Washington all the way out to Dutch Harbor. I'd stop at each port for a day or two.

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/routes.shtml

This also sounds interesting to me. You get to do a little cruising and visit ports for longer times. We might check into this in a few years.

We just returned from out first Alaskan cruise last month. We are already talking about going back but maybe with a small RV or travel trailer and taking our time visiting different areas for how ever long we want to and then move on. We loved our cruise but would like to see areas that we did not get to see on the cruise. I have another year and a half before I retire so nothing except planning can happen until then.

I would have loved to stay around the see the parliament at night but we were just exhausted and hungry and wanted to get back to our ship. I know it is beautiful at night.

I see that you stayed at the Blue Horizon. We are thinking of staying there in June 2015 when our ship disembarks in Vancouver. How did you like it? Did you book directly with the hotel or through another source? Any MUST DO's or hints for Vancouver? Thanks!

The Blue Horizon is a great place to stay. It's very reasonable, for the area, at less than 200.00 per night. We stayed on the 28th floor and the views are awesome. I think it was 185.00 for the higher floors. The location is great. Lots of things to do close by, if you don't mind walking. I booked directly with them on their website and then emailed a few times when I decided to upgrade the room to a higher floor. Great staff and they were very helpful with anything we needed.

If you have time in Vancouver and I mean a couple of day, go to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. It's an amazing place to visit and there is a shuttle that picks up at the hotel. Also, Stanley Park is another wonderful place. Walking the seawall has great views. If you go to Stanley Park find a map someplace. It's huge and we got sort of lost walking the trails through the park. If at all possible take the extra time and spend a few days in Vancouver exploring. You won't regret it.

The Inn at the Market is a lovely place, isn't it?

I stayed there for a wedding this past Spring. After the craziness of the wedding it was so relaxing to sit on the terrace and watch the ferries and other boat traffic.

 

Did your cruise leave from Seattle and end in Vancouver?

Yes, we sailed from Seattle and ended in Vancouver. I picked that itinerary just to be able to visit both cities. I'm glad I did. We loved both!

thanks for sharing these photos from your trip.

Vancouver is one my favorite cities, and Vancouver Island is a great vacation destination spot ....sandy beaches, wild ocean beaches, whale watching, bear viewing.

 

So how was the cruise overall? If I remember correctly, you were concerned about clothing and footwear. How did that work out for you? Looks like you had decent weather so that makes a big difference.

We had perfect weather. Not a drop of rain in the 12 days we were gone. Alaska was beautiful and most days all I needed was a light shirt and light jacket in the morning and then I shed the jacket as it warmed up. I ended up wearing my sneakers for the whole trip. I am glad I had the wool socks because my feet do get cold before the rest of me. I took WAY to many clothes and came home with lots of clean ones. The ship was the perfect size for us, easy to navigate and plenty of food to eat. We would cruise on NCL again and on the Jewel if the opportunity came long again.

Thanks to everyone for all the advise and suggestions. They were much appreciated.

We were in Seattle for part of a day and one full day before out cruise last month. We loved Seattle and would like to return one of these days to spend more time. These are just a few pix I took the short time we were there.

http://s1347.photobucket.com/user/vrjordan/slideshow/Vancouver%20BC/Seattle%20WA%20%20embarkment%20port

We disembarked in Vancouver and spent two full days there and we didn't see nearly everything that there is to see in this beautiful city. One of these days we will make it back there.

http://s1347.photobucket.com/user/vrjordan/slideshow/Vancouver%20BC

I know this is not actually in Alaska but it was the last port of our Alaskan cruise.

We did not plan an excursion here. We walked into town from the ship dock which is quite a long walk. We walked Inner Harbor, walked to the parliament building and saw the Empress Hotel. Victoria is a beautiful place and we enjoyed walking the city.

http://s1347.photobucket.com/user/vrjordan/slideshow/Victoria%20Canada

These were taken from our balcony on the ship. The captain was able to get fairly close to the glacier. And it is beautiful there. We were up before 6:30am to make sure we didn't miss anything. Enjoy your cruise!

In Skagway we took the 3 1/2 hour train/bus excursion with Chilkoot Tours. I highly recommend this company. They have several different trip but this was the shortest and we took it so we would have time to explore the town.

Again, this is done in a slideshow because it is so much easier this way.

http://s1347.photobucket.com/user/vrjordan/slideshow/Skagway

Take the advice of Mapleleaves and stay over the extra day in Vancouver.

 

Hopefully you can get just as great a deal if you fly out the next day.

 

Vancouver is a wonderful city to explore.

 

That early a flight time is way too CRAZY!!!

I agree! We spent two days in Vancouver post cruise last month and didn't see nearly everything we wanted to. Absolutely a wonderful place to visit. We went to Capilano Suspension Bridge and walked Stanley Park. Both places are a must when visiting there!

Also, we flew out on a Monday morning with a 7 am flight. We arrived at the airport before 4am. From the time we walked in to check in until the time we were completely through customs and sat down to eat was about an hour and a half. By 4:30 the lines were getting longer. I'm glad we went by the 3 hour rule. We were not rushed and had time to eat and take our time.

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Tracy Arm & Sawyer Glacier was worth getting up early for! Beautiful scenery. In Juneau we took the excursion to Mendenhall Glacier which included a trip on the tram afterwards. I would not recommend this excursion simply because we did not have enough time at Mendenhall park to walk to Nugget Falls, see the glacier and visit the visitor center which was also part of the price we paid. We were rushed way to much. There are many things to see at the park and we just didn't have time with this excursion.

Another slide show - it's simpler than trying to upload one picture at a time.

http://s1347.photobucket.com/user/vrjordan/slideshow/Ketckikan%20Alaska/Tracy%20Arm%20%20and%20Sawyer%20Glacier%20and%20Juneau

These are a few pictures from Ketchikan and Totem Bight State Park. We went to Totem Bight with the ship excursion. I know you can just go on your own but this excursion was so informative that we really enjoyed it. We heard all the stories on how the totem poles were created and named. Stories about the Ravens and the clan house. I would suggest this excursion if you want to learn a little history about the park and totem poles.

Also, I'm doing these as a slide show because it's the only way I can figure out how to get these posted and there are quite a few of them. Hope everyone can open the link. I'm working on Juneau and Skagway.

http://s1347.photobucket.com/user/vrjordan/slideshow/Ketckikan%20Alaska

Great pictures!!! I've sailed on the Jewel twice.

 

How did you like that ship? I don't have a lot to compare her to, but dh really, really liked the layout on her. And the size seemed perfect for us.

 

Our favorite areas to hang out were at the Great Outdoors on the back of the ship. Often when we wanted to grab a quick bite to eat, we would grab something there at the little buffet there, and eat outside. So very relaxing.

 

We also loved hanging out at the Spinnaker Lounge during the day when it was pretty peaceful and quiet. We loved the big curved bed/loungers. So comfy and great gazing out to sea while relaxing. A great place for a nap!

 

We had great weather, so another favorite spot was on the very front of the ship -- laying in a lounge chair. The plexi-glass barrier blocked the cool wind, so it was perfect. We got to that place early on the Sawyer Glacier day, and had the most perfect spot to stay in for a few hours viewing the magnificent scenery! It was pretty darned cold that day, though!! Ha!

 

The only place I had a hard time navigating to was Tsar's Palace. Darned if I would get mixed up and get lost going there. I think because it was sort of on a deck, but down a small flight of stairs, actually placing it on the deck below????

 

Anyway, we love the Jewel and her sister ship, the Pearl!!!

We liked the layout of the ship also. Easy to get around although I got turned around so many times. I knew what deck I was on but never could remember which way I needed to go. We just laughed and would make a U turn and go the other way.

We found several area to just sit and people watch and listen to music. Most of the time it was just one of the seats looking out a window close to Fyzz.

We had a balcony so just stayed on it the morning we went into Tracy Arm and to Sawyer Glacier. It was nice just to be able to step inside for a few minutes and warm up. It was quite cool that morning!

We also discovered the small serving area at the Great Outdoors but mostly for breakfast. We ended up eating most of the time inside at La Cucina which they opened up for breakfast overflow from the buffet area.

We really enjoyed our cruise and all the ports we went to. Hopefully we can do it again one of these days.

No noise what so ever. We didn't even hear slamming doors from the cabins close to us. I think it was the quietest cabin we've had in our last several cruises.

http://s1347.photobucket.com/user/vrjordan/slideshow/

I have spent a good part of today trying to upload photos for this forum. This is the best I can do. I'm tired and can't get anything else to upload right.

I have a TON of pictures from our ports I will have to work on over the weekend.

I hope this link works for everyone.

Pictures from our cabin 9608

We just returned from our Alaskan cruise on September 20th. We went expecting rain and more rain and cool temps. What we got was sunshine and more sunshine and warm temps. From what we heard every port we were in was that they were having the best weather they had experienced in weeks. I think we just lucked out. We went prepared to be wet and cool and we were dry and warm. Our rain jackets never even came out of the pouch. I had to come out of my layers several days in a row. It is beautiful in Alaska so what ever weather you get go and enjoy the scenery and prepare for wet. BTW, we were on the Jewel and it's a great ship. Loved the layout and easy to get around on.

We bought several cans of soda from it on our cruise this month. We also bought two of the big bottles of water they had in the cabin. The prices really are not that bad.

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My review has been published in the ship review section if anyone is interested in reading it. One again thanks to everyone that answered my endless questions. We loved Alaska!

We have returned from our cruise now and I did not take the boots. I took two pair of sneakers sprayed with the water proof spray. We did NOT even have a single drop of rain the whole cruise. Everywhere we went was warm and sunny. We walked everywhere!! I don't care how comfy your shoes start out by the end of the day all you want to do is take them off and rest your feet. Let me tell you, it's a long walk from the pier in Victoria into town and back! We had the most beautiful weather from the time we landed in Seattle until we left Vancouver 12 days later. The weather God's were looking out for us.