RabbitB

I would like to know if kids very close to the next level in age can move to that level?  My granddaughters are 11 and they will be just 4 months short of 12.  They look like age 14 and act older than they are.  They would be bored to tears with a bunch of 7 year olds, and if their group  (ages 7-11) is mostly young they will have a horrible time.  What is the chances of getting "bumped" up to the next level in that case?

I booked the tram through NCL and then booked the Mendenhall Glacier through an independent company. I thought that was pushing the limit as far as getting those done in a comfortable time. It might me tight to do all three things.

There is snow on Mt Hood in Oregon year round...just like there is on Mt Rainer, Mt St Helens, Mt Adams, and Mt Baker in Washington year round. The higher peaks in Alaska will most definitely have snow. Snow in any of the ports...Don't count on it during August. We had an extra long and heavy snow fall year last winter in Washington, and if they did in Alaska, the snow might be lower on the peaks than normal, but even so, August is still summer...although Fall is creeping up rapidly.

Thank you for your response. I am very interested in going to Fort Clatsop. How far is it from the cruise pier? I am wondering if we could get a taxi to take us there if it's not too far. We are a group of six adults.

Taxi definitely goes there, but I would rent a car and drive to Fort Clatsop. Then afterwards you can drive over to Fort Stevens, check out Battery Russell and the wreck of the Peter Iredale. You could also drive over the Astoria-Megler bridge to Washington. Check out Dismal Nitch if you are interested in Lewis and Clark, then Station Camp where they originally were for the first month, and on to Cape Disappointment. Take time to drive on the beach at Long Beach. This is not something everyone gets to do. If you want to check out movie stuff besides the Goonies, then you can check out the school in Astoria from Kindergarten Cop, or Young's River Falls from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3. The promenade at Seaside is nice to go to, and if you get to Seaside, be sure to get some salt water taffy from the candy store in town. You can rent pedal cart bicycles there and pedal all over town.

I sent you a text message, but will post the info I found for you. Wheels For Feet is in Seattle and rents all kinds of wheelchairs even for a cruise. They can be reached at 425-256-2882. Text messages can go to 425-765-8906. They can also be found at www.WheelsForFeet.com Apparently they will deliver within an hour. Hope this helps!

If you are coming from Astoria rather than Seattle I might say consider it since you won't be stuck on I-5 for two hours, and you will likely get to see some interesting scenery...unless you have been to the Pacific northwest before. End of September you have a 50/50 chance of rainy, overcast weather. If it's like that you won't see anything at Johnston Ridge. Can you book on the ship beforehand...like a day before...if the weather forecast is good? If so, then do it. Otherwise, I have better suggestions, depending on the port you are in...Seattle or Astoria. And don't assume the weather is the same in your port as it is at Mt. St. Helens. Either get their weather forecast, or Castle Rock's or Longview's weather if you can. They are the closest communities to the mountain, and the weather can be very different between either port and the mountain. I live in the same county as the volcano, and even I can have sunny weather when it's overcast at St. Helens!

Good choice. Those of us who have lived in Seattle our entire lives know that an "easy" Sunday afternoon drive through town is anything but!

LOL...there is no such thing as an "easy" Sunday afternoon drive in Seattle....at least not in my lifetime...and I'm a native Washingtonian since 1953! :o

Right now we are planning on arriving at the parking garage (we are driving from our home in the SW part of the state) at 11 a.m. Knowing the pier area and the drive from Fort Lewis on up to Seattle, we are probably leaving at 7 a.m. to allow for construction, traffic, pit stops and a drive-thru breakfast (grandkids will be along).