SLOduck

Yes, we were on the Grand in September -

It's Ariel wine (there is also Fre, it's not on Princess but you can find it at your local grocery store and bring it onboard - Fre also has a blush version too)

When you're in the dining room looking at the wine list, the non-alcoholic wines are listed last (of course) and it DOES take some doing sometimes because the sommelier and waiter are simply not used to having that request, but be persistent!

Glad this information is helpful.

Yes, Princess DOES have non-alcoholic wines onboard! We also no longer drink alcohol, but DO enjoy wine with dinner at times. It is only available in the dining room and not as wine by the glass. Both Chardonnay and a red wine (not sure if it's a cab or Merlot, but I don't like the non-alcoholic reds - too 'grape juicy' for me).

Hope that helps!

Sorry - realized that AFTER I posted! OOPS!

• Train is scenic??? The Canada Line subway runs UNDERGROUND in Vancouver. The taxi is scenic as it's above ground... Tell the driver you will pay extra for Cambie as you watch the cherry blossoms around the ancient volcano if you are travelling in May.
  
• The train $9 for adults and $7.75 for children under 14 if you are travelling from the airport to the cruise terminal.
  
• Once you have around 3 or 4 people..... it's nearly breakeven with the taxi when leaving the airport.
  
• if the roads are congested during rush hour.... the trains are congested too with students and the general public. The airport train is not an express.... the general public will be with you too. Make sure your luggage is not blocking the aisle as the public will be climbing over it.
  

Yes, part of it goes underground, but I remember seeing some intriguing parts of the city I wouldn't have seen otherwise (but I must admit, it has been awhile since we did it.).

It WAS WAY quicker, simpler and easier though - I DO remember that!!!

Taking the train from the airport to the cruise terminal is VERY easy to do (or visa versa) and quite honestly the EASIEST! Traffic in Vancouver is all 'main streets' as there are not freeways that go through town, so it's a LOT of stop and go traffic. This can be especially annoying if you are trying to catch a plane or board a ship!

It's also much cheaper - I think it's $6-10 something like that, and quite scenice too! The walk from the pier to the train station is short, so not an issue, even with bags.

Hope that helps!

Hi:

I agree with Goldenrod - Stay on the ship! Having been to Ensenada numerous times (live in California) as a port stop, I have had friends do the wine tasting tour (not with the cruise lines). They said it was a waste of money as the wines were pretty bad. You DO see some quasi-scenic areas, but I would just stay onboard and enjoy the ship without as many people! You might actually be able to get a deck chair! haha

Be VERY careful if you rent a car in Long Beach in getting BACK in time. You 'may' not allow yourself enough time to return back to the port (LA traffic) and since things are SOOO spread out in that area, it will probably take you longer to get from Point A to Point B than you ancitipate.

I don't mean to be a downer, but I grew up in that area and people that 'aren't aware' SORELY underestimate the time it takes to get anywhere and I would hate to have you miss the boat!!! (and they WILL leave without you!)

There is NOTHING in that area as far as coffee shops either - it's an international shipping harbor.

We cruised on the American Queen (R/T New Orleans) back in Feb. 2014 and was actually able to board and tour the Queen of the Mississippi upon disembarking the American Queen. The difference was 100 fold!

First off, AQSC uses REAL antique furnishings with period wall paper, real hexigon floor tiles in the bathrooms, has spacious public areas. The staff on AQSC went out of their way to be accommodating (the cruise director tried numerous times to get us a non-alcohlic beer other than O'Douls, but the towns on the itinerary didn't have any, BUT he took the time to try!)

The ACL has wall panels in the cabins similar to what you would find in a mobile home, regular dressers, linoleum floors in the bathrooms and VERY small public areas. Although the staff on ACL seemed very pleasant, I can not speak to their actual service.

The overall product on the AQSC was SOOOO excellent that I can not recommend them highly enough.

Another thought would be to book into the 'guarantee' category. Depending on the sailing (and how full the ship is), with the guarantee cabin, you could very easily get bumped to a regular cabin with a private verandah, since there are more of those than there are the E cabins. Again, it IS a gamble, but I know some people that did it and it worked out well for them! Worth asking your agent!!!

(We'll be on her in two weeks, so will try to remember to take some photos and report back)!

Although the general age group for both the American Queen and American Empress are 'seasoned', the cruise is still FABULOUS. We don't depend on others for our enjoyment and quite honestly, I LOVE to see elderly people still 'out there doin' it' as long as they can! Since I work with the Alzheimer's Association, I just adore that age group and am very happy to be around them - SOOO much wisdom!

We tend to go to bed at a reasonable time anyway, so don't find any 'lack of entertainment' by any stretch. I have found the entertainment to be STELLAR on both ships, and the Riverlorians excellent too! It's SOO much more than just a 'cruise', it's an 'experience' on the river.

We'll be on the American Empress again in November and I can't WAIT to see the refurbishments! We had sailed on her in 2006 when she was the Empress of the North, our first river cruise. We LOVED IT! Can't WAIT!

Smitty :)

THANKS everyone for your helpful information! I will investigate!

Smitty (Sloduck) ;-)

I'm looking for an accessible transfer for 4 from the Seattle airport to the Holiday Inn downtown (Dexter) for September. My friend is paralyzed from the waist down, so she DOES need to have wheelchair accessibility.

It doesn't appear that the shuttles are accessible in Seattle (at least what I've found)! HELP!

Smitty :-/

Well, I must say the post about 'no wind' REALLY got my attention! That will be nice.

One of the things I generally DO enjoy about a balcony cabin though is being out on the balcony as you're coming into port and seeing the area you will be visiting, but with an aft cabin, although you can still see stuff, it will be 'in the rear view mirror', if you will. On this particular itinerary, however, it is a familiar itinerary, so we won't really 'miss anything', so this is actually the perfect cruise to 'experiment' with an aft cabin!

I'm excited to try something new! YAY!

Smitty ;-)

So in essence it is a partially obstructed balcony due to the beam?

There are issues with the "dreaded beam" on many of the balconies.

What do you mean by the 'dreaded beam?' We've not yet done an aft cabin before so I'm new, although I DO know that people either LOVE them or hate them...

Thanks!

Pam:

Do these same balcony dimensions ...

Aloha, Baja, etc.: 9'x5' -- covered

Caribe: 9'x9' -- 9'x5' is covered, 9'x4' is uncovered

Mini-suite: 9'x7' -- Dolphin deck is covered, Emerald deck is uncovered

... hold true for the aft cabins?

We were just 'upgraded' to one of the aft cabins and I'm not convinced that I actually 'want' that cabin, although if it had a larger balcony, that might be worth it....

Thanks Everyone! That is most helpful!

SLOduck

I've been researching pre-cruise hotels in Barcelona and so far, I'm liking the Espana Ramblas. The reviews and prices are good and it looks fairly close to things. Does anyone have any experience with this hotel OR can you recommend comparable properties in the Las Ramblas area?

Thanks!

You have selected two VERY nice options for your family. I think the deciding factor would be to really take a look at the things that are important to those going - if they are more into an active lifestyle, then go the the Adventure. If they are more into relaxing and food, then go with the Summit.

Both ships will provide them with a nice 'first cruise' and, as you say, you WANT them to WANT more!

You SHOULD let them know that just because there ARE things to do, that they do not HAVE to try to do everything (My first cruise I tried to do everything and I was EXHAUSTED when I returned, so I purposely try to book itineraries with 'at sea' days now).

GOOD JOB for taking on this project, but DO keep in mind that you will NOT please everyone, so just keep that in mind when 'the votes are in' after the cruise.

Smitty ;-)

Thanks - this has been MOST helpful!!!