Hercules67

The prebooked Yellow Cab arrived on time at 4.30 am. Was planning if it didnt show up by 4.35 am, I would call an Uber. The cab is metered and cost CAD14 to Pacific Central Station within 10 min. All went smoothly and looking forward to my Alaska cruise!

So glad to know this! 😇

I did check with Lyft and was quoted similar charge of CAD38 before tip. Then I tried Yellow Cab app that allows prebooking. The app showing my prebooking but there is no confirmation and so I wonder tomorrow morning will there be a no-show that got me anxious.

I need to arrive Pacific Central Station from Paradox Hotel (West Georgia St) at 5 am. I tried to prebook Uber and was quoted about CA$38 for the 10 min ride. I am not sure whether I should go ahead and prebook or can call for Uber tomorrow at 4.30 am? At such early hour, will there be surcharge that still will hit the CA$38 amount? Appreciate urgent advice.

Yes, understand the 'risks' I am taking to cruise Alaska in the month of October but I have sort of no choice due to work schedule. Have been working very hard to piece together my cruise on shore excursion plans (now that martincath directing me maybe can whale watch at Vancouver, I have to start another round of reading).

Hello martincath! Yes, I have quite a bit of time in Vancouver but not aware that can catch whale watching there. Where? Where? Where can I book whale watching in Vancouver? 🤩 *Allen Marine not running whale watching tours in October. I am having hard time combing for alternative if I don't want to book via NCL.

I keep reading about need to book for onshore excursions as soon as possible else maybe fully booked when on shore, and so I am quite 'troubled' with deciding on 'to book or not to book'.

My original plan was to go to Mendenhall Glacier Adventure (with canoeing and trekking) but the tour was withdrawn and I am still trying to figure this out (that I feel no chance of making the tour happens). So, my second choice is to whale-watch that cost about USD180/pax. I read that the whales may not be around much in October and so I am still hesitant to book the tour. Any experienced ones can advise pls (as in whether I should pay USD180 and then not seeing a single whale in those 3 hours while at sea)?

Thanks for sharing the update details of the recent shooting incidents. I am looking forward to my Alaska cruise! *some of the fine prints of my insurance travel cover pertaining to general exclusions read as:

Please don't roll eyes. I wanted to join a zipline activity (shore excursion). Then I went through the fine prints of my travel insurance and found out that they don't cover zipline activity/risks. I would have presumed such simple leisure activity will be covered but then strictly specified no coverage. I am very cautious of the fine prints in insurance policies to know the limits that I can go (coz I still have kids at home to support).

I know my paranoid might have kicked in with the recent two shooting cases, esp from the beginning when friends were advising me not to stay over at Seattle (that eventually I sorted out the logic of 'it cannot be that bad' and planned for the pre and post cruise stay over). Perhaps coz I am an Asian with distinctive black hair and eyes with a petite built that I feel may become an 'easy target' and so better to play safe to retreat before dark (since the objective is really the Alaska cruise). *Just sharing, many Asians do travel with some fears in them when going to western countries. My daughter's 19 yo classmate was snatched of her phone in a busy street in Manchester and when she wanted to take it back out of reflex, she was being swept like a doll into a road and almost got hit by a passing car. No one helped her in that situation and that big man just walked away. My daughter was at the scene and she suffered some trauma until now with fears of travelling to western countries. Another male friend of mine got robbed in Italy outside a 5-star hotel that he was staying in. Also he tried to snatch back his wallet in reflex, a knife was plunged into him. "Reflex" may kill in such circumstances.

I managed to get a friend from Phoenix to join me for the cruise (since the room was charged double pricing even though I originally intended to travel as a single). Then I changed my hotel from the Mayflower to Paramount for a bigger room size. Intended to just do some regular sight seeing and shopping + Pike Place Market during daytime. Will definitely retreat to the hotel room before dark (even went to read my travel insurance to see whether I will be covered in the event that I get shot / injured over there. Paranoid, I know.). *the US has deteriorated quite a bit in the minds of Asian parents. I have several friends who shunned the US as a probable country of choice for their kids' overseas education (and opted the UK and Australia that they feel 'safer'). A friend's son just completed his study in the Harvard and he shared with me about security in the Harvard was quite tight and students have an emergency number to call if they ever feel life-threatened in anyway (then patrol car will be sent to escort the caller back to the accommodation). Feeling quite sad when I heard of all these as afterall, I graduated from the US (30+ years ago when life was much simpler).

I have booked Paramount Hotel.

I watched news about the recent shooting cases at Capitol Hill and Rainier and feeling quite uneasy about my 2 nights staying there pre and post cruise. So far, any shooting cases ever happened in downtown area where I will be staying? *Pls pardon my paranoid.

I really admire you to still visit gym at the age of 75. I hope I can be like you when I reach your age (currently mostly having long hours 'seat work' other than the 10,000 steps I commit to achieve daily). I am mentally prepared for some uphill walk (that I hope I don't find it steep to give me the huff and puff else I will Uber!).