CruisingAmazona

I am going in September and the only entertainment I have been able to book is Jersey Boys. Are you in the Haven?

We're going in September as well, and are all booked for dinner and shows. Not in Haven. Just checked every day until bookings opened and booked them all.

On day 1, the casino opens 5-6 hours after sail away. Around 10pm. Then its open just like the other cruises for day 2-6. It's only closed during port but opens back up at night after sail away. On day 7, the casino closes at 11:30AM and does not open back up for the remainder of the cruise.

Thanks so much for your answer!

What a fantastic review! Thanks so much for taking the time. I am even more excited now than ever. If I may, I have two questions. Since you're a local, we're staying at the Marriott Seattle Waterfront. My understanding is that the Bliss docks across the street from us. Is that correct?

Also, a casino question. Is the casino open every night and on sea days as is usual on other cruises. I know casinos are not legal in Alaska so not sure what the international water rules are?

Thanks again.

....that I had The Waterfront area all to myself most of the week. I think a lot of people on this cruise must live in very warm climates so those temperatures (in the 50's and 60's) were considered cold to them

Yikes! This will be interesting. I'm sailing September 22 and live in South Florida. 50's and 60's is freezing for us, and that was the weather in June!

My question is for those who have already sailed on the Bliss in Alaska. Is the casino open every night as is the case on other ships, or only on certain day/nights, i.e, days @ sea, etc.?

I'm a Seattle native and fly to/from SeaTac every couple weeks. Personally, I would book the nonstop departing at 12:55.

So.... I did book the 12:55pm return flight to Miami from Seattle, only to find an email this morning in my inbox from American Airlines saying that flight has been cancelled and the only non-stop is now at 10:20pm, red-eye! YIKES.

I suppose I can change to a connecting flight that leaves at 1:35pm and arrives Miami at 12:49am, through Dallas.

Or check in my bags at airport and go back into town?

Suggestions welcomed.

I noticed NCL does not have any post-cruise Seattle tours available. Was hoping they would and perhaps burn some of those hours away. Still going to be a long a$$ day.

NCL does not use a "casino" account, you put money in and take ticket out, each time you play. You can then either cash your ticket or hold it for later or next day, always being sure to cash any leftover tickets the night before you leave.

The Mealtime Beverage Package has recently changed ... and now permits you to obtain the allotted beverages from the bars, as well.

Interesting. Can you elaborate on this? We are booked on a sailing on the Seaside that includes the "mealtime beverage packages" and are considering upgrading to a full drink package, but if the "mealtime drink" package now allows me to walk up to any bar, at any given time and ask for a beer or [their chosen] wines, I may not need to do the upgrade at all.

i recommend the Marriott Waterfront on Alaskan Way. you can wake up to the ship right outside your window, and you just need to cross the street to get there. :-)

Yep! Thanks, saw that and booked two nights pre-cruise at the Marriott Seattle Waterfront.

Another question (I suspect I will have many between now and cruise....) anyone ever booked with Viator Tours and have any negative or positive views? I don't even remember if asking that question is against the rules or not, so don't attack me please! LOL. There's one particular day tour I like that takes you to the Falls and to three wineries. Was thinking about doing something like that on Friday before cruise.

I would not stay at an airport hotel pre cruise. They are far from anywhere you'd want to sight see. They are basically good for very early flight home.

Thanks, just cancelled W and booked the Marriott Waterfront. Went with Marriott because of rewards account!

I'm a Seattle native and fly to/from SeaTac every couple weeks. Personally, I would book the nonstop departing at 12:55.

Yes, thanks, I plan on booking 12:55 nonstop back to Miami - if we self-disembark, we can be off ship early enough, grab an Uber to airport. I think we should be fine with that flight. Frankly, once cruise is over, I want to get home and it's pretty darn far! Thanks, I was looking forward to the responses from the locals!

Courtyard by Marriott

Get a transfer from the ship to the airport and then go the hotel shuttle pick-up and call them for a FREE shuttle to the hotel.

Perfect, thanks!

Because The Bliss will NOT be the only cruise ship disembarking passengers on a Saturday and SeaTac can be a nightmare getting through security, I am not sure I would risk 12:55 P.M. if there is another option for you.

Thanks! And yes, I was afraid of that and was hesitant myself. Would prefer a later flight, but there are none. Next option is to stay overnight and leave on Sunday.

Any suggestions on airport hotels?

Time to break out the old Google, that's simple stuff to look up.

Geez thanks for your [non] help! Clearly I know that and have done research, but was under the impression that's what CruiseCritic was for: to enlist the assistance of others who have cruised before you!

"The more things change, the more they stay the same!"

Doing an Alaska cruise for first time in 2018 on the new Bliss. Getting ready soon to start booking airline and hotel, just a few questions:

1. SeaTac is the airport?

2. Cruise port?

3. How far is cruise port from airport?

4. How far is airport from Downtown Seattle (looking at W Seattle for night before embarkation).

And finally, the one direct flight option returning from Seattle to Miami leaves at 12:55pm. I'm hoping to leave on same day as disembarkation, but want to make sure that I can make that flight?

Good morning, does anyone know what the themes are for the current Equinox shows?

I could swear that on my December cruise out of New Orleans on the NCL Dawn, the casino was open 1/2 hour after sail-away.

Thanks, but this is a different situation. You embarked on a cruise out of NOLA and like most cruises, the casino opened after sail away. For us, NOLA is a port of call, and we will be docked for two-nights, 3 days.

Celebrity Equinox is doing an 11-day cruise out of Ft Lauderdale 2/20/17 with a 2-nt stay in New Orleans during Mardis Gras, leaving Fat Tuesday in the late afternoon.

Actually, we leave late evening, 10pm.

We are also on that cruise with a couple of friends that have been to major events down in New Orleans. Not sure if this is true but he mentioned that you will need to bring your Total Rewards card to get in to Harrahs, especially on Lundi Gras or Mardi Gras. Like I said ... not sure if they would deny entrance without your card, but I know they had security checking on NYE down in Vegas just to get into one of the midstrip casinos.

We plan on visiting Harrahs while there so just put our player's club cards in our bag ..... just to be on the safe side.

I also read about this, probably on the Roll Call, and actually called the hotel/casino and they said it was open to all. I have no clue where our cards are so if they don't let us in, it's their loss and my gain, I suppose. So much to do in the area, I want to spend as much time sightseeing. Hence my question about whether casino on ship was open. Would much rather gamble on ship at night.

Will also be on the Mardi Gras sailing in two weeks. Have Harrahs pinned on my map, but not necessarily to gamble. It's one of the few locations with clean bathrooms open to the public during festivities.

LOL! That's hilarious! We will most likely gamble a little there, but also had that same thought. Been reading up on Mardi Gras details and bathrooms are definitely an issue!

It appears your question has been answered - but I would vote for the land based casino anyway... you can grab some great food & local cocktails while at the casino :) And I must say you have me curious, which cruise provides you w/ 2 nights/3 days in New Orleans?

Special sailing, 2/20 Celebrity Equinox, 11 nights, Caribbean and then during Mardi Gras, arrive Sunday afternoon, depart Fat Tuesday around 10pm

We are on a Jazz fest cruise that has the NOLA stop as you have outlined. Not only will the Casino be closed while we are in NOLA, it will be closed the 4-5 hours it takes to travel up (and back) the Mississippi from the sea.

 

The good news is that Harrahs is only a short walk away (4 blocks or so)...

Thought so. We are booked on the 2/20 Mardi Gras 11 night sailing, which spends 2 nights, 3 days in NOLA.

And yes, I know about Harrah's, been there before, and even plan to visit for a while, but probably not late at night.

Thanks.

I posted this same post on Casino board, but it's fairly quiet there and hoping someone knows the answer. I'm just curious. If a ship is docked at the Port of New Orleans for 2 nights/3 days (docked, as in a port of call, not for embarkation and disembarkation purposes), does the casino open at any time during the evenings like it normally would on any evening of the sailing? Or would we need to wait until after ship sails out of NOLA for casino to open?

Hoping someone knows the answer. I'm just curious. If a ship is docked at the Port of New Orleans for 2 nights/3 days (docked, as in a port of call, not for embarkation and disembarkation purposes), does the casino open at any time during the evenings like it normally would on any evening of the sailing? Or would we need to wait until after ship sails out of NOLA for casino to open?

My friends have been to Mardi Gras before and seem to recall they told me that if you want to get into Harrahs, you will need your players club card.

My husband and I are on this sailing as well. While I don't doubt that the city will be a madhouse and most business will be closed down for the celebration, I just called Harrahs and they told me that the casino is opened 24/7 - 365 days a year, including during Mardi Gras which is, in fact, their busiest time of year.

The Grandstand tickets with Celebrity are outrageous! We are doing several of the other tours with Celebrity in New Orleans and probably nothing in the islands, since we've been there so many other times.

Looking forward to this cruise!