lax19

I had the same choice last year (August) and went with the Jewel. The extended time in Victoria was the deciding factor for me. Plus the cruise fare was cheaper on the Jewel.

We towards the aft of the ship in a balcony and didn't feel any motion.

Speaking of walking...we sail out of Seattle this Saturday and will be dropping off our rent car nearby; then Enterprise will take us to the ship (for free!...or the cost of the rental) anyway: depending on how the morning goes, we may drop the bags at the pier, then drop the car, then walk back to the ship!! Weather has to be factored in also, of course. We like to walk so we can work of the embarkation MDR lunch--LOL!

Traffic around the Bell Street Pier (NCL) can get pretty nuts especially if a train comes through. You may not want to fight through it twice (coming and going). Have Enterprise drop you off (maybe even a couple of blocks away), drop off your bags and then walk around the waterfront or up to Pike Place Market.

Enjoy your cruise!

We are celebrating our 50 year anniversary next year,and want to treat our kids and grandkids to a Alaska cruise.

It would be 6 adults two grown Grandkids 27,23 and three small kids 13,11,10.

We sailed Alaska seven years ago with princes and loved it.

What cruise line would be good for all the kids? Most fun excursions we can spit the group up.

We are thinking round trip from Seatle but are open for suggestions.

Would love to hear from you.

Thanks Netty

Congratulations and what a fun experience for your family. Can I claim to be your son and come along?

There are probably 20 cruise ships running to Alaska each summer. With your crew, maybe NCL Pearl would provide the most on board amenities for the kids (rock wall, bowling alley) Also CCL Legend (Waterworks) may be a good choice. The best thing would be start a list of cruise ships out of Seattle with their amenities. Rank each item and decide. You'll be on a cruise with your family, that's the most important thing.

There are plenty of excursion opportunities. I really liked Mendenhal Glacier in Juneau. Hiking out to the falls was easy and fun. There is the train in Skagway (as well as the Skagway Fish Company for crab legs). You can go on a crab boat from the "Deadliest Catch". Whale watching is big, so is just wondering around town. I personally found that a cruise ot Alaska is very relaxing and laid back.

Enjoy the planning and enjoy the cruise!

From what I can find, there is a Safeway at 3900 S. Othello St.

Seattle, WA 9811. I appears to be one block west of the Othello Link Station.

Hopefully, someone from Seattle can confirm this.

We've used Blue Baja Los Cabos for our excursions (including Parasailing) when we've gone to Cabo. Eduardo Martinez is the owner. Email him and let him know what you want to do. He'll set you up. Prices are very reasonable.

Facebook: bluebajaloscabos

Address Blvd. Marina S/N Modulo B-18 API

Marina Principal Cabo San Lucas

C. P. 23410 Baja California Sur, México

bluebajaloscabos@hotmail.com

You could pick up a couple at the dollar store and bring them with you.

My daughter had no problem bringing vanilla onto the Triumph from Cozumel earlier this month (July 15). Several have asked John Heald via Facebook and he said it was OK.

Hi guys! I hope the topic line was descriptive enough. :D I'm trying to find out what the options are for transportation to and from Chileno Beach are for doing some self-guided snorkeling.

Or other recommendations?

The few times we've been in Cabo, we've used a company called Blue Baja Los Cabos to arrange tours from snorkeling with a large group to parasailing to water taxi tours to the arch and beaches. Eduardo Martinez is the owner and can be reached at bluebajaloscabos@hotmail or search on Facebook. Great guy. Worked everything out via email.

Let him know what you want and he can give you a few options.

Here's a website that provides estimate for cab fares:

http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Fort-Lauderdale-FL

As part of the orientation for the Los Veranos Canopy Tour, the guide stated that this is a canopy zip linecourse..."once you are on the course you Can No Pee or Poo poo - please go before you start".

US Dollars work just fine in Cabo.

It's been a few years, but we (as a large group) went to Santa Maria Bay and enjoyed the snorkeling. The sand is not a fine as it is in the Caribbean, but still a nice place.

We arranged this tour (plus others) through Eduardo Martinez and his company Blue Baja Los Cabos (bluebajaloscabos@hotmail) or search on Facebook. Great guy. Worked everything out via email. His son met us at the tender dock, took us to his kiosk and was our guide for the day.

just tried to book on their website and it was a 2 night minimum :(

We only need one pre-cruise night.

Try booking through a third party site like hotels dot com.

I'm planning on staying there a couple of nights pre-cruise the beginning of November. Trip Adviser reviews looked good.

Thank you!

Last August (2104) on the Jewel, the bow area was open to all. Lot's of passengers up against the rail. We watched from our balcony and had the bow camera showing on the TV.

My wife and daughter plans on taking the Carnival shuttle from Galveston to Houston Hobby after her cruise next month. Is the shuttle pick up point easy to find and marked?

Thanks!

 

Checkin was quick and painless even though we were traveling with BC for the first time instead of passports. Our passports all expired less than two weeks before the cruise so I opted to wait until May to renew them and so Spencer's will be for ten years instead of five (He turned 18 on March 28).

At 11:12 we were heading up the escalator to begin boarding;

Great review! Did you know that passports for 16 year olds are valid for 10 years? You do not have to wait until 18.

Carlo's Bake Shop was also on the Jewel. Maybe the Jade has not been upgraded yet.

If I recall correctly, the nightly menu is the same in both restaurants. It does change dad to day. As you said the food is subjective. I liked it and could always find something to eat. However, the menu seemed uninspired and nothing jumped out at me as a 'must have'. I also noticed NCL put a lot of effort into steering you to the Buffet or O'Sheehans for dinner.

We were on the NCL Jewel last year and arrived in Victoria about 1:00 PM. Took a walk up to Craigdarroch Castle (mansion). Then as evening was setting in, we walked around the harbor and back to the ship.

According to Google maps, the Hilton is 0.8 miles (1.3 kilometers) from the Embassy. Both on 17th. Depending on your mobility, they are in the same general neighborhood.

Also the Promenade on Deck 7 provides a place to sit in the shade and watch the ocean go by.

Is there a cheaper way to get to Melbourne Airport from Port Canaveral after the cruise? I have already looked into car rental - too much, already checked every car rental place out even kayak, priceline etc....

 

Shuttles cost about 107 plus gratuity.

 

thanks!

Think outside of the box....make friends with someone who drove to the port. Maybe someone on the roll call. Offer to pay for a ride.

Do they have this party on Alaska cruises, the Pearl specifically?

Not a direct answer, but on the Jewel last August in Alaska, they had three different "glow" parties. The wild, loud adult party in Spinnakers, a kids glow party in another lounge and an acoustic set with the Show band for us folks who have unfortunately accepted the fact that we are not twenty something anymore.

The train offers half day and full day trips. We took the half day trip up to the Canadian border and back (long enough for us). Back in Skagway at noon-ish, we headed over to the Skagway Fish Company for King Crab Legs. We then strolled around town and went in an out of the different shops. Skagway was a very relaxing day with no real time constraints.