volk904

You can easily catch a 12pm flight out of FLL from the port of Miami if you do self assist walk off or as the ship to put you in a early group. We did self assist walk off twice in the last 7 months for 10:30 and 1045 flights from FLL. Used SAS shuttte from port of Miami and made it to FLL by 8:45 both times noon would be easy.

SAS is great. Used them twice and very happy.

I think you can make that if you do self assist walk off as early as possible. My last 2 cruises in Nov and April we walked off in Miami about 7:15 and made it to FLL 2 hours before out 10:30 flight. MIA would be at least 15 minutes closer.

As a follow up we were allowed off the ship well before 1 but that can change. The key for you is to be ready to get off ASAP. On the Senerade they use the rear elevators for port stops. We took them down to about level 3 when we were docking and then walked down to 2 when they started allowing people off. They have a good shuttle bus system but they only carry about 50 each and the line gets long. If you get off right away you should have no issue with 1.:30.

You did not say which airport you were flying out of. We were on the. symphony in November. We had a 10:30 flight out of FLL. We were able to walk off about 7:15 and were through customs and curbside by 7:45. We use a. Shuttle to get to FLL and were there by 8:45. If you are flying from Mia you should have no issue getting to the airport before 8:30 as long as you walk off at the earliest possible time and the ship is not late of suffers a customs delay.

Just my opinion but I have been on 3 cruises since Nov. We have all read RCCL is being more strict post covid than in the past on arrival times but I have not seen it enforced on any of our cruises. In Nov on the Symphony we had 1200 but the people in line behind us had 1 pm nobody said anything. In SanJuan on the Explorer we had a 1:30 boarding time but had to check out of hotel at 11.:30. We went to the ship and were on by 12:15 no questions about time. Funny thing about this cruise is I got 3 texts from Royal in the 24 hours before boarding with reminders to stick with boarding time. A few weeks ago in Vancouver I saw no checking of time. I believe they are trying to use the times to keep people spread out but in the end they just need them boarded. If I was in your position I would arrive earlier and board. If anyone questions your time then explain about the kids and ask to get on. I would be surprised if you were not allowed on.

We were on the Serenade 2 weeks ago with the 1pm arrival & AJ Pier. We actually arrived early and were docked before 1PM. There is a shuttle bus right at the pier to take you right to were you need to be. We were at the tent more than 30 minutes early for the same excursion. Very short ride but I would suggest you being ready to walk off the ship when it arrives in case the ship is on time. Alaskan Tales knows when the ships arrive and we waited a few minutes for passengers from another ship. They will give you the phone number to contact Alaskan Tales. We had a good time on the Wale Watch. Saw Humpbacks, and a Pod of Killer Whales on our trip. Just so you know allof the whale watch tours leave from a dock about 20 minutes our from town. They take you by bus.

Birds Travel covered it. If you want a nice beach to swim or snorkel with plenty of chairs or a incredible pool to swim it is all free. The Water Park cost money. We had a great day there and did not spend any money.

Walgreens usually has plenty of online appointments for their NAAT rapid treat. Results in under 2 hours. Just go online a find a store that can get you the test quick.

With all the flight delays going on I would not book same day unless you book it through the cruise lines air booking. If they book it they assume responsibility for getting you aboard.

Sounds like you hit a winner going extra early. I would agree that Disembarking was pretty easy at Canada place.

I can see why hubby would want to avoid the expensive Vancouver hotel but You are cutting it pretty close with a 12:30 arrival with flights running late all the time now. That said you are looking at at least 45 minutes to walk from gate, get through customs and pick up your luggage and then another 45 min to Canada place. That put you there about 2 but it is the what if the flight is late where the worry is. VCR has a kiosk that scans your passport and takes your arrive Canada info. It is not that bad. Remember once you get through the airport you need to delete your flight from arrive Canada and make a new entry as a sea entry. It will remember much of your info. You can put your whole family on one arrive Canada.

Seems like you could do it but have some risk. They don’t have times posted for 2023 but for 22 the quick shuttle leaves the piers in Seattle between 9 & 930 and arrives at Canada place at 2:30. Not sure how late they board but the shuttle drops off right there at Canada place with the ships. Flights are listed at 1 hour if you can find the right time. It is about 40 min to SeaTac from the pier and another 40 min from VCR to Canada place.

Love reading your review. I will assume you have be taking cruises mostly newer ships. My last 2 cruises on the Explorer and the Senerade the ships fake Vroom was not strong enough to open and run our company software. It was good enough on Symphony.

Be interesting to see the follow up. I took 2 -7 day cruises one Alaska and 1 Caribbean 4 weeks apart. Both had the same 7 day menu but I have not gone past 8 days. Even if the menu repeated there is about 10 entrees each day to choose from including the 5 daily items.

We took the Quick Shuttle back from Vancouver to Seattle. We had no passengers for the mall so we did not stop there. Our bus made stops at a small airport near the border. 5-6 min. The border customs where you get off and downtown and the cruise port. The bus we were on was no more cramped than and plane. Did not use the restroom. Most passengers used it at the customs stop. Our trip was about 5 hours including the 70 min extra long border stop. 3 buses together and ours was last. It was not a bad ride. You could fly but the Uber to SeaTac is 40 min, security, boarding and the flight is 2 hours probably then you have another 30 min ride from VCR to downtown plus customs. My the time you do that the bus is finished and likely cheaper. quick. Shuttle charges $20 per checked bag and $35 for the passenger. I am a big guy and we had 3 checked bags so I just bought 3 seats for the two of us. AmTrac does have a bus option and they don’t charge for bags. It might be quicker.

My opinion but unless you pack extremely light which is hard for Alaska I don’t think you want drag all those bags through check in and then around the ship waiting for your cabin. Dropping the bags is not hard as long as get to level 2. Just double check the ship porters you give them to. They do have signs. Like the other poster said make sure you have your luggage tags. That line was long.

The cruise lines are foolish if they want the pre cruise testing scrapped. even with the testing there is people who test positive during every cruise and who know how many who choose not to get tested on board. If they do away with the test more positive people will board and that turns into more positive tests on board which is bad for everyone.

We cruised on the Senerade on May 29. 3 ship day. Our check in was 11:30. Worst port we have even checked in at. Very confusing because all 3 ships are the same building and the luggage check for all 3 are very close together. Once we got the luggage checked it took about 75 min get through check in but I heard it was worse later. The process in cloves going up down and around 2 levels. Very strange because you go up sown and then back up. One way or another you will get on the ship. I don’t think they pay a lot of attention to check in times. That said lesson learned. Find a cab that will take you in the garage to the baggage check area or walk your bags down the roadway to the baggage check. In our case the hotel shuttle dropped us in front of the upper level hotel and told us to take the elevator down. It only goes down 1 level and they put you in a line pen to take another small elevator down to level 2 to check bags. This process took 3o extra minutes.

I would be very careful letting any hotel transfer your bags to the ship. On our cruise last week on we talked to a couple who did that. Their bags went on the wrong ship. They had nothing for 5 days. Had to buy stuff at the first port stop.

Print them off, fold them to the tag size. I like to put a piece of clear packing tape over them but it is not required. When you get to your hotel or the cruise port staple two on each bag well and you will be fine. When you fold them they will be about 3 layers thick.

Check prices on Alaskan Airlines from Detroit, or Chicago. We took them from Cincinnati to Vancouver with a change of planes in Seattle

Try pricing the air through your cruise line sometimes they have better prices.

In Ketchikan we planned nothing but took a trolly tour right from the dock. There was several but we booked the 2.5 hour for $45 person. It was a good tour. Toured the town, showed us the salmon ladders, took us to a great waterfall, saw some eagles etc. for the money it was a decent tour. We had them let’s us off in the town and we walked back to the ship.

We booked Alaskan Tales thru Viator excursions but they book other ways as well. Boat holds about 36 guests. Saw whales and a pod of Orkas.