jtdlmc

Depending on what time your flight departs there is a hop on and off bus system that you could use to get to some popular attractions around the city, website is vancouvertrolley.com, there is a map of the stops that might give you some ideas. You can catch the skytrain to the airport from wherever you end the day, depending on what you do with your luggage. I am also looking at luggage options. I have been to Vancouver but never had to deal with storing luggage before.

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Has anyone ever done a 7-day cruise with nothing but what you're wearing and the necessary paperwork? We're a few weeks out from our Breakaway cruise and the thought of dragging winter and summer stuff from home, through multiple airports, NYC and then onto the cruise does not excite me. Can I buy a couple pairs of shorts, shirts, and bathroom supplies on the ship??

 

Any chance I can talk my wife into this strategy?? :) Advice welcome.

We leave our winter coats in the car at the airport. We wear a pair of jeans - which are usually worn at some point during the cruise and our light jacket/sweater. Once we get into the first airport we aren't out in the cold - we usually head out from Florida but even in New York, will you be outside to really need winter gear? Taxis/shuttles are warm when you get in. I don't know your wife but I highly doubt you could talk her into your strategy [emoji6]

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I'm booked on one in 2020 out of San Juan on Epic.

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I was reading on another group that Princess increases their excursion prices depending on supply and demand. Is this true? I have never seen or heard of that on any other cruise line I have been on, in fact excursion prices are the same from cruise to cruise months apart. I don't usually purchase ship sponsored excursions but may for a couple in Alaska so just wondering if I had better have my research done and choices made by the time the excursions are available for my sailing to get the best price.

Awesome! Got a little worried when I read the post about the horrible experience someone else and didn't think they would fly to San Juan but thought I better check it out just in case.

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I booked a cruise on the Epic from San Juan leaving March 1, 2020. Where I am from Spring Break happens mid March and I never even thought about that when booking. What are the chances of a bunch of spring breakers sailing out of San Juan?

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Does the La Quinta have park and cruise packages? I am looking for something where we can leave the car while we cruise?

 

 

 

Kathy

I don't think they do because their parking lot is pretty small but they do have a Facebook page and you could message them on there to find out for sure.

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How can you tell when you book that your cabin has the bed by the balcony??

 

We were on the epic and had the bed by the balcony and if we go again with our son (who will be 3 or 4 when we go) I would rather my bed be in between him and the balcony.

 

 

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Where the curved out part of the is in the cabin on the deck plans is where the head of the bed is.

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Are you able to use it to search for same category cabins but on another deck? For instance, if it is showing you only cabins on Deck 10, but that category should exist on Deck 9, can you get it to show you available cabins on the other deck?

I just tried it again out of curiosity on my computer and iPad and there is no way I can switch decks, not by clicking on the room you want because that deck is not visible unless you "view deck plans" and nothing happens when I click on a cabin, it isn't an option. Not sure why some people can do it and others can't? I even tried going on online travel agent booking sites and couldn't do it either. When I called NCL to book the cabins I wanted on the deck that wasn't showing were available.

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Would a very port-intensive itinerary (i.e. the Jan 2020 sailings from SJ....only one sea day in 10 or 11 days) make it more likely you'd cruise Epic again?

I sailed Epic a month ago and said I would never sail her again. But I saw a similar itinerary out of San Juan and thought about it for a week and decided I could sail on the Epic for that itinerary. I booked our cabin in an area where I now know it will be more convenient to the venues we will use, got a cabin with bed by the balcony and am hoping for the best. Our cabin last month had the bed closest to the door, we were on a cabin crawl, saw one with bed by balcony and it seemed a lot more roomier. Our room location obviously won't help with the long lines and crowds but I'm thinking with only one sea day it won't seem quite as bad.

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I'm sure there's a neat intimacy to being on a small boat, but from what I've seen and experienced, boat stability and "passenger density" matters more to me. Those Gastineau boats are amazing, and I would pick those any time over the six-passenger boats I've seen in Juneau, even at twice the price.

How many passengers are on the Gastineau boats.

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Ended up calling to book. Would prefer just to do it myself as it takes about a quarter of the time as it does calling but got it done with the cabins I wanted.

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Did you book a suite?

No regular balcony cabin. I'm sure it is just a perk this large travel agency gets or else they are providing the Bon Voyage Experience although there is no mention of the tour, photo or lunch that comes with that.

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Just wanted to add for the smokers - there is also smoking on the promenade (deck 7), I believe it was port side, there are pillar ashtrays every so often down the deck but no place to sit.

Great review. We were on Epic in early February. I said I would never sail her again but then last week I was looking at 2020 itineraries out of San Juan and Epic is the only NCL ship so.....now I'm thinking she wasn't all that bad lol!

Just book both with the $1 deposit and do research to decide which you want to do.

Great idea especially since they are back to back cruises :)

There are two different sailings and I can't decide which one I should pick. I realize nobody has the same interests as I do but I have never been to the Southern Caribbean (other than St. Thomas which is on one of the itineraries) and have no idea. Both are on the Epic. Don't really have much time to research as I would like to book with the $1 deposit. Which itinerary would you choose and why?

So, a TA can award priority boarding?, huh - never heard that before...:evilsmile:

Apparently so since I do have it in writing[emoji848]. This is a huge international company whose original purpose was road side assistance so I assume they maybe have some "perks" themselves. Similar to M-Life casino members having priority boarding on RCI - yes we got in the same line as the diamond and platinum cruisers [emoji33]

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Finally found one that returned my email and booked my cruise (yaaayyyy!!!) with what I think is a good incentive - $100 OBC, speciality dining for 2, priority boarding and no booking or cancellation/change fees. The cruise fare is the same as I could book myself but I'm good with the extras :)

If I'm interpreting your post correctly...no... because while cabins of the 'type' you desire are present on both decks, the fact that when offered specific staterooms they are all on deck 10, indicates that those cabins on deck 9 are already sold.

 

That said, recently NCL website has been sulking... it offers cabin 'types' as available but then tells you they are all sold out when you try to select.

 

It's worth 5 minutes of your time to call them I'd say.

Since this cruise is for 2020 I don't think any deck is sold out :)

Seriously people, I do mock bookings all the time and usually am able to switch decks easily. IT IS NOT WORKING RIGHT NOW. Maybe it is a permanent change in the booking engine or a temporary glitch. But the OP isn't losing his mind. It usually is easy to change decks, right now it does not work.

Thanks, I will try again tomorrow :)

Is there a way to switch from deck to deck when choosing cabin? I choose a cabin category that is offered on deck 9 and deck 10. When it goes to the next screen to choose my cabin it only shows deck 10 but I want deck 9. I can't find anywhere to switch the deck and only deck 10 cabins are available to choose - anyone know if it is possible to switch to deck 9 without calling to book it through NCL?

I wish I could find a travel agent! I have emailed three different TAs looking for a booking for an Alaskan cruise. Two I have never heard back from after the initial email and the third took over a week to get back to me! These are actually TAs that work with a travel agency in physical offices not just online agencies. I have always booked directly with the cruise line but thought I would go with a TA this time as some have some really good incentives. I have done all the leg work, even gave them the ship and cabin category I want! Guess it looks like I will continue to book through the cruise line cause I am sick of wasting time ☹️

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I ran into a new type of "elevator bully" on the Epic a couple of weeks ago. My husband and I got on the elevator that 4 or 5 people already "owned", it certainly wasn't full. They stepped back to let us in and then one lady says "it is always the first ones on who get pushed to the back" quite snarky like. So I said "oh don't worry we will move to let you out". So the first floor came and a different couple got out and of course we stepped out so they could exit. Before stepping back in I asked Mrs. Snarky if she would like to change positions so that she could be at the front. She didn't even look at me just said "oh no we are getting out at the next stop" - like that makes sense, maybe if you are up next you would move to the front when you had the opportunity! Anyway I thought that lady was more rude then those who jump on before you have a chance to get off - I think that is more of a reaction to waiting so long and suddenly the door opens, not intentional rudeness. I guess Mrs. Snarky thinks elevators aren't meant to be shared.

I asked a similar question on the Alaska board and several people responded that the Alaska itinerary is much less formal on Princess with pants and a collared shirt for men being acceptable on "gala" nights. No jacket or tie required. Woman also fine with pants, skirt/dress, nice shirt. Formal clothing not required.

Thanks everyone! You were all so helpful. We changed reservation from Hampton Inn to La Quinta Inn & Suites Ocean Front. Super excited! Hope to beat most of the cruise crowd and get a good room as we will come in Friday night instead of Saturday (cruise leaves on Sunday).

I emailed them and requested a high floor room because I couldn't remember if I had noted it on my initial reservation. Got top floor. Awesome view and nice room.

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Thanks everyone! I am still undecided but am leaning a bit towards Princess now that I know the dress code is a little more relaxed on Alaska itineraries only because it appears they may have more activities that we would like compared to HAL but I am going to think on it another week or so :)