ProfessorandtheGeek

Once I slip onto the ship with the new quick process, I think I'll leave mine in the cabin.

Could not have said it better myself.

We are booked on an Alaska cruise May of 2018 and we have changed our cabin from 1A to a C2.

I actually took myself off of the page (unjoined) after one of the travel agents (possibly an admin) insulted me for asking a question about a sale price on a cruise....

Does not surprise me at all.

By the looks of most people on our Alaska cruise on "chic" nights in May, I would not say it is a dying trend, especially not with those of us who still love dressing for those nights. There were people of all ages dressed to the nines on both "chic" nights.

I too had lost 70 lbs prior to our Alaska cruise in May. I only gained 2 lbs during the entire 13 days we were on vacation. The secret? Walking everywhere, working out every day as if we were still at home, and following my nutrition plan onboard (as closely as possible). In port we walked as much as possible, especially in Seattle we walked everywhere we could, except to and from the cruise terminal.

Good Luck, enjoy your cruise, and congratulations on the weight loss! I know that is a huge accomplishment.

We had the same problem, and they said it was because they made the change to final payment being due now 90 days before sailing for all cruises. My agent said to pay by the earlier date, no exception.

We were on the port side round-trip out of Seattle in May. We loved our view from that side. We did not feel like we missed anything at all. In Tracy Arm Fjord we were on deck most of the time, so the side of the ship did not matter. In port we faced the dock, and we liked that so we could people watch from our balcony, and view pulling in and out of port.

I am seeing many votes for the train in Skagway. Yes, it is a must do at some point, but we wanted to see more than what the train had to offer, to go beyond the summit.

Skagway is your gateway to the unspoiled Canadian wilderness. We rented a jeep from Alaska Green Jeeps. Yes, the jeep is green. You can get a lunch packed for the day for $10.00 a person. The excursion was about $200.00 for the two of us for the day.

The jeep comes with an electronic narrator, so that you have a guide for the day.We headed off from Skagway into the Canadian wilderness. You will need your passport as your pass through the border coming and going. Wow, the views and the drive did NOT disappoint! You can see pristine, unspoiled glaciers lakes and mountains. Emerald Lake is your turn around point. The excursion, with picture taking and lunch, took about 5 hours. Our pictures are as amazing as our memories.

We loved it so much that we are booking this again for our next trip.

Not enough for Celebrity Solstice meet and greet...where is a good place to meet first sea day for a small group? thanks:)

We had a great get together at the Sunset Bar at sail away. We chose a theme and it was a good time. You could try Cellar Masters if it is available or Martini Bar has some side areas near the bar that are good for gathering.

We just returned from Alaska on the Solstice. There is no self-service laundry on board. We took 2 more suitcases than we panned, due to layering and trying to avoid luggage weight charges.

Have a great cruise!

I was there May 20 - 30.

 

It was a high of 16*C or 64*F daily & no rain.

 

Sea was like glass.

We were there May 20-27. Weather was great. So, late May is our pick. We are doing the very same dates next year as well. Hoping for the same great weather.

Hi Cynthia,

 

They are both replacing the sea wall and digging a tunnel to replace the viaduct. I believe it will be at least another cruise season before it is all gone. The good news is that when it is done and the viaduct is down, there will be a wonderful openness all the way to the water with a waterfront park.

 

Sorry you had to see it that way. How was Ivar's? Too touristy for us but it is a Seattle institution.

Oh wow, I had no idea the viaduct was moving. Ivar's is always a treat. The food is fantastic, the service is great, and the views are spectacular. It is my favorite restaurant in Seattle. I have never had a bad experience there.

Cynthia

Let's hope you have a better experience with room service than we did on the Solstice. The breakfast room service was great because they left a menu in your cabin the night before. However, trying to call room service any other time of day, was a no go. Every time we called it went straight to a very, very long hold with no one coming back to the phone. We eventually gave up and went to go get something to eat. I do not know if this was because we had so many port days, or if they were just always that busy.

 

For all of you I hope you get as great a weather for your sail away as we had today here in Seattle. Speaking of Seattle, if anyone has any Seattle questions...ask away. Long time local here.

 

Jim

Jim,

We were just in Seattle 2 days post-cruise and will be back next year as well. Seattle is my favorite city, but we are curious, when will the waterfront construction be complete? We ate dinner at Ivar's Saturday night, and it was a nightmare to get down to the waterfront (we walked).

Cynthia

We are just off the Celebrity Solstice, May 20-27th out of Seattle to Alaska, if anyone has any questions. I am not planning on writing a review, but will answer any questions you may have.

Thanks.

We are just off the Celebrity Solstice. I will second all of the previous posters comments. We loved the Solstice! So much so, that we have booked it again for May 2017, Vancouver to Seattle.

I would also recommend renting a car and taking the road from Skagway into the Canadian Yukon to Emerald Lake. We did this as well, and the views are breathtaking. Our pictures do not even come close to doing the beauty justice.

Also, as far as a balcony. I found that we used our balcony many times, as we liked to go out and view the scenery as we traveled, and as we were relaxing. It was also nice the day we were in the Tracy Arm, that we could view it from our balcony, and not be so cold up on deck.

So, a balcony is a personal choice.

OY! forgot to write it

Seattle -Alaska-Seattle

We are using GO! Airport Shuttle for our transfers from the airport to our hotel. Their rates are very reasonable, $21.28 for both transfers to and from the airport to our hotel.

We are using Seattle Express for our transfers from the hotel to the pier, and back.

I will let you know in June - Equinox was seriously dated - there is only so much "FabbaAbba and 70s parties" one can take - Quasar was closed during our 14 night cruise so hoping it will be open on Solstice...

I have a feeling though it the ship wont be rockin' in Alaska...;)

For us THIS cruise - its a dream trip - so I guess some wild Martini nights might have to do the trick - always a buzz vibe there for sure :)

Quasar closed? I am also sailing Solstice this summer to Alaska. My last cruise we stayed in the "disco" until the wee hours each night, so I hope that is not the case on our cruise.

We are taking a private tour with Ketchikan Taxicab Tours. They have been great to work with, and we are looking forward to our tour with them.

You can find them on the web at http://www.ketchikantaxicabtours.com/tours.php

The time is correct. We are going on the Solstice cruise of May 13. We have booked the Butchhart Gardens and Empress Tea tour.

I am curious...If you are booked on the Solstice and not scheduled to dock in Victoria until 5:30, how do your have a tour of the gardens booked?

They will be closed by then.

This is from their website:

Spring

March 1 – 31 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

April 1 – June 14 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Please let me know as we are going the following week and want to do this tour.

Thanks.

The best and affordable cruise line is a personal perspective. You have to look at what lines sail to Alaska, and then decide what line you want to sail.

Royal Caribbean, Princess, Disney, Celebrity are all cruise lines that sail to Alaska. Other luxury lines sail to Alaska as well. Princess has been doing Alaska longer than any other lines.

I was a loyal RCCL cruiser but for Alaska, I chose Celebrity, again it is a personal choice.

Hope I was of some help.

Check out the latest Celebrity Cruises news from Cruise Critic:

 

Celebrity Cruises Bundles Cruise, Airfare and Bonuses in New Packages to Europe

I am wondering if this will be available for 2017 sailings. If so, I am looking to book!

On the ship I use a leather tote that serves as a handbag and carry all. In port, I use a cross body purse.

We are in Alaska in May of this year. In Skagway we are doing a self-guided tour with Alaska Green Jeeps, http://www.alaskagreenjeeptours.com.

They have been great to work with, and we are looking forward to our tour.

We are renting a jeep and doing a self-guided tour using Alaska Green Jeeps.

They have been great to work with, and we are looking forward to our tour.

http://www.alaskagreenjeeps.com/