Northern Aurora

If you don’t know SEATAC security lines can be confusing.

I will start with some ideas and others will also reply. Icy Strait Point has excellent whale watching. Skagway is all about the Klondike gold rush. A number of the buildings are operated as museums by the National Park Service. For train buffs there is the White Pass and Yukon Railway. Juneau is our state capitol. Some ideas include Mendenhall Glacier, our state museum, Sealaska Heritage Institute and the Mt. Robert’s tram. Ward Cove is not in downtown Ketchikan which is a problem.

Last summer both Solstice and one of the gigantic Royal ships were on the same embarkation/disembarkation schedules using Smith Cove (not Bell Street at pier 66). That pier is the one farthest from SeaTac. Parking lots are a zoo with folks having problems locating Lyft or Uber. The flight our OP is considering may be very tight.

To drive from Vancouver to Skagway folks would have to drive the AlCan highway to Whitehorse and then drive south to Skagway.

Just a quick comment from someone who lives in Alaska — I don’t understand why a tourist would ever need bear spray unless they are doing a remote trek in a place such as the Brooks Range. Don’t overthink the issue.

@Cruisegirl6 Since the fan helps your asthma have you considered contacting the Celebrity special needs department to ask for a fan?

It has been years since I’ve seen someone trying to use them on a cruise ship. As I remember they were not very effective as one party would be talking really loud but the other party still couldn’t hear them. Please use the app.

One of our fellow passengers on a cruise to Antarctica was widely traveled but only to warm weather destinations. Layers are the key. She dressed in layers and had no need to purchase additional items.

Fortress of The Bear is indeed far enough from downtown that most folks don’t consider it walkable.

We boarded the Eclipse yesterday. Luminae served filet mignon last night. MDR menu listed prime rib, and the Luminae maitre d confirmed that prime rib was indeed being served.

I am also posting from the Eclipse but don’t want to hijack this thread. We have been to Sydney several times and Celebrity ships have always docked at the OPT, even the now departed Century. Not only is the OPT within easy walking distance to the Opera House, it is also easy walking distance to the botanic gardens, the Rocks Discovery Center, Susanna Place museum, Museum of Modern Art, Police Museum, Governors House and a few other points of interest. The Hyde Parks Barracks, Art Gallery of NSW and Australian Museum are a little farther away but also walkable for those mobile.

We are also boarding tomorrow for the first leg of a B2B2B2B. It will indeed be interesting to read a chef’s perspective regarding food.

Through the years we have stayed at the Mayflower Park a number of times. We do book the larger rooms (are they described as delux — I can’t remember) as the standard rooms are on the small side.

Actually a Princess (or was it’s a HAL) ship arrived in Juneau about a decade ago with a dead whale stuck on to the bulbous bow. Juneau being our capital both federal and state wildlife offices are there. They worked together to remove the whale and there were photos taken that day of them working. There were a number of highly upset passengers with some folks claiming they would never cruise on that line again. How dare the ship hit a whale type of sentiment. A necropsy was conducted and turned out that ship hit a whale which was already deceased and had died of natural causes. The incident was closely followed the Alaska news media.

I don’t know, but in the fall of 2021, after the passage of the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act, we were B2B on cruises. Our beloved dog developed, of all things, vertigo (vestibular). We were calling our vet in Fairbanks from every port, and the connection was perfect.

I have actually done this run, and I really don’t think it matters much. In the inside passage the ship is transiting between the mainland and the barrier islands.

Just a quick comment from someone who’s lives in Alaska — since this a RT out of Vancouver I don’t think it matters much.

And our OP is on an Alaskan July sailing. While past the summer solstice it will still light outside. The “show” folks will want to see is the scenery outside.

There is sufficient seating in Celebrity theaters. So no booking needed.

No. Shows do not need to be pre-booked.

I suspect a number of us are curious — how much time did you have to spare? What time did you set foot on that ship and when did you depart? We flew from Fairbanks to Anchorage, and then onto Honolulu yesterday to stop for 48 hours before proceeding to Sydney. While our first flight left 20 minutes early the second flight was about an hour late. While waiting to board that flight folks at the gate next to us were experiencing a three hour delay as they were waiting for a crew member. Airline scheduling is becoming so tight it almost most makes you wonder if even flying in the day before embarkation is sufficient. In any event — have a great vacation.

This Alaskan also has ATT & T. We ave never tried it at sea, but have good coverage in ports.

We are traveling toward our an embarkation port, so despite reading in airline lounges, was following as close as I could. So glad you made that ship.

We have had several overnight stops at a tender port, and tenders have always operated at a reduced schedule.

I love Homer. Great scenery and non-touristy. Sitka is also a plus.