flatpik6

We have cruised with both lines. Having said that, for the last 14 years we have found ourselves loyal to Carnival. Has nothing to do with the cost of the trips. It's purely a matter that we thoroughly enjoy our experience on board and our experience leading up to each cruise. We actually feel we have become a part of the Carnival culture as it pertains to vacations.

We've made friends on some of the ships and are treated above and beyond what's necessary while on board each ship. I agree that Carnival delivers an experience that is fairly consistent time after time and that's what we depend on.

Carnivals first Alaska cruise departs Vancouver on May 16.

Please come back tell us how you made out with him and the type of tour he did for you. We are using a guide in Tallinn, Estonia next month that we also contacted thru Tours by Locals.

 

 

 

I will make a note on my calendar to do just as you asked.

This post might help you: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=49266595&postcount=149. The person who recommended the tour company and guide is local to the Vancouver area and posted this on our roll call. Good Luck!

Thanks very much for this reply. I did some quick research and booked a tour with Tours by Locals and will be using Winston. Thanks again for the input.

Hello to all. I just found this thread and am hopeful someone can steer me in the right direction. My wife and I are flying into Vancouver, (from our home in Fl), on May 14. We will be staying at the Westin Grand, Vancouver for 2 nights before our cruise sets out. It's our hope to schedule a private guided tour of the key sights on Sunday May 15. Over time I had seen comments in favor of a company called Vancouver Private Tours. http://www.vancouverprivatetours.com/index.html. After reaching out to them via email twice and not getting any reply I am thinking I need to find a different company to schedule a tour with. Can anyone make a good suggestion? We prefer to have a guide take us on a tour of about 4 hours to see all the best sights in and around the city in a nice vehicle but not necessarily a limo.

Any advice or direction is very much appreciated.

Just booked the Crab Feast the other day for myself and my wife. We'll be going on Sunday May 22 from 12:30 until 3:00. I actually think all of the questions which have been asked here are answered on the website. Except perhaps the questions about the stairs and type of walk. Really looking forward to this. There's nothing quite like fresh dungeness crab straight from the water.

Incidentally, I found their customer service to be really responsive.

Carnival Legend May 16th 2016, 8-day cruise does both. We'll be on it.

We'll be on this baby too. Hope we're able to get into both.

Here's my take on one "driver" of the upsell call. Of course I could be totally wrong. As a career marketing professional, my theory makes sense to me.

I recently received one of the very calls in question, which I accepted. I cruise on May 16 on an 8 day Alaska itinerary.

My theory is that I booked this cruise a long time ago through a PVP, (as I always tend to do). We cruise pretty often and are well progressed into the VIFP program but I think these have nothing to do with it.

I booked this trip a long time ago and searched for weeks watching for a ridiculously low rate on a category 8E Balcony. As time has gone on, the price for my cabin type has gone waaaaay up and not come anywhere near what I paid for it. I think Carnival sees these types of early saver, low price purchases and looks for an opportunity to upsell that cruiser and resell my cabin at the much higher, current rate.

To me that's all there is to it. Revenue baby! The name of the game.

We have chosen the Westin Grand Vancouver for our pre-departure nights in May of 2016. I think it's around $250 per night for our room type.

Sure....the general feedback and input from others who have traveled in early May is helpful. However, the most important thing to note from these replies is that the weather is unpredictable and extremely changeable. I have been to Alaskan waters 4 times on non-cruise fishing expeditions and found the weather and conditions to be vastly different each time. Whatever date you plan, go with the understanding that you are NOT in control of the weather and your game plan MUST be centered around "adapt and adjust" to whatever conditions you encounter. The beauty and excitement of the area is the same in any condition. Just different.

Fantastic. Looking forward to more.

 

I am off work on Friday and am hoping to post a review with LOTS of pictures and you will be able to see the views from the big and small boats.

Nice. I for one will look forward to your pics and review. Gathering as much info as I can prior to May 16.

All very helpful information. We are also booked on the May 16 trip and have chosen to be forward on the Panorama deck, Port side. While we always book balcony cabins, we find that we don't spend much time in the cabin after all. Still it's nice to have when you want to slip out there. We are really looking forward to this one.

Looking to connect with other cruisers heading to Alaska in May 2016. This will be our first Alaska cruise so would like info on excursions.:)

We just booked the May 16, eight day cruise leaving from Vancouver and returning to Seattle. Excited that it includes Glacier Bay. Is this the one you are on?

I have them all from the 8 night Vancouver to Seattle Cruise. I will see if I can get them copied and posted to my review.

YES! These are the ones I am anxious to see.

The timing of the train going on the same day worked out really well. We got to the station in Seattle about an hour before the train left, and although we had a bit of a wait in line, we got seats on the "scenic" side of the train (on the left side facing the front) so that we had a great view of the water on our way up. We arrived in Vancouver in plenty of time, customs at the train station was easy, and there were lots of taxis waiting for us right out front of the station. It was a quick 10 minute ride to the terminal and we were there in plenty of time.

 

Hope that answers your question--and have a great trip!

Fantastic. Thanks very much.

tommytune42, I just booked a similar trip and will also be flying to Seattle and taking the Amtrak to Vancouver. Can you please tell me about the timing of your train ride versus when you got on the ship? Did you take the train the morning of embarkation or the evening before? Trying to figure out how to time our arrival in Vancouver.

Funny......our pen drawer is full of various pens but our "daily" use pen is the blue Carnival one. I think there are two in there. All the others might as well be thrown away.

I received the special offer but wasn't aware of it until my PVP called the other night to make sure I was aware. I booked before we hung up the phone. Leaving Feb. 1.

You could choose to wait for them and board when their number gets called.

I LOOOOVE this response.

If you've been on the dream class...you most likely will not like fantasy class....I won't sail fantasy class.

 

 

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Certainly everyone is different and we each have our opinion so I will respectfully disagree with Dustin224 on this. We have cruised on several classes of ship including the Dream and Fantasy Class.

For us.....each ship has it's own merits. We liked the variety and "newness" of the Dream class ships but we equally love the Fascination and Sensation. These ships provide a totally different dynamic. Smaller, easier to get around, (proportionately smaller crowds), excellent contact with crew, etc.

I have yet to find a "class" of ship that was unacceptable. For us, it's more about doing your research and understanding what you will be getting with each ship. If you want a huge experience with tons and tons of fellow cruisers and seemingly endless options of stuff, go big. However if you enjoy a more moderately sized crowd on a less "huge" scale, choose something smaller.

Every single one of them is a blast to sail on if you choose for it to be.

They normally won't let you through the gate in Jacksonville until 10:30.

My favorite place on the ship for sail-away is verandah deck outside all the way forward. :)

Good tip. We'll be floating under the Dames Point Bridge on July 7th and will occupy YOUR spot for the view. :p

Some beautiful photos. Make the wait just a little bit harder to bear.