CJMini

Martincath,

You have come to my rescue once again. 
 

SkyTrain has been intimidating on planning this trip because there are four other adults with us (plus 10 yr old granddaughter who is free).  As uncomplicated as the “tap your credit card instructions” you have provided, husband wants to pay for everyone.  So, it seems the kiosk would be the better option and allow him to pay for several tickets at one time.

I so appreciate your time and effort in answering my question!!  I have this feeling “it’s going to be like herding cats”…so if I lose my patience I will still have your excellent instructions and will promptly tell everyone “here’s how you do it and I’ll meet all of you at the hotel.”   😂

Thank you, 

CJ

Martincath,

Many many thanks for your post.  You are a wealth of information and I’m sure there are so many Cruise Critic readers who have benefited from your advice/ suggestions.

CJ

Looking for information…we will be arriving in Vancouver for Alaska cruise.  Taking the Canada Line and would like to know the closest station to the Blue Horizon hotel?  Maps have indicated Vancouver City Centre.  Just want to make sure.  If correct, would we purchase a day pass to Canada Place but exit at the Vancouver City Centre stop?

Thanks,

CJ

Thank you for your response.  Hopefully the Skytrain kiosk at YVR will be accommodating with just our credit card and no Pin.

Our last cruise to Alaska was in 2018.  At YVR we attempted to purchase a Compass Day Pass at the kiosk using our Visa.  Unknown to us, a PIN number was required for the transaction to be completed.  We ended up exchanging money and paid cash for our Pass.

Fast forward to June 2024…we will be spending day prior to our cruise in Vancouver.  Our VISA credit card has the Tap/Chip function.  We will be traveling with two other couples (they have Tap/Chip function).  Will it be necessary for us to contact our US banking institutions and request Pin numbers?

Thanks in advance,

CJ

Thank you all for responding to my post.  Wonderful answers!  Not sure how any cruise lover can be informed and efficient without Cruise Critic!!  ☺️

Happy St Patrick’s Day !

We’re sailing to Alaska this June.  Also flying into Vancouver with West Jet airlines.  How do I check in for our return home flight (24 hours prior) when our last day onboard is a “at sea” day?  Is it possible to purchase internet for one day?

Thanks in advance.

CJ

Nothingbeatsbaseball -  Thank you for replying to my post.

We actually booked the tour this morning.

CJ

Cruising out of Vancouver in June 2024.  Researched activities for our post cruise day…our flight home is at 11:00 pm.  I found Landsea Tours and they seem to be very promising.  The tour includes Vancouver Lookout Tower and the Capilano Suspension Bridge.  This package also includes transport to Vancouver International.

Has anyone booked this tour?  What was your experience like?  Was your family included with other tour clients?  Did you have any issues with the amount of luggage?  We are a party of six adults and one child (age 10).  Did you feel there was sufficient time to enjoy the stops on the itinerary?  Any tips or advice?

Thank you in advance.

CJ

Thank you TSUmom and Suzanne123 for your responses.

One additional question…we will be on a 7 day cruise and there will be six suitcases.  Is this going to present a problem fitting into the vehicle?  Their website shows various sizes of vehicles…not sure how many other passengers will be with us and they will have luggage too.

Cruising out of Vancouver in June 2024.  Researched activities for our post cruise day…our flight home is at 11:00 pm.  I found Landsea Tours and they seem to be very promising.  The tour includes Vancouver Lookout Tower and the Capilano Suspension Bridge.  The package includes transport to Vancouver International.

Has anyone booked this tour?  What was your experience like?  Did you have any problems with the amount of luggage…we are a party of six adults and one child?  Did you feel there was sufficient time to enjoy the stops on the itinerary?  Any tips or advice?

Thank you in advance,

CJ

Following.  Can we drop off luggage at port and then walk around Canada Place until our boarding time?

We will be sailing Royal Caribbean Alaska June 2024.  There will be six adults and one child ( 10 yrs old ).  Very interested in an excursion which offers a helicopter ride to Hubbard Glacier, walk on the glacier ice, and then to a dog sled area to meet the dogs and ride on a sled.  Several helicopter companies have web pages.  Currently this type of excursion is not listed on Royal’s app for 2024.  Assuming the companies set up booking for just the current Alaska season?

Wondering if anyone has done this type of excursion?  I would appreciate any comments, suggestions and a company recommendation.  Also, did you book through Royal or on your own?

Thanks in advance,

CJ

We’re cruising RC next June 2024.  There are six adults and one 10 yr old child.  Juneau is a port call ( 1:30pm - 10:00pm) and we are looking at an excursion offering a helicopter ride to Hubbard Glacier and then to the Dog Sled Tour.  There are excursions listed on RC’s website but currently none are showing (for 2024) which offer the helicopter and dog sled option.  I am assuming the various helicopter companies only post for the current season?

Has anyone done this excursion?  Would appreciate your comments and the company you used.  Were you able to book this through Royal or did you book on your own?

Thanks in advance for any replies,

CJ

I read a posting above (Urban trekker) which stated “the same credit card CANNOT be used for two payments at the same time.   He/she said a sign stating this was in a station.

We will cruise in June 2024.  There will be 6 adults and 1 child (age 10).  All the adults have credit cards which feature the “tap” function.  On the Skytrain, the “tap” function can be used directly on the turnstile…each adult will tap going to Canada Place and “tap”  going to the airport upon return from cruise.

My question is how can the child’s parent “tap” their credit card to pay for Skytrain fare for the child?  I’m wondering if parent will just have to use a ticket kiosk and get a single paper ticket for the child?

Thanks in advance 

CJ

Thank you for the responses.

I find the smaller bottles much easier to pack ( we carry on our luggage).

We enjoy a glass with dinner…   thought the smaller bottles would be more convenient.

Again, thank you.

Will Royal Caribbean allow a four pack of small bottles of wine versus two 750ml bottles?

CNSfromHI -

Thank you for your response.  So sorry about using the term “specialty coffees”.  I should have been more specific.  I was referring to lattes, espresso, Frappuccino, etc.

Also, thanks for the heads up about if ordering a higher price drink you just pay the difference.

Definitely think the Classic package will suit all our needs.

Thanks again, CJ

We are looking at first cruise with Celebrity cruises.   In mock booking a cruise, there are two choices in selecting an alcoholic package.  There is the Classic and the Premium.  I’ve looked on Celebrity’s website, Googled and read cruiser’s descriptions.  I am seeing a lot of conflicting information as to what each package includes.

Hubby loves specialty coffees and gin & tonics.  My favorites are Bloody Mary’s, frozen drinks, soda, and Coco Loco’s.  And we enjoy a glass of wine at dinner.

The options of what name brand liquor in the Classic package are fine with us.  The difficulty I’m finding is which package includes the specialty coffees?  
 

Cruise Critic’s members are a valuable source of information … so, please help with this dilemma.

Thank you in advance,  CJ

Received November Protocols from Royal yesterday.  We have booked a 4 day cruise during Thanksgiving.   Pretty much the same from previous protocol with the exception of the following paragraph -

Onboard:  Unvaccinated guests ages 2-11 will take a complimentary antigen test prior to debark.  Depending on sailing length, there may be additional testing.

On Royal’s website, the “Prior to Disembarking” paragraph under View Healthy Sail Center distinctly states “For cruises that are 5 nights or longer, kids will take a complimentary antigen test onboard before cruise ends.”

The November protocol statement is rather ambiguous in my opinion.  Yet, Royal’s website distinctly states 5 nights or longer will require a test prior to disembarking.

I’m hoping those of you reading this will interpret the November protocol statement as vague and poorly worded. The website’s statement would require only one test at embarkation for a 4 day cruise.

Thanks for your interpretation,

CJ

Thank you for your answers. 
 

CJ

On a Thanksgiving cruise on Independence of Seas.  Our granddaughter will have to be tested on embarkation day in the terminal.  Looking for advice on luggage…should we take our luggage with us?  We’re trying to do carry on size with backpacks.  If one of our suitcases will not fit through the scanner, can one of us go outside to give to a porter after testing?  If not, we’re happy to roll around onboard until our room is ready.

Just want to make sure the luggage doesn’t go on a cruise without the humans.

Thanks, CJ

BND-

Thank you so much for your reply.  A true sigh of relief!!!!!

We are trying to research how to order this test.  There are three couples in our group who are sailing in November.  Our daughter and spouse, our son and spouse and hubby and I.  We have read through eMed and Optum’s websites.  Currently eMed only offers a six pack of tests and Optum offers a two pack and three pack of tests.  It appears eMed encourages the six pack to be used for three people or less and any unused tests would be backup or used for another cruise by the names listed.  This is verified by only allowing three user’s names in ordering the tests.  Has anyone ordered the six pack and given a test to six different individuals to use?  I am aware that every individual who tests with eMed or Optum is required to have their individual Navica account.  I’ve also read information about how a prescription is “connected” to each test…would this be the reasoning behind only allowing and entering three names on purchasing the eMed six pack?

Optum would allow us more flexibility in the number of tests we could order but would cost more.  We could possibly end up with extra tests which would again pose the question of whether the extras could be used by others as a backup or a future cruise.  Their website only asks for the name of the person ordering a test.  

I’ve watched numerous YouTube videos but none have addressed the issue of testing multiple people and the most economical way to ordering.  I’m hoping someone might have actual experience in dealing with this issue!  BTW…I’ve tried calling eMed but no success just on hold for 45+minutes.

Thank you,

CJ