katfer

There also is a quite extensive forum about Vancouver by locals.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Does anyone have the link to this? Thanks

Coming in to Vancouver August 14 on cruise ship...fly out next day around 1 pm.. what are best bets for accommodations close to downtown..around 200 dollars and... if at all possible....free shuttle to airport and breakfast would also be great! Thanks so much

I have been with both vendors- each numerous trips. They certainly both do great jobs. The Park Service naturalist is indeed a highlight and I've been rewarded with sailing with several excellent ones. The Kenai Fjords caps- too- are very well informed and knowledgeable. I do find a benefit with the assigned seats. It is common in the summer to have full boats. It never fails- on Kenai Fjords tours- people who spread out taking up a couple seats each. I usually out run them to my preferred seating and don't take any time, grabbing seats. But- I always see- a whole load of single seats and later people scratching their heads reluctant to have people move to free up seats. I find the included food with Kenai Fjords pretty crappy as well. My nephews who have gone with me several times- always enjoy Major Marines salmon. :)

 

my priority booking is MM's Holgate/Aielik combo or Northwestern fjords. But it also depends on discounts. When I am there, staying in Seward- I also go out every day, so in my case- I certainly do enjoy both companies.

How do we find out about discounts?? Thanks ...

Thanks so much..Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks Glaciers...downtown it is! Do you have a recommendation of hotel and of course..a great fish restaurant. We will be there in August..should we book hotel now? Thanks...

cruise booked and airfare purchased.....when do we need to start looking for hotels?..and booking train,excursions..etc.. Anyone have a good review on a low to mid range hotel with shuttle from airport? Budget Queen..need your help please.Trying to save as much for excursions as we can. Does anyone know of black Friday deals or coupon books? thanks in advance..

Ours is 5/27 and leaving from Memphis as well. Doing a cruisetour starting in Fairbanks on Princess. I noticed many of the better excursions are already booked as well. Trying to make final decisions within days and also looking at non-Princess vendors.

I also agree on Vancouver, beautiful city and plenty to do.

Have you booked airfare? If so..with what line?

thanks Flyertalker...going to matrix now. Will probably have a few more questions if that's ok.

Morning.......first time to Alaska....how quickly do I have to book hotels, the train and excursions? Flying in to Anchorage August 4th and then on to Seward for a few days. Would appreciate any input!! Would love hotel and excursion recommendations also........and of course" what not to miss"

Morning....feeling overwhelmed looking at airfares and connections to Anchorage. Anyone have any tips as for easier connections airports...best ways to find shorter layovers...best search engines...is it better to have one stop or two? As I search this site I understand to buy when price looks good..so far has been no real change. We recently signed up for AAAdvantage to hopefully accrue miles...any tips on that? Sorry for all the questions...but have learned so much here on boards....Thank you so much.

Thanks...Plan on leaving around August fourth, a Friday. Cruise leaves Monday the seventh from Seward,Alaska..so southbound. We live in Memphis,Tennessee. This is of four adults..3 being "senior" We disembark in Vancouver. We plan to return to Memphis around the fifteenth of August. My question is..should we book sooner or later since this cruise is several months away...are fares better if we were to leave in middle of week? Hope I am making sense..have been on several cruises but the logistics of this is somehow more difficult since we're going earlier and having to plan so much more.

We have to fly into Anchorage,Alaska

Some research on the Cruise Air board, here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=128

 

would be very beneficial. You would see there is no "magic" time for buying airfares. You simply have to do the research, determine what the price ranges are, buy, and don't look back.

 

Some reading here, on the Cruise Air board, and the West Coast Departures board (where Vancouver and Seattle are covered) would reveal airfares can be high to the common Alaska serving airports, as demand during the summer season is very high.

 

Most search engines, like ita.matrix and Google Flight allow you to select "flexible dates" to see if there will be a difference if you fly one or two days earlier or later.

 

Telling us the who, what, when and wheres of your flight needs would help us help you better.

Thanks...Plan on leaving around August fourth, a Friday. Cruise leaves Monday the seventh from Seward,Alaska..so southbound. We live in Memphis,Tennessee. This is of four adults..3 being "senior" We disembark in Vancouver. We plan to return to Memphis around the fifteenth of August. My question is..should we book sooner or later since this cruise is several months away...are fares better if we were to leave in middle of week? Hope I am making sense..have been on several cruises but the logistics of this is somehow more difficult since we're going earlier and having to plan so much more.

Morning...any tips on when to book air for August 2017.....anyone found some great search engines? Best day of week..etc...Would so appreciate info!

Hi

 

Best of best:

 

Le Bistro- app: cream of mushroom soup, main: Bouillabaisse, dessert:Tarte Tatin and Cream Puffs

 

La Cucina- app: asparagus risotto (large portion, had is as my main) husband loved the Lasagna app size, Tiramisu was excellent

 

And the only other really memorable dish, ironically, was the Seafood Paella, on the pool deck, sea day

 

cheers,

Vivian

Hi All,

 

We just returned from the GEM, Canada/New England 7 Day. We opted for the dining package, 3 specialty restaurants included over the drinks package, shorex or internet. We prepaid the 'gratuities' portion, mandatory at booking. It wasn't much, maybe $56 pp?

 

I pre-booked our restaurants about 5 weeks prior to sailing. I highly recommend this as I saw a few disappointed passengers on board who could not get into the venues they wanted. I booked 7:30pm for all 3, not knowing that the production shows were always 6:30 and 8:30. We did manage to get in early or finish just in time but I'd recommend 7pm for dinner if you want to go to the 830pm shows.

 

We ate twice at Le Bistro and once at La Cucina. I am a vegetarian (but will eat fish/seafood occasionally) so these made the most sense. Plus I loved Le Bistro on the Jade.

 

So, the menus do have prices on them, for guests without dining packages.

For those with a package, I believe the unspoken 'rule' is you may only order one entree but otherwise can request as many dishes as you want. The bread & rolls on board are fantastic and we definitely appreciated the baskets and butter with each meal.

 

Le Bistro, dinner 1 - we both had 2 apps, one main each, 3 desserts between us. The 'bill' which you are given at the end shows pricing with a total which is then zeroed out. Our bill was $79. Any alcohol purchases are on a separate bill.

Le Bistro, dinner 2 - again, same as above, bill was $74 before adjustments

 

La Cucina, dinner 3 - I ordered 2 plates from the apps menu + a salad, my husband had 2 apps plus a main, and 3 desserts between us (the portions are small!)

Total bill about $70 before adjustments.

 

The service at all 3 was excellent, especially in Le Bistro, so we gave an additional gratuity on the 'zero' bill each time.

 

For us, these were the best dinners by far. We also ate at Orchid Garden one night and the food and service were very good, though I found most dishes to be quite heavy on the oil (or deep fried) so my system could not handle a second visit. Dinners in the MDR were kind of disappointing and the buffet (we went once for dinner as I wasn't feeling great) looked pretty good on some nights when we wondered by though the desserts were dreadful (see my GEM Oct 8-15 review)

 

Hope this helps!

Thank you so much..leaving Saturday..what sis you get that was especially good?

on Gem next week...anyone know what their menu has......I am absolutely drooling!

coming in Saturday and staying at sheraton...thinking how close it would be to ship...surprise! Have you found a favorite place to eat in San Juan? p.s. You will love the Gem!

I have to be out of my hotel at noon, so I'll get a taxi and head over to the Pan Am dock then. According to my E-Docs, I have open boarding which will begin at noon, with last call at 7 PM. I enjoy being aboard ship before everyone is boarded, and its been three years since I've been aboard a Jewell class ship, so I'll get my bearings. Your E-docs will give you a time for boarding, listed in the "At the Pier section". Whether NCL will insist on that time is unknown;)

looking forward to meeting you and Waz. Have you stayed at El Convento before? Am having buyers remorse for not staying there....

Stayed at the Sheraton OSJ in May. A serviceable hotel. I had a nice upgrade to a corner Bay View room that had 2 Juliette balconies looking out to the port and the Fort up the hill. The room was much larger than the Deluxe Rooms shown, maybe because it was a corner. Just be aware that the lobby is far too small to handle all the people that come off the ship at the same time.

Good location - right at the Port in OSJ, and easy walking for all the small streets in OSJ.

How did u get upgrade? That room sounds amazing!

Hey, just wondering we are sailing on the Gem out of San Juan, just wondering since we depart at 9pm what time do they do the drill usually? just wondering as we bought the specialty dining and didn't want our seating to be interrupted by going to the drill, thanks

wondering same thing ...thanks for asking!

Just off Gem today. Fantastic entertainment. Shows consisted of a70 revival. Second city comedy, a hypnotist, and a cirque du soleil type show the final night. In various areas throughout there was a fabulous three piece Celtic band. On our sailaway there was a Dixie type jazz band. There was also a guitar player\singer. Lots to see and listen to.

Was the celtic band Cynthia Mccleod? She and her group are amazing!!

Last time they were hamilton beech coffee makers. I bought disposable filters on amazon and starbucks ground from home, which worked well.

anyone know what balcony has so I can bring some good coffee? Thanks so much!

Try to see if Rose and Jim's taxi service will accommodate you. Great reviews..

On Gem October 23rd with a balcony[bb] I see prices have dropped a lot for this cruise.Have never had a mini suite. Would it be that much better? What about going for aft balcony? ....and do I call upsell line if booked through a travel agency? Does it take commission away from travel agent? What about promo's..have excursions booked and 4 day udp.as this was booked in January.Thanks for your assistance.

Do Rose and Jim have a website? That sounds wonderful!