TheShayQueen

I am trying to decide about this area myself on the new Panorama.

I like the private pool area idea but it sounds like it would be noisy from the bar and the patios seem too public to me with folks walking right past them.

I cannot tell if the balcony areas are also not so private. We have been booking suites lately and it doesn't look like the Havana suites have any privacy at all.

Perhaps I am missing something???

You will LOVE the Havana area! No noise whatsoever from the bar or pool area. The balconies above you will be able to look down onto your patio, but your swing will give you privacy. And it's not many folks at all that walk past, even after 7pm.

Here's some videos that may help you decide:

I just sailed Vista and the formal nights were Sunday and Friday. Also, yes, you will have to pick up your own zone tags unless you're platinum or diamond. If you are, the cabin steward will deliver them to your cabin.

Enjoy your trip!

Thank you all for your feedback, especially martincath. Very, very informative with great information.

TheShayQueen: Ohhhh -- I know exactly what you are talking about. We have been checking the Pan Pacific website and have found the same problem. My husband called the Pan Pacific Vancouver yesterday and was told that the Pan Pacific booking software (at least for the Vancouver property) will only book nine months out. He didn't quiz the person extensively, but the person he spoke to implied that this a Canadian booking software issue common to a number of Canadian hotels. We found this interesting as we have stayed in the past at not only the Vancouver Pan Pacific, but at other Pan Pacific properties. We know that we were able to book the Pan Pacific Singapore farther out than nine months. And it was also interesting that we booked the Auberge this morning for those same dates which were not open for booking at the Vancouver Pan Pacific.

Ahhhh interesting. My trip is about 10 months out so that would explain it. I just found it odd because I have never seen that before. Now I know that i'm not going crazy ;p.

What's your travel dates for hotels? We can provide better recommendations based on availability.

The cruise ends on July 13, 2018 in Vancouver and we want to experience at least one day there and stay the night before flying back home the next day. So, we're just looking for something reasonable for one night in a great location.

I was looking at Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel through Expedia, but when I went to the hotel's website - it shows that the hotel is "sold out". The website actually showed many months as being "sold out". How can this be the case if both Expedia and Booking.com shows that rooms are available?

Has anyone stayed at Rosedale on Robson?

Any recommendations of hotels in Vancouver?

That would have been cool, but it goes that way. I am glad to help. I have subscribed to this thread and if I learn anything I will share it here with you. Lol, I have already found a place to have dinner in Anchorage. A great brew house that takes on-line booking approximately 3 months in advance, and is 3 block from the hotel.

 

The shore excursions are great. We booked them to "get in the door" but we might do them privatly if we find the same only cheaper. Right now the ones we have picked cost the same as another cruise, but it is for four in Alaska.:o

Yes, I've noticed that excursions can be a bit pricey....depending on which one is chosen. :eek:

And you found a dinner spot already? WOW....you sound like a great planner. Keep up the good work and share that information :D.

ShayQueen we also are sailing in July, Southbound Radiance of the Seas. We too have also picked 1B as our precruise tour. We sail July 20th and our tour starts July 17th. It would be funny if you were on the same "expedition" as us.

 

We always fly in the day before but for this trip we are flying in the same day as our tour starts, which is basically the overnight in Anchorage. The hotel I have been told is the downtown Marriott. Our flights leave Toronto at 8 am and fly to Vancouver and then connect with another flight to Anchorage. We have been told that there is a RC representative at the airport from 11am to 11:59pm every day that they are expecting guests. We arrive there at approximately 3pm. We will transfer with RC directly to the hotel, check in, find food, and flop down for a rest. We figure worst case scenario, if we happen to be a day late they will catch us up to the tour. It wouldn't be the first or the last time that this would happen in Alaska.

 

We booked our flights independently yesterday and since shore excursions are open we did them as well. As for the Vancouver the airport it is about 30 minutes from the cruise port.

 

I have been doing some research about the cruise port and they said taxis can have a long line, depending on how many other ships are at the pier. This year Radiance was the only ship on Fridays except for one at the beginning and end with of the season because ships were repositioning. When the port schedule comes out for next year I will think more about taxi, uber, car service to the airport.

 

Hope this helps a bit.

Andrew

Aww man.....we sail July 6th and our tour starts July 3rd.

You did make a good point about flying in the day of for this particular trip, since we're heading straight to the hotel. I will check out flights and see what they have.

I took a peek at some of the shore excursions. So many to choose from. This is going to be such an amazing trip. I cannot wait!

This information has definitely helped me. Thank you so much!

This is not correct. As I stated above, Royal Caribbean is at the Anchorage airport every day, whenever they know they have a cruisetour guest coming in. We also arrived a day early and RCCL provided free transportation from the airport to our hotel. The key is to either book your air through RCCL or if you book air independently, let RCCL know your flights.

 

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We are probably going to book air independently, after deciding whether to come in a day ahead or the day of. I am so used to flying Southwest and being able to change flights, if needed, without any fees.....that it makes me nervous booking this far in advance with another airline :eek:. At least transportation is taken care of. Whew!

Yes there are nice holels near Anc, BUT, it's a poor location to be, if you don't have a car. What is your reason for coming in early? Just to relax in a hotel, add a tour option? etc? Determing that - first- would give you a lot better planning direction.

 

In Vancouver I always use Skytrain, and did again, yesterday. Fare to YVR is $4.10ca, (I have a Compass Card which is cheaper) From YVR is $9.10ca

 

As for your "transportation", it will only be available to you on the day you have the RCI booking. So you would have to book your extra nights through them for transportation. Few downtown hotels have shuttles, more airport ones do. A poor priority to give however in my opinion. :)

For all of my previous cruises, we usually travel a day ahead just for peace of mind. I worry about flight cancellations, bad weather or flight delays that would cause us to miss the ship. Plus, it's relaxing to already be at our destination. The same would apply to Alaska.

How far is the Skytrain from the port?

We are on tour 5B right now. We also came into Anchorage a day early. Even though we were told ahead of time by Royal Caribbean that a transfer would not be provided to the hotel from the airport since we are coming in a day early, lo and behold who did we see at the airport near baggage claim, but a representative with a Royal Caribbean sign. We checked in with her, and confirmed that our names were on the Manifest.

 

They were wonderful at the airport, assisted us with our luggage, and took us on the shuttle bus to the hotel. The hotel that Royal Caribbean is using for our Land Tour is the Anchorage Marriott downtown. I am not certain as to whether they use any other hotels, but I can ask our tour director tomorrow morning for you.

 

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I forgot to add that the Royal Caribbean rep at the airport stated that they are there every day, whenever they know that somebody is arriving. We booked our air through Royal Caribbean, but you can also book it independently. If you book it independently, just let Royal Caribbean know your flight arrangements.

 

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Nice! Enjoy your trip. And yes, our hotel for the land based tour is the Anchorage Marriott as well.

How many land days does tour 5B have?

Sorry just noticed you are leaving from Anchorage. We did the longer tour that left from Fairbanks. Therefore my response about small airport & 10 minutes to hotels obviously doesn't apply to your cruise tour.

 

 

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That's okay. I am sure that it will help someone else leaving from Fairbanks.

Thank you to all that have responded so far. Very helpful!

We have selected to do the Pre Cruise Tour 1B for our first trip to Alaska and I have some questions to ask.

We usually travel to our destination a day ahead. The land tour states that Royal provides transportation from the Anchorage airport (ANC) to the hotel. This is probably a crazy question, but do we have to arrive the day of in order to use their transportation. Or are we able to meet them at the airport at a certain time?

Are there any nice hotels around ANC airport that you recommend?

Once the cruise is over, how far is the port to the Vancouver airport? Would you recommend cab or Uber (if they have it) to the airport?

Would you recommend booking flights this early and the trip isn't until next summer?

Any help I would appreciate. Thank you!

Hi! I am assuming that Camp Ocean runs the same way on all of the ships. During my Carnival Magic cruise last month, the schedule was:

Aruba port time (1pm-10pm) - Camp Ocean opened at 10am

Kids under 2 opened at 8am

Amber Cove (8am-4pm) - Camp Ocean opened at 7:30am

Grand Turk (8am-4pm) - Camp Ocean opened at 7:30am

Been on 3 cruises and never seen this or heard about it on these boards. Do you get to keep the shot glass?

Yes, they are souvenir glasses that you keep.

I know you're asking about Pride, but during my Magic cruise last month....he came around every night while we were eating dinner. He had some very cool looking shot glasses.

Here is a link to see a VB cabin:

I loved it! They are so much better than a regular inside balcony.

It's been awhile since I've been in a cove, but I absolutely loved it and would book one again:

There was only 1 lifeboat above - 1/2 shade, 1/2 sunny.

Thanks for the link

You're welcome! :)

Which cabin should l choose on the board walk 11725 or 10727. Also is the bed on 10727 near balcony or closet.

This video will show cabin 10727.

I loved it and would choose it again. No issues with noise either.

That is just so bizarre! We are on the September 3rd sailing, our entertainment reservations have been open since around 90 days out.

We're on the September 3rd sailing as well and already booked shows, dinner times, etc. but after reading this thread....it looks like I have to keep my eye on everything until cruise time :eek:

Thanks for this, many ask about the stateroom.:)

I was one of those people before this cruise. I hope the pics help.

WOW, watched a few minutes of that, going to flag to watch later. Thank you, you produced it wonderfully. We booked a 9 day Southern on her Nov '17 and love the pics and video!

 

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It's a very lengthy video, I apologize in advance. Thank you and I hope it helps to prepare you a little for your upcoming cruise on her. You're going to love it!

LOVED your video. Anthem is up next for me, then Getaway and then Vista...haha. We're actually thinking about booking our Alaska cruise with Princess because I've read that they have great land/cruise packages.

I was already excited about my upcoming cruises, but after watching your video it made me even more excited :D.

A breakdown of what my link offers since my video is so long :rolleyes:. If something interests you, please fast forward to the time below....

Navigator of the Seas - April 16, 2016

The video starts off with pictures of Cambria Suites in Ft. Lauderdale, which is the hotel we stayed at before the cruise. A very nice hotel.

1:30 - pics of the inside of the ship

4:47 - pics of my panoramic ocean view cabin

6:00 - pics of outside areas of the ship

6:47 - Labadee, Haiti

9:56 - San Juan, Puerto Rico

14:16 - Basseterre, St. Kitts

17:47 - Philipsburgh, St Maarten

22:46 - videos of things to do and see on the ship

52:48 - Carnival Sunshine sailaway

54:39 - RCCL Freedom of the Seas sailaway

We only received 2 towel animals during our recent 8-night Navigator cruise.