Caution Celebrity cruisers in Skagway

[Upgradefairy4u]

Just got back from our Solstice cruise Friday. Be careful if in Skagway if you are doing the full day White Pass Rail/Bus tour to the Yukon through a private tour company. The ship sets sail at 5:45pm and the train is scheduled back into Skagway at 4pm. That is if all goes well and the train doesn't have mechanical issues. Our tour pulled into Skagway at 5:25pm with a 20 minute walk to the ship. We boarded the ship at 5:43pm with 2 minutes to spare!!! Keep this in mind if you book a private excursion, because they are not required to wait for you. Fortunately there were two Celebrity excursions on board the train that they HAD to wait for. It ruined the entire train ride wondering if we were going to miss the ship...and needless to say,we had NO time in the cute town of Skagway to shop! Just an friendly fyi.

[shuang6]

Thanks for the heads up. What time did your tour start in the morning?

[DentoAlaska]

That's the main reason I booked our excursions through the cruise line. Probably cost me more but I don't have to worry about missing the boat.:)

[xlxo]

That is if all goes well and the train doesn't have mechanical issues. Our tour pulled into Skagway at 5:25pm with a 20 minute walk to the ship.

 

needless to say,we had NO time in the cute town of Skagway to shop! Just an friendly fyi.

Did they elaborate on the mechanical issue?

 

They are likely taking train issues more seriously after last summer's derailment.

[Illyria]

Fortunately there were two Celebrity excursions on board the train that they HAD to wait for. It ruined the entire train ride wondering if we were going to miss the ship...and needless to say,we had NO time in the cute town of Skagway to shop! Just an friendly fyi.

That's one thing about the train in Skagway, though - there will ALWAYS be ship tours on the same train as you, so the ship really isn't going anywhere until the train gets back ;)

[Putterdude]

That's one thing about the train in Skagway, though - there will ALWAYS be ship tours on the same train as you, so the ship really isn't going anywhere until the train gets back ;)

 

I am very inclined to agree with you, even if they are in another car.....but there is always a small risk and of course looking at your watch every other minute is a bit disconcerting. But yes, we always book at the train station.

[Upgradefairy4u]

Our tour left at 8:30am. If you would like to take the tour, I suggest you book early and take the train up and the bus back (that choice was sold out when we booked). The bus has more control on how many stops it makes and would be able to adjust their time if they are running late. I felt that the bus made way too many photo stops on the way to the Yukon. Every 10 minutes we were on and off and on the bus to take a picture of a lake.

 

As for the mechanical problem, all they said was an earlier train had engine problems which pushed all the other trains back 2 hours. We also had to stop 3 times to pick up hikers along the way as well as stop to let the train in front of us get ahead. Let's just say I was sweating by the time we finally got to the ship! The train ride was not relaxing at all!!

[Upgradefairy4u]

That's the main reason I booked our excursions through the cruise line. Probably cost me more but I don't have to worry about missing the boat.:)

 

Believe me, this was no cheaper!! The ship excursion was sold out, so I didn't have a choice. I usually book early, but I was trying to organize a group of friends we were traveling with, and by the time they committed, the ship excursion was sold out. I agree, I always try to book through the ship.

 

On the other hand, we were whale watching in Juneau and were on the ship excursion which meant a larger boat. The private excursions were on the smaller boats and were so close to the whales, I swear they could feel the spray from their blow holes!!!! (said in a jealous voice)

[DentoAlaska]

Our tour left at 8:30am. If you would like to take the tour, I suggest you book early and take the train up and the bus back (that choice was sold out when we booked). The bus has more control on how many stops it makes and would be able to adjust their time if they are running late. I felt that the bus made way too many photo stops on the way to the Yukon. Every 10 minutes we were on and off and on the bus to take a picture of a lake.

 

Thank you for that comment. I went back and checked our itinerary and our tour leaves at 7:30 am and returns at 2:40 pm with the ship departing Skagway at 8:30 pm. it is the train up and the motorcoach back so we should be good. Plenty of lag time at this port. We should even have plenty of time to wander around the town. :)

[GORDONCHICK]

On the other hand, we were whale watching in Juneau and were on the ship excursion which meant a larger boat. The private excursions were on the smaller boats and were so close to the whales, I swear they could feel the spray from their blow holes!!!! (said in a jealous voice)

 

That's not possible. There's a law that they have to be a certain distance away from the whales regardless of the size of boat. If they are sitting still and a whale surfaces nearby, that is not within their control.

[gfkcruiser]

I did a whale watch and Mendenhall glacier combo in Juneau through celebrity. There's were about 17 of us on the small bus and the onto a small boat like a large pontoon boat. Was nice but did not see a lot of whales. In Skagway we did a small bus trip to the Yukon and had a great time

[varoo]

That's not possible. There's a law that they have to be a certain distance away from the whales regardless of the size of boat. If they are sitting still and a whale surfaces nearby, that is not within their control.

Absolutely correct.

The distance restrictions are on the boats.

There are no restrictions on the whales, so they can go wherever they want.

We have gone on a small boat and seen the whales surface close to a large boat, and vice versa.

 

But since there are typically many small boats and only one or two larger boats out in the whale watching areas, it is easy to see how one could get the erroneous impression that the previous poster had.

 

A number of times when we were out on a small boat and the whales came up close to the boat of another company, we heard people say they wish they had gone with the other company. ;)

 

[Upgradefairy4u]

That's not possible. There's a law that they have to be a certain distance away from the whales regardless of the size of boat. If they are sitting still and a whale surfaces nearby, that is not within their control.

 

Yes there is, and there is also a law stating that the boats can only stand in one spot for 30 minutes per whale but....our captain got around that since there were so many whales, we could stay longer. So I guess there are ways around the rules!!

 

I also agree it is the luck of the draw. No one knows where they will surface. I was thrilled we saw 29+ whales feeding and breaching. We were lucky!

[BigGuy25]

That's the main reason I booked our excursions through the cruise line. Probably cost me more but I don't have to worry about missing the boat.:)

 

Just my two cents, but I quit purchasing cruise line tours (for the most part) many years ago. We've have much more intimate and exciting experiences by not being on the big busses ... always waiting for the last person to arrive before you can move on to the next location. Also, at meal times, you often get a local experience be getting into smaller "neighborhood" restaurants, etc. because the facility doesn't need to cater to many passengers on large busses all at the same time. And, the smaller operators can often stay ahead of the "throngs" on the tour busses that are behind them. I totally understand those who are nervous about being "left behind" by a late arriving private tour. Because of the $$$ they make, the cruise lines also perpetuate that fear. Not to say it never happens, but we've cruised a lot and never knew anyone who missed a ship when out on a private experience with a reputable tour provider. And, you find those right here on Cruise Critic. Because of Cruise Critic's broad reach, if a tour operator missed a ship's departure they'd be out of business really quickly.

Edited June 23, 2015 by BigGuy25

[Budget Queen]

Just my two cents, but I quit purchasing cruise line tours (for the most part) many years ago. We've have much more intimate and exciting experiences by not being on the big busses ... always waiting for the last person to arrive before you can move on to the next location. Also, at meal times, you often get a local experience be getting into smaller "neighborhood" restaurants, etc. because the facility doesn't need to cater to many passengers on large busses all at the same time. And, the smaller operators can often stay ahead of the "throngs" on the tour busses that are behind them. I totally understand those who are nervous about being "left behind" by a late arriving private tour. Because of the $$$ they make, the cruise lines also perpetuate that fear. Not to say it never happens, but we've cruised a lot and never knew anyone who missed a ship when out on a private experience with a reputable tour provider. And, you find those right here on Cruise Critic. Because of Cruise Critic's broad reach, if a tour operator missed a ship's departure they'd be out of business really quickly.

 

Cruise contracted tours are a huge revenue source for cruise lines- so I am thinkfull for those purchasing and keeping my cruise pricing low. :)

 

I have a vendor friend, who was approached by a particular cruiseline, to offer tours for them. He did link up partially with a low volume, ultra costly combo tour a few years ago. He continues to offer his regular tours independently. BUT the cruise line commission was 40%!!!!! So vendors usually are significantly discounting these tours, for the cruise lines, for the benefit of contracts.

[varoo]

Cruise contracted tours are a huge revenue source for cruise lines- so I am thinkfull for those purchasing and keeping my cruise pricing low. :)

Yes indeed.

Also thankful for those purchasing expensive spa treatments and art at the art auctions, and the designer jewelry and bags, as well as to those who spend their time on the cruise ship gambling in the casino or playing bingo. ;)

 

[DCCRANCH]

We just got back from Juneau and were told that if a whale surfaces within the required distance from the boat then the captain is REQUIRED to shut off the engines. They are only allowed to turn the engines back on if it is 'deemed' that the whale has moved away to a safe distance. So, theoretically, if the whale stayed in the same location then the boat captain would have to stay floating with no power until it was safe for the whale. Seemed to me that the majority of the captains and crew are VERY concerned for the safety of the whales.

[Putterdude]

Here is a link to the regulations relating to whale watching: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/protectedresources/mmv/guide.htm