Tracy Arm ...Question

[henren]

I am scheduled to sail out of NCL Star on May 30th out of Seattle . I've been reading the reviews on the board and most of the Star cruises last year in May and June have been shut of entering Tracy Arm due to the ice and have been diverted to Endicott Arm . I am not sure if I am reading the reviews right but what is surprising is that some reviews have mentioned that they were able to enter Tracy Arm even in mid May , while sailings even in end June have been shut out . I have not yet read the review for July or August ,so I am not sure...

 

My question..what timeframe gives the cruise ships the best chance of entering Tracy Arm and should I just be prepared that my cruise on May 30th would in all probability end up being diverted to Endicott Arm...I have read some of the messages which says they key is to find out what happened the week before..So is it possible that once a cruise ship makes it into Tracy Arm once , then all cruise ships after that week..will always be able to go into Tracy Arm..but that goes against the contrary to what I have read in reviews...with people able to enter in mid May and also getting shut out in end June..

 

I can book the NCL jetboat tour but looks like that tour is solely driven by where ur cruise ship ends up going?

[Budget Queen]

If you want a better chance of the full transit of Tracy Arm, you are better off looking at July and later.

 

There is NO WAY to predict and it has way more to do than "ice conditions". Is totally up to the cpt. and they can time out and turn around anytime they want.

 

I went in 07, third week of July. That was the FIRST time that season that the NCL Sun made it to within view of the South Sawyer glacier. Here is a photo sample. http://community.webshots.com/user/budgetqueen The ship photo is the closest it got, and the photo is taken with a normal lens. You will ALWAYS get closer with the jet boat, in any location. I am holding off booking this, since I've seen plenty of glaciers and have been on many many boat tours. But if a priority, the jet boat is always way superior.

 

No it does NOT mean all successive cruises will make it to the Sawyers, after a previous sighting. But, I want to know and always ask.

 

Since it seems this is very important to you due to your posts?? I really recommend you switch over to the Pearl since it is a superior itinerary and you will have a look at at least 4 glaciers sailing Glacier Bay. My opinion only, but a must do for a first timer.

[henren]

If you want a better chance of the full transit of Tracy Arm, you are better off looking at July and later.

 

There is NO WAY to predict and it has way more to do than "ice conditions". Is totally up to the cpt. and they can time out and turn around anytime they want.

 

I went in 07, third week of July. That was the FIRST time that season that the NCL Sun made it to within view of the South Sawyer glacier. Here is a photo sample. http://community.webshots.com/user/budgetqueen The ship photo is the closest it got, and the photo is taken with a normal lens. You will ALWAYS get closer with the jet boat, in any location. I am holding off booking this, since I've seen plenty of glaciers and have been on many many boat tours. But if a priority, the jet boat is always way superior.

 

No it does NOT mean all successive cruises will make it to the Sawyers, after a previous sighting. But, I want to know and always ask.

 

Since it seems this is very important to you due to your posts?? I really recommend you switch over to the Pearl since it is a superior itinerary and you will have a look at at least 4 glaciers sailing Glacier Bay. My opinion only, but a must do for a first timer.

 

BudgetQueen ...I did not know..you have the capability to read minds..You know what..I was thinking exactly the same thing...If I am going to invest another $370(and that does not include the price for my 2 year old son which would be another $90) for the jetboat tour just to get near the glacier , I might as well just switch to the pearl ...Also as some people have pointed out on the boards , I am not really sure if my 2 year old son would be okay doing the 5 hour trip on the jetboat..so to probably avoid all this confusion..and to get a good view of the glaciers..I should just go ahead and bite the bullet and switch to the pearl which will be $340 more(just called up and checked with NCL)

 

If I decide to go on the pearl , I might do either May 24th or May 31st..Are both these dates good for sailing Glacier Bay?? Does the Pearl go closer to the glaciers compared to the Star?

[Budget Queen]

BudgetQueen ...I did not know..you have the capability to read minds..You know what..I was thinking exactly the same thing...If I am going to invest another $370(and that does not include the price for my 2 year old son which would be another $90) for the jetboat tour just to get near the glacier , I might as well just switch to the pearl ...Also as some people have pointed out on the boards , I am not really sure if my 2 year old son would be okay doing the 5 hour trip on the jetboat..so to probably avoid all this confusion..and to get a good view of the glaciers..I should just go ahead and bite the bullet and switch to the pearl which will be $340 more(just called up and checked with NCL)

 

If I decide to go on the pearl , I might do either May 24th or May 31st..Are both these dates good for sailing Glacier Bay?? Does the Pearl go closer to the glaciers compared to the Star?

 

Glacier Bay is superior for glaciers, as I have mentioned, you will get to view at least 4 glaciers on this 70 mile one way trip into Glacier Bay. The entire trip is very scenic, and IF you have the inclination- get up at dawn, since you have the possibility of passing a humpback area, with a good chance of sightings, since the ship essentially stalls outside this area, awaiting the boarding of the escorting rangers. It won't matter at all, what week you choose. Glacier Bay is always accessable and glaciers viewable.

 

As a suggestion, many times, booking direct with NCL isn't the cheapest way to go. Compare several cruise discounters, then keep track of pricing trends and request adjustments before final payment.

[henren]

Glacier Bay is superior for glaciers, as I have mentioned, you will get to view at least 4 glaciers on this 70 mile one way trip into Glacier Bay. The entire trip is very scenic, and IF you have the inclination- get up at dawn, since you have the possibility of passing a humpback area, with a good chance of sightings, since the ship essentially stalls outside this area, awaiting the boarding of the escorting rangers. It won't matter at all, what week you choose. Glacier Bay is always accessable and glaciers viewable.

 

As a suggestion, many times, booking direct with NCL isn't the cheapest way to go. Compare several cruise discounters, then keep track of pricing trends and request adjustments before final payment.

 

BudgetQueen , Happy Thanksgiving to you and all in the CC boards

 

I did go ahead and make the switch yesterday itself . Now I am scheduled to sail out on the pearl from Seattle on May 31st . It came out $360 more which is probably less than what I would have ended up paying if I had decided to go on the NCL jetboat tour with my 2 year old son. It is good that I made the switch yesterday because today's NCL charges have gone up for both the Star and the Pearl . I no longer see any $499 cruises from the Star . I really am not able to understand the pricing , it just keeps fluctuating on a weekly basis . I am pretty sure it will again go back to the $499 range probably after a week or so..BTW..How close does the Pearl get to the glaciers? Probably 1/2 a mile?

 

Regarding your suggestion , Are u meaning to say that I need to keep track of the other online sites and if I see a lower price , I call up NCL and ask them to honour the same price...Will NCL honour lower prices in other sides ? Also what sites would you recommend me to keep track of? So far , I've looked at a bunch of sites and they all carry the same price tag as the norwegian site and I've noticed that whenever I see a lower price in some the sites , invariably norwegian also has the same price..

[Budget Queen]

BudgetQueen , Happy Thanksgiving to you and all in the CC boards

 

 

 

Regarding your suggestion , Are u meaning to say that I need to keep track of the other online sites and if I see a lower price , I call up NCL and ask them to honour the same price...Will NCL honour lower prices in other sides ? Also what sites would you recommend me to keep track of? So far , I've looked at a bunch of sites and they all carry the same price tag as the norwegian site and I've noticed that whenever I see a lower price in some the sites , invariably norwegian also has the same price..

 

You booked direct with NCL??? IF so, if you see a lower price, then transfer your booking to that agent. NCL will NOT match prices, unless it is a posted price, the same. Agents, have various discounts they use, these are not give by the cruiselines. In my cruise bookings, I don't find direct booking with NCL the cheapest way to go.