Seward in the middle of a b2b: procedures?

[canadarocks]

We're doing a b2b to Alaska on the Ryndam which is actually booked as a 14 day cruise. So here's what I'm assuming, please let me know if I'm mistaken. :)

1) We keep the same cabin for all 14 days
2) We have a ship excursion booked for 8:00am in Seward on the turnaround
day, so we won't have to worry about the crowds of people leaving - they'll
organize the time and place to meet.
3) We won't be back to the ship until 6:00pm (Kenai Fjords tour that I booked
independently), but we don't sail until 8:00pm.

Will we be given "in transit" cards, and what does that mean? Do we need to clear customs or do anything in particular to reboard before we leave Seward?
It's our first b2b :o.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have done this a few times -- it's great!!

You don'y have to worry about anything except getting your breakfast and enhoying your tour.

Seward is an American port -- no immigration -- no customs.

Yes -- you will have the same cabin since you booked it as one cruise.

Breakfast is early that day as many people will be catching the train which leaves around 7 and the buses shortly after that.

We were never given Intransit cards -- just showed our ID cards when we returned to the ship -- went through security -- and back onto the ship. BUT -- that could change as things change every year and from cruise to cruise. If you do get the Intransit cards -- you will show the card and your ID when you return to the terminal.

[mamadot]

We just did seventeen day cruise and did the Kanai Fjords tour in Seward. There was nothing to do but meet our tour in the morning and enjoy the most thrilling excursion. Enjoy!!

[canadarocks]

Thanks! Do you know at what time they would start serving room service breakfast that day? We dock at 7:00 am, and I'd like to avoid the crowds if possible. ;)

[Krazy Kruizers]

6 am

[UTadventure]

We did the exact same thing on the Statendam in May, and didn't really find much difference in proceedures other than the somewhat Mob like disembarkment of the people ending their trip here. As long as you don't get caught in that traffic jam, you just walk off like at any other port, making sure you have your room card and a photo ID.

Getting back on the ship at Seward, the only difference we experienced from the other ports of call was that you go through a building where the metal detectors and bag scanner is instead of going through the scanner immediately upon boarding the ship. For us, getting back on board was as quick and easy as it was at the other ports. We spent pretty much the entire day exploring Seward, so I can't really say if anything was different on the ship that day, but I can say the port of Seward is a great place to spend a day.

For snapshots we took back in May: http://www.pbase.com/searching_ut/alaska_2009

[Molly_May]

Utadventure-
Your pics are out of this world. My mother and I are booked on the Statendam in July. What excursions did you do?

[cruisinjudy]

Beautiful pictures!

[woody73]

Nice photos. Brought back fond memories of our recent trip.

Woody

[UTadventure]

Utadventure-
Your pics are out of this world. My mother and I are booked on the Statendam in July. What excursions did you do?

Actually, we didn’t book any excursions. In 2006, we did a 7 day Alaska cruise with family members where we booked excursions on as tight a schedule as we could squeeze in there. Salmon bakes, totems, lumberjacks, glaciers, trains, fishing etc…. To be honest, we didn’t even enjoy most of the excursions that much, as the excursions felt like drive by teasers to the area, where you didn’t really get to stop and smell the roses so to speak. (The white pass rail was a good combination or relaxing and learning, as the my visualization of the path the gold prospectors actually took was nothing like the reality they faced) Then of course we had all these plans and obligations with others on the ship to the point we almost forgot to relax and have fun. This time around, 14 days, no excursions, nothing to do but relax, and explore. (The DW wouldn’t even let me sign up for the CC meet and greet) We did venture out quit a bit though.

In Ketchikan we went Geocaching, hit the totem museum, shopped in many stores, checked out Dollies etc. We’re still healthy and young enough to walk a lot of miles, and overweight and out of shape enough that it’s something we should be doing. In Juneau, we took the tram up mount Roberts, took the old blue bus to Mendenhall glacier, explored the governors mansion, and many other parts of the city, and did some trail hiking in a couple canyons full of ponds, streams, waterfalls etc. It was great, and very relaxing. In Skagway, we hiked and explored, plus took in a play on Broadway, which was actually quite entertaining and informative regarding the towns history. In Seward, we did a little hiking, with one high point in the area being the sea life aquarium. Of course I was the dutiful husband and followed the DW into many a shop in the ports as well. We had a blast. The options are numerous, just dare to venture out and do the sorts of things you yourself enjoy.

[Molly_May]

Thank you so much for the information!!!

[Jemima]

Make sure you follow the B2B path through the terminal. You can get on and off the ship throughout the day.
It wasn't as crowded in the morning as we expected. Many of the departing passengers have cruise tours and those departures are spread out from early morning until early afternoon. One or two of those groups didn't disembark until after lunch. Enjoy your day in Seward. We almost booked this same B2B again this year!