Travel beagle
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Posts posted by Travel beagle
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Yet another vote for Tracy's Crab Shack in Juneau - it's worth every penny!!
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We are between doing Seavey's wilderness dog sled ride and tour (1.5 hours) would explore the rest of Seward on our own OR the Real Alaska day tour (6 hours) exit glacier - dog sled - lunch at resurrection roadhouse and more. Can anyone help me choose which one is best! It's my last tour to book and I can't decide!! Sometimes being stuck with a guide all day (when town is doable to explore on your own) is awful and sometimes it's a don't miss!! Any thoughts?? Has anyone done the 6 hour tour? It's a long time if it's not great:-((. Thanks for any insight!!
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I agree with the others book the shorter dog sled ride and tour exit glacier and Sea life center - then stop for a bite to eat at Chinooks - at the small boat harbor - awesome food - had the Halibut!! so fresh
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Ok, we are doing the inside passage in Sept. and we reserved some excursions but now I am not sure I am happy with them. I am wondering if we should do something a little more adventurous. I would love some opinions from people who have done these particular ones or maybe ones they have done that are not on my list.
Of our 3 excursions, 2 of them are on a boat. I don't know that I want to spend so much of our trip on a boat. We are definitely doing the glacier tour in some fashion but there are several options for that. I think I most torn on spending that long whale watching (especially over dinner hours) and the totem pole/eagle/lighthouse one. I can not do the float trip since I have an inner ear thing that makes me too scared to do anything where I could flip out of the boat and my head go under. Even though DH would love it since he used to white water raft.
We are food people and don't want to miss a dinner in Alaska and the whale thing will go over a dinner time.
Mendenhall Glacier & Whale Quest
JNU630B | Juneau, Alaska
White Pass Scenic Railway
SGY200A | Skagway, Alaska
Skagway Street Car City Tour
SGY150D | Skagway, Alaska
Lighthouse, Totems & Eagles Excursion
KTN600A | Ketchikan, Alaska
We just got back from our trip to alaska and had a wonderful time. I would highly recommend the following:
Juneau - loved the mendenhall glacier - went there after our floatplane trip was cancelled due to weather. Stopped at the Red Dog Saloon for a beer and a "duck fart" shot ( you have to try it) left very happy!!
Skagway - we rented a jeep from Green Jeep Tours http://www.alaskagreenjeeptours.com/- they give you a mile by mile map and an audio cd for a self-guided drive/tour to the yukon- emerald lake and carcross desert. We also stopped at the Yukon suspension bridge for some bison chili and amazing views
Ketchikan - We rented a motorcycle from Panhandle Motorcycles https://sites.google.com/site/panhandlemotorcycleadventures/ - the owners are super nice. I was nice getting out of the touristy areas and seeing Alaska.
Highly recommend the Bering Sea Crab fisherman tour - http://alaskacrabtour.com/ - it is well worth the price. It is a very hands on/ interactive tour - you will also see lots of eagles. Our family ranged in age from 15 to 74 and all were enjoying the tour and said it was the favorite of our trip!
Hope this helps!! enjoy
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Thanks! Would love to stop there! Do you suggest stopping there before or on our return drive from Emerald Lake?:confused:
We stopped on our way up and had it all to ourselves no tours yet - on the way back it was packed! The green jeep tours were awesome - very informative. Try to get out early as you will have more time - I would suggest getting to the border on the way back by no later than an hour and half before your ship boarding time. We cut it too close - got caught at the border for 35+ mins - we were behind several large tour buses and they scan every passport ! by the time we returned the jeep we had 6 mins to get to ship!! YIKES - we were pier runners for sure that day !!
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just the info I was looking for - thanks! wonder why they don't have this on their site???
I know some say it is not worth the stop - but we really enjoyed it ! the views are so beautiful - and the Bison chili is so yummy -
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Loaded on the card, basically the same old stuff.
Only thing that I recall using was the arcade credit, however, in order to use that my sons card had to be "activated" as a chargeable card in order for him to buy the arcade credits on his account.
How much are arcade credits
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I am researching flights to Alaska from Fort Lauderdale Airport - push comes to shove, we can leave from PBA or MIA.
We are on a cruise tour that leaves from Anchorage and disembarks in Vancouver. In your experience is it better to fly rt to Seattle then catch a flight to Anchorage and after the cruise catch a bus to Seattle? I've looked at multi city flights - FLL to Anchorage, Vancouver to FLL - and the options are not great.
We are going to leave at least two days before the cruise tour begins so time is not an issue but I would prefer to not arrive in Anchorage in the wee hours of the morning. Am I missing something? Is there an easier way?
Any and all help will be greatly appreciated!
We are flying into vancouver from WPB and returning from anchorage to WPB. I found cheapest flights by booking each as a one way flight .. Our flight out leaves at 7am arrives 4pm and return flight leaves 11pm arrives 1pm next day I paid a total of $665 .. Return flights had earlier times for about same rate but this time worked best for us... Hope this helps
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Glad to hear it worked out, and the TA was willing to help.
Thank you! Me too :)
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Happy to say TA was very accommodating and compensated us for our inconvenience due to their error. Will definitely book with them again! And I will definitely check and recheck all policies on future ventures.. Lesson learned
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You have a point. However, the OP has indicated that she has obtained much valuable information through reading CC threads and apparently isn't a stranger to these boards. So I would conclude that she bears some responsibility for not recognizing that the smoking policy was changing when it was prominently discussed on these boards for months prior to its implementation. Should the cruiseline contact each and every passenger individually, when they institute a policy change that may, or may not, be of interest to those passengers or is publicly announcing those changes, notifying the travel agent community, posting them on their website, and including them in their basic cruise documentation sufficient? As I wrote,she may have an issue with her travel agent but I think it is a stretch to claim that RCI was negligent in not personally notifying her of the change.
Yes I have been on cc but an new to all the boards and stuff- I deligently checked the smoking policy with RCCL and TA before booking - confirming that smoking was allowed on balcony prior to me booking 3 balcony cabins!! I have now confirmed that my TA was notified in sept and did not notify their customers - so yes I am seeking compensation with them - and yes I wish I would have seen the posts with regards to smoking changes - but I just recently - April 2014 starting checking this thread for information on drink packages - I have mostly spent my time on Alaska threads for information and suggestions on excursions and must do's. With that said - it is the responsiblity of the TA to notify customers of such a major change in policy - and for RCCL they could have put a notation on their smoking policy *that they were currently reviewing the smoking policy for changes* as that would have triggered most people to inquire on what changes were coming and to keep revisiting the policy. As stated I verbally as well as checked online the smoking policy to confirm that smoking was allowed - noting that I also checked with Celebrity lines smoking policy which did not allow smoking on balconies - no one ever mention that RCCL was currently review their policy -
And to answer your statement " Should the cruiseline contact each and every passenger individually " yes they should and they did for those who direct booked - RCCL told me they notified them 90 days out and all TA's in Sept 2013 - And to your other statement "that she bears some responsibility for not recognizing that the smoking policy was changing " I bear no repsponsibility for not knowing of the change - just because I am a cc member does not mean i should be reponsible for combing the threads for every detail - this is a major change and it is the responsibility of the RCCL and TA to notify their customers... remember we are the customers buying a product -
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Convince your husband to stop smoking. Problem solved
so wish that would happen but after 25yrs of me trying everything to get him to quit - that is not likely to happen! LOL and I knew what I was getting myself into as he was a smoker when I married him :)
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This topic does heat-up as the thread continues!
As mentioned above, this is probably the direction most cruiselines are headed. It may end-up that the European lines, like MSC will be the hold-outs and eventually maybe your only choice.
When did you book this cruise?
ken
may 23, 2013
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And while your hubby is enjoying his smoke, I'm having my relaxed time on my balcony ruined by it because I'm the unlucky one that got stuck in the cabin near yours. Yes, the smoke does travel!
I guess you and some others posting are really not understanding my point of frustration. It is not the conflict between smokers and non smokers. It is that I booked this cruise line after verifying With TA and RCCL that their policy allowed smoking on balconies. Now with that said... If you and other non smokers had booked this line because they did not allow smoking on balconies and then in turn did not get notification that they were now allowing smoking - I believe you would be equally frustrated!! Because you would have paid for a trip with the intention of not having smokers on balconies near you... Have really gotten a lot of good information and tips from these boards; however I am finding some cc posters to be unnecessarily harsh , I think we are all on these boards to get and share information to make our trips fun
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I did not think for a minute that that was your intent. The comment was directed to the other poster who suggested it. I agree that it is an unfortunate situation and I can relate as I used to smoke and would be just as upset if I were in your shoes.
I do not feel that it is up to RCI to offer any compensation. They did provide ample notice to everyone through their website and to travel agents. If you are looking for some compensation then I would turn to your TA as once you book with a TA it is only with them that RCI will communicate.
That is what I am hoping I will get from TA.. Above all else lesson learned travel plans and info must be checked, checked and rechecked..:)
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I think you will enjoy your cruise I was a smoker my wife never was. I have been on many cruises and always went to the outdoor spots and enjoyed my time talking with the other smokers. Now that I don't smoke I will still plan to join in with them. so we can talk about all the abuse. Your husband will do just fine !!!!
Thanks much for the laugh!!! I needed that ... You and my husband would get along swimmingly .. You know us OCD women trying to plan the perfect trip ...
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I was a smoker for 47 years and change to Vapeing 4 months ago and have had no cigarettes since day 1. has worked very good for me. I used to always go to the smoker section on the ships because I never wanted to bother anyone. But I really get sick of how the no smokers think they should own the whole ship and sometimes sit in the smokers section and take up space where a smoker would like to sit. and then complain even sitting where they should not be. the whole thing is a mess. The biggest lobbyist against ecig's are the tobacco companies because it is cutting into their business. They fund surveys that show bad things about ecigs because it helps their cause with banning them. I saw a report today that ecigs are 60% more effective in helping people quit smoking. I never would have thought I would quit but I have.
Agree!
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Good luck with that. With all the terms and conditions that are in the cruise contract that give them the right to change pretty much anything and everything without recourse including ports of call and itinerary changes I doubt that you would get far. Besides that the cost just to try to fight this old be quite substantial.
I also have to believe that if their was an actual case involved here that Cruise Law News Lawyer would have been all over it.
Not looking to sue, not that kind of person. But just think in fairness maybe a ship credit or something for the lack of notification and inconvenience .. Yes inconvenience we were of the mind set of a relaxing vacation with excursions in ports with nights relaxing together on balcony key word together !
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It is refreshing to read this, and that you are upset about this policy, as you obviously intend to abide by it! Bravo! I wish the neighbours on our two previous cruises (Celebrity and Princess) were so respectful. Despite two complaints on each cruise to the pursers desk and their assurances it would not repeat, it did. Hope you enjoy your cruise.
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Thank you!! Appreciate that.. We will enjoy no matter what even if I end up at the smoking deck in my Jammie's! Lol
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So what would you have done if your TA had called you 9/2013? Cancel?
What do you want CC to do?
I see from your post you booked on deck 8, you are very close to the pool deck and the smoking section
Good to know that our deck is close to smoking section, maybe I will see him more often! Lol ref to the first question I would have had them assist in researching if another cruise line offered smoking on balcony with a similar itinerary and rebooked if available .. Ref to CC just seeing if anyone else had the similar situation and or have not been notified of change.
As stated I am new to cc and cruising ... So I have not figured all this out yet , but have researched boards but really never saw the postings on the new policy , wish I had .. Really just been searching Alaska boards for tips on ports and excursions and beverage packages. I really never gave a thought about rechecking smoking policy's or searching on cc boards.. I trusted the information given to be and verified at time of booking.
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When you book with a travel agency RCI has no direct input with the reservation as the TA essentially "owns" the booking. The information regarding the announcement in 9/13 that smoking would not longer be permitted on balconies effective 1/14 would have been conveyed to the TA. It would have been your TA's responsibility to communicate that to you.
Your issue should be with the TA if this information never reached you in the year plus since you first booked your cruise with any follow up communications you had with them since. Especially if this was an intended consideration with your booking as you indicate.
Outdoor smoking is permitted on one side of the pool deck and indoors in designated areas of the casino.
That is my mindset also ... Have been on phone with RCCL then TA once RCCL sent me the copy of notification sent to all travel agencies... A supervisor from TA is supposed to call me tomorrow. I will not let this detract from trip .. Just feel they dropped the ball and this is our first ever cruise and dream trip to Alaska. Also I never saw this posted on cc ...guess I have been on the wrongs pages .. I am a newbee to all this cruise stuff.. But I have gotten loads of tips for packing, excursions and such which have helped me tremendously with this trip
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I agree, I am of the mindset that people have the right to do whatever they want with regards to their own health AS LONG as it does not affect the health of others.. For example, even though I am not a soda drinker, I was against the proposal to ban larger serving sizes of soda in new york...A person has the responsibility to care for his/her own health..but someone drinking soda does not affect my rights or health.. It has been proven that second hand smoke is almost if not just as dangerous as smoking..I have the right to sit on my balcony, which i paid a premium for, to enjoy FRESH air without breathing in smoke and subjecting myself to toxic fumes... I have no problem with there being certain limited closed off sections for smokers, however, I applaud the trend in the industry that has realized that people have a right to sit on their balcony without breathing in cancer causing fumes...
I agree also as I am a non smoker .. However they should be able to set aside a few balconies just on say 1 deck to the back of ship that smokers could book without infringing on non smokers... Trust me I wish my DH would quit but after being with him 25 years that is not likely to change ... My aggravation is lack of notice and disappointment of not getting full use of balcony with DH .. This is our anniversary trip
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Thanks so much for suggestions of ecigs and vapors but already thought of that and asked RCCL directly but that is a big fat no also ... Frankly if it was just the $250 cleaning fee involved I would pay it but they also state you may be removed from ship. Thank you also to those who pointed out policy changed sept 2013, I should have clarified in my original post that I booked and paid for my trip may 23 2013 and was not notified of change in policy until I received my cruise ticket booklet and luggage tags today! Yes a Sept 2013 policy change notification would have been amble time for me to change our plans , if I would have been notified in sept 2013 or even 90 days out. But what I received was my documents today may 21, 2014 just 22days before my sailing. Which I read front to back being our first cruise and found the change. With no recourse .. That is my frustration
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Breaking news.
It was to me since I booked may 2013 and verified policy with RCCL and travel agent prior to booking
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If you worked with a travel agent, and she/he knew of your preferences, then they should have let you know. This isn't new though (unless I missed something recently)...the rules were changed in September 2013, and they took effect on January 1,2014.
I booked 5/23/2013 ..so yes this policy was new to me ... No notice or warning .. Never even thought to recheck policy as I checked policy with both RCCL and travel agent prior to booking
Ladies opinion please
in Alaska
Posted
It was raining off on and on during our visit last week - wore waterproof hiking boots, jeans and rain/windbreaker jacket... As far as excursions I would recommend the following:
Ketchikan - We rented a motorcycle from Panhandle Motorcycles https://sites.google.com/site/panhan...cleadventures/ - the owners are super nice. I was nice getting out of the touristy areas and seeing Alaska.
Highly recommend the Bering Sea Crab fisherman tour - http://alaskacrabtour.com/ - it is well worth the price. It is a very hands on/ interactive tour - you will also see lots of eagles. Our family ranged in age from 15 to 74 and all were enjoying the tour and said it was the favorite of our trip!
Enjoy your trip