kcdd

Just got an email from HAL.  Cruises to Alaska on the following ships are cancelled for 2020: Maasdam, Volendam, Oosterdam, Noordam and Westerdam.  We were supposed to go late August, so we are out!

We are booked on the Volendam for late August, so I guess we are out!😡

Do you have to go on a whale watching excursion or can you sometimes see them from the cruise ship?

What is the best time to board in order to not wait in long lines?  I know many like to board as soon as possible.  We don't feel like we have to be on board early but also want to get on board to get settled an explore a little prior to sailing.  

Thanks for your response.

I have a promotion from TA called Dine Around Pinnacle Grill and Caneletto.  I assume that must be one or the other.  Anyone else have any such thing as this?  We also have Pinnacle Grill from the Explore 4 promotion.  It says HA will assign reservations and we can change once onboard.

Rather than ask the same question over, can you search for a thread?  For instance if I wanted to see if someone had used a hotel can you search by the hotel name?  If so, how do you do that?

Amtrak is having a buy one get one sale this weekend you must book by 2/17 and travel by Aug. 30.

Thanks for the info regarding the Amtrak sale this weekend.  I changed my reservation and saved $100.

We have a reservation at the Holiday Inn and Suites in Downtown Vancouver the night prior to our cruise.  Address 1110 Howe St.  Would appreciate any comments good or bad regarding the hotel and surrounding area.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the responses.  Didn't know if it would be tacky taking his Diet Coke can into the MDR.  But hey that's great!

My husband drinks soda morning, noon and night and in between.  If we bring Diet Coke on board can he take it to the buffet area during breakfast and lunch?  I wouldn't want him to bring it to the main dining room.  Thanks for the response.

42 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

When you are making your Amtrak reservations, please beware that there is a Vancouver WA (south of Seattle), and a Vancouver BC, Canada that is served by Amtrak.  The two cities are about 300 miles apart, but folks who don't live in the PNW may not realize that there are two Vancouver cities.  It does happen that folks will book the wrong train. 

 

So when you book, please make sure that you are booking Vancouver, BC Canada.

Thank you for that advice.  I believe I did notice that and an easy mistake.  I will check again but I think we have the correct train reservation.  Wouldn't that be an awful and rude awakening?! YIKES!

I asked this on another board and someone suggested I post here.  We are taking Amtrak from Seattle to Vancouver, BC the day before our cruise.

I actually have 2 questions:

1. We are staying in a hotel in Tukwila a few days prior to the Amtrak trip.  The train leaves early in the am, I want to say around 7:30.  Any recommendations regarding transportation to the Amtrak station downtown Seattle?

2. The other question is on the other end.  Once we arrive in Vancouver any recommendations for transportation from train station to hotel downtown Vancouver?

TIA

35 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Might want to look on the West Coast Departures board, where Seattle and Vancouver are commonly discussed.

Thank you.  I hadn't even noticed those boards.  More to look at!

30 minutes ago, Northern Aurora said:

Several years ago we found it easiest to take a cab from the train station to our downtown Vancouver hotel.

Thanks I am sure that is what we will end up doing.

That is amazing!  It really is a small world!

We will be taking the Amtrak from Seattle to Vancouver.  We arrive the day before our cruise leaves from Vancouver.  Would appreciate any advice regarding travel from train station to our downtown Vancouver hotel.  Thanks.

We will be taking the Amtrak to Vancouver in August to board our cruise there.  We arrive the day before.  Our hotel is somewhat near the Cruise Terminal.  What are the options to get from the train station to the hotel?  Thank you in advance.

16 minutes ago, VTcruisenut said:

I have no advice!  We leave February 5th and I am on here constantly, checking my reservation, going over my packing list, and the Roll Call.  It is nerve wrecking!

Jealous!  Enjoy your time and tell us how it was.  

42 minutes ago, geocruiser said:

I don't know witch ports that you are going too.  but this might keep you a little busy.

SKAGWAY MUSEUM
http://www.skagway.org/museum

https://www.nps.gov/klgo/index.htm

Red Onion Brothel 
http://redonion1898.com/brothel-museum-tours/

Jewell Gardens
http://www.jewellgardens.com/

Walking Tour

http://www.alaska.org/guide/skagway-walking-tour-non-audio

Soopy smith
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soapy-smith-killed-in-skagway-alaska

http://tourketchikan.com/listing/ton...orical-museum/

http://www.visit-ketchikan.com/en/Th...and-Historical

Creek Street
http://www.experienceketchikan.com/c...ketchikan.html
Dolly's House (Famous Brothel)
http://creekstreetketchikan.com/dollys-house/

funicular (cable railway
http://youralaskacruise.com/reviews/...ular-1320.html
http://www.explorenorth.com/alaska/i...ular-1168.html

 

I also read some books about the gold rush before my trip. 
Klondike Fever by Pierre Berton

Good Time Girls of the Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush: Secret History of the Far North
By lael Morgan

Gold Rush Women
by Claire Rudolf Murphy.
 

http://tourketchikan.com/listing/ton...orical-museum/

http://www.visit-ketchikan.com/en/Th...and-Historical

Creek Street
http://www.experienceketchikan.com/c...ketchikan.html
Dolly's House (Famous Brothel)
http://creekstreetketchikan.com/dollys-house/

funicular (cable railway
http://youralaskacruise.com/reviews/...ular-1320.html
http://www.explorenorth.com/alaska/i...ular-1168.html

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Wow!  Thanks for taking the time to give me so many suggested areas to check out.  

I have read books from the library on Alaska cruises.  Searched the internet.  Any books or websites I definitely need to peruse? I guess I need to start a countdown.  It just seems so far away.

Help!  We have booked an Alaskan cruise from Vancouver RT on the Volendam leaving August 26.  I am so excited that i check here every day to learn new things. How do I pass the time until we leave? Seven months seems so far away!

oakridger,

That is exactly what I was thinking would be nice

Do they take the beer tops off when ordered?

I was also wondering if you could wander around the island on your own. I see there are walking tours and bike tours as excursions (like there are trails). Can you walk them on your own?