etoilefj

Awesome cruise. Go while you are able to navigate the rocks and getting on and off the ship twice a day. We went with Celebrity and simply loved the entire experience. We hired a personal trainer and worked out for about 6 months before the cruise to make certain we could really enjoy.

That's a good idea... Although I should work out now in general [emoji23]. I am hoping we can do it, would be so fantastic!

 

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This might sound a bit greedy but do you get anything when you do the tour? My husband did a paid ship tour on Princess a few years ago and got a whole lot of swag, which made the $150 seem a lot less exorbitant. Just curious as we're going on Harmony for the first time and he would probably like to do the tour again.

 

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Spring for a Galapagos cruise? My husband keeps saying we should do one for our 20th but I think we'll need to save up for longer than that so might have to be 25th or 30th [emoji23]

 

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Thanks for the fabulous and fun trip review, Harry. I hope you continue to have great vacations with your family. I love family vacations (although we're only 9 years in on the family part). I'll try and do a trip review after our Harmony cruise in May but I don't think it'll match up!

 

Happy planning!

Jenn

 

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We haven't been in 2 years, so I won't know until we got back in April (unsure which excursion we are doing.) Last time we were there, we did a snorkel trip to turtle cove. There isn't much reef over there normally anyway. At the time, we did see several turtles and fish, but that was before the hurricanes of course.

 

 

We went snorkeling in St Maarten once after a storm, and the water was muddy and not good. After a short snorkeling stop, they took us on an extended tour around the island for the rest of our excursion time. It was wonderful.

 

We are looking at it this way-even if the snorkeling is sub-par, we will be on an excursion that offers a great catamaran ride and unlimited drinks after. That's worth it to us. You have to decide if it is to you. =)

Thanks, that's a fair point and I was thinking along the same lines. We've only visited St Thomas once and didn't get over to St John so it's worth seeing. It's the first trip to the Caribbean for our daughter so we do want to get the most out of the experiences for our family. And I did book the fake pirate ship version so it would still be pretty fun!

 

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Very minimal. Not sure I’d use the word “good” snorkeling. We saw some sea life but not much.

Thanks for the info. Did you hear if there was good snorkeling anywhere? Debating now whether to go ahead with the excursion or cancel and book something else.

 

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We were there in late January and it was sad. We saw 1 turtle and of course it was a mob scene. The grass is slowly coming back. I would not waste your money if you really want to see something while you are snorkeling unless you have no other opportunity.

Hi

Was there not much for other marine life either? We've booked this excursion and although I'd love to see a turtle, I'd be satisfied with just good snorkeling. Thanks

 

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Apparently in Canada it's around 50%. Very surprising! I'm actually covered by my work benefits, as are most full time professionals in Canada. Which might explain the higher rate of coverage here, actually.

Am Canadian - always get travel medical when we go to the States, even overnight. Although as someone with an allergy (anaphylaxis), it is just safer.

Thanks for the info...I attempted to send you a PM. Not sure it worked. If you don't see one, let me know I'll try again.

 

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Hey, Harry,

 

Yeah, it's a blissful 23 nights of cruising. We leave Sydney and head to Noumea and Lifou in New Caledonia, then to Mystery Island in Vanuatu. Next is Suva and Lautoka in Fiji, then six sea days to Honolulu and Lahaina. And then it's over to Seattle, where we'll disembark and have a couple of days before heading to Victoria, BC, on the fast ferry for an overnighter. Next day onto another ferry to Vancouver from where we'll fly home after a couple more days. So excited!!

Hi Susie

That cruise sounds amazing! Which line is it? My cousins are looking at doing a similar trip in the opposite direction as their son and his family are in Australia and we're all in BC. In fact I was jumping on to say hi from Victoria (in case you need any local, biased, questionable advice [emoji6]).

 

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I love packing cubes for the reasons a few others mentioned - keeps my things a bit more organized, lets us keep track of three people's clothes in two suitcases, and you can get a surprising amount in. Plus so much more tidy in the suitcase. I've bought all of ours from Mountain Equipment Coop (mec.ca) in Canada. Checked REI just now and they have lots too, although MEC is cheaper at a quick glance.

 

I have also used Ziploc bags for years pros and they're pretty effective too, packing cubes are prettier and hold a bit more is all the difference I can think of. [emoji1]

 

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We were there in 2011 and just hopped off the ship and grabbed the first waiting taxi driver in the port. He was great; I forgot what we paid him at the time, maybe $40 for the two of us but that was for about half a day and I think he might have paid at Brimstone Hill. It was fantastic because we got there before the bus tours, pretty close to when it opened I think, and there were only about 10 other people there while we were. It's a really cool fortress and the views are gorgeous.

We were on Celebrity in 2016 and have vegetarian friends in our party (varying degrees); they were able to order off a separate vegetarian menu in the main dining room and the selection changed nightly like the regular menu does. I have an allergy and they have been very accommodating on all the lines we've tried so far.

Wow this might be the most

comprehensive review I've ever seen! Commenting to follow along and read the rest! Love your photos. We're going on our first RC cruise in May (Harmony).

 

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I was searching to ask the same question! We're not going till May 2018, what about you?

 

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Would love to hear which one you choose and what you think. We're going in May next year and are thinking about a snorkeling tour over the beach.

 

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I was there in 2011 and they didn't have anything like that at the time, not sure if they've upgraded since then. It's a gorgeous beach with great snorkeling though.

We went to Alaska two years ago when my daughter was five, her first cruise. She LOVED the kid's club, couldn't wait to get back there when we picked her up for meals/breaks. Don't forget your bathing suits, keep em in your carry-on in case it's warm when your on the ship but still in port on the day you leave (I failed to do that, it was pretty hot, didn't get our bags till 8:30 pm). Doesn't matter the weather, kids will swim.

 

I agree with the others about layers - shirt, fleece jacket/sweater, rain shell should be good. I'm taking hiker shoes but not full on boots.

We just have one lens for our camera and we're happy with the photos we took.

We have a 7 year old, who was 5 last time we went to Alaska. We went up the Mt Roberts Tram in Juneau (would be pretty expensive for 5, although there may have been a family rate). This time we're renting a car and visiting the Mendenhall Glacier & Visitor Centre in our own sweet time.

 

In Skagway the US Forest Service had a great store front Jr Ranger area on the main street with a bunch of stations the kids can do to get their official Jr Ranger pin and it was all free. There's also a fantastic playground between the main street and the White Pass train tracks (can't remember the streets but it's pretty easy to find, just ask in one of the shops). If your kids can handle it, the Forest service also offers free, 1 hour historical walking tours of Skagway. Ours did ok with that (followed it up with the playground so that helped). You sign up for those at the main Forest Service building which is in part of the same building as the White Pass train depot.

 

In Ketchikan there is the funicular that runs from Creek Street up to a lodge, costs $2 pp and you can walk back down on the Married Man trail. To be honest, last time in Ketchikan we did the funicular, walked Creek Street (looked in shops, a fave activity), visited the local museum and then took her back to the ship for lunch and were able to put her in the kids' club for the afternoon while my husband and I went back into town for a bit. It was rainy (normal for Ketchikan) and she wasn't really into it.

We'll be visiting Victoria in early June in the same time frame as well. Two years ago (with the kids), we spent three days in Victoria exploring. This trip it is just hubby and I. We're interested in finding a place that has locally crafted beers and small bites. Any suggestions? Hubby brews his own beer so beer tasting is high on his list.

 

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

THE DRAKE!! Very cool, excellent beer choices, good small bites. It's on Pandora on the outside of Market Square. Other bars with great beer selection are The Churchill and The Garrick's Head.

 

Someone mentioned the Irish Times - most beer nerds don't bother - Garrick's is cheaper and better and has more local. Irish Times is very nice inside but busy and frankly a bit overpriced (imo).

Does anyone have any suggestions on where to get good poutine? It's my favorite :eek: I make sure to get it whenever I am in Canada, but this will be my first time in Victoria.

 

Also, any other bar/pub suggestions with good Canadian brews would be great!

 

Thanks! :cool:

 

right up my alley - poutine - The Local (on Wharf St at Bastion Sq) is good and easy to access walking from ship. The Local has a decent beer selection. The Garrick's Head Pub and The Churchill are on Government St at Bastion square (think they have poutine too) and have EXCELLENT beer options - they're owned by the same people, separated by a hotel lobby and have 50+ taps between them without any repeats.

 

My favourite spot is The Drake, on Pandora on the outside of Market Square. They have a fantastic selection of beers and do nibbles, so don't go too hungry. Right across the street is Swan's Brewpub (honestly not my favourite beers but historically significant in the local beer industry and a cool building). Spinnakers Brewpub is the first in Canada, beautiful location, really good food (bit pricey), they have some good beers, again not a fave but that's partly because in Victoria we are spoiled for choices).

 

Cheers

The National Parks Service offers a free, one hour walking tour of Skagway - you can go in to the office (part of the White Pass Railway station) and sign up for one of the tour times. If you're interested, go in early as they get full. It's a great way to get an overview of the history and see the town, then you can opt to look in some of the stores or not as it suits you.

 

A friend did the Goodtime Girls tour via the Red Onion Saloon and really liked it and I'm going to try and do that one this time (be my 4th visit to Skagway, once via land and three via sea, it's not so bad, but I get a kick out of cheesy/touristy)

Although I agree with most of the posts, that flying in the day before (or a few days before) is less stressful, we did fly in day of two years ago. We booked the coach from the airport to Whittier through Princess and had to wait around the airport a couple hours before we were able to get on one of the buses but that all went smoothly, beautiful bus ride, quick stop at the passport glacier (? memory is sketchy) for photos and then into Whittier in time to board fairly early.

 

If funds are tight, as they were for us, these options totally work. :)

For Victoria, if you've already visited Butchart Gardens then I would definitely give it a miss. Beacon Hill Park is quite close to the cruise terminal (about a mile maybe) and there are lots of lovely spots and nice flowers. The walk there along Dallas Rd is great too. The B.C. Legislature offers free tours and if you hang around the inner harbour you'll find lots of tourists and locals you can chat to. If it's raining consider visiting the Royal B.C. Museum. Love that place.

We are doing the exact same thing, mainly to visit Mendenhall for as long as we want and to hit Alaskan Brewing (beer nerds checking in). I got a map from CAA so might just putter around on the roads. The other side of the bridge had a pizza place that was highly recommended. Can't think of the name right now but can check my comment history if you're interested.