karylrocks

Thanks everyone for your responses! I have cruised and driven into Vancouver but never flown in so this information helps a lot.

Looking for recommendations for the quickest way to get from the airport to the ship; arriving 3.5 hours before departure (cruise line recommends at least 3 hours). Taxi, shuttle, or Skytrain?

Thanks for sharing all of this! I started planning for Alaska about six years ago and we even booked and subsequently cancelled a couple of times and still have not gone. We are in Portland and the appeal of another Caribbean cruise kept pulling us back rather than spending a week in PNW weather in Alaska. But we are finally set on going and planning has gone from an easy R/T from Seattle to one way and now plan to spend a week RV-ing to see Denali and the Kenai Penninsula. We are getting close to retirement and the remaining vacation budget is limited so want to make it worth it.

 

I went through much the same process deciding about the ship with the same conclusions. Leaning toward Coral or Westerdam. We might go next year but are thinking about waiting until 2021 so that I can save up some vacation time. Fortunately for us the Vancouver/Anchorage flights are short easy non-stops which will be a nice change from San Juan which takes all day.

It seems that the best prices are after final payment is due. Example: 11-day cruisetour August 2020, obstructed oceanview, $5714 for 2. Exact same itinerary August 2019 same category, $2834. I think for $2880 in savings I might take my chances. And that would include all the transportation and lodging so no worry about finding those components.

Thanks, we are flexible with dates and airfare is not bad for us within a couple months. I think we will do our land portion on our own, probably 3-4 nights.

This is a new cruise line for me and I am starting to look at Alaska northbound cruises; wondering about best time to buy? I see that if I were to book what is left this summer I could save over $1000 for the two of us over rates for next summer, but would it be too late to get the excursions we want, car rental, and get accommodations for Denali if we book last minute? I am not planning to go now but wondering if I should wait until next spring to book for next summer to get better prices? Are Princess prices cheaper when cruises are first released, and maybe wait and book for 2021? We usually sail the Caribbean where prices are lower and planning us much easier! This will be our only Alaska trip and I know it will be expensive but need to save money wherever we can.

We have a rainforest tour booked through RCCL which indicates that our luggage will be secured on our bus; tour is 8am-1pm. It would seem that other tour companies would have enough time to get you there and to the airport in time as well. I am considering cancelling and going with SJ Happy Tours when we arrive. It would be great to hear if anyone has experienced this!

Try Around Curacao Tours, they can do a private tour for you. Haven’t been yet, but they have great reviews and we have them booked for March.

We are also on Freedom and have the rain forest tour and drop off booked through RCCL for $49pp. I would like to find a less expensive option not on a big bus, but also have not found anything definitive online. Island Marketing actually looks more expensive.

You can check with your cruise line to see if the 12 metre challenge excursion is back up and sailing.

The Race is not the 12-metre challenge. It is a scavenger hunt type activity like The Amazing Race. The 12-metre challenge is America's Cup Regatta and is in the morning.

Has anyone toured with Island Experience? I have not been able to find any reviews on this company and am looking to do their East to West Island Tour.

The cruise port is in Old San Juan

America’s Cup is down, but if it is expected to be running again by December it should already be offered as an excursion through Carnival. If it is not showing, keep checking because they might be waiting for a more definite date. I was able to book it through Royal Caribbean for my March sailing.

 

 

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Considering booking Trikes, it looks like a blast. Do they pick up at pier (or near) or do you need to get to them? Any additional advice is welcome also!

 

 

 

They pick you up and drop you off right at the pier. We have them booked 9-noon and they said they will pick us up at 8:30 and we would get back at 12:30, or they will drop us at whatever beach we want.

Most shops will close by 6 pm unless you are here on a Thursday then some in Punda will stay open until 8 pm for Punda Vibes.

 

Thanks for mentioning Punda Vibes, we are in port late Thursday and will check it out!

I would go straight to the ship, check in and leave your luggage, then you can get back off the ship to go explore Old San Juan.

 

 

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I also got a short response last week that they would get back to me but nothing yet. Good to know there is a reason and I’m not the only one waiting to hear back.

 

 

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I have seen amazing reviews for both of these companies, I can book Woodwind directly or Sea Cow through the cruise ship. They both look really great, any opinions from those who have experienced one of these tours would be welcome! Also thinking about renting a golf cart for the other half of our day, we have over 12 hours in port.

We toured with Bernard back in 2011; glad to see he is still doing well! We loved our tour and are considering booking again for our next stop in St. Maarten.

We stayed at the Seaport hotel and loved it. Across the street from the train station and we walked to the cruise port (10-15 minutes). So convenient and zero dollars spent on transportation! Loved walking around the area and finding a place for dinner, and Dunkin Donuts across the street (a treat for us since we don't have those anymore where we live).

 

 

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I've been getting the white screen too. Sometimes it will finally load and sometimes I just have to close it and try later.

I was on hold over half an hour as well this morning but got my cruise fare reduced $106 from what I booked on Thursday. And I switched my April 2018 hump cabin on Adventure to March 2019 aft (9706) on Freedom saving $715!

I snagged an aft cabin on the ABC 8-night sailing for $400 less than my hump cabin on the 7-day on Adventure. I will keep both for now and decide later. :)

Looks like they are up on RCI now; decision time!

I have the ABC itinerary booked on Adventure; wondering if I should switch to Freedom? Opinions on the different ships?

If nothing changes, the first sailing out of San Juan will be on May 12, 2018.

We are booked on what then looks to be the last Adventure sailing out of San Juan on April 28. We have only sailed Serenade and other similar sized ships and were looking forward to something a little bigger, but not sure if I am ready for Freedom class although I was considering pushing our dates back a few months when the new ones open up.