Hev1128

1 hour ago, martincath said:

Locally, ICBC have a very nice Plain English brochure - if your 4yr old is over 40lbs, a booster would be OK but if not a proper seat is required if any seat is required. Professional drivers - taxis as well as buses - are exempt, so if you're willing to risk your kids' safety in an accident, you can legally toss 'em in the back seat with an adult belt on(!)

 

Technically only Canadian-spec seats should be used here, but from speaking to local car seat experts (long story short, my sister came to visit with our not-quite-1-year-old nephew, and as I was driving them around I studied many reviews before buying one and then found the best-rated professional car seat installer to get lessons on doing it right) taking your Canadian seat over the border/bringing a US seat up here is deemed fine by police on both sides for visitors, it's just residents who get slapped with tickets to stop us buying much cheaper and only marginally different US spec seats.

 

But considering how walkable Vancouver is, you really won't be crimped much by sticking to transit including coming in from the airport (free for under 13s too, so only the two adults need buy tix).

 

If memory serves, AK rules are tighter though - even schoolbuses with all their enhanced safety features need seats/boosters strapped in and used if there is a seatbelt installed on the seat, which is certainly often the case on a chartered excursion coach or schoolbus rather than transit buses - so honestly, given that airlines are not allowed to charge for child car seats I'd suck it up and bring the ones you use at home and know how to install.. or else buy brand-new ones on arrival and donate them before you fly home (I would not rent one - even a week of rental is more than an excellently rated budget seat can be bought for, it was all of CAD$50 for me to acquire one recommended by multiple agencies, though that was several years ago now so I'd budget for more like $80-100)

I used to be a car seat tech- so I'm about safety...but also, reality. thanks for all this info.

We are doing a Princess Northbound from Vancouver to Whittier.

Our hope is to arrive into Vancouver 2 days before departure.. I will have a 4 and 8 year old. 

I know we don't need car seats on the plane...but how does ground transport work in Vancouver?

Will have the same question for the Alaska end, but I can post that on that board separately unless somewhere here knows.

My plan was just to bring backless boosters for both to be safe...but would LOVE less luggage if possible.

We booked the Caribbean Princess for next summer for Alaska....great itinerary and pricing...am I going to regret it? based on the above, no one seems to like the ship.

I am so glad I found this thread.  I know Princess and HAL are the tops for Alaska...but truly, I have 2 children to think about for our cruise. While I know they want to see nature and glaciers...they are not going to be willing to stare at them all day.  Any good recommendations for multigenerational?  Just trying to get the best of all worlds...

On 1/10/2024 at 2:18 PM, walkingsoon said:

It's a great cruise. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

 

I'd choose Coral, Sapphire or Grand out of Vancouver, or even Ruby out of San Francisco before I'd do Royal or Discovery out of Seattle, despite the fact that Seattle would be the easiest for me.

 

The Royal class ships, Discovery and Royal, are much bigger, have flower box sized balconies (with some notable exceptions) and have no wrap around promenade deck. Likewise they don't sail East of Vancouver Island through Johnstone strait. I personally prefer any non-Royal class ship to any Royal class ship, but recognize that very many here feel exactly the opposite, the Royal class ships being newer, having a better buffet and more activities.

 

Are you going for an inside cabin or a suite? If inside, I'd definitely want a wrap around promenade deck. Sapphire's is great and Coral has really cool aft viewing areas that would be a good, nearly private, balcony replacement for a nearby aft inside cabin. If you're going for a suite, then maybe Royal class might have some advantages.

 

Regarding itineraries, the best would be seven days up to Whittier and then seven days back, hopefully taking in College Fjord and Hubbard as well as Glacier Bay. Sitka is a fun less often visited stop, Icy Strait Point perhaps less interesting. (my opinion)  Don't expect much from a Victoria stop. It's a lovely town, but it's scheduled as a too short evening stop with frequent time changes (sometimes even disallowing people to go ashore) that the Seattle based ships have to do to meet the Jones Act requirements.

 

All these negative sounding comments are just details. I'll repeat that they're all great cruises. Have fun!

 

Walkingsoon

Thanks for the this...the youtube videos I am seeing the Royal just looks nicer but I've read about the Royal being bigger and the small boat advantage in Alaska.  we are doing balcony/mini suite depending on this ship.  I have 2 kids....so the 7 day is plenty for their first cruise.  My parents (and their service dog) and my brother and his wife are coming too and I am being deferred to as decision maker.

I like the Grand's vancouver inside passage with Glacier Bay itinerary the most though.  

thanks for the input.

We've cruised NCL in the past- but I'm hearing of issues in Alaska with them.  and being new to the Princess game, I haven't leveled my expectations yet.  

I'm not new to cruising but new to Princess...we are looking at an inside passage itinerary for summer 2025 and it's the Royal Princess.

Any feedback on the itinerary or the ship that I need to know?

based on your signature we are on the same cruise....are you coming to the meet N greet? if so, I could be the complete stranger that manages to capture it on camera....

Spa Haven comes with more perks than adding a spa pass and the tub

Unfortunately booking spa haven wasnt in the budget. Hence hoping for the bid upgrade! Ugh. I hate waiting....

We have a mid ship mini suite. Perfectly happy but now realize we really want spa access. Bid on spa Haven. Havent heard yet. There are still spa suites available. Should we wait to hear about the bid? Uograde to a regular spa mini suite or just buy a thermal pass...totally over thinking this I am sure. We sail Sunday the 20th so not much time to decide.

yep

Your rooms could be seperated if bids are accepted. If you want your rooms together, dont bid.

Ok. No walkoff. What time should I tell our ride to meet us?

We have a ride picking us up in NYC after Escape cruise. What time should we have them meet us. We dont want to walk off I dont think....

I grew up in South Jersey (Voorhees!) but now living on the PA side. Lots of Phillies and Eagles fans! Hoping the Sixers game will be on too.

Medford here! Good luck finding philly sports!

doing this voyage in 20 days....coming from South Jersey so looking forward to hearing about your trip!

Obviously this will vary depending on the person...but if you want to gamble, tip some bartenders, etc. How much cash do you bring on a cruise? I feel like I'm potentially under estimating what we need....

I bid on an H9 upgrade....we are in the poor category but not the bottom of the barrel. Sailing is 31 days away. Room count just dropped significantly....does that mean they are starting the upgrade inventory pulls?

I read this and now I am truly confused. So, the SM web package is $15 per day.....but through AT&T I can get an international cruise package for $50 for a month. Why wouldn't I just get the AT&T package? NCL seems silly to charge so much.

We used an agent. still got the normal NCL perks including a bid offer (once we signed up for NCL online). Our agent checked us in, did all our docs and even gave us nice luggage tags as well as some nice destination literature.

Are jewelry/watches cheaper on board? We are going to Bermuda and wondered about there too. Anyone with experience?