GORDONCHICK

5 hours ago, ColdCruise said:

This is such a sad situation with mist NCL port stops in Victoria - vast majority arrive after 6pm just long enough to satisfy the Jones Act foreign port requirement. 
 

my big “want to” here is a daytime visit to Butchart Gardens.

I’d love to do an Alaskan cruise with a full day in Victoria but guess i need to use a different cruise line or make it a pre/post cruise extension.

If you go in June/July, it stays light much later.  I can't remember how late the gardens are open at that time of year.

On 7/5/2024 at 10:30 PM, ChrysFox said:

And yet another newbie question:
Do all sailings start on day one of the menus, or is it up to the ship to decide ?

Not necessarily.  Dinner menus are posted each day in the morning.  That's how we determine if we're eating in the MDR, the buffet or somewhere else.  Of course, we've already made our specialty reservations and will stick with those.

There are actually many days of menus.

At SeaTac, are the car rental places on site or off site or a mix?  Trying to figure out some logistic when returning the car.  And do any of them have a shuttle from their site to the piers?  We're sailing from Pier 66.

10 hours ago, complawyer said:

if you book a suite, breakfast is always in moderno. they have a small buffet set aside, as well as the regular menu. the buffet has lox, cream , tomato and onions available. the waiter can bring you an entire bagel, toasted or otherwise.

Only on certain ships.  Some use Cagney's and I was on one that used La Cuchina.  The newer ships have a Haven restaurant in the Haven.

I carry protein bars with me (commercially packaged).  But there are many things that are not to be brought into a country, even sometimes a state.  That definitely includes food from the buffet (even whole fruits) - especially in Europe.  Make other plans.  Take prepackaged nuts or protein bars or something like that.  If you don't want to stop for food, fine.  But don't take food off the ship.

Not an ambassador, but we've been treated great by many - most of whom are retired now.  Some have been promoted wayyyyy up the food chain.  Sean Wurmeringer, Denis Prguda, Alain Magnier.  I miss Yannis Kazalis, who is now with MSC.

Now that AK cruises are in full swing, has anyone done this excursion this season?  I would love a report of where it was served, how and what was served.

9 hours ago, edinburgher said:

As your question is NCL specific, consider cross posting on the NCL forum where passengers who experienced this would be more likely to see it and respond.

 

This one

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/64-norwegian-cruise-line/

 

Sorry, thought that's what I was doing but was on the wrong forum.

5 hours ago, Crew News said:

Unlike Juneau whales, the humpback whales in ISP are much closer to the ship and much more active. In fact, I saw a whale surface within 100 yards of my docked cruise ship while eating lunch.  I prefer ship-sponsored excursions because they earn loyalty points and use boats with more amenities (bathrooms).

 

 

The smaller boats that we've been on have bathrooms and snacks and drinks have been included.  It was like being on a friend's boat.

Jayleen, of Jayleen's Alaska is the daughter of Jay Beedle, one of the two founders of Harv & Marv's.  Our last Harv & Marv's, it had been bought out but we had Jayleen as our captain.  We will be booking with Jayleen's Alaska.

Now that AK cruises are in full swing, anyone do the NCL tea excursion in Victoria?  I'm looking for a review and some details please.

36 minutes ago, LeeW said:

Port buildings are very close to the pier that Royal uses (two piers, a skylift runs between them if you are at the far pier).  Decent shopping in the old cannery building.  You might want to start both in this forum and here: https://icystraitpoint.com/

 

For things like whale watching, the cruise ship boats can hold over 100 guests.  Independents are 6-23 guests, usually for less than cruise ship charges.

 

Our last two trips had pouring rain.

 

 

Good to know about the cannery building.  ISP is our first stop.  I did look at that sight but it tells you to book through your ship.  I like the independent tours much better for multiple reasons.

We've been to all the other ports except this one so I'm looking for advice on excursions, independent or cruise line, for this port.  We are in our 50s to late 60s.  I cannot hike due to health issues.

When sailing to AK, I care a lot less about the cruiseline.  It's about the itinerary.  The Princess sailing is a northbound cruise which gives you a great opportunity to rent a car in Anchorage and do your own thing all over.  We did that for 10 days and it was fantastic.  There is so much more to see than the inside passage.  Now, if you're traveling with teens or younger, the ship does make more of a difference but we are past that stage.

X usually goes to Hubbard, which is my favorite.  Early in the season, it can be missed due to fog.  But in late September, you have much less chance of that happening.

On 4/16/2024 at 12:07 PM, KeithJenner said:

120 days out (slightly longer if you are booked in a club suite or higher or higher latitudes status) you will be able to reserve restaurants on the website or the app.

How many days out for latitudes status?

Stanley Park and the aquarium is plenty to keep you busy before the cruise, IMO.

We used the HOHO bus for 2 days and it was great for getting us all around the city.  it helped us cover a lot of ground in a shorter amount of time.  Stanley Park is beautiful, and we loved the aquarium.  We went to so many places and saw so much in 2 days.

On 4/5/2024 at 5:51 PM, bonvoyagie said:

I have seen in the past where people who organize the meet and greets are given VIP status by the cruiseline. This allowed them to have similar privileges as suite guests such as lunch in Cagney's and breakfast in Modernaro.

But that doesn't/didn't show on your booking.

On 4/6/2024 at 10:00 PM, dobiemom said:

If I remember correctly, this also happened last year? The first cruise or 2 did not have Port Valet. 

I hope this is the case as we are hoping to use the service in September.

On 4/5/2024 at 2:19 PM, TashaB said:

I think your arrival time in Victoria on the 17th is 7:30pm according to the Victoria Harbour Authority website and also the NCL website.  I would imagine that this is a package exclusive to NCL especially since the Sun is the only ship docking that day.  It's possible it will be served in the lobby where the afternoon high tea is served.  However it could also be in one of their event rooms.  

 

Regrettably, since your arrival time is so late most,  if not all,  of the traditional places for tea are closed.  If you really want to enjoy the Empress why not taxi or take a pedicab from the pier?  Enjoy a drink or even possibly a pot of tea in the Q Bar which has a wonderful view of the Inner Harbour.

 

BTW...it is walkable from the dock to the hotel.  Around 30 minutes if you follow the waterfront.

 

 

As far as I can see, The Empress doesn't serve high tea, which is in the evening and has savory pieces as well as the sweets (an evening meal, tea style, and at a table instead of off a coffee table).  I'm good with either experience but I want it to be the full experience - especially for the price.  I brew my own tea all the time, so it's not really about just the tea part.  If the full tea experience isn't available, then I'll just go find a beaver tail, call it good and head back to the ship.

On 4/5/2024 at 3:59 PM, lepidoptera said:

I am on the Sun in July. I was researching it as well. I think it is a different menu. Looking at the things they said could be available none are on the tea menu. I found pics of “tea to go” which includes iced tea on their website, I’m afraid it might be something closer to that than the full tea experience. 

This is what I thought as well and why I cam to ask specifically on the NCL board.

On 4/7/2024 at 6:03 PM, bonvoyagie said:

in reading the NCL description of the tour it flat out says iced teas and savory treats that are very different from the afternoon tea offerings.

Yes, this is what concerns me.

12 minutes ago, littlegit said:

I can phone the Empress for you if you have a date and specific questions.

That would be very helpful.  We will be on the Norwegian Sun and in Victoria on 9/17.  Thanks for your help.

25 minutes ago, julig22 said:

If you read what is written on what people assume is a voucher, you won't find anywhere that it says to include it. Just instructions to put your latitude level on the bag and slip.

Poor layout on the card, since it is below the vouchers needed for latitudes meals. But not a voucher.

It said to attach it.  But we already knew that we could write "platinum" on our ticket.