psuboater

Just edited my response, I am on spotty WiFi as I am traveling by train through eastern Canada right now and I thought this question was on the West Coast departure board, where living in the Seattle area carries a bit of weight to the answers. Have a fantastic night, and I truly hope you’re not on our Bermuda sailing.

Currently it’s 5 as OH isn’t issuing them so we’re both wrong. I frequent this board often (thought we were on the West Coast departure boards, I am at the mercy of ViaRail between QC and Montreal on my own trip) and am confident to say I’m decently respected for my advice here and while I am incorrect by one here, I don’t appreciate your rudeness.

I have gone on a closed loop from Seattle on the cruise as well as the Victoria Clipper (Direct fast ferry from Seattle to Victoria,BC) with only my Enhanced Drivers License. Currently, only 4 states offer this - NY, MI, VT and WA that serve as proof to cross into Canada (I am unaware of the Mexico/US agreements with Southern States). If it is truly an Enhanced Drivers License and not a REAL ID, no birth certificate is needed. The *only* issue I can see is that if something happens in Victoria, you would not be able to fly from Victoria to Seattle or any other US cities, you would have to ferry to south of Vancouver and drive across the border, or take the clipper direct to Seattle as mentioned. Case in point, I am on a vacation to Quebec, and because I had to fly there, my license means nothing for proof of citizenship/border crossing. It feels a bit weird to go across the border without a passport, but with the proper drivers license it is possible.

Oh Heavens no, unless you enjoy sitting at Seattle airport waiting for a standby flight because you will not make the 9:40am flight. Firstly, even if you’re the only boat disembarking (peak season can be 3), you’re at the mercy of Seattle rush hour traffic. During rush hour getting to the airport from downtown can take close to an hour. I was at the airport yesterday and it’s the start of Spring Break, so similar to summer traffic. Lines for bag drops were 30+ minutes on Delta and Alaska and TSA Pre was 25 min and general was 35-40 minutes. Living here I understand the lack of direct options to a lot of cities with the time difference, but booking this direct you’re asking for heartache.

Fantastic decision. Vancouver is a lovely city with a lot to do, see and eat! It will also take the stress away from your last day. Nothing worse than having a week of fun and relaxation only to white knuckle it the last day trying to make your flight and erasing all of the relaxation you just had.

I would be booking ASAP - as cruise season is extremely busy and as others have mentioned, expensive. I live outside the Seattle metro now but sometimes work requires me to be on site for the week, so I have a few hotels that I've liked. Courtyard by Marriott South Lake Union Hilton Garden Inn South Lake Union Renaissance Hotel Downtown Seattle As others have mentioned, if you can splurge- The Edgewater Marriott Downtown Waterfront Fairmount Olympic Lotte Hotel The only hotel I stayed at and wouldn't stay again is the Hilton Downtown Seattle. It was clean, but it was very dark and the rooms were tired and small.

We’ve stayed at the Westin Gaslamp several times and had great stays. A few weeks ago we stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott downtown. It’s the old San Diego Savings and Loan building which makes for an amazing lobby and mad men vibes. The rooms are a bit small but they’re clean and centrally located to all you want to do.

From Seattle to Vancouver last year we had someone with an ankle monitoring bracelet and a non valid passport but was a Canadian citizen so they eventually let her back in. We were shocked she was allowed back on the bus but no one liked her after that 😂

I haven’t taken the princess transfer but I have taken the Amtrak Bus up to Vancouver. It’s not as scenic as the train, but it’s a very pleasant ride. It took us 5 hours but that’s with a stop in the Vancouver suburbs before downtown and we got into Vancouver during rush hour so the last hour was just Vancouver traffic. As long as traffic and customs is in your favor, it should be closer to 4.

Highly recommend Lawrence Tours- Michael is a one man business- he is highly knowledgeable, very kind and thoughtful and gave us a great full day tour. You can book him on Viator or directly through his website (Lawrence Tours Vancouver)

Sadly that’s about normal for downtown Seattle down in the summer. Seattle doesn’t have a lot of tourism outside of the cruise months, so they get what they can between April-October.

You are quite close to Holy Mountain Brewing, which has some of the best beer in the city in my opinion.

Happens even to us locals! Rule of thumb - if they are not asking for your passport info, you're going to the wrong Vancouver! 🙂 Some other options -- 1) I didn't stay at the Artic Club but we just had a work happy hour there, it is a really unique spot and the bar is fantastic. 2) I live outside the city now but will stay downtown for work sometimes. The Renaissance hotel is a good distance between touristy areas and the train station (15-20 minute walk in either direction to train or tourist attractions) 3) I haven't stayed there, but our consultants stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Pioneer Square and had a good experience. 4) If you want to splurge, look into the Lotte Hotel - water view rooms are phenomenal, but they are pricey during cruise season.

Sorry to hear that! We did have luck buying in person last June but it looks to be hit or miss. NCL is known for saying things you want to hear. We were originally booked on X for our Bermuda cruise but we took the Joy in February so booked on board to switch to NCL. When we asked if Vibe was available they told us they didn’t have visibility. Surprise, they were sold out online. When we booked June 2024 on board in June 2023, well wouldn’t you know we could book Vibe the same day as our cruise… I threw down my credit card as soon as it was visible in the app but the Cruisenext person called us and asked we didn’t just book it at the same time 😂

Yea, by accident 🙂 Our car service picked us up an hour earlier than scheduled and dropped us off at the pier while the last week was disembarking. They started boarding around 10:30 or so and we had a club balcony so we boarded fairly quickly.

Yes, you need to pay the dog tax now 🙂 Looking forward to your trip- we were on Joy last Feb (Mexican Riviera) and June (Bermuda) and booked on her for Bermuda this June- looking forward to seeing pictures of her glow-up!

We got passes the day of embarkation last year on the Joy, it was inside Teppanyaki. Once entering, the restaurant reservations will be to the left, Vibe passes will be to the right. They have a very limited amount on board (it was explained to me to make it more fair for people who are not computer saavy). We got in line by 10:45, and we got some of the last 2 passes at 11:30am, the three people behind us were the last to get tickets. This was June 2023.

I think lots of ideas on here can be true at once. 1) It is against NCL's policy to have a minor in the room without an adult for the nightly assumption that they will eventually be sleeping together in the same room. This is to cover NCL's behind if something were to happen to the minor. Yes, as others have stated, the likelyhood of anything happens is small, but if they do find out, they do have the authority to kick you all off the ship without refund. I do think while most people have good intentions, a lot don't, and if someone were to follow her back to her cabin unbenownst to her, it would be a lot safer to (most likely in the wee hours, I would hope!) have an adult there. 2) A 15 year old can be responsible enough to stay on their own across the hall, or a 15 year old could be too immature (either deemed by their parents or the kid themselves (I saw a poster say that their daughter would feel uncomfortable). When I was 15 I took school group trips to Europe - our parents accompanied us but had separate rooms. We were allowed to pair with friends but had to check in with a curfew every night. I never dared to sneak out, or trash a hotel room, or get into trouble. Some of y'all are treating the OP like she's abanoning a newborn in their own room. If the policy did not reflect that and they did allow it, I think some 15 year olds are more than capable and comfortable for that privledge. However, two things can be true at once - the 15 year old could be capable in her own cabin, but policy wise, she should not be.

I once made this mistake and I live here 🙂 Rule of thumb - if it doesn’t ask you for your passport info when you book, you’re going to the wrong Vancouver.

Get your tickets ASAP -- this route easily sells out in the summer months. We are going to a concert in July in Vancouver and we bought our Amtrak tickets last month. You also save a great deal on Amtrak when you book early.

LOL funny you should mention that because I'm working downtown all week so my work put me up at a hotel, and my husband joined me for dinner at Butcher's Table(VERY close to La Quinta) and we were there at 8:30pm 🙂 We're not NYC, the return to office hasn't been fully formed yet, so restaurants here Monday-Wednesday will close around 9pm. Thursdays-Saturdays you'll get better hours until 11 or 12. This is also our non tourist season, so by the time the cruises start, you'll have more late night options. Momji, who has an original location in Capitol Hill, looks like they opened in South Lake Union and is open until 9. It's my favorite sushi place in the city. The Butcher's Table, as I mentioned, has great steak, and if you're adventrous, the bone marrow appetitzer is a must. We just learned last night to ask for a "luge" - where after you finish the bone marrow, you pour a bourbon down the bone as a drinking vessel, definitely a flavorful eperience. Our consulting team confirmed that if you're really looking for night life, Capitol Hill has a ton of late night options. It's a quick uber ride away. They were out until at least 1am last night. South Lake Union/Downtown is not an urban waste land. Even before the pandemic, I recommend staying away from 3rd when you can (It is a bus only street so the homeless tend to stay there), but it's not any different than any major city. Be aware of your surroundings, and have fun!

This question is asked a lot on this board. Typically, as locals, we recommend no earlier than noon. If you have a hard time getting around, don't have Precheck or CLEAR, or just not comfortable with navigating airports, I would leave a cushion until at least 1pm.

It depends on a few factors -- it looks like there are two boats disembarking that day (Bliss and Eurodam) so it will be a busy day for the airport, but not as busy as when 3 ships come in. Are you good walking off with your own luggage? Do you have any priority with your airline (ex: Delta Sky Priority has a separate line to check in/bag drop). Do you have Pre Check and/or CLEAR? (The only consistent less than 15 minute option with security in SEA has been Pre and CLEAR combined that I've experienced). Ideally, a noon or later flight is best (especially if you can do Port Valet, which takes 30+ minutes off your airport experience not having to check your bag), but given that it's a Saturday so you won't have rush hour traffic, the Huskies are playing Rutgers in New Jersey so you won't have game day traffic, if you're comfortable with navigating airports, I would make the gamble.

We've done this on the Joy as well- I've gone up and brought down a few appetizers for myself and the group playing dominoes to enjoy, but not a full 4 course meal.

Port side has buildings but you get the sunset! But as others have said, you won’t know until you get there. Both sides are beautiful in Bermuda!