CruisinMama7

What's going down at 3rd and Pine has been a long time coming, and it's not being done for cruise season - it's being done because of the endless complaints that have been going unheard for years. A huge % of the calls for service also revolve around the major transit stop on 3rd between Pine and Stewart - operators know there's a police presence nearby so they get fast service.

I'm cruising out of Seattle this summer and staying at the Inn at The Market, which is located on Pine Street right across from the Public Market. Being unfamiliar with the downtown Seattle street layout, is my hotel located close to this area you mentioned above? Of course, I would never change my plans...just want to know if I should be extra careful? We planned on walking the waterfront and checking out the Public Market. Should this only be done during daytime hours? I'm assuming the waterfront is safe since they're rebuilding it, correct?

Thanks for any info, VibeGuy! I really do appreciate it.

I'm staying pre-cruise at a downtown Seattle hotel (one day only) and want to go to the Ballard Locks. I'm assuming the quickest way to get there is by taxi. Does anybody know if taxis are stationed near the entrance for the return back to the hotel or will I need to call for a taxi? Approximately how much time should I allot to properly see this area? I'd appreciate any and all advice. Thanks in advance.

You will find an array of different Galveston hotels on this link.

http://www.galveston.com/islandhotels/

And this link provides hotels that provide complimentary parking and shuttle.

http://www.galveston.com/parkandcruise/

Hope this helps you out.

We are hoping to find a great hotel close to downtown. Our cruise departs on Sunday the 28th but we plan to fly in a few days before to enjoy the city. We hope to attend the Pride street festival on Saturday. Thanks in advance!

The 2015 U.S. Open Golf Tournament is scheduled near Seattle June 15-21 and all Puget Sound hotels are expected to be fully booked with 235,000 attendees. As Casagordita previously advised, I'd book a hotel right away. :)

He said it on his Facebook page. I am sailing 6/2/15, the week before you. I sent him a FB message and he confirmed that he will be the CD on my cruise :D

Thank you for confirming that JH will be the cruise director for Alaska 2015. I read the info on his blog.

Starting on Wednesday, a good portion of the Seattle waterfront (including Ivar's, Ye Olde Curiosity Shop and a number of other businesses and restaurants) will be closing down for the next nine months to facilitate construction of a new seawall. The Great Wheel (and portions of Miner's Landing,) the Seattle Aquarium, the ferry terminal and Argosy Cruises (which will move to a different pier) will remain operational during this time.

 

Since the cruise season is all but over in Seattle (the last two ships depart today) this shouldn't have much affect on people here for now, but it may impact cruisers early in the 2015 season, as the businesses are not expected to reopen until the end of next June.

Thanks for the info, Vexorg! Hopefully the project will be completed by the time I cruise on July 7, 2015. I was really looking forward to checking out the waterfront. How about Pike's Market and the restaurants inside the market? Are they scheduled for closure during the project, as well?

Much gratitude for all responses! I'm not a frequent flyer so I will be a window watcher.:o We're booked left side (port) for both legs of the flight so I will remain where we are presently seated. Sounds like it is a toss of the coin. It really doesn't matter where I'm seated just as long as I get to Alaska!

We are flying from Dallas, TX to Seattle next summer on Alaska Airlines. Does anybody know from which side of the plane we can best see Mount Rainier? We won't have time for a side trip, so the flight will probably be my own chance to see it. TIA.

Is there a grocery or liquor store located close to Pike's Market? Need to grab a couple bottles of wine to pack in our carry-on. Thanks for any info.

Since June is too early for bears we are looking at misty fjords with Michelle. She still has availability four our June date. Any of you done that one?

 

Thank you!

We did the Misty Fjords tour with Michelle. It was great! Saw beautiful scenery, lakes and waterfalls. She landed on a small lake in the middle of nowhere & we got out to enjoy the quiet and peacefulness of the area for a while. The view is spectacular from above and I would do again in a heart beat. Like I mentioned earlier, she gave us a complimentary souvenir CD at the end of our flight.

Another "bucket list" item completed and checked off my growing list of things to accomplish before the big "D" Day! :)

Thank you! The one we booked actually does Glacier Bay instead of Tracy Arm. This made me even more excited' date=' thanks for sharing! I'm jealous you got to sail with John Heald, his blog and FB posts crack me up.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums[/quote']

 

You'll be happy to learn that John Heald will be the cruise director next year on the Legend as well. We're booked on the Legend in July 2015 (our 3rd Alaskan cruise), but that first cruise of the season that goes to Glacier Bay is a great plus. GB is a definite "must-see" location.

 

Just know that the Alaskan cruises are not "party-central" like the Caribbean cruises are. Although I'm a Carnival fan, we went with Princess for our first two Alaskan cruises only because of the itineraries. After 10-11 pm, it was a ghost town on both ships. People rest up for the next day's activities and do not party until the wee hours. Hopefully, Carnival will be a more active but from what I've read, people still don't go crazy on the Alaskan cruises, even on Carnival. This is a good thing. It more about what you're seeing outside the ship rather than what's on the ship.

I highly recommend Island Wings. When our flight was over, Michelle handed us a complimentary CD of where we flew. Now this was about 5 years ago, so I don't know if she still does this for her clients. Either way, you can't go wrong if you book with Michelle.

This AWD code for AVIS worked in the summer: W046000

 

It is a general code for a lot of things in Alaska, not a corporate code.

 

Good luck.

Thank you so much for the above discount code, pokerpro5. While making a reservation for next July in Skagway, I used your discount code and it worked! I was able to get a larger car (intermediate vs. compact) for $27 less than what I was going to pay for the compact. It's not a huge savings, but it'll buy a couple drinks at the Red Onion Saloon. ;)

Thanks, again!

The 2015 US Open Golf is going be held in Tacoma/University Place area next summer, the week of June 18th. With 230,000 spectators, thousands of volunteers, media, players & families and USGA staff descending on the course daily. Tacoma/University Place is not a resort destination or major city means that spectators from all over North America are scrambling for hotel rooms. I think rooms will be at a premium even up in Seattle a week or two before and after the US Open. I plan on taking a cruise that week, or at least be out of the area.

Well, no wonder a few hotels were already full for my date (July 6th)! I mentioned earlier that something must be going on.:rolleyes: Now I feel lucky to have scored a room at Inn at the Market, right in front of Pike's Market. Sounds like I will have a great time people-watching on their rooftop patio that overlooks the market, the bay and has a view of Mount Rainier. What a way to start our cruise! :cool:

Another Ketchikan alternative is to take a $2 city bus out to Totem Bight State Park. I've attached a link and you can print out your own guide to the 14 totem poles in the park. http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/totembgh.htm On your way back from the state park, you can even stop off at Wal-Mart if you need to pick up any extra supplies. Besides the city bus, usually there is a complimentary bus that the cruise lines run for their employees. We've hopped aboard the cruise shuttle at Wal-Mart before & rode with the employees back to the ship. Got to know some of the crew on that little excursion.

There is another short walk right above Creek Street called "The Married Man's Path". It was the pathway the married men took so they wouldn't be seen as they made their way to town to visit the "ladies of the night".

The majority of those stores in town are owned by the cruise lines anyway and most carry the same cliché stuff. If the desire to purchase something truly made in Alaska, the item will have a little sticker on it that says "Made in Alaska". But I go to Alaska to see Alaska & all of it's beauty, not the inside of some store.:rolleyes: And it certainly doesn't require big $$$ to take a walk out in nature.

I'm glad that I've already purchased our round trip airfare from Dallas to Seattle for July 2015. We paid $402.20/pp and the price already increased $60. If it increased that much within a 3 week time span, I shudder to think what it will be next summer!:eek: Guess it pays off to be frugal.:p

Is there a grocery store near the Pike Public Market or can you purchase bottles of wine while inside the Market? We're staying one night pre-cruise at the Inn at The Market downtown and don't want to walk very far (bad knees). TIA for any info.

It's much easier to prevent sea sickness than it is to treat sea sickness once you have it. We always use Bonine, one tablet each night at bedtime (just in case of drowsiness) starting with the pre-cruise hotel. Always wake up the next morning without any side effects and ready to get my float on!

I've got to join with the others and thank you for the review with pics. We're booked on the Legend's July 2015 sailing to Alaska. I'm well acquainted with the RFP on the Magic and was surprised to see a different lay-out of both the RFP and the Steakhouse. I much, much prefer the Legend's version and really looking forward to that aft Serenity (a much more suitable location for an Alaskan cruise)!

So your review and pictures really jump-started my excitement for our 3rd Alaskan cruise. Question please...which day of the week did you embark and also on which nights were the two elegant nights held?

Thanks in advance for your responses and the future posting of the Fun Times...whenever...we'll wait for you. It's got to be hard to complete this review in addition to juggling an outside job as well as caring for a 2 year old boy! You must be Wonder Woman! :eek: :confused: :)

I had prearranged our transportation from SeaTac to Marriott hotel Waterfront with Already There Limo. We had used them before and I can highly recommend them. I am glad we did not use a cab to the airport as the traffic was terrible and the meter would have been running. We enjoyed our time in Seattle.

Thanks so much for your Seattle review. I'm in the planning stages for our Alaskan cruise next summer. I've made all Seattle reservations, except for the ground transportation portion. I was looking at the Already There Limo website and found little information other than their telephone number.

I was looking for a total package price for my Seattle needs...SeaTac to downtown hotel, next morning hotel to Pier 91, then from the pier to SeaTac a week later. Do you know if they provide such a service? I received a total price of only $52/pp from Shuttle Express, but I don't want to lug my luggage over a cross bridge then down a flight of stairs to the Parking Garage. I prefer to be picked up curbside outside Baggage Claim. If I have to pay more for this service, so be it. Once I get the ground transportation arranged, then I can sit back & wait for the months to go by!

How did you like your Princess cruise? I've sailed to Alaska twice with Princess, but out of Vancouver or Anchorage. This time we're going with a different line, just to change it up a bit.

Thanks again for the Seattle info!

We were just stayed at the Maxwell July 8 before our cruise on the Golden Princess. It is a lovely hotel, the staff was excellent. Great quiet room. They had a shuttle to the ship ( pier 91) for $7.00. They have a free shuttle to local attractions during the day. Loved the afternoon pineapple cupcakes in the lobby.

Would definitely stay there again when in Seattle.

Is the Maxwell's free shuttle to local attractions on a timed schedule or at the guest's request? Is the pier shuttle priced at a per person rate? Also, is the Maxwell the same hotel that has a blues club in it?

Thanks, in advance!

While researching for a pre-cruise downtown Seattle hotel, I was surprised to discover a couple of different hotels were already booked for my dates in early July 2015. Something special must be taking place during the July 4th holiday. Wanted to make sure that we had a room so I booked the Inn at The Market, right in front of the Pike Place Market. We're definitely paying for location, but it was still cheaper than nearby downtown hotels, so it's all good.;)

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions. This gives me some websites to check out. Since I booked a year out, I've got plenty of time to plan :( before I can get back to God's country. :)

A special shout out to Budget Queen because she helped me tremendously when I was planning my first two Alaskan cruises over 5 & 6 years ago. She's not even aware of how much I learned about Alaska from her. She's a wealth of knowledge and expertise. I don't think anybody can top the number of Alaskan cruises that she has taken over the years. It was a nice surprise to revisit this board after 5 years and find that you're still here.

Thanks to everyone for the Skagway info...now and in the past!

The new location is only about 100-200 feet away. Tracys is now located in the small block of stores between her old location and the Tram. Storefront selling all sorts of souveniers and then out back on the docks are the 3 shacks mentioned along with a large tent with much more seating than before.

Thank you, DougH!

I'm planning our 3rd cruise to Alaska and we previously took the train as well as a Dyea Dave tour to Emerald Lake. Our strenuous hiking days are behind us (knee operation), but could manage an easy hike. I don't want to just walk around town because I would feel like I'd be missing something out in the woods.

Any cheap suggestions? TIA for all responses!