3rdGenCunarder

When is your cruise? They might arrange it last-minute when they have a good idea of the weather. IIRC, on my 2019 cruise, that tour was not offered online in advance.

Your ship may offer a tour to get closer to the glacier. A boat will tie up to your ship so passengers can get on the boat. Passengers return to the ship the same way. This is only through your ship. There are no other companies that you can book with because they wouldn't get permission to get close to your ship. Because you're a "captive audence," it's likely to be expensive.

Four years ago, that's where they put us, too.

Thanks! I had a few questions and rapid test and trace answered quickly. So that's booked. My pre-travel checklist is SO much longer than it used to be!

Did you use a laptop or your phone?

We got very close on QE in June 2019. As you say, optimal conditions. I hadn't been to Hubbard before so I didn't realize how lucky we were. That same trip, our time in Tracy Arm was a joke. The ship turned into the large area where Tracy and Endicott branch off and then turned and continued on to Juneau. No explanation. The cool thing about Tracy Arm is, if you get far enough in to see the glacier, as we did on our first cruise to Alaska (September), not only do you get the crack sound of the ice breaking, but it echoes down the fjord like thunder. I hadn't expected that.

I blame focus groups. A large, glitzy atrium is impressive. When potential designs are shown, people are likely to choose whatever looks largest. And as more ships have a multi-level atrium, all the other lines copy it. As for the under-60s, I think that's what HAL is trying to do with their larger ships and the "Music Walk," where the venues spill out into the walkway. So there are crowds and the music is LOUD. I mean, ruin your hearing loud. People on CC have said they wear ear plugs when they go to the Rock Room or BB Kings. This makes no sense to me, but it's what they do. HAL used to have a wonderful jazz group called the Neptunes. They also played some sets for dancing. The floor was small, but people were able to dance on it. Now there's nothing like that on HAL. (Full disclosure: I am not an under-60)

Yes, this morning. The thermal suite looks nice enough, but I hate that it's down so low and no windows. I prefer the thermal loungers to be in a separate place, as they are on QE, a quiet room with large windows.

Thanks, I'll check them out. To continue the nonsense with the Canada Place testing center, it isn't really closed "indefinitely." I emailed to ask what was going on and to complain that they didn't contact me. I received a reply that they're closed through June 10, and my June 13 appointment wasn't affected. So why does the website say "indefinitely" instead of "through June 10"?????

I hope you're right. Travel is complicated enough as it is without adding a strike! If you're shopping for flights, be careful about codeshares. Check both airlines involved. I decided I just cannot bear the thought of Amtrak's bus to Vancouver, so I looked into flights. I found a nonstop Portland to Vancouver on Air Canada. It also showed up on United as a codeshare, but the flight is actually Air Canada. Same flight, but United charges $200 more and I'd have to spend another $50 for a checked bag.

I want to call and scream at them just to get it out of my system. More than anything, I'm annoyed that they have not contacted me. That's a lousy way to do business. I am so tired of dealing with all this covid #$%^&*! QE currrently has an outbreak, so it's likely that my cruise will not have the launderettes, the thermal suite in the spa, the usual lectures, etc. I have to deal with the bus instead of the train because Amtrak can't get its act together. Everything looks like a hassle and a disappointment. I have to keep reminding myself that Alaska is gorgeous and the trip will be worth it. (It's hot as hell here today, so please forgive the crankiness) So, is there a list of approved companies that will do the online proctoring?

If I type the words that just flew out of my mouth, I'll be banned from Cruise Critic! Thank you so much for posting this. My appointment was for the 13th. I can't believe they haven't contacted me. I paid for it in advance. So now I have to do an alternate testing method. I guess I'll figure out how to do the online proctored test on my phone. And I'll have to chase them for a refund. Why on earth would they close this site? It would bring in a fortune with so many cruisers needing a test. So yet another bit of this trip that I have to start over...

One of the things I love about QM2 is that I can always find a quiet place to sit and look out at the sea. Mornings on a TA, I'll sit by a window in the champagne bar to catch up on my journal. Good view out and also a view of the comings and goings in the atrium.

I agree it's easier to just do it and be ready, even if it turns out nobody checks. I have my account set up, but I can't put in my border crossing info until I'm 72 hours (or less) from the time I cross (by land) into Canada. Once that is done, I'll be within 72 hours of embarking the ship. So I put in the ship info, that's easy enough. But I won't have info about going into Canada because the stop in Victoria is more than a week away. So all Arrive CAN will want to know is my embarkation info? And then I go into it again 72 hours (or less) before arriving in Victoria. Is that correct?

Is Arrive CAN required to board a cruise that leaves from Seattle?

Like the people who don't complete the customs form before getting to the Immigration officer in the terminal.

They do explain about ArriveCAN on the website. But considering they're doing a whole season in Alaska, a lot of passengers will be on that itinerary and should be made aware of the app. There should be something specific about Canada's rules and how Cunard is working in Canada in that precruise mailing, even if it's a little addendum paper. My TA's take on the cancellations is that they lost track of overlapping segments and found that the little pacific coastal was booked by lots of people after the Canal, and lots of people before Vancouver, AND then, oops! a bunch of people just doing the short segment.

Today I received my "Your Ocean Awaits" pre-cruise booklet from Cunard for Queen Elizabeth from Vancouver June 14. It's generic, mostly reminding me about Cunard requirements, like disclaimers, health declaration, plus passport, proof of vaccination. NO mention of ArriveCAN. Just "check our website..." I hope people don't assume that the booklet contains ALL the information needed before embarkation.

Some people aren't happy unless they have something to complain about.

Do some research online before you try to sell the idea. Check out Juneau, Skagway, Ketchickan. These ports are on most itineraries, and you can find lots of things to do. Or go "old school" and buy a good travel guide (DK "Eyewitness" guides are excellent) to give him for inspiration.

It doesn't get any easier than that! The first time we had the porter collect out bags, he was very funny. He asked us to show him our passports and tickets because he wanted to make sure they weren't in our bags. The car service we used to use did the same thing. before he pulled out of our driveway, he would ask, "Do you have your tickets? Passport? Wallet? Glasses?"

I received the reminder email, tried twice to enter the emergency contact, and then I called Cunard. Two more reminders in subsequent months, and each time I checked, the info was all there. My sister-in-law shows as Sister-I, too. I was just telling a friend that if the people who program the reservation computers programmed the navigation computers on board, the ships would be at the bottom of an ocean!

My TA's theory is that they didn't keep track of occupancy accurately, with the overlapping segments, especially if they were selling guarantees. Canal to SF, Canal to Vancouver, Canal to Alaska, SF to Alaska all were sold as segments. In addition to those, the short SF to Vancouver bookings put them over the numbers.

Grab the spots with Harv & Marv while you can. If you can't get the 6-person boat trip online this close to the day, I doubt it will happen when you get there.

Will time in port allow you to do Butchart Gardens on your own? A taxi to/from would be expensive, but there's a bus service.