knarf

Where can I get internet service in Phillipsburg..free or pay ? Thanks

I made a request for a reservation at the Hyatt on Valuetrips on March 19 and received a confirmation this morning March 23. Pleasantly surprised.

You are going end of June??? Sorry, no salmon will be running, so no point in going to the ladder in my opinion.[/quote

Will the salmon 'run' on August 7th !!:p:)

Thanks,

Frank

Sorry; what does "Fail" mean ?

Hi Neighbor,

I'm from Saegertown, went to school in Edinboro ( Would you believe at the Edinboro State Teachers College-1957). If you wouldn't mind me picking your brain about river cruising, would you mind emailing me. fportfilio@windstream.net. If you don't want to answer a lot of dumb questions, I certainly understand. :)

Knarf which is Frank backwards.

Here are my plans for our Juneau stop in August.....get off the ship at 2 PM --whale watching at 2:30 PM --then after whale watching taken directly to Mendenhall by whale watching company-then after a couple of hours at Mendenhall, take a taxi back to ship. WHEN AM I GOING TO EAT !! You know that when you get off a cruise ship that you are suffering from malnutrition:):p;):D I understand that there will be no where at the whale watching "dock" to 'catch' a sandwich and there is nowhere at Mendenhall to grab a sandwich..so how am I going to survive from 2:00 PM to 8:00PM without real food !?!?:eek:

Granola bars...yuck !! Does anyone know of a secret McDonalds anywhere ????

Thanks,

Under nourished 215 pound man !!!:D

Frank

My wife and I are doing the NCL Pearl on August 2. First time to ALASKA.

We will have a rental car so time isn't an issue. We were going straight there say 19am does that work. Plan on visitors center and nugget falls. Have a question. Is the nugget falls hike easy? Can take long walks and mild hikes.

 

Thank you!

Hi, in my research, I have read several times that the walk from the visitor center to Nugget Falls is very nice and a comfortable walk of about 20/25 minutes each way. I have read where there are several trails that you can take from the visitor center, one of them taking you above the falls for a view, but that trail takes quite abit longer. Another trail takes you to a good "photo spot" for the glacier and falls, but have also read if you are walking to the the falls, don't bother taking the walk to the photo stop and go right to the falls. Never been there, just sharing some of what I have read.

Much help for me has been Budget Queen's advice.

Hi, we will be in Juneau in early Aug. We arrive at 2:00 pm and leave at 10 pm. I am doing a whale watch at 2:30 and being dropped off at Mendenhall about 6 pm. Since I don't know if I'll be able to make it back to ALASKA, I want to see as much as I can, so I want to go in the visitor center, see the video there, and then want to walk to Nugget Falls and see the glacier up close and I don't want to have to rush. The busses back to the port from Men...stop running about 6:30/7:00, so we won't be able to take them, so I am planning on taking my time at Mendenhall and calling a cab to get back to the port. Cost about $35, but going to have to bite the bullet so we can see whatever we want at Men... I figure I am paying that much for a cruise, I might as well see all that I can . 😀

I thought about seeing Men...first and do a whale watch at 6, with the whale watch "people" picking me up at Men...and then do the whale watch, which they said they can do. But decided to do Men... Last.

There are also city busses that you can take from Men..back to the port, but they are a mile plus from the visitor center to "catch" them.

We've never been to Alaska. I'm one that likes warm weather in the middle of winter. I sailed solo b2b when I met you - but hubbie will go to Alaska with me. I'm looking forward to driving to the port. We are in eastern WA - so about 3 hours away. I like that I don't have to worry about the weight of my suitcases! We are sailing May 22 on the Solstice. Never been on Celebrity. We're doing Harv and Marv whale watching in Juneau, the train in Skagway, and renting a motorcycle in Ketchikan. Perhaps we'll cruise on the same ship again in the future. I can let you know what I loved when I get back.

Hi Kriss,

When you mention cruising to people, the first thing they say "oh, you going to Alaska ?" and my answer has always been, "he#* no, I live in Alaska for 4months of the year (NW PA weather:eek:)" Well, after running out of places to "do" in the Caribbean :rolleyes:, I figured it was time to do Alaska. I have always heard that Alaska is beautiful, so I am getting it off my bucket list !:p And to be honest, after doing much research(you know my OCD), I am getting excited to go.:D

Here are a couple of sights that I found with lots of info..http://www.cruiseportinsider.com click on the drop down arrow next to Alaska and another site: for things to do in Skagway....... http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60877-Activities-c42-t139-Skagway_Alaska.html I am doing, I believe, the bus/van up the Yukon Highway and then taking the train back down to Skagway. I thought long and hard about renting a car a doing it on my own, read several posts about people doing it on their own and using the Murray guide for a thorough guide for doing a car drive. Even checked out a car in Skagway (Avis ) for $120 + gas for the day.

But, I guess I am going to use Chilkootcharter.com for the van up and train back.

In Juneau, (I think we have terrible times in port 2 PM to 10 PM. ) trying to set up whale watch and Mendenhall Glacier tours is being a little difficult, because I want to spend a couple of hours at Mendenhall, not the hour that the tour people give you. A good Skagway site is http://www.skagway.com

Since I have never been in Seattle (well, there for a very short time once) I found this site helpful for me http://www.portseattle.org

I know what you mean about driving to the port and not have to worry about weight of the suitcases and the high cost of airfare. We drove to Baltimore for a cruise one time (6 hours from home) and it was nice..airtravel is great, but frustrating lots of times !!! :)

We were on Celebrity once . Been on most all the lines-Costa-Carnival, Celebrity, RCCL, NCL, Princess and HAL not Disney..and our favorite one is......ALL OF THEM !!!!!:D

Later,

Frank

For August 4 and August 11th.... the Jewel is docked 7am to 1:30pm at AJD. The Pearl gets the same dock 2pm to 10pm.

 

Not sure what's worse... AJD or being told to tender. I was told to tender on my trip and hated it.

Hello xlxo,

Thank you for the pier information for the Pearl. A question for you or someone who has cruised on the NCL to Juneau

..Are there two places for the NCL ships to dock at AJD (the NCL location). The reason I ask, if they have to share the same space, then the Pearl will not dock until the Jewel "gets out of the way". I was hoping the Pearl gets in Juneau early, so that we can leave the ship right at 2 or maybe a little before !!!

As I've said before, I hate lines and when tendering there are always lines.....have I told you- I dislike tendering !! :(

Frank

I just saw Budget Queen's post, I guess that answers my question, they share the same dock space ! : ( Thank you Budget Queen. Thank you also for the other info in your previous post. You is a very helpful young lady !! (Yes, I did teached English !!

Frank

Are you on the August 11 Pearl in Juneau? I see it assign the AJD dock... the furthest dock according to this map...

https://www.arktikana.com/city-glacier-tour/ (scroll down to map)

Google Map shows it just over 1 mile away from tram site or a 25 minute walk.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=58.290191,+-134.395473&daddr=58.296174,-134.399807&hl=en&sll=58.295046,-134.397533&sspn=0.00477,0.011244&geocode=FQ9weQMdr0n99w%3BFW6HeQMdwTj99w&t=h&dirflg=w&mra=ltm&z=16

Thank you for the information. We are on the Pearl one week before you. Our sailing date out of Seattle is Aug. 2 and in Juneau on Aug. 4 Where did you go to see what pier you were at while in Juneau ? I would guess we are at the same pier.

I docked at that pier a couple of years ago. The only transportation available was the shuttle (motor coach) to the other pier area and the buses for the cruise excursions. I don't recall seeing taxis, but I could be wrong.

 

Only other option is to walk.

Thank you also for the information. Did you take the bus/shuttle to the other pier ? Was there a wait and a line ?

Thanks again for the help.

Frank

Will be in Juneau in Aug on the NCL PEARL from 2 to 10. I understand that the pier is "a ways" from the Roberts tram site where it seems that the whale watching companies pick you up. I also understand that there is a shuttle at the pier that will take you there. My big concern (to 'catch' the 2:30 whale watching tour that I am looking at) with so so many people getting off the ship for tours etc etc, and wanting transportation to town or tour pickup area, how hectic will it be to try to get on the shuttle. On my, how I hate long lines !!

Couple of questions---any tour companies pick up at the NCL Pier ? Other ways to get to the tram pick up area ( I am guessing taxi) ? How far of a walk is it to the tram pickup area ? On another note....Are there means to get to Mendenhall Glacier from the NCL pier ?

I have researched these boards "ALASKA" quite thoroughly and have not seen this type of question. So, I would greatly appreciate anyone's help or advice.

Hi Kriss,

What a pleasant surprise to hear from you. Yes, since I never saw you, I thought you probably got off the ship after the M&M and went home !! :p:D

We are cruising to Alaska in Aug. on the NCL Pearl for 7 days out of Seattle. Never been to Alaska so I am doing a lot of research on excursions. We are planning on doing a whale watch and Mendenhall Glacier 'trip' in Juneau.

Have you been there before ?

You are cruising out your backyard and probably no air fare to worry about. Lucky you. :)

How close are you to Seattle ?

Take care,

Frank/knarf

I have asked a whale watching company if I could go to Mendenhall Glacier first about 2;30 and then do the whale watching after (about 6:00 PM in August while lots of daylight). Would I see as many whales at 6 PM as I would at 3 PM. or do the whales go for dinner at 6 ?? :p

If I do the whale watch first (2:30) and then do the Mendenhall tour (about 5:30 , it doesn't give me a lot of time watch the video in the visitor center, then walk to Nugget Falls and also get an upclose look at the glacier and then get back to the visitor center for the last shuttle at 6:30/7. I realize that I can get a cab to go back to the pier ( $35 :( )

By doing the glacier first, I would have more time at Mendenhall and not have to worry about how to get back to the pier .

But, my main concern is to see whales, and seeing the glacier is second priority.

Our ship is in Juneau from 2 to 10.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Frank

yes, 30 minutes under good circumstances. I usually tell people to give it an hour due to all the hwy/tunnel construction, city events, general congestion and the thousands of cruise passengers heading to the airport.

 

You could take a cab from pier91 to pier 66 to check your luggage as long as there's a ship at pier 66 that day. Take the elevator across the street to within a few blocks of the Market. From the Market walk 3 blocks to Westlake Center where you can catch a monorail to the Seattle Center/Space Needle.

 

If you can easily manage your luggage, you can also catch the Light Rail at Westlake Center and it will take you to the airport for $3, 40 minutes. There's a 7-10 minute walk at the end to reach the terminal. Otherwise a cab from pier n66 to SeaTac will be about $45

Hi mapleleaves,

First of all thank you for all the great info that you post on cruise critic. You have been very helpful in planning my Alaska cruise Aug. 2nd.

I wonder about your statement above (red). Is there a place at pier 66 that you can store your luggage for a few hours even if you are not cruising out of that pier? The reason I ask, we will be coming into pier 66 after our cruise and before I go to our hotel(SeaTac) I thought it might be nice to go to the market for a "visit" then go back to the pier collect our luggage and head out to the airport to our hotel. Might leave more time the next day for sightseeing ?!

Just a thought.

knarf which is Frank backwards

Hi AryMay,

Thanks for the rain gear information. Looks like I will have to break the budget and purchase some better rain gear than the "clearer bags" !:eek:

I have reserved a car with Avis for our day in Skagway.

Funny you mentioned about next generation of former students, a few years before I retired I was "working" with grandchildren of former students. I had to look in the mirror and ask......is it time !! :).

All the schools are closed today because of the cold and windchill.

And next week's forecast all days below 20 degrees. As they say on Sportscenter.....COME ON NOW !!! :p

Knarf/Frank

Hi AryMay,

You be careful about talking about teachers !! :):D:p Well maybe you are right about MATH teachers... just kidding !:)

I was a teacher in an elementary school for 43 years and had the greatest career in the world !!

Cruised many many times --all in the Caribbean or warm climates. Reason.... it was -24 degrees F on our deck this morning with 2 feet of snow on the ground. We live in NW PA. Therefore we LOVE warm climates. But everyone says Alaska is beautiful, therefore we are going. I can then scratch it off my bucket list !!:eek:

Your review was really great and pictures verify what people say..ALASKA IS BEAUTIUL !!!!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to post your pictures and review. We will be on the NCL Pearl in August, 2015.

Like the idea of the rental car in Skagway..is Avis the only rental agency that you found in your research ? never had rain gear...was yours lightweight and include pants and jacket ? You know us conservative teachers..was going to the cleaners to get plastic bags to use....but, maybe not !!!! :D

Thanks for your help.

Knarf which is Frank backwards

Hi ,

If I may add to VideoTech's list ::

Visit the confederate museum, not real big , but interesting.

He mentioned ride the streetcar to the Garden district..ride it ( St. Charles streetcar all the way to the end, get off for one minute while "it turns around" and ride it back to the beginning Canal Street. Get a streetcar all day or 3 day pass, then you can get on and off as many times as you want. We did this and got off at the cemetery (Laffeyette I think), got off at the Audubon park and zoo, Got off at the "turn" and ate, beautiful ride seeing the old homes, the two colleges. We also rented a car and drove out to see two plantations..rental cars are pretty cheap. I would rent the car for one whole day and then return it...parking is a hassle.

Hope this helps. Will be back in a minute for a good web site.

Frank

We arrive the night before our cruise and are considering staying the night at the in Mestre. Question ... if we take a taxi the next morning to our ship, can the taxi take us directly to the cruise terminal or will it be required to drop us at Piazza Roma?

Thanks for the help.

Frank

Hi cruise mom,

We are cruising to Salerno and my wife and I are really up in the air as to whether we want to go to Pompeii or to Herculaneum . If you would be so kind to send me your notes and maybe that might us to make our decision.

Thank you so much.

Frank. fportfilio@windstream.net

It was post cruise and since there were six of us we hired private van and driver both to get from ship to hotel and then hotel to Airport two days later.I seem to remember it was 50 € each leg.. It is very easy drive to get there from airport and the train station and bus stop are right across the street..public transportation was not a good option for us as we had children and some heavy packers in iur group, but I think it would be easy.

 

I would just take a taxi if you don't want to bother with bus...we saw lots of them

Thanks for the information.

Frank

We stayed at the Hotel Tritone in Mestre and our DD and family had a room for four. Would highly recommend.

Hi, we are staying there in May..a couple of questions if you don't mind :)

Was that a pre cruise or post cruise stay ? If it was pre, how did you get there from the airport ? How did you get to the cruise port from the hotel ?

Thank you so much for the help.:)

Frank

Hi,

Going on a cruise in May. I have a dumb ( matches the owner) flip phone. I am getting a phone from Verizon for a month for $20.00 (shipping fee) for international ( and US) use. Text to send is .50 cents and receive is 5 cents. Per minute charge in Italy, Spain , France is about $1.99. I plan on using the phone very little-for emergency or so that family can get in touch with me , or if I need to contact a tour operator.

Frank

Thank you all for your help on this matter.

Very appreciated.

Frank

Hi,

I have never been to Europe. We will be cruising there in May My question.... Do we have to carry our original passport with us when we go into the different ports -Italy, Croatia, Turkey, France, and Spain or will a copy be okay ?

Thanks

Frank