milogurd

12 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Wow! What a difference the time of day can make! We went to the College Fjord first, where the glaciers we saw when the Grand cruised there yesterday evening looked totally different! For one, there were pretty much no shadows as the sun was high in the sky! For another, there were a lot more harbor seals hanging out on icebergs and otters swimming around on their backs! 😁

 

This was our vessel which left the port about an hour late waiting on some guests coming from Anchorage on the train. This delay turned our tour into a 6+ hour adventure getting us back to the ship around 6:45 pm. But we had fun and that’s the main thing! 😁

 

 
First we headed back over to College Fjord.

 

 

 
Pelagic Cormorant  

 

 

 
A few harbor seals just hanging out on a pretty day soaking in the rays!

 

 

  

 

 

 

 
A lone harbor seal simply enjoying the moment! 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Now it’s time to start making our way back through the ice field that definitely grew in bulk since last night!

 

 
More harbor seals hanging out on an iceberg.

 

 

 
This was a raft of otters that we passed by as we were leaving College Fjord and heading towards Blackstone Bay where more glaciers can be found.

 

 

 
These glaciers and surrounding scenery are what we saw in Blackstone Bay. 

 

 
We didn’t see any pigeons while we were in Whittier, but did notice this rock in Blackstone Bay that reminded me of one! 😂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Then it was time to head to the bird rookery we were to visit at the end of our tour. And as advertised, there were a bunch of Kittiwakes there!!

 

 
with more arriving every moment! 😁

 

 
Then it was time to head across the bay from where the rookery was back to Whittier.

 

 
As we started to head that way, a Bald Eagle came along side the vessel to guide us in! 😂

 

 
Fun times and we would definitely recommend it if you were thinking about booking in on your next cruise to Whittier. I only suggest if booking it through Princess, book it early as the price jumped over $100 per person from when we booked it early on!

26 Glacier Tour can also be booked via phone call or at the pier in Whittier. Two adults for $390.00 which includes a 15% AAA discount.

Looks like the Park Service Rangers are getting a ride home!

@Ken the cruiser For Glacier Bay, I use Gustavus, AK for weather forecasts. Gustavus is right at the entrance to the bay (closer than Hoonah).

Glacier Bay Information

To minimize impacts and maximize visitor experience, daily quotas for cruise ships entering the park are set at a maximum of two cruise ship transits per day. Park managers currently split tourist season between a 92-day summer season (1 June - 31 August) and a shoulder season (April/May, September/October). Since 2007, the summer seasonal quota has remained at 153 ship entries, and 122 for the shoulder season. Off season is defined as spanning the period 1 October - 30 April.

The operating conditions, travel routes, and length of stay by cruise ships in

Glacier Bay are structured and do not vary appreciably from day to day. Cruise ships that enter Glacier Bay typically cross into park waters from Icy Strait between 0600 and 1030 and follow the same route, traveling from the mouth of Glacier Bay up into the West Arm of the Y-shaped fjord, generally arriving to view Margerie Glacier (at the head of Taar Inlet) approximately 3-4 hours after entering (Figure 1 below).

Cruise ships are also required to spend a minimum of four hours north of Queen Inlet in the glacial area to ensure passengers have time to enjoy the glaciers and for on-board interpretation and education programs to occur. To that end, ships typically spend one to several hours sitting in front of Margerie Glacier and often visit Jaw Point to view Johns Hopkins Glacier

from afar (cruise ships are not allowed to enter Johns Hopkins Inlet until 1

September).

The ships follow the same route down the bay, typically exiting the park in the late afternoon or early evening between 1500 and 1900. Passengers remain on board during the entire visit; no passenger tenders are launched while ships are in the park and cruise ships do not overnight in the bay.

49 minutes ago, silkismom said:

Pre-Covid, I think there was a Senior discount on the Sky Train.

They still offer "concession fares":

https://www.translink.ca/transit-fares/pricing-and-fare-zones

8 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

For those interested there are 2700 guests and 1100 crew onboard this 8-day cruise.

1 hour ago, Ken the cruiser said:

If I might ask, how do two people in their 70s get 2 large suitcases along with a carryon bag on and off the Sky Train, and where is the luggage stored on the ride over?

SkyTrain connects Vancouver Airport to Cruise Port

The Canada Line Rapid Transit SkyTrain is a very convenient way to get from Vancouver Airport to the Canada Place cruise port. The Canada Line connects the airport with the cruise terminal in downtown Vancouver.

The Canada Line from the airport has wider aisles and space under the seats for your luggage.

The Rapid Transport Station at Vancouver Airport is located between the international and domestic terminals; just follow the signs for SkyTrain or Rapid Transport System. There is a covered walkway to the station with escalators and elevators to make the short walk very easy, even with baggage. 

To go from Vancouver Airport to the cruise port, you need to take the Canada Line which has two routes. One route runs from Vancouver Airport to the cruise port on the waterfront and the other route serves the City of Richmond, so make sure you get the SkyTrain in the right direction for your cruise port destination (Waterfront)! There are 13 stations on this route, starting with YVR airport.

If you are traveling from the airport to the cruise ship, you will be getting off at the final station “Waterfront”. From the station, it is an easy 5-8 minute walk along W. Cordova St and Howe St to Canada Place.

The Canada Line SkyTrain journey between Vancouver Airport and the cruise port takes 26-30 minutes. It runs every 6 minutes at peak times. In the early morning and evening, the service is reduced to every 12 minutes. Late at night and at off-peak times such as weekends and holidays it operates a 20-minute service.

The SkyTrain service begins at around 5am (4.48am from the waterfront and 5.07am from the airport). Last SkyTrains are around 1am (1.05am from the waterfront and 12.56am from the airport). You certainly won’t have to wait long to travel by this efficient mode of transport.

Fares start at CAN$3 for 90-minutes of travel by SkyTrain in Zone 1. The fare from the airport to downtown cover two zones and starts at CAN$4.25. There is an additional surcharge of CAN$5 YVR Addfare for eastbound trips only from the airport.

Therefore, the cost for an adult one-way trip eastbound from Vancouver airport to cruise port is CAN$9.25 (which includes a YVR surcharge of CAN$5).

The return trip is just CAN$4.25 as the surcharge does not apply to westbound trips from the cruise port to the airport.

The easiest pay to pay is by using a contactless credit card or mobile wallet with a tap-to-pay feature. Tap your card on the reader once when you board the SkyTrain and, most importantly, you tap again when you exit. This way your charge card will only be charged for the length of time you traveled (up to 90 minutes per single fare).

You can also purchase a single-use ticket from vending machines at the SkyTrain station in the airport, or you can purchase a day pass if you want to use public transport (such as buses and other SkyTrain routes) around the city for the rest of the day.

You can pay by Compass Card which is reloadable, but it is only worth getting a Compass Card if you plan to stay in the city for a while, or for future visits to Vancouver. Compass Cards do not expire. It is valid for Vancouver Bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus and West Coat Express as well as some ferries.

Here is the 5-8 minute walk route from Waterfront Station to the Canada Place cruise port entrance:

@Nattyg1723 @Ken the cruiser Have you tried out the Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell University for Apple and Android phones? Lots of Pigeons too! 

https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org

SkyTrain connects Vancouver Airport to Cruise Port/Pan Pacific Hotel

The Canada Line Rapid Transit SkyTrain is a very convenient way to get from Vancouver Airport to cruise port. It is the oldest and longest driverless rapid transport system in the world. This fully automated transport system has three lines: The Canada Line, Expo Line and the Millennium Line. The Canada Line connects the airport with the cruise terminal in downtown Vancouver.

The Canada Line from the airport has wider aisles and space under the seats for your luggage.

The Rapid Transport Station at Vancouver Airport is located between the international and domestic terminals; just follow the signs for SkyTrain or Rapid Transport System. There is a covered walkway to the station with escalators and elevators to make the short walk very easy, even with baggage. 

To go from Vancouver Airport to the cruise port, you need to take the Canada Line which has two routes. One route runs from Vancouver Airport to the cruise port on the waterfront and the other route serves the City of Richmond, so make sure you get the SkyTrain in the right direction for your cruise port destination (Waterfront)! There are 13 stations on this route, starting with YVR airport.

If you are traveling from the airport to the cruise ship, you will be getting off at the final station “Waterfront”. From the station, it is an easy 4-8 minute walk along W. Cordova St and Howe St to Canada Place or the Pan Pacific Hotel.

The Canada Line SkyTrain journey between Vancouver Airport and the cruise port takes 26-30 minutes. It runs every 6 minutes at peak times. In the early morning and evening, the service is reduced to every 12 minutes. Late at night and at off-peak times such as weekends and holidays it operates a 20-minute service.

The SkyTrain service begins at around 5am (4.48am from the waterfront and 5.07am from the airport). Last SkyTrains are around 1am (1.05am from the waterfront and 12.56am from the airport). You certainly won’t have to wait long to travel by this efficient mode of transport.

Fares start at CAN$3 for 90-minutes of travel by SkyTrain in Zone 1. The fare from the airport to downtown cover two zones and starts at CAN$4.25. There is an additional surcharge of CAN$5 YVR Addfare for eastbound trips only from the airport.

Therefore, the cost for an adult one-way trip eastbound from Vancouver airport to cruise port is CAN$9.25 (which includes a YVR surcharge of CAN$5).

The return trip is just CAN$4.25 as the surcharge does not apply to westbound trips from the cruise port to the airport.

The easiest pay to pay is by using a contactless credit card or mobile wallet with a tap-to-pay feature. Tap your card on the reader once when you board the SkyTrain and, most importantly, you tap again when you exit. This way your charge card will only be charged for the length of time you traveled (up to 90 minutes per single fare).

You can also purchase a single-use ticket from vending machines at the SkyTrain station in the airport, or you can purchase a day pass if you want to use public transport (such as buses and other SkyTrain routes) around the city for the rest of the day.

You can pay by Compass Card which is reloadable, but it is only worth getting a Compass Card if you plan to stay in the city for a while, or for future visits to Vancouver. Compass Cards do not expire. It is valid for Vancouver Bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus and West Coat Express as well as some ferries.

You can use the Juneau CapitalTransit bus if it fits your timeline:

https://juneaucapitaltransit.org/how-to-ride-to-the-mendenhall-glacier-visitor-center-with-capital-transit/ 

On 4/24/2024 at 8:47 PM, milogurd said:

@Ken the cruiser If possible, can you let us know if you can find out who the naturalist "might" be for the 14 night 5-8-24 trip. TIA.

@Ken the cruiser I just checked the Princess app, and they added naturalist and North to Alaska presenters for the 5/15 - 5/22 southbound cruise.

The North to Alaska presenter should be Nick Jans - the author of "A Wolf Named Romeo".

The naturalist should be Pete Griffin - https://www.thestorytellingranger.com . His online schedule indicates he is on the Grand from April 21 through July 17.

4 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I was just reading about Johnstone Strait. Pretty fascinating, especially with the potential of seeing so much wildlife on our first day after leaving Vancouver. Luckily, we’ll be cruising through this narrow passage 3 times! 😁

Johnstone Strait is a deep and narrow glacier-carved passage located between the east coast of Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland, extending roughly from Telegraph Cove in the north to Rock Bay in the south. Johnstone Strait serves as an important thoroughfare for marine vessels that include cargo freighters and cruise ships bound for Alaska in the summer months.

 

Johnstone Strait is home to the largest resident pod of killer whales (orcas) in the world, with a population of approximately 200 whales. There is no better place to view these amazing marine mammals. In addition to the orcas that can be viewed around Robson Bight, Johnstone Strait offers up a wide variety of other marine life, including minke, humpback and grey whales, Pacific white sided dolphins, harbour porpoises, Dall’s porpoises, harbour seals and Steller’s sea lions. Bald eagles and an abundance of seabirds will also be encountered in the area.

 

https://vancouverisland.com/plan-your-trip/regions-and-towns/vancouver-island-bc-islands/johnstone-strait/

 

Unfortunately, on our last few cruises on this route, we were in Johnstone Strait late in the evening or early in the morning after departing or returning to Vancouver.

@Ken the cruiser If possible, can you let us know if you can find out who the naturalist "might" be for the 14 night 5-8-24 trip. TIA.

8 hours ago, PacnGoNow said:

Very interesting. So, are there instructions to that fact for folks outside the elevator?

TIA

Assuming that people will actually READ the instructions?

Were there any noise problems with the bar/pool area above your cabin?

TIA!

5 hours ago, drwbrt said:

I was also looking for a more spacious and glass enclosed shower. I didn’t have as much luck as @New2cruise2022 . First, I couldn’t find the shower gel and shampoo everyone promised. Second, while I don’t love it to be steamy, mine was far too drafty. Lastly, mine ended abruptly when I was invited to return to my stateroom. 
 

That's WAY too much information. 

23 hours ago, AZjohn said:

Hi,

 

Are you sure there isn’t a daily meeting on your cruise?

I just saw the “platter” (still a very strange name to me) someone just posted who is on the Crown and it’s listed at 4:00 in the wedding chapel. It is listed as Friends of Dr. Bob followed by Bill W. (lol, never seen it listed like that before).

 

I was just thinking back and I don’t ever remember in the past 20+ years of cruising on the majority of cruise lines there wasn’t a Friends of Bill meeting every afternoon.

 

We meet many life long friends at these meetings that we still keep in contact with today. I think you did a good job explaining that it’s not that we are tempted to drink (or drug) on the cruise, but simply want to meet similar people that we share a spiritual connection😊. But, once in a while there will be a newcomer that comes and yes, they are being tempted.

 

Cheers

It's not the "platter". It's the "Patter".

The Drake Passage is feared by travelers and sailors alike.

From CNN:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/drake-passage-rough-sea-scn/index.html

From cruisedeckplans.com, here is D720 on the Island (same deck plan as the Coral in this area).

There is a rumor on another social media site that you are running low on beer. First World Problems.

From another social media site:

You can ask your cabin steward for an extension cord and distilled water when you board, but it’s better if you pre-order them. That way you’re sure they will be there waiting for you in your cabin when you board. Either way, it’s free of charge.

To pre-order an extension cord and distilled water for a CPAP machine, go to the Princess website then click on “Booked Guests” at the top of the page.

Log into your account using either your login credentials or your booking number.

Once you’re logged in, click on “Access Cruise Personalizer”.

Select “Check-In”, then scroll down to the “Guest Check-in Status” section.

Click on “Dietary Requests”, and tick the box next to “Distilled water (for CPAP machine use ONLY)”.

Then click on the “Send Dietary Restriction” button.

Your distilled water and an approved extension cord will be waiting for you in your cabin when you board. If it’s not there, check with your room steward.

I ALWAYS pack a long (12 ft.) non-surge protected extension cord with my CPAP machine in case they don’t have one available.

It was mentioned on another social media network that CD Natalie Costa is joining the Ruby soon, if not already there.

For more information:

https://localcareglobalreach.com/?eml=EML-_20231203_Announcement_1_20231204%3Alocal_care&launch_id=36487705&contact_id=1-TT39-464&utm_campaign=20231203_Announcement_1|1|TRANSACTIONAL|Loyalty-lifecycle|ANN&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Responsys&utm_content=local_care&utm_id=alaskaair.300192425&utm_term=NNE|CA|REG||M_1_4999

2 hours ago, MissP22 said:

It's strange that they did things differently on the Enchanted. 

Princess Cruises = Consistently Inconsistent 

It appears that Vickie and Bernie, of http://vickieandbernietravel.blogspot.com are on this cruise too!