ljclay0130

I, too, was debating which cruise line to take.

My husband and I are in our late 40's and couple we traveled with are in early 50's. Left kids at home;p

Our decision was based on:

First--- Itinerary Glacier Bay.

Ship-- Second NCL Sun

NCL Sun was a great choice for us. Great mix of all ages.... not to formal... and free drinks

Had a great time!!

We, too, used Shane in Juneau. He picked us up promptly from Harv & Marv's dock, so that we didn't waste time getting to Mendenhall. Shane is very personable and knowlegable about Mendenhall and Juneau area.

We asked him to pick us up at 5:30 and he was on time. He brought his lovely wife-- and we enjoyed chatting with both of them while driving us back to town.

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We were just informed by the company we had made reservation with that due to a change in our port time we would not be able to go to the Anan Bear Observatory. This is so disappointing as it is one of my "must do" things for our upcoming Alaska cruise (July 2017). Our port time changed from 12:30 arrival to 2:00 arrival in Ketchican, with 8:00 departure, Celebrity Infinity. Evidently this was enough of a change that the tour company says we won't have enough time to go to Anan. Bummer! Any suggestions? I really wanted to see the bears catching the salmon!

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Nancy[/quot

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Hi there--

I was wondering if you were one of the people that went to Anan on 7/5/17. There were 2 planes that flew there that day. I wasn't on your ship--- but flew with Island Wings around 10 or so. If you get this message and were on the same excursion--- please contact me.....

ljclay0130@gmail.com

Hotel Blu is where we stayed--- great hotel. Definitely a modern hotel. Not your average hotel room. Great area--- very convenient to everything and took the shuttle to the cruise terminal.

We were very close at times to the bears-- maybe 5 feet away.

We booked with Island Wings well in advance---- 11 months. My favorite thing we did the whole trip!

Didn't know the correct way to post videos--- but click on link and will bring you to my Youtube.

We saw 9 bears in total-- 5 brown bears and 4 black. Only one caught a fish. They stay underwater for a long time!! There was a Park Ranger marking down which bears come out. They log each sighting and they know which bear is which.

The bears come and go a lot-- especially from the path behind the viewing decks. One bear jumped up on the gate to the top deck! Be sure to sign up in the Viewing blind area to get down closer to the bears. My husband and I signed up at different time so we could experience 2 different viewpoints.

I will post a few videos later:)

I flew to Anan Bear Observatory on July 5th with Island Wings. I hadn't seen any previous posts with bear sightings this year. July 5th was the first day of "peak" bear viewing and the bears didn't disappoint. :D

Wondering if anyone has been to Anan in the past few weeks and saw bears???

We go July 5th, which is the first day of peak viewing. Really would have preferred going later in July but couldn't get off work.

Thanks :)

I wanted an offer but since I booked cruise with Costco, I wasn't eligible :(

Thanks you all!! I appreciate it:)

Thoughts....

 

• you would have been fine with a cab. No real need for a limo arriving Canada Day.
  
• What time is your flight arriving? We can provide better congestion advice knowing when you are arriving.
  
• road closures are mainly around the cruise terminal.... your Robson hotel is not affected.
  
• not sure if they are running a late-afternoon/evening parade along Georgia at this time. This may affect your hotel a few blocks away.
  
• I notice there's word of a Canada150 parade downtown on Sunday July 2. If it goes ahead.... it will create congestion around your hotel.
  http://www.canadaplace.ca/events/canada-day/
  
• There's word there is a Cannabis Day event around the Art Gallery on July 1st. Depending on crowds.... this can affect congestion around the . roads to the hotel.
  

Thanks for responding.

We are arriving at 9:37 p.m. on the 1st. We will probably just go to the hotel and grab something to eat nearby.

Should we get up early on the 2nd and do the hop on hop off to tour the city?

Hi there--

We are flying into Vancouver on July 1st and have arranged for a limo service to pick us up due to Canada Day. I didn't want to take the chance of having a long wait to catch a cab or Aerocar due to the holiday. (especially since we are coming from Ft. Lauderdale)

We are staying at Hotel Blu on Robson. We would like to tour Vancouver on the 2nd and think that hop on hop off would be fun. Will they be running on normal schedule? Or will they not be able to go their normal route due to the holiday?

Thanks

Great great video and pics ! I read your posts from last year and thank you for all the info. We are going to Anan with Island Wings---- that is what I am most looking forward to.

Tropicante is awesome!! We happened to be the first people to arrive---- had our choice of chair and palapas. As long as you buy food and drinks seats are yours all day.. Even have massages very cheap on the beach:)

Thanks everyone!!

I am planning on using the Iconcierge app to contact friends on ship... and using it to call home on sea days... 79 cents per minute sounds much better than calling from my cabin.

While in port, I definitely will be calling from my cell.

Heading to Alaska from Vancouver and leaving kids at home with Grandparents!! I need to talk to them everyday and wondering how much are the current prices to call home per minute?

How much per device charge so I can contact hubby and friends on the ship?

Thanks

If you can't handle your bags on foot, you'll have no option but to take a cab - I would expect on a normal Canada Day that the roundabout route plus traffic will triple the fare up to around the $20 mark, and there will be fewer cabs than normal around that area.

 

I'd seriously consider changing hotels - the Pan Pacific and Fairmont Waterfront will be the only hotels without issues for you on that day, but even a hotel east of CP instead of west will make life a little easier. Delta Suites is now a Marriott property and would be easier to get a cab from, and would also have an unblocked route to the pier so just extra traffic to worry about not closures.

 

While it would be impossible for the city to block access entirely to Canada Place by road since they're allowing cruises to arrive/depart on the day, even if closures are the same as they normally are there will be even more folks than normal for the big 150 unless there is truly awful weather.

 

Fortunately since you're embarking, you will be gone before the serious crowds arrive for the fireworks - but a lot of folks do come downtown for the daytime events which start at 10am, especially if they have younger kids who can't stay up until 10:30pm for fireworks.

Supposed to fly into Vancouver on July 1st--- cruise out on 3rd..... have reservations at Hotel Blu on 177 Robson Street.. was planning on taking the hotel shuttle to the cruise terminal

Wanted to spend Sunday touring the city.. via hop on/hop off buses. Sounds like that won't be an option... due to the road closures:confused:

Would it be better to fly into Seattle and take the bus or train on the 3rd? How reliable and timely do they run?

Do you have the dailies that you could upload?

 

Sent from my SM-G920P using Forums mobile app

I would love to see them too if you have them:)

Seeking opinions/advice

I am in Juneau from 11 - 9 p.m.

I am booked on Harv & Marv Whale watch at 11:30. Will I have enough time to do Mendenhall/Nugget Falls too.

Will Harv & Marv drop us off at the Mendenhall Glacier?

If so, are there taxis/shuttle buses I can ride back to the ship? How much would it be?