surgie

Ok I understand doing it on our own and we definitely can- but am I mistaken about this past summer that people were not able to get tickets to the visitor center or tours were cancelled or something? I am such a "reserve in advance" person that I don't want to get there and come up empty - especially with 5 kids in tow.

The cruise line does not offer what I am interested in for Mendenhall Glacier for July 2024. I would like a shuttle to the visitor center (for 11 people) with time to take the Nugget Falls Hike on our own. Juneau Tours offers this for about $900 for all 11 of us. Other options you are familiar with? I read so much about passes not being available going the taxi route this past summer. I don't want to get to Juneau and find out we cannot get to the visitor center. https://www.juneautours.com/book-a-tour/details/344494/glacier-shuttle-tour/

Have a look at Tours by Local dot com. I have communicated with the guide Ryan K and he would have been happy to transport our family of 11 pls luggage from Seward to ANC with stops along the way. But we need the service on July 20 and he is not available July 20-27. So worth checking him out. You can message him directly through the Tours by Locals website.

I did see that very short sale. But they won't adjust prices - I'd have to cancel and rebook and I know it typically sells out so what if I cancel and then can't get it rebooked even if I do it immediately? I asked my TA is she could get a price adjustment through Royal but she was told no.

RCCL - July 12, 2024 - $358 for adults and $245 for kids on a 10% off sale. I booked and hoping price drops, but then I'd have to cancel and rebook to get better price and hate to risk doing that if it is sold out by the time of the future sale. But yikes - expensive!

Maybe a bit of a scavenger hunt or guessing game with gifts revealed...Beverage package based on their drink interests, an excursion (I splurged and got everyone the Hubbard Glacier Wilderness Explorer excursion), winter blanket for their cabin if your cruise line offers it, a pair of nice binoculars, SmartWool socks. Amazon has some plastic tags for the cruise luggage tickets specific to your cruise line. Look on Etsy for cruise reveal ideas. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1050117005/alaska-cruise-box-travel-reveal-box?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=alaska+cruise+gift&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&sts=1&organic_search_click=1

July 12, 2024 Radiance of the Seas. I paid $586 total for the deluxe beverage package and checking often to see if it drops.

I am trying to keep on top of the ever-changing pricing on beverage packages so I can cancel and rebook mine if there is a price drop. Right now our sailing has 20% off making the sale price $79.99 per day. Do I add 18% for gratuities to this making the cost approximately $94 per day x 7 days = $658? I am not able to do a mock purchase and add it to my cart since I have already purchased it several months ago.

We loved Sitka on our Alaskan itinerary.

This is so true. I find the RCCL pricing to be very tedious and maybe it's an industry-wide thing - kind of "bait and switch" scenario. We travel sometimes with a river cruise company and this is never an issue - the price is the price!

Totally understood - and I meant the parents can decide if the kids would rather explore and "enjoy" the buffet 🥴. This is a first cruise for all of the kids and 2 of the adults so anything is possible!

Her experience last year was that on Black Friday there was 30% off drink packages (on the sailings she had booked) vs the usual 20% that pops up from time to time.

My TA said there is often a good sale on Black Friday to book or cancel and rebook drink packages, excursions etc. I'll be keeping an eye out for this next month.

We are on Radiance....You are correct - the speciality choices for lunch on Day 1 are Chops or Chops.

Thanks - I'll let the parents make the final choice as to if the kids can handle it 🙂

We are on Radiance...which I know has fewer dining options.

Glad it worked for you! I checked - but it would add $1200 to my Alaska July 2024 sail. I never understand how these sales work but I always check for better pricing so thanks for the heads up!

We (family of 11 - 6 adults and 5 kids ages 5-11) are considering Chops for lunch on our embarkation day. There is a slight discount for C&A members now. We'd need to split into 2 groups which is fine. But I'm wondering a couple things...the first available reservation is 12:00 noon. Is it likely we'd be boarded by then and ready to go to lunch? We are in JS so I think have an earlier boarding time. Is it "significantly better" (subjective I know) to do a specialty lunch on sailing day vs Windjammer? I know the kids will be excited and want to explore the ship so I don't want to have long sit down lunch. Advice please.

Yes, you are correct Northern Aurora:) We have 11 family members including 5 kids ages 5-11. I have booked Pan Pacific for the convenience of the cruise package (distance plus breakfast and luggage delivery) and have also booked the Delta hotel. The price difference is nearly $200 USD per room. I need to cancel one of the hotels so trying to make sure I have all the info before deciding. When I came across the post mentioning a different pier I wanted to check that info out. At least now I know it's Canada Place for all.

Yes but I'm looking at July 2024 and the price is $448 on Priceline which is the same as quoted on the hotel website. I generally don't do 3rd party bookings but would for a significant savings. I'm sure the hotel is in greater demand during the cruise season. Thanks for the info, though.

We are considering staying at Pan Pacific prior to our July 2024 cruise. Someone suggested I check to see which pier RCCL Radiance will be docked at for boarding in Vancouver. I don't want to pay a premium for Pan Pacific Hotel only to find out that is not our pier. Thanks.

Ok - is the docking location set several months in advance. We are on RCCL Radiance of the Seas and I don't see anywhere in my reservation info that lists where the ship docks. But yes I'm considering PP due to convenience and it would be a bummer for it not to be convenient after all!

I do have a reservation at Delta in case we don't go with Pan Pacific but when I did a dummy booking for PP there was not problem booking rooms for 4 people. The upside of Delta - Marriott points.

The price on the website is several hundred dollars more than $144! I'll look at Priceline.

I'll call the hotel if no one here knows...but in booking a night pre-cruise at Pan Pacific for our family (3 rooms), my choices are King bed or 2 "doubles". I find in Europe doubles often mean US queen size beds. Does anyone know if doubles at Pan Pacific mean the US size "full" beds or US size queen beds? Thanks.