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A few Alaska questions specific to Celebrity

Georgia_Peaches
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Georgia_Peaches "Live from...." Rare

Georgia_Peaches

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We are embarking on our first Alaska cruise on the Edge at the end of May. I have a few questions:

 

1.  Is the dress code more relaxed on Alaska itins or should we plan on packing dressier clothing for evening. 
 

2.  Is there a chic night?

 

3.  Will Celebrity offer food choices representative of our ports of call, like salmon in Ketchikan, for example… or will it be the usual menus?


Last question…some ports, like Juneau are late departure ports. Does that mean shops and casino remains closed or do they open at some point in the evening?

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Northern Aurora

Northern Aurora

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Even though we live in Alaska we have done 6 or 7 Alaska itineraries.  This state is so large they give us an opportunity to visit a very different part of our state.

 

We have done over 70 Celebrity cruises, and I think the dress is more relaxed on Alaska itineraries than general.  

 

There will be evening chic nights.

 

While we had Alaskan sourced fish on one Celebrity Alaska itinerary it is rare.  The salmon will be the same as on other Celebrity itineraries.  

 

With the late departures shops will not be open while in port.  We don't bother with the casino so someone else will have to respond as to when the casino will be open.

 

We were just on the Edge last fall.  We boarded in Civitaveechia and left in Sydney.  My impression of the ship is that it is not a great option for Alaska.  While there is one Alaska Edge itinerary which is Vancouver to Seattle the bulk of the Edge itineraries are RTs out of Seattle.  Of the three options for Alaska (Vancouver to either Seward or Whittier one way and the reverse, RTs out of Vancouver, and RTs out of Seattle) I am of the opinion that the RTs out of Seattle are the weakest option.

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Northern Aurora

Northern Aurora

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2 minutes ago, doghog said:

We are doing an Alaska cruise on the Edge in September. Seattle returning to Vancouver. Does Celebrity serve crab on their Alaskan cruises? 

 

@doghog:  I have never seen either Alaska king crab nor Alaska dungeness on any of the Alaska itineraries we have taken.  

 

In Alaska the king crab fishery is experiencing severe problems with declining populations.  While I don't closely follow Alaska commercial fishing issues it is my understanding that speculation is that sea water temperature is heating.  Populations are declining.  In the restaurants on land the king crab sold is likely Russian sourced and basically what you can purchase at Costco.

 

Ketchikan has a dungeness crab fishery.  I personally love dungy -- might as well be honest -- I love all crab.  In any event in Ketchikan our favorite restaurant is Annabelle's.  When the dungy fishery is open they frequently have fresh locally caught dungeness as one of their daily specials.  Annabelle's is downtown in the historic Gilmore Hotel so very easily accessible.  The George Inlet Lodge is also an interesting place for dungy but is not downtown.

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doghog

doghog

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3 minutes ago, Northern Aurora said:

I have never seen either Alaska king crab nor Alaska dungeness on any of the Alaska itineraries we have taken.

Bummer. Thanks for the heads up. We may have to find a restaurant while in one of the ports to have some crab. We are landlocked so when cruising local fresh shell fish is something we always look forward to. 

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Northern Aurora

Northern Aurora

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2 minutes ago, doghog said:

Bummer. Thanks for the heads up. We may have to find a restaurant while in one of the ports to have some crab. We are landlocked so when cruising local fresh shell fish is something we always look forward to. 

 

I've given you one restaurant recommendation for Ketchikan.

 

In Juneau consider Hanger on the Wharf.  Very casual but good food.  And while this opinion is unpopular on the Alaska Cruise Critic forum I think that Tracey's Crab Shack in Juneau is very overpriced and over rated for what it is.  And I am curious as to how they (Tracey's) are "dancing around" the Alaska king crab issue.

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Georgia_Peaches "Live from...." Rare

Georgia_Peaches

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@Northern Aurora thank you for the information!  I appreciate your local perspective very much.  I'm going to assume the casino remains closed along with the shops.  We aren't taking this cruise to gamble anyway...though I'm sure I'll take a spin or two along the way.

 

Regarding your point about leaving from Seattle, I have to agree.  We looked at other itins and other cruise lines as well but when this cruise came up in a flash sale last year, the price was too good to pass up.  This will be our first Alaska cruise but I'm guessing it won't be our last.  There's simply too much to see and do in a single trip.  We found it especially difficult to decide on excursions for this very reason.  We have settled on the White pass train/biking tour in Skagway, and a helicopter glacier visit with dog sledding in Juneau.  We have a kayak excursion planned in Ketchikan along with a self-guided pub crawl.  

 

I'm following the Alaska board pretty closely for ideas as well.  There's just so much we don't know!

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Georgia_Peaches "Live from...." Rare

Georgia_Peaches

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7 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

Re crab/salmon, hopefully you can enjoy a nice seafood dinner in Seattle the evening before your cruise,

We arrive in Seattle at 9:30 AM the day before so we are looking forward to spending the day bumming around and checking out sights.  Do you have any personal favorites?

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phoenix_dream

phoenix_dream

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I have sailed Alaska on Celebrity many times.  In general people are more casual on these cruises.  not unusual to see jean, hoodies, and hiking boots in the dining room for dinner.  Usually chic nights are a little dressier, but in general still more casual than other itineraries.  As to food, unfortunately I have never known them to locally source any of the food.  Disappointing.  So unlike our usual Caribbean itineraries we will often go for some local food onshore.  I have never seen the casino or stores open while in port regardless of the time it departs.  Enjoy.  You will love it!  Some of my very favorite cruises.

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Georgia_Peaches "Live from...." Rare

Georgia_Peaches

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7 minutes ago, phoenix_dream said:

You will love it!  Some of my very favorite cruises.

Actually, until recently I've been a little blasé about an Alaska cruise bc I'm more of a warm weather cruiser...but I am really pumped now that I've had a chance to see the excursions and glimpses of the scenery from photos and videos.  I think you're right...we are going to love it!  Still 138 days to go but I am getting very excited.

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keesar Great Review Rare

keesar

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I found the dress to be rather casual.  Few cruisers dressed up.  Alot more casual than the Caribbean or Europe. It was also rather cool in the ship so dress accordingly.

 

As for locally sourced food, there was an fish night  leaving Juneau.  There was fresh cod, halibut and salmon available at the Oceanview.  It was delicious and cooked to order.  

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Ferry_Watcher Excellent Advice! Rare

Ferry_Watcher

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29 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

We arrive in Seattle at 9:30 AM the day before so we are looking forward to spending the day bumming around and checking out sights.  Do you have any personal favorites?

 

Will your hotel be in DT Seattle?

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Ferry_Watcher Excellent Advice! Rare

Ferry_Watcher

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@Georgia_Peaches Since you arriving so early the day before, you might consider staying in DT Seattle.  There is the Westin and Mayflower Hotel (walking distance to Pike Place Market and just a block or so from the Monorail).  Many folks seem to like the Mediterranean Inn on Queen Anne.  Also, there is the Inn at the Market, basically a block away from Pike Place Market.

 

https://www.mediterranean-inn.com/

 

https://mayflowerpark.com/

 

 

Edited by Ferry_Watcher
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ccqueenanne

ccqueenanne

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1 hour ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

We don't have anything booked yet.  Not sure if we should stay DT or closer to the cruise port.  I'm a fish out of water on this cruise.  🙃

 

You might want to hustle and get that room booked. If you can get a 4-star for <$300, you'll have done pretty well.

 

Downtown for Pike Place Market, or lower Queen Anne near the Seattle Center if you are wanting to do Space Needle, Chihuly, MoPOP. Whether you stay in DT or lower QA, you can easily access the other via the Monorail. There's nothing really out by the cruise port. 

 

On cruise morning, some people want an AM activity - others want to sleep in and head directly to the ship. If you do want an activity, breakfast at the Market is a treat, and I've seen many folks carry on a lovely (and cheap) bouquet from the Market to enjoy in their cabin.

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saffy12

saffy12

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5 hours ago, doghog said:

Bummer. Thanks for the heads up. We may have to find a restaurant while in one of the ports to have some crab. We are landlocked so when cruising local fresh shell fish is something we always look forward to. 

Tracy's crab shack in Juneau was amazing!  We have seriously talked about taking a trip to Juneau again just to eat there!

 

Literally was a shack with paper plates but rhe crab was delicious!

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