Radiance Of The Sea's - Alaska Bound - Any Suggestions

[Cruizin Dan]

My wife and I will be on an Alaska Cruise for the first time [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] next month on the Radiance of the Sea's. Does anyone have any suggestions or hints on Pre and Post Cruise Hotels in Vancouver/Victoria BC? Also any suggestions on shore excursions or sites not to miss? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img] Our ports of call will be Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau. We will have 3 days Pre-Cruise in Vancouver and 2 days post-cruise in Victoria.

cruiser dan

[Dublin_Ca]

CD - You may wish to check on the Roll Call section for your sailing date for suggestions on hotels and places to see.

Here are a couple of my favorites. For Vancouver - take a walk around Gastown; take the tram up Grouse Mountain for some great views of Vancouver; visit Stanley Park. For Victoria - Visit Buchart Gardens especially at night; take a walk around the water front. For Juneau don't miss the Mendenhall Glacier - you can catch a cheap shuttle from the dock area.

Enjoy Alaska, BC, and especially the Radiance. We'll make sure she gets to Vancouver on time.

05/02/04 - GTV Radiance of the Seas, Coastal - San Diego to Vancouver
09/01/04 - GTV Jewel of the Seas, Transatlantic - Harwich to Boston
07/19/85 - MV Stardancer, Sundance Cruises, Alaska

[Cruizin Dan]

CC, thanks for the help. I will plan on seeing those spot's you mentioned. Glad you will see the ship arrives in Vancouver in time for our cruise. I have never done a transition cruise but I have heard they are really nice. The crew is really jazzed about the location change plus some are just coming on to work. Have a great trip

cruiser dan

[jstducky]

dan:

you're going on my favorite vacation of all time! i LOVE alaska [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] i'm jealous! but i guess i shouldn't be too jealous since i was just there last year!

anyhow, things to do/see in vanvouver... you should definitely do gastown and stanley park like dublin_ca mentioned. also go up to capilano state park in northern vancouver, about a 20 minute drive from canada place (one of the 2 piers in Vancouver). at the park is capilano suspension bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world. it makes for a great photo op and its nestled in the mountains so its really pretty. it costs about $15-$18 to get in, i beleive. also if you are a sports fan, maybe take a tour of GM place located in downtown Vancouver. finally take a walk around Chinatown. they actually have a nice Chinatown in Vancouver, one of the largest in the western United States, second only to San Francisco, I think.

Victoria - Dublin_ca is right, you should take a tour of Butchart Gardens. its a really pretty garden with lots of gorgeous flowers. also maybe visit the Empress Hotel and have afternoon tea and then walk outside the hotel and across the street to a nice little harbor area they have.

in Juneau - Mendenhall glacier is a great trip especially if you've never seen a glacier up close before. if you are really into nature, Juneau is definitely the place to go whale watching, although since you are going up in May there might not be too many humpback whales yet [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] also, if you are more adventureous you should kayak in juneau the kayak tours take you up to the mendenhall glacier

skagway is a cute little town. the white pass railroad is gorgeous and is also one of the more popular tours. also i hear that the helicopter ride to the glaciers is really nice here in skagway. also the town itself is really nice and within walking distance of the pier, theres a lot of shops and its small and quaint. also, if you prefer taking the excursions that go over to haines are really nice as well. these are two really small and cozy towns.

ketchikan - i will say that out of these 3 cities, ketchikan is my least favorite. not to say i don't like the town though. it has a nice shopping area and its all right next to the pier. again, if you are adventurous, kayaking here is a good option. also going up creek street (the red light district) is interesting. also, if i am not mistaken this is the city with village where there's all the totem poles and you can even see totem poles being carved if you're there at the right time, thats also a pretty interesting excursion.

all in all, you'll have a wonderful time in alaska!

you can go to alaska 20 times and still not see everything there is to see and do everything there is to do.. the beauty and wonder of alaska and mother nature combine here to create something spectacular and aweinspiring!

jstducky!
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...til 9/04 - Jewel of the Seas - Canada / New England

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...til 7/04 - Zuiderdam - Western Caribbean

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7/03 - Zaandam - Alaska
4/03 - Norweigan Star - Hawaii
7/96 - Noordam - Alaska
7/96 - Golden Princess - Alaska
8/95 - Jubilee - Mexican Riviera

[glgolfer]

Dan: when are you going? We're on the 15 May cruise. The only folks on our M&M thread are from Florida. Just 3 couples. Won't get enough for a RCI party, but we will probably make our own.

Radiance to Alaska
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Jewel of the Seas
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[pelletib]

I found out thru the Ports of Call section how many ships will be in port each day during our cruise in June. There will be 4, 4 and 6 respectively in each port(Pardon the pun, but that's more than a boatload of tourists) when we are there. I haven't called our friends yet, but I've been gathering info and anything that we want to do, I'm going to try to prebook privately.

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2004;6;5;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]
Radiance of the Seas- 6/5/2004 *** Elation 11/2002

[jstducky]

alaska is a popular destination and there are a limited number of port cities and many cruise lines, thats why there's so many ships in port each day. last year when i was in skagway there are 4 ships in port, we estimated that that meant that there were 8000-10000 tourists walking around this tiny town that only has 2000 residents during the summer and about 700 year round! thats crazy when the tourists outnumber the residents!

jstducky!
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...til 9/04 - Jewel of the Seas - Canada / New England

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[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;7;10;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
...til 7/04 - Zuiderdam - Western Caribbean

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7/03 - Zaandam - Alaska
4/03 - Norweigan Star - Hawaii
7/96 - Noordam - Alaska
7/96 - Golden Princess - Alaska
8/95 - Jubilee - Mexican Riviera

[PH8]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>thats crazy when the tourists outnumber the residents! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Just like FL in the winter time.........we call them snowbirds!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Anyway,like someone suggested check out the Alaska port of call board.........I got tons of info there from others who have been!!


[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;5;30;15;00;00&timezone=GMT-1000[/img] RCCL Serenade--5/30--Alaska
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;10;28;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] RCCL Jewel--10/28--repositioning
**RCCL SOS-8/27/04** Carnival Miracle-2/13/05**

[VickiVSN]

You can learn a lot by reading about my first cruise which was also the Radiance to Alaska on my website listed below.

Vicki
[i]
Check out my guide for first time cruisers [url="http://www.vsn.org/cruise"]http://www.vsn.org/cruise[/url] [/i]

Radiance 6/2002
Radiance 10/2002
Brilliance 11/2003


[/B]
[b]LEGEND OF THE SEAS - September 26, 2004[/b]
Visit our Roll Call [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=2743044067"]HERE[/url]


[b]Cruise Europe 2005 (CC Group Cruise)- June 5, 2005[/b]
Visit our Roll Call [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=75010536"]HERE[/url]

[Cruizin Dan]

Wow, what a great response. I can't thank you all enough for all the tips and information. JD, PWN, Vicki, Dublin. Thanks for all your help. Vicki your website was great! Very insightful to the whole trip. Now I just have to look up the Alaska Port of Call site. Is this on the RCCL website? I think you would need to do this cruise several times to get to see most Ports and its close interior. Okay any other things I have missed?

cruiser dan

[jstducky]

dan: the alaska port of call page is here on cruise critic. just go back to the main cruise critic message boards page, the page you used to get into the royal caribbean page here... at the bottom of the main message boards page there is a section called port of calls, once you get in there all the ports of calls are listed in alpha order.

hope that helps! enjoy alaska!

jstducky!
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[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;9;11;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
...til 9/04 - Jewel of the Seas - Canada / New England

====================================
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;7;10;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
...til 7/04 - Zuiderdam - Western Caribbean

=====================================
7/03 - Zaandam - Alaska
4/03 - Norweigan Star - Hawaii
7/96 - Noordam - Alaska
7/96 - Golden Princess - Alaska
8/95 - Jubilee - Mexican Riviera

[Cruizin Dan]

I also forgot to acknowledge Pelletib and PH too. Also were leaving on the May 22nd sailing!
Sorry [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

cruiser dan

[glgolfer]

Hi Dan
We'll be getting off when you're getting on. We promise not to hurt the ship too much or buy out the shops. We'll even try to leave something in the bars.
If we make it to the Red Onion, we're going to leave a message for PH as they're on the Serenade the end of May. We might even try to leave one for cruiser Dan.

Paul

Radiance to Alaska
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Jewel of the Seas
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[PH8]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>If we make it to the Red Onion, we're going to leave a message for PH as they're on the Serenade the end of May <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> You are????Cool!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]


[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;5;30;15;00;00&timezone=GMT-1000[/img] RCCL Serenade--5/30--Alaska
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;10;28;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] RCCL Jewel--10/28--repositioning
**RCCL SOS-8/27/04** Carnival Miracle-2/13/05**

[glgolfer]

Well, you told us to.

Radiance to Alaska
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;5;14;11;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Jewel of the Seas
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[Travelgrrl]

I'll be on the Radiance on 5/22 also! My 1st AK cruise!

[PH8]

Oh yea..sorry forgot..............I do that alot!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]


[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;5;30;15;00;00&timezone=GMT-1000[/img] RCCL Serenade--5/30--Alaska
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;10;28;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] RCCL Jewel--10/28--repositioning
**RCCL SOS-8/27/04** Carnival Miracle-2/13/05**

[sandygll]

My family and I will also be on the Radiance May 22!! First time to AK and can't wait!

[CRUZJUNKE]

Have a great time in Alaska! You will love it. Husband and I went to Alaska aboard the Radiance last June and it was beautiful! Hotel suggestion for Vancouver--the Pan Pacific Hotel. Room a little pricey, but get a Harbour view and you can see the ships as the come in the morning of your cruise! The hotel itself is beautiful and convenient to shopping, etc! Cannot wait to go back to alaska. If you can, take the Pilot's choice glacier helicopter tour in juneau...a sight not to be missed, absolutely beautiful and make sure you taste the glacier water! I cannot say enough about that cruise!

[Cruizin Dan]

Sandy and Travelgrrl, well now we have a thread going for the May 22nd cruise. Did you sign up on the meet and mingle board yet? There is another thread on also for May 22nd, but it has not been very active! Only 3 of us! So maybe this will be our new contact spot for our cruise. Again I want to thank all of those who have been putting in recommendations, this helps greatly as very informative to those of us going for the first time. Last May we did the Tahitian Princess and because of this same type of informative thread about what to see, excursions to take or stay away from, made our trip that more enjoyable. Plus it is great fun sharing the fun to come and anticipation and for those meeting on the cruise you get to place a name with the person. We have made some very good friends through Cruise Critics and meeting on the cruise ship and becoming life long friends. PWN I will be looking for your message at the Red Onion Saloon for us!!! I found the Port of Call site and after looking at the Alaska threads I now plan on driving the Yukon highway in Skagway instead of doing the train ride. There is some great posts on there from previous travelers who did this and really enjoyed it. This way you get to stop and see more of the sights and more of the interior that you would on the train and the car rental will cost about what one train ticket would be! Okay everyone tag your it!

cruiser dan

[sailor moon]

Have a great time (she sobs as she writes this) We had to cancel our trip on the Radiance to Alaska for September and will be re-booking for May 2005. Take care of my ship! What cabins do all of you have?

JB
UPCOMING CRUISES:
Splendour of the Seas 4/04
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Rhapsody of the Seas 11/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;11;21;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]

[comxkid]

Here is the link to the Radiance May 22, 2004 Roll Call

Come over and discuss our pending trip.

[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=9273048847"]Roll Call - Radiance May 22, 2004[/url]

FutureGatorDad

North to Alaska on the Radiance of the Seas
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;5;22;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

Navigator of the Seas - March 2003
Destiny - July 2001
Magic - July 2000
Skyward - March 1987
Big Red Boat - March 1984

[Cruizin Dan]

Comxkid! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] Well now we may bridge our threads and get a few more invitee's! As you see, Sandygll and travelgrll are on the May 22nd trip too. Maybe there still is a meet and mingle party in our future! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

cruiser dan

[sandygll]

Sailor Moon! Looks like we are practically neighbors? Are you getting ready to sail out of Galveston soon? Where will you be going? Sorry you had to cancel your Alaskan trip this year but at least its in the planning for next year. You ask about cabins on the Radiance- we have a cabin on deck 9 at the center of the "bump." Don't know if its a good one or not, just the one we were assigned when I booked

Dan, we are renting a car in Skagway, too, and driving to Emerald Lake and back. I have heard from a number of people that there are more wildlife viewings (bears) than the train and like you said, you can stop and take pictures whenever you want.
Sandy

Rhapsody of the Seas 9/02
Radiance of the Seas 5/04

[Cruizin Dan]

Sandygll, actually I think I had read your post on the Alaska port of call site and that is what made me cancel our train excursion and rent a car instead. I agree that you will see more this way than on the train!

cruiser dan