Star to Alaska

[Jumbiecruiser]

Question for those that have been on the Star to Alaska. What is there to do in Prince Rupert and since it is the only stop in Canada, does it take long to get off the ship? Customs?

 

Thanks.

[mypleasure]

I found customs was a breeze - I just showed them my passport, but getting off the ship was hopeless. I have no idea how long we were in that line but it was over 45 minutes since we got there early because of our excursion.

 

We queued for so long by the time we got to the dock they were just about to give our excursion away to someone else! Actually I wish they had as I didn't really enjoy it. The boat went too fast on rough seas and everyone was looking a little green and some were sick. I went outside for some air as the cabin was terribly hot and stuffy and got drenched by a wave. We saw a few orcas in the distance but not enough to make it a worthwhile experience for me. I was thoroughly miserable.

 

I wish we had just wandered around a bit and then gone back on board early.

[flacity49]

When we were there in June is was rainy and foggy. Unless you are going on an excursion, there is not much around the dock. We got off just to say we were there and got right back on board. We sat on our balcony and watched eagles and some men cleaning fish. Our cabin neighbors loved it and were planning a vacation there.

[mikaula]

I have been on the Star several times but was on the Sun when we went to Prince Rupert. The line to get off was long so we just waited on the ship till it died down. There were lots of people welcoming you as you got off the ship and handing you maps and answering questions. I thought everyone was very friendly. As to what to do, not much. We walked around a little and then decided to go back to the ship and relax. We saw quite a few eagles while we were enjoying our drinks on our balcony.

[garycarla]

Make sure you visit the PORTS OF CALL boards and click on ALASKA. You will get tons of information on tours, ports, etc etc.

 

Alaska is great, even if you only take in the scenery.

[Lubbock2006]

Since Prince Rupert was the last port back in October, no way could it compare to the past 5 days. We had read about eagles all over the place but we were greated by slow endless rain. We got one snap shot of an eagle but it was so hazy, we never printed it. The towns people really try to make you feel welcome but face it, when it rains, you just as well stay on board and catch up on sleep.:confused:

[dasphr]

I strongly recommend trying the Cow Bay Cafe in Prince Rupert for dinner. It's a very small cafe and popular among the locals as well--you likely will not get a table if you don't make reservations (we made reservations while in an earlier port). The menu is written on a white board, so you never know what they will have. We had an amazing meal and just loved the cozy ambiance.

[freestylecruizer]

When we were there in June is was rainy and foggy. Unless you are going on an excursion, there is not much around the dock. We got off just to say we were there and got right back on board. We sat on our balcony and watched eagles and some men cleaning fish. Our cabin neighbors loved it and were planning a vacation there.

 

There is TONS around the dock; you just have to be creative. Having lived in this town at one point, this sort of comment is not substatiated.

 

You can explore Cow Bay (and make sure you go to Smiles Cafe - simply the best fish and chips anywhere IMHO). There's the Port house and court house. You can explore the main street (easiest way is to take the free shuttle to Chances Casino and then walk 1 block to the main drag).

 

Yes, it does rain a lot in Prince Rupert; however you can manage to kill the port time just around the town. In fact, I was on the Star this past May and did exactly what I said above (in the pouring rain) and managed to have fun and a great meal too.

[freestylecruizer]

I strongly recommend trying the Cow Bay Cafe in Prince Rupert for dinner. It's a very small cafe and popular among the locals as well--you likely will not get a table if you don't make reservations (we made reservations while in an earlier port). The menu is written on a white board, so you never know what they will have. We had an amazing meal and just loved the cozy ambiance.

 

It's way overrated compared to Smiles.

[Eeyoregon]

I would agree with some of the other posters: stay on the ship and relax.

[terrymtex01]

The worst excursion crew we have ever had to deal with was from an excursion we took at Prince Rupert. When we go back in 2010 we are just going to get off the boat and walk around and look around the town, or villiage...whatever you might call it. I have to say that of all the stops made on that cruise it was the most disappointing, but maybe that was because of how bad the crew was on our excursion. We have noticed that NCL no longer offers that excursion.. I'm thinking NCL may have had too many complaints.

 

With all of that said, you will love your Alaskan cruise on the Star. We loved it so much that at the end of this month when we go to book our Alaskan cruise for 2010, we are booking the same cruise on the Star.

 

I do want to say that to the credit of the folks of Prince Rupert, the excursion people we hated were not from Prince Rupert, but only there to work the excursion for the season then they go back to the main land. People we spoke with from the cruise we were on that walked around PR said the town folks are some of the nicest they have ever encountered anywhere. Thats why I say next time that is probably what we will do is just walk around the town.

[LAWTONCRUISE]

When we visited PR back in 2004 on the Spirit we were told we were only the 2nd Ship to dock there. It was in May but we had good weather, no rain. I strolled around a little then saw the sign for the Canadian Legion. I figured it must be like the American Legion so I went inside also figuring all they could do was ask me to leave. Quite the opposite. The folks treated me like an old friend. I spent a couple of very good hours talking, making new friends and having a few good Canadian beers. Next time you're there, check it out.

[Jumbiecruiser]

Thanks for everyone's comments. I just wasn't sure how long it would take to go through customs here since this is the only Canadian port. I did not want to wait for a long time to get off the ship and only have a few hours to do something.:)

[NoPiratesPlease]

DON'T BUY ANYTHING MAJOR ON THE SHIP!

 

Buy it in Alaska, and there won't be ANY duties owed when you get disembark. After all, Alaska is just one of the 50 states and duty CANNOT be charged. All the Caribbean shops are in Alaska.

 

I made that mistake (making a large on-board purchase) and had to go through the whole duty thing--NCL must report on-board purchases to US Custom. What a pain!

[garycarla]

There is very, very little you can buy on the ship or ashore that can not be bought in the states, or comes from China in the first place. Do your shopping at home - the customer service will be much better. The jewelry is pretty much the same as in the Carribean or Mexico. T-Shirts are T-shirts. There are some Alaskan items, but hard to find.

[synet165]

Nothing!

The first time that we were on the Star we stopped at Victoria. It was great, the Buchart Gardens were fabulous.

This August we took the Star again because it was stopping at a different place, Prince Ruppert.

BIG MISTAKE, what a waste of time, nothing to see or do there. We took a walk to the supermarket to kill time.

Take any cruise that doesn't stop at Prince Ruppert.

synet165:)

[NoPiratesPlease]

Buchart gardens are fabulous but there's not much else to do in Victoria--unless things have changed. Still, there's not that much to do in Prince Rupert unless you do the Native American tour.

[msescada]

Buchart gardens are fabulous but there's not much else to do in Victoria--unless things have changed. Still, there's not that much to do in Prince Rupert unless you do the Native American tour.

 

The BEST thing about prince rupert was the playground across the road from the ship. If you have young children with you, take them there to play for a little while. It will kill the time. I liked the park especially as NoPiratesPlease was the one who took the kid to the park while mom got to stay home the second time we stopped there. Thanks, NPP

 

Otherwise, there really wasn't much to do, but by the time we got there, that was ok. We had packed so much into the other ports that having a 'lite' stop was fine by me. (of course the first time we were there and we did the Native Show and Museum tour, it gave Simone and Roland time to decorate the living room for our 20th anniversary ---which was the BEST part about our stop in PRince Rupert!).

[Jett456]

I went there on a Sun cruise 2 years ago. No problem getting off and on the ship. Make sure you have your passport. My DH went back before me and of course he had my passport. Not a big deal. I just had to stand off to the side until he showed up. There really isn't much to do there. I remember walking around and going into stores. There are a lot of eagles around. Of course I didn't see any but lots of others told me all about it!

[kermodebear]

nce synet165, next time try opening your eyes onboard when you pass the shore excursion desk, open your ears at the onboard presentation, and open your mind when you leave the ship! There are a ton of things to do in Prince Rupert, from kayaking to bear viewing to eagle sighting to great seafood. The tour program offered by the cruiseline in awesome, and the people are friendly and helpful.

[kermodebear]

The worst excursion crew we have ever had to deal with was from an excursion we took at Prince Rupert.

 

Which excursion was this that you took in Prince Rupert?

[terrymtex01]

The worst excursion crew we have ever had to deal with was from an excursion we took at Prince Rupert.

 

Which excursion was this that you took in Prince Rupert?

 

It was the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear one. It was wonderful seeing the few bear we got to see.. it was the staff of the excursion that were beyond contempt. I do want to stress though that none of them were actual residents of Prince Rupert. They all just come in for the tourist season.. they even said that during the tour. I can tell you I am a fairly easy going person but I have never been spoken to the way one of their staff spoke to me and I have never seen staff of an excursion actually yell at people like they were. I don't mean people who were doing things they shouldn't be. I mean senior adults sitting in their seats by a window and make a comment like "Oh what a pretty bear she is..." and being literally yelled at by staff members on the microphone telling her they are the bear experts not her and there is nothing cute about the bear.. etc. Literally yelling at her. It was horrible.

 

We noticed that they no longer offer that tour and we are not for sure if it is because it always came back late because of how far Khutzeymateen is from P. R. or if they just had so many complaints, etc.

[starkarlis]

There is TONS around the dock; you just have to be creative. Having lived in this town at one point, this sort of comment is not substatiated.

 

You can explore Cow Bay (and make sure you go to Smiles Cafe - simply the best fish and chips anywhere IMHO). There's the Port house and court house. You can explore the main street (easiest way is to take the free shuttle to Chances Casino and then walk 1 block to the main drag).

 

Yes, it does rain a lot in Prince Rupert; however you can manage to kill the port time just around the town. In fact, I was on the Star this past May and did exactly what I said above (in the pouring rain) and managed to have fun and a great meal too.

 

What is this CHANCES CASINO you speak of???????

[suzyed]

I would agree with some of the other posters: stay on the ship and relax.

We didnt book an excursion in PR. We just got off the ship and walked around the town. Not much going on...and most of the shops were closed.:( None of the restaurants mentioned here were open either. We walked around a little Fireman's museum..that took about 15 minutes, had our picture taken with two Canadian mounties that were standing on the corner and went in to Safeway and bought DH some reading glasses that cost us $25. :mad: I don't recall seeing an eagles, but DH said he saw some.

Friends that we met at the margarita tasting earlier in the week, went on a whale watching tour and they saw a bunch of whales, so maybe we will do that next time.