Colbysmom

UPDATED 13 February 2024 (Added Allure's return in 2026. Removed  Liquor Taxation Section - Have not seen them in the terminals since 2022.)
Galveston is home to Royal Caribbean's newest Cruise Terminal, a state of the art zero energy facility, and was home port for the 2023 President's Cruise on Allure of the Seas. Celebrity Cruises has advised that we should not be surprised to see one of their ships in Galveston at some point.
Galveston is the fourth busiest cruise port in the USA and the 9th busiest in the world.
Cruise ships calling Galveston their home port include:
Harmony of the Seas - 225,282 GT - 5,484 Guests - 7 night sailings (Repositions to Barcelona 16 Mar 2026) Allure of the Seas - 225,282 GT - 5,496 Guests - 7 night sailings (Arrives 17 Mar 2026 from Fort Lauderdale) Voyager of the Seas - 137,276 GT - 3,602 Guests - 4-6 night sailings (Repositions to Barcelona 1 May 2024) Mariner of the Seas - 139,863 GT - 3,344 Guests - 4-5 night sailings (Arrives 6 May 2024 from Port Canaveral) Jewel of the Seas - 90,090 GT - 2,191 Guests - 8-11 night sailings (Arrives 8 Nov 2024) Norwegian Prima - 142,500 GT - 3,215 Passengers (Winter Home Port now through Mar 2025) Norwegian Escape - (Dec 2024 Sailings) Norwegian Viva - (Winter Home Port starting Dec 2025) Carnival Jubilee - 182,800 GT - 5,374 Passengers - LNG Powered Carnival Dream - 130,000 GT - 3,646 Passengers Carnival Breeze - 130,000 GT - 3,690 Passengers Carnival Miracle - 88,500 GT - 2,124 Passengers (Arrives 16 Oct 2024 from San Francisco for 9-12 night cruises) Carnival Legend - 88,500 GT - 2,124 Passengers (Arrives 22 Oct 2025 from San Francisco for 4-14 night cruises) Regal Princess - (Winter Home Port Sep-Mar) Disney Magic - (Winter Home Port each year) MSC - has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Port of Galveston to build a fourth cruise terminal! Cruise Terminal 10 Information
Cruise Terminal 10 is owned and operated by a 50/50 partnership of Royal Caribbean and Ceres Terminals Inc. on land leased from the Port of Galveston. Ceres helped fund the project and will provide stevedoring and terminal operations.  As the world's first zero-energy cruise terminal you can expect to find innovative design throughout this facility in things you see and also things you don't see.
  

Below is a map of the new terminal area and parking lots operated by the Port of Galveston. In addition to surface parking lots, the Port offers covered and indoor parking. All parking lots have covered shuttle bus stops with buses circulating continuously to the cruise terminal, and there are plenty of covered walkways for a comfortable stroll from the walkable parking areas to the terminal. Electric Vehicle chargers will soon be available to the west of the South Lot. My favorite parking option: North Premium Covered Lot - it's only a few feet from the cruise terminal and it's covered. It's also the highest price option.  Go to the Port's parking information page for more information and sign up for their loyalty program.  You'll get an immediate $5 discount on your first reservation, the loyalty program equals a 10% discount on future parking, and they will send periodic discount codes that can all be combined for savings. Disabled veterans also get a discount.  
Tip: you will find less expensive options by using off-site parking operators which I have listed below in the Parking section of this post, which also has information on other things to consider regarding parking.

Luggage can be dropped off at the terminal on Royal Caribbean Circle (see map above). Upon entering the terminal building, General check in is located up the escalators on the left (west) end of the terminal, while Suites and Pinnacles check in is located up the escalators on the right (east) end of the terminal. The door at the right (east) end of the terminal on Royal Caribbean Circle is also the entrance for Suites, Pinnacles, and Star Class guests. Star Class drop-off is at area 6 (purple columns on Royal Caribbean Circle).
  

When disembarking at Cruise Terminal 10 there is facial recognition for quick passage through Customs and Border Protection. Then you claim your luggage and make your way out of the terminal to the pick up area on Royal Caribbean Way.  As you can see on the above map, the embarking passenger ground transportation area (on Royal Caribbean Circle) is distinctly separated from the disembarking passenger ground transportation area on Royal Caribbean Way for better traffic flow.
Planning & Tourist Info

You can't beat this website for information on everything that is happening in Galveston: www.galveston.com

Transportation

Fly into HOU (Houston Hobby Airport) if you can. It's much closer to Galveston than IAH (Bush Intercontinental Airport) and you won't have the Houston traffic to deal with. Tip: my favorite airline option is JSX, a "semi-private" airline that uses private jet terminals at several airports across the country. You can essentially fly "private" and avoid crowded airport terminals, for about the price of a first class ticket. JSX flies to Houston Hobby Airport and disembarks in one of the private terminals.

Here are some options for getting to Galveston from the airport:
Galveston Saltwater Moms - my first choice for transportation to Galveston... a highly rated "personal driver" service. You book by sending them a personal message on Facebook. They are a licensed Transportation Provider with the Port of Galveston, which means they can legally operate at the cruise terminals. They have a $500,000 bond and commercial liability insurance. Give them a try as an alternative to the big guys. I've used them and had a great experience! Galveston Limo - provides very affordable shared rides from the two Houston airports with either their scheduled service or you can arrange a private car. Owned by a local family of good folks. Galveston Express  Lyft and Uber - Lyft and Uber are the approved major rideshare companies operating at the Port of Galveston. The agreement with Uber was approved on 24 Mar 2023.  Blacklane - a premium option for upper end vehicles like Black Sedan or Black SUV. You can reserve days or weeks in advance and cancel up to 1 hour prior to pickup time. Rates include gratuities, professional drivers, no "peak" surcharges or port surcharges. Drivers show up when scheduled. A bit more expensive but worth the price to reduce the stress you have with Uber/Lyft drivers canceling or having peak rates when departing the ship. I've used Blacklane in Galveston and Los Angeles with good results. If you use black sedans or SUV's with Uber/Lyft, I find Blacklane to be similarly priced, and sometimes lower priced during peak pickup times. Enterprise Rent A Car - Enterprise is the only rental car company on the island. You should be able to rent from Enterprise at the airport and drop it off on the Island. The Island location is open on Saturday (before Covid it was also open on Sunday). Check with Enterprise directly for updated hours and shuttle arrangements. Here are a couple of transportation options for your departure after your cruise:
The pickup zone for Lyft and Uber is at the far northeast side of the terminal on Royal Caribbean Way. When you exit the terminal, turn left, and walk to the Uber/Lyft sign in Zone 1.
  
If you prefer to take a taxi to the airport, turn right as you exit the terminal, cross the street toward the east side of the covered parking area and there will be several taxis ready and waiting. Here's a photo of the fixed fare rates as of 30 July 2023:

Arriving By Car

I-45 is undergoing several phases of construction that will continue into 2024 and beyond. TxDOT is widening I-45 all the way to Galveston Island so expect some delays and congestion.
I-45 south ends on Galveston Island. When arriving on the island, if you turn off at the "Cruise Terminal" exit (Harborside Drive) you will hit a traffic back-up as you approach the cruise terminals. To avoid this traffic jam, as you drive down I-45 and arrive on the Island, continue straight on Broadway as the interstate ends and follow these directions:

If you've reserved parking through the official Port of Galveston website, continue straight on Broadway as the interstate ends. Continue to 14th street and turn left. Follow 14th and it will take you straight into the entrance to the Cruise Terminal 10 area. This route will avoid the lengthy backup on Harborside Drive. As you enter the Cruise Terminal area, follow the signs to your pre-arranged parking lot or to the drop off or pick up areas. 
Parking

If you search "Galveston cruise parking" you will see plenty of parking options. I highly recommend making a reservation on line with one of the parking companies, especially if you want an indoor space as these will sell out (especially now, with so many ships sailing from Galveston). Prepaying usually gets you a 5-10% discount and a guaranteed parking space. Things to consider in addition to price:
Elevation - heavy rains can quickly flood the streets of Galveston, and not just during a hurricane. Leaving your car in an elevated spot will provide peace of mind against flooding if an unexpected storm comes in. Inside Building, or Outdoor Lot? - outdoor surface lots are cheaper, but your car is exposed to the south Texas sun and weather. A building provides better protection and security. Discounts & Loyalty - there are extra savings if you sign up for loyalty programs online and apply for any applicable discount. Reserve your parking after your account is set up and tagged with the applicable discount. You can combine loyalty and one discount but you can't have multiple discounts. The loyalty programs often mail discount codes to members. Security - parking lots are fenced and gated. Buildings are enclosed and locked. Some facilities have security cameras. The Port of Galveston claims that the Port Police patrol their lots 24/7 which you won't find at the private parking lots. Electric Vehicle Charging - more and more lots are offering EV chargers. If you drive an EV like I do, you will appreciate having your car fully charged when you disembark. This perk is currently free at all parking facilities where it is offered. The Port of Galveston will offer EV charging for an additional fee by scanning a QR code and paying online after parking at the charger. Remember that even a 110 volt plug will fully charge your car over the course of several days, so bring you charge cord as some lots offer 110V outlet access. Here is my comparison of some of the parking options. I have used Port Parking, EZ Cruise, and the Port of Galveston parking all without any issues.

Hotels

Galveston hotel prices are quite variable depending on day of week (weekends obviously much higher), whether there are major events happening, and the season (summer is the busy season here). Booking hotels during Mardi Gras (February), Lone Star Biker Rally (early November), Art Walk (every 6 weeks) and other major events will be much more expensive. Some hotels have a 2 night minimum on weekends. Ever since travel resumed following Covid, hotel prices on Galveston Island have gone way up.  I love staying on the island before a cruise, but if the price is too high I stay along I-45 in Webster, League City, or Texas City where you'll find much lower hotel rates. Note that I-45 exits south of Webster can be very congested, especially during morning and afternoon rush hours.
There are a couple of hotels near the port and the historic Strand District in Galveston, but no hotels are near the Royal Caribbean Cruise Terminal 10. It's a great idea to arrive a day or two early and enjoy the island ambiance.
The Harbor House overlooks the port area and Cruise Terminals 25 and 28, and is very convenient to many nice restaurants, museums, and shopping. The Tremont House is also very walkable to the Strand, nice restaurants, museums, and shopping. This is my preferred pre-cruise hotel and is now a Marriott Tribute property. The Tremont House is located in a beautiful historic building. The Tremont's rooftop bar has wonderful views of the island and port area and has been under renovation with a planned re-opening in the fall of 2023. The lobby bar has live jazz on most Thursday nights.  There are plenty of other hotels on the Island, many along the Seawall facing the Gulf of Mexico.  Hotels providing transportation to the port or offer park & cruise options can be found here.  Call the hotel that you are interested in to confirm that they provide cruise parking. Galveston Dining (And A Few Drinking Establishments)

Please avoid the tourist traps and chain restaurants that will leave you disappointed. Eat at these locally owned restaurants that use locally sourced, fresh food, including fresh Gulf seafood right from the docks in Galveston. All restaurants are casual dress unless noted, and all are family friendly (even most of the bars). Many serve craft beer on tap from Galveston Island Brewing. My only connection to these places is that I have personally eaten at them multiple times and I love them all!

Rudy and Paco - 2028 Post Office St (21st and Post Office) - Arguably the best restaurant on the island. Wonderful food with a South and Central American flair. Best service on the island. A little expensive but worth it. We like going for lunch because it's very affordable (lunch served weekdays only). No shorts allowed at dinner. Reservations suggested and are a must on weekends or when The 1890 Grand Theater has an event.

Riondo's Ristorante - 2328 Strand (24th and Strand) - Our favorite Italian restaurant on the island, and they also serve great seafood and steak. Beautiful historic building built in 1895 in the Strand Historic District. "Farm to Fork" sourcing and they make their own pasta.  Tell them you "want a table in the vault."
Katie's Seafood House - 2000 Wharf Road (On the water, adjacent to the Port of Galveston) - This is the only restaurant in Galveston that catches their own seafood! Enjoy great food, good service, and a wonderful view of the Port of Galveston from their covered outdoor deck. They offer free parking in the lot in front of the restaurant at 20th & Harborside (call the restaurant at (409) 765-5688 and select to option to hear the parking code).

Blum & Co. at the Tremont House - 2300 Ships Mechanic Row (Mechanic Street) - Beautiful historic hotel built in 1879 near the Strand Historic District. An urban bistro, wine bar, and market offering a carefully curated menu that is indigenous of the region.  There is a beautiful bar at the opposite end of the lobby with several Galveston Brewing options on tap. Before or after dinner, take the elevator to the top floor, turn left, and walk to the end of the hall to the rooftop bar to cap off the experience. The rooftop bar is being renovated and will re-open in the fall of 2023.

Brews Brothers Brew Pub - 2404 Strand - Huge craft beer selection, creative American bar food. Very casual. You wouldn't expect it for a bar, but the food here is excellent. Burgers (try the "Mission From God"), fresh made chips (try them with Buffalo Sauce & Bleu Cheese), local fish tacos, salads, etc. Order at the bar, grab a table, and enjoy a beer while waiting on your food to be delivered to your table.
Texas Tail Distillery - 2416 Post Office - On-site distillery for whiskey and vodka. Try the honey whiskey and other infusions.  Friendly staff, fun place to try crafted drinks with local liquor, or try them all with a flight of shots! New: several food trucks are often located adjacent to their new location!
Blvd. Seafood - 28th and Seawall - One of the best seafood restaurants on the island. There isn't a lot of curb appeal outside but the inside is very nice. The food and service are both quite good and the seafood is all local. The red snapper is amazing and always comes fresh from Katie's Seafood Market.
Shucks Tavern - 414 21st Street - Newer hot spot downtown for oysters, seafood, and drinks. Fresh oysters from the most famous oyster beds in America!
Mama Teresa's Flying Pizza and Italian - 416 21st Street - Next door to Shucks Tavern, this is the place for pizza. These guys hand toss the pizzas so high they almost touch the very high ceilings in this historic building! They also have nice Italian dishes. Convenient to the Post Office Street Arts District for a nice after-dinner stroll.
Grotto Italian - 5222 Seawall (In the San Luis Resort) - Classic Italian restaurant featuring delicious veal, chicken, seafood, pizza, and house made pastas. This one breaks my rule of avoiding the Landrys restaurant chain, but we are convinced it's a great option.
The Cove Poolside Bar - 5222 Seawall (In the San Luis Resort) - Beautiful outdoor poolside bar with a swim-up bar too, all overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.  The pool is heated so expect swimmers even in cool weather.  Great place to people watch and enjoy a drink with one of the most picturesque views of the Gulf of Mexico on the island.
Koops BBQ Kitchen - 4501 Broadway - the only barbecue restaurant on the island that I would recommend.  Very clean, very casual, very good meat and homemade sides. Only open for lunch from 11 am to 3 pm or until they run out of barbecue.
Leland House - 2711 Market Street - a nice neighborhood bistro serving breakfast/brunch, lunch, and dinner. Grab a menu, relax at a table, and order at the bar when you're ready. Closed Monday/Tuesday.
Maceo's Spice & Import Company - 2706 Market Street - Excellent muffaletta's, sandwiches.  Simple menu to eat in or carry out in this little spice shop.
Freckleberry Teahouse - 2724 Market Street - this has become a hot spot for a relaxing hot or iced tea or coffee and a light snack. Comfortable seating is plentiful inside or in their large outdoor area.
Red Light Coffee Roasters - 2728 Market Street - popular spot serving locally roasted and sustainably sourced coffee and drinks along with light snacks. Like many places on this list, they are located in a beautiful historic building.
Hey Mikey's Ice Cream - 2120 Post Office Street - Ice cream is made in the store. Unique treats like Ice Cream Nachos (share with a friend) and traditional favorites. You gotta' go here! Note: this place is owned by a nice island family.  It is sometimes closed over the winter holidays.

Mod Coffeehouse - 2126 Post Office Street - comfortable with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Live music many weekend evenings. Coffee, tea, espresso, latte, home baked goods.
Waterman's Restaurant & Marina - 14302 Stewart Road - great sunset and water views overlooking Lake Como and West Bay. Steak and seafood. The restaurant was built of long leaf pine salvaged from the 100 year old cotton warehouses that were part of Galveston's glory days. Relatively expensive and a bit of a drive from the hotel areas but this is a unique restaurant with a great ambiance, great service, and great water views.
Jimmy's On The Pier - 9001 Seawall - On the 2nd story above the fishing pier (enter the souvenir shop, exit to the left, and up the stairs). Very casual with great views of the seawall and Gulf. Owner has their own farm and livestock for a true "farm to table" concept; other items locally sourced. Fish tacos, burgers, seafood, local beer, full bar, etc. 

Galveston Webcams

Galveston has some great webcams if you want to see what the cruise port looks like, or if your friends and family want to watch you sail away on Royal Caribbean via several live full-motion HD video cameras.
 

Celebrity is an upscale cruise line that tries to promote itself as luxury.  It's an upscale experience and if that is what you seek, you have found the right cruise line.  It tends to have less kids largely because there is less for kids to do.  That applies to kids of all ages.   I enjoy water slides once in a while.  I enjoy a zip line once in while.  I enjoy ice skating once in a while.   I enjoy bumper cars everytime.  Celebrity has none of that.  
For my needs Royal is a good fit because it has all sorts of activities even if I don't use all of them every cruise.  When I feel like acting like a kid they are there for me.  When I want to act grown up the kid centric areas attract the kids away from my grown up moment.   
Royal is more of an entry level, family friendly, multi-generational cruise line.  Everyone from baby to great grandpa can find something to like on Royal.  Even if I don't participate in all there is to do on Royal, sometimes it's fun just watching other people have fun.   
Celebrity is more refined, a bit more bougie.  There are many people who aren't looking for a family cruise.  They have more money and don't mind paying a bit more for the upscale experience without spending the money for a true luxury cruise experience (Silver Sea).  Celebrity is "faux luxury" and that's fine for those who want something more without spending two or three months salary on a luxury cruise.  
Celebrity has shifted to their "Always included" approach.  Their entry level drink package is include, entry level wifi is included, gratuity is included and some OBC is included.  There are options to increase the Always In packages with the "Elevate' and "Indulge" packages that introduce better drink, wifi and OBC features.
I enjoyed my Celebrity cruise but I don't need that every cruise.  They'll be there for me if I ever grow up.   Until then Royal fulfils my more modest budget for cruising often.

I love snorkeling. I also have a tiny face, so it’s always the kids masks that fit me, and I often have a hard time convincing the tour operator of this. So I bought a mask and tube and bring that with me. I’m ensured of a good fit every time.
But usually, we book an excursion. Often the very best snorkeling is out a bit from shore so having a boat take you out is easiest.
The only exception to this is Grand Cayman, where you can taxi or bus to Cemetery Beach and have amazing snorkeling right from the shore with no crowds.

Sigh. Not to be disrespectful to your opinion but this hard to read and my eyes just rolled to the back of my head. Everyone should wear a swimsuit in the pool, if they so choose...whatever they may weigh. I say this as someone who refuses to wear a bathing suit because I think I look awful. Honestly, I love seeing confidence in anyone, no matter their weight. My issues are mine alone and I would never impose them on anyone else. We should all be comfortable in our skin and not make people feel bad for how they look.
 
 
Even bigger sigh.
 

Featured on Royal’s Instagram page
Congrats! @twangster ??

The Kon tiki party boat has been around for over 30 years..  Remember folks from a cruise in the 80's coming back from that tour and all had fun.  Figure if it's been around that long they must be doing something right.

Cruise Summary
Wow!  What an awesome Alaska experience.
There is a part of me that wants to say this was my best cruise to Alaska.  However looking back I thought the same thing on every Alaska cruise I've taken.  
There are a couple of ways to interpret that sentiment but the truth is that Alaska is such an amazing destination that each cruise can top the last one.  Every visit to Alaska is different. 
I chose to focus on Alaska on this cruise and in writing this trip report.  The ship itself is very similar to Anthem from a core ship experience.   Anyone who has sailed Anthem will feel right at home on Ovation.  Apologize for no menus and less about the on-board experience of Ovation, but I took this cruise for Alaska so that became the focus of this thread.
There were some special aspects of this cruise and it starts with the itinerary.  This itinerary may never be repeated.  That would be a shame because it included a lot I love about Alaska.
I was curious how an early season cruise would compare but now I'm sold on the idea that any time for an Alaska cruise season is the perfect time for an Alaska cruise.  
I was also curious how Ovation of the Seas would compare to Radiance and Voyager class or Celebrity's Millennium class for an Alaska cruise, the ships I've sailed before to Alaska.  Each has features I like.  Looking back over this experience there is a lot to like about Quantum class in Alaska.  
Great indoor pool space for families Great indoor Solarium for adults, one of the best in the fleet North Star (more on this below)   Two70° SeaPlex Flowrider New ship feel, new technology, new decor Great Windjammer experience (I have always liked the WJ on Quantum class) Great entertainment Better suite amenities including Coastal Kitchen Affordable balcony options for a reasonable fare difference I was curious how viewing angles would work out for glacier visits.  I prefer to move around during glacier visits and seeing everything from multiple perspectives.  I was very pleased with how this worked out on Ovation, better than I thought it would.  I didn't think I'd like the glass dividers in places on the top decks but they were a blessing at times to block the wind with large spaces between them I could still take pictures.
Not everything was perfect.  These are areas that I felt had some room for improvement:
The crew pressure wash the outer decks from 5am to 7am.  During this time they are closed.  This is a required maintenance exercise but they could have adjusted times to recognize the long days of Alaska.  Sunrise is around 5am.  Runners want to run.  Arrival into ports is often occurring at this time.   I don't recall this being an issue on any ship I've sailed before including three cruises on sister ship Anthem.   Smokers were complaining there was no where to smoke.  I don't smoke but I know if you close all the outdoor smoking areas at the same time to wash them down guests are going to break the rules and some did.   The Cruise Director lost an opportunity to hype certain events like sailing under the bridge in Vancouver or the fact that every port of call was an inaugural port of call.  The CD and staff seemed unaware that this was a special cruise itinerary or the ship's first ever visit to Alaska. Voom internet was a disappointment but if you have read this thread I've covered this already. North Star Experience.   North Star brings a new aspect to Alaska cruising allowing guests to see things from a very different angle.  This really sets Ovation apart from other ships that have sailed in Alaska.   Despite a single complimentary reservation for North Star I found great availability to enjoy it on standby basis.  Groups larger than 2 may find less enjoyment in the standby line unless they are willing to split up.  While the $49 charge during glacier visits was higher than I expected I understand why a charge is required.   Having done that extra cost version of the North Star Alaskan Experience I might even do it again. 
I've devised some ideas how to reduce glare from the curved windows in my North Star photos that I look forward to trying in North Star in other regions before I return to Alaska and enjoy North Star there again.  For me North Star really has value in Alaska where in other regions it's simply a cool activity to do.  You get a bird's eye view just like an Eagle soaring in the sky above the ship.
When I cruise Alaska my focus is Alaska and not ship entertainment or activities.  I have more cruises booked on Ovation in other regions some with many sea days.  This allowed me to skip entertainment or activities on this sailing knowing I can try them another time. 
I did not visit the MDR once.  For my needs and a desire for a quick meal experience the Windjammer fulfilled my needs perfectly.  Despite some cool meals I ate most of them on the aft outdoor seating area for the Windjammer.  Daily complimentary room service breakfast was appreciated with a balcony to enjoy a coffee while watching marine life below or an incredible sunrise unfold in front of me.
For Diamond Happy Hour the use of the entire Music Hall worked well but I still missed access to the Concierge Lounge, a stated benefit for Diamond Plus members.  I understand the reasoning offered for blocking access to the Concierge Lounge but it remains a disappointment.  
If you've enjoyed my pictures in this thread what you may not understand is that mere photos don't do it justice.  To experience Alaska you have to go to Alaska.   I know Royal offers great entertainment and activities but I feel like Alaska is a destination where you shouldn't try to do everything on the ship just because it's offered and available for you.  A number of times I found myself nearly alone enjoying incredible scenery, peace and tranquility.  Apologies to Nick Weir and his incredible team that produce awesome Royal entertainment but I came for Alaska.  
At times I put the camera down and just enjoyed the moment live and in person.  What you don't see in this thread are those moments.  Those are some of my best memories and for you to experience them you'll need to book a cruise to Alaska for yourself.
Thanks for following along and I thank you for viewing.  

Seriously @twangster you should publish a book of your fantastic photos. It would probably make the best seller list. Your skills are unbelievably amazing!

Old news..he's a bot. ?

Juneau Excursion - Five Glacier Float Plane
Conveniently located right next to the ship you'll find the float plane base for Wings Airways.  On previous visits it's been hard to miss the float planes coming and going all day long. 
Looking for something different in Juneau I found the Five Glacier Float Plane excursion offered through Royal Caribbean on sale so as they say...YOLO, booked it.

The DeHavilland Otter is by no means a new aircraft having been in service for decades.  They are the workhorse of the North.  Wings Airways has five of them.

A map in their office illustrates our flight path.

They also hand out a card with the names of the glaciers.  Glaciers will be Norris, Taku, Hole in the Wall and the West and East Twins.

Our pilot greets us and we head down the ramp to the plane.  Our plane today is N339AK a.k.a. Red Stripe.


The plane features bubble like windows that let you stick your camera or your head out to get fantastic views.
Headsets are provided and a recorded sound track narrates our journey.

We have a quick safety briefing and then we are off.

A short taxi and take off and we rise up gently into the sky with an amazing view of the Celebrity Millennium as she was arriving in Juneau.
The view looking back down Gastineau Channel with Juneau in the distance.

The scenery is breath taking.




You can see how the bubble windows let you get a great view in many directions.

Our first glacier flyover.


The surface of the glacier has numerous pools of glacier runoff water that have an amazing turquoise color.



Different section of the glacier feature varying formations of glacial ice.


We circle around and continue up the mountain range.






It's hard to put into words the views and what we observe as we fly over them. 




Massive waterfalls look tiny in the these photo.  The scale is hard to describe.


The twins.  West on the far left, East on the right.


On the flight up the left side has a better view but on the return the pilot gives the passengers on the right the awesome glacier views.

Looking down the valley you can see the glacial silt from hundreds of years that has shaped Taku Inlet.

Back over the glacier you can really see the differences as it progresses downslope.


It's hard to fathom the scale of the size but the face is hundreds of feet tall.

A section has recently broken off exposing the intricate details from within the glacier. 


It's a pretty massive glacier.

The river is tidal from where it connects with the Gastineau Channel that we sailed up to reach Juneau.  The ever changing nature of the glacial silt makes navigation challenging and the narration over the headset describes small boats that inevitably run aground and have to wait until high tide to free them. 

On our return to Juneau I spot a sand bar that I spotted from the ship as we approached Juneau.

We gently land on the water and begin to taxi back to the float plane base.


What an amazing experience.  

The rest of the fleet has arrived and is preparing to take waiting guests on their tours.


Here is a ten minute video I put together from short clips I took in between taking still pictures and simply gazing out at the amazing views.
When I booked this excursion I questioned if doing another flightseeing excursion was a wise idea since I booked the flight excursion in Icy Strait Point .  I'm so glad I kept both.  This flight flew very close over the surface of the glaciers and I really got a better appreciation of the differences in glacial ice formations along sections of the glacier. 

The bow is a crew only area.  It's not unusual for off duty crew to use the bow at various times but particularly at notable times like arriving in port or at a glacier.
Deck 13 above the bridge is the lower level of the solarium.  There are two bridge wings that are open from 6am to 6pm.
There is a 0.8L kettle in my cabin.

Day Four - Icy Strait Point
My day starts with an excursion booked through Royal Caribbean called Glacier Bay Flightseeing.  Originally $399 but offered on sale for $319. 
The meeting point was inside the first building at the end of the pier where many excursions depart from. 

It's very well organized with large displays that matched the number printed on my ticket.

We boarded a bus for the 10-15 minute ride to the Hoonah airport.

Our chariot to Glacier Bay on this occasion.

The right seat or copilot's seat was offered so I jumped at the chance.

On the taxi out to prepare for take off our pilot spotted a couple of deer.


Soon we were airborne with a great view of the town and local marina.

Not long after I spotted Icy Strait Point with the profile of a familiar ship in the distance.

Hard to miss North Star.

Our pilot made the turn and we headed off towards Glacier Bay. 

Everyone gets a window seat!

Alaska is quite beautiful.

As we flew North and the peaks increased in altitude so did the amount of snow.

In the distance I could make out the ice fields that feed the glaciers. 

We were in the mountains now at an elevation of around 7,000 feet.

The ice fields are massive.  It's hard to appreciate the scale but it's basically a sea of snow.

What's amazing about this excursion is not only to see some glaciers, but to fly above and behind them, to see the ice fields that feed the many glaciers in this area.   

Climbing still we head towards some of the highest peaks in this region. 


You can see how the snow has deformed from it's own weight pushing down slope beginning the multi-decade process of moving towards the face of a glacier. 


Flying in close proximity to the peaks and seeing this with your own eyes is incredible.  

Pictures don't do this justice.
Again you can see the snow where it has advanced downslope from it's own weight, like a land slide, compressing the layers below it into glacier ice and squeezing oxygen out in the process.

At this point we are flying above a valley of snow and ice with peaks on both sides.

In the distance another valley of glacial ice is approaching from the opposite direction.


Flying beside these rock peaks is an incredible experience.  They are so beautiful and experiencing them up close like this will stay with me when I see a peak way off in the distance.

More evidence of motion in the sea of snow and ice below us.


We are literally flying around these peaks, not above them.

As we descend along with the valley of glacial ice below us we begin to see signs of melting with pools of turquoise blue water on the surface.

Turning around one more peak...

We are presented a magnificent view of the John Hopkins Glacier as seen from the glacier.

You can clearly see the moraine or dirt trails on top of the glacier.


With a banking turn so both sides can see the glacier below us you somewhat appreciate how wide this glacier is but it's hard to fathom the scale of all this.

At this point more peaks are right beside us.

Then we turn to follow the channel of water, the John Hopkins Inlet.

Turning the corner the scale of this all suddenly becomes clear when a tiny ship appears.

Originally looking small next to the rising sides of the valley (and the highest peaks are well behind us) I realize it's the Norwegian Bliss.  The Bliss is pretty much the same size as Ovation being slightly smaller than Ovation by a narrow margin.  In other words it's a pretty massive cruise ship, the largest to visit Alaska until Ovation arrived on this cruise, yet it seems so small in the vastness of the space. 

Seeing something familiar, a large cruise ship, set the scale for what we had just seen and it blew my mind just how big all of it really was.

Continuing our flight down Glacier Bay I spot another glacier.  The Lamplugh Glacier, something the folks on the Bliss will reach soon after our flyover.




Next is Reid Inlet and Reid Glacier.


We continue to fly South back toward the entrance of Glacier Bay park and with the peaks of the mountain range behind the snow capped peaks of these smaller mountains give way to lush green vegetation below the snow line at lower elevations.

It's all still very breathtaking and I could have taken many more pictures.

A suspended frozen lake in a bowl on the side of this mountain.



Our pilot does a fantastic job bringing us safely back towards Hoonah.

In the distance to the South I spot the North Star.  Not that North Star...

Ovation's North Star and Icy Strait Point.

Our pilot spots a whale excursion boat so we bank overhead in time to see a whale surfacing near the excursion boat.  No pictures of that one, had to see it live.
With the lush green land near Hoonah below us we gently land from where we had departed. 

Back in our van and heading to Icy Strait Point my mind raced to process all that I had seen.

Our driver dropped us off near the entrance to Icy Strait Point by the old cannery. 

I chose to walk back to the ship along the shore.


Here is this excursion compressed into a 7 minute video made from clips I took in between taking photographs.
At the 3 minute mark is the John Hopkins glacier and around the 5 minute mark you can see Ovation at Icy Strait Point. 
It's hard to put into words everything that I experienced on this excursion.  At $319 it was the most expensive excursion on this trip but I have to say it was well worth it.  I've heard naturalists and others countless times talking about "The Ice Fields" but now I've seen them first hand.  I can visualize the process of snow falling, compressing, hundreds of feet deep turning into glacial ice, having oxygen squeezed out and turning blue then slowly creeping it's way down a slope to the eventually find itself on the face of a glacier where we get to watch it calve countless years later.  
Pretty awesome experience and I look forward to seeing Glacier Bay by ship now that Royal can begin sailing there in future years.  When I do all this will come flooding back to me having seen this same area from high above it and from the opposite perspective.

Ok, this is like “Where’s Waldo?”  We dropped in on the Cruise Critic meet and greet, since my wife was following this cruise on there.  One of the attendees took the mic asked if @twangster was in the room.  Only response was - the sound of crickets.  He made a few quite complementary remarks about your photos that you have shared and remarked he is looking to run into you.  
Based on the pics you shared of sailing under Lionsgate I think I have might have a photo of you, if you were wearing dark pants and a grey Hoodie.
 
 

On board!
Will post boarding process here for anyone sailing another ship out of Vancouver in another post.
Specialty dining offered from my agent booked.  Kümmelweck sandwiches consumed. 
For now I can offer the North Star experience at a glacier has to be booked at Shore Excursion for $49.99 per person.  It's not loaded in the system yet so no signs or screen shots to share.

My trip back toward my hotel meant a transfer from bus to train at Waterfront station so I took the opportunity to walk downtown on this slow Sunday evening and to visit the Canada Place cruise terminal.

The side of the terminal that Holland America uses and the site of last weeks "kissing ships" when the two company vessels scraped balconies with each other.

Ovation was still setting lines when I arrived.



Beautiful skies tonight with the sun close to setting.


One of Ovation's smoking areas captured from an angle you don't see too often.



The proximity to downtown and easy access to the transit system make this a great port.





With that it was approaching 9pm and time for me to head back to my hotel. With nearly 10 miles under my feet it was time to grab a sandwich at Subway and watch the latest episode of Game of Thrones in my hotel.

Finally the 2019 Alaska cruise season is beginning and so has the single digit dance!
Looking back I always put off an Alaska cruise despite all the good things I heard over and again.  Now I can't get enough.  This will be my fourth cruise to Alaska and hopefully it will not be my last.   Why did I wait so long to cruise to Alaska?  
Itinerary
Day              Port of Call                                        Arrive       Depart
1                   Vancouver                                                            5pm
2                   At Sea
3                   At Sea
4                   Icy Strait Point (ISP)                           9am        8pm
5                   Sitka                                                      7am        6pm
6                   Hubbard Glacier                                  8am        11am
7                   Juneau                                                  7am        9pm
8                   Skagway                                               7am        8:30pm
9                   Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier     7am        12pm
10                 At Sea
11                 At Sea
12                 Seattle                                                  6am

source: CruiseCharts.com
The Ship
This is a special cruise in many ways.  This will be Ovation's first cruise to Alaska and the first time a Quantum class ship visits Alaska.  It will be the largest cruise ship ever to visit Alaska edging out the NCL Bliss by a small margin.  It's a repositioning itinerary unique for this season, starting in Vancouver and ending in Seattle.  There are two glaciers on the itinerary, Hubbard and Dawes.  The itinerary includes two ports not normally on Royal itineraries from the South - Sitka and Icy Straight Point.   It's eleven nights compared to the normal 7 night Alaska cruise.  This will be the earliest in the Alaska cruise season for me, beating out my previous early Alaska season cruise by several weeks.  
Hubbard Glacier is pretty far North and it's not normally on Seattle based itineraries.  Sitka is infrequently on Royal itineraries.  Icy Strait Point is a favorite port for me and usually only found on Royal's North or South one-way Alaska itineraries.   
When considering any Alaska cruise paying attention to the times in port is important and Royal has planned some awesome times in each port on this itinerary.
Ovation is a "cold weather" ship which should pair very well with Alaska.  The ample sized indoor pool will be great for families leaving the beautiful Solarium for adults to enjoy the sweeping views forward as we sail the Alaskan inside passages.  Combined with the sweeping views aft from Two70° and this is shaping up to be a fantastic Alaska cruise experience.
Pre-Cruise Plans
I fly to Vancouver with a connection in Salt Lake City arriving noon the day before the cruise departs Vancouver.
I found a nice but inexpensive hotel near the airport with a free airport shuttle.  Vancouver features a train system that will allow me to reach downtown pretty easily while saving substantially by not staying downtown.  
Once settled I plan to visit downtown and may even head out to the Lion's Gate Bridge Sunday evening to watch Ovation arrive being the largest cruise ship ever to visit Vancouver harbor. 
Cabin
I normally scale back my cabin to Alaska so I can splurge on excursions but Ovation changes the math.  Quantum class ships have a much higher balcony cabin count relative to interior or ocean view cabins.  Because of the balcony cabin ratio on Ovation the marginal price difference to book a balcony was small enough to motivate me to spend a few extra hundred dollars and book a balcony plus it's eleven nights.  In years past an interior cabin was less than half the price of a balcony so the savings basically paid for the excursions.
Consequently this year I am in a 2D ocean view balcony on deck 11 forward port side.  On these ships I like being close to the pool deck so I can take the stairs and my cabin is a few steps to the elevator lobby.
Specialty Dining
None planned.  My travel agent did throw in one specialty dinner so I'll probably visit Jamie's based on an Anthem cruise where I really enjoyed Jamie's over all the other options. 
Excursions
To experience Alaska you need to get out of the ports and see Alaska.  To this end I always plan a healthy Alaska excursion budget and this year's excursion budget approaches $900 per person.
When I booked this cruise I grabbed a bunch of Royal excursions as place holders while I looked at all options.  Several cruise planner sales occurred and I was able to save hundreds by cancelling and rebooking my excursions.  With those price drops I couldn't find many cheaper options and all things being equal I always prefer booking excursion through Royal in case of itinerary changes.  I did find one Viator excursion in Sitka that looked interesting so I booked it outside of Royal.
Icy Strait Point (ISP)
With Royal gaining access to Glacier Bay in future years I thought a fly over Glacier Bay National Park would be a great way to look forward to a future visit by ship.

Going on a bear hunt to shoot pictures has always appealed to me in ISP so these are my two excursions for this day leaving lots of time to explore ISP on my own.

Sitka
The raptor center in Sitka sounded like a great way to see some birds including (hopefully) some Eagles.  Throw in a nature walk and it sounded like a winner.

Having hopefully seen bears by this point, I thought beers and bears sounded pretty good so I found this Viator option in Sitka. 

Juneau
Visiting Juneau I have always watched the float planes coming and going but always found something else to do.  So this year I am going to continue my small plane obsession and see some glaciers from the air in a SeaPlane.

Skagway
Glass blowing has always fascinated me and having done many of the other must do Skagway activities this year is going to blow.  I figure what better way to find a keepsake memento from an Alaska cruise than on a glassblowing activity leaving me a lot of daylight to explore Skagway on my own.

Internet
I bought Voom Surf and Stream on sale for $11.99 per day.  Given the 11 night duration this was more economical compared to buying it on board with my Crown and Anchor discount and waiting until day two. 
While Ovation uses the newest O3b satellite platform I'm not sure that is going to help North in Alaska where O3b has "limited services".


source: www.ses.com/our-coverage
A Royal O3b enabled ship has never ventured this far North into the limited services area so I'm not sure what to expect from Voom.  If the ship switches to conventional satellite internet I know from past experiences that can be hit or miss at times while cruising Alaska.  Consequently this may not be a live blog and I might have to finish and post pictures once home.
With that the count down continues...  more to come.

We took our oldest on a cruise when he was 5 we had a newly retired principal and teach at our table.  You could see when we sat down they had a confused look like someone was punking them.  As the week went on they confessed that they both agreed at the first of the cruise if there were any kids around at dinner they were going to ask to switch but stuck around all week and ended up sending us a lovely note after the cruise.  

We took our oldest on a cruise when he was 5 we had a newly retired principal and teach at our table.  You could see when we sat down they had a confused look like someone was punking them.  As the week went on they confessed that they both agreed at the first of the cruise if there were any kids around at dinner they were going to ask to switch but stuck around all week and ended up sending us a lovely note after the cruise.  

We took our oldest on a cruise when he was 5 we had a newly retired principal and teach at our table.  You could see when we sat down they had a confused look like someone was punking them.  As the week went on they confessed that they both agreed at the first of the cruise if there were any kids around at dinner they were going to ask to switch but stuck around all week and ended up sending us a lovely note after the cruise.  

Smoke free casinos. 

Small food containers are good for bacon for your hamburger at lunch.

I never buy the Voom package  since it gives me a chance to unplug from the world.   I always take dry erase markers that we use on the mirror to put where we are going to be.  Its an easy way to keep up with kids and husband.  If we travel with a group we put a dry erase board on the outside of our cabin door.  

I never buy the Voom package  since it gives me a chance to unplug from the world.   I always take dry erase markers that we use on the mirror to put where we are going to be.  Its an easy way to keep up with kids and husband.  If we travel with a group we put a dry erase board on the outside of our cabin door.  

I bring a bottle of Champagne and as soon as the room is ready I start chilling it and it is perfect for sail away.  Then my ice bucket is ready for my second bottle of wine.  

I bring a bottle of Champagne and as soon as the room is ready I start chilling it and it is perfect for sail away.  Then my ice bucket is ready for my second bottle of wine.