Tormania

Thanks for all the advice everyone.  I went ahead and booked the 11am return flight.  Checked out the airport and see that you can reserve a TSA Checkpoint time with the SEA Spot Saver so that is a way to save time at the airport and I'm the kind of person that doesn't like to hang around and be idle so I'll be awake are ready to go before the ship docks anyway so I'm pretty confident we'll be fine.

I have been doing my research and the typical rule of thumb is to not schedule a return flight after your ship gets back to port any sooner than 5 hrs after that time. Well this summer we arrive back in Seattle on the Quantum of the Seas at 6am on Monday, July 22nd.  There is a cheap, NONSTOP, flight home that leaves at 11am, right at that 5 hour mark.  The next best flight leaves another 3 hrs later and gets me home 6 hrs later.  Boo!!!!  So for those of you that have prior experience during 2023 cruise season coming back from Akaskan cruises into Seattle, what has been your experience on how long is really is taking to get back to the airport?  As a side note, we are doing carry-on ONLY, so no need to stop and check in bags either.  Thanks everyone!

Was looking at possible shore excursions for our first cruise to Alaska next summer and I see ones that start are early as only 30 minutes after the ship has docked in port.  Having read that it can take at least 30 minutes (or more) just to get off the ship in port are these excursions even doable to get to in time?  Would one have to get "lined up" prior to the ship even getting to port to be sure you are one of the first ones off to make it in time?  Would rather not have to rush along with 4000 other passengers trying to race off the ship.

On 9/15/2023 at 9:34 PM, Luly said:

Yes this is all true. However, we were a rare occasion where one of the engines went out and we were moving at a snails pace and were 2-3 hours late arriving in Juneau. One woman missed her dream helicopter excursion, another family missed, but was luckily able to rebook their whale watching excursion. Those were just a few people standing close enough I could hear them. They also don’t provide free water or any substantial food besides snacks such as goldfish and fruit snacks (also not free) so were all famished by 4pm since we had to meet at 8am. I had 4 kids with me. It was rough. My experience was unusual, but just know it has happened at least once and maybe plan for an excursion in Juneau later than 3, possibly 4. 

Yeah that is a potential risk and would be a major bummer.  I too am wanting to do a helicopter tour but don't want to risk something like this so right now thinking of just doing whale watching / Mendenhall Glacier out of Juneau in the afternoon and thinking of doing a helicopter tour out of Skagway instead (Along with the train, one in the morning, one in the afternoon) since we have more time there than in Juneau.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

16 hours ago, Luly said:

For me it showed up less than two weeks before our cruise. 

Wow, talk about short notice.  Thanks for that info.  The one good thing is because of how this excursion is done, it doesn't really directly conflict with any other ones, as long as it doesn't run too late back to the docks.

On 8/28/2023 at 11:34 AM, Pam Gannon said:

We just got back from our 7 night Royal Caribbean cruise.  We chose the Dawes Glacier Excursion as one of our tours.  We off-loaded to a smaller boat and our tour guide took us about 1/4 mile from the glacier.  It was incredible!  I highly recommend this Excursion!  It was well worth it. 

Hi there, I was curious as to when this excursion appeared so you could book it?  We are scheduled on the Quantum of the Seas for July 15-22 2024 and I am very much looking forward to this particular excursion, but being 10+ months out this excursion is not showing yet.

Thanks!!