Cassiar Highway

[magbrin]

Planning to take this route when we drive from Seattle to Alaska in May, spending 4 - 5 days travelling, and stopping for hikes along the Cassiar Highway. We are from UK, and my question relates to satellite communicators/phones. We, at home, have a Spot (with no messaging facility) for emergencies, but we are following our RV trip with a cruise, and the cruise line states clearly that this would not be allowed on the ship. Our preference would be for a two way communicator or phone, and I am looking for recommendations of somewhere we could rent one in Seattle and return it in Anchorage. Any help would be much appreciated!

[SteveAE]

magbrin wrote:

SteveAE wrote:
I can't speak to the cruise line rules.....though how would they know?

However, if you haven't already bought a SPOT, take a look at In-Reach.
Worldwide two way texting and email on the Iridium constellation for a reasonable price (IMO).

As far as renting one, not sure if they do, but try REI. They have stores in both Seattle and Anchorage

Thanks for this. I have checked the REI website, but unfortunately I don't think they rent them out.

I just did a quick internet search and found several companies that rent satellite phones. They ship them to you and you send it back when you are done so your starting and ending locations shouldn't matter. Probably more convenient than trying to find a store at both ends. Didn't look any further into it than that, but maybe that would work for you?
Safe travels.

[valhalla360]

magbrin wrote:
Hi, all
I have to admit I am disappointed. I do not expect to be questioned about decisions I have made regarding my travels. I was looking for an answer to my original post : " Our preference would be for a two way communicator or phone, and I am looking for recommendations of somewhere we could rent one in Seattle and return it in Anchorage. Any help would be much appreciated! " In the answers I have received only one has made a suggestion!
All the best to you all.

Not questioning your decisions, just trying to figure out what the problem is.

You can certainly take a cell phone and cruise ships certainly have wifi (not cheap or fast but they have it).

[Thermoguy]

Don't cruise ships have Wifi? I took an Alaska cruise and had no issues with cell service in every port and Wifi on the boat.

What are you trying to accomplish that your cell phone can't do?

[RickLight]

Sounds like a job for a 'burner' phone. Far cheaper than renting anything.

https://www.howtogeek.com/712588/what-is-a-burner-phone-and-when-should-you-use-one/

[StirCrazy]

magbrin wrote:
Hi, all
I have to admit I am disappointed. I do not expect to be questioned about decisions I have made regarding my travels. I was looking for an answer to my original post : " Our preference would be for a two way communicator or phone, and I am looking for recommendations of somewhere we could rent one in Seattle and return it in Anchorage. Any help would be much appreciated! " In the answers I have received only one has made a suggestion!
All the best to you all.

so if you realy wanted info on where to rent somthing in seattle and return it in alaska, why did you ask it in the canadian subform where we all wouldnt have a clue. realy you can be disapointed all you want, but maybe ask in the right forum so you won't be disapointed.

[magbrin]

Hi, all
I have to admit I am disappointed. I do not expect to be questioned about decisions I have made regarding my travels. I was looking for an answer to my original post : " Our preference would be for a two way communicator or phone, and I am looking for recommendations of somewhere we could rent one in Seattle and return it in Anchorage. Any help would be much appreciated! " In the answers I have received only one has made a suggestion!
All the best to you all.

[valhalla360]

magbrin wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
How would the cruise line know if you had a spot? Can you share a link to the prohibition because I'm betting you are misunderstanding something.

Probably wouldn't have worked folks up if you had been clear about the 4-5 days only including the 450mile stretch (not Seattle to the cruise port in Alaska as your post seems to imply) because I had the same thought, particularly since you indicated you are from the UK and lots of overseas folks have no concept of how big the USA & Canada are.

As I say, I apologise for the misunderstanding.
In its list of prohibited items Princess cruises include sattelite beacons, and my husband checked with our personal advisor who checked with the cruise line who stated that no satellite beacons or communicators are allowed on board. I assume that they would pick it up on a baggage scan.

I'm still wanting to see the actual unedited statement from the cruise line. No idea what your "personal advisor" is (travel agent?) or where he is getting his information or if he is misunderstanding what the cruise line requirements are.

I mean, you could argue a cell phone qualifies as it picks up GPS satellite signals and I don't see them banning cell phones any time soon.

I'm still betting on it being a misunderstanding.

[SideHillSoup]

StirCrazy wrote:

SideHillSoup wrote:

From Stewart it’s still 1,400 miles to the Canada / Alaska boarder at Beaver Creek.

I think your mixing up miles with KM. it is 1400km which is a 14+ hour drive between stewart and beaver creek.

Oops… :S

[StirCrazy]

SideHillSoup wrote:

From Stewart it’s still 1,400 miles to the Canada / Alaska boarder at Beaver Creek.

I think your mixing up miles with KM. it is 1400km which is a 14+ hour drive between stewart and beaver creek.

[SideHillSoup]

Sorry about my misunderstanding on your post…

As for the spot and garmin, it’s most likely has something to do with the SOS feature, as it could be triggered accidentally, not easily but it can.
I know around here were I live the BC Mountains, S.A.R’s. ( Search and Rescue) are getting a bunch of false alarm SOS notifications from Apple Wrist Watches after people who are wearing them fall down skiing/ snowboarding and snowmobiling. There is some feature on the phone that activates an SOS type alarm when there is sudden impact or something, not sure if the feature, but it can be disabled on the watches.
I’m betting people with SPOT’s have activated the SOS feature by mistake on a few cruise ships which send a whole bunch of people running around trying to figure out what’s what, and when a SOS signal comes in and the location is out as sea… there would be planes choppers and ships moving before they found out it was a false alarm.
Last weekend we had the area’s SAR’s team up practicing / training in our snowmobile area with Avalanche Beacon’s and that exact subject came up about the watches.
They said that SAR’s have to go out and check every time one is activated just like a “hang up” 911 call.

[thomas201]

I am surprised that the Spot is on the no no list. The In Reach Explorer I carry has been through many countries, but always on airplanes. When asked I say it is a GPS, which is true. I don't even think about its sat texting and emergency beacon features, although when on a trip I also send at least one text a day. Thinking though, it has been on the Newfoundland ferry a couple of times.

Also, if you are headed for the bush before or after your trip, it would stink not to be able to bring your Spot.

Maybe ask again, and ask why? Perhaps it can be left with the Purser.

[magbrin]

SteveAE wrote:
I can't speak to the cruise line rules.....though how would they know?

However, if you haven't already bought a SPOT, take a look at In-Reach.
Worldwide two way texting and email on the Iridium constellation for a reasonable price (IMO).

As far as renting one, not sure if they do, but try REI. They have stores in both Seattle and Anchorage

Thanks for this. I have checked the REI website, but unfortunately I don't think they rent them out.

[magbrin]

valhalla360 wrote:
How would the cruise line know if you had a spot? Can you share a link to the prohibition because I'm betting you are misunderstanding something.

Probably wouldn't have worked folks up if you had been clear about the 4-5 days only including the 450mile stretch (not Seattle to the cruise port in Alaska as your post seems to imply) because I had the same thought, particularly since you indicated you are from the UK and lots of overseas folks have no concept of how big the USA & Canada are.

As I say, I apologise for the misunderstanding.
In its list of prohibited items Princess cruises include sattelite beacons, and my husband checked with our personal advisor who checked with the cruise line who stated that no satellite beacons or communicators are allowed on board. I assume that they would pick it up on a baggage scan.

[valhalla360]

How would the cruise line know if you had a spot? Can you share a link to the prohibition because I'm betting you are misunderstanding something.

Probably wouldn't have worked folks up if you had been clear about the 4-5 days only including the 450mile stretch (not Seattle to the cruise port in Alaska as your post seems to imply) because I had the same thought, particularly since you indicated you are from the UK and lots of overseas folks have no concept of how big the USA & Canada are.