abbotlex

Yes, you pay for each soda. If you drink more than three sodas a day, you are better off with the soda package that includes unlimited fountain soda.

 

https://www.ncl.com/onboard-packages/beverage-packages

Yeah. Problem is my wife does NOT drink soda. Hates it really. And you cannot buy just one UBP.

Looks like I'm shopping for 12-packs in Seattle before boarding. :p

If you do not have a beverage or soda package, then yes, you will be charged. It is something like $2.35 plus 18% gratuity.

Do you pay for each refill at the same meal?

It's been a few years since we were on the Pearl (2008), but we've always found that the rear dining room is open for lunch at embarkation. I don't know if it that's changed for the newer, larger ships, but that's the way it's been on the Jewel class and older ships every time we've cruised.

 

We're sailing on the 5/17 sailing, along with g35girl. Let me know if there are any specific questions you'd still like answered and I'll do my best to find out the information.

Fellow Utahan (Go Aggies!) cruising end of August. You're on the boat now, but when you get home, I hope you had a great trip.

I've heard here that the Pearl has undergone some changes recently. What have you noticed that changed since 2008? What's better/worse?

As for lunch. I don't know (haven't sailed yet) for sure, but I believe there is a departure BBQ party on the pool deck. So my plan is to have a late breakfast at the hotel and enjoy some burgers while enjoying the view heading out of Seattle.

When are you sailing the Pearl? We are sailing 08/28/16. We had 4 staterooms (quads and triples) in our group save a bundle!

Exactly a year earlier. I'll let you know how the weather turns out. :D

Thanks for pointing this out. My NCL Pearl cruise to Alaska at the end of August just went down $700 pp on a balcony stateroom since just 4 weeks ago! :eek: Called NCL and they rebooked no problem.

Hasn't there been ongoing remodeling of some of the restaurants this winter?

Wildlife in the water? High-zoom? Normally I would pack a gimbal head or a wimberley sidekick to float my lens to better chase the subject. Not quite portable.

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Don't quite remember the railing height, but I would pack a gorilla pod. It would allow you use to mount your lens/camera onto the railing to provide some support... How big is your lens?

Wow, those wimberley heads are sweet. I'm not that advanced yet. I just have a high optical zoom digital (not even a DSLR). But it's equivalent optical focal length is over 800mm so it can get in pretty close if I have enough light.

Since it's a relatively light camera, I'm thinking more a monopod is the way to go.

Thanks again for everyone's ideas.

Good points, all. Thanks.

I intend on using a tripod is simply to help steady the camera for high-zoom pictures from the ship to shore or wildlife in the water. Still high shutter speed, so I'm not trying to eliminate movement or vibration.

• Make sure your travel tripod is higher than the railing
  

Any idea how high that is typically? I don't imagine many take a tape measure on a cruise, but a guess? 3 1/2 ft? 4 ft?

It seems common knowledge that if you have a camera with a high zoom capability to take it to Alaska. I have such a camera and will be cruising for the first time in a balcony stateroom. Any tips or suggestions for a tripod to take pictures from the balcony? I'm thinking since space in the room and in your luggage is somewhat at a premium, is a "travel" tripod worth it. Has anyone found balconies too small for your standard camera tripod?

Thanks in advance,