chefestelle

Any observations you want to share? Things to watch for/prepare for either good, bad or just interesting?

Hello all! I'm so excited about this upcoming cruise that I decided to start a Live From thread. I know the internet is really poor as we cruise north but I will do my best to post my first experiences of Alaska. I am travelling with my sister. Her birthday is August 4 so this is her birthday cruise and my 60th birthday present to myself. We're going to have a blast. This cruise was on her bucket list and I was happy to tag along. Any cruise is a good cruise! Over the last few days I have started receiving information about vaccine requirements, boarding time, and changes to the itinerary. I've also been reading other live reports to see how things are doing in Alaska right now. There have been some excursion cancellations and itinerary changes that seem to be driven by labour and supply issues. Hopefully these will be sorted before August! If not, we will have to roll with the changes. We are in a signature suite - I'm too uncomfortable with closed spaces for an inside or ocean view. After booking a veranda, my TA found a deal on suites. So I took it. I do love the suites on HAL. Sis has occasional mobility challenges with long walks, so we are bringing her walker. But our excursions are both on boats, so there won't be any problems there. We booked the Tracy Arm Inlet for the Juneau stretch, and salmon fishing in Ketchikan. She is an avid fisher and I like it well enough to join her. We are also looking forward to the sightings of wildlife on sea, air and land. I'm already planning my packing list and have added all three spots to my weather app. Let's hope for some of the gorgeous weather the spring cruisers had! I'm coming prepared, though, because I gather August is the rainy season. And that's all I have for now. One month and seventeen days to go!

Cats was the very first live production I ever went to that was not ballet or classical opera. I LOVED IT. It opened my mind to the pure joy of Broadway shows. Awesome. I still love opera and ballet but I also love so much more! It's like when I saw Wicked at Gershwin. Some magic happens and it stays with you. So count me in your crowd.

I have to agree with Victoriaj for sure. The skytrain is wheelchair accessible and the route goes close to the port, but the crowds can be crushing and the doors move fast for someone hauling luggage and assisting with a wheelchair. If the wheelchair is powered or is streamlined for activity, it would be a good option, I think. Lots of people take the skytrain with luggage but I personally only take it if I have a small amount. Good luck!

August 3 Zuiderdam 7 day inside passage to Alaska from Vancouver and I can't wait!

The photo of you two under the umbrella at Neptune's statute is my favourite so far. It says everything with the joy in your faces: rain or shine. Thank you for sharing this awesome voyage through thick and thin!

Yes! They're the best. Especially a pickled Caesar (my daughter, who make the BEST Caesars, introduced me to them). They are all of the above plus pickle juice.

What an excellent plan! I was confused by the 163 but now I see!

For my part, seeing their unexpected UK vacation makes me want to add a land trip in the not too distant future! It looked like an awesome holiday.

Yay for the job! Blasted covid has hit us everywhere... and I think the ends of the hair look very nice

You aren't off base. Your base involves a blow dryer that thaws locks. People who usually use the red carpet treatment use hair dryers to dry their hair. For you, it's an uncomfortable time in a chair. For them, it's a divine pampering that they don't have to do themselves. I used to have to blow dry my hair every day to look professional. My covid cut involves greying out and growing out. No more hair dryer. But last winter was cold so I keep the hair dryer in case the locks freeze... I venture to say the red carpet treatment is probably pretty common across ships but the stylist/consultant makes the same service seem different.