ChemistBabe

Our flight home doesn't leave until 3:45.

Rather than spending WAY too much time in the airport, we would love recommendations for transfers that include some sort of excursion.

Alternatively, do Princess transfers drop us off someplace where we can leave luggage and explore downtown Anchorage?  What would a family of 4 (two adults, two bigger kids) do for half a day or so in Anchorage?

Thanks!

We disembark from Whittier (Princess cruise line), but our flight home isn't until 3:45 that afternoon.

I'd love a recommendation for what to do in the meantime!

Family of 4, two adults, two active children.

We will need some sort of transportation included.

Thanks!

6 minutes ago, david63 said:

Surely the simple answer is to open reservations at a time when all passengers are onboard

Then you just get a gigantic line all around the ship, with people fighting to get on as soon as possible so they can reserve their place in line.

(Remember when Southwest didn't have ABC, but you just arrived at the airport and got in line and stayed there.)

When looking through old Patters, how can I tell which activities are complementary, vs. have an upcharge?

Thanks!

54 minutes ago, memoak said:

What kids don’t have long pants ?

 

Honestly, California kids don't wear long pants.

 

True story!

My kid wears shorts to school EVERY DAY.  Including winter, when he is wearing a sweatshirt (not a jacket, a sweatshirt.)

 

For the last family wedding he wore knee length khaki shorts, a button down shirt and bow-tie.  He looked adorable (and vaguely British royalty.).  

 

3 minutes ago, alessia2050 said:

Hey,
I know I might be a bit late.

I wrote an article on Cruise Critic giving tips for trans passengers:

Tips for Trans Cruisers - Cruise Critic

Also this is the statement from Princess press office:

'Regarding the Medallion itself, it is an official identifier that has to match a guest’s passport for security purposes. 

 

Within the profile guests can select the preferred name that appears on public displays, portals and crew’s tablets.'

I will update you when I go on Sky Princess in one month. (I am trans myself and I will monitor how it works and what happens etc) 

Let me know if you have any other questions. 

 

Thank you for your help!  I'd love to hear how it goes.  

 

My little guy (8) has no long pants that aren't sweat pants.  (He barely squeezed into his old dress pants at Christmas and has grown since then.)

He has several pairs of khaki shorts that he wears with polo shirts.

Are nice shorts on children still a no-no in the MDR?

(Ironically this is my child that wore a 3 piece suit for his first day of Zoom school.)

On 3/2/2023 at 4:05 PM, warren buffet said:

why would someone pay 17 dollars a day when you can get it from a bar for 2 dollars per 12 oz. it makes zero sense to do so

We are getting the soda package for our kids (10 and 15) so they can get drinks as they wish without giving them charging privileges!

On our Disney cruises, the kids enjoyed mocktails and I know they will enjoy smoothies.  I makes it easier for us (and more fun for them) if they can have "everything included".

I'm hoping I made the right choice!!

We are a family of 4, who loved both our Disney cruises.  My kids have (mostly) outgrown the characters.  Their favorite activities in the past were hanging out in the pool watching movies.  We love the Disney magic on the ship, the shows, the family activities...

We chose Princess for Alaska because we don't like the Disney prices (Princess is literally have the price of Disney for a similar balcony mini-suite) and for Glacier Bay. 

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the kids (10 and 15) have enough shipboard activities to keep them happy

I believe the mini-suites have BOTH a bed that comes out of the ceiling AND the sofa bed that flips out.  (We are staying in one this summer, and I know we have beds for both our children.)

And by the way, there is free room service, period.  Doesn't matter what class room.

We are buying our kids soda packages. 

I am very not comfortable breaking the rules and sharing with them.

I like being able to tell them they can have anything they want that is included and letting them choose.  (That way I don't have to worry about what they are spending, they get mocktails when they want them, etc.)

I'm glad to hear that my regular gratuity takes care drinks/food on the go!

(If I have tip money available, I am happy to tip more.  I generally don't carry cash and my kid definitely doesn't!)

Personally, I hate the tipping system and wish it were abolished in favor of higher wages.  (Especially since the tipping system is rooted in racism.). However, I certainly want to fairly compensate the crew who work hard to take care of us.

When we sailed Disney in the past and ordered room service, I had a pile of bills handy to tip.

How does it work if we are out and about, say on the pool deck?

My kids will have a drink package, so their tips are included, correct?

What if they order food?  (They won't have the ability to charge to their medallion.)

Thanks!

(Not interested in hearing from people who claim that stiffing the staff is an okay choice.  I'm just trying to understand how to tip properly.)

I booked two different cruises next summer, and I'm ready to cancel the one with the dates we don't need.

HOW do I do that?

Thanks!

2 hours ago, fleeflicker said:

Yeah I am confused too. It’s says smoothies and juices are something new. I thought it was already included in the plus package 

I thought the same thing!

Our Plus Beverage Package includes the classics: sodas, specialty coffees and teas, cocktails, wine and beer up to $12 each. Even hot chocolate, smoothies and water to go. Whatever you want – with tips included!

16 minutes ago, cruzsnooze said:

You can adjust them either way, up or down, I usually reduce them but never remove them .

I just don't understand.

Its one thing to deprive hard working staff of their pay.  (Because in this situation, tips are really part of their pay.)

But why on earth would you brag about being to cheap to not pay the people who take care of you on vacation??

For those who don't believe in full tipping...

Did you know that tipping in this county is directly descended the post-Civil war era when the Pullman company hired former slaves to be porters and not have to fully pay them.??

https://www.npr.org/2021/03/22/980047710/the-land-of-the-fee

Thanks everyone!

My two cents...  We have done two Disney cruises to the Caribbean and loved them.  We enjoy the characters, the aqua duck water slide, hanging out in the pool watching Disney movies on the movie screen...

We are planning to go to Alaska next summer with Princess ONLY because of Glacier Bay.  Well, that and its half the price for a similar room.

As for the food...  I truly wish my younger one would expand his palate.  Unfortunately, he is the child that will eat a very limited menu of food prepared the way he likes it.  I love that my older child can order off adult menus and eat happily, but I'm equally glad that ships have a lowest common denominator children's menu so my little one can eat.  I would honestly NOT go on a ship that didn't take care of my picky little child.

How much is BINGO and can my kids come and play?

(They like to play on Disney cruises, the adult has to buy the cards and "win", but they are still welcome.)

Thank's for your help everyone, I really appreciate it.

I'm glad to hear that at a minimum that I can set her "preferred name" to her preferred name!!

I have a transgender teen.

She is not thrilled about traveling under a passport with her "dead name" on it, but we can't get a new passport easily enough to travel in time.

I know the Medallions have the passengers name engraved.  Does anyone know if it is possible to get my child's preferred name on her medallion, or does it have to be her legal name??  She will be really unhappy about having her "dead name" on the medallion, and will be very unhappy to be addressed as such all week!

Thanks!

Our cruise ends in Whittier, which means we need to transit to Anchorage.

It sounds like EZAir WILL sell us flights that aren't actually feasible.  Is that correct??

(We've never bought flights through Disney, but they won't sell flights that are too early.)

I was looking at flights on EZAir for our Alaskan cruise next summer.

The 11:15 return time really looks best for us.  (Best connection time, work in the morning, etc.)

However, it seems like tight timing.

If we book flights through Princess AND transfers through Princess, does that set us up for success? 

Would EZ Air present to us flight times that were too early??  

(Of course, looking at flights this far from the trip just means that the flights will get changed anyway.)

Thank you!

Thank you everyone!