AKJonesy

There are only 2 specialty restaurants on Oosterdam; Pinnacle and Canaletto right?

Here is the website we use and make sure to check the HOURLY forecast model: https://www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast

Consider an RV rental for your family. I just can't imagine having kids on a bus for that long. Trust me, RV rental is a very popular option and your family would probably like the flexibility of stopping at places that would also interest your kids. I'd stick to the Kenai Peninsula instead of driving up to the park which is a lot of driving to and from Anchorage since you are limiting your time to 4 days. You can access the Kenai Peninsula quickly from Anchorage and start the adventure immediately. IMHO.

You said 3-4 day pre cruise tour and not sure if you mean that you will take the pre-cruise tour with the cruise line. Yea, I get it; they take the hassle out of the planning and get you from point A to B, but I'm just going to throw another option at you here and that would be to rent an RV (size depending on number of people). That way you can stop where you want, when you want and don't have to deal with all of the other people that will be on the bus. It's just a consideration for thought and many people do this when landing in Anchorage. If you do consider it, I know a bunch of people will say go to Denali National Park, but you can't do it all of 3-4 days. Instead, I would head down to the Kenai Peninsula which will offer a great variety of things to do. Regardless of what you do, you will enjoy your trip.

Here are some links: (See my original post #1) https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g31007-d1906344-Reviews-49th_State_Brewing-Healy_Denali_National_Park_and_Preserve_Alaska.html https://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm https://www.airbnb.com/s/Fairbanks--Alaska--United-States/homes?tab_id=home_tab&refinement_paths[]=%2Fhomes&flexible_trip_lengths[]=one_week&monthly_start_date=2023-08-01&monthly_length=3&price_filter_input_type=0&price_filter_num_nights=5&channel=EXPLORE&query=Fairbanks%2C AK&place_id=ChIJqWX9Z09FMlEROvf-CeAF2LM&date_picker_type=calendar&source=structured_search_input_header&search_type=autocomplete_click https://www.alaska.org/advice/alaska-railroad-schedule https://www.morristhompsoncenter.org/ https://chenahotsprings.com/ You can also get around on the bus in Fairbanks which has a pretty extensive system. https://northernalaska.com/tours/arctic-circle https://hoodoobrew.com/ https://www.uaf.edu/museum/

You can take the ship transfer to Anchorage. Renting a car in Anchorage with a one way drop I imagine is going to be incredibly expensive. Alaska Air has mulitple flights per day to FAI from ANC and the trick here is to book in advance. I didn't know when you are coming, so I could not look up a price for you, but regardless, it's probably going to be less than the car rental in ANC which have been insane. You COULD take the train which would be nice, but it will be a very long day and you will still have some logistical issues to then get from DNP to FAI, and it's going to be very expensive. So, I think you should stick to your idea of flying to FAI renting a car and drive down to the park. You could make that a day trip out of FAI or try and secure an accommodation in Healy or surrounding. Keep in mind you DONT have to stay in a hotel and might secure an Airbnb which is what we do when we are up in FAI. In DNP you can do something on your own like do the hike that is right by the Visitor's Center or you can get on the bus into the park. You can drive in part way, but cars are NOT allowed past a particular point. Also, make sure to check on the rental car to see if you can go on gravel roads because it's easy to break the windshield here! Another day trip would be to drive up to the Arctic Circle. So to me it's not about the sign and getting the certificate, but the drive is beautiful and rugged and most people won't do this trip. I consider this off the beaten track and maybe this would be a nice day trip for you. I'm not sure because I don't know your interests. You don't have to do the driving yourself; there are a few tours from Fairbanks going there and back each day. There is plenty to do around FAI for a few days depending on your interest. You can also look at top things to do in FAI on T Advisor for some ideas. If you go to DNP stop in Healy at 49th State Brewing (Restaurant).

WE had a pretty late PM arrival into ISP (6pm to 10pm) on our cruise and everything was open.

Visitors should go to 511.alaska.gov for road information around our states which includes web cams, closures, road repairs, incidents and more to not only get all of this information but a realistic idea of how much time it will take to get from point A to point B. https://511.alaska.gov/

@Grandmama Wad Well sadly you are not getting a lot of advice and I think people misinterpreted your request of advice to include negativity. Sorry about that. The views will be amazing and you're probably NOT going on a cruise to go shopping anyway. Of course you are going to miss some things due to this very late sailing. Enjoy the scenery and enjoy your cruise. That's the best advice I can offer.

A few places are making noise including Juneau and Key West. Of course those in Juneau making the noise are those with secure govt jobs and not those depending on tourism.

The RV company that @Northern Aurora mentioned is Cruise America. I'm not sure why you would want to do the drive unless you have some reason to see the Alcan, etc. Plus, I think one way rentals are pretty expensive. It's going to be expensive anyway, but I think more so one way. My advice having driven the ALCAN 4 x is that places are few and far between and a trip around Alaska might be more enjoyable IMHO then fly back out of Fairbanks or Anchorage. But, if that is what you are set on then I'd start checking first on one way prices for the RV. Those AK repositions would probably be the best bet but you have to keep your eye on them because they go quick.

Upvote #18.

I'm shocked. People are getting different stories from HAL? LOL. At the conclusion of my upcoming Nov 2023 trip, we will attain 4 star. The next day, we sail on B2B and the first day of the voyage will be day 201. I WILL go to the front desk on the first voyage and tell them exactly what I was told and to expedite the status for the next voyage. It's a 17 day voyage, and it should not take that long, but that's my plan. If I remember, I'll report back and tag you.

I think you are in great shape in 1907. You don't have any noise around you and actually you are pretty far forward from the propellers, vibration, etc.

I've noticed clean up in the Lido is fairly early in the evening. I don't think they move and stack chairs everyday. I seem to recall they do that about once per week, but when I noticed it, they do start early when people start going to dinner. That didn't mean the pool was closed; they were just prepping to clean the floor.

I'd move if I were you. It's the bass vibration that will make it even unenjoyable to watch tv. It goes on pretty late, but can't say for sure the time.

Someone mentioned on another thread a great price for Transatlantic Repositioning from Rome to Ft. Lauderdale. I'm showing about $1300 all in for OV which works out to be in the $90 per day all in. The downside and likely great price is the voyage departs Nov 26; 3 days after Thanksgiving! I was really tempted until I saw the date. No way am I going to try and travel on or around Thanksgiving.

I hurt my back on a voyage and we popped over to CVS at the port in Key West. I had to put it on the scanner and never even thought that it would not be allowed. That was many years ago. I still bring it with me on every voyage. I want all of my comforts, supplements, potential medicines, etc when I travel...just in case.

I had my hip replaced almost two years ago and it's hard to sleep on that side without something to soften the mattress. I think a good idea as some have said is to ask the cabin stewards for an extra duvet that can be put under the bottom sheet. I do bring one of those foam egg carton type mattress toppers and put it in checked luggage; in this case, inside of a plastic contractor bag and then inside of a duffle bag. I also bring a heating pad, but you could bring a hot water bottle even though they are heavier. It could be worth it...idk, for you to pay the extra luggage fee and just buy and bring a mattress topper with you. In the end, that might be worth it and not have to worry about it showing up through customs and all. I guess some people don't understand that when you have osteoarthritis in your hips how uncomfortable it can be. The mattress might be comfortable, but the bones hips still don't like it. Bring your creature comforts; it makes all the difference.

I just booked a B2B from FLL to Buenos Aires. The first voyage leaves from FLL and goes to Santiago (South America). Then the next voyage leaves from Santiago and goes around SA to Buenos Aires where it ends for us. It's a total of 31 days, but for some reason booking the B2B was cheaper. I'm using a popular discount cruise broker. I can either book directly online or I call; which is what I always do and let the TA do the booking on HAL for me. We can't link you to these sites, so you will have to find them. But, the two that I use allow me to look at the ships, cheapest categories; that is, cheapest inside, cheapest oceanview, cheapest balcony, etc. I can also look at the stateroom availability and choose the stateroom so that I don't end up in a horrible place next to the music walk at night or under the world stage, etc.

A couple of questions regarding upgrades: 1. You mentioned emails that you get from HAL. I don't book through HAL but through my Mariner status I do get promotions in the mail. For these upgrade offers, do you get some kind of special email? If so, how do I sign up? I was going to try and do a paid upgrade once, but it happened right when covid started so I never got to execute on that and I don't remember how I was going about it. 2. Let's say I have an OV and I want to upgrade to a Balcony, or I have a balcony and I want to upgrade to a suite, are you saying your target price for the paid upgrade is about a 67% of the established fare. I'd like to do this at least once as a surprise to my husband but I'm not sure how and when to go for it. Thanks.

I've never paid for an upgrade and I'd like to ask you how that works. If you booked the Oceanview originally, then you paid for the upgrade to balcony, did you pay the established price, or did you receive some kind of discount for upgrading after your original booking?

I admit I have not read all of the posts. So, sorry if my suggestion has already been mentioned. Have you joined your Roll Call for your voyage? I have a 31 day voyage in November and there are already 3 private excursions planned with fellow passenger in groups of 8. Someone normally takes the lead on organizing then provides all of the information on the roll call. It's nice when someone else has a lot of experience doing this and/or has taken the time to do the research. I know when I have taken the lead on excursions I look for strong reviews from other cruise passengers. In my near 200 cruise days, I think I've only joined a cruise ship excursion 2-3 times.

Excellent advice here from these posters.

We book through cruise discount agent. We can't make suggestions to you but you will find them on google, etc. I've been using same on line cruise discount broker/agent for at least 10 years. I pick the room I want w/o an upcharge which seems to be what some of the cruise lines are doing now. Only once in near 200 cruise days has the cruise line beat the price. I book my own airfare so I can't speak to that. IMHO and personally, I don't see need for someone else to book my airfare. I know some people talk about if airline is delayed and if booking through cruise line, they are going to wait for you or make arrangements. This can serve as a great piece of mind. For me; I admit it's a bit different. My husband and I usually fly down to the states for at least several days in advance of any cruise as a pre-cruise add on for us and not just fly to get to the cruise itself. Do some comparison shopping. I just saved $1800 on our upcoming cruise fare by booking through the cruise discount broker vs the cruise line.