Ladyaruba

Is there a certain number of days before your cruise in which to order packages and/or excursions? I tried but nothing happened!ours isn't till June.

I am logged in to HAL

can you get Tanguery with the Signature drink package on The Noordam?

All it says is drinks up to $9

Other than soda, I pack the others for every trip we take. I have a "cosmetic bag" that opens up to pack flat and also hangs. I included some otc meds, bandaids, eye glass repair kit, sewing kit, laundry soap packets, febreeze, deodorants, toothpaste/brush, etc.

I don't bring a power strip but do have a charger with 5 openings so I just bring the cords to my electronics. Large plastic bags for dirty clothes or wet items.

we are flying into Fairbanks(from Boston thru Minneapolis) for a 12 day trip ending up cruising into Vancouver. Flying back thru Minneapolis and then Boston.

Where do we go thru customs?

Canadian in Vancouver? US in Minneapolis?

Thanks in adavance

June 10-18 2018 Noordam

Alaska cruise- Seward to Vancouver

1st ever cruise!

Where does one buy a bottle to keep in the cabin? Is there a website that shows prices? Thanks.

HAL site after you book.

Okay, thanks. Makes more sense to me now. May just keep both with us on land portion but will cross pack as usual!

Taking our first cruise in June 2018 to Alaska. 4 day land trip then 7 day cruise starting in Fairbanks, ending in Vancouver.

I have asked lots of questions on Cruise Critic and received very helpful answers, tips and other information.Thanks to all!

The only thing that confuses me is luggage/luggage tags.

Hubby and I are each bringing one rolling suitcase and 1 carry on.

His carryon converts to a backpack and I may just bring a small back pack also to use at ports. Because we do travel, I know what to put in the carryons(just in case) so for Alaska, I just need to add a few different things.

My problem is that I read about some luggage going with you and other luggage going to the ship and you need separate tags? Does this mean we don't see our luggage until we get to our suite on the ship?

Not sure about the 50 but I have a Canon SX and it takes good photos. If you are OK with techie stuff, or have a youngster who could assist, have a look at http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

 

This is not for the faint hearted as a lot of the stuff is "geek speak". However it is worth the effort as it enable your camera to save in RAW as well as JPEG. So what you say? Well all digital cameras shoot in RAW but only the expensive ones let you save in RAW. RAW has bit depth of 12, JPEG only has a bit depth of 8, (more geek speak). It doesn't matter what this means, the important thing is that there is more information (quality) in a RAW image than a JPEG. Certain assumptions and compromises are made when the camera converts from RAW to JPEG, and since camera makers know what they are doing this is usually pretty good. However a skilled photographer using Photoshop can often do better. There are sliders that you can adjust on the raw converter which enable you to bring out the best. However it takes a while to develop Photoshop skills but the important thing is to have RAW available when you take the photos, you can't add it later. Photoshop is pricey but you can get Photoshop Elements at a reasonable price or Photoshop CS2 for free. I won't go into this further as it is getting off topic and should have its own thread to take further.

 

If all this is too daunting just shoot in auto as GUT2407 said. Have a look through the scenes sub menu to see if there is one for snow scenes. In the arctic you will be more affected by Ultra Violet light which can give a blue cast. I am not sure you can put a UV filter on this camera, but the blue cast is appropriate for the arctic anyway as it makes the picture look cold. There is a scene mode on my camera for "shooting through glass" which compensates for the loss of contrast, useful if take pictures from the coach on an excursion (get close to the window to reduce reflections)

Thanks. I did take a photography class years ago and do understand about RAW. I do know you can only get a certain amount of photos when using RAW versus other settings. I do have a bunch of cards so I should be good.

Will check out the link and also look at what scenes I have on the camera. I also have Photoshop Elements!

this is the camera I use.

What would be the best settings for taking wildlife pics on an Alaska cruise?

I usually just put it on auto but do fool around at times. I would like to get some good pics to make into larger prints and also get some close ups!

Specifics would be good. Thanks

Thanks for the responses! Not too worried about the noise though.

I think we should be okay with our cabin location and my Dr says she will give me pills just in case I may need them.

I received laundry information yesterday 9.19.17 for Noordam......

For our 15 day cruise it is $105 ($7 per day/stateroom)

 

Otherwise they have a $20 / bag charge.

Glad to know, just in case!

This is our first ever cruise so just a little concerned.

Have only gotten sea sick twice in my lifetime(66 years) and that was on a small sailboat and then a catamaran. Neither were moving, just wallowing around.

Under sail, I was fine!

Heard that this trip from Seward to Vancouver is in pretty calm waters.

My feelings exactly - move to under the carpeted area. I like deck 8 just aft of the mid-ship elevators (but not right next to the elevators). Quiet from above and easy access to other decks and one quick flight of stairs to the Lido Buffet for a coffee or snack.

Thanks

Hubby will sleep thru anything and I wear earplugs because he snores!

We should be okay!

we are booked on the Noordam, navigation deck, midship, balcony room 8058 for our June 2018 Alaska cruise.

Should we be lower on the ship so as to avoid motion or will we be okay?

We went to Alaska this past August and the best thing I did was waterproof jackets and shoes. It rained almost every day, at least part of the day, and having waterproof shoes and windbreakers saved our trip. We just put on our jackets, pulled up the hoods and away we went. Alaska gets a lot more rain then I thought it did.

Is there a way to waterproof shoes you all ready have? A spray maybe?

Thinking of sneakers for ports but might be better getting small waterproof hiking shoes.

We are going on our first cruise(Alaska) in 2018 and I appreciate all the packing tips.

My tip-

Invest in a charger that will charge a bunch of electronics at the same time. All I need is the smaller cords for phones and iPads and it all fits in a little case. Only one plug needed.

We are each bringing a rolly suitcase and a backpack. One backpack is really a carryon the converts to a backpack.

Seeing as how we are doing a 4 day land trip before the cruise, I figure these will come in handy. I also bring some type of small bags to keep electronics, paperwork, pills, etc all separate so they are easier to find in my backpack.

I always bring a change of clothes, bathing suit, flip flops in a carry on just in case luggage gets lost. This will be our first colder climate trip so I will have to rethink the carryon contents to add dinner attire and jacket/vest.

I also split our clothes between the suitcases so we each have some in both Suitcases

Thank you Scott! Going next June, can't wait!

My meal plan was $299 for three days plus one breakfast and minus one lunch. For simplicity sake, that means $100/day. The biggest steak on the Canyon Steak House restaurant is $49 and $9 salad. Desserts were $9 - $15 for a maximum supper charge of $73. Breakfast buffet $14.95 and $15 box lunch (or train lunch with dessert) is about $100/day.

 

Eating a smaller steak/healthier choice could save $20 each supper and skipping the dessert saves another $9. For three days that is an approximate savings of $100 off the meal plan price that I paid. For a family of 3, the $300 could be spent on something else.

 

As i reflect on the plan, it was the same as going to a high-priced buffet in Las Vegas. To get your moneys worth, you would have to stuff yourself.

 

Convenient - YES but cost effective - NO.

Thanks for clarifying. I get what you are saying.

Thectwo of us are getting 4 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners for $349 PP

A little pricey but because this is our first ever trip like this, I went for convenience.

Meal Plan restaurants in Denali are Karsten's and the Canyon Steak House. Here is a link to my McKinley Lodge photographs that include the menus.

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/place/alaska-2/denali/mckinley-lodge/nggallery/page/3

 

In Anchorage the meal plan was only for some of the restaurants in the Captain Cook Hotel.

 

The meal plan is good if you are not watching your weight and also a desert lover since that is the only way it is cost effective.

 

The food at the Canyon Steakhouse is amazing.

Not sure what you mean

"if you are not watching your weight and also a dessert lover since that is the only way it is cost effective"

we will have 4 days on land before our cruise and we added on the meal package so as not to have to,worry about where to have meals.

We start in Faibanks, Denali, Anchorage and end up in Seward to get thevship.

Anyone have experience with this meal plan?

Are the restaurants at the hotel itself or for example, at Denali there are numerous restaurants near our lodging.

Thanks for any info.

A few questions for a first timer. Going on the Noordam to Alaska next June

1. Is there a minibar in your room? If yes, how does that work?

2. Can you bring a travel mug and get coffee to go?

3. Can you get a nightcap and take it back to your room?

Thanks! If only one of us could get the package it would be worth it.

Think the card will be the best way to go for us.

Did some calculating and looks like hubby would certainly benefit from the package! He loves bloody Mary's in the morning!

I think we may just go ahead and then not have to worry about it.

Might give me the opportunity to try something new(lattes maybe) 😄

That is the tour we just completed. I will await your riverboat tour observations, being on the younger side of passengers. It set a bad start for my husband for the trip. He hated absolutely everything about it. I thought it was bad but wasn't as upset about it as he was.

May I ask what was so bad about it?

Thank you for your trip reports and photos!

We will be doing this trip(minus 1 day in Denali) June 2018.

Can't wait. First cruise and first Alaska trip!