GORDONCHICK

I'm interested in doing the tea excursion in Victoria.  It's in the evening so I'm wondering if it's different than the afternoon teas they do everyday but not for cruise passengers?  Does anyone know?  I don't mind paying $100 for tea if it's the full experience.

I remember staying at the Waterfront Marriot in 2007.  It was only $160, which was a lot for us back then.  I just looked and it's now $460 a night.  It's insane.

We were big fans of the Blue Horizon.  We had a Q/Q superior room and it was massive.  We walked all over plus used the HOHO bus.

Flights out of Anchorage are usually late - like 9pm or later.

First - you said it's the kids' first cruise - so they won't know any different.  My son was fine on the Sun in 2015, where he would have been 14 and far from his first cruise.  But it really depends on your kids.  Mine has always been happy in the kids' program, even the teen one when that applied.  A 9 night cruise with 5-6 port days should be fine.  Unless they plan on swimming.  The pool will be cold though the hot tubs will be fine.  We've done almost 20 with our son (now 22) and honestly, he was harder once he was 18.

9 minutes ago, Go2SeaTheWorld said:

We've booked the 11 day Epic from Haifa to Rome starting on Nov. 19th, so I had been wondering about the holiday acknowledgement, too. Really wasn't expecting it because of the Itinerary, but will be interesting to see what happens!

Their cruise ends in the US so they have a better chance of Thanksgiving, but you could see some as well.

3 hours ago, zackarykeef said:

I've only been to Alaska in June/July, so can't comment on October. I am sailing on Encore this coming October, but mainly for points to get to Sapphire. I just was on the Crown Princess this summer and had beautiful weather. This October will be a solo trip solely to relax and escape the Florida heat, as prices are super cheap right now.

 

However, as for the air...I feel the NCL air is a good deal for international flights. However, I don't think it is for domestic. With the BOGO promotion once for Alaska, I was quote $800 Miami to Seattle. When I looked on my own, non-stop roundtrip was $250 each. I wasn't going to pay $300 more for flights out of my control that may or may not have a connection.

 

Same thing when I was looking at flights for my January Viva sailing. Quoted BOGO for $700. Nonstop roundtrip from MIA to SJU is under $200 for multiple flights throughout the day...definitely not a deal.

I think it depends on EXACTLY where you're flying out of.  The BOGO air is always much cheaper than we can book but they can never accommodate us for before and after stays.  For example, our upcoming cruise has us disembarking in Quebec City.  We want to spend 2 extra days in Quebec City.  Sounds, doable, right?  It's not.  They want to ship us off to Montreal, us stay there for 2 days and fly from there.  The Quebec City airport is very small and most people will fly out of Montreal.  But we altered our trip a it and are flying from Quebec City to Boston, then spending a week in Maine (much cheaper to fly to Boston and rent a car there than flying to Portland, ME and renting a car there).

So for where we live, NCL BOGO air would be way less expensive almost every single time - if we can get the dates and places right.

We've cruised over several Thanksgivings with NCL - because it's my birthday week and a week our son was out of school.  There was alway turkey, dressing, and the usual sides.  There were also other options.  I've never been a huge turkey fan (until I spatchcocked one last year - that was delicious and JUICY!) so I would always get something else but DH is like a moth to the flame with turkey.

I think sailing FROM the US will help with having a bit more Thanksgiving, but there are very few decorations and the oens that were up were a tad tacky, IMO.  But I have no doubt someone would have complained if there had been none.

20 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Large groups doing partial charters can have exclusive use of any area at any time they're willing to pay for.  These costs are negotiable with the cruise line.  For example, if a group wants the exclusive use of a specific dining area, specialty or mdr, that can be negotiated and the cost included in their fare.  Same for entertainment areas.  Or observation areas.  This usage may be limited to certain times or days or include the entire cruise.  If they want it and they're willing to pay, they can get it.

AND those costs are passed on to those cruising...

9 hours ago, Travelling2Some said:

Celebrity repeatedly closed different venues for a theme/charter group on a cruise we were on.  By coincidence, this group's main speaker/leader turned out to be an old friend of ours.  We were astonished to learn what folks in the group were paying.  The same cruise was costing them nearly 3 times what we paid!

That's because the price they are paying includes their cabin, the cost fo the spaces they've rented out and the cost of cabins for any of the speakers and leaders.  That happens on a charter, too, but this wasn't that.  A charter charters the entire ship.  If you don't book though/with the group, you can't go.  But large groups that don't have enough people to cover the cost of a charter just book as a large group.  They don't have the run of the ship but it can certainly feel like it!

9/22 is a Friday, so I say this isn't a wise flight time choice.  If it were a Sunday, sure, because there's way less traffic.  Pier 66 is a one ship terminal, but it's a crowded and tricky area.  For that date, I would shoot for 12:30pm or later from SeaTac.  Or spend the night across the street at the Waterfront Marriott and head out the next morning.

3 hours ago, MeHeartCruising said:

I think I would do the December cruise.  Weather differences between the 2 are going to be minimal.  The first cruise is over the US Thanksgiving Holiday and that could mean more children on board.  Mazatlan is a decent port, but nothing special. 

It's too long of a cruise to have that many children on board unless they are not school-aged children.  If that's the case, they can be on board at any time.

IMO, a one-way is always the better option.  Better yet if you can spend a few days in AK on your own.  We did this in 2015.  Added 9 more days to the trip.  We took the bus excursion to the airport that included a stop at a wonderful wildlife park.  All the flights leave in the evening, and usually late evening.  We picked up our rental car at the airport and off we went.  Had a blast!  If you can take the extra time, you absolutely won't regret it.

21 minutes ago, barb in ga said:

Gordonchick--Are you on the NYC to Quebec City itinerary? Do you see any difference between port or starboard for view? I'm sure it may vary, but just looking for an idea.

Barb

Yes, on that specific cruise.  I chose port because I want a view of the land, which we will have most of the time on both sides..  The statue of Liberty will be starboard though.

1 hour ago, barb in ga said:

We're looking at the  Sept 4-13 9 day NY to Quebec in either a Club balcony suite (only GTY's avail)

or the  Family Club Balcony Suite if it's a little bigger.  

Barb

 

We are actually on this cruise.  If you look at the itinerary, there's not much time on the ship.  The only "sea" day is at the very end - the day before docking in Quebec City for the overnight stay.  Besides the overnight, the night in Boston is until 9:30, 2 stops have us leaving at either 7 or 7:30.  My suggestion, since you don't drink a lot of alcohol is to opt out of the alcohol package, save the $300+ in service charges and just buy your nightly drink.

We also really like X but we were okay with MSC Seaside.

All the newer ships are kind of built with the same or very similar footprint.  You might want to check out one of the newer RCCL ships, though I'm not really familiar with their teen program.  But cool ships with a lot of different stuff.

15 hours ago, bstreep said:

No.  Way!!!!   She's fantastic.  Can't wait to see her again.  Anyone know:  Can we bring her flowers or some other gift? 

You can definitely bring a gift as long as it's anything a passenger is allowed to bring on board.

56 minutes ago, tokidoki said:

If I take the Encore, then does anyone get off the ship Sat nite for the 4 hour stop?

It depends.  We took the shuttle into town bu it was late and most shops were closed.  Going to Butchart Garden on a tour is great if the weather is good and the time of year.

5 hours ago, tokidoki said:

concerned if we fly and cruise the same day, that we wont  fly non stop.  Going home to JFK I dont mind.  

IMO, you should always fly with at least a 1 day deviation!  Especially the way flights are going these day.

It's cheap because it's the very end of the season.  Even some excursions won't be available and some shops may have close up at that point, though the ones that are open would be having huge sales on everything.  Car rentals in Skagway would be slim if any.  I don't know the Encore's itinerary, but seeing glaciers from the ship may not happen and more rain than normal is to be expected in October.  Ketchikan, you can almost bet a lot of money that it will be raining since that's part of the rainforest.  If you've not been to AK before, I certainly would not recommend a cruise in October.  If it's cheap, I'd do it for my husband just to get him to shut up about it.  We've been 3 times, but if money was no object and he had his choice, we'd go every year!

15 minutes ago, quack2 said:

I'm not sure my heart and arteries like that idea.

Then pork belly may not be for you.  No one said it was healthy, lol.

All of these are great options and I'm checking into them!

Just now, schmoopie17 said:

Unfortunately Mrs. Schmoopie fractured her leg Saturday night and will be having surgery Wednesday and be incapacitated for a while. I thought maybe I could find it, so I asked her where it might be and she said, "it will take some digging."

So...it will be awhile and not exactly a top priority at the moment. Sorry...

I'm so sorry for you both.  She will be in my prayers for surgery to go great and speedy healing!

On 6/28/2023 at 10:47 AM, schmoopie17 said:

Mrs. Schmoopie has it stashed away someplace. I'll try to locate it...especially now that I really want some.

I really need Mrs. Schmoopie to get on the ball with that recipe, pretty please?

37 minutes ago, SoloAlaska said:

Flatter by Soak makes an un scented version.

So much easier to travel with an empty bottle and fill it when you need it and dump it when you’re ready to go.  Plus, fewer chemicals.  But you do you and I’ll do me.  This has worked for more than 30 years (longer than I’ve been cruising😄).