GORDONCHICK

You'd still see snow in many places - depending on the weather that year. To me, Hubbard is jaw-dropping - when you can get in to see it. Glacier Bay is cool, lots of wildlife. But that early, there will likely be a lot of ice in the water so the ships won't get as close. In Skagway, I would recommend Chilkoot Tours for the Yukon rail & bus tour. It's pretty cool! Ketchikan is a great place to buy inexpensive rain jackets - and you may need them. There are several places by the pier. We usually ended up at the Tongass Trading Company. It's especially great if it's your first stop

It's too early to get in to see Hubbard. Between ice and fog, the chances of seeing it are incredibly small. Though we heard it (and that was the last week in May). For off-season AK cruising, try the beginning of September. You will get in to see Hubbard. And there are lots of sales on stuff if you are into the shopping part. We always do whale watching in Juneau with Harv & Marv's. Smaller boats than the cruise line sponsored excursions for sure. We are partial to the 6 passenger ones but they also had 12 and 20. Depends on how many from your ship books with them as to how big of a boat you'd be on. As far as getting close to Hubbard, that late in the season the ships can get in pretty close. Exactly how close will be up to the captain.

This is true with any specialty restaurant.

Yikes! What if you don't like it?

I don't think "typical" exists. I think it depends more on the itinerary and the homeport than the ship specifically.

I've also been known to order a plate of steamed veggies in the MDR to go with my entree. I try to do a big salad at lunch but know I need more veggies with dinner and this has never been a problem.

I've taken dessert to go from both specialty and MDR - though never ice cream. Sometimes I'm just too full at that time and will eat it later in the evening. I will warn - creme brulee isn't even close to as good later so by gosh, I will force most of that puppy down!

Absolutely. They can also do it in a specialty but you will be charged for it. Or at least be prepared to be charged for it.

It's the same kid's menu for the entire ship. That's why I suggest giving the kids some off your (the parents' plates) along with a kids' meal.

When my son was little, he ate off my plate plus a kid's meal. That kid loves steak and seafood. He's 22 now and has loved trying all kinds of food - and a lot of that was on cruises. He found he loved crab legs, escargot and mussels on cruises. Sadly, you won't see crab legs anymore unless you're on a top tier line. I can't remember if he first had lobster on a cruise or not.

If you each had your own cabin, sure. We have 300 shares (don't know why hubby bought that amount but he did). Still only get a total of $100 OBC total.

The scenario you quoted wasn't adding another person. It was changing out one person for another one, and it used to be a $50 fee to do that. But I think we may have passed the window to be able to do that and it probably isn't only $50 anymore

That makes much more sense!

Yikes! I'd never make it to breakfast!

If both accounts are secured with the same credit card, they should be merged with a single total due, then charged to the credit card. That means that the credit would crossover from one to the other. Basically, it's really just one big account with some separations within it. If both are not secured with the same card, then no.

I submitted ours on 6/30/23 and got the amenity email on 7/4/23. This was our first time cruising since buying the stock. Hubby bought stock in the 3 main cruise lines during the pandemic.

My guess is that this isn't a fleet or ship thing - more of an itinerary thing. I'll be on the Joy in September for 9 nights. There is only one "sea" day (we'll be on a river) but the port times all vary at lot. My guess is that the buffet hours may as well.

We will be picking up a rental car and driving to Acadia Natonal Park. Only our hotel will be waiting on us.

We sailed MSC Seaside. It was okay but we found the buffet severely lacking in food options.

yes

Yes. That much I know!

So you think feeding a couple thousand people in a 2 hour time span in an area that only holds a few hundred is reasonable? Your idea of reasonable and mine are very different!

Good to know! Thanks. What kind of engineer are you? My son will be finishing 2 engineering degrees this coming school year.

Thanks everyone!

Bummer.