SeaofStars

Thanks for your feedback. BTW, I have previously googled for a taxi companies and looked on Explore Fairbanks which seems to list mostly tour companies. The Yelp reviews for the taxi companies are pretty negative (not showing up, overcharging, etc.) which is why I was asking if anyone has any recommendations for companies they’ve used, perhaps on a previous trip? 

I understand that Uber and Lyft are available in the Fairbanks area and I have even done “test” trips on the app to check prices and timing, but since the Running Reindeer Ranch e-mail specifically stated that Uber and Lyft have not been reliable in taking customers to their location, I wanted to know if anyone has used them recently and had any feedback. The e-mail is from when I made my reservation last September so I’m not sure if anything has changed since then. I read a post from a while back that there were very few rideshare drivers in Fairbanks so if anyone knows what the current situation is, I would appreciate any information. I assume that most people living in Fairbanks have their own cars so unless the tourist crowd is making use of Uber/Lyft, I’m not sure how much demand for it there really is? I’m willing to roll the dice for other locations, but since we have reservations for Running Reindeer Ranch, I definitely want to make sure we get there on time (which means not dealing with drivers deciding that driving out to that location is too far and canceling the trip - this has happened to me multiple times before).

The nice thing about Hampton’s was that they had a set rate to go to Running Reindeer Ranch from Fairbanks which was listed on their website.

I guess the other option is if anyone’s scheduled to go Running Reindeer Ranch on 8/24 and is OK bringing 3 extra people, I’m willing pay for a ride there and back! 😆

I’m going to be in Fairbanks 8/24-8/25 as part of a cruise tour but I opted for the do it yourself version. There are 3 of us and we don’t drive so renting a car is not an option. We have reservations for Running Reindeer Ranch on 8/24 and they recommended getting there using either Hampton’s Tours and Transports (just found out they’re out of business via Yelp - the website is still up) or Air Link Shuttle. Due to the DIY version of our trip, I have no idea where we’ll be in Fairbanks before we head out to RR Ranch which is why I thought booking through Hampton’s would be better than Air Link which seems to be more of a shuttle service (plus Hampton’s has their prices posted which was helpful). I was planning on calling about a hour before pick up to let the cab company know where to pick us up from. Can anyone speak to the reliability of Uber/Lyft in Fairbanks (RR Ranch’s e-mail said they’re not reliable but this was from about a year ago) or recommend any taxi services?

It’s too bad your tablemates did not show up to dinner! 😢 I’ve really been enjoying your live and am sad it’s almost over. I will have to follow you on the next cruise to see if you end up using up the coffee card! 😄

It’s in the patters ~*Lou*~ posted: 12-1:30 in Bordeaux on deck 5.

 Looks like the other food options start at 11:30.

Nice video! Did you enjoy the zip line?

Also, that foneleash looks super handy!

Wow, great pics! 😍 You really lucked out on seeing them!

I did a little detective work and looked through the pictures on this site (https://skagwayshoretours.com/tour/glacier-point-wilderness-safari/) and there appear to be people wearing backpacks. Some people in the reviews also said to pack a change of socks and a snack so it seems like you can probably take a backpack.

~*Lou*~ posted the patters! I’m just linking so everything is in the same place if someone comes looking later.

Awesome! Thank you so much! 😁

9 hours ago, chubbypiggy said:

I am interested in taking a 14-day Alaska cruise roundtrip Vancouver. I am considering the Island Princess on 8/14/19 or Royal Princess on 8/17/19.  The itineraries are the same for both ships.  Which ship is a better choice?

 

Thank you in advance for any inputs!! 

My understanding is that the Royal hasn’t been cleared to do the Inside Passage route due to its size and is actually going west of Vancouver Island, so if that portion of scenic passage sailing is important to you, you might want to consider the Island. I read on another thread that they’re trying to get it cleared for later this summer but whether that will happen or not is up in the air.

This is the first year they’re doing it but there are two threads on it.

Hope that helps in your decision-making! I signed up for it on my cruise, but I’m not going until the end of August.

Yay, glad you’re back and happy to be reading your post! Your pre-cruise sounds pretty interesting! Hope the kids were thrilled with all the animals you got to see. Looking forward to pictures and patters!😁

4 minutes ago, tothemall&beyond said:

Really? What difference does it make? 

This question was already answered (it’s the same) but I am doing a one way cruise, not a B2B and got info about the menu order for the opposite direction. I figured since geoherb is doing a B2B they would be in a position to know. Also, in case I do a B2B in the future, I just wanted to know for planning purposes. 😑

Anyway, geoherb, still following along and enjoying your Live! Dinner sounded delicious. Good luck with trivia!

I just realized we’re still missing dessert menus! If anyone would like to contribute those, it would be most appreciated. 🙂 I believe they should be the same as the Royal’s but we’re missing nights 1-2, and 7 from that report.

Also, does anyone know when they do the Baked Alaska parade? I noted down the last night from a trip report from last year. That’s only in the MDR, right?

12 hours ago, geoherb said:

 

SeaofStars: The menus will be 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-1-2-3-4-5-6-7. There may be some shuffling around the middle menus for formal nights. Our first formal night on the northbound cruise is tonight. The second one will be Monday night. I don’t know if they’ll be the same days of the week heading southbound. The assistant cruise director I spoke with said they’d be scheduling both the Heist and Escape Room this cruise.

 

 

Thank you for all the info! I’m enjoying your Live!

Mrell345 and EileenG are the real MVPs! 🤗 Scroll down a ways in the linked thread and you will see EileenG posted them. Also, Geoherb in their Island Princess Live thread told me the order is 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-1-2-3-4-5-6-7 for Northbound and Southbound (so the northbound ones posted should be the same order) but there may be some shuffling around for formal nights. 

Omigosh, thank you, mrell345! ~*Lou*~ in his trip thread said someone had posted the menus from their northbound trip this year but I did all the searches I could think of with Coral and menus and even searched trip reports through the beginning of May and nothing came up!

Any menus would be great - still trying to track them down for this year. If you go to the Crab Shack or Specialty Restaurants too. Thanks!

Have a great trip!

Well, people seem to like Sabatini’s and the Bayou Cafe and if there’s a night that we’re not particularly interested in the MDR menu we might want to try one of them or even the buffet. Like WisCruiser2 said above, I’ve read that they have Alaskan themed entrees too! The Crab Shack is also offered on Coral Princess and also has a special Alaska-themed menu, supposedly. I was also tossing around doing the Chef’s Table (I have foodie tendencies), but again, if it falls on a night where I’m really excited about the MDR menu, I’ll probably save the money. (We’re also boarding pretty late so I’m sure I’d be on the waitlist anyway.)

People might also have time conflicts with their dining times if they have traditional dining and production shows they want to watch so will opt to get something from the buffet or International Cafe instead of the MDR, but maybe that’s crab legs night or the Baked Alaska parade or something and they were really looking forward to that? IDK, I just figure more information is better.

I know they’re going to repeat the menus, but can you make note of whether it’s the same menu order both ways or whether they reverse them? So 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 or 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-1-2-3-4-5-6-7? (Or maybe you already know  - first time cruiser here!)

I’m also interested if they’re still doing the Escape Rooms this year or if they’ve been replaced by the Heist activity?

Looking forward to following along! Have a great trip!

Thanks, lstone19 and patrickmoran. The menus from last year and this year appear different. 🤔 Also, does anyone know if night 1’s menu is always night 1 or do they reverse them for Southbound vs northbound. Like, will it go 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 for northbound and then 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 for southbound or will it always be the 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 order? My assumption is that the menus are flipped so the same ports always have the same menus, but I could be wrong?

BTW, ~*Lou*~ in his trip thread said he will be posting this year’s patters after the 23rd. He doesn’t have the menus though.

The link requires a subscription but I googled and found the article. Thanks for posting! Glad everyone is safe! I believe that’s the hotel I’m staying at in August. Hope the damage isn’t too bad!

Thank you very much! 

I’m doing this same cruise in August and would very much appreciate the patters in a couple weeks (and any menus if you have them)!

A couple questions:

For Juneau, the tour we booked doesn’t leave until 8:30 but the ship gets there at 6:30. From looking at google maps the cruise ship terminal appears to be fairly close to downtown (16 min walk). Do you think it’s feasible to walk around for a while beforehand or is there something I’m not aware of that would make it more difficult like super hilly terrain?

Likewise, for Skagway we’re also doing a Chilkoot Tour but I think we’re doing the train first. We have a fairly long port time that day so would you say there’s time to explore the town a little and maybe get a drink at the saloon?

Do you recall any theme nights for the buffet? Were there king crab legs on Juneau night?

Thank you so much for the report and in advance for answering questions! 😁

If anyone on the Coral for a 7 day Southbound Alaska trip could post the menu and patters, I would really appreciate it! We’re going in August (first cruise ever) and I just want to figure out where/when we’re doing dinner each night (factoring in Crabshack and Alaska special foods, shows, excursions, and such) as all the planning has been left up to me. 😥

Thanks in advance for any help and happy cruising everyone!