NikiPinkston

16 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

 

 

Hover your cursor above the trolls username in his post.   The "Ignore" button will pop up, click and done.

Thank you, @ColeThornton!  Done and done.  😎 Have a lovely day!

15 hours ago, mearsfansinboise said:

TOTALLY bougie; and I love it!! - - thanks for the link @NikiPinkston

Thank you, @mearsfansinboise!  You are welcome.  Enjoy! ❤️

14 hours ago, MoCruiseFan said:

 

That is more streamlined than simply handing the person cash?  OK... 🙂

it is for me because I like to write a note expressing my gratitude & I always feel awkward just handing someone cash but, obviously, everyone should do what feels right for them. 🙂 Of course, this doesn't apply when tipping at the bar!

This may be a little bougie, but I always buy some of these cruise thank you cards in which I place our tip & write a quick note.  For me, it just streamlines the process.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cruise+thank+you+cards&crid=RILJ8YVZ1TVR&sprefix=cruise+thank+you%2Caps%2C178&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_16

Our experience while visiting Cabo on the Bliss during Christmas week last year was pretty much the same as the OP.  I don't recall being asked for tips on the way over, but while returning to the ship during a very bumpy ride, the crew came around with a tip can & wouldn't leave until we put some money in it.  (There were a few passengers, however, who managed to ignore them or wave them away.)  It was a bit irritating, but understanding that many in Mexico are living in poverty, we put in a couple of bucks.  We, too, always have singles with us and, after all, we are on vacation, so what's a few more dollars - it probably meant more to them than it did to us.  But then, I'm the type who'll give money to the street vendors (especially those with small children - I know, I'm a big softy) and not take their wares.

We live in Southern California, so I had the same issue.  For our first Alaska cruise in 2016, I bought a pair of Sperry boots, which are waterproof, comfortable and, I think, reasonably priced.  They sat in my closet until last August, when we went on our second Alaska cruise, and I was very glad that I had them.  I'll be using them again this May for our third Alaska cruise, and we hope to do Iceland sometime soon where I can use them again, so I guess the answer is buy the boots & just keep cruising!  😄  Amazon actually has a good selection: 

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sperry+boots&crid=1M334MOG0UEYC&sprefix=sperry+boots%2Caps%2C201&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

I packed them in my suitcase & wore sneakers on the plane.  I made room for them in my suitcase but didn't find them that heavy.

Just FYI, for both our Alaska cruise last August and our Mexico cruise in December, NCL mailed us nice adhesive luggage tags about a month prior to departure date, so I believe you should also receive luggage tags in the mail.

We did NCL's 11-day explorer on our first POA cruise a couple of years ago & it was great.  At that time, we were in the Waikiki Marriott with a partial ocean view and a great view of Diamond Head.  Our tour guide was fabulous and we had an amazing time.  Someone has already posted the itinerary so I won't repeat that, but we got a really good sampling of all that Oahu has to offer.  Our favorite stops were Pearl Harbor, the National Cemetery of the Pacific, and the Polynesian Cultural Center.  I also liked the Dole Plantation, but the hubs not so much - it's definitely kitschy, but has some good photo ops.  The tour also made some other stops not listed, like the Nu'uanu Pali Overlook (great story!) and Sunset Beach on the North Shore where the annual surfing competitions are held.  You are correct that meals are not included except for the last day of the itinerary when we visited Kualoa Ranch & had a sandwiches & chips-type lunch on a small island nearby.  We had a little down time each day after our tour to have dinner on our own & explore Waikiki a bit.  We're booked on the POA again in November on the 7-day cruise (after 4 cancellations!) and will be spending 3 1/2 days pre-cruise in Waikiki so that we can do the "Monarch's Tour" and see the Bishop Museum & Iolani Palace one day, and then spend another day at the POA, including dinner and their show, "Ha."  Also looking forward to having dinner & watching the sunset at Duke's, doing a little shopping at Royal Hawaiian Center & International Marketplace, having a malasada at Leonard's Bakery, and maybe doing the Waikiki HO HO trolley.  The 11-day itinerary was wonderful for us for our first time on Oahu!

1 hour ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Aloha. There have been a few smaller ships arriving here in Lahaina and I've seen both a Princess and Carnival ship in Kahului when I'm was on that side of town. I'm still not convinced NCL can staff the Pride of America with American crew by April, but April will give you an idea if you need back up plans. Have you thought about sailing from California to here? Those itineraries are a go because they don't need the American crew. 

We have thought about sailing out of L.A., but we had a Hawaiian Airlines credit from March, 2020 that we just had to re-book.  I, too, have been concerned about the unique staffing issues of the POA, but we're booked for this fall so I'm really hoping that she will be sailing again by then.  Our alternative plan is just to fly in & spend a week on Oahu.  We did that with Maui awhile back & would love to do the same on Kauai & Hawaii, too. This would be our second time on the POA so at least we were able to sail on her once - I worry that it may be a long time before she's back but, you're right, what happens in April will be telling.

Mahalo, @BermudaBound2014.  I always appreciate your keeping us up-to-date on what's happening in the Islands.  We're booked on the POA this fall and hoping that it sails. 🙂

18 minutes ago, SightCRR said:

 

Google maps shows bus stops in both directions just up the exit from the pier. Pier is under second g at bottom of photo heading down further. You are right it seems in the middle of nowhere. 

Thank you.  Good to know.  It did feel like the middle of nowhere! 🙂

21 minutes ago, SightCRR said:

fyi the Totem Bright park is a 5 min car ride further out of the city from W/C. If you can figure out the silver line bus route, stops and timing you should be good to go. When we went we caught one bus out and the same bus back that had gone out of town a ways and turned around. In days past it was $2 with seniors 1/2 off. May also be a way to get into downtown or back but it will have several stops. 

google maps is your friend. Take Care. sightcrr. 

Where the ship actually docks at Ward Cove seemed pretty isolated to me.  It might be a hike to get to a city bus, but I've only been there once.  Maybe someone else has a better insight?

We were on the Encore last August & docked at Ward Cove.  It's definitely not a pretty area, but there's a large warehouse-type building at the end of the pier with some vendors selling chocolates, t-shirts, etc.,  which I could see eventually being made into something more.  We left the ship in the morning as we wanted to walk around Ketchikan a bit before our Lumberjack Show reservations and there was no wait for the shuttle, which was complimentary, at that time.  (I had also read about the $8 shuttle fee prior to our voyage but, as there's no other way into Ketchikan, I agree that it should be free.)  There were maybe 8 buses waiting to take people into town that morning & the trip took about 20 minutes.  When we came back to the ship later that afternoon, we were taken on a trolley car-type vehicle which was also quite comfortable & the driver entertained us with her stories about the local bears.  The shuttles pick you up right at the dock, where a HAL ship was berthed.  When we returned to Ward Cove, we saw a short line of passengers waiting for the buses into town, but it was nothing major.  I would, of course, rather have docked right in town, but it wasn't that big of a deal.  Maybe we were just go glad to be back on board that we just didn't care!

So sorry this has happened to your family & I hope the patient makes a swift recovery.  Thank you for posting your observations as, you're right, you just never know when someone in your party may become ill.

1 hour ago, jskinsd said:

Nice map but only shows the cruise port area.  Not the village a little more than a mile in.✌️

Ah, thank you, I didn't realize that as we only went on the Ziprider last summer.   I see now that there's an arrow pointing to Hoonah.  Hope to make it to Hoonah this year.

I also ran across this map of Icy Strait Point & Hoonah while planning our next Alaska cruise.

https://icystraitpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Icy-Strait-Point-Map.pdf

Here's another great video about the Ziprider that gives some cool details about it.  This is the video that convinced me that I had to try it.

Prior to our cruise to Hawaii, I read "Hawaii" by James Michener.  It's long but fascinating.  I also made a playlist of Keali'i Reichel & Israel Kamakawiw'ole (Izzy).  I still listen to it all the time.  

Oh, and gloves, too!  We got the kind that allow you to use your electronics from Amazon.

Maybe I missed it, so forgive me if someone else has already added this, but I also pack a couple of light-to-medium weight scarves to wrap around my neck for warmth (and to finish my look).  I agree that jeans will be all that you need in the way of pants, along with layers for your top half - long sleeved tees & lightweight sweaters, a puffy vest and a waterproof jacket with a hood.  A beanie and/or a baseball cap are also a must, and I took & wore some Sperry waterproof boots, which were great in Juneau & Ketchikan where it's usually raining, along with my sneakers.  We were on NCL where you can "dress up or not," but I brought a maxi dress & gold sandals for "formal night" & we had our photo taken, and I was perfectly warm onboard the ship if you want to do something similar.  I also brought some black Chico's Travelers pants & a couple of nice tops to wear to some of the restaurants with a pair of black Rothy's points & I didn't feel underdressed.  Otherwise, dress is indeed casual. @Crew Newshas given you some great tips about what you'll need on excursions/in port, but I had a large Travelon cross-body rather than a backpack. & it worked out well. With all of these wonderful tips from our fellow CC members, I know that you'll be comfortable, look great, and have a fabulous time!

If your ship is stopping in Sitka, they have a refuge for orphaned brown & black bears with guided tours, talks & a raised viewing platform called the "Fortress of the Bears."   Not exactly in their natural habitat, but it sounds like it's worth a visit.

http://www.fortressofthebear.org/

We have seen eagles (last August, right in downtown Ketchikan), but we also plan to visit the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka if it's open the day that we're there on our cruise this coming May.

https://alaskaraptor.org/

Hope that helps!

We did the Ziprider last August and it was incredibly fun!  I highly recommend it.  We booked it through our cruise line (NCL).  You're taken to the top of the mountain via a very informative bus ride about the history of the area.  Once you get there, there's a short downhill hike to get to the zipline, but we're old and we made it just fine. 🙂 The bus driver told us to make a lot of noise as we walked as we had now become a part of the bears' food chain but, again, we had no issues.  It was my first time on a zipline, and it was amazing!  The camera in my husband's lane was broken, so I was happy to get a photo with both of us in it, but then he pointed out that he looks like an oompa loopa LOL.  (Hope he never sees that I posted this picture, but then he's a pretty good sport.) 😁

I just wanted to add my thanks for bringing us along on your journey, Kathy.  We're on the POA in November (after 4 cancellations) & I was anxious to hear all about the first cruise to Hawaii, and I appreciate your insights, your lovely attitude, and your sharing your journey with us.  My hubby is a San Pedro native & we lived in the area for many years until we retired, so just knowing that you're from Pedro added a bit more fun for me.  We've never sailed on Princess but you've inspired us to book a Hawaii cruise from the Port of L.A. some day.  We sailed out of Pedro on the NCL Bliss to Mexico over Christmas and it felt so comforting & familiar to be in that port again.  Thank you so much again, and have a fabulous time in Mexico! 

11 minutes ago, JennyB1977 said:

Like @saltsandknit and @ShelleyQT I clean my house. It's weird but it's something my mom used to do and now my sister and I both clean before going on vacation. I also typically don't cook the night before. I go out to eat or order in. I think that piggy backs on the clean house LOL 

Definitely, me too.  It's so nice to come home to a clean house.

42 minutes ago, NikiPinkston said:

 "Itinerary" with all of our reservation numbers and POA's. 🙂

Oops, I meant POI's - points of interest.  The POA - Pride of America - is on my mind!