SoloAlaska

Millenial cruiser here. The reason we go to specialty dinning is because it actually has flavor instead of the bland food the MDR. We are not the ones going to the game shows that is targeted towards a much older demographic. Pools are meant for enjoying which does not mean just one person swimming laps. Millennials are not the problem we are the next cruise generation.

I don’t bother with rain pants but I’m pretty tolerant to being soaking wet. My goretex hiking boots are a must for the hiking I like to do and they keep my feet dry. One note is avoid wearing any cotton in the rain, it will cause you to be miserable and cold if your rain gear doesn’t protect you 100%. If you want to stay dry and not spend several hundred dollars on a jacket then your best bet is rubbery style rain gear like those fisherman wear. Unfortunately they are much bulkier to pack and far from stylish but they do help you stay warm and keep the rain off.

I’m partial to a north or southbound voyage. I’ve done two and booked another plus have a hold to make it a b2b right now. The inside passage is incredible.

I would have never thought of the Azores for a trip before but am also completely in love with the place now. Such an incredible place I can’t wait to go back for a longer trip also.

We also get a CAA discount. The wait isn’t usually too long and the service has always been great.

I always do this but mostly to see what other cruise ships may be in port. It really helps in choosing excursions when you know how busy a city might be. 7 ports on my TA and we only missed one due to a storm. Biggest issue was the lack of communication. They changed course almost 24 hours before officially announcing what was happening.

Worse case you can upgrade onboard. I usually upload all my videos when in port to avoid any issues. I haven’t had the chance to use star link yet but the reports that are coming out there are times that video content would be painfully slow at best. You need 8-10mbs download for video usually. If it’s a port intensive cruise I find I can make due without any wifi even but I don’t spend my time browsing IG I just mostly post content and occasionally check in.

Vancouver hotels can be very expensive. Last time I was there I paid over 350 a night near the airport. Skytrain is my go to from airport to cruise.

We’ve used park and fly a few times over the last year without any issues. Will be using it again in March on my way to Germany.

Zip ties are the best. I don’t carry duct tape but have an impressive sewing kit and first aid kit which make up for it. As of my next cruise I’ll have my down quilt which is rated to bellow freezing but will take only about 2L of space. I never drive to ports so airlines is what limits how much I want to pack. Now if airlines I fly with start putting a max weight on carry ons I may have to reconsider my packing strategy. Thankfully the max for Canadian safety is 35lb each which isn’t a problem when I travel personal.

The bed was against the window. The bunk takes up width closer to your should it sticks out about 5”. That stateroom can sleep 3. It was a great room but I would pick one that could only sleep 2 next time.

It was traditional 8050. Downside of this cabin was the Pullman bed which took up width.

Pretty sure that’s exactly what I did. Paid $62 to upgrade from interior guaranteed to OV FAS and then later on got $362 FCC when the price dropped again.

No OBC but there is FCC. Expiry is in 1 year so look forward to cruising again soon. Watching for drops is half my fun.

Haha with a built in honeymoon. I’m in as a contestant.

I’m bringing a down quilt and sleeping pad which are very small but still figuring out what tent to bring. If the tents I have don’t fit in my carry on I am also considering renting a tent in Alaska. Just not allowed to bring tent pegs so I’ll have to buy new ones in Alaska.

SOFT SERVE would probably be the best word for what they serve onboard. It’s pretty bland which is consistent with most NCL food though. I had it once onboard the Gem and then went to the hard stuff. Really the best ice cream was the Gelato in the MDR served with the lava cake and strawberry compote, my favorite dessert on that cruise I had 4 servings over my 16 days.

Some of my best meals on my last cruise were the vegetarian options. Also if you’re vegetarian you can always ask for another meal without the meat or double or triple up on an appetizer. Friends often mix and matched their meals as well. NCL hasn’t embraced the meat free culture shift that is happening yet but there is always a vegetarian option.

Ok so NCL food is very bland. Service however is acceptable in MDR and better in specialty dinning plus the bar service I found was fabulous. I haven’t cruised Pride and honestly probably never will. I like the international crews on other ships. Learn how to say thank you in the languages of the crew is always fun and very well received.

I would look at a balcony with an interior across the hall. Could save you 1000$ compared to two balconies and this way you know your children aren’t playing on the balcony which can be very dangerous. Plus by doing 2 rooms you have 2 bathrooms, 2 closets, 2 sets of drawers etc. Storage is really important when cruising and there are lots of tips on here and online on how to prep for a trip. A lot of people use packing cubes because it’s easy to stay organized and unpack but with kids even ziplocks work great. I’m also a control freak and haven’t found an agent who can give me much of anything in way of perks so I book directly with the cruise line. With some lines when I notice a price drop I can just contact them and either get the new price or a voucher for the difference for a future cruise. If I had booked with an agent I’d be dependent on them and if they actually did it etc. Upcoming RCI cruise we have 6 cabins booked so an agent was used for that one. The agent wasn’t even aware that that ship was going to dry dock a few months before. A GOOD travel agent can be gold but finding one can be hard.

If it isn’t broken then don’t fix it. I travel in Europe by train and having that much luggage is hard for anyone but pretty much impossible for those who aren’t physically fit. I always joked at the gym that the reason I work out is so I can carry all my work luggage. I can carry (lift in the air) 130lb but I can move (roll and carry) closer to 200 plus pounds. But try boarding a train with 200lb of luggage solo… no thank you.

Ok when I travel with checked luggage it’s always 48.5-49.8lb especially when I travel for my business. No problem with having heavy luggage if you can handle it. It’s the people with a bunch of bags who can’t that drive me a little nuts if I get stuck behind them. Bring what you need and are comfortable with transporting. Next cruise is 8 days plus a few days pre cruise will be Alaska in September. It will be all carry on. Will still manage to have all the medication including OTC I may need and shampoo, conditioner, makeup etc. There will be hiking gear including a first aid kit. I don’t mind wearing my favorite black tshirt twice in a week because it’s my “everyday uniform”. Going light is a balance of sacrifice and reward. Not waiting for luggage is a reward, wearing a shirt twice for some would be a sacrifice. Find whatever balance works for you. My mom and dad don’t like dealing with carry ons especially since my dad uses a cane when traveling. For them they rather each have a backpack with what they want during their flight plus one change of clothes and then they share a large suitcase that is checked. They still travel light ish but in a way that works for them. my luggage has been lost enough times that I know what is essential and rather pack carry on only if I can. My last cruise I brought one piece of luggage and a backpack but really I just shopped more and didn’t need some of what I brought. Seeing cruisers on a 16 day TA with just a backpack inspired me to lighten my load.

Love traveling with sample sizes. I buy from Sephora and use my points for things like small lipsticks, skincare, mascara etc. one of my new things is repotting my eyeshadow. I took a smaller old pallet and put all my favorite colours in it. Instead of 8 colours it now has 24.

Check out if your cabin has pictures on cruisedeckplans dot com. If it’s like the Gem I was really happy with my obscured oceanview. It had more room than the interior cabin and more storage plus I could actually see out the window. The only downside I found was the constant light at night meant I couldn’t leave my curtains open.

Next cruise will be for 8 days and I’m also bringing some camping gear. I’m going carry on only. Yesterday I ordered compression packing cubes for bulky items like my favourite fleece. I’ll report back how they work when I get them.