Micki Dee

Just off the Brilliance, and the reason for the early arrival was indeed the fog. The captain notified us about 2pm that we would be heading in early. It made a lot of people angry because most everything was shut down by 830, guess they'd rather be drunk and "happy" than safe. Captain made the right decision in my eyes.

I've been planning this trip since last March. Everything is pretty much finalized now. Still have a few things to add on.

May 21: Arrive in Vancouver in AM-Grouse Mountain & Capilano Suspension

Bridge Tour in PM-Overnight at Hyatt Regency

May 22: Sail on Radiance Of The Seas

May 23: Inside Passage-Cruising

May 24: Ketchikan-Walking tour on our own & Bering Sea Fisherman's

Excursion with RCCL

May 25: Juneau-Whale Watching with Capt. Larry (Orca Enterprises) in

AM-Mendenhall Glacier on our own-Mushers Camp excursion

with RCCL in late afternoon

May 26: Skagway-Rent car & drive to Yukon (Emerald Lake) & Glacier

Landing excursion with RCCL in late PM

May 27: Icy Straight Point-Ziplining with RCCL & Whale Watching with

F.I.S.H.E.S.

May 28: Hubbard Glacier-Cruising

May 29: Seward-Disembark Radiance, Start Land portion

May 29: Seward-Alaska Sealife Center & Resurrection Bay Cruise with

RCCL-Wilderness Express to Alyeska-Overnight at Hotel Alyeska

May 30: Alyeska-Tram to top of mountain-Paragliding with Alyeska

Adventures-Motorcoach to Talkeetna-overnight in Talkeetna

May 30: Talkeetna-Late afternoon, evening hours are still open-Overnight

at Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge

May 31: Denali-Morning coach to Denali-Denali Discovery Program-

Afternoon open-Cabin Night Dinner Theater with RCCL-

Overnight at McKinley Village Lodge

June 1: Denali-Eielson Shuttle with NPS-ATV Adventure in the evening

with RCCL-2nd night at Mckinley Village Lodge

June 2: Fairbanks-AM motorcoach to Fairbanks-El Dorado Gold Mine

with RCCL-Evening open , possible hot air balloon ride at midnight-

Overnight at Pike's Waterfront Lodge

June 3: Fairbanks/Barrow-Barrow Adventure excursion with Northern

Alaska Tour Co.-Return to Fairbanks at 10:00pm-2nd night at

Pike's Waterfront Lodge

June 4: Anchorage-Alaska Air to Anchorage in AM-Rent car from Avis-

plans still open-Overnight at Homewood Suites

June 5: Anchorage/Home-Full day in Anchorage to sight see-Go to airport

at 5:30 for flight home:(

Just got the Pier 5 too.

11/18/2009

3 1/2* $85.00 + $19.55 taxes & fees = $104.55 total

Miki Dee,

 

How early do you need to book for these SAS performance cruises?

 

The earlier the better. This gives you your choice of sailings and ships and of course more time for the kids to fundraise to help offset some of the costs. Like I said, our director is already looking into booking for the fall of '09, so about a year in advance.

 

Do they just give you a 30 minute block to pefrom?

 

When we first did it in '03, we had 45 mins, but the last 2 time, we only had 30 mins. I don't know if this is negotiable or not. I'm going into the studio tonight for class, so I can ask my director. We've also gone over the limit too, with no problem as long as it's not too outrageous.

 

Did you have to take the kids out of school?

 

Yes, we usually go the last week of October or the 1st week of November, so the kids do have to miss a few days of school. It is in their competition contracts that they and their parents sign at the beginning of the year. We've never had a problem with any of our younger students. However, some of the college students have had problems in the past.

 

How long a cruise did you take?

 

We've taken 2 4-nighters and last years was a 5-nighter. Next year on the Freedom, it's going to be a 7-nighter, but that's what the parents have asked for.

 

How does the price compare to taking a regular cruise.

 

Last year for quad occupancy inside, it was around $400pp including all taxes/fee and gratuities. A balcony was around $550pp. They were not offering anything higher, so my DH and I booked a suite separately and then just had are ressies linked for dinner. Our daughter stayed with her girlfriend in an inside room with just 2 and we paid $432 for her. It was somewhat cheaper because we got a group discount rate, but not really a huge discount. The great part is you're cruising with all your friends and family. It really is a blast!

 

For the Freedom Cruise, the price right now for quad inside is $900pp. That doesn't sound much like a deal to me.

I think you can upgrade to what ever cabin category you want and pay the difference from the basic inside cabins.

When we finally did get all the docs with everybody's cabin number, someone was in an owners suite (not our director). I don't know if they upgraded them or if they managed to pay the difference.

Our studio has done the Stars At Sea program 3 times, all on the Enchantment. We are also a very competitive studio with many State, Regional, and National winners in both Solos, Duet/Trios, and Groups.

We do the S.A.S. program every other year in place of a National Competition. Our competitive groups as a whole voted on this and thought this would be a fun and different thing to do, plus it gives the kids the chance to showcase their hard work and dedication for a worldwide audience.

RCCL has always gone out of their way to accommodate our group with the best show times in the main theater and promoting their show with announcements and showcasing them in the daily Compass. Our kids have always performed to SRO audiences.

The cruisers really love to see the young dancers. Last year we took 55 dancers. Our youngest was 7 and our oldest was 25...all competitive level winners. They did a Halloween show that closed with a special presentation of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" that brought the house down. People were talking about it all night. (They also performed this show during a storm with 20ft seas) Way to go dancers!

We are in the process of booking another S.A.S presentation on the Freedom for 2009. The kids love it, the parent's love it, it's a win/win situation for us.

Just a note: We also bring at least 150 adults on this cruise to help supervise our children. Our director does not put up with ANY shenanigans. If you are caught doing something wrong...YOU WILL NOT DANCE. End of discussion. We pride ourselves on representing our studio in the best positive light. Afterall, we were voted the #3 best studio in the Metro Detroit Area this year!:D

It's the old "Bait and Switch" trick. I noticed that yesterday.:rolleyes::(

I used my Next Cruise and booked directly with RCCL. I'm pretty anal when it comes to my vacations and I like to have control over my bookings.:p It drives my husband crazy how controlling I am over every last detail. By booking directly with RCCL, if there's a price change, residency discount, or I have a problem on the weekend, I can just call C & A and deal with it. I don't have to wait until Monday to take care of it. That would drive me bonkers!:eek:

I should mention that I did think about booking with AAA before they opened the bookings to all C & A members through RCCL...even went as far as leaving them my info and was assured an agent would call me back. Still waiting on that call...

Yes, you can tell by looking at the D1's on the deck plans. Compare them to the deck plans of the Radiance class ships and they are just standard hump balconies.

I was just looking at the plans and the end D1 balcony only seems to angle slightly. There might not be that much difference in size from a center one. The difference might be the view. You could be just slightly cut off from seeing port, but I don't think by much. It seems that the D1's all have the same view. I would still stick close to center, if possible. JMHO

The RCCL agent wasn't entirely wrong about the end hump balconies. There are port side end hump balconies (not "true" humps really) that are on either side of the elevators on the Radiance class ships. Those balconies are huge and are some of the hardest cabins to get. I had one recently on the Jewel and loved it. The hump cabins on the Oasis are not those type of cabins, so the end balconies won't be like them.

The hump ends are just angled a little bit, so you might not be able to get as many loungers and chairs on them as you would a middle hump. Stick with the middle if you can.

I posted this on the cabin discussion thread and haven't got any replies so need some help -

Wondering if anyone can help me? I have never been in a hump cabin before. Looking on the Starboard side (as the Oasis is supposed to be docked to Starboard, so this would be the preferred side, no?) - does anyone think that the D1's ending in "592" and "604" on each deck are smaller balconies than say the ones in between those two (ending in "94" to "02")? Their balconies are angled instead of straight across - I am going bleary eyed trying to decide if they are better or the ones in the middle are better. Is the view better from the angled ones so that you can see forward and aft or can you just see one way - in other words - do you need one in the middle to see BOTH forward and aft? Any opinions on the D2's ending in "06"?

Also, trying to decide between a JS and a D1. Yes, a JS suite is lot more money, but you do get a much bigger cabin, a bathtub and a walk-in closet. As for the Junior Suites - as in the one, for example, 12636, that balcony would be bigger, right?

 

In other words, if it were you, which D1 or JS would you pick and which deck? I need the "hump expertise" people!! lol I want to book asap and don't know which to pick:eek:

 

Thanks!

 

Canuck

If you're going for a true hump balcony, the middle ones are the most sought after. They offer the best views both forward and aft. The ones on the ends tend to have a little smaller balconies, just by the way they're shaped, and you usually can only see in one direction, either forward or aft.

I just booked a center hump on deck 14 on the Oasis last night on the Starboard side. I'm hoping it's a good cabin choice, but since no one's sailed her yet, it's a wait and see game at the moment. I booked deck 14 because I wanted to be near the pools. I worship the sun goddess and spend most of my time chilling by the pool with a cool drink in my hand.

As for the JS, if you think the price difference is worth it for the extra space and bathtub, go for it! I would if I could, but my daughter is getting married in 2010, so I'm lucky to be cruising at all that year.:)

I haven't edited all of my pictures yet...I have 1000's from my b2b, but if you click on my link I did post some pics of the balcony for you.

I had 7108 on the Jewel and it is a great cabin. It is actually the 1st cabin in the hallway to the aft of the elevator banks, not right next to them...so you won't have any noise from the elevators. The balcony is huge and has 2 loungers, 2 chairs, and a table. It is a covered balcony and you only get alot of sun on one length of the voyage(either down or back up) other than that only the 1st 1/4 of the balcony gets sun, and you only have 1 neighbor. However, if you stand at your railing everyone from the aft can see you. It was actually kind of fun since we had friends in other balconies and we would wave to them every morning when we got up. Another thing is that deck 7 balconies look out over the lifeboat covers...in other words, you can't look straight down at the water. It does not obstruct your view at all...as the covers are just below your balcony. I wouldn't hesitate to book this cabin again.