Aquahound

1 hour ago, fitters said:

Hello fellow cruisers!  We will be renting a car to do our own sightseeing in Skagway.  We will drive up to Emerald Lake, possibly Robinson's Roadhouse.  For those of you that have done this, how long did it take you to get to Emerald Lake?  Did you drive straight there and then do the sightseeing/stops on the way back down?  We want to hit the suspension bridge as well.  We are in port from 7am - 5pm.  Car rental for the full day.

 

Thank you in advance for your input/suggestions.  Have a great day.

I can't remember how long it took because we took it slow and made a lot of stops.  We actually made it all the way to Whitehorse (which I don't recommend).  What I can do, is assure you that you have plenty of time.  Robinson Roadhouse is a great turnaround point.  

I've only been on one NYE cruise, and it was on a RCI Voyager Class ship.  There were a few parties across the ship, but the main one was in the Royal Promenade.  It was a blast.  There was a live band, free champagne, confetti, and all the usual NYE trinkets.  RCI does a great job with the sound and lighting.  

The couple times I've been to ICP since they built the gondola, buying the tickets on site was the better option, and that appears to still be the case.  I'm almost certain they gave a military discount at the counter as well....if that applies to anyone here.   

I've cruised Quantum and Ovation 4 times out of Seattle in the past couple years.  10-10:30 is about when boarding begins.  Look at your reservation.  It'll tell you on what day your online check-in opens.  To snag an early boarding time, you need to jump on it right away when it opens. I'm cruising Quantum again in a few weeks.  I wasn't able to get online until the afternoon of the day mine opened and the earliest I could snag was 11.  

I'm struggling to remember if JSs were included in priority check-in.  Either way, I think the app SeaPass says "suite", so it can't hurt to try.  🙂

On 3/13/2024 at 11:49 AM, Brookhaven_90 said:

Hello @Aquahound

We are visiting Kodiak for the first time. I hope you don't mind me drawing on your knowledge. We are torn between a 3 hour bus tour and a 2 1/2 hour boat tour of the island towards the end of April. I've been told that you only get to see the beauty of the island from a small boat. Would that be your view? I'm also conscious that it might be unbearably cold! Appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!

Sincere apologies.  I am just now seeing this.  That's a tough one.  I love Kodiak by land but a bus isn't going to get you to most of the most beautiful locations.  

Yes, a boat tour could be chilly and it is most likely to be overcast.  I'm not sure where the tour goes, so it's hard to judge.

Sorry, this might not have been the most help.  

On 4/8/2024 at 4:14 PM, karatemom2 said:

My son recently was in Anchorage and stayed at the Embassy Suites there. It was reasonable and very nice. Huge rooms and great breakfasts according to him.

Embassy Suites is my go-to hotel in Anchorage.  Not sure if anyone in your party qualifies for a military rate but despite their pricing online, I have always been able to get the rate by calling.

You two...for heaven's sake..."tropics" and "tropical" have 2 different meanings.  No, Bermuda is not in the tropics due to its location.  Yes, Bermuda is tropical due to its climate.  

Not sure about your cigarettes question.  I'd say...probably.  But as for the ships, I'd rank them in this order.... Norwegian Escape, Caribbean Princess, Norwegian Jewel.  

On 4/12/2024 at 11:30 AM, jolovesmatcha said:

Hi does anyone know of any new ships that are cruising from West Coast or Hawaii? 

Making the flight with a toddler to Florida was exhausting 🙂 Thanks in advance. 

If by west coast you are including Alaska, several lines are running their newer ships.  

On 4/11/2024 at 2:17 PM, sjde said:

 

Do any of you have a preference for size or age of ship?

 

New and monstrous.  Give me a brand-new mega-ship full of activities and great entertainment.  If I decide to indulge in what others consider to be "upscale," I'll book a high-end suite on the brand new mega-ship.  🙂

1 hour ago, lenquixote66 said:

Opinions ?

Nuf said...

I dumped Facebook 4 years ago for reasons just like this.  There is too much power to control narratives.  Altering opinions, regardless of how true they are, quickly get erased.  

Yes, I totally appreciate Cruise Critic.  🙂

On 4/11/2024 at 8:51 AM, MississippiMom said:

The many opinions on this Alaska board can get overwhelming.  I read and read and read, then had to step away (due to a family member's health issues), which was great for me, because I had time to think about what WE needed and not what everyone on the board needed out of a cruise to Alaska.

And that, right there, is what is important.  🙂

1 hour ago, sherryf said:

But Royal Caribbean does not go to Glacier Bay.  For me, glaciers are more important than shows.  YMMV

I agree, but that wasn't the OP's question.  

On 4/9/2024 at 11:21 AM, Nicn81 said:

Has anyone taken the White Pass Railway and Bike excursion?  The description says it is downhill but also says it ranges from 15-25 miles an hour.  I ride a bike but not sure if this might be too much.  Would like to hear from someone who has actually taken the excursion.

Sorry - forgot to say this is in Skagway.

I did this excursion and we loved it.  Don't worry about it being too fast.  They are good at keeping the group together.  You will stop at several points to take in the scenery and learn about historic spots.  Crossing the border on the bicycles was kinda cool too.  

For Alaska, it would be Royal Caribbean Quantum Class ships.  Broadway style shows are put on in the main theater and in the aft show lounge called Two70.  This is one of the Two70 shows, which isn't even the ship's primary show lounge...

On 3/26/2024 at 10:41 PM, MacMadame said:

I am someone who swims as part of fitness and also training for races/events. Therefore, the lack of a lap pool bugs.

 

It's too bad that ships don't have an endless pool, maybe in the gym. If ships can have a FlowRider, I don't see why they couldn't have an endless pool. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants to swim laps on vacation!

On 3/27/2024 at 2:24 AM, CDNPolar said:

 

I would suggest that this would be an insurance no-no for a ship.  Not that many people that would understand or have experience using an endless pool.

I've seen endless pools on a couple Princess ships.  

Blown away?  Easy answer for me.  Royal Caribbean Oasis and Quantum Class ships have amazed me more than any other ships. They are simply spectacular, and I always debark feeling like I had an amazing experience.   

12 hours ago, kajasmin said:

We rented a car so we just drive up and buy, correct? 

You got it made then.  Just drive there and park.  Parking is free and all the trails and views are free.  Enjoy! 🙂

On 4/5/2024 at 7:48 AM, flvol77 said:

 

Funny, our first cruise to Alaska is on the Ovation; my wife said you know we will go again, so don't worry about it, and we will have no clue what we are missing.  Probably will go back in 2026 or maybe 2025 but, I should get on that if that is something we want to do.  

 

100% will be with Princess or Holland 

Do your cruise first, then worry about what you might want to do next.  Ovation is an amazing ship and you're going to have a great time.  

7 hours ago, Charles4515 said:

When I moved here a couple of years ago everyone was telling me how friendly Texas was and I said sure, uh, huh. Just got back from my daily 2 mile walk on the Trinity Trail and practically everyone passing in the other direction said hi or waved. On the Crescent Trail in Maryland only people I knew said Hi but the people there did make eye contact and sometimes smile. 

Great example.  Here in western WA, I'll pass people in the middle of the forest on a hiking trail and even when stepping aside to let them pass, they say absolutely nothing.  At first, I was really bothered by it, but I've started to become used to it now.  

Regarding Seattle freeze, I agree that it is a very real phenomenon.  I have lived all over this country and have now lived in the Seattle area for 5 years.  The social atmosphere here is unlike anything I have ever experienced in any other part of the country.  

Simple niceties like saying excuse me and thank you, or even looking eye-to-eye at strangers and giving a gentle head nod or saying hi are faaaaar less common here than in other places.  I know that happens everywhere, but I have never seen it on this scale.  People from here are aware of the freeze but don't really understand its impact as much as people who have moved here and know how it is elsewhere.  Occasionally, I'll meet a born-and-bread local who blames the freeze on the Californian flight to WA.  Perhaps that's it, but who knows?

That said, Alaskan cruises departing out of Seattle attract people from all over, so I don't think the freeze really impacts the cruises.....at least not from what I've seen on my several cruises out of Seattle.

The mainstream cruise lines all seem to be following a trend of larger ships and more passengers.  While a lot of amenities and great entertainment are getting added to these spectacular ships, the basic 101 services like housekeeping, waitstaff, and food quality seem to be taking a big hit.  Everything is feeling rushed, and cuts are noticed everywhere.  How do we find a balance before the scales get tipped too far away from the basic great service of yesteryear? 

10 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Isn’t it one of the basic cruise traditions - to come home with authentic “souvenirs” of places which were made thousands of miles away?

...and don't forget, buy those "souvenirs" in the manufactured port area that oddly is only open and populated when cruise ships are present and from a shop owner who lives in California during the winter.  

On 3/21/2024 at 9:56 PM, Ashland said:

Definitely RCI.

Ditto.  Definitely RCI.