kazda

Hi

We will be in Anchorage prior to travelling to Whittier to board our cruise.

Does anybody have recommendations on where we can purchase binoculars in Anchorage. ?

We are staying at Captain Cook Hotel and not sure if any sporting stores are nearby to make the purchase, or that we can catch a cab to if the store is not in walking distance.

Taking into account the AUS to US exchange rate and our need for 2 pairs, our budget is around $100 US each

Hoping somebody can advise of stores around Anchorage selling binoculars that would fit our budget

Thanks

Karen

Since there does not appear to be a sporting stores in AK downtown area (staying at Hotel Captain Cook) I will definitely get a cab to the best store.

Taking into account we would only want to visit 1 store, Which would be the best store for variety and different price points from the suggestions provided by AKstafford ' Cabela's, Bass Pro, Fred Meyer's, Walmart, Mt. View Sports and Sportsman Warehouse. And Sports Authority. '

Hi

Does anybody have any recommendations where I can buy binoculars in Anchorage before heading off to Whittier for our cruise. Preferably in the downtown area.

Only looking to spend around $150 max as will only be using them on the cruise.

Thanks in advance

Karen

Hi

I have booked the Misty Fjords National Monument seaplane tour directly with Michelle at Island Wings Air Service for June 2016 out of Ketchikan .

I saw that Princess excursions also have the Misty Fjords National Monument seaplane tour available and was wondering is the excursion available through the ship operated by Michelle at Island Wings ?

Thanks in advance.

we just did the surprise glacier/train package deal with major marine in july.

 

We booked the train and the surprise glacier cruise directly with major marine.

I decided to book the whole thing with them because it's such a tight schedule, i figured they would wait for us if the train was late since we'd booked through them (they would be expecting us).

 

QUOTE]

 

Thanks Alaska Planner, Good to know from your experience thatit all works well when booked directly with Major Marine for the combo. We will definitely be booking direct with them.

I have been in email contact with their office and they have advised their package combo deals for 2016 season will open early next year.

Thanks again Budget Queen, didn't know about the bus option from Anchorage.

Major Marines website states the bus option allows for 2 small carry-ons, whereas the train states 2 pieces max and as we are travelling from Aust our luggage will be more than 2 small carryons each.

I'll definitely email or give Major Marine a call, now that I have an idea of what we are after.

Thanks Budget Queen

Looking at pricing with Major Marine the 'package' is currently a lot cheaper than booking the 2 separately.

IF we only book the train, what are the chances of 2 tickets for the PWS still being available on the day. ?

IF the train running late, I also presume the PWS tour waits for the train to arrive ?

Ooops, In relation to my post above, disregard the info about the 'business' class seating from Anchorage to Whittier as I got that info wrong.

Hi

Stating to plan for our 28 May 2016 cruise departing from Whittier and have a few questions.

Was planning to book the train from Anchorage @ 9:45 departure which arrives into Whittier 12:05PM.

Then want to do the Major Marine - Prince William Sound Surprise Glazier tour which departs at 12:15PM

If I book the two separately, (rather than as a package with Major Marine) I guess the timeframe will not be in my favour seeing that I will only have 10 minutes to retrieve my luggage from the train, take it over to cruise terminal and then be back for the departure for PWS., and that is if the train is not delayed.

Taking the above timeframes into account, would it be best to book as a package through Major Marine..OR if our luggage has our cruise tags attached will our luggage be transferred to the cruise ship for us regardless of whether we book the train & PWS tour as a package or to book both separately ?

Was planning on booking train and PWS separately as hubby wants to go 'business' class on the train and that option is not available when booking as a train/PWS package with Major Marine.

Any thoughts on time constraints would be appreciated.

Because the agent will just parrot the standard statement of how long before a cruise excursions become available. This is because the agent will not have any direct knowledge of how close Princess is to arranging the excursion contracts.

 

paul929207's post above is the best answer currently possible.

Thanks for the input, and I agree the replies from experienced Princess cruisers on this forum is much more beneficial than phoning Princess for their 'standard' answer.

Thanks for your reply CruiserBruce.

I did ask it on the Princess forum but did not get a response. I'll keep a regular check on my login.

Hi

I Logged into 'MY Princess' account to look over the excursions available for our May 28th 2016 Alaska cruise.

As the excursions do not load for any of the 3 ports we're visiting , is there a set date when the ship excursions are open for booking ? EG 200 days from sailing date. Currently at 294 days out from sailing

Thanks

Karen

Hi

I Logged into 'MY Princess' account to look over the excursions available for our May 28th 2016 southbound Voyage of Glaciers cruise.

As the excursions do not load for any of the ports, is there a set date when the ship excursions are open for booking EG 200 days from sailing. Currently at 294 days out from sailing :)

Thanks

Karen

I don't agree to take a Princess transfer, there are several others to also consider. Listings http://www.anchorage.net

 

I also highly recommend you may want to look into a Prince William Sound boat tour, since you are only arriving the day before, and are very limited with touring options. Especially if you would like to take advantage of being in Alaska? I never recommend anyone rush on to a ship leaving Alaska. :) The Alaska RR is a great transfer, transfers your bags to the ship and allows you to go on a PWS boat tour. :)

Hi BudgetQueen

When booking the Alaska RR to Whitter, where do you request that they transfer your bags to the ship ?

Also where do we collect the bags from before we checkin with Princess at the cruise terminal, I presuming that the Alaska RR don't check in our bags for us with Princess ?

Actually, you have no issue with your price. US on the Princess site, same cruise is almost $1900US now. :) You are paying less than $1500US. :)

We can't even look at the US Princess site as we get diverted to the AUS site once our IP address is known, so good to know pricing is in the same ball-park through Princess websites.

Although pricing through discounted US cruise providers did offer better pricing when I enquired with them, and that's when I was advised they can't offered their discounts to Australian citizens unless we were under the same booking as a US resident.

As you found out, no you do not have the time for Adventure Bound. Being you are so early, I would suggest you consider making some changes. Your southbound itinerary is a poor idea, if you are taking advantage of being mainland Alaska? Denali Park is significantly better in this timeframe with a north bound trip.

 

But with your current idea of getting the most out of your trip, one "must" in my suggestion would be to insure you take a Prince William Sound boat tour. Very simple to add with your Whittier port.

Thanks for the reply Budget Queen

We are not taking partaking in mainland Alaska trips / Denali Park and the 28th May southbound departure from Whittier was within our price range. It was that or nothing at all.

When making bookings here in Australia for US /Alaska cruises we cannot book via online USA discount cruise agencies for Princess Cruises, hence we are already paying a hefty price for the cruise ($1969.00 AUS per person for balcony cabin) & with no onboard credit offerings to us, so late May pricing was more affordable.

We will definitely take your advice and do the Prince William Sound tour in Whittier.

Another planning issue was we wanted to finish in Vancouver and then look around there for a few days and then catch train to Seattle and then to Hawaii before heading home and Seattle offered better flight availability to Hawaii then flying out of Anchorage.

Hence the reason to my 'madness' of not doing a Northboard cruise., although I did consider it.

I really appreciate your advice and I read all your posts to gather any bit of information I can. so thanks again.

Budget Queen, I found the Adventure Bound website and it looks like the Tracy Arm tour is not for us as it get backs to Juneau at 6PM and our ships departure is 4pm.

Is Tracy Arm on your itinerary? IF it is, you would book the add on Tracy Arm tour, though your ship shore excursions.

 

IF you are in port all day in Juneau- ex. 7am- 7pm- you can do this tour through Adventure Bound.

Hi Budget Queen

We're doing a southbound cruise in Star Princess late May 2016, of which Tracy Arm is not on our itinerary.

As we are in Juneau from 6:30am - 4pm, would that be enough time to do the Tracy Arm tour through Adventure Bound ?

And if so, could we also squeeze a whale watching tour in also, either through the ship excursions or independently ?

Travelling from Australia, this maybe our only trip to Alaska so want to get the most out of it.

I was able to secure E718, so very happy.

I booked directly via the Princess website, however I couldn't see a section where I could deny an upgrade if one becomes available.

Guess I will have to give them a call. ?

Thanks for all replies.

HI

Looking at securing a Mini suite on Star Princess on Emerald deck E718 portside.

I have done some research and found that E718 & E720 will not be affected by noise from the Vista Lounge on the deck below as E718 & E720 are not directly above the Lounge Stage area.

Confirmation of this would be great, especially from someone who has stayed in either E718 or E720 on Star Princess.

Another question, As E718 is the start of the first mini-suites in this area, in google images of the ship it looks like there's some type of life raft (not life boats) located in the outside area immediately next to room E718. Does anybody know what they actually are. ?

Final question... When standing on the mini-suite balcony and looking towards the bow is your view obstructed by the life boats in any way ?

When I google for images of the Star Princess, it looks like the life boats are tucked in and not protruding, but would love confirmation of whether your view from the balcony would be obstructed ?

Looking forward to any information re Star E718 as I'm about ready to make our reservation

Thanks

Karen

We cruised Alaska on the Star. We had a mini suite on Dolphin. They are uncovered & can be seen from above. There are some mini suites on emerald deck but they are at the front of the ship or at the back. Not very many. We loved the star. Plenty of viewing places.

 

Debbie

thanks for the info, did it feel like the eyes of the world were staring down on you when you were on your balcony. ?

Or as every balcony on Dolphin is exposed (and not just yours) it didn't really matter. I guess another concern if it rains you don't have any shelter on your balcony.

Also, are a lot of the viewing places on the decks through blue Perspex or open. ?

Karen

My caution is about the dates. If your plan includes land travel, specifically a visit to Denali, keep in mind that the park road doesn't open fully until 6/10, to Eielson Visitor Center on 6/1.

Thanks for the info, but we are not doing land travel, Denali etc

Surprised no replies yet, so I'll offer a bit more info.

Either way, we are looking at a mini-suite and on the Star Princess those cabins are only located on Deck 9 - Dolphin Deck. I have since read that the mini suites balcony will be exposed to the 2 decks above due to the balcony not being covered.

The Coral princess mini-suites appear to be scattered through the ship and not restricted to a certain deck. Not sure if they have a covered balcony. ??

Would the 21st May cruise on Coral Princess be too early in the season or OK, as we would prefer a balcony with a cover

I've had some great advice on this forum, so I'm back again.

We have settled on the Princess line for our 2016 cruise, departing either 21 May on Coral Princess or the 28 May on Star Princess out of Whitter to Vancouver.

Is one ship better over the other or are they both about the same in relation to public viewing from the deck, amentities etc.

We were thinking of 28th May on Star Princess, but if the Coral Princess is a much better ship we would be happy with a 21 May departure also

Not sure if there would be much of a difference between the two cruise dates in terms of scenery, weather etc but any info would be appreciated.

PS. Don't want to confuse the issue, but the Island Princess departs on 18 May, of which I think the departure date is a bit too early re scenery etc and tours, but happy to also accept any advice if the Island Princess is the better out of all 3 ships.

Thanks

Karen

Thanks for all the replies.

I was holding off booking our May 2016 cruise so it would coincide with when the booking for our flight opens.

(We're planning on using frequent flyer miles for the flight to US which don't become avail until end June this year)

Taking all the replies into account, I think I'll take a chance and book the cruise now hoping it coincides with our award flight availability dates when they are released in 7 weeks time, otherwise we may get the award flight but not the cruise we want :eek:.

Thanks again