tammyjw305

Thanks!

I definitely will bring a photocopy ashore and maybe even an old passport :). It would cool to get stamps and true customs in Russia was very slow.

It still seems like a lot of responsibility for the cruise line...if they lose one, someone is not flying home!

Tammy

Hi,

I have read a few Reviews noting that the cruise line (NCL, maybe all) keeps your passport from when you check in Valparaiso to when you disembark in Buenas Aires?

Is this a requirement by one of the countries the cruise visits (Chile, Uruguay, or Argentina), or why do they do it? I have always heard to take your passport ashore if you miss the ship and need to fly. It also seems like quite an ordeal to return all the passports at the end.

Thanks!

Tammy

We planned excursions on our own each time; here is what we did last time: http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=517804&et_cid=2531924&et_rid=16181689&et_referrer=NULL

On our first Alaska trip, we did Misty Fjords in Ketchikan with Island Wings, which was great, and then walked to the Totem Pole museum in town, seeing creek street. In Skagway, We did a Yukon trip, separate from the RR because it was more affordable. I'm not sure it was this one, but something like this: http://www.frontierexcursions.com/.

Have fun!

Tammy

I was disappointed when I first read this and the other thread too, but after having looked at the menus that were attached, the items look of higher quality (like were available when I started cruising in 2003) than are offered now with a steak option included at no charge. I do not remember a time when NCL included a prime rib or high quality lobster at no charge, but I may be wrong.

Having to bring additional tables checks for their al a carte purchase may slow down service, but the menus look promising to me.

Good video; thank you for sharing!

We also went during one of the two Spring Break weeks. There were lines at drop off and something for pick up, but we were never turned away on the Jewel from Houston. They did ask people to start picking their kids up 30 minutes before closing because they wanted time to process them all out before their assigned break time.

Hi,

We are leaving from Seward, AK with a normal noon embarkation time, and the ship leaves at 9pm, all aboard at 7pm. Has anyone dropped luggage, checked in, had lunch, and then gotten back off the ship to explore Seward more before 7pm? Does this work? How do you get off and back on -- walk through the same skybridge and through the terminal or somewhere else?

We are interested in doing more exploring without luggage to haul around, but with it working to find its way to our cabin, and being through the check in process.

Thanks!

Tammy

We will also miss the convenient NCL TX port location!

Your pictures are awesome; your trip sounds great!

Aw -- that makes sense. From the Sun web cam, maybe there is no pool and more instruments (cannot see as much of the bow). Thanks, everyone!

I see people on what I called the bow on the Pearl web cam now, next to the crew pool, which is roped off.

What gives :)?

Tammy

Aw -- maybe it is the crew that I see on the bow from the webcam.

Thanks,

Tammy

Hi,

We are going to Alaska on the NCL Sun. I have seen on the web cam people viewing from the bow on glacier cruising days. I was excited, but now assume this is probably just for suite guest or some criteria. Does anyone know who is allowed to view on the bow?

Thanks!

Tammy

We are planning to hike in Denali, so we are taking hiking boots. When we just did a sea/inside passage trip, we did not. I second the binoculars recommendation. Gloves and ear muffs are nice to have on the glacier cruising day to be on deck watching. I got a rain jacket to take this time; I did not have a waterproof jacket last time. My husband has a fleece jacket for this trip; I may just take a sweatshirt for layering. An umbrella. I'm interested in the waterproof spray that people are taking about on CC, so we may look into that too.

Tammy

I thought they gave you a freestyle daily when checking in (onshore) or as you first boarded the ship (?). I thought I remember reading it at lunch the first day before the rooms are ready. Then following nights, your room steward provides it in the room with the nightly turn down service.

I love your reviews, and your daughter is adorable!

Thank you for the previous snorkeling with kids advice.

Aw, just acting up. Thanks! I'll try to catch the Sun going through.

Tammy

Hi,

Just curious, I saw the NCL Jewel shipcam frozen on a picture of the canal and later the cam was blacked out. Is this a Panama security requirement, or do they want people to book the cruise instead of watching it online?

Tammy

Someone here recommended the chocolate factory tour: http://www.kaokaochocolatefactorytour.com/checkAvailability.aspx#

We have added it to our list of possibilities when we cruise in March. Our kids are 6 and 9.

Tammy

Every time I have snorkeled in Cozumel I have booked through Island Marketing and done the glass bottom boat tour snorkeling. This excursion takes you to 3 reefs in small groups - I have never done one with more than 6 people and twice done it when it was just my 2 kids and myself. One time the star fish were migrating and we made an extra stop to snorkel in a star fish breeding ground- it was amazing!

Hi --

How old are your kids? I'm trying to determine if our kids are old enough to snorkel.

Thanks!

I recommend Mt. Robert's tram in Juneau and walking from the pier through town to downtown Victoria (about a 30 minute leisurely walk with a Starbucks about halfway to downtown Victoria ) .

Have fun!

I second both of these recommendations. Victoria is very pretty and the climate makes it very nice to walk. In Juneau, we also took the bus to Mendenhall Gracier (brought tickets on the pier) to see the gracier and hike to the waterfall. I read here the bus is now $20 round trip per person now.

Walking along the creek to Totem Heritage Center in Ketchikan is nice too.

Enjoy!

Tammy

Agree on the shower comment. Both ships are good, but the showers are very small on the Sun! The Dawn has a Blue Lagoon and bigger showers. It wins my vote.

Tammy

Cagneys: Filet

Le Bristo: Chocolate Fondue

Thanks! I searched to see if the menu items were list, but had no luck.

I liked Blue Lagoon on Jewel. How is O'Sheehan's different. Is there a charge for food?

I really liked the Blue Lagoon too. I'm sorry to see that they are removing them from the ships. The wings were the best!