ikirumata

From there, I'd say don't buy a camera that's been on the market >2 years as the technology comes a long way fast. Pick an entry-level camera, perhaps without a lens, then get an 18-200 lens and you'll probably be quite happy with that for vacation pictures.

I respectfully disagree here. I own a Canon T2i, which came out in 2010 and I have no pressing need to upgrade (in a couple years, maybe Ill look at getting a new/used body). I seem to learn more and more each year and I have yet to outgrow my camera. You can see some of my photos in my signature.

In fact, canon has pretty much been using the same crop sensor for the past 3 years anyway, with only minor improvements up until recently with the T5i and D70...but mainly to support video.

If you don't mind buying used, there is a great market out there of used gear that is >2 years old that will take some fantastic pics (for pennies on the dollar). Far too often, people think they want to get into the DSLR world and buy the hottest on the market or a great deal at Best Buy, but end up getting frustrated because their pictures dont come out as good as they were expecting, so they end up dumping them for something easier to use.

Good luck in you hunt! Let us know what you decide!

The ship had come to a stop while at sea? What on earth happened?

Nice photo, though...

Nothing happened, I suppose it was the only way to get a whole sea day out of travelling from St John NB to Halifax NS (normally a 3 hour drive by car).

The first sea day of our cruise was a nice day.

 

sunset by ikirumata, on Flickr

Not sure what happened...

sunset by ikirumata, on Flickr

Goat cheese soufflé is served at the Chops specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean ships.

And its Amazing!

Andy's Old Port Pub in Portland Maine has the best blueberry pie I have ever eaten!

Reyers Lobster near Peggy's Cove Nova Scottia had the best lobster I have ever had!

Lovely!!

Do they actually allow people out there on the RCI ships?

On HAL ships no passengers are allowed out on the bow when the ship is moving or at night even though they do not have helicopter pads.

I believe that the only time passengers are not allowed on the helipad is when there is a helicopter coming. Otherwise, its open. When the boat is moving, its very windy. This night was a sea night and we had pretty much come to a stop as there was no wind. We had to take advantage!

I've attached a larger version of this picture...the light was really tough that morning, so the slow shutter speed and the ISO show a little bit...but you can't really can't tell when it's printed at 8x10 or smaller so I'm happy.

 

I could not believe it when the bear turned and looked at me right in the eye. Check out the water falling from its mouth and the freshly killed salmon at its feet. :)

 

Nikon D800

Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VRII (No TC)

Manual - f/2.8, 1/45, 160mm, ISO 800, No Flash, Handheld

No Post Processing Other Than Cropping & Conversion To JPEG

 

Great pic of the bear!

Hand held 1/45 at 160mm? Impressive! You must have nerves of steel!

Dancing by moonlight on the helipad of the Brilliance of the Seas.

moonlit by ikirumata, on Flickr

I really like the "mood" of this picture.

Thanks!

Im not a Bostonian, but I did partake in plenty of cannolis while visiting. Mikes was our favorite!

mikes cannolis by ikirumata, on Flickr

The first sea day of our cruise was a nice day.

sunset by ikirumata, on Flickr

Brilliance of the Seas in port at Bar Harbor.

barharborport by ikirumata, on Flickr

Approaching Canada Place cruise terminal in Vancouver on a clear morning aboard Coral Princess in 2012

 

I love Vancouver! Here is how I remember it! :p

tilt_place by ikirumata, on Flickr

We have cruised RCL every year for past 4 years. I don't recall the savory bites. What are they?

 

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

This!

Savory Bites on the Voyager of the Seas by ikirumata, on Flickr

Here's yours after I worked on it for 60 seconds.

 

 

framer

Nice! Better than I remember!

Here is a shot I took at Hubbard. It was taken while the weather was cloudy and rainy. I slightly bumped up the blacks and a bit of the contrast in Lightroom.

CalvingHubbard by ikirumata, on Flickr

Tracy Arm....!

I don't believe that 5 hours is enough time to go to Tracy Arm. Its a long boat ride up there and there are usually stops along the way there and back to check out interesting things like whales, bears, and eagles sitting on icebergs.

I don't have a proper review, but you can see some of my shots by using the link below in my signature.

We visited Vancouver, Ketchican, Icy Strait, Skagway, Hubbard, Seward.

Enjoy!

Little Roatan back in 2009. :p

tilt_Roatan by ikirumata, on Flickr

mmm...food pr0n! After seeing that pic of the prime rib, I need a towel...got drool all over my shirt! :p

Love these pics to help pass the time between cruises!

I can't give any recommendations on panning excursions, but I did notice that if you go to Lower Reid Falls and look along the shore in the sandy areas, you can see gold colored flakes all over. Not sure if they were real or not, but I thought it was kind of cool.

Here is another thread talking about these gold flakes around Skagway

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=992706

Pre-Cruise

Vancouver - Tour Stanley Park and Granville Island.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/stanley-park-vancouver

http://www.yelp.com/biz/granville-island-vancouver-2

http://www.yelp.com/biz/granville-island-public-market-vancouver

Cruise

Day 1 - Inside Passage Cruising

Day 2 - Ketchikan - Southeast Kayak to Orca Bay. http://www.kayakketchikan.com

Shopping

Lunch/Snack at Alaskan Surf - http://www.yelp.com/biz/alaskan-surf-halibut-and-chips-ketchikan

or

Ketchikan Fish Market - http://www.yelp.com/biz/ketchikan-fish-markets-crab-cracker-seafood-bar-ketchikan

Day 3 - Icy Strait Point - FISHES Whale Watch - http://www.visithoonah.com/fishes.html

Day 4 - Juneau - Tracy Arm Fjord tour - Adventure Bound Alaska - http://www.adventureboundalaska.com/

Shopping

Dinner/Snack at Tracy's King Crab Shack - http://www.yelp.com/biz/tracys-king-crab-shack-juneau

Day 5 - Skagway - Shopping. Self guided tour. Day of rest.

Day 6 - Hubbard Glacier - Cruising

Day 7 - Seward - Train to Anchorage. See relatives.

Day 8 - Fly home!

Thanks for sharing! One of my cruise mates absolutely loves these!

Im going to try to make these one day. Thanks again!

For those that dont know what they are, here is a pic I took of a Savory Bite several years ago.

On the Voyager:

1. The best place to lay out is at the back of the ship near the Adventure Ocean kids section. It is quiet, hardly anyone goes there (i.e. no chair hogs), and it is sheltered from the wind. Plus you get to watch the sea birds following in the wake of the ship.

2. If you want to eat your windjammer food outside, again, the Adventure Ocean has chairs and tables. This is where we usually end up eating whenever they have the outdoor buffets.

3. The men's room near the windjammer has a waterfall urinal.

4. The stairs are a great way to work off all the food you eat during the week. Last time, I actually lost weight during the cruise because we never took the elevators.

5. The gym is a good place to catch some sporting events on tv that may not be shown elsewhere.

6. Another shout out for the MDR salad bar! The best salad I have ever had was in the MDR during lunch. I must have had at least 7 different cheeses in it!!!

7. The little poppyseed rolls are called 'Savory Bites'.

8. Most of the desserts served in the MDR are on the Windjammer buffet as well.

9. The promenade cafe is open on embarkation day. Skip the Windjammer and grab pizza and sandwiches instead! (sorry, still not a fan of the honey stung chicken). :p

and another secret that they dont tell you...

10. The algae fat burning spa treatment is a big ripoff!!!!