IECalCruiser

I really wanted to have a port side cabin w/ a balcony for a May 2011 Alakskan cruise on the Coral. Was offerred cabin B730 as my only choice through my TA. Does anyone see that this would be OK or not a great location. It is really AFT. I am wondering if I went to Princess directly if they would have better selection of cabins. Thoughts ?:confused: (I have never cruised myself, so don't know much about aft or midship or forward- BUT am on the Ruby Sept 2nd.as my 1st cruise!!) This cruise I am buying as a gift, so I want to be sure the cabin is decent!:)

We were a little farther forward on the Coral in B628. You are in the calm inside passage for all but one day of the cruise. I have used SCOP patches in the past but did not need them on our cruise. Your parents will be very close to the great viewing area on the Aft of Baja deck - the best "secret deck" IMHO. I spent much of the time in Glacier Bay National Park there. We were on the last aft cabin on the starboard side of Caribe deck, C743, on the Star in South America and did not need the patch through the Chilean Inside Passage.

We purchased our 100 shares of CCL just a week prior to our Hawaii RT and received the $250 OBC. Have since received two more $100 OBCs for additional cruises. Stock has also appreciated almost $1250. That's about a 50% return in less that 15 months. At a close of $46.30/share today your return will not be as great but if you cruise often on one or more of the Carnival brands you should still get a reasonable return on your investment.

Iecalcruiser

my wife and I will be next door to you in A744 on that trip

our first aft and first balcony

cajinyank,

You must be on a different cruise. My DSIL and DBIL are in A744 on the Sept 24 LA Coastal RT with us.

Pardon if this has been shown by others but here is the Sapphire Princess. First picture shows the Mini-suites toward the aft but not facing the aft of the ship. Note the uncovered Dolphin deck balconies. Then a few true aft shots...

kath00,

Thanks for the photos. Your view from above adds information. We are looking forward to our September cruise in aft cabin A746.

Even though there is no IC... don't they all have some kind of a "coffee bar"?? I know the Sapphire doesn't have an IC but still has a nice coffee area.

I know that you can still get fresh brewed coffee on ships without an IC (On the Coral it was on deck 5 but it's better to get the hot water for the Via and a bite of breakfast at the Horizon Court - IMHO.

My DW needs her french press coffee every morning. She has enjoyed the fresh brewed coffee available at the International Cafe with the coffee card. With no IC on the Coral she brought Via to get her morning fix. Both work for her. I am not a coffee drinker so I can't comment personally.

The rain has certainly caused problems this year with the travel over the peat bogs. We were with Patrick Watts to Volunteer Point on February 22 and the conditions were very difficult. Two hours from the farm over the peat there and 2 1/2 hours back over the peat to the farm. That doesn't count almost and hour each way over paved and gravel roads. There were many times that a vehicle had to be pulled out of the bog. The trip had to be very hard on the vehicles.

 

As far as Volunteer Point, even in the wind and rain that was with us all day it was still a wonderful sight with large groups of Kings, Gentoos and Magellanics. Glad the seas were calm and we were able to tender in. Princess treats people with independent tours much better and it is not difficult to make it in an early tender. You just need to get in line for tender tickets early in the morning. All of Patrick's group was off in good time.

Mary, here's a website to see what other ships will be in port on what date:

 

http://www.cruisett.com/ships.php

 

Strange thing is that it shows the Veendam in Key West (with the Costa Fortuna) on that date! Either they have the schedule wrong or maybe your date or ship is different from what you wrote below?

cruisett is in error regarding the Veendam and Oosterdam ports for 2010. Also has an error for the Star Princess at the end of this season. Has her going to San Francisco when she is going to Ft. Lauderdale. If cruisett has no other errors, the Veendam should have Stanley to herself on February 15.

On the Golden Hawaii RT that departed October 28 the Pub Lunch was served in the Crown Grill. A quick check of the Patters shows that the Pub Lunch was offered on 5 of the 8 sea days. The food was quite good.

North Pond, someone asked about this I have managed to get some details for you. This is an all day trip which includes lunch, which is provided. They will take you overland by camp road (gravel track) and overland by 4x4 to breeding colonies of magellanic and gentoo penguins. Last year there was also King penguin around though seeing one this year is not guaranteed plenty of other wildlife to see on the way. Because of the location of North pond they can take you back to Stanley via goose green and san Carlos which were areas of major activity during the 82 conflict, however only if time permits.

 

Beer, a subject close to my heart :-), Unfortunately there is no draught beer here in the Falklands, from time to time businesses try to import draught lager etc with different levels of success.

 

Wine, just pop into the west store they have a good selection of wines (a lot from Chile) available and only a 5 minute walk from the jetty.

 

Bluff Cove: They are really chuffed with their award but are not resting on their laurels and this year have construction a museum about Bluff cove farm.

 

Patrick Watts: I haven't heard a bad thing about his tours and i believe can be upto 50% cheaper that the ship excursions. One note, this may of changed, he only accepts cash do not try to pay by card as he doesn't have the facilities to accept them.

Jason,

Thank you for being a continued source of info about the Falklands!

Yes absolutely, I am usually very against ships tours, but this one was fantastic. The landrover ride for 20-30 mins each way is over rough terrain, but the landrovers are built to handle it, and our driver was so interesting we hardly noticed the time.

 

The setting of Bluff cove is beautiful, and the Cabbage cafe serves lovely cakes, although of course the wonderful penguins are the best thing about it. We were lucky to see 4 Kings with their babies, as well as all the Gentoos.

 

debsjc,

 

Thanks for the info and the photos. Think we will opt for this trip with Princess in February.

Picys of Bluff Cove at the end of Feb 2009

 

debsjc,

 

Did you think the Bluff Cove trip was worthwhile if you wanted to cut down the SUV travel by several hours compared to Volunteer Point?