Photo_Traveler

Great Thread! Can anyone add any insight about Sprint? I'm not concerned about wifi....just normal cell / LTE service in the usual AK ports

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Curious as to extension cords. Are there plenty of outlets in the staterooms on the fantasy? What about an adapter that would accommodate 3 devices?

Good Point! I bring a short extension cord as I've on camera and external battery chargers. In a day of shooting stills and video, it might be necessary to charge eight batteries.

Looks like they are within a half hour to forty-five minutes of having the ship fully moored. It's being aligned with the terminal now.

The seats on the train aren't reserved. They will take your ticket when you board the train. Yes once the starts you can go out on the platform, I believe they limit the number to 4 out on the platform at one time.

Perfect! Thanks EagleCW for the information.

So seats on the train and bus are not reserved? Does this include the tours sold by Celebrity?

When do they collect tickets? I'd like to go to the vestibule between cars for photos as quickly as possible.

Thank You!!

I have to disagree about the traffic being light at Pier 91, it can be a SOB at times, been there and done that. I also find it inconvenient to have to drop off my family, drive back to the parking lot and catch the scuttle back to the Pier. What are your family members supposed to do while they wait for you to come back, it could be 30 – 45 minutes before you get back? This is why I park with Seattle cruise ship parking, they pick us up at the car transport us to the Pier and then it’s a short walk into the main building to drop off our bags. Last year we were at the parking lot at around 10:50am. We were the first ones on the shuttle and off to the pier. Got over to the pier in nothing flat, dropped off our luggage downstairs with the longshoremen at the scanner, went upstairs checked in and got on the ship by 11:30am. I’m all about it being as convenient as possible.

Thanks Eaglecw,

That is exactly the assumption I was operating under. Driving around the Magnolia Hill area (in the area of the bridge and pier 91) is insane. And, having departed from the Florida Ports, it was always a three ring circus at each of the terminals. So, driving up to the cruise ship terminals in Seattle should be equally challenging. I'm already reserved at the lot you recommended.

Thanks Again.

Mike

I appreciate the update! Thanks Eaglecw! This information is perfect and exactly what I needed. My impression is that the other lot owner may not be concerned about offering convenient terminal transfers.

 

 

Mike

(Update)

In communicating with the other lot operator (and to their credit), they feel that the Pier 91 cruise port traffic (to the terminal is light). So, it's relatively easy to drop people off and drive your car back to their lot. Their primary goal is to have plenty of passenger space on their vans. That also is a valid business model.

However, to me, a two step process is often less convenient than a one step process. As always, the final parking decision is market based and left with the customer.

Mike,

We cruise out of Pier 91 every year. For the last 5 or 6 years we’ve parked behind the Armory at the Seattle cruise ship parking lot https://seattlecruiseparking.com/?_vsrefdom=adwords&gclid=CMLw2LHr_9ICFQxrfgodVvgN3g they have a shuttle that picks you up at your car and takes you over to Pier 91. Pretty slick deal. I don't care for the parking lot that Republic runs at Pier 91.

I appreciate the update! Thanks Eaglecw! This information is perfect and exactly what I needed. My impression is that the other lot owner may not be concerned about offering convenient terminal transfers.

Mike

As a prior Seattle resident, I know the Roads around the Magnolia area and Pier 91 are somewhat confused and confusing. Is it easy to drop passengers and luggage at the terminal before parking the car at the close-by lot??? How effective are the signs?

I have looked at the port of Seattle/Republic parking websites and find it odd that the parking lot shuttles won't take passengers and luggage directly to the boarding area. I'm sure most people would prefer to park their cars, load the luggage and traveling companions on a shuttle and then head straight to the terminal.

Thank You!

Mike

I don't remember the detailed port info sheets from the Constellation in2012 or Eclipse in 2013. We did receive the jewelry store info though. :D

Am I wrong or is this a new practice??? Or are these only available from the tour desk??

Thank You!!!

For those that like to watch sailaways on PTZtv, a 360 degree view of the Eclipse will be possible today....(Sunday)

Enjoy!

To echo the comments of others, your thread is a keeper! I'll be adding it to my favorites file. We were scheduled on the March 5th cruise and had to rebook.

Thanks for Sharing!

I am enjoying your reports. Having tried to report day to day is difficult (especially once the ship starts docking at destination ports).

If you get a chance to dine in Aruba on the overnight, "Barefoot" has a great rating. In Curacao, Steak and Ribs is a good place to view the ship and enjoy a drink or meal.

Question: Are you using "Insert Image" to add your photos???

Hi! I was asked about the Fair Princess Mexican Riviera Video and cruise ship video of the Vancouver departures in 1990.

That video has now been uploaded and is being worked on now. The video was shot with a first generation Sony 8mm videocam. So, it looks nothing like the 1080P video I shoot today.

It will be uploaded to Smugmug as soon as I delete the Photographer errors :) and family stuff during editing.

Wait until you see the cabin shots..... :-)

Take Care!

Mike

That was actually Princess Carla, not Costa Princess. She was officially named Carla C, but unofficially Princess Carla while sailing for Princess.

There were also some Canadian Pacific and independent Princess named ships in the Princess mix. The Princess of Vancouver (Often on the Nanaimo <> Vancouver ferry trip) and the Princess Marguerite (known for the daily Seattle <> Victoria tourist run). The PM might have started the Victoria <>Seattle trip as Canadian Pacific. However, in the later years, it had other owners. But, I don't believe any of these aligned with P&O. (Yep, I have pix of these ships).

Thank you for the Photos, It brought back memories. Is there anyone out there that was on the Fairsea (Sitmar) back in 1988.

We booked In August 1988 under Sitmar (FairSea) but when we received our tickets in Sept. 1988 it was under the name of Fair Princess. We were doing the 28 day Grand Adventure cruise from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia, That was when Princess took over Sitmar.

 

Is there anyone out there that was on that cruise???

 

Just looked at my pictures, and I still have our cruise tickets.

 

What I miss is the Passenger list, being escorted to your cabin. Back then the price from Montreal, QC. Canada was $5,000.00 ea. Cruise Fare, including air from Sydney plus 1 night Hotel in LA. That was for a small inside cabin with bunk beds, there were no balconies then.

 

We had a great time on that ship. Hope someone remembers that Cruise

I definitely remember being escorted to the cabin in 1990 (And in the MS Nederland in 1968). Since the 1990 Princess cruise, we are left to find our own way. :)

Found more Negatives of the 1990 cruise.....:)

Excellent photos! Thanks for sharing. Very interesting to see the changes to the various ports, especially Cabo. Your tender photos from Puerto Vallarta reminded me of our first cruise back in 1991. We were docked in PV on the Carnival Jubilee, and the Dawn Princess was anchored offshore and tendering. Here's a photo I took of the Dawn:

 

Great Photo! We lived in Seattle (Now Shoreline) at the time we cruised on the Fair Princess.

I just found sixty more images of the 1990 cruise that I'm running through the scanner. Hope to update he photo sharing site in a few hours.

Yes, they are about the last mass-market ships that still have them. Some of the lounge chairs are now reserved for Lanai Suite passengers only. Last I knew, however, there are still some available to all passengers onboard. I will be sad when they eventually leave the HAL fleet.

I agree! We had that type of lounge chair on the Ryndam in 2010. The MS Nederland in 1968 had similar lounge chairs on the Rhine....

It's probable that we can still have that experience on the boutique lines that use the older ships...

It all looks so familiar. How do I find the video?

My Bad! :rolleyes: It's uploaded to the PC. I just need to process it and upload it to Youtube.

Thanks for posting. The Fair Princess was our second Princess cruise probably about 1990. Brings back memories.

 

Cheers,

We might have crossed paths.... On the video, I have the balloon release, Princess Mariachi band, horn blasts as we pass the harbor light... Baked Alaska parade, and shots toward the intercom to catch the xylophone call to Dinner.

We had a tiny porthole and were in the second row above the water line. The beds were like berths and stayed in place... No queen size bed conversions:)

..just found an unscanned shot of the dining room.... It was quite an eye-opener .... In 1990, it was fine as the crew and food were outstanding. By today's standards, it's quite unadorned and basic.

Thanks for this! What I miss most about ships from that era are the full-size lounge chairs on the promenade decks. Much quieter than the pool area loungers for those of us who like to read or relax and watch the sea go by.

I think the ships in the same class as the HAL Maasdam still have those types of loungers on the Promenade deck.

Great pics, love the golden oldies out of Vancouver.

 

Those ships look like they could go to war.

I agree! When looking at the Fair Princess, it does have a troop ship look to it.

Those pictures sure bring back memories of a great pair of ships. Fair and Dawn were such wonderful vessels and there still was a bit of the old Sitmar feeling aboard. I had a sailing booked on Fair Majesty's fourth voyage, and by the time was finished building, she emerged as Star Princess which you captured under Lions Gate Bridge. Thanks for sharing.

You're Welcome! We lived in North Seattle when I captured the Lion's Gate Shots. Vancouver was a short two plus hours away. Usually, we were in BC ten times a year. During EXPO, it was more like twenty. :)

Once I find the other shots of the cabin, interior and Bridge of the Fair Princess, I'll scan and upload them.....