azappraiser

I'm not really sure IG really had anything to do with it... I reached out to our Pro Photographer/Instructor for that trip, and was just as surprised as me. In fact, he got the same general email that past patrons received. I'm sure he received more info later, as he conducted several workshops for them each year; as a contractor, not staff. I at least had the pleasure of working with him for 4-days... he also happens to be a Brand Ambassador for Pentax, and as the only other Pentaxian on the trip, I was the only one that could use any of his lenses on my bodies. I did one other photo workshop with them at a local zoo. Some would consider them to be a bit pricey; I honestly felt I got more than what I paid for in instruction and techniques. I certainly hope they make a comeback.

We sailed the final cruise of the season in 2011, it was mid-September then. Great deals in ports as stores were closing, but excursions were limited then as well. Rained the entire time except for Glacier Bay... the wind died to a light breeze, the sun was out, and the clouds parted for the entire day. Three hours later, it was raining again, and kept raining until we got back to Phoenix. We're going in May this time.

Juneau, Ketchikan, & Skagway are also within the inside passage...actually, Alaska's Inside Passage, which begins south of Ketchikan, to approximately half the distance to Prince Rupert. I believe you may be referring to Canada's Inside Passage.... look at the map.

UPDATE: Booked two weeks ago... checked price yesterday for same ship/date/aft-facing Haven PH w/lg balcony - minor differences in FAS, but the cost increased $450.00 from our booked fare.

I can't speak for 2026, but we're on the Encore in mid-May 2025... Inside Passage & Glacier Bay.

No no no... NOT willing to pay extra. Just wanted to know if I wanted to know if I should keep the line about emptying the fridge in my letter or not. Thanks for all your valuable insight.

@Sthrngary Okay, having gone through your initial post & the update, as well as everything I could find regarding your "Letter to the Butler", and I still have a burning question. Having not sailed in several years, I have a hard time recalling what items are stocked in the mini-fridge. So, my question is this; If the Haven Suite guests have the Premium Beverage Plus package, what exactly would be in the mini-fridge that would incur an additional charge if consumed?

I booked our Alaska cruise 667 days in advance... I had a specific cabin in mind, on the itinerary and date that we want... the suite was available... now it's ours... & we have absolutely no regrets.

Thanks... I shot that on the final night of a 4-day Historic Rt.66 Photo Workshop. From Holbrook to Oatman, including the longest continuous stretch of the original "Mother Road" from Seligman to Kingman. Unfortunately, AZ Highways Photoscapes is closing up shop at the end of the year... so sad.

I actually found a YouTube video by "retired folks" staying in the exact cabin on the Encore that I wanted to book for the same itinerary & time of year in Alaska... convinced me to snatch it up before anyone else; booked 05/2025, Aft-Facing Haven Penthouse w/Large Balcony, #12906. This will be our 1st Haven experience, although we did get to enjoy some of the suite perks on the Gem. We also hung out in one of the Garden Villas on the sea day out of Samana... made friends the family that was staying in it... Sweet Suite!

Although it was a while ago, 2014, we still talk about that trip. We scored an aft balcony (no suite, but made friends with the couple next door), regardless, our balcony accommodated two loungers, plus a small table & two chairs... and there was still room to move around. Sailing away from the Na Pali coast was incredible... we had that view longer than most everyone on the ship. Can't comment on the current crew, facilities, or anything in particular about the ship, other than I believe it went through an update since we sailed. I can say the crew we had on board was fantastic, but we really didn't spend that much time on the ship with the lengthy ports-of-call... Kailua-Kona was the only short time, and the only tender port as well. We had dinner that night at the Captain's Table; although ours was round, not rectangular like the Love Boat. Besides my wife and I, there were two other couples and three staff officers. Excellent treat! Aside from our aft-balcony, the POA wasn't about the ship... we visited four of the islands in a week without having to pack/unpack or fly from one to the other.

Wouldn't that be cool... I guess I'll just have to take a copy of the menu with me and see what our Haven bartender can whip up. My wife had the Alaskan Snow Plow... that was mighty tasty too.

Curious if NCL still has a "Specialty Drink" menu for Glacier Bay sailings... the attachment is what was offered on the Pearl in Sept 2011. The Grizzly Bear was absolutely delicious... warmed the insides too... perfect for viewing Marjorie Glacier during the slow turn... Glacier Bay Drink Menu.pdf

Before the Canon, Nikon, Sony, Leica, & Fuji users start piling on, I know I'm among a very small group of photographic equipment users... that's why I'm asking if there are any others like me on the boards. My primary body is a 24MP K-70 and I also carry a 16MP K-50. I have a small assortment of lenses; a 14mm f2.8 (21mm crop), a 60-250mm f4.0 (90-375 crop), an 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 (27-202 crop) and a 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 +Macro (42-120 crop). I use Lightroom Classic for post, along with a Loupedeck+ console. I'm also a self-admitted gearhead... Booked for Alaskan Cruise in May 2025, on the NCL Encore, Aft-facing Haven PH w/lg balcony, #12906. Can't to return to Glacier Bay.

In every class or workshop I've taken, the instructor/teacher/professor/pro photographer... they've all pretty much said the same thing; "film negatives get developed, lightroom/photoshop develops digital negatives (& jpgs) and can take it to a whole new level. The instructor I had for the Lightroom Classic webinar I took stressed the temptation to over-correct... the only corrections in the below pic were to black-out a few stray, faintly lit light bulbs.

Our first cruise too... we booked a 7-day honeymoon package with hotel, car, WD World tickets for 3-days, and then 3-days to the Bahamas on the Starship Oceanic, in an obstructed-view suite. Still memorable. Finally took our 2nd cruise 23-yrs later on NCL to Alaska, then the 3rd to the Caribbean, then the 4th in Hawaii, then a break... now booked for Alaska again in 05/2025.

We're booked on the Encore for May 18-25, 2025...

Our first cruise was 3-day to the Bahamas, that followed 4-days at Disney/Epcot, in Sept 1990. We were on the Starship Oceanic on Premier Cruise Lines, which sailed out of Port Canaveral.

We "purchased" some fresh-caught salmon in Ketchikan, just off the boat. They fileted, froze, vacuum-packed & then shipped it home. A word of caution: Next-Day shipping will be used due to the perishable nature of the contents. There may also be an up-charge if they use dry ice... even with a FedEx discount, overnight is still expensive; but the salmon was worth it!

We sailed on the POA in 2015; having never been to Hawaii, it was the perfect way to get a taste of the islands, transportation & meals included. We splurged for a Non-Suite Aft Balcony on deck 8. Best decision we made when booking. It was our 3rd cruise w/NCL, Alaska & Eastern Caribbean on the Pearl & Gem respectively. We've been back to Hawaii since, but only to Oahu. And while we'd like to make at least one more vacation there, I doubt we'd repeat the POA cruise and opt to stay on one or two of the islands for several days each.

We had an aft balcony on the POA in Hawaii...