Dizzneefan

Because she's taking me on our first trip to Alaska next June!

you complain it might rain

and you complain it might be sunny

 

karma is in balance

I have not complained one time. I have asked some opinions and questions. Maybe some do not know the difference.

Personally, I have no issues with the summer nights up north, but I grew up in Alaska.

 

However, I have worked the graveyard shift for years and know a thing or two about sleeping when it is light out :)

 

You can go the sleep-aid route if you like. However, I'd recommend getting a good quality sleep mask. It was the best thing I ever did in the years I worked nights.

 

My personal favorite runs about $10 on Amazon. It is the Dream Essentials Sweet Dreams Contoured Sleep Mask. They don't last a long time, but it will get you through a week on a cruise ship.

 

I personally don't care for sleep aids as they make me feel kind of groggy the next morning sometimes.

 

Just my 2 cents for what its worth :)

I had rather go the mask route myself instead of the aids. We have two excursions that leave around 7:20-7:30 and I don't want to fall asleep and miss anything! Of course if we have such early starts, and are accustomed to CST time zone then NEITHER may be necessary.

We do not sail until next June but I was wondering how difficult it is to sleep with so many daylight hours? We have an aft cabin so if we close the curtains, do you still find it difficult to sleep? I am not accustomed to any light in the room so do you think I might need sleep aids to help?

Did you have that room after the refurb? We have it for Alaska in May - LOVE Aft balconies! Wondering if there is a couch in this one. thanks

We have it next June for Alaska!

If you are prepping for your trip to Alaska as I am and have 37 minutes to spare then just watch this video

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgD6MLBsKQQ

Absolutely beautiful pictures set to peaceful music. No video Still shots only but the photographer has an incredible eye

Carnival Cruise Lines thrives in New Orleans. Maybe we should start to utilize the Port of Mobile again

I wish they would!

We will be on the Legend next year, so since you are cruising first and will be on these, be sure to post your opinion of them!

We are booked to visit June 2015, but I am already busy, busy, researching excursions. It is a party of 11 ranging from 23 to a very youthful FIL, 85 who still walks 5 miles every day.

I am the planner for the group and do not have anything scheduled for Victoria or Ketchican since those port times are shorter and we want some time to just tour on our own and do some shopping.

Have I omitted anything obvious that I should consider?

Tuesday Seattle: No planned excursion. We arrive on Saturday so will tour prior to cruise

Wednesday: At Sea N/A

Thursday Tracy Arm: Small Boat Excursion from ship

Friday Skagway: Chilkhoot Bus/Rail Bennett Tour

Saturday Juneau: Harv and Marv Whale Watching

Sunday Ketchikan: Shop and tour on our own

Monday Victoria: Shop and tour on our own

Tuesday Seattle: N/A

Our son now prefers cruises over going to Disneyworld.

Not quite sure how to respond to this! (See screen name)

I've not cruised THAT many times, (7 total) and have never price checked once I booked the trip. However, reading this and other threads concerning Price Check has me curious and I will keep checking.

Our price has not changed for our Alaskan cruise next June, I would assume there are no rules set in stone, but how far our would we expect to see any change in price, if there is to be one?

just last night the lovely mrs b-d and i were romatically involved on the couch when we both magically shouted ....

 

"have you noticed how nice the weather has been for the past four weeks and most forecasts have been that it should be a pisser?"

 

and then things got weird but .....

 

in southeast, no weather forecast is valid after two days.

Guess I'm a little strange, but when "romatically involved" the weather is the LAST thing on my mind.

To each his or her own, I guess.

No reason to book this with the ship...consider...Chilkoot a private tour company..we opted for their 8:00am bus up and train down..worked out great and then had the afternoon to spend in Skagway.

Did you book through Chilkoot Charters or Chilkhoot Tours? Also which package did you select? I looked at the packages for Chilkoot Charters and they mention "travel to Emerald Lake" but did not mention stopping and I want to see it and take some pictures. I was looking at the Yukon and Rail Excursion with the Dogsled ride, the 7.5 hour tour.

ONLY 1 MORE

year.

I know this may seem like a stupid question but for those of you who have travelled to Alaska before do you prefer the rainy, colder days which seem more like what we think of as Alaska or a clear sunshine filled day? Our first trip is booked for next June and honestly I would not mind a few cooler, misty days

I'm also interested in the binocular suggestions. We do not sail until June of next year but considered buying my FIL /some for Fathers Day since he will be on the trip as well

More please!

You are making a very wrong assumption. These ideas pertain ONLY to the Caribbean. Demographics are similar to any other cruise line sailing Alaska - middle aged and above the bulk. There also are NOT the activities all day long or the activities of the Caribbean you may be expecting. There was very little going on during the day. A lot of trivia was noted, and bingo. So just be prepared.

That is exactly the point I was trying to make---that a trip to Alaska does not have the typical party atmosphere of a Caribbean cruise. I was just hoping that Carnival would have more choices than the other lines would offer on an Alaskan cruise

I've read many threads that mention the importance of waterproofing tennis shoes, coats, etc for an Alaskan trip. In looking around there are a lot of different brands and sizes. What are some you can suggest using? Also, since we will be in Seattle for a few days prior to sailing should we just wait and try to buy some there to avoid any problems with plane security? Should we just spray it prior to leaving home and not worry about doing that later or buying it in Seattle? Does it "wear off" easily and will need more applications during the week?

We are booked on the CCL Legend next June Ours will be a party of 11 ranging in ages from 12 to 85. I'm doing a lot of the advanced work for us as that is the normal routine for our family trips, but of course discuss these with everyone.

Carnival seems to have the reputation of more of a party experience and while none of us are party animals, a trip to Alaska seems to be more sedate than trips to the Caribbean or Mexico. Generally we will be observing nature in a variety of ways but I don't want the younger ones to feel as though on a dull trip with a bunch of seniors. I'm hoping that activities on Carnival will counter balance any sense of "nothing exciting to see" on this trip.

Now please let me be clear, I am NOT saying HAL or any other cruise line with trips to Alaska are floating retirement centers. I just chose Carnival because we have used them before, enjoyed the experiences, and feel that it may better suit our entire party this trip.

Since we fly to Seattle one year from today I've got plenty of time to research and book excursions and will have my hands full trying to make everyone happy and make sure they have a great time

We are considering booking with Harv and Marv and I would like to hear from some of you who have booked through them before. It will be a party of 11. Do you set the time depending on your ship arrival? We are only in Juneau from 7-3 so would we have time to do any other sightseeing?

Yes the reviews are overwhelmingly in favor of this. We do not sail until June 2015 so I have LOTS of time to make a decision but right now I think it is the tour we will go with. Please share your opinion after you take this excursion

I have been looking at the seven hour tour option offered by Beyond Skagway Tours. The tour looks very nice for our party of 11 and if offers the option of return to the ship on the White Pass train. Frankly this appeals more to me than the train alone as it seems the trains just goes to another point and then returns. I understand stopping and starting to see scenic places is not an option on the train of course.

Has anyone done this tour?

What is there to decide? He is 12 years old.

Looks like carnival is there 8 hours or so. The small boat excursions are 2.5 hours each and two are offered