1153rsmith

I have had trouble since March where I have had to recreate my online account at least 3 times. Once I would recreate it, all my cruise information would appear, but I had to go through creating a user name (email address) and password at least 3 separate times so far. When I would try to log in, it would say I didn't have an account.

Seems like their site gets a little squirrely every now and then.

I found this thread from another ship, but I figure they should all be pretty similar. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2053637&highlight=crab+shack

It looks good.

Now I am torn between shelling out the money for Tracy's Crab Shack in Juneau, or trying them on the ship. (My guess is Tracy's should be better... especially because I have read you can usually find some of the ship's officers there when the cruise ships are in port.)

I also like the fact I might be able to turn the $30 voucher for a bottle of wine into an OBC since none in our party drink. :)

I can watch movies at home. I can't imagine doing anything but looking out the window or being outside in that beautiful scenery.

I told my wife last night that I don't know how we are going to eat, experience the ship, or sleep because I am afraid if I take my eyes off the surrounding view, I will miss something.

I just sent an email to my TA to take a look. I certainly wouldn't be opposed to an upgrade as long as all three of our cabins could stay together.

A follow up question.... we have 3 cabins next to each other and our reservations are linked... does that make it less likely we would be upgraded, or could they upgrade one cabin and not the others?

Do all ME category rooms have a partially covered balcony or only on certain ships? We are on the Island Princess on Deck 10 forward.

Well, you know how it is when you call Princess.:rolleyes: Anyway, they were serving them two weeks ago. You can also get them at the Princess Crab Shack for $20.00 per person. Make your reservation early though. We waited too long and then couldn't get in.

What is the Princess Crab Shack? We are going to be on the Island Princess, if that makes any difference.

Just off the Star to Alaska and the major difference in the menu's, as far as I know, is the King Crab legs. I've only seen them on the Alaska cruises lately, so if your love crab, make sure you eat in the dining room that night.

That is interesting... I had called Princess directly and our travel agent had called and were both told that Princess didn't serve crab legs any more. Maybe they meant to say they didn't offer an entree, but that wasn't what they said.

I have been trying to figure out all along how we were going to try King Crab legs on this trip.... I love regular crab legs but have never had King Crab.

I have heard so much about Tracy's crab shack in Juneau, we may have to split an order there, although, you just about have to take out a mortgage to get an order. (But, after watching Deadliest Catch for a while, I understand why.)

Beautiful pictures. I would have stopped to take them too. Usually when we are walking around the ship, I try to always carry my camera. That luggage deadlines seems awfully early.

How were your seas? I had read another report of a southbound that had really rough weather coming out of Whittier. Some of their crew said it was the roughest they had ever sailed through.

I am hoping we have smooth water all the way.

It does sound like you experience some of the shutter lag that I experienced with my Fuji and what caused me to make the jump to a DSLR. I may just have to reach as far as my lens will let me and do the rest with the computer. As long as a photo is not out of focus, it is amazing what you can do with a computer. Just about the only thing I can't fix with my software is out of focus.

99% of my shots were taken using the AUTO setting. The camera does the focusing and all I do is aim and push the button. I just took thousands of photos...kept the good ones and deleted the bad.

 

I probably should take a class or something, but I don't want to concentrate so much on getting a photo that I miss enjoying the moment. My photos are my souvenirs...heavens knows there wasn't room to bring back much else in my overloaded luggage! :eek:

It sounds like your approach to picture taking is much the same as mine. I go for quantity and pray I get quality on enough of them.

That being said, you do have a good eye and a gift for composing great shots. I have actually swiped a couple and have them set as backgrounds on my computers for inspiration to get ready for our trip.

AryMay, how quickly does your Canon recover to allow you to take another picture? I am currently using a Nikon DSLR and I can take pictures much quicker than I could using a Fuji point and shoot I had.

I love the zoom capabilities on your camera. If I have done the conversion correctly, I would need a 1200 mm lense to duplicate what you can do with the 50x zoom.

Your pictures are great.

Thanks for posting. We have a mini-suite on the island princess in September, so it was nice to see what we are going to see. This will only be the second time we have had a balcony and our first time on Princess.

I was not going to Alaska with an inside stateroom.

AryMay, first off WOW! If you were using your SX50, it takes great pictures. I may have to rethink my next camera purchase.

I do have a couple questions though:

1] Do you remember where you were when you got the mountain reflecting in the lake? I have got to take that shot!

2] I can't find Emerald Lake on the maps I have. How far past Carcross is the lake, either in time or miles?

I know we may not see quite as much snow in September when we go, but I definitely am glad I have reserved a rental car now. Was your round trip 5-6 hours?

3] On the way out of Skagway, did you pass some grocery stores or somewhere we might be able to get something to have a picnic with?

You have my wife and me SO excited to do our trip. Thank you!

AryMay, I am really enjoying your review very much. I am using it as research for our trip Southbound in September. Thanks to you, we are planning on renting a van in Skagway. I think we may go up to Emerald Lake. There will be 8 of us, and I can rent a vehicle a lot cheaper than we can do an excursion.

I certainly hope we see at least as much wildlife as you have.

Keep it coming.

In 2012 in Alaska there was complementary hot chocolate all day in the HC with no card needed. Don't know if that is true this year.

 

 

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I am hoping that is the case currently. I have been on 3 different cruise lines so far and all had complimentary iced tea, lemonade, coffee, hot tea and hot chocolate available 24 hours a day.

My son loves hot chocolate and will even drink it when we are in the caribbean.

A student once told me this trick to remember how to spell "dessert." It has two of the letter "s" because dessert is twice as nice. Really, I should have been telling her that,;) but I still remember it every time I need to spell the word.

I have heard that trick.... and I honestly do know how to spell it... I just got in a hurry and I can't seem to find an edit button anywhere to fix my goof.

Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful information. Everytime we have sailed with a new cruiseline I have the same type of questions.

I have seen a few copies of Dinner menus but have not seen any desert menus. What sort of deserts does Princess serve? Anything like cherries jubilee, or warm chocolate melting cake?

I have read something about buffets being served on deck for the Alaskan cruises. Is this accurate, and if so, what sort of food is served on the buffet?

What drinks are complimentary on the cruise? Tea? Lemonade? coffee? hot chocolate?

Does anyone know if the tea is from a syrup or is it brewed on the ship? On most of our cruises thus far, my wife has just requested hot tea and a glass of ice and brewed her own at the table because the stuff the ship made was less than desirable. The Disney Wonder the past year was the one exception so far.

What sort of activities are on board for sea days?

Very nice. Were the pools heated and/or enclosed? My teenagers will want to swim, and I love the hot tub.

Does Princess have an adult only pool area?

 

FYI, Princess will be charging a delivery charge for room arrive at some point. They are probably working out the details right now. If they do, then I would hope they'd offer a full breakfast but I guess we'll see.

I did see on a picture of a room service menu that there was a delivery charge of a pizza. My brother has joked with my kids that he would just tip them to go get what he wanted from the buffet. My kids liked that idea..... in theory, at least.

Imagine the mess if they had self serve soft ice cream!

It is done on Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Disney every day and the area stays pretty neat for the most part. There is always crew nearby to take care of spills and drips.

Sounds silly, but the peanut butter & jelly sandwiches are great! I always order one on the last night of the cruise (weird, right?).

 

When popular sports games are on, we have called room service and asked for any snacks they can provide for us while watching a game. They usually bring a couple items and we are always pleasantly surprised! ;)

Can you share what sort of snack items they would bring?

Thanks for the clarification guys. My comments on the main dining room menus were not meant to offend or confuse. The pictures I was viewing of the menus were not the clearest, so maybe I missed some things.

As far as food quality and ice cream goes, the one Carnival cruise we took had excellent food and soft serve ice cream... You would think since both lines are owned by the same company, they would be able to carry out a certain amount of food consistency between lines, if nothing else but cost savings.

I know food is one of many areas where two people can eat the same thing at the same time and have entirely different reactions to it.

I know we will have a great time and will not go hungry.

I also hope they have some non-dairy options as my daughter is having issues with dairy products.

Thanks folks. There are just many unknowns when cruising with an unfamiliar cruise line.

As long as the ice cream and pizza are top notch, my son will be happy.

I saw some pictures of recent dinner menus and I have to say it didn't impress me much... I'm hoping it will be better in person. I mean, meatloaf and fried chicken in the dining room? I was expecting more beef wellington and other more luxurious items.

I read somewhere about an ice cream card you have to pay for, but is there complimentary soft serve ice cream onboard? How often is it available, and what flavors?

What is the ice cream card and where do you use it?

We are going to be on the Island Princess.