cayennered

Just returned from a fantastic trip, and happy to report that we did not see one mosquito the entire trip. The little buggers are a real problem for me, and I was prepared with the best bug sprays, but it wasn't necessary. We did excursions at each port, Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour in Ketchikan, Mushers Camp (Dog Sled's) in Juneau, and the White Pass train in Skagway, as well as city touring in Victoria.

Can't wait for our second trip-of-a-lifetime to Alaska to see more of what we missed this time.

Thanks to you all for these great suggestions. Think we are going to be very happy about our decision to move from RCI to X for our upcoming cruise on Solstice.

check out the book I posted earlier. It's a Milepost guide for sights along the coast, from lighthouses to wildlife. You can get a used edition on amazon for $8

http://www.amazon.com/Alaska-Cruise-Handbook-Mile---Mile/dp/0979491576/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426896549&sr=1-1&keywords=upton%2C+alaska

Thanks so much mapleleaves. Just placed my order. Made sure I got one with the fold-out map!

Thanks so much for your great, informative review. We will be on the same cruise July 10th. Hope our trip is just as wonderful as yours was!

Been to Alaska 4 times and have never taken bug repellent. If you are doing the inside passage you should not need it. Most of the time the ships leave port before the mosquitos get bad.

Ozark...looks like we are on the same cruise. So happy to hear that we may not have a big problem with mosquitos, because I have a real problem with them! I'll come with spray just in case. Thanks for the information.

Call all of the air taxi operators in Ketchikan. Taquan, Family Air, Carlin Air or Southeast Aviation. They all fly the same route to get to Anan. Since it's basically a charter flight you'll get good commentary from all of them on the trip up and back. I don't know where people get this idea but Island Wings isn't any better then any of the other operators for flightseeing trips out of Ketchikan.

Thanks for the info Bearbait. Much appreciated.

Another question. Are the mosquitos bad in Ketchikan or Anan? It would be mid July when we are there.

I'm envious of your good fortune! I had no clue that their Anan Creek bear-viewing tours had to be booked so much in advance. I had contacted Island Wings in November, but they told me no Anan Creek tours were available for the day on which I'd be in Ketchikan this July, and that they were being booked up to 2 years in advance. I'm now booked for their regular Misty Fjords flightseeing tour, but I'm certainly still excited about that.

 

Have a great time on your bear tour!

I called Island Wings today for the Anan Creek excursion. Our cruise is July 10th, will be in Ketchikan on the 12th (this year). They are booked. I'm looking for another recommended vendor, but have a feeling we might be too late. Good luck.

You have one of the best cabins on the ship

One floor down to the Cafe Al Bacio

You will love it

We have that cabin on Solstice going to Alaska this year. I researched everywhere looking for reviews, and they were wonderful! Can't wait.

Do you think it is because RCCL are more family orientated?

 

There do have to be differences, otherwise why have different brands in the same 'umbrella' company.

Royal Caribbean has drink packages (alcohol). At least on the Freedom of the Seas they did.

We just saved $1200 with the 1,2,3 offer. We were booked with RCI, and would have purchased a drink package. Balcony cabin was the same price on X as we had reserved with RCI during their buy one-get one half price sale. We gained the drink package, gratuities and OBC paid with X. For us, that was a great deal.

In order to accommodate the connecting door, the furniture in the connecting cabins are different from the normal cabins in the same category. Don't know what ship you are looking at or the type of cabin, but on Freedom the D category balcony cabins go from a full size sofa to a loveseat. The E category balcony cabins go from a smaller sofa to a chair. If having a sofa is important, this may be a deal breaker. This did happen to me, and I questioned both my TA and RCI prior to booking and was assured that the cabin had a sofa. I didn't. I was traveling with my daughter on that cruise, and having the sofa was important. Both the TA and RCI were of no help after boarding.

We are booked on a cruise for July 10, 2015. I chose that date because the weather seemed moderate and it worked for our schedules. But, I didn't consider mosquitos. I have a serious problem with the little buggers. Can some tell me if I've picked a good month...or possibly a bad month? I will come prepared with deet spray, wipes and long pants and sleeves, but it still makes me very nervous. Any thoughts?

Some D connecting cabins only have a chair and not a couch on Voyager or Freedom(can't remember which)class ships.

We had a connecting cabin on Freedom, E category balcony, and I was GUARANTEED by both the TA and RCI that the room had a couch. It didn't. It had only a chair. I believe the D category balcony cabins that are connecting have a love seat vs a couch. They have to shrink something to make room for the door. If you really need a couch, beware! There was no problem with noise.

We have never cruised on the Jewel and are booked for July 2015 to Alaska. When I booked the cabin, 1516, I checked what was above and below and thought that having the Vitality Spa above would be quiet, but now looking at the deck plans again, I'm concerned about noise from the Fitness Center. Anyone have information about this location?

Thanks so much!

I do not smoke, but I did hear our cabin steward on the phone reporting the smell of smoke in the cabin next door (he was cleaning the cabin).

Had MTD, table for two, on Freedom in May. Service was very quick and very impersonal. The dining room was set up with a row of tables for two. Tables were VERY close together, and we could hear every word our neighbors were saying. The next night we asked to join a bigger table, met some great people and ended up with them for the rest of the cruise. From my experience, if you want fast, MTD a table for two is the way to go.

Had two iPads, in cases, plus two large ladies wallets and a jewelry bag in the safe. I do remember that the iPads had to go in on a slant. Maybe that was due to their cases. Lots more room in the safe than what it looks like.

wow you hit that on the head. My mom brings along a night light even when she stays at my house, or we go away to a hotel... Is there a chair in the room too? I may be napping during the day not sure about the quality of sleep I am going to get..BTW am 6'1 210 maybe a good idea to lose 10lbs.....

I brought a nite light on the Freedom in May, but none of the receptacles in the cabin would work for the nite light due to the shape (hard to explain!). Next cruise I will bring the battery candles. I was traveling with my adult daughter and the library was my "go to" location. Loved it.

Just checked my flight for this Saturday and discovered it had changed. Delta had cancelled my flight and put me on an earlier one. Called Choice Air, as they had booked the flights, and was told I had been notified by e-mail. I asked him to re-send the itineraries, and he asked for my e-mail address....they didn't have it! I was positive I had not received a change notice from Choice Air or Delta. Chances are I would have missed the flight.

Now that all of my wedding planning is officially done and rechecked and finalized, I can focus on what is important - OUR HONEYMOON.

 

We are so excited to be going on a cruise. Is there any recommendations for things to do, or any perks that RCI may would indulge us in?

 

We will be sailing to CocoCay, St Maarten, and St Thomas.

I remember reading a review of the Freedom and the couple had purchased a "romance package". The reviewer was talking about a special romance breakfast that was delivered to their room. You might want to Check that out. congratulations on your marriage.

Does anyone know if there are regulations from airlines or RCI regarding carrying prescription RX's in a daily travel container....not the original container? I could carry an insurance or pharmacy report. Thanks.

Freedom does not have advanced reservations for anything but the ice show. Last time I was on Freedom, the big production show was called Marquee.

Thanks. Sounds familiar, probably the same one we saw in 2013. For some reason I thought we had reserved in advance.

We will be on the Freedom in less than 3 weeks (yeaaah!). I can't find anything about the "Broadway Type" show, and nothing is available to reserve in advance. Anyone know what's going on??

Thanks.

I was wondering if the Premium Package would include the wine flights. Does anyone know??

I spent the week trying to book excursions and on-board activities for a cruise next month. Only managed to book two out of three excursions, and wasn't able to book the on-board stuff. It's SO frustrating, and doesn't seem to get any better year after year. I'm going to try again now...hoping the website is in a good mood. Seems like this problem should be on the top of RCI's list. Gee, sounds like Obamacare!!