ashkir

We’re now dining! We do anytime dining so we’re not on a set schedule. Sadly one of our members cannot use the Hub app as she forgot her Apple password so she can’t download. So she’s gonna meet up with another one in our party and they’ll book for her. 
 

we all got reservations for 6pm to the Nick & Nora steakhouse on the 11th (day 7). This is the fjord day. It should be fabulous. 
 

in the main dining hall they no longer have straws. The ladies are happy they have a Filipino waiter and they’re all speaking in Tagalog. 😀

we got an amazing aft table for anytime dining this time we have a beautiful view of California behind us as we leave. 

Here are a few shots from my balcony. 

We brought the valley heat with us. San Francisco is hot hot hot. 

Check out some of the amazing artwork in the halls by deck four cabins. Oh my. They’re mesmerizing!!! 
 

2 hours ago, variable283 said:

Or alternatively if no duck I left a note inside this book, seemed fitting for your trip. Book was on the left side bookshelf when I left the ship. Hope I spelled your name correctly, may have had a couple last night lol. 

The duck is gone! Obviously the books were moved!

I found the Alaska book! And your lovely note. ♥️♥️♥️♥️😍😍😍😍

We’re all on board. The wheelchair process took a while. There are a lot of people who think it is a shortcut and we’re complaining they could’ve walked faster. The staff member bless his heart told them “if you can walk the stairs then you don’t need a chair” 😂😂

the ship is gorgeous so far. I went straight to Java blue. The library is closed for a private function now. Looks like several officers. my friend already is crushing on one. 😂

43 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

Some diamonds think they are privileged s.o.b.s and everone else needs to bow down to them and get out of the way.  

 

Loving the train ride. DW would enjoy being able to do that to ports in FL.   Perfect time to head to Alaska, IMO.   So will follow along.

Yes! I love the train!!!

5 minutes ago, variable283 said:

 

Right hand side look behind the books here 

The staff just took over the library so I’ll have to look again! Now closed for private function. 

22 hours ago, variable283 said:

Hey Ashkir, currently on Miracle right now, (9-1 to 9-5) Ensenada. I’ll be leaving a little something in the Joker card room bookshelves when I get off. hopefully you find it first! 
 

enjoy your trip

Hey there! I just got on board and went straight there. A handful of people already raided the bookshelf. Could t find anything they stood out. I tried. 😂

1 hour ago, Tennessee Rose said:

I'm thrilled to be "traveling" with you all virtually! A friend and I cruised to Alaska several years ago, on CCL Legend (my very favorite ship so far; love, love the layout; easy to get around). I think Miracle is the same class of ship as Legend. We also cruised during this exact time frame also --- so you should be able to see a bit of fall color! The Alaskan scenery is the star of these cruises, in my opinion. Enjoy!

Welcome along to the virtual trip! We’re now on board! 
 

the spirit class is totally my favorite. I love the design of the miracle already. 
 

ooh Alaska in fall sounds wondrous. It’s going to be rainy. I’m hoping to enjoy it anyways and the break from the heat!

We have arrived. Long lines. Confused employees poor things. 
 

a lot of people are harassing the ADA staff. I got harassed by a diamond passenger because my name was reserved for a wheelchair. 
 

I had a heart transplant. 
 

Whale tail spotted! 
 

Today is the day! We will board the Miracle in a few short hours! My check in time is 11am!

here’s a view of the city from our room!

Way better deals on board in my experience for massage. If there’s a lack of bookings prices go down. 📉

at the ladies pamper party they usually offer massages for $100 for 75 minutes. Best price I’ve gotten yet. 

We took some candid shots! We’re all exhausted! 

me next to our window! Sorry no polarized camera so there’s glare 🙂 

four of the ladies taking a photo 

our lovely friend! 
 

four of the ladies!

a view from our window. 
 

a view from the other window! 
 

can you believe these are rack rooms?!?! 
 

our room! We have two rooms. On the 31st floor of the Hyatt regency in SoMo!

the last view the lobby fireplace is cute!!

We ended up going to California Pizza Kitchen across the street. It was a lovely experience. Busy place! We ordered a Caesar salad, a margherita pizza, and an absolutely divine spinach artichoke dip! By we it’s my friend  and myself. The ladies decided to go to Vietnamese town (Little Saigon) to go eat. 
 

we’re taking some candid shots real quick and going to bed. ♥️😍

Hey all! Amtrak made it to Jack London Square! I get off in Oakland’s Jack London Square because it’s about an equal Uber fee then taking the bus into the city. Plus the bus I’ve always had bad experiences with (too full, one time no room for luggage). 

here’s Jack London’s Amtrak station 

Now we got an Uber to the hotel. Two to be exact because we number seven! Not eight sorry! I was wrong. first Uber was a Lexus suv. The driver was really nice. Three of our party went in there. Despite the advertisement of 4 seats counting our luggage the driver had a service dog. Super understandable. 
 

The second one was a Mitsubishi. This driver showed up 25 minutes late. Then she wanted us to board in the middle of an intersection! Her car was full of bags! No room for more then two people and no luggage. It looks like she lives in her car. I hope she finds stability soon. ♥️ We got another Uber after in a highlander and made it to the hotel!
 

we saw some awesome abandoned ships on the ride over next to Treasure Island. Check out the photos!

going to get food now. Next update soon!!

2 hours ago, luvcruzing said:

 

Did I miss something, or did you lose someone?

I counted wrong. It’s actually 2, 3, and 2! They were going to have a third from my understanding but they changed their mind and stayed two in the last cabin. We also have balcony, ocean view, and interior in that order. I’m in the balcony room. The others didn’t get a good balcony offer when we originally booked. My carnival offer was better. Don’t know why. 
 

3 hours ago, Donniss said:

Ashkir! You should totally play "Return of the Obra Dinn" on your Switch! Have fun solving a mystery ON A SHIP while having fun ON A SHIP!*

 

*Or not, the game can be very obtuse with its puzzles, and honestly it features a grim story. But it did win GOTY from a lot of people for a reason?

Mysteries hurt my brain. I’m working on my dissertation. So I am solving a mystery of why I torture myself on a ship with having 3 classes on board! I’ll be spending a lot of time in that library. 
 

I am going to totally procrastinate and try that. It’s a new switch so I’m excited. I found an OLED in stock and target had a 20% student discount. 
 

2 hours ago, variable283 said:

Well as a student you’ll probably appreciate that the coffee shop is about 10ft from the library 😉 on Miracle 

oh believe me. I have a blank Java blue card ready to go. 😍😍😍😍🤩🤩🤩

26 minutes ago, variable283 said:

That’s why the card room library, people never look in the library on a cruise lol

I plan on spending most of my time in there to be honest! My last semester of grad school starts on Tuesday. 😂 I’m gonna try to go to the library when i board. Much quieter then lido. 

Long train ride. Time to play some switch before the ocean views 😍

33 minutes ago, variable283 said:

Hey Ashkir, currently on Miracle right now, (9-1 to 9-5) Ensenada. I’ll be leaving a little something in the Joker card room bookshelves when I get off. hopefully you find it first! 
 

enjoy your trip

I’ll try and check it out! Hopefully I find it. I’m not a good finder 😂 I’m a shame to hufflepuffs everywhere.  Believe it or not I haven’t ever found a duck and spent 10 years trying!

Here’s a few photos of our group! Two guys; five ladies. Four of the ladies are Filipino and they love cruises because they get to speak their native tongues with the staff. One of the guys is Filipino as well. The other lady is Vietnamese, and Texan born. I’m European ancestry and California born. 
 

we’re all ready for our adventures!!

39 minutes ago, Anyislandwilldo said:

Hi!  I'm going to follow along as well.  Went to Alaska back in 2017 with DH and now sister and I are going next year.  Waiting to read your reports!  Enjoy your cruise!

Thank you! We’re totally going to enjoy this!!! I’ll post updates when I can. I know Alaska pictures don’t do it justice. But it’s so beautiful up there. 

5 hours ago, silvercrikhix said:

Alaska is amazing!  Following this adventure! Thanks for taking me along!

Thank you! Glad to have you along!

8 hours ago, Donniss said:

 I'll defs be following along! Alaska sounds like a great place to visit, and for me to imagine visiting while reading your posts 😉

 

What are you looking forwards to most on this itinerary?

Hey hey! I didn’t book any excursions. I’m a grad student working on my dissertation. I couldn’t quite afford any of the excursions. So I’m going to do free things mostly. I am looking forward to the Tracy arm fjord the most! Last time I saw so much wildlife there I want to see it again. 
 

one member of my party, Auntie Coring wants to see a whale so badly. 
 

10 hours ago, oakridger said:

Perfect timing to be "getting out of town"!!  Have a wonderful cruise!

It is!! Weather got updated. Even hotter. 🥵

We are on the train! We arrived early to Amtrak! Why go early to Amtrak? 45 minutes before you can check in baggage! So you don’t have to carry it. 
 

Here’s a view of the inside of the Bakersfield Amtrak. It is also the Greyhound station too. 

 

here’s a view of the outside. And the train!

we boarded and got 3 tables for our group of seven! Plenty of room for everyone. I have room to study. We all sat around and filled out our VeriFLY and ArriveCAN and got it done within 40 minutes. So we don’t need those backup COVID kits we got after all! 

Once the paperwork was done we got a quick lunch on board. There’s not many options. But it’s guilty pleasure food. 

Thank you everyone for the interest so far! Leaving the house now. Dressed to the comfortable “nines”. 
 

My friends dad is going to be taking care of my beagle. She’s set up in my guest room with her bed on a luxury memory foam queen bed and a tv to keep her company. 
 

meet my beagle, her name is Princess but she thinks she is the queen. She’s fifteen years old and a good girl. here she is on her new bed set up:

I love her. I got her when she was already an elderly girl. ♥️🐶

Hello everyone! I will be boarding the Carnival Miracle at 11am on Monday September 5, 2022! This will be my second time to Alaska, but, the first since I've been on my own. We're traveling together in a party of 3 cabins 2, 3, and 3, making eight of us! I'm in a balcony room on the 4th deck! The others have inside cabins on the first (upgrading was too expensive for them!) 

I'm ready to do this! 

We leave at 11AM sharp tomorrow to catch the San Joaquins Amtrak to San Francisco from here in hot hot hot, Bakersfield, California! We're going to be avoiding two weeks of 110 degree weather! So we're looking forward to it! 

Honestly the best thing they could do is not make an exclusive deal. Do what Target did, have BOTH.