Wishing on a star

I am interested in this too.

Many people say that it is much too cold and rainy in Alaska.

But, then people also report warmer weather.

I also know that when you are glacier viewing, like at Glacier Bay, it can be very cold.

Since we will be on the Coral, with the Sanctuary on the back of the ship, which is more protected, I was kind of hoping for an opportunity to spend some time there. If a light jacket might be enough.

Could be day at sea with Hubbard Glacier.

or Glacier Bay

Or last day at sea, heading towards Vancouver

Could we make plans for that last day at sea, then cancel? Or is it like pre-pay unless the Sanctuary is closed due to very inclement weather?

Can I also ask about the brewed coffee from the IC on the Coral?

Have heard conflicting reports. And, with the new coffee card (new coffee/grounds supplier) I am hoping that any comments about bad coffee were a fluke or a post dry-dock, or transitional, thing.

I have a more specific question about coffee and the coffee-cards.

Does it look, from the new cards, that Princess is changing their coffee/grounds supplier?

I have heard conflicting reports of coffee from the IC on the Coral Princess. I am hoping that this is a fluke, post drydock, or a transitional thing. We already have our coffee card, and are looking forward to decent coffee and nice specialty coffee drinks onboard the Coral!

Sorry, I don't have the link. But, when I was researching this, for the last week in May, I know it should not be frozen. There was a great blog by somebody who had actually cataloged photos of Emerald Lake at different dates and on different years. If I remember correctly, May 15th there might still be some ice???? But I would not think that it would be frozen, like frozen over. The ice/snow caps on the mountains at that time should make for some gorgeous scenery. I understand that they have had a mild winter this year?

Thank you so much. I am looking forward to our cruise!

We are booked on a Southbound, on Princess.

After reading several posts and comments, I have a question.

We will be sailing the Inside Passage into Vancouver overnight, docking at 7:30a.m. While I am glad if this might mean calmer seas, looks like we will miss that scenic cruising?

Cristine, (or any others here)

If I might also ask one question.

We are looking forward to our first cruise on the Coral Princess.

I believe that all cabins have the new Princess Beds, too.

Does anyone know if they did any re-furbishing to the Sanctuary?

Does the Sanctuary only have the two cabanas, or several across, like the Island?

I don't know if the Sanctuary will be booked up, or if weather will be permitting in Alaska, but we are thinking it would be nice to do the Sanctuary on that first sea day, or Glacier Bay.

I would with a cruise line that does Glacier Bay. No question. I also considered Celebrity and other ships. But have read the old adage here, many times... Seek an itinerary that includes Glacier Bay... choose accordingly.

The Nieuw Amsterdam is very nice large ship.

The itineraries can be really great.

But, there have been ongoing reports of vibration (harmonics???) on this ship that are noticeable and I feel like I might find enough to annoy/bother me. We are also non-smokers.

We chose to book on the Coral Princess.

We will be on the itinerary that cruises Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. (hoping that we will actually be able to get close enough to see/experience it!)

Small boat cruise from Whittier, pre-boarding, will cruise Surprise Glacier and College Fjord.

Cabins on Princess are def. smaller. I think one would have to book a mini-suite on Princess to have the space and the small bathtub.

Princess is known for being one of, if not the, best at doing Alaska.

Check out their North to Alaska program.

Onboard naturalist and events.. Narration by the naturalist, and National Park Service at Glacier Bay.

Cruising and the onboard experience are really a personal preference.

I looked at a lot of reviews, comments, photos, videos, etc.

I wish I could remember the web-site... But, we were looking at possibly buying a camera, and went to a camera/electronics shop, and the guy could actually pull up a comparison between cameras. And possibly cameras in a given price range.

My husband had thought about the Canon (maybe the T5 ???) but the guy there showed us how the similar Nikon, in that same price range but maybe slightly higher, was the better camera.

Not sure if this also holds true for the Nikon in the higher price range that you are considering or not? But, perhaps a visit to a good photo-camera shop would help you make the right decision. I do know a couple of photography buffs who like their Nikons in that upper price range.

One poster mentioned Sony.. And some Sony cameras can be very good. We have a small Sony point and shoot, with a great zoom, and up to 15-18mb images. And it does have a lot of options and settings for shooting. I have always thought that this was a great little camera for the price we gave for it.

I would think that nice black slacks and a nice shirt would be fine!

And, I would probably dress that up with some jewelry and nice shoes. And that would def. be nice enough.

I have been reading a lot of threads and comments, and all seem to indicate that on regular nights, casual dress, is more common. (TOO casual for me, but hey, it is what it is.)

It seems that beaded sparkly dresses and nice 'dinner jackets' or tuxes are no longer the norm, at all.

I plan to bring a pair of travelers pants that can be dressed up, a simple but trendy black dress, short, but with long sleeves... and a stretchy nice dress, short, but not the cheap/revealing 'bodycon' type.. looks nice. I will probably be over-packing!

I do have a long more formal dress, from a previous cruise. It is nice, but not fancy or ornate by any means... Not sure if I will bring that one.

I am counting the days until that pizza, and buffet!

That pizza and a salad sound SO good!

Thank you for the update.

I am hoping that any plumbing issues, or other issues that were reported on earlier cruises have all been taken care of, and are no longer problems?

We are very much looking forward to our first cruise on the Coral!

We do have late dining, as I don't see us being at the dining room early on an Alaska, port and viewing intensive, cruise. I understand that they could possibly, and have, set aside part of the Anytime dining room for Traditional, and that Anytime can be more of an issue.

I HATE to hear that the IC was so very poor.

Our cabin is located midship, convenient to the IC, and we were looking forward to taking advantage of this. It was just wonderful on the Ruby last time we cruised. We already have our coffee card, and I am thinking that we might be very disappointed. With the new coffee card, have they changed the actual coffee that they 'supposedy' brew?

I noticed from travelers photos that the offerings did not look that great... And, not only that, but even with the small display cases, they were only about 2/3 full of trays of pastries/snacks on offer. How sad.

I wonder if there might be a way to send some feedback to the head of Food and Beverage on the ship, or even Princess, to let them know that the IC has been so poor.

Sounds like you had a wonderful cruise!

Glad to hear the the staff were addressing the chair-hogs!

As a retired oceanographer, I have noted that whales swimming against the ship direction dive in front of the ship, stay submerged till the ship is past then breach. From a whale perspective aft is the place to be.

If this is true, and applies to large cruise ships, this might be another incentive to do the Sanctuary, which is AFT on the Coral Princess. Thanks!

The Princess Excursion Info states:

"This tour is only available to passengers on back-to-back voyages who will stay onboard the ship and cruise back to Vancouver as it is a roundtrip that will end back at the pier in Whittier. It is not available to guests disembarking the ship and ending their cruise in Whittier."

When doing this tour before embarking on Princess, I am not sure that there is any way to get to the Princess Ship, from Anchorage, early enough to board, or maybe try to check out the cabin or book extras, unless one rents a car and leaves early from Anchorage. Just from what I have seen, (traveling in May) the train, and the bus services, would not get you there early enough.

This might explain why they are not openly offering this as a tour for those embarking on their cruise. Just back-to-back.

We plan on the train, which will pull in a matter of minutes before the 26 Glacier Tour leaves. They wlll let us check our luggage with our Princess tags, and will go ahead and transfer it to the ship. I don't know, but maybe it will be sitting there in a holding area when we get back from the tour and board the Princess Ship?

We are booked for the Phillip's 26 Glacier. (Major Marine is not operating that cruise that early in the season)

We have no concerns about boarding afterwards.

Not a problem. And, if this poster is not famiiar, you can see and walk across between the boats and the ship. At least it seems to be that way with Phillip's. (not as sure exactly where Major Marine is docked.)

The only thing that concerns me are things like booking the Sanctuary, to possibly get a cabana, and checking our dining table assignment. We have requested a small table, for several reasons. And, I don't want to find out by boarding late that we have been assigned to a large table, and it is too late to get a better seating.

Yes, Michael Mod' is well known and has quite the reputation. One might find amazing video of him speaking while the cruise is navigating Tracy Arm Fjord on you-tube. I don't know if he will be onboard again this year. I don't think that the Coral is one of the ships that he has been onboard.

Hopefully some of the resident experts here will give you great info.

Just from doing a lot of research: Yes, surprise Glacier is definitely recommended. I understand the scenery in this area can be more dramatic with the mountains, etc. Experts have recommended the Major Marine tour, as they prefer the route, and the food that is served. Our only option to cruise this area is the Phillip's 26 Glacier Tour. As mentioned, it looks like they will try to cover a longer route, and more Glaciers... But, this could place 'speed' at the expense of lengthy viewing time at the Glaciers.

I am really looking forward to a more up-close tour of Prince William Sound. I hope to get lucky and also view some wildlife, hopefully some chance that we might see seal pups this time of year.

Yes, great info!

Is there any way possible to listen to the narration on headphones... Wifi type setup?

With my hearing, the open speakers might be problematic. Not sure they will not be more annoying than helpful for me?

Perhaps Mark Harris will be onboard when we sail, that would be great.

I have looked into this, as we will be sailing Alaska soon!

I have seen the Princess Patter bulletins, and have also seen video.

Yes, there will be both presentations that you can attend, and narrative over loudspeakers on public decks, such as the Promenade.

You are on the broader Princess board here, but check out the Alaska destination forum, too. (if you have not)

I believe that there are some Patters from a Coral Glacier Bay cruise posted there.

This is actually one reason that I am considering booking the Sanctuary. I am one of those who does not really do well with loud-speakers going on. We will not be boarding until later that day. After 5:00p.m. And I am afraid that the Sanctuary... especially any of the spots in good locations, cabanas. will all be booked before we even walk on the ship.

There are the forward observation decks on deck 9 and 10, I believe. I do not know if the narration will be on speakers there, or not.

I also wonder, is Glacier Bay the only time that there are Naturalist and/or National Park Service rangers on the PA system?

My father is a pilot and sees this ALL the time. People are wheeling through security and onto the plane. Once they land, those pax stand up and go running off the plane!

Yep, this is so prevalent on some itineraries, like from retirement areas in FL, that people call these 'Miracle Flights'.. Suddenly, dozens of passengers are cured!!!

SAD...

I have heard, often, that the Seattle departures do not really sail 'the inside passage'. More in open water as they leave Seattle.

Having said that, on a round trip cruise, the point is kind of moot, because the ship turns around, and so the views are reversed.

We have a one way Southbound booked.

We are booked on the Port side for this one.

I do notice that there are many more cabins booked on the Port side. And most openings left available are on the Starboard.

I know this thread is not super current, but want to bump it up.

We are interested in the Sanctuary on the Coral, for either our first day at sea (Hubbard), or Glacier Bay. Is it true that you are not obligated, and can change your mind until the day-of?

I also wonder if boarding late, after the longer Prince Wiilliam Sound boat tour, would mean that these days would be booked up before we are able to board. Has anybody seen the Sanctuary be booked up, or mostly booked up, in Alaska?

Especially in Alaska, with most of the Sanctuary on the Coral being un-covered, weather is a real factor.

Thanks for any input!

We will be cruising Alaska, so there is the chance that the weather could be much too cool or rainy, but I am keen on the idea of booking the sanctuary for a day or afternoon or two.

I have read that the Sanctuary pool is free/open to adults. And I have also heard that it is for paying Sanctuary guests only. I wonder if this policy might change on the Coral while in Alaska, given that the enclosed pool is not limited to adults on cooler itineraries.

I have looked for good photos, but it is hard to tell if the entire area around the pool, on that lower level, is Sanctuary. Don't know how non-paying guests would have access, or have a place to sit at all if the pool is considered to be 'open'.

I just watched one video, walking the Promenade deck when the Naturalist was speaking, and the entire way there were speakers going at a fairly loud level. For guests with hearing aids, this factor, along with any wind, would make the the Sanctuary a very nice option, unless it was really cold or rainy.

I know that it can be very expensive on Glacier Bay day. But I am also thinking that, weather permitting, this might be very nice on our first day, at sea.

I know about the forward viewing decks... but, as they have metal railings, and I am short... as well as no real seating, I would consider them to be limited, short term, opportunities.

You need to go down to 'ALASKA' in the destination forums here on CC.

Yes, do a few searches here, and all your questions will be answered.

No lack of info and opinions.

The Coral Princess just came out of a full drydock a few weeks ago.

Lots of new carpet and refurbishing. Just without all of the structural changes and many many new cabins, and increased passenger load, at the expense of public space, that the Island underwent.

For anybody cruising in the near future, Coral has the new Princess beds. (The old mattresses on Princess ships get some bad PR)

We chose the Coral.

But anyone's preferences might be different from somebody else's!

I would also welcome any info about the Coral.

I have see that Xtasea has been onboard.