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We are Diamond Plus. I called C&A about this last week. For D+, we get a 40% discount on internet, so it's cheaper to buy once onboard for us.

This is exactly the information I was looking for. Thanks

We always ship them home. One thing about these knives, they don't recommend using a dishwasher. That's why I have never bought one with an expensive handle.

The sets seem to increase in price each year. The Ulu Factory site has the 8" bowl and knife set listed at $41.95. I personally don't buy anything smaller than the 8" bowl/knife set for myself or my family. I also only buy ones made by the Ulu Factory.

If you find that set made by the Ulu Factory for less than $41.95, you found a bargain.

Once the season moves into full swing you will be able to get better first hand information on any specials that folks may have seen.

I found the helicopter ride and ice field landing quite smooth in AK. I wasn't interested in dog sledding so I can't comment on that portion of the tour. We really loved walking on the glacier. There's no one else around. It's a wonderful experience and the flight was smooth. Not a long flight either.

We used Coastal.

The Ketchikan visitors' bureau has a great map for a DIY walking tour. We've used the map twice and take the funicular up to the hotel. They have a few totems up there and lovely landscaping.

We also drive the Klondike Hwy. as far as Emerald Lake while in port at Skagway. While the scenery may be the same, you never know what you'll find based on weather conditions of the previous winter. We've seen bear on two previous drives and moose on another drive.

To ensure we always get our favorite tour operators we book a year in advance. For those tour operators that don't book that far out, I check in with them a year in advance and ask what time will they start accepting bookings and make the call when that time comes.

We do the same. Book a year ahead or at the end of the season for the next season.

Karen:

I hope you and Claudio are well. I see you have two B2B cruises in Alaska this year.

Have you ever been on the Star Princess? We are going North on Radiance and South on the Star in May. We've never been on Princess but I just had to see Glacier Bay and am really excited about it.

BTW, we retired early and moved to Florida last June. :)

Enjoy your trips.

Marla

After leaving the ship in Seward we would like to spend the day touring the area before going to Anchorage. Where can we store our luggage for the day if: (1) we take the evening train or (2) take the evening bus?

When I booked the evening train they told me luggage drop off didn't begin until 10 am. I also booked a 6-hour Resurrection Bay excursion through the RR while in Seward that day. We've taken back th the excursion and the RR Goldstar service before. Both are great.

I plan on calling the RR again in early May to recheck luggage drop off times. Worse comes to worse, we store our luggage with Major Marine (when we go on our excursion.

We also like Major Marine and haven't felt the need to try their competitor.

I really enjoy the presence of the park ranger. They are informative and approachable for questions. DH likes the buffet. There's plenty of room outside for viewing.

You may have to share a table due to the assigned seating but this has not been a problem for us.

I seem to remember reading a few years ago about a salmon bake where a bear came by to lick the ground around the grill area after everyone was done eating.

Was this at Orca Point Lodge, or somewhere else?

We were in St. Maarten recently and walked to Rima to find there is now an electronics store in that location.

Does anyone know where they moved?

Thanks for the comparisons. We go on Allure later this year as well as our first Princess cruise. I've been wanting to go to Glacier Bay and since RCL doesn't go there, we will be on Star Princess this year to Alaska.

I can see there will be features on Princess that we will like better than RCL and visa versa.

I'm enjoying your trip report. Thanks for posting. :)

I also recommend a one way cruise with Vancouver as your embarkation or debarkation. The cruises that go from other ports, such as Seattle or San Francisco, traverse west of Vancouver Island thus missing a lot of great scenery between the island and the mainland.

As you consider what to do in Alaska pre/post cruise, decide your priorities. What interests you? Wilderness? Sea life (whales, otters, puffins, etc.)? Land mammals (Denali National Park would be the place for this)?

For glaciers during your cruise, there is Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier as you have a better chance experiencing glacier calving . I wouldn't recommend Tracy Arm as a substitute. Tracy Arm is better up close on a small boat, not a cruise ship.

Seward is a wonderful location to take an excursion by boat to experience both marine life and glaciers. The town is a wonderful place to stay, as well. Their sea life center has puffins and other marine life as well.

The Alaska RR route between is Seward and Anchorage is their most scenic route.

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

I also recommend Thenford Grey. He is a true gentleman. If you tour with him or his brother Sackville you will have a wonderful time.

I have another suggestion for a 90 year old mom, ask if they will drop you off and pick you up at Carambola Beach Club. This will be much more comfortable for mom. I can't imagine taking our 90 year old mother to the other beach. :eek:

We've toured with both Thenford and Sackville. When we were with Sackville, Thenford told him to take us to Carambola. It's very close to the other beach and more conducive to comfort.

Here's is a photo of the outdoor area. They also have seating in an open air indoor area, as well.

I also suggest taking a taxi from your hotel --- no earlier than 1:15.

As for muster ...

If you have one that requires standing in those lines, would it help to be in the front of the line? Perhaps at one end?

They are definitely different lodges. Their Denali lodge is in the thick of things in Glitter Gulch.

IMHO, there are no luxury accommodations in Alaska. I've stayed in luxury hotel rooms and haven't found one single accommodation from Seward to Denali that could be considered in that category. That being said, a visit to Alaska is worth having less than the usual hotel rooms you would usually book. It's beautiful there and well worth the visit.

The Denali Princess, while not remote, has a lot to offer in terms of amenities across their property in general.

I think the feel of RCL is often dependent on the class of the ship.

If you are looking for the Wow factor it is quite evident on the Oasis and Quantum class ships.

If you are looking for a more laid back experience, you can't beat the Radiance class ships.

 

It looks like Alaska won't be any more expensive than when we've gone to Disney World. When I've been there, however, there is one website with the menus and pricing for all the onsite eateries, so planning was SO much easier. The message board I used for planning that trip also has an entire thread dedicated to reviewing and giving feedback on the restaurants (wish cruise critic had that feature).

 

That said, I am finding the information I gather here extremely helpful. Thank you all for your input.:)

You've hit the nail on the head. The prices are very similar to Disney World food prices. If you follow this as a guideline, your budgeting should be spot on.

I will also say that the food prices in the small town grocery stores practically made my eyes pop out of my head!

I'm confused. If you are traveling with folks who can't walk for long periods of time, have you thought about how they will handle the hike to Exit Glacier?

As others have pointed out, there's a shuttle that will take you there. I found it convenient and reliable. However, once you get there, you have to hike to the glacier. It's been more,than five years ago since we did this, but I remember the hike was not totally flat; there was at least one large "step" that I recall and some up and down areas that required traversing.

Perhaps someone who has done the hike more recently can comment.

We love the Renaissance private island. They are walking distance from the ship and their boat picks you up right in their lobby. Very convenient.

Once you get to their private island, you choose one of two beaches. The one with the flamingos doesn't allow children. It is beautiful and tranquil. The restaurant is by the beach that allows kids.

After a few times in this port, we now do the following each visit....

Walk to the Renaissance Hotel, book a day pass on their private island for ~ $100 pp (I know, not cheap. Their boat literally picks you up in the lobby. It makes one stop at their time share and then whisks you off to their private island.

There are two beaches on the island:

1) A family beach near the restaurant

2) beach where children are not allowed

The adult beach has flamingos roaming the beach. Beautiful and tranquil. Lunch is included in your price and one drink.

Everyone, thanks for your replies. We will be on Riviera so it appears Waves will be open in addition to the Terrace.

I didn't expect they would offer afternoon tea on embarkation day so I'm not disappointed. We will have to make a point of partaking in that event at least once on our upcoming cruise.

Which lunch venues are open on day of embarkation? Also, do they offer afternoon tea in Horizons on embarkation day?

Thanks for posting. I always appreciate reading about differences between cruise lines and am open to new experiences --- which is why we are cruising O instead of our usual mass market cruise line.

Enjoy your cruise!

Another great tour operator is Thenford Grey tours.

Just google his name and it will come up.

Thenford is a great guy and does an outstanding job.

 

Last time we went to the Calambara Beach Club. Had a great day there.

I agree, Thenford has a great tour and is a true gentleman. We've toured with him multiple times. He was the one that introduced us to the Carambola Beach Club, which we love.