2011 Alaska FUNTIMES

Just returned from a fantastic cruise and thought some would like to see the 2011 Alaska FUNTIMES. Each FUNTIMES has a detachable strip listing the events, time and locations. We usually detached the strip and carried it with us. I'm sure there are a number of places to pick up an extra FUNTIME. I usually tried to get one as I was passing the Spirit Atrium Bar, but forgot on a few days.

Sorry...I clicked submit by mistake. Trying to post a larger version so they can be read. I'll post one day at a time.

Tuesday - Seattle

Wednesday - Seaday 1

Thursday - Tracy Arm

Friday - Skagway

Saturday - Juneau

Sunday - Ketchikan

Monday - Victoria

Unfortunately, my scanner did not do a great job. If you have any specific questions, please ask and I'll check the FUNTIMES for an answer.

Thanks so much for posting this, Kathi! We're going in three week and can't wait! Are you going to post a review? Hope so! Did you feel really rushed in Victoria?

Thanks so much for posting this, Kathi! We're going in three week and can't wait! Are you going to post a review? Hope so! Did you feel really rushed in Victoria?

Thinking about doing one. It's been nonstop, but would like to post a few likes and dislikes. (Mostly likes ;))

Yes, yes, yes. My DH kept saying "This is a waste of time. It's stupid they even stop here." I kept explaining that they had to stop in one foreign port, but PLEASE, I wish they could shuffle the itinerary around some way to give us more time.

Thinking about doing one. It's been nonstop, but would like to post a few likes and dislikes. (Mostly likes ;))

 

Yes, yes, yes. My DH kept saying "This is a waste of time. It's stupid they even stop here." I kept explaining that they had to stop in one foreign port, but PLEASE, I wish they could shuffle the itinerary around some way to give us more time.

Please do post a review if you can find the time! We leave on the 21st and are very excited. Still trying to figure out what to pack! What sort of weather did you encounter?

Thanks !!

Looking forward to your review

Just curious...does the ship offer any special "Alaska" foods while there?

Alaska salmon...or ??? thanks

Thinking about doing one. It's been nonstop, but would like to post a few likes and dislikes. (Mostly likes ;))

 

Yes, yes, yes. My DH kept saying "This is a waste of time. It's stupid they even stop here." I kept explaining that they had to stop in one foreign port, but PLEASE, I wish they could shuffle the itinerary around some way to give us more time.

I hope you do, at least the likes and dislikes! So what did you do in Victoria, just walk around the town or what? That's kind of what we were thinking. Not even sure there's enough time to eat there or if we should eat before we get off the ship, just so we have more time in port.

Thanks for posting! We leave a week from today for Seattle! How was the weather and what did you pack? I'm having a hard time packing for this one!

Thanks so much! We have 9 family members boarding on Tuesday. Was nice to get an idea of their activities.

Weather and packing - of course we over packed! We layered and were very comfortable - T-shirt, then a long sleeved shirt, then our coat if needed. The inside areas of the ship were very comfortable with just a T-shirt and if needed, a long sleeve shirt. Depending where we were on deck, we usually wore our jackets. Some days we sat on our balcony with just a long sleeved shirt. Being from the East Coast, I was up early most days as we pulled in to port. :rolleyes: I would just throw my jacket on over my pajamas to watch from our balcony.

Food - We thought the food was good. We checked out the dining room dinner menus and on some days ate at the buffet. We were a little confused with the lay out of the buffet at first, but quickly figured it out.

We ordered from room service often. They were usually quick except right after we left Ketchikan. The food took 45 minutes and the runner that delivered said they were very, very busy. The orders were mixed up a few times...asked for chocolate milk and got chocolate cake, wrong side with a sandwich & once we even received a completly wrong order (must have been meant for a different cabin, but we still ate it).

My DH & DS thought the steakhouse was the best thing they had ever eaten....me not so much. Comparing it to Palo's on the Disney Magic, I thought it fell short. The food was okay (had a piece of gristle in my filet mignon) and never felt warm and fuzzy with the waitstaff. Hard to explain, but thought they just weren't that friendly. We had 7pm reservations on Thursday. It wasn't busy at all, with less than 50% of the tables seated.

Here's what we had:

Kathi - heart of iceberg lettuce

filet mignon with yukon gold mashed potatoes

carmelized Washington apples

Phil - New England crab cakes

caesar salad

surf & turf with yukon gold mashed potatoes and sauteed mushrooms

chocolate sampler

Steve-escargot

lobster ravioli

Steve was so full (probably because of the two grilled cheese sandwiches from room service that he had 1 hour before dinner) that he didn't order desert. They knew it was his birthday and the waiter brought him a plate with some type of brownie, ice cream and whipped cream with a candle.

My one BIG complaint was the bread baskets. There was not one single time when the bread was soft or warm or felt fresh. The rolls were usually hard and the pieces of bread seemed stale. Just once I wanted a nice soft, fresh roll to have with my dinner. We even asked for a fresh basket the first night, but it was the same.:(

My FAVORITE thing was the hot chocolate at the self serve drink stations. I didn't notice it for the first few days. The first night I purchased a hot chocolate from the Fountain Cafe and didn't think it was half as good at the free self serve.

Victoria - We took the city shuttle bus from the pier to downtown for $7.50 per person round trip. A lot of people walked the 1-1.5 miles (looked like a lot of crew members). I actually had the fortune of sharing a seat with Michelle the naturalist. She was so nice and even recommended a couple pubs in town. After we got off the shuttle, she graciously let me take her picture with Phil and Steve. In "real life" she's just as calm and soft spoken as she is when she's on the ship speakers. We ended up just walking a few blocks up one street and stopped to buy a couple postcards. We then stopped to take some pictures of the parliament building before boarding the shuttle back to the ship. There were a number of taxis, limos and shuttles off to the side. Some were holding up signs advertising their price. While in line for the bus, a group in front of us decided to take a small shuttle van since the total price was better.

Activities - Steve and I love trivia. He's much better than I, but we still had a great time. We won a "ship on a stick" the first night and he also received one for coming in second on Sunday night. We enjoyed the comedy club. We only saw 1.5 of the production shows (left during the middle of one....too sleepy to stay). Phil and Steve donated to the casino a little each night. I on the other had a run of luck at roulette.:p

Kathi, thanks so much! I do hope you'll write a review. :D We're on the June 28 sailing, and it's our third to Alaska and fourth time on the Spirit, but I'm still reading everything I can get my eyes on! :D

Thanks for posting!

Thanks so much for posting this, Kathi! We're going in three week and can't wait! Are you going to post a review? Hope so! Did you feel really rushed in Victoria?

Cindy, we're on the same sailing. We have a pretty active roll call over on the Carnival Roll Call board--would love to have you join us! :D

Cindy, we're on the same sailing. We have a pretty active roll call over on the Carnival Roll Call board--would love to have you join us! :D

Thanks, I'll mosey on over and say "Howdy"!:D (I am from Texas, y'know...)

Thanks so much Kathi! Talk to you on the Waiters board!

How was the dress in the MDR?

thanks for the posting of the capers. I have a big group going in August and wanted this info!

Thanks again!

:p

How was the dress in the MDR?

For the most part is was VERY casual. I'd say 50% of the people were dressed up on the two elegant nights (church clothes to tuxes). After three nights of pleading and begging for my DH & DS to wear dress pants and nicer shirts, I gave up. One of the nights, we ate at the steakhouse. I finally gave up since so many people were wearing jeans. So, the last 4 nights we wore jeans and a nice shirt. A couple nights were were seated right next to the MDR entrance and never saw anyone turned away for the type of clothes they were wearing (multiple t-shirts, shorts, flip flops and one or two tank tops).

thanks for the posting of the capers. I have a big group going in August and wanted this info!

Thanks again!

Glad I can help. You're going to have a great time!! At some point I'm hoping to post a few pictures.

OH!!! SWEET WONDERFUL PERSON!!!

THANK YOU!!!!

I'm bookmarking this thread for the FUNTIMES and for all you info!!! I won't be cruising till next May... YIPPEE!!!

This is great!!! I was back in the pages to find a thread I lost with another review... But, God led me to yours and I KNOW WHY!!!

BLESS YOU!!!!

Lambie