1st time cruiser - Destination Alaska!

[Cali_Chick]

Hi everyone!

 

I'm hoping to take my first cruise in July. My Mother is taking me for my birthday (it's a milestone one but I'm not saying which milestone :p). So, I picked Alaska as the destination.

 

We have narrowed it down to Norwegian or Princess but haven't made a final choice yet.

 

Mom has been on a cruise before but caught a bug the 2nd day in so spent the rest of the cruise in the cabin. Needless to say, she really isn't sure about how things are done either.

 

So now I have lots of questions that I'm hoping can be answered here.

 

1. Tipping -

 

We will be on a somewhat limited budget so I want to ensure I have all the standard onboard expenses covered before looking at any excursions. Also, knowing what to expect will ensure we save the proper amount before we go.

 

If my research is correct, NCL applies $12 pp per day and Princess is $10.50 pp per day. We will probably prepay this (it's still possible right?) to make it easier. But I'm not sure about any other things missed or don't know about.

 

Room service should be $2-$5 depending upon what is brought? I'm budgeting $5.00 per day. I doubt we will use it every day so it should be enough?

 

Drinks - they add 15% to the bill automatically? If so, are we supposed to add more? Is this for all drinks (juices, soda, etc.) or just alcohol? What about things like coffee, water, ice tea? How do we figure a tip for those if they are included? And do we tip each time a drink is brought or is that supposed to be added somewhere else?

 

Meals - are we supposed to tip at each meal? If so, what is the amount. This one has me confused, especially if it's the included dining since there isn't a bill to base a percentage on! What's normal for the buffet versus a dining room? Or a speciality resturant?

 

What about at the end of the cruise - is it typical to leave an additional tip for the staff? If so, what is the proper amount?

 

Any other things I'm missing? Obviously, if someone goes above and beyond, we would tip them directly but all the rest of the stuff has me a little mystified.

 

Gosh it would be nice if there was a place that listed all this stuff out. I would hate for anyone on the staff to think we were stiffing them when it's just because we didn't know! :eek:

 

2. Drink cards.

 

I am a soda-holic so am planning on getting the soda card. From what I understand, it's for fountian sodas only right? Not soda in cans or bottles? Is it just a card you bring with you and present when you order? My Mom seemed to think that on NCL they gave you a cup and you had to carry it around with you. That can't be right can it? Does it work the same on both cruise lines?

 

Coffee cards - how do those work? Do you get a card or a coffee cup? I want to get one for my Mom but not if she has to carry a coffee cup around?

 

Drink of the day card - what is this one for?

 

Also, about how much does each one of the above cost?

 

3. Other stuff

 

Casino - not a big gambler but thought I might visit the casino one night. Not sure what to expect though. Do they serve drinks (non alcoholic or otherwise)? Standard charge I would assume? Are we supposed to tip anyone there? I've read about points in some of the threads here but not really sure what they are for?

 

Movie Theater - is there a cost for this? Do we need to make reservations or can we just pop in if we decide at the last minute to see a movie? Assuming there are seats available of course.

 

Bringing items on board - I was thinking of bringing some soda on board to have in the cabin. Is this allowed on either/both cruise lines?

 

Duty free shopping - do they even have this on an Alaska cruise? :confused: I'm assuming we have to declare this stuff when we return. How does that process work? What kind of items are included?

 

Dressing - I've seen some mixed reports on what is acceptable for dining but I've also seen advice not to pack too much. Would nice black jeans and a blouse be ok for most of the dining rooms? Not formal nights of course but if we did decide to go to one of the steakhouses, would it be ok? I want pack some double duty clothes that I can hopefully wash on board if needed. I'm planning for a day outfit and an evening outfit from mix and match so I can stretch the wardrobe.

 

I've ordered some wrist wallets so we don't have to carry purses around. Are the safes in the room secure? I worry about my passport, etc.

 

Any other advice for a first time cruiser? I want to get all the stress out of the way now so when it's time to board the ship, I can just relax.

 

So sorry about the over long post but I keep thinking of questions!

 

Thank you all so much in advance.

 

Julie

[paul929207]

We have been on two Alaskan cruises, both with Princess. They are much more experienced in Alska than NCL.

 

1 Tipping - the autotip covers your cabin steward, wait staff and the people behind the scenes who help them. You do not tip at each meal, the autotip covers it. Same with beverages at buffet or dining room.

Drinks - tip included. No need to tip extra unless someone really serves you well. For instance, if you go to the same bar and have same server everyevening, a little at the end would be nice, but not required.

At end - Tip extra at end only if someone has really done extra.

 

2. Soda card - On Princess - fountain drinks only. No Cans, No bottles, No Room Service. $4.25/day plus 15% tip. They affix a sticker to your cruise card.

Coffee card gets you 15 specialty coffees (lattes, expresso, etc) for $24 plus 15% tip. Do not have to carry cup on Princess.

[Cali_Chick]

No room service on Princess cruises? Well, that's a little disappointing. :(

 

The coffee card does sound like a good idea - I think I will have to get Mom one.

 

Thank you for the information on the tipping! I was worried we wouldn't do it right. From what I hear, the service is incredible on cruise ships and I didn't want to upset anyone just because I didn't know all the rules.

[sparky-elpaso]

No room service on Princess cruises? Well, that's a little disappointing. :(

 

The coffee card does sound like a good idea - I think I will have to get Mom one.

 

Thank you for the information on the tipping! I was worried we wouldn't do it right. From what I hear, the service is incredible on cruise ships and I didn't want to upset anyone just because I didn't know all the rules.

 

I think what the poster meant was you can't use the soda card for room service. You probably have to pay for a can of soda.

[thego6girl]

I think what the poster meant was you can't use the soda card for room service. You probably have to pay for a can of soda.

 

There is definitely room service on Princess to AK. Used it all the time!:)

[thego6girl]

Leave your wallet in the safe...no need to bring a wrist wallet. A ship is a cash free society. Get a lanyard similar to one that is used as a work badge holder, and carry your "sail card" in that. Or get a small tote to carry your book, magazine, knitting etc for those times when you want to sit in public areas.

 

The movies are free. No ticket needed....they are usually pretty empty.

 

A cruise to AK tends to be less formal. All of the excursions are out-doorsey, get good waterproof hiking shoes (read the threads on packing lists under the AK links). People have all different opinions on formal night. If you want to dress, do so, if you don't, no need to skip the dining room. You can go as long as you are properly dressed (no shorts, no bathingsuits...which you probably won't need on your AK cruise unless you want to use the hot tub).

 

Read the boards as if it's your job. There is a ton of info on this site. Some good, some not so good...but read it, & use what sounds good for you. After the first 15 minutes of your first cruise, you will be a pro.....this is not brain surgery.....just a great way to vacation, so RELAX!:)

[GORDONCHICK]

For Alaska, I would choose the itinerary I liked best (one having a port the other one doesn't or longer times in port). All lines do a really good job in Alaska these days.

 

I know NCL no longer has serf-serve laundry, and I cannot remember about Princess, but both have a laundry service where you can send clothing out - that is an extra expense, and can be expensive. Many lines have a laundry special for "everything you can stuff into this bag" for a set fee (usually $20-25), but it's delivered back to you just in time to pack for the return trip.

 

Jeans are fine on NCL. Formal is not expected, though one main dining will not allow jeans on "Dress Up or Not" nights. They don't have to be the high-end designer jeans - neat, clean and without holes and fraying is fine. I think I remember jeans being okay on casual nights.

 

You won't really need a purse while on the ship, unless you don't have pockets. While in port, that's another story. Most use backpacks, though I prefer messenger bags so my hands are free.

 

You should have a fantastic time!

[yogi2929]

Go over to the Alaska Board for more info.

[thego6girl]

For Alaska, I would choose the itinerary I liked best (one having a port the other one doesn't or longer times in port). All lines do a really good job in Alaska these days.

 

I know NCL no longer has serf-serve laundry, and I cannot remember about Princess, but both have a laundry service where you can send clothing out - that is an extra expense, and can be expensive. Many lines have a laundry special for "everything you can stuff into this bag" for a set fee (usually $20-25), but it's delivered back to you just in time to pack for the return trip.

 

Jeans are fine on NCL. Formal is not expected, though one main dining will not allow jeans on "Dress Up or Not" nights. They don't have to be the high-end designer jeans - neat, clean and without holes and fraying is fine. I think I remember jeans being okay on casual nights.

 

You won't really need a purse while on the ship, unless you don't have pockets. While in port, that's another story. Most use backpacks, though I prefer messenger bags so my hands are free.

 

You should have a fantastic time!

My DS and even once or twice, my DH wore jeans into the main dining room. Although some guests might not appreciate it, if you wear jeans, you will NOT be asked to leave, provided they are not ragged and torn

[Cali_Chick]

Wow....thank you all for the input! I have been trying to read all of the boards...lots of info which led to lots of questions! I thought this would be the right place, so sorry if I posted in the wrong forum.

 

Good news about Princess having room service after all! Had me worried there.

 

I plan on bringing a "dress up" outfit for at least one formal evening but was concerned about the other nights. Thank you for confirming what is acceptable. One more thing to check off the list! Though, now I need to add messenger bag :D

 

This is so exciting! I've been practically bouncing for the past week.

[GORDONCHICK]

My DS and even once or twice, my DH wore jeans into the main dining room. Although some guests might not appreciate it, if you wear jeans, you will NOT be asked to leave, provided they are not ragged and torn

 

This is not true on all lines. I have witnessed people refused entry to the MDR even on casual nights on Celebrity.

[sparky-elpaso]

Wow....thank you all for the input! I have been trying to read all of the boards...lots of info which led to lots of questions! I thought this would be the right place, so sorry if I posted in the wrong forum.

 

Good news about Princess having room service after all! Had me worried there.

 

I plan on bringing a "dress up" outfit for at least one formal evening but was concerned about the other nights. Thank you for confirming what is acceptable. One more thing to check off the list! Though, now I need to add messenger bag :D

 

This is so exciting! I've been practically bouncing for the past week.

 

I plan on bringing 1 outfit for formal nights and will wear it twice - no one is paying that much attention.

[thego6girl]

This is not true on all lines. I have witnessed people refused entry to the MDR even on casual nights on Celebrity.

 

we have been on Celebrity and my DH and our male friends have all worn both nice jeans on non-formal nights and khakis on formal nights and never been asked to leave.

[GORDONCHICK]

we have been on Celebrity and my DH and our male friends have all worn both nice jeans on non-formal nights and khakis on formal nights and never been asked to leave.

 

It is at the descretion of the maitre d' of that dining room. It can change with each cruise and who's minding the doors. I did see people turned away on one side of the dining room and other not turned away but they entered through different doors on the other side of the dining room. I think jeans are becoming more acceptable on many mass-marketed lines, but there are still instances where they are not accepted. I have seen men in khakis, shirt, tie and jacket on formal nights on Celebrity as well, but not just khakis and a shirt.

[grandmato4]

Tried to answer the questions that hadn't already been answered for you. Alaska is absolutely beautiful- you and your Mom will love it!

 

 

Room service should be $2-$5 depending upon what is brought? I'm budgeting $5.00 per day. I doubt we will use it every day so it should be enough? Good amounts to budget in case you do use it and if not extra for elseware can be nice:)

 

 

Casino - not a big gambler but thought I might visit the casino one night. Not sure what to expect though. Do they serve drinks (non alcoholic or otherwise)? Standard charge I would assume? Are we supposed to tip anyone there? I've read about points in some of the threads here but not really sure what they are for? You have to pay for your drinks as you would anywhere else on the ship on Princess in the casino. If you are not a big gambler you can pretty much ignor the points on Princess. $1000 gets you $10 back.

 

 

Bringing items on board - I was thinking of bringing some soda on board to have in the cabin. Is this allowed on either/both cruise lines? Yes, you can bring a reasonable amount of soda on board with you on Princess. Also a bottle of wine per person. More wine may be allowed but you'll always be safe taking one bottle per person. If you plan on purchasing alcoholic drinks we budget $7 per drink times the number we may want per day. Prices may vary slightly but we use that amount and always have budgeted plenty.

 

Dressing - I've seen some mixed reports on what is acceptable for dining but I've also seen advice not to pack too much. Would nice black jeans and a blouse be ok for most of the dining rooms? Not formal nights of course but if we did decide to go to one of the steakhouses, would it be ok? I want pack some double duty clothes that I can hopefully wash on board if needed. I'm planning for a day outfit and an evening outfit from mix and match so I can stretch the wardrobe. Princess has laundry rooms you can use so planning to do a load or two of laundry can be a great idea. Price may vary slightly by ship but if you plan $2.00 for wash and same for dry per load you will have plenty. Detergent can be purchased for about the same price but I do take a couple sample packets with me so I don't have to purchase any. For an Alaska cruise you want to plan layered clothing as it can be cold, very cold or not so cold or even warm on the same trip and even on the same day.;) Also plan for wet. Don't worry about any weather forcast you see before your cruise. It will likely have rain in it every day but that doesn't mean it will be raining all day although it could, but more often some rain and some sun. If you get lucky lots of sun no matter what the forcast.

 

I've ordered some wrist wallets so we don't have to carry purses around. Are the safes in the room secure? I worry about my passport, etc. Yes the safes are secure and your passports will be safe there. You only need your sail and sign card while on board the ship for anything you purchase. Cash for casino and laundry room.

 

Any other advice for a first time cruiser? I want to get all the stress out of the way now so when it's time to board the ship, I can just relax.

Alaska excursions can be expensive but IMHO so worth it. Don't feel like you have to do everything but do pick at least one excursion that gets you into the wilderness of Alaska as that is where the true beauty of the countryside can be seen like you've never seen before. Take a good camera(a good zoom comes in handy) and binoculars as you'll use both often while on the ship and on land. Not neccessary and overly priced but you still may want to budget for purchasing a couple photos of you and Mom while on the cruise. Hard to resist for first time cruisers and often really nice photos. Budget $50 and you'll be fine if you choose to purchase a couple. Extra money for the casino if you don't buy any;)

 

Relax and enjoy as I'm sure you'll have a great time. Remember to pack your sense of humor and patience. No matter how well you plan before hand a cruise is always an adventure that tends to give everyone a few twist and turns they didn't quite expect. If you think of it as an adventure you'll love almost if not every minute of it!:)

[Cali_Chick]

We were going to look at the excursions for each port once we had the ship costs settled. We would like to do something in each port but probably not something big in each port.

 

Have to do the whale watchng though! That is a must.

 

I've made a note to pack clothes I can wear in layers and a hat and gloves just in case - wonderful advice!

 

Thank you again!

 

Julie

[grandmato4]

Julie

 

Forget to say that if you choose Princess the Coral is our most favorite ship. Absolutely love that ship. The island is her sister and and layed out the same. Not sure which Alaska itinaries they are doing next summer. We did Alaska on the Golden and enjoyed it very much. As far as cabin category, a covered balcony is nice for Alaska and we enjoyed ours very much but not absolutely necessary. If you are choosing an inside cabin and choose the Coral or Island pick a cabin toward the aft(back) of the ship. On Emerald, Dophin, Carribe, and Baja deck there are fabulous large outside covered balconies on the aft of the ship that you can use anytime you wish which are wonderful for watching and viewing the whales you may likely see from time to time along with other wildlife while sailing and in while in port. Its the next best thing to having your own balcony.

 

Enjoy!:)

[sparky-elpaso]

We were going to look at the excursions for each port once we had the ship costs settled. We would like to do something in each port but probably not something big in each port.

 

Have to do the whale watchng though! That is a must.

 

I've made a note to pack clothes I can wear in layers and a hat and gloves just in case - wonderful advice!

 

Thank you again!

 

Julie

 

I can recommend Harv and Marv in Juneau. They have smaller boats (enclosed) that carry 6 passengers so you aren't surrounded by people. And when we went (2008) after the boat trip they take you over to Mendenhall Glacier for a bit so you can take pictures.

 

For pics:

 

We booked an inside cabin on the Radiance of the Seas so we could do more excursions - since they are some of the more expensive ones. Our flightseeing out of Ketchikan was cancelled because of the fog - guess we'll have to go back some day.

[johnwayne62]

My wife and I want a covered balcony on the Island Princess cruise to Alaska! How can you tell which cabins have covered balconies?

 

TIA

[johnwayne62]

How can you tell from deck layouts which cabins have covered balconies?

 

TIA

[GlendaleCruiser]

Take good hiking shoes but break them in first. A friend wore new ones to Europe last year and they were nice expensive shoes, but she got blisters and band aids only help so much.

[Peery5]

I didn't read all the responses posted, so if this has been suggested just disregard. We were in Alaska last June. In Skagway and Juneu we rented a car. It was wonderful. We drove up into the Yukon, up to Emerald Lake. Stopped in Carcross for lunch. The scenery was beautiful. I think it was the most enjoyable excursions we have ever had on a cruise. If you do this, be sure to take your passport with you. You have to have it to cross the border. The car rental place was withing walking distance to pick up a car in Skagway.

[Wheelman]

I am a Cali Boy and I was absolutely awed by Alaska !! In regards to brings your own soft drinks, all you have to do is attach a luggage tag to the 12 pack (at least with Princess).

 

As for the Coffee Card, it is well worth it: (the smoothies and Revolution Teas do NOT count against your 15 coffees)

 

Coffee Card Promotion

 

• The Coffee Card Promotion retails at $24.00 plus 15% gratuity and allows passengers to redeem 15 speciality coffees throughout their voyage, in any location, where espresso/cappuccino service is offered.
  
• This represents anything up to a 20% saving compared to purchasing these beverages individually.
  
• Every time a guest requests a coffee a hole-punch is made in the coffee card until all 15 slots have been used.
  
• The coffee card promotion includes all hot and cold beverages featured in the Cafe Selects Menu (see below) apart from the Green Tea Fusion Smoothies.
  

Princess Cafe Selects

Espresso & Coffee

 

Freshly Brewed Coffee* 12oz, 16oz - regular & decaffeinated

Espresso

Macchiato

Cappuccino 12oz, 16oz

Cafe Latte 12oz, 16oz

White Chocolate Latte 12oz, 16oz

White & Milk Chocolate Mocha 12oz, 16oz

Vanilla Bean Latte 12oz, 16oz

Hot Chocolate* 12oz, 16oz

Revolution Tea* 12oz, 16oz

 

* Note: Freshly brewed coffee and Revolution Tea refills are complimentary when seated in the lounge. Hot chocolate is complimentary in the dining room, in Deck/Buffet areas on Alaskan itineraries and in conjunction with the Coffee Card Promotion. However, hot chocolate continues to carry a charge when offered at the bars and buffets.

Lobby Bar

 

Iced coffee and Blends

 

Your choice of the following flavors frozen or served over ice

White Chocolate 12oz, 16oz

Vanilla Bean 12oz, 16oz

Caramel Mocha 12oz, 16oz

 

Green tea fruit smoothies - non-fat fruit smoothies fusing together green tea and fresh fruit

Peach Pizzazz 12oz, 16oz

Pomegranate & Blueberry 12oz, 16oz

Mango Madness 12oz, 16oz