Cruising June 25 to July 14

[born2cruize]

Hi All:

 

Monday my wife and I leave on the Coral Princess for the start of 19 days days. 7 up, 5 day land then 7 days back on the Sapphire Princess.

 

In Hawaii the past two years I run a live (or almost live) Q & A concerning the cruise. Since this is our 4th and 5th Alaska Cruise and our schedule isn't that heavy I'd thought that I would do the some thing in Alaska.

 

So if you have a question about the Coral Princess, 5 day Connoisseur Escorted, or Sapphire Princess or anything else related to the cruise I'll try and get the answer for you.

 

I'll be using my iPad with 3G so connect isn't an issue in port except for sea days. Our current tours are:

 

Ketchikan - Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary Walk & Crab Feast

 

Juneau - Taku Lodge Feast & 5-Glacier Seaplane Discovery

 

If you have questions concerning either tour I'll try and get you an answer.

 

On the way back on the Sapphire Princess our only tours are:

 

Skagway - Alaska Nature & Wildlife Expedition

 

Ketchikan - Misty Fjords & Wilderness Explorer Cruise

 

I hope you'll enjoy this little adventure through Alaska.

 

In addition if you have any questions concerning traveling on these ships with disabilities (I currently use a walker, cane, oxygen, BiPAP machine & I'm a diabetic and stroke patient ask away).

[vbmom87]

Although I don't have any questions, I will be looking forward to your posts about your trip. Sounds like a wonderful one. I will be especially interested in hearing how you like the land tour.

[born2cruize]

Arrived yesterday, Vancouver was partly sunny and temps in upper 60's/low 70's. Today in entirely different morning was cool, windy and cloudy. Sun broke out midday and temp warmed up but still windy (after all ship is moving even if it is slowly). By 4:00 PM it was back to cloudy. We are currently in open water, can't see land at all. Left Vancouver Island about 1:00/2:00.

 

For anyone with mobility issues, a wheeled walker does not fit through the stateroom door of an inside cabin. I have to take everything out of it, collapse it then turn to sideways to get it through the door.

 

The life boat drill was at 3:45 only Princess could schedule it at this time! They tried to use the new scanner system to take attendance but only one worked in the Wheelhouse lounge muster station.

 

Formal dinner is tonight and again the night of Glacier Bay.

 

I'm on my free Internet minutes so I'll end this so I'll have some for later.

[Keith1010]

Thanks for posting live. We do the same thing.

 

Welcome to Vancouver and I wish you a Bon Voyage!

 

Keith

[JohnBoy in NC]

So if you have a question about the Coral Princess, 5 day Connoisseur Escorted, or Sapphire Princess or anything else related to the cruise I'll try and get the answer for you.

 

Thanks for your willingness to post info! I am looking at Sapphire for a June 2013 Alaska trip...I am reading everything I can about Princess and the itineraries...:)

 

John in NC

[born2cruize]

Thanks for your willingness to post info! I am looking at Sapphire for a June 2013 Alaska trip...I am reading everything I can about Princess and the itineraries...:)

 

John in NC

 

After I finished posting yesterday it started raining, lightly but rain. It hasn't stopped. Ketchikan is fogged in right now and raining. First time in 4 cruises here that it has been this dreary.

 

You'll really be interest in our next cruise as it is on Sapphire Princess. I'm expecting that ship to be similar to Star Princess that we were on last year. In 2008 we were on the Island Princess and this ship is an exact copy of that ship. Dock 4 is next to the seaplane hangers, we're that far north of the main Docks.

[born2cruize]

Arrived at 0530 and it was sprinkling and it hasn't stopped. Tour was so-so. No wildlife crab was pretty good.

[born2cruize]

Yesterday was Juneau, rained about 60% of the day. Tour was great (see original post for tour). Plane was an Otter which is a 10 passenger plane as compared to the Beaver which seats 6. Great views of the glaciers. Taku Lodge is at a great location sitting across the Hole In The Wall glacier. WARNING: Mosquitos were out in force. Salmon was delicious. Meal was great.

 

Today is Skagway, Princess for this ship has the worst docks at every port. We're located at the rear of railroad pier. Weather is overcast and cool. Not to disagree with others but 10 day forecast has been spot on. Don't care how it was 3 years ago but for the next 10 days we have one day with some sun. This will be out last post if there are no questions about Coral Princess or this itinerary.

[kr9457]

How bad did the rain effect the Taku lodge and float plane tour? What would you recommend for wearing if it's raining on this tour?

[Ship Dude]

Thanks for the news. I'm on the Coral NB in August. Hope the weather and mosquitos are better. If you could do a ship review once you get to Whittier - let us know what worked and did not work on Board Coral.

[born2cruize]

How bad did the rain effect the Taku lodge and float plane tour? What would you recommend for wearing if it's raining on this tour?

 

Actually Taku Lodge only had light sprinkles (that's the 40% that didn't rain). There was some rain drops on the plane windows that went away once we were airborne. The problem then became windows fogging because of the cold outside and warm breaths inside (secret, don't breathe) :D . It did rain mosquitoes. Views were tremendous even if the windows did have some fog. On some of the glaciers you could see blue pools of water dotted across the top. There was also a mother black bear and her two cubs that have become regular visitors there. I didn't see the cubs but the mother was up a nearby tree.

 

As any tour in Alaska, wear in layers. In our case that included some heavy jackets. But if your here when it's warmer lighter jackets would be in order. In the lodge they have a large fireplace that kept the room nice and toasty even with the door wide open. Outside of the lodge they had a table with several spray bottles of bug spray which contained deet. It was pointed out that there is a difference between water proof and water repellent.

[born2cruize]

Thanks for the news. I'm on the Coral NB in August. Hope the weather and mosquitos are better. If you could do a ship review once you get to Whittier - let us know what worked and did not work on Board Coral.

 

We have no complaints about the ship. The only complaint I could mention is a personal pet peeve concerning Horizon Court. This class of ship has HC at the fron on Deck 14 and I personally don't care for the flow of the buffet. I prefer the Star Princess (and I suspect that Sapphire Princess will be that same). The HC is at the back and the flow of the buffet is just better. On 3 of our cruises with Princess (Sea, Island & Coral) you have people trying to get food from different sides and people just cutting in line because they only want one thing instead of getting in line and waiting there turn.

[born2cruize]

No rain so far today. In fact for a little while this afternoon the sun peeked through the clouds. BUT the wind was blowing nice cold air. I suspect the wind was 15 - 25 miles per hours. AND COLD. I was struck by how much snow is still on the mountains this year around Skagway. In '09 we were in Alaska from 11 June - 25 June and had little to no snow in the surrounding mountains.

 

The only other ship in port today is the Carnival Spirit.

[erewhon]

Thank you for taking time to post your reports during the cruise.

[vbmom87]

I am enjoying your report. Thanks for taking the time to post.

[paddingtonbear]

Fantastic to read your detailed report. How are you coping with the weather clothes wise? Do you have waterproof overpants or is I not that heavy?

[Pamster]

I'm interested in hearing that the weather is cool and rainy even in late June. We're planning the June 29 sailing next year and I thought the weather might be warmer and more sunny than our previous late September sailings. Not that I mind, the cool/cold and rainy seems more "Alaska-y" to me. Are the days longer, though?

[born2cruize]

Fantastic to read your detailed report. How are you coping with the weather clothes wise? Do you have waterproof overpants or is I not that heavy?

 

Being from the Pacific Northwest we don't need no stinking waterproof pants (modified from Blazing Saddles) :D . Seriously layers is the answer, yesterday at Glacier Bay I wore long pants (heavy duty) lightweight long sleeve sweatshirt, a second sweatshirt with hoody, heavy winter jacket with hood, gloves and finally knit hat. It kept me warm.

[born2cruize]

I'm interested in hearing that the weather is cool and rainy even in late June. We're planning the June 29 sailing next year and I thought the weather might be warmer and more sunny than our previous late September sailings. Not that I mind, the cool/cold and rainy seems more "Alaska-y" to me. Are the days longer, though?

 

I get annoyed when people write "In 2001 we had warm weather on our trip". Weather changes year to year, I have the Weather Channel app on my iPad and it has been spot on so far. More important than the temperature is the chance of rain when it says 60% or above it's going to be pretty accurate.

 

We've cruise in May 2007, early June 2009 and end of July 2005. Until this year we've had pretty nice weather. You just can't predict next week, next month or next year.

 

In Skagway sunrise was about 4:00 AM and sunset was about 11:00 PM. But of course it really is light out before and after those times.

[Pamster]

Being from the Pacific Northwest we don't need no stinking waterproof pants (modified from Blazing Saddles) :D . Seriously layers is the answer, yesterday at Glacier Bay I wore long pants (heavy duty) lightweight long sleeve sweatshirt, a second sweatshirt with hoody, heavy winter jacket with hood, gloves and finally knit hat. It kept me warm.

 

I thought the quote was from the Cisco Kid? Was it also used in Blazing Saddles - could be - but I think the original quote is older than that movie.

[Pamster]

I get annoyed when people write "In 2001 we had warm weather on our trip". Weather changes year to year, I have the Weather Channel app on my iPad and it has been spot on so far. More important than the temperature is the chance of rain when it says 60% or above it's going to be pretty accurate.

 

We've cruise in May 2007, early June 2009 and end of July 2005. Until this year we've had pretty nice weather. You just can't predict next week, next month or next year.

 

In Skagway sunrise was about 4:00 AM and sunset was about 11:00 PM. But of course it really is light out before and after those times.

 

Having only cruised Alaska in late September, that's all I have to go on what Alaska weather might be. From your posts, it sounds like we should be prepared for any and all seasons (except maybe deep winter). :D Good to know. I'm looking forward to June/July in Alaska no matter what the weather.

[Host Jazzbeau]

Being from the Pacific Northwest we don't need no stinking waterproof pants (modified from Blazing Saddles) :D . Seriously layers is the answer, yesterday at Glacier Bay I wore long pants (heavy duty) lightweight long sleeve sweatshirt, a second sweatshirt with hoody, heavy winter jacket with hood, gloves and finally knit hat. It kept me warm.

 

That was an homage to the original: Alfonso Bedoya in Treasure of the Sierra Madre, playing the leader of some Mexican banditos claiming to be Federales. Humphrey Bogart challenges him to show their government badges and gets the famous response: "Badges? Badges??? I don't got to show you no stinkin' badges!"

 

This was the favorite movie quote of legendary DJ and jazz hipster Al 'Jazzbeaux' Collins. Guest starts on his show had to do their Alfonso Bedoya impression, and the Al Collins fanclub was known as the Banditos. [Note my CC username!]

[kr9457]

Has the weather forecast been pretty right on a week out???

[Pamster]

That was an homage to the original: Alfonso Bedoya in Treasure of the Sierra Madre, playing the leader of some Mexican banditos claiming to be Federales. Humphrey Bogart challenges him to show their government badges and gets the famous response: "Badges? Badges??? I don't got to show you no stinkin' badges!"

 

This was the favorite movie quote of legendary DJ and jazz hipster Al 'Jazzbeaux' Collins. Guest starts on his show had to do their Alfonso Bedoya impression, and the Al Collins fanclub was known as the Banditos. [Note my CC username!]

 

Ah, thought there was an earlier use of the quote - although Cisco Kid appears to be one where it wasn't used - there were lots of uses of a variation of it, according to Wiki

[Host Jazzbeau]

there were lots of uses of a variation of it, according to Wiki

 

As with many other famous [mis]quotes, the variations have become the rule because they are better than the original. No self-respecting Mexican bandito would speak the proper English in Traven's novel...