Two Ships, Three Cruises And 13 Days, Golden/Star

[catmand]

It's been a long while since I've posted here on the main Princess Boards.

 

In what I guess is a shameless act of self promotion, although I get nothing for it, I am posting a link to the blog I write. Starting yesterday, today being part 2. I'm writing daily about our recent Golden 7 day Alaska, Golden overnight Seattle to Vancouver, and Star 2 night Vancouver to San Francisco. Oh ya, also the train up to Seattle.

 

I'll check back here for specific questions if you have any, or you can join and post to the blog or another social media type place, whatever. Come on and join the fun.

Chuck

http://rncshulak.blogspot.com/

[MilliesMom]

Am enjoying your blog .... we originally were booked for this cruise (B2B2B) also but had to cancel. Will be fun reading about your adventures.

[catmand]

Hi Mary.....sorry we missed you. I think the most amazing part of the cruise was the weather. We were all ready for lots and lots of rain, and chilly weather. It misted in Juneau in the morning and never did clear fully. Skagway was clear and chilly but not bad. Ketchikan was beautiful. It was clear and blue and warm. It was t-shirt weather. The locals said it was one of the nicest days of the year.

 

I'll have pictures of the ports as I write the blog.

 

By the way, the blog had over 200 hits yesterday, so, thanks for that Princess cruisers.

 

Today the entry is about Day 1 afternoon and the Window Suites.

Chuck

http://rncshulak.blogspot.com/

[MilliesMom]

Hi Chuck,

 

We were disappointed in having to cancel ... no cruises this year, but next year we are booked for Glacier Bay. Can't wait.

 

Have your blog bookmarked and am following along.

 

Mary

[MilliesMom]

Really enjoying your blog .... thanks for taking the time to write about your adventure. We'll be on the Grand next year.

[catmand]

Mary.....thanks for that. Are we following each other around? We also have a coastal planned on Grand, in October of next year.

CHuck

[biscornu]

Anxiously waiting to read more blog installments. I just finished what you've written so far and "belly laughed" through most of it. Thank you!!!! Hope you have a wonderful cruise!

[MilliesMom]

Mary.....thanks for that. Are we following each other around? We also have a coastal planned on Grand, in October of next year.

CHuck

 

We are booked on the Grand for Alaska - May 2013 and the California Coastal for April 2014. Are you doing one of the CA Coastal or one of the repositioning from Vancouver/Seattle down to CA?

[catmand]

bicornu.....thanks. I just added a little something and always post Monday-Thursday.

 

Mary.....we are doing a 7 day coastal on Grand in October of next year. It's a straight 7 day between two Hawaii trips, for Princess, not us. I wish we could a B2B but not this time, Chuck

[MilliesMom]

Chuck, I forgot to ask ... did you have any issue with cigar smoke smell in the hallways or your cabin. I noticed that on the Grand the window suite cabins are just a bit away from the cigar area.

 

Really enjoying your blog. Looking forward to hearing more bout your adventure. The photo of Glacier Bay today is great!!!!

[andio2of5]

Chuck, I forgot to ask ... did you have any issue with cigar smoke smell in the hallways or your cabin. I noticed that on the Grand the window suite cabins are just a bit away from the cigar area.

 

Really enjoying your blog. Looking forward to hearing more bout your adventure. The photo of Glacier Bay today is great!!!!

 

mary....I can answer that.......no, we did not have any cigar smell in our WS and we were just down the hall from the cigar bar. Sometimes there was a slight smokey smell in the hallway, but never in the cabin itself.

 

Andi

[catmand]

Hi.....and thanks. I think the day I write about and post some pictures from Glacier Bay will be well worth looking at. This was my second time there and the first for Wanda.

 

To answer your question about the cigar bar. Both Golden and Grand have the Window Suites in close proximity to the cigar bars. What I find interesting is the Casino, which was moved to deck 7 on Golden but remained on 6 on Grand. I wonder if there is a noise issue on Grand? I hope we can find out next year..:D

 

If you remember the "secret door" picture I posted on the blog, the entry door to the "secret passageway" for the cabins. There were 3 of them along that passageway. The one pictured, a second about mid way down, and a third at the far end (or the end that would be close to the cigar bar).

 

There is also a door in the entry way to the bar.

 

The 2 end doors along 'our' passageway were always closed. The center door about 90% of the time. Every time I walked past the bar, the door there was closed as well.

 

We were in that cabin for eight days. We smelled smoke in the passageway maybe three times. I'm not sure if it was in fact from the bar or smell on someones clothing.

 

I'm an ex smoker, been ten years. Smoke from the bar and/or noise from the the Princess Theater was a definite non factor.

 

See what happens, ask me a quick question and I write a book.

 

Thanks for the comments on the blog, I'll have another entry tomorrow. Chuck

PS: Hi Andi.....Andi and Wil were our next door neighbors.

[MilliesMom]

Andi & Chuck, thank you both for your responses. It is appreciated.

 

I like hearing all the details and appreciate that you share them with us.

[akawanda]

Hey Mr. Catmand, been reading your blog. Pretty darn good. Sure makes me want to book a window suite and head up to Alaska. Looking forward to your next installments.

Wanda

[catmand]

Today added Skagway to the blog with pictures to Emerald Lake. Thanks for the couple questions and comments.

http://rncshulak.blogspot.com/