Just off the Diamond Princess Northbound if any questions out there.

[Ashfry]

We had an amazing trip on the Diamond. Weather was picture perfect! Not that much nightlife on the boat but with early port excursions and nice weather we enjoyed wine on our balcony most evenings! Lots to do for my four year old. The kids club was fantastic for him with many Alaska themed activities. He asked to go everyday!

 

Be happy to answer any questions.

 

We did Harv and marv in Juneau...superb, probably my favorite excursion.

 

Salmon fishing in ketchikan with Ken from northern lights. Early for salmon, didn't catch too much but lots of up close encounters with eagles!

 

White pass train in Skagway with chillkoot charters. Beautiful scenery and a great bus ride back, we stopped and watched a black bear eating dandelions for 15 min!

[frugaltravel]

Sounds like a great trip. Thanks for the report.

 

Who was your captain with Harv and Marvs?

[Ashfry]

We had captain Shaun and Rhianna. They were just fantastic! We also got a treat as the naturalist for celebrity comes out with them every other Tuesday when the millennium ports there. His name is Dierk and he was amazing too. We chartered the boat alone for our family of seven. We saw bubble netting and two pods of whales. It was truly fantastic.

[emeltee]

Would you happen to have a copy of the kids club patters? I'd love to see what is in store for my 4year old.

 

Also, how did your 4yo do on the Harv and Marv trip? We have chartered a boat for 6 our family as well. Did your 4yo get bored at all?

[Ashfry]

I'm sorry I don't have the patter but there was a play gym inside the room that they always got to do, there was also an open air enclosed play area where they had tricycles and ride on toys as well as balls and basketball. Lots of arts and crafts and they give you a big bag at the end with all the stuff they did all week. They had a cowboy themed day, pirate day, they had the naturalist come in and do a talk with them the day we were in glacier bay. So they got little ranger pins. They also got some sort of prize everyday when they left, so a cowboy hat,pirate hat, stuffed eagle, stuffed turtle. Also everyday they had like a donut and hit choc or ice cream social. At night there was always a movie and some activity. Sorry that patter got lost somewhere:(. My son really loved it. They combined them with the 8-10 year old bc there weren't that many kids and only less than a dozen at any given time I could ever see. If I remember anything else I will let you know:)

[emeltee]

I'm sorry I don't have the patter but there was a play gym inside the room that they always got to do, there was also an open air enclosed play area where they had tricycles and ride on toys as well as balls and basketball. Lots of arts and crafts and they give you a big bag at the end with all the stuff they did all week. They had a cowboy themed day, pirate day, they had the naturalist come in and do a talk with them the day we were in glacier bay. So they got little ranger pins. They also got some sort of prize everyday when they left, so a cowboy hat,pirate hat, stuffed eagle, stuffed turtle. Also everyday they had like a donut and hit choc or ice cream social. At night there was always a movie and some activity. Sorry that patter got lost somewhere:(. My son really loved it. They combined them with the 8-10 year old bc there weren't that many kids and only less than a dozen at any given time I could ever see. If I remember anything else I will let you know:)

 

No worries about the patters. You've given me a lot of info.

 

How about H&M? Was your 4 yo interested the entire time? I don't know if I should bring some electronic item to keep her occupied in case there are periods of no whale sightings.

[Budget Queen]

 

How about H&M? Was your 4 yo interested the entire time? I don't know if I should bring some electronic item to keep her occupied in case there are periods of no whale sightings.

 

Of your total tour time, at least 50% is without "whale sightings", so if you think you'll need entertainment for your child them bring it along. Better to have it then not.

[Ashfry]

Oh they totally kept him entertained. He loved looking thru the binoculars and they have a miniature humpback whale that they use to explain the whale and he played with that. But if he was ever sitting, Rhianna was always getting him up and showing him stuff and asking him questions. He also loved feeling the cold wake water when we were moving. We had whale sighting the whole time, we were lucky. You could bring something for her or a disposable camera and she could take pictures. My son particularly loved the binoculars and there are plenty on the boat for everyone:)

[GVcruiser]

Since the Diamond doesn't have an International Cafe, I'm wondering if the Horizon Court is open 24 hours. Thanks.

[Ashfry]

I was never up too late but according to my husband who got hungry in the casino the horizon court closes by 10:30 but you can get room service 24 hours, which is what he/we did a couple nights.

[IndyCruiser2b]

Hi- am looking at booking Diamond Princess in late August. Did you spend much time on your balcony? I'm reading some posts that say its too cold/windy/rainy to get much use of the balcony. I'm wondering if we will spend most of our time on the public deck areas anyway and could put the saved money towards excursions... Thoughts? Thanks!:)

[Keith1010]

Glad you enjoyed the trip.

 

Keith

[Coral]

wrong date - delete....

[Dee]

We like to buy the coffee cards. We have been sailing on the ships that have the International Cafe and the Coffee Bar and get out coffee drinks there. I know that the Diamond doesn't have the these so where can you get the non alcoholic coffee drinks besides in the dining rooms?

[Ashfry]

IndyCruiser: we used our balcony quite a bit. We asked our steward to bring us wool blankets and we sat out there. It is windy while at sea but we just bundled up. We also had our four year old with us who went to sleep earlier than we did so it allowed us to still enjoy the scenery after he went to bed. I did love that when we were in glacier bay we stood on our balcony and didn't fight for room to see Marjorie glacier. There are plenty of places on deck to view but they are just as windy and cold. We actually could get some windbreak from the dividers. Kid with me or not it was worth the investment for us to have the balcony.

 

Dee: we just went up to the horizon court while they were open and got coffee, tea, and hot choc whenever we wanted. Plus if you order it room service in the morning it will stay hot for quite awhile. We always asked for two carafes of coffee:)). I also saw people go up to the horizon court with there empty carafes from room service and fill them up again! Specialty coffee I don't know about bc we didnt get any.

[Cruisin Kay D]

So, on Diamond is there ANYWHERE that you can get regular BREWED coffee??? Can't believe there is NO coffee at a bar in AM.... We will be on Diamond July 20-27 northbound....

 

What is diff between train with Chilkoot & Princess? How far did you go on it?

 

What was price with Harv & Marv?

[Coral]

So, on Diamond is there ANYWHERE that you can get regular BREWED coffee??? Can't believe there is NO coffee at a bar in AM.... We will be on Diamond July 20-27 northbound....

 

What is diff between train with Chilkoot & Princess? How far did you go on it?

 

What was price with Harv & Marv?

 

There is a Patissere on Deck 5 atrium where you can get brewed coffee (there is a charge or use coffee card).

[Budget Queen]

So, on Diamond is there ANYWHERE that you can get regular BREWED coffee??? Can't believe there is NO coffee at a bar in AM.... We will be on Diamond July 20-27 northbound....

 

What is diff between train with Chilkoot & Princess? How far did you go on it?

 

What was price with Harv & Marv?

 

It is the same type train, with the same White Pass Rail cars. But the cruiseline can book these cars full and do very frequently. The cruise contracted rail, loads at the ship. Independent booked loads at the depot. cruise lines most always use large tour buses, Chilkoot uses smaller shuttle buses. Cruise Lines usually have only fixed stops. Chilkoot has far more freedom to stop anywhere.

 

It depends on the tour, how far they "go", and what may be included.

 

You can contact H&M directly for price information.

[traveller 100]

Do you remember what time traditional first seating was?

[Ashfry]

Yes I don't know the difference between cruiselines and chilkoot, but we certainly made lots of stops on the bus ride back and when someone spotted a black bear on the side of the road and yelled it out as we were passing the driver turned our small bus around and we went right back to see it:))

 

Harv and marv we r

Chartered there largest boat for our family of seven. I requested they not put anyone else on although another couple may have fit.....we paid 1043 for all seven and that included taking us to mendenhall glacier after. They will take you back to the port after 15 min at the glacier but we wanted more time so we just took the white bus back down which was 8 dollars per person.

[Ashfry]

We had the first seating it was at 5:45

[Cruisin Kay D]

I figured there would be somewhere on Diamond on Deck 5 to get the brewed coffee --but had read several comments that sounded like there wasn't any coffee area....

 

Cannot decide how far to go on White Pass Train.....

 

Heading home from our Canada-New England post-cruise tomorrow & have to get some arrangements made for something to do at ports, plus hotel 1 nt in Seattle & hotel 1 nt in Anchorage. Already have train booked to Vancouver, hotel in V, hotel 1 nt in Whittier & rental car in Anchorage. Also need to book 1 of the Prince William Sound glacier trips; did the shorter one with Major Marine a few years ago & it was awesome. Anyone have any preference between Phillips & Major Marine's shorter glacier cruise??

[emeltee]

Yes I don't know the difference between cruiselines and chilkoot, but we certainly made lots of stops on the bus ride back and when someone spotted a black bear on the side of the road and yelled it out as we were passing the driver turned our small bus around and we went right back to see it:))

 

Harv and marv we r

Chartered there largest boat for our family of seven. I requested they not put anyone else on although another couple may have fit.....we paid 1043 for all seven and that included taking us to mendenhall glacier after. They will take you back to the port after 15 min at the glacier but we wanted more time so we just took the white bus back down which was 8 dollars per person.

 

Did you need exact change for the bus? I assume you pay with cash? Is it like regular city buses, where you deposit money into a box/machine upon entering the bus? We'll be doing H&M and probably hike at Mendenhall afterwards as well.

[Ashfry]

You did not need exact change. The bus driver took the money and gave us change back. It was a school bus:). It is beautiful there. We hiked and although aware we were in a rainforest didn't even think about the bugs:/ watch out there are monster Mosquitos! Bring an off bracelet or wipes or something just in case.

[HRReader1]

Speaking of mosquitoes, were there any on your balcony when you were on board the ship?