Star Princess North to Alaska! Sept 10 2016

[G&Gcruisers]

Norris,

The variations of blue and green in pics (post#315) are photography art!

Enjoying your review.

Margie

[perfect match]

Love! Love! Love! The pictures! I will definitely need a better camera, and need to learn to use it before I book Alaska. My point and shoot just will not do justice to those views.

 

Norris, I spotted a number of your subtle references, songs and TV in today's posts. Beatles, Two of Us. Book it, Danno! From Hawaii 5 0. The Santana reference to Going Home. It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, Mr Rogers. I thought love was only true in fairy tales, Monkees, I'm A Believer. That's all I can remember right now. I'm experiencing song and TV show reference overload! :eek: I'm not even counting all the Deadliest Catch talk.

 

I am very impressed with your magnet display! I thought we had a lot of magnets, but if you have more in Michigan, you've got us beat! I have been thinking of doing a magnet wall like yours because we are running out of room on the fridge, and I have a lot more souvenirs I want to collect! :cool:

[Bimmer09]

Norris,

The variations of blue and green in pics (post#315) are photography art!

Enjoying your review.

Margie

 

That was Nature's surprise for me as I hadn't seen that blue before except in a theater. It was a narrow valley so we passed it quickly and it didn't appear in any other location.

 

Thanks Margie!

 

Norris

[rgmacm]

I'm trying to find the Misty Fjord excursion. (beautiful pics!!! very enticing! ha) I realize the tour you did was purchased through Princess...but wondering if it's available outside of Princess? Was there a company name??

thanks! :)

Edited October 4, 2016 by rgmacm

[Bimmer09]

Love! Love! Love! The pictures! I will definitely need a better camera, and need to learn to use it before I book Alaska. My point and shoot just will not do justice to those views.

 

Norris, I spotted a number of your subtle references, songs and TV in today's posts. Beatles, Two of Us. Book it, Danno! From Hawaii 5 0. The Santana reference to Going Home. It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, Mr Rogers. I thought love was only true in fairy tales, Monkees, I'm A Believer. That's all I can remember right now. I'm experiencing song and TV show reference overload! :eek: I'm not even counting all the Deadliest Catch talk.

 

I am very impressed with your magnet display! I thought we had a lot of magnets, but if you have more in Michigan, you've got us beat! I have been thinking of doing a magnet wall like yours because we are running out of room on the fridge, and I have a lot more souvenirs I want to collect! :cool:

 

Nancy, the magnet boards were essential as a couple of magnets got broken falling off the freezer door as it gets opened so often and the magnets make it impossible to clean the doors unless you are ok with taking them off and on each time. Carol bought them from Am....and we have 3 so far but need another.

 

I'm glad you are catching all those references-well spotted.

 

A name brand DSLR will reward you for sure. They just don't fit in your pocket.

 

Cheers!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

I'm trying to find the Misty Fjord excursion. I realize you went with Princess...but wondering if it's available outside of Princess? Was there a company name??

thanks! :)

 

I did a Google search and the company is Allen Marine Tours of Sitka.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Carol returned from the bow. She estimated there were 100 people up there, 3 deep so it wasn't easy to get photos and I would have had to get there early and be cold and miserable facing into the wind. She did see Humpback whales breaching and bubble netting at a distance, spotted by the Captain who was speaking through the PA.

 

In the Vista Lounge tonight this is happening

 

 

The 7.45 show in the Princess theater was another Standing Room Only event.

Comedian Scott Wiley brought the house down but I can't remember any of his great jokes but then I never can. We laughed until it hurt and what more can you ask for? He did 45 minutes, got an ovation then did 15 minutes more. A real pro.

 

Crap photo

 

 

 

There's a string trio playing in the Piazza as we pass through

 

 

Onward to dinner in Portofino for our 9 p.m reservation.

 

 

 

When we arrived at the door our waiter Gen was standing there waiting for us.

Huh? What gives? I'm not complaining by any means. It was such a nice touch and just added to our already great MDR experience. Once seated the head waiter Paulitzio came by all smiles to ask us about our day. We are getting the Royal treatment I must say. Maybe Princess read my glowing Celebrity review and are thinking I may jump ship? They are both great lines so no need to worry.

 

Again we are asked if we will be needing butter-maybe there's a lot of wastage.

Yes indeed I do as I always tuck into the delicious crusty bread they bake on board.

 

Again I order the same Merlot and a Riedel glass is procured.

 

Next up-we eat

[Bimmer09]

My gnocchi with tomato sauce hit the spot and was a bowl-wiper dish

 

 

Carol had Bib Lettuce

 

 

Raspberry Sorbet with Thyme was a fine palate cleanser

 

 

My cocoa-rubbed pork tenderloin with potatoes and ratatouille.

 

 

Carol's fish-Orange Roughy with potatoes and green beans. She always orders this on Chef's Menu night.

 

 

I eschewed dessert in favor of relaxing with a Sambuca ($7) and espresso (coffee card from 4 years prior) while Carol enjoyed this delicious creation-a Chocolate Journey

 

 

Carol commented on how good the food was on the Star and I nodded. The chef must be Italian she opined. She was right-Antonio Costantino was born in Sicily.

 

Another fine meal under our belts! A walk on Promenade deck and then bed by 10.30 brought another great day to an end.

 

Tomorrow is Juneau and Carol is very excited as we have an excursion that will see us being pulled along by a team of Iditarod dogs. I see a Go Pro opportunity in my future!

[Bimmer09]

While we are sleeping like babes (we cry a lot and wet the bed) here is a little video recap of our day in Ketchikan...On the video you'll hear me say we are leaving the dock 30 minutes early. The patter didn't list a sailing time but all aboard was 1.30. Sail away was 2 pm, not my imagined 2.30. Put it down to me being confused which happens a lot

 

 

[YOUTUBE]a-GaXaxd4x8[/YOUTUBE]

 

Norris

[JimmyVWine]

We are getting the Royal treatment I must say.

 

No, no, no. You are getting Star treatment. For Royal treatment, you have to book a different ship!

[rgmacm]

I did a Google search and the company is Allen Marine Tours of Sitka.

 

Norris

 

Yes...I, too, did a google search. :) Most of the Misty Fjord excursions are flightseeing which is just toooo much money for us. ugh! I found 2 others in addition to Allen Marine but the wording on their sites indicated that they wouldn't sell to cruise passengers independently...they all referred me to my cruise line to book. Of course, it's too early to do that now (our cruise is next Aug,) so I'll have to wait for that...but...

did you book any excursions on this cruise independently? or is there some contract between the cruise lines and vendors to not sell to cruisers on their own? I just found this strange. While we haven't done a LOT of cruising, (this will be our 4th) I've never had a problem booking on my own if I wished to (don't always want to...)

just curious if you knew of some kind of contract/deal....

Edited October 4, 2016 by rgmacm

[Bimmer09]

Yes...I, too, did a google search. :) Most of the Misty Fjord excursions are flightseeing which is just toooo much money for us. ugh! I found 2 others in addition to Allen Marine but the wording on their sites indicated that they wouldn't sell to cruise passengers independently...they all referred me to my cruise line to book. Of course, it's too early to do that now (our cruise is next Aug,) so I'll have to wait for that...but...

did you book any excursions on this cruise independently? or is there some contract between the cruise lines and vendors to not sell to cruisers on their own? I just found this strange. While we haven't done a LOT of cruising, we have been on 3 and I've never had a problem booking on my own if I wished to (don't always want to...)

just curious if you knew of some kind of contract/deal....

 

We prefer to do Princess Excursions with the exception of whale watching in Juneau where we will always use Harv n Marv for their 6 person boats vs the 100 person boats that Princess charters. We booked Island Wings float plane to do Misty Fjords in 2011 and that was independent too.

 

We can see every detail of the excursion on our Cruise Personalizer which helps us decide between one and another. The most important factor though is that on a Princess tour the ship will wait for us if there is a breakdown (boat blows a gasket in Misty Fjords miles from help) or a traffic delay-a group of banjo- playing eagles in the middle of the road refusing to move for instance .

 

We do 3 to 4 Princess excursions each trip so in 9 cruises have put our trust and $$ in their hands 30 times with no issue whatever.

 

For the boat owners it's probably better to deal with just one customer-Princess.

 

 

Norris

[hockeyguru32]

Maybe my last Alaska review ran 11 pages but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now (to quote a favorite pop lyric)

 

 

 

Norris

 

What is My Back Pages by Bob Dylan (did I win)

[Bimmer09]

What is My Back Pages by Bob Dylan (did I win)

 

You did correctly identify the song and the gifted poet (then, in the 1960s) but you phrased it in the form of a question which is the trademark of Jeopardy and that gong sound you hear means you are disqualified and the prize I was offering-a freezerful of moose chops- goes to the next contestant.

 

Sorry.

 

Norris not Alex

[Bimmer09]

It's already Tuesday morning and we have been on the ship since Saturday.

 

I'm up early at 5 a.m and it's drizzling rain. Boo!

 

I go to the Horizon Court for some coffee syrup

 

 

As the open decks aren't so hospitable and I have a posse of photos still to take of this fine vessel I am sailing on I decide to hit deck 7-the main thoroughfare of the ship indoors to show you some of the rooms I make reference to during this report.

 

As I am at the Tradewinds Bar and giving up on it I take the forward elevators down to 7 where my eye is caught by the Princess Theater lobby art...

 

 

 

 

I'm walking aft down the port side as the starboard side is blocked by the Crown Grill steakhouse.

 

 

A quick look into the Crown Grill

 

[Bimmer09]

 

It's not just a long desk along the interior walkway next to the Wheelhouse Bar as on the Ruby, Emerald, Crown...

 

 

 

I didn't have a need to use it

 

Moving along with Crooners to the left

 

 

 

I think I take pics of Crooners later in the cruise. It doesn't have the pizzaz decor of the other Grand Class ships and the piano is in the middle of the room not at one end with a dramatic backdrop.

 

[Bimmer09]

Looking down across the Piazza through decks 6 and 5 below

 

 

 

 

At left, comfy chairs with views onto Promenade Deck. At right the beautiful Explorers Lounge, home to the Art Auctions, bands, game shows and Karaoke amongst other activities.

 

 

I love the art in this room

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

 

Next door on the Star is the Wheelhouse Bar

 

 

The room has a Nautical theme

 

 

Cosy, Gentleman's Club furniture

 

 

 

A wooden dance floor.

 

[Bimmer09]

Next door is Sabatini's where we had our first Specialty Dinner ($29 pp)

 

 

 

Such a beautiful interior design by Joe Farcus, er, um, scrub that! Theresa Anderson!

 

 

 

 

Every home needs one of these....

 

[Bimmer09]

The gleaming kitchen

 

 

 

After the engines and the espresso machine this is the next most important hardware on the ship

 

 

An electric hotplate for table side preparation (which I have never seen used). Celebrity uses gas and does flambe at the table.

 

 

That's it for Sabatini's.

[nanabananna]

 

Two crisp-batter crab cakes, knockwurst with sauerkraut and superb fries.

 

 

I will have what Norris is having....looks great!

 

I am so "hooked" on your review...I cannot wait until our 2nd Alaska trip on the STAR in May 2017.

Many, many Thanks to you Norris. :)

[Bimmer09]

I will have what Norris is having....looks great!

 

I am so "hooked" on your review...I cannot wait until our 2nd Alaska trip on the STAR in May 2017.

Many, many Thanks to you Norris. :)

 

Sandra, you are very welcome!

 

I'm glad you are getting so much out of it.

 

Norris

 

[Bimmer09]

My last stop on deck 7 before I go out on deck for a "weather check" (smoke) is the Photo Desk. The photos are kept under lock and key overnight to avoid them all being gone the next morning.

 

 

* You can buy cameras and accessories on board. If you have a lot of OBC (on Board Credit) it's a good use for it.

 

Out on Promenade deck before daybreak

 

 

Back up to the HC I go for more coffee. I pass through the indoor swimming pool.

 

 

Nice and toasty in there. Perfect for Alaskan waters.

 

Yes there is a bar here. They serve coffee in the morning.

 

 

Nice art touches

 

 

My stomach starts to remind me of it's existence. Time for breakfast #1 !

[CruzinNoony]

I'm enjoying the pictures you took of the ship. We leave on Saturday to join the Star in Vancouver for 17 days. :)

[Bimmer09]

Although it can't be described as "piping hot" this was my HC plate to fuel me for the next 3 hours until breakfast # 2.

As well as the usual spicy British bangers and bacon, tomato, beans and fried potato slices I found some Indian potatoes in the form of Aloo Bhaji, the mushy looking mess, nearest the butter.

 

I made a bacon sandwich using the roll and butter. Cold but satisfying.

 

 

Now I can go out the back door to the aft pool area

 

 

There is light!

 

 

And mists! Yippee!

 

 

I love the ship with its lights on

 

 

Soon I will see Juneau up ahead!