Royal Princess May 28, 2022 Alaska Northbound live report

[dhanakorn]

Embarkation day (5)
 

Room was already ready by the time we boarded. Luggages were delivered quickly shortly after. There’s not much activity in the afternoon so I just wandered around the ship. 
 

Weather was a little gloomy today. 

 

We had 3 ships in port. 

 

 

Pizzas at Alfredo’s 

 

Sabatini’s is open on this cruise  

[dhanakorn]

Embarkation day (6)

For dinner, I went to Allegro MDR. Only Allegro and Concerto are open on this cruise. I like this particular table on the back of the room. You can see the wake from window. Daytime is longer in summer, so it’s still bright during dinner time. Tonight dinner menu. 

 

Smoke salmon appetizer 

 

Greek salad 

Cold soup

 

Grilled cod

 

Dessert menu

 

Banana foster and vanilla mousse with a glass of port wine. Both are pretty good. 

 

Great service tonight so I reserve this table for the rest of the cruise. 

[deliver42]

Great pics. Enjoy your cruise.

[dhanakorn]

Embarkation day (7)

Tonight entertainment is a comedy show. He’s ok but I think comedy show is kind of cheap show to put in main theater. NCL doesn’t even put a comedy show in main theater anymore. 

 

Chocolate martini 

 

 

We started to pull out from the port around 10:30pm. It’s already dark outside. While we didn’t get the see the sail away during the day, I think Vancouver nighttime scene looks amazing. 

 

 

 

[dhanakorn]

Embarkation day (8)

The highlight of Vancouver sail away is sailing underneath the Lions Gate Bridge. 

 

Looking back Vancouver skyline at night. It’s so beautiful.

 

Heading toward the Bridge 

 

We’re only a few feet away from the bridge 

 

 

 

 

 

After it’s all dark we couldn’t see anything. While I think you could see more scenery out of Vancouver during the daytime, the nighttime gives no less amazing sail away experience. 

[dhanakorn]

Today we have an amazing day in Ketchikan. It’s sunny 70degree. Great warm weather. You can still see snowcap on top of the mountain. One lady by the pool told me that it’ll be even warmer when we get to Juneau and Skagway. And hopefully we’ll get bright sunny day on the Glacier day. 

[dickinson]

Awesome pictures!

[cruzin4us]

Enjoying your posts and your pictures!

 

[bulldogatl]

Hi,

I'm on the cruise leaving from Whittier on Saturday.  I appreciate your posts.  I try to do the same thing when I travel but only put them on my "can't say it" page.  Seems like we have many sailings in common.  Would love to chat some time.  What do recommend packing wise?  This is my first Alaska cruise (out of 159 cruises).

Cheers

Kevin

 

[Thrak]

20 hours ago, dhanakorn said:

I took the train from Richmond back to explore downtown Vancouver. The public buses and trains here are so clean and convenient. Didn’t I say how clean the city is - I didn’t even see a single homeless camp in downtown area. Vancouver shows that a liberal city doesn’t have to be a dirty city. 

 

Sadly, Vancouver has a major homeless camp issue. You just didn't happen to go to the right places or maybe didn't notice there is a large encampment near the cruise terminal. There are a lot of homeless camps in Vancouver.

 

[HRReader]

Such wonderful pictures...I'm getting so excited for our cruise!  How did you reserve the same table for the rest of the cruise?

[memoak]

11 hours ago, Thrak said:

 

Sadly, Vancouver has a major homeless camp issue. You just didn't happen to go to the right places or maybe didn't notice there is a large encampment near the cruise terminal. There are a lot of homeless camps in Vancouver.

 

If you have ever lived in Oakland California you would not call that encampment large

[KLM3164]

4 hours ago, memoak said:

If you have ever lived in Oakland California you would not call that encampment large

And it looks so clean. The camps we see in Northern CA look like dumps with garbage everywhere.

[dhanakorn]

Another great day in Juneau. Sunny and warm weather. 

 

We stopped by Brotherhood Bridge for a quick view of Mendenhall Glacier before heading to Auke Bay for whale watching tour. 

[PescadoAmarillo]

I have never seen such fantastic weather in Alaska in May. Everyone’s pics have been really beautiful. Hope it continues for you. 

[dhanakorn]

Weather is great today in Juneau. Sunny 80 degree. On the pool deck it probably feels like we’re sailing in the Caribbean until you look up and see snow on top of the mountains. 
 

This cruise has been incredible so far. 

[dhanakorn]

Day 2 At Sea (1)

Now back to my review. I didn’t get very good sleep on the first night. Sea was pretty rough while sailing off Vancouver island. The sun also rises very early during the summer and the curtain doesn’t really block all the light. So if you’re sensitive to light, bring an eye mask. 
 

It’s very windy today. Pool deck wasn’t closed off. 

 

Only half of the buffet is open. And every morning you will have to wait in line. Line moves quickly though, so just need to have a little patience. Croissants and pastries are in Pastry Shop section. I guess many people, especially the first timers, couldn’t figure where they are and probably complain silently why Princess doesn’t serve morning pastries in the buffet. 

 

 

Day 2 Patter

 

 

 

[dhanakorn]

Day 2 At Sea (2)

I went to the Princess Enrichment about the Whale. The presenter is quite entertaining. Then went to MDR for lunch. 
 

 

Food is pretty good. 

 

This’s very good table and hard to get during dinner time. 

 

Ice cream is only available during lunch time 

[dhanakorn]

Day 2 At Sea (3)
 

In the afternoon there’s another talk in the theater by the captain of the “deadliest catch” about the Bering Sea fisherman.

 

He also talked about Aleutian, former fishing boat, now converted into recreational boat so tourists pretend to be the Bering Sea fisherman — photo taken the next day in Ketchikan. 

In the afternoon, I was relaxing at Crooner bar, then I heard a waitress walking around advertising about “Glacier Ice”. I thought she’s just joking around. But she said it’s real so I decided to try one. 

 

With special ice, I ordered Whiskey on the rock.  

Glacier Ice makes the drink taste better 

I went to the bar and she showed me the bag that she didn’t make it up. 


You can find out about Glacier Ice from the link below

https://alaskamagazine.com/authentic-alaska/food-drink/cool-your-cocktail-with-alaskan-glacier-ice/

[dhanakorn]

Day 2 At Sea (4)
 

This’s my usual table on this cruise. It’s all the way back in Allegro MDR with a good view of wake behind the ship. 

 

Tonight is formal night. 

 

Crab cake appetizer is surprisingly good. 

 

 

The fish is cooked right, not too dry. 

[dhanakorn]

Day 2 At Sea (5)
 

Dessert menu

 

I was thinking about the crepe suzette but the server recommended the chocolate bar. I had this chocolate bar during my last cruise on Majestic and it was good. So I got both but I think crepe suzette wins this round. 

 

Tonight show was Colors of the World. The show was only 30-minute long — although some people might say thank god it’s only 30 minutes 😆.  I’m joking it’s not that bad but it’s just lacking some entertaining elements. The opening Bollywood song was a little obnoxious. 

 

When I got back to my room, the sun just came down. On Alaska cruise, it’s hard to catch the sunset view like what I see on Mexican cruise. 

[Godblessourhome]

7 hours ago, dhanakorn said:

Day 2 At Sea (5)
 

Dessert menu

 

I was thinking about the crepe suzette but the server recommended the chocolate bar. I had this chocolate bar during my last cruise on Majestic and it was good. So I got both but I think crepe suzette wins this round. 

 

Tonight show was Colors of the World. The show was only 30-minute long — although some people might say thank god it’s only 30 minutes 😆.  I’m joking it’s not that bad but it’s just lacking some entertaining elements. The opening Bollywood song was a little obnoxious. 

 

When I got back to my room, the sun just came down. On Alaska cruise, it’s hard to catch the sunset view like what I see on Mexican cruise. 

We really enjoy and appreciate your wonderful live report while sailing on the Royal!!  Thank you!!

We are following your journey keenly, as we will be on the July 23 - August 6 sailing (14 days b2b north and south bound) sailings. 

We hope you have a safe, wonderful, and enjoyable sailing.  Could you please report the COVID situation onboard the Royal - if any - God forbidden!  We would love to hear your feedback and experience onboard.  We are over 70 year old and are a bit concern - as I read that the sailing before yours had a COVID outbreak and end up having 200-300 people quarantine onboard.

Thank you and appreciate your wonderful report and the beautiful pictures which tell more than thousand words!!  We enjoy it so much that we wish we were onboard with you NOW...

Enjoy and have a smooth and wonderful cruise!!

Ronnie & John

[tartana]

On 5/30/2022 at 2:34 AM, dhanakorn said:

Background

My first cruise was the Alaska cruise on NCL Pearl eight years ago. It was a round-trip from Seattle. It’s a wonderful trip and I like it so much that I continue to go on a cruise usually once a year. Ten cruises later and now I’m back on Alaska again. 
 

Initially I didn’t plan to do the live report from the ship because I’m not sure about internet speed. Although it’s not very fast, I think the internet speed is reasonable for web browsing and updating the post on this board. 

Did the Royal Princess stay to the RH side when leaving Vancouver or did you have to go out around to the left where the dotted line shows?  Just curious (Although I guess it was nighttime, so you may not have really known) I was thinking I read at some point that these ships couldn't go under the bridge....but I'm not sure about this. 

[partybarbie]

I read on the last Patter that you posted that Kory Simon wasn't at Crooner's. Would it be possible to find out if he just had a night off? I am hoping that's all it was and that he hasn't taken ill with Covid.

[dhanakorn]

Another perfect day in Skagway. Great sunny weather again. I took a day tour to Yukon. The view and the scenery look amazing! 

 

Beautiful reflection on Lake Tutshi. My phone can’t capture how gorgeous it is - you’ll need to see by your eyes.