Cheapo Dad's Trip Report on the Majestic Princess (Maybe with few pictures added)...

[lax19]

3 minutes ago, harryfat1 said:

Huh.  Interesting.

 

Didn't know that.  What if part of the ice melted on your way to the airport?  How does TSA handle the liquid with the ice?

You take a big drink while in the TSA line. 

[CruzeQueen2]

2 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

And I cruised Alaska in late September 20xx and it was perfect every day (round trip LA).  There is no way to predict Alaska's weather.

True! I'll enjoy whatever weather I get. I'll be on a cruise and I don't have to fly anywhere. I can't wait!

[CruzeQueen2]

@harryfat1

Surprised by your breakfast pics - no congee? I'll be looking for that on my trip. I know where they serve it on the Royal...just inside the aft entrance. Will look for the waffles by the specialty coffee station. Thanks for the tip!

[harryfat1]

13 minutes ago, CruzeQueen2 said:

@harryfat1

Surprised by your breakfast pics - no congee? I'll be looking for that on my trip. I know where they serve it on the Royal...just inside the aft entrance. Will look for the waffles by the specialty coffee station. Thanks for the tip!

Haha, you can't eat EVERYTHING on the first day.  Gotta sample other stuff first.

 

Congee was later in the cruise:

 

 

Waffle Station:

 

 

Dude in the back can put topping the way you like it:

 

 

I like these drinks:

 

 

Avocado smoothie was surprisingly good:

 

 

 

Edited September 9, 2022 by harryfat1

[caribill]

13 hours ago, CruzeQueen2 said:

Speaking of packing...can you give me an idea of the temperatures in the ports this week? Would be useful to know the temps on sea days as well, if you know them. In May, the weather was quite warm on most days, but also too cold to sit out at night at MUTS. I am bringing my raingear this time! @harryfat1TIA

 

Forecast for the next Majestic cruise:

https://cruiseoutlook.com/trip-summary/princess_majestic-princess_10_nights_2022-09-10

[harryfat1]

28 minutes ago, CruzeQueen2 said:

@harryfat1On the 7 day cruise, we don't go to Whittier. I've been there before though and walked through the tunnel. Also enjoyed taking in the views of the marina and the mountains.

We have three of the regular ports - Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. Waiting to see if Skagway is switched out for Icy Strait or Sitka. On a 12 day trip, those two ports were included. 

No Glacier Bay this time, but Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier is scheduled for the morning of Juneau, which was missed in May, due to too much ice. 

We were scheduled to go to the same 3 ports.  After the rock slide, they moved us over to ISP.  Some people like ISP.  I'm luke warm on.  

 

Bummed couldn't go to Skagway.  We had booked a tour that would take us up to see the Yukon area but that got wiped out.

 

Fingers crossed hoping you make it to Endicott Arm.  If you search YouTube videos on Endicott for 2022, many sailings this season are not able to get in there due to large amount of ice in the water.

 

I'm sure we'll continue to chat as time goes on but have a wonderful cruise in case we don't talk before you leave. 

[caribill]

4 hours ago, Outerdog said:

 

I feel like if the peanut allergy was that severe, one would be confirming with the server each night regardless if it was the same server or not.

 

Yes, should be confirmed each meal even with the same server. But with different servers would have to explain the entire allergy problem each time there is a new server.

 

With the same server, he/she can be proactive each evening without a new need for an explanation every time.

[caribill]

1 hour ago, harryfat1 said:

Huh.  Interesting.

 

Didn't know that.  What if part of the ice melted on your way to the airport?  How does TSA handle the liquid with the ice?

 

You need to pour out any water before going through the TSA checkpoint. Solid ice = OK. Any water = not OK.

[harryfat1]

Twenty years ago when we were on the Northbound Star Princess heading the opposite direction, we ran into a major storm at the Gulf of Alaska right about here and I was major league seasick for a whole day on my back in the inside cabin.  So I was wary on day 2 of the cruise as we sailed back to the same area where I was tossing cookies couple of decades ago.

 

Luckily this time the seas were calm and so was my stomach - but I was prepared this time in bringing my sea bands/ginger pills/generic Bonine in case I needed them.

 

 

Remembered the raffle tickets we got last night at the shop?  Well, the drawing was at 10AM so we made our way to the shops area.  The goal for the shops is to generate foot traffic to the area at the beginning of the cruise with some freebie drawings and from the crowd at the area for the raffle, I think they have succeeded.

 

 

 

The drawing was for several items and as luck have it, my younger son won the Moose prize! Guess he will forever remember how he got it.

 

 

 

 

Afterwards, picture with the Princess Alaska bear mascot.  Bet you most people didn’t even know Princess had a bear mascot.

 

[CruzeQueen2]

19 minutes ago, harryfat1 said:

Twenty years ago when we were on the Northbound Star Princess heading the opposite direction, we ran into a major storm at the Gulf of Alaska right about here and I was major league seasick for a whole day on my back in the inside cabin.  So I was wary on day 2 of the cruise as we sailed back to the same area where I was tossing cookies couple of decades ago.

 

Luckily this time the seas were calm and so was my stomach - but I was prepared this time in bringing my sea bands/ginger pills/generic Bonine in case I needed them.

 

 

Remembered the raffle tickets we got last night at the shop?  Well, the drawing was at 10AM so we made our way to the shops area.  The goal for the shops is to generate foot traffic to the area at the beginning of the cruise with some freebie drawings and from the crowd at the area for the raffle, I think they have succeeded.

 

 

 

The drawing was for several items and as luck have it, my younger son won the Moose prize! Guess he will forever remember how he got it.

 

 

 

 

Afterwards, picture with the Princess Alaska bear mascot.  Bet you most people didn’t even know Princess had a bear mascot.

 

Stanley!

[JF - retired RRT]

8 hours ago, harryfat1 said:

Toward the latter part of the cruise when our server knew we would be going to him nightly, he made it a point to ask the kitchen about what items on the menu that night may have nuts before we even sat down.  Such that by time he hands us the menu, he alerts of potential allergy conflict so the family member can just skip those items.

Now that's an excellent waiter!

[JF - retired RRT]

7 hours ago, harryfat1 said:

But before we start day 2, I want to mention that there are motion sensor lights be the foot of the night stand as well as right outside the bathroom door.

 

Why do I need to mention that?  Well, if you are young, skip this section as it doesn’t apply to you. But as one get older, one needs to use bathroom in the middle of the night and you will trip these motion sensors and you will be blinded by the light outside the bathroom door. 

 

HELLO! I’m awake now at 4 AM when I don’t want to be…If I wasn’t so grumpy, I would have taken a picture of the dang lights that were lit in the middle of the night.

For future cruises: you can ask to steward to block the lights or DIY (put a band-aid or masking tape on the sensor).

[EllieinNJ]

Here in the tri-state area when you ask for smoked salmon (lox) you put it on a bagel with cream cheese.

[CruzeQueen2]

8 hours ago, harryfat1 said:

We were scheduled to go to the same 3 ports.  After the rock slide, they moved us over to ISP.  Some people like ISP.  I'm luke warm on.  

 

Bummed couldn't go to Skagway.  We had booked a tour that would take us up to see the Yukon area but that got wiped out.

 

Fingers crossed hoping you make it to Endicott Arm.  If you search YouTube videos on Endicott for 2022, many sailings this season are not able to get in there due to large amount of ice in the water.

 

I'm sure we'll continue to chat as time goes on but have a wonderful cruise in case we don't talk before you leave. 

@harryfat1First time in ISP in May this year. I enjoyed the new port. They have a made a museum-style experience in the buildings that formerly housed the cannery. Nicely done IMO. The setting there is very scenic. There is the zip line there and a shuttle will take you into the town. Bitter wind while riding in the open air shuttle though, so dress accordingly. At least you can see the area and can chat with the locals who were very proud to share their corner of AK. The shops in the red buildings offered a variety of local artisan products as well as the standard souvenir ops. I recall that there is an outdoor food area - oysters were available. I hope you find your time there, interesting. It's a beautiful spot. I sat outside for quite awhile to just breathe in the fresh air and chill, literally!. IF you are dressed for it, it's lovely. 

[caribill]

1 hour ago, CruzeQueen2 said:

@harryfat1First time in ISP in May this year. I enjoyed the new port.

 

I have never been there.

 

Is it large enough so that a ship with 3000+ passengers does not overwhelm the experience?

[CruzeQueen2]

1 hour ago, caribill said:

 

I have never been there.

 

Is it large enough so that a ship with 3000+ passengers does not overwhelm the experience?

@caribill My sailing in May had fewer than 2000 passengers on board. The experience at the "cannery" did not feel crowded. I believe there was another ship in port with us that day.

There are several building and the scenic views were stunning. I didn't try riding out on the gondola nor zip line, so can't say if that felt too busy or not. We lined up to ride the shuttle into the little town, and did not have to wait too long for the next shuttle to take us there. It was a very enjoyable new port experience for me and my travel companions. I would gladly book a cruise that stops there in the future.  I love the easy access to the ports and the people in AK. I have been to AK multiple times, but first time in ISP.

Edited September 9, 2022 by CruzeQueen2

[harryfat1]

18 hours ago, caribill said:

 

Forecast for the next Majestic cruise:

https://cruiseoutlook.com/trip-summary/princess_majestic-princess_10_nights_2022-09-10

Thanks for providing the cruise outlook web site.  

 

Very nice in providing a customized weather report.  Much better than my dumb method of looking up every stop.

 

Will definitely use this in future cruises.

[harryfat1]

17 hours ago, CruzeQueen2 said:

Stanley!

Ding, ding.  Winner-Winner.  

 

Stanley the Bear was introduced by Princess back in 2017.

 

https://www.princess.com/news/news_releases/2017/05/Princess-Cruises-Introduces-Stanley-the-Bear.html

 

But I only saw him once at the gift shop on day 2.  Maybe he's out and about more elsewhere but I seldom saw him during our cruise.

Edited September 10, 2022 by harryfat1

[harryfat1]

12 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Now that's an excellent waiter!

 

11 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

For future cruises: you can ask to steward to block the lights or DIY (put a band-aid or masking tape on the sensor).

 

Yes, Noel was our waiter and he was very good in checking for allergies.  I specifically praised him in the after cruise survey for the allergy checking work.

 

Good to know I need to ask the cabin steward to disable the light.  The night stand light is fine as it’s near the ground and not very obtrusive but the overhead one right in front of the bathroom door is a different beast in middle of the night.

[cr8tiv1]

11 hours ago, EllieinNJ said:

Here in the tri-state area when you ask for smoked salmon (lox) you put it on a bagel with cream cheese.

 

Am trying to understand your post.  DId I miss something?  On Princess, you can request lox and bagels (with onions and capers) for breakfast.  Princess only has plain bagels (toasted or not).

[harryfat1]

9 hours ago, CruzeQueen2 said:

@harryfat1First time in ISP in May this year. I enjoyed the new port. They have a made a museum-style experience in the buildings that formerly housed the cannery. Nicely done IMO. The setting there is very scenic. There is the zip line there and a shuttle will take you into the town. Bitter wind while riding in the open air shuttle though, so dress accordingly. At least you can see the area and can chat with the locals who were very proud to share their corner of AK. The shops in the red buildings offered a variety of local artisan products as well as the standard souvenir ops. I recall that there is an outdoor food area - oysters were available. I hope you find your time there, interesting. It's a beautiful spot. I sat outside for quite awhile to just breathe in the fresh air and chill, literally!. IF you are dressed for it, it's lovely. 

 

Allow me to drop in few pictures from your description on what ISP looks like so for folks that has never been there, they can see what you are referring to.

 

Musueum and shops inside the red buildings:

 

 

 

 

Museum (free) inside 

 

 

$49 Gondola to top of the mountain

 

 

The free one is just a fancy shuttle connecting the 2 piers

 

 

Here's the oyster shack you mentioned

 

 

Beach scenery

 

 

 

 

How's this for teamwork?

 

Maybe for the rest of the trip report, you do the writing and I just upload the pictures? 🤪

[harryfat1]

8 hours ago, caribill said:

 

I have never been there.

 

Is it large enough so that a ship with 3000+ passengers does not overwhelm the experience?

ISP is a good topic for a debate team as you can easily make a case to either like it or dislike it and argue strongly for it (i.e., dress code in MDR/face mask policy but let’s not go there).

 

We were there on day 4 so I will talk in detail later (maybe throw in a picture or two) but here’s a quick summary (quick by my standards at least):

 

Pros:

 

·       For those that are tired of the big 3 ports in Alaska, ISP is quickly moving to be #4 as various cruise lines are sending their ships there do so it’ something new

·       Serene/peaceful surroundings

·       Great spot for whale watching excursion. We were lucky that we saw whales just standing by the shores

·       Has zip line ranked in top 10 in the world

·       Gondola ride to the top of the mountain for $49/pp

 

Cons:

 

·       Port was created just for cruise passengers. Too “sanitized”.  Like those private island stops in the Caribbean

·       Whereas Skagway can be a “gateway” to see various parts of Yukon territory such that you are not there to see the town per se but go beyond it.  ISP is limited on sightseeing if that is your thing. Not much to explore outside of the cruise compound.  There’s a 1.5 mile walk to the actual town of Hoonah but not much to see once you get there

·       Very expensive merchandise

 

They have 2 docks at ISP. We were there with a smaller Radiance of the Seas that day. Between the 2 ships, there had to be at least 4,000+ people but the area is pretty spread out.

 

Especially with Princess originally scheduled their ships to be in Skagway originally and allotted 14 hours+ for that day to be in port - wherever that may be.  So people have time and space to roam and it's not nearly as crowded as Juneau or Ketchikan with 4+ ships in town.

 

Nice paved walkway to Hoonah from ISP 

 

 

2 ships can dock at a time.  3rd one would need to tender in

 

[CruzeQueen2]

43 minutes ago, harryfat1 said:

 

Allow me to drop in few pictures from your description on what ISP looks like so for folks that has never been there, they can see what you are referring to.

 

Musueum and shops inside the red buildings:

 

 

 

 

Museum (free) inside 

 

 

$49 Gondola to top of the mountain

 

 

The free one is just a fancy shuttle connecting the 2 piers

 

 

Here's the oyster shack you mentioned

 

 

Beach scenery

 

 

 

 

How's this for teamwork?

 

Maybe for the rest of the trip report, you do the writing and I just upload the pictures? 🤪

As I was  enjoying the pictures, I was thinking - Teamwork!! Happy to work through this with you. My pleasure. In May, there was a brilliant blue sky - almost everyday on the cruise. 12 days in all.

[CruzeQueen2]

11 minutes ago, CruzeQueen2 said:

As I was  enjoying the pictures, I was thinking - Teamwork!! Happy to work through this with you. My pleasure. In May, there was a brilliant blue sky - almost everyday on the cruise. 12 days in all.

Sunny, but with great clouds. Not quite brilliant blue skies. Zoom in to see the whale (sculpture)!

 

Edited September 10, 2022 by CruzeQueen2

[CruzeQueen2]

49 minutes ago, harryfat1 said:

 

Allow me to drop in few pictures from your description on what ISP looks like so for folks that has never been there, they can see what you are referring to.

 

Musueum and shops inside the red buildings:

 

 

 

 

Museum (free) inside 

 

 

$49 Gondola to top of the mountain

 

 

The free one is just a fancy shuttle connecting the 2 piers

 

 

Here's the oyster shack you mentioned

 

 

Beach scenery

 

 

 

 

How's this for teamwork?

 

Maybe for the rest of the trip report, you do the writing and I just upload the pictures? 🤪

@harryfat1Went back to check - saw your whale in one of the pictures.