1st Cruise - Dawn Princess to Alaska

[dlburns36]

The DW and I are heading off to Alaska on the Dawn Princess for the July 10 sailing out of San Francisco. This will be our first cruise and celebrating our 25th year of wedded bliss. I have a number of questions of all you veterans:

Embarkation - if we get to Pier 35 at 11:00 AM will we be allowed to board? What is the process as far as checking bags? Are there restrictions on number of bags? Will we have to carry our luggage a long distance to check in?

Dining - We are not dress up types, not really interested in the formal nights. Does the dress code for the dining rooms allow for slacks and a button down shirt, or do you need a jacket? How informal is breakfast and lunch? shorts and polo shirt OK?

Packing - any tips on what to bring - I know the weather can change quickly up there, we just don't want to have to bring a steamer trunk full of clothes.

Shore trips - we have pre- booked a trip in every port, if we have to tender out and in, will the tour operator wait or do we just miss the trip if we are delayed getting off the ship.

Cabins - we have a balconey cabin on the Aloha deck starboard side forward. Is the balcony roomy enough to have a meal on? Cab we leave the balcony door open at night to get the sea air.

Disembarkation - we are having a friend pick us up at the terminal. If the ship gets in at 7:00 AM, what would be a good time to tell her to pick us up?

I am sure I will have more questions and I thank you in advance for any assitance you can give me with these!

We are counting the days until we leave!

Dave

[Cruisin from VA]

The DW and I are heading off to Alaska on the Dawn Princess for the July 10 sailing out of San Francisco. This will be our first cruise and celebrating our 25th year of wedded bliss. I have a number of questions of all you veterans:

Embarkation - if we get to Pier 35 at 11:00 AM will we be allowed to board? What is the process as far as checking bags? Are there restrictions on number of bags? Will we have to carry our luggage a long distance to check in? Much depends on how quickly the ship before you disembarks. Arriving at 11:00 will probably not allow you to board immediately and I hear SF is kind of a zoo. There will be porters there on the dock to get your bags - just make sure your Princess luggage tags are already on and give them a tip as well. No restrictions to number that I know of.

Dining - We are not dress up types, not really interested in the formal nights. Does the dress code for the dining rooms allow for slacks and a button down shirt, or do you need a jacket? How informal is breakfast and lunch? shorts and polo shirt OK? You'll probably need a jacket if you choose to go to the dining room on formal nights, but the buffet is also open for dinner and you can go there in casual dress. Shorts and polo shirts are fine in the dining room for other meals.

Packing - any tips on what to bring - I know the weather can change quickly up there, we just don't want to have to bring a steamer trunk full of clothes. Bring layers. I did this itinerary and was fine with a fleece, but some folks have a winter coat. Temperatures are usually in the low 50s.

Shore trips - we have pre- booked a trip in every port, if we have to tender out and in, will the tour operator wait or do we just miss the trip if we are delayed getting off the ship. You will be assigned a number based on the time of your tour. Just go to the tender when your number is called and you should make it. This is assuming you have booked all excursions through Priness.

Cabins - we have a balconey cabin on the Aloha deck starboard side forward. Is the balcony roomy enough to have a meal on? Cab we leave the balcony door open at night to get the sea air. It's roomy enough for a meal, but don't expect to sprawl out. Yes, you can leave the door open at night. I believe the AC does not work if the door is open though.

Disembarkation - we are having a friend pick us up at the terminal. If the ship gets in at 7:00 AM, what would be a good time to tell her to pick us up? Depends on the type of disembarkation you do (of course). If you do the "self-assist" option where you carry off all of your own bags, you can leave whenever.

I am sure I will have more questions and I thank you in advance for any assitance you can give me with these!

We are counting the days until we leave!

Dave

 

Great ship, great itinerary - have a wonderful time.

[dlburns36]

Thanks a million Cool!:D

I am trying to gather as much information as possible before we leave.

Dave

[ReadyToFloat]

We took at 12/06 trip from SF to Mexico. The ship arrived late that day, and we arrived at the pier at around 11am. We must have timed it just right - we were on the ship in about 10 minutes.

 

I've heard some that have arrived early and had to wait - we figured we'd give it a shot and figured on a wait. It was a nice surprise. If we saw a line out the door, we would have considered walking around the area for a while, then coming back. The porters were readily available and took the luggage before entering the port building.

 

As for the end of the trip, we arrived in SF around 6am. We did not do the express, and our color was towards the end of the process. We were off the ship and out front by around 9:30am.

 

As we got off, it was a zoo out front. If you need to grab a taxi, there is a staffed station, though the need far surpasses the staff, so people end up just grabbing any taxi. If you have friends picking you up, you may be able to just head up a block or two to escape the taxi mayhem. Cars are lined about 3-5 deep. You could definitely get blocked in.

 

SF was a great place to visit and get on/off the ship. We came a day early and did an Alcatraz cruise, and enjoyed a nice dinner. There are some nice hotels - happy to recommend one if you'd like. Have FUN!!!

[Sailfish]

We are on the July 10th cruise to Alaska also. I am by no means an expert, but will share with you what I know. This is not our first cruise, but the first aboard the Dawn.

 

Embarkation

 

I was advised to get to the port around 10:30-11:00am. Boarding may begin sooner or later, but no later than noon. You can expect to see long lines of people around noon, so it's best to arrive before then.

 

Packing

 

The weather is unpredictable in Alaska - we went a few years ago in June and had perfect, warm sunny days - a week later, it rained non-stop. We plan to pack a good quality rain coat, sweaters and stuff you can layer - as well as some shorts and hiking boots. I'll probably pack a warm jacket to wear out on deck.

 

Bring some mosquito repellent and some binoculars. If you plan to spend time viewing wildlife from the deck, pack a cap and gloves too.

 

If you fly, that will limit how many bags you can take. But if you don't fly, you can check as many bags as you like. We plan to drive to the pier, and know all those warm clothes take up a lot of room, so we will probably check two bags a piece.

 

Dressing Up or Down

 

With the exception of two formal nights, you can pretty much wear anything to dinner that you would wear to a nice restaurant on land - some place like Morton's or Ruth's Chris. My husband lives in dockers and golf shirts, and that is fine for just about any evening. They say no jeans in the formal dining room, but Alaska cruises tend to be a tad more casual, so you'll see people (my husband included I have a hunch among them) who will go to dinner wearing a nice pair of designer jeans. We will remain in port late most evenings, and many people will go directly to dinner after being out on shore excursions, so I really wouldn't worry about dressing up most nights.

 

The two formal nights - and there are only two - serve the best food, but you do have to dress up a little. Women have it a little easier, but guys should at least wear a shirt and tie. You don't, however, have to dress up at all, if you don't want to eat dinner in the formal dining room. Just go to the buffet.

 

Balconies

 

On our last Alaska cruise, it was way too cold to spend anytime out on the balcony, so we opted to get a larger ocean view room instead. Even though it was in the 70's in port, it's downright freezing when the ship is moving. Maybe the location of your balcony will make a difference, so I don't want to discourage you. We always slept with the balcony open in the Caribbean, but not in Alaska!

 

The Ship

 

Don't forget this is a sea day intensive itinerary - I didn't realize this when I booked the cruise! The Dawn is also a smaller and much older ship (with less activities) than we are used to. Our plan is take to advantage of those days at sea, sleep late and relax (something I find hard to do). We are normally very active, and I suppose it will take at least a day or two for us to unwind.

 

Now I have to tell you I was a little disappointed when I began to check out this ship - I confess I am a big-ship snob! I like rock climbing walls, flowriders, volleyball tournaments, and other outdoor activities that I know the Dawn Princess will not have. I don't like things like napkin folding, or line dancing (though there isn't anything wrong with people who do). I am also not into bingo or the casino. As a rule, the ports of call are why I cruise. So a ship like the Dawn does not excite me.

 

With that said, I am a huge fan of natural history - I love the ocean and wildlife, so I am totally looking forward to spending time out on the bow of the ship with my binoculars and camera! What I know so far is that this particular ship gets glowing reviews. They have issues tendering in Sitka, and we can expect a little older crowd. In my limited research, I have read the food is pretty good, the service and staff hardworking and eager to please. I was encouraged to pack along a few books to read. We have tours booked in Juneau and Skagway - doing the others on our own.

 

Hope this info helps. I know I didn't address all your questions - but some here will, I am sure.

 

Good Luck and have a great vacation!

[dlburns36]

We are on the July 10th cruise to Alaska also. I am by no means an expert, but will share with you what I know. This is not our first cruise, but the first aboard the Dawn.

 

Embarkation

 

I was advised to get to the port around 10:30-11:00am. Boarding may begin sooner or later, but no later than noon. You can expect to see long lines of people around noon, so it's best to arrive before then.blue]We have a friend dropping us off the the pier so we plan to be there by 11:15 or so.[/color]

 

Packing

 

The weather is unpredictable in Alaska - we went a few years ago in June and had perfect, warm sunny days - a week later, it rained non-stop. We plan to pack a good quality rain coat, sweaters and stuff you can layer - as well as some shorts and hiking boots. I'll probably pack a warm jacket to wear out on deck.

 

Bring some mosquito repellent and some binoculars. If you plan to spend time viewing wildlife from the deck, pack a cap and gloves too. Mosquito repellent? I am going to bring binoculars, I didn't think about the cap and gloves.

If you fly, that will limit how many bags you can take. But if you don't fly, you can check as many bags as you like. We plan to drive to the pier, and know all those warm clothes take up a lot of room, so we will probably check two bags a piece. We live in San Jose so no flights to worry about. We will aslo bring two bags each. Is it a good idea to put some clothes in our carry on for dinner that evening? I read that sometimes it takes a while to get your luggage!

Dressing Up or Down

 

With the exception of two formal nights, you can pretty much wear anything to dinner that you would wear to a nice restaurant on land - some place like Morton's or Ruth's Chris. I was just at Morton's a few weeks ago and wore nice shorts! [/color]My husband lives in dockers and golf shirts, and that is fine for just about any evening. They say no jeans in the formal dining room, but Alaska cruises tend to be a tad more casual, so you'll see people (my husband included I have a hunch among them) who will go to dinner wearing a nice pair of designer jeans. We will remain in port late most evenings, and many people will go directly to dinner after being out on shore excursions, so I really wouldn't worry about dressing up most nights.

 

The two formal nights - and there are only two - serve the best food, but you do have to dress up a little. Women have it a little easier, but guys should at least wear a shirt and tie. You don't, however, have to dress up at all, if you don't want to eat dinner in the formal dining room. Just go to the buffet. We won't be attending the formal nights, is the buffet good? How about the other dining areas? I understand there is a pizza place and place for burgers. A friend told us to try and stay up for the midnight buffet at least once!

Balconies

 

On our last Alaska cruise, it was way too cold to spend anytime out on the balcony, so we opted to get a larger ocean view room instead. Even though it was in the 70's in port, it's downright freezing when the ship is moving. Maybe the location of your balcony will make a difference, so I don't want to discourage you. We always slept with the balcony open in the Caribbean, but not in Alaska! Hopefully it will not be freezing! A little brisk will be just fine.

The Ship

 

Don't forget this is a sea day intensive itinerary - I didn't realize this when I booked the cruise! The Dawn is also a smaller and much older ship (with less activities) than we are used to. Our plan is take to advantage of those days at sea, sleep late and relax (something I find hard to do). We are normally very active, and I suppose it will take at least a day or two for us to unwind. We are celebrating our 25th Anniversay on this cruise, it is ALL about relaxing!

Now I have to tell you I was a little disappointed when I began to check out this ship - I confess I am a big-ship snob! I like rock climbing walls, flowriders, volleyball tournaments, and other outdoor activities that I know the Dawn Princess will not have. I don't like things like napkin folding, or line dancing (though there isn't anything wrong with people who do). I am also not into bingo or the casino. As a rule, the ports of call are why I cruise. So a ship like the Dawn does not excite me. We are not gamblers, I understand the scholar@sea ( I think that's right ) puts on some good lectures about the area.

With that said, I am a huge fan of natural history - I love the ocean and wildlife, so I am totally looking forward to spending time out on the bow of the ship with my binoculars and camera! What I know so far is that this particular ship gets glowing reviews. They have issues tendering in Sitka, and we can expect a little older crowd. In my limited research, I have read the food is pretty good, the service and staff hardworking and eager to please. I was encouraged to pack along a few books to read. We have tours booked in Juneau and Skagway - doing the others on our own. We have trips booked in each port and I am a little worried about this tendering situation in Sitka as we arrive at 12:00 and have a 1:00 tour of the Russian American & Raptor Center reserved. I am an avid book reader and already have a couple to take with me. The older crowd suits me just fine, my wild partying days are long past!

Hope this info helps. I know I didn't address all your questions - but some here will, I am sure.

 

Good Luck and have a great vacation!

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions. Maybe we will run into one another on board!

Dave

[LonghornKJK]

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions. Maybe we will run into one another on board!

Dave

 

We went on the Dawn to Alaska last August but it was out of Seattle. However, I think I can answer a few of your questions.

 

Mosquito repellent? I am going to bring binoculars, I didn't think about the cap and gloves.

 

The only time we were cold enough for a cap and gloves was when the ship went to Tracy Arm. We were out on the balcony and actually wrapped up in the bedspread and comforter! I don't remember ever needing mosquito repellent, even though we went on a hike in Skagway. But I think we had it, just in case.

 

We live in San Jose so no flights to worry about. We will aslo bring two bags each. Is it a good idea to put some clothes in our carry on for dinner that evening? I read that sometimes it takes a while to get your luggage!

 

It is often recommended to bring clothes for dinner in your carry-on but on all three cruises, we've had our luggage shortly after we boarded.

 

We won't be attending the formal nights, is the buffet good? How about the other dining areas? I understand there is a pizza place and place for burgers. A friend told us to try and stay up for the midnight buffet at least once!

 

We went to the buffet for dinner a couple of times and thought it was good. Some of the entrees were the same as what they were serving in the dining rooms. The pizza place is great! We went there for lunch a couple of times -- didn't realize it was open for dinner. We also had room service a couple of times. We never had a meal that wasn't good if not great!

 

Hopefully it will not be freezing! A little brisk will be just fine.

 

When the ship is moving, it can definitely be brisk. We didn't spend as much time on the balcony as we thought we would but thought it was worth it for the trip to the glacier. We were also on the Aloha deck, though on the port side near the back.

 

We are not gamblers, I understand the scholar@sea ( I think that's right ) puts on some good lectures about the area.

 

We're not into gambling, either. We had a great naturalist onboard, though he could be a little corny (and looks like Geraldo Rivera! :) ) But he knew his stuff and we enjoyed listening to him. If you go to any of the presentations, get there early! We had to stand for the first one and didn't go to any others but they broadcast his comments on the ship's television channel when we went to the glacier.

 

We have trips booked in each port and I am a little worried about this tendering situation in Sitka as we arrive at 12:00 and have a 1:00 tour of the Russian American & Raptor Center reserved. I am an avid book reader and already have a couple to take with me. The older crowd suits me just fine, my wild partying days are long past!

 

I would check with the tour operator. They do this nearly every day and should have some idea if it should work out.

 

I think you'll enjoy every minute! Be sure to tell us all about it when you get back! :)

[dbdave]

In my experience, shorts are never allowed in the main dining room. I may be wrong but be forewarned. Have a great trip!!

[dlburns36]

We went on the Dawn to Alaska last August but it was out of Seattle. However, I think I can answer a few of your questions.

 

 

 

I think you'll enjoy every minute! Be sure to tell us all about it when you get back! :)

 

Awesome!!! Thanks for everything!

I will be sure to post our experiences!

Dave

[dlburns36]

In my experience, shorts are never allowed in the main dining room. I may be wrong but be forewarned. Have a great trip!!

 

I am bringing some Dockers and nice jeans just in case!

Thanks

Dave

[bubbadog]

dave dont forget to look at alaska port of calls board,it will have good info for you too:)):p

[JLC@SD]

Great ship, great itinerary - have a wonderful time.

 

.....ditto......the Dawn is one of our favorite ships....:)

[bdjam]

I hate to be a kill-joy, but please read the Princess Cruise Answer book - either the one sent to you or the one online. Along with some important and helpful information, it outlines the dress guidelines - you may or may not be allowed entry to the dining room - if that's where your headed - in jeans. Depends on the ship and the Matre'd. Jeans are theoretically not allowed in the dining room during the evening (breakfast and lunch are fine).

I tell you this not - as some would have you believe - because I portend to be the dress police. But because I've seen people turned away from the dining room when wearing jeans and it's a little embarassing...don't let this happen to you. As much as people say that jeans are allowed, there are actually very few people on these itineraries who wear jeans at night.

 

Anyway, the Cruise Answer Book will help with a lot of your queries and will give you objective and honest information about what Princess offers in its product.

As for embarkation, if you're at the pier at 11:15, plan to wait to get on board - it will be a rare and lucky occurrance for you if you're able to get on the ship readily before noon...

[miss honey]

This will be a wonderful trip for your celebration. Don't miss out on the on the great dining experience because of fear of dressing up. My hubby is a biker and hates to dress up. His view of putting on a jacket and tie changed after the first evening of casual dining. We have always chosen the Personal choice dining and, gone back to the same table with the same waiter everynight. The dining experience on any ship is relaxing and even more so in Alaska. The view out the windows is an experience to remember. Have a great trip. Carol

[Sailfish]

I hate to be a kill-joy, but please read the Princess Cruise Answer book - either the one sent to you or the one online. Along with some important and helpful information, it outlines the dress guidelines - you may or may not be allowed entry to the dining room - if that's where your headed - in jeans. Depends on the ship and the Matre'd. Jeans are theoretically not allowed in the dining room during the evening (breakfast and lunch are fine).

 

I tell you this not - as some would have you believe - because I portend to be the dress police. But because I've seen people turned away from the dining room when wearing jeans and it's a little embarassing...don't let this happen to you. As much as people say that jeans are allowed, there are actually very few people on these itineraries who wear jeans at night.

 

Anyway, the Cruise Answer Book will help with a lot of your queries and will give you objective and honest information about what Princess offers in its product.

 

As for embarkation, if you're at the pier at 11:15, plan to wait to get on board - it will be a rare and lucky occurrance for you if you're able to get on the ship readily before noon...

 

Just curious, but have you been to Alaska? I am in no way an expert, but I too was under the impression that jeans were not allowed in the dining rooms. But that was not the case on our last Alaksa cruise; it was far more casual than any other cruise we had taken before, and many many people were dining immediately following late shore excursions.The staff aboard the Star Princess at the time said it was because we were visiting a colder climate and remaining in port so late.

 

I agree, one seldom sees jeans on a Caribbean cruise - mostly I think that's because it's a warmer climate where one would not be inclined to wear jeans as much. I too have seen a head waiter ask a person to change from shorts at one of the alternative restaurants before entering. I'm guessing some ships are better at enforcing rules while others don't care.

 

Our particular itinerary (same as the OP's) has us remaining in some ports quite late and I suspect that it too will be a more casual atmosphere. That's not to say people didn't dress up on Formal Night - they do. And maybe you are right, the dining room staff aboard the Dawn Princess might be enforcing the no short/jeans rule. But this was not done on our last Alaska cruise and it was not done more recently on a voyage that our neighbors were on, where jeans were allowed.

 

I agree with you 100% that the OP should read through the pre-cruise information and decide for himself. We usually play it by ear and watch how others are dressing. The way I see it, you can't go wrong with Dockers and polo shirts! My husband has to dress for work, so while on vacation, he's mostly in shorts or jeans - depends on the weather. We also live in Northern California, where people have a tendancy to dress a tad more casually than those out on the east coast. The cruise the OP and I will be taking departs from San Francisco, so I would expect to see many people in more casual clothes.

 

Suzi

[dlburns36]

Just curious, but have you been to Alaska? I am in no way an expert, but I too was under the impression that jeans were not allowed in the dining rooms. But that was not the case on our last Alaksa cruise; it was far more casual than any other cruise we had taken before, and many many people were dining immediately following late shore excursions.The staff aboard the Star Princess at the time said it was because we were visiting a colder climate and remaining in port so late.

 

I agree, one seldom sees jeans on a Caribbean cruise - mostly I think that's because it's a warmer climate where one would not be inclined to wear jeans as much. I too have seen a head waiter ask a person to change from shorts at one of the alternative restaurants before entering. I'm guessing some ships are better at enforcing rules while others don't care.

 

Our particular itinerary (same as the OP's) has us remaining in some ports quite late and I suspect that it too will be a more casual atmosphere. That's not to say people didn't dress up on Formal Night - they do. And maybe you are right, the dining room staff aboard the Dawn Princess might be enforcing the no short/jeans rule. But this was not done on our last Alaska cruise and it was not done more recently on a voyage that our neighbors were on, where jeans were allowed.

 

I agree with you 100% that the OP should read through the pre-cruise information and decide for himself. We usually play it by ear and watch how others are dressing. The way I see it, you can't go wrong with Dockers and polo shirts! My husband has to dress for work, so while on vacation, he's mostly in shorts or jeans - depends on the weather. We also live in Northern California, where people have a tendancy to dress a tad more casually than those out on the east coast. The cruise the OP and I will be taking departs from San Francisco, so I would expect to see many people in more casual clothes.

 

Suzi

 

 

I guess I am the OP (original poster I assume)

I have read EVERYTHING, that is why I am on this site, to gather more information. I am sorry if some of my questions seem trivial but I want to ensure that we get the most for our 6K cruise.

Dave

[dlburns36]

This will be a wonderful trip for your celebration. Don't miss out on the on the great dining experience because of fear of dressing up. My hubby is a biker and hates to dress up. His view of putting on a jacket and tie changed after the first evening of casual dining. We have always chosen the Personal choice dining and, gone back to the same table with the same waiter everynight. The dining experience on any ship is relaxing and even more so in Alaska. The view out the windows is an experience to remember. Have a great trip. Carol

 

As a fellow biker I can relate, I used to have to wear a tie to work, thank god we are a little less formal these days.

I may break down and get a sport coat but I will draw the line at a tie.

I have been in some very nice steakhouses in dockers shorts, polo shirt and deck shoes with "0" problems. I guess money is just as green no matter what you are wearing.

I just changed our dining option to personal choice. I think it will work better with our schedule of trips.

Dave

[ggprincess2004]

We were on the Sapphire north and southward this May. On formal nights, we did see people turned away from the dining rooms when they were attired in jeans, also when the men were not wearing a jacket.

On the first night of the cruise, and the last night of the cruise, jeans did appear in the dining room.

Right or wrong, it doesn't really matter. Just wanted to make you aware that sometimes the dress code is (partially) enforced.

Also, you might shorts a bit cool for the Alaska cruise. Really didn't see very many shorts about the ship or on shore excursions.

Other than that, have a fantastic cruise. Alaska is immense and magnificent. Every cruise is wonderful - our cruising time in Alaska is unforgettable.

And by the way, if you ask your friends to arrive at the pier at about 10:30 you should not be rushed in disembarking, and you also are unlikely to keep them waiting.

[bdjam]

Just curious, but have you been to Alaska? I am in no way an expert, but I too was under the impression that jeans were not allowed in the dining rooms. But that was not the case on our last Alaksa cruise; it was far more casual than any other cruise we had taken before, and many many people were dining immediately following late shore excursions.The staff aboard the Star Princess at the time said it was because we were visiting a colder climate and remaining in port so late.

Yes, I’ve been to Alaska many times – and I’ve done the itinerary you’re doing on Pacific Princess 2 and Regal Princess twice as recently as a year ago. I did see more jeans than I would on a more tropical cruise, but the total number I saw was maybe six – seven if you counted the guy with the overalls. And that’s over 10 days.

 

Perhaps the experience on board the seven day cruises is different than that on the 10 days cruises. Never the less, my point had nothing to do with the number of people in jeans, or the formality of the cruise or what stories about getting in the dining room with jeans others might have. I just wanted the original poster to know that there are guidelines, they can be enforced and where he could find them to review. I think it a real disservice to tell the original poster that he can wear anything he wants in the dining room when in fact that is not true, hence my post.

 

Dave - I think your steakhouse dress for Smart Casual will do you fine. The personnel at the dining room are more apt to enforce the formal attire on formal evening, however, especially now that Princess expressly requests it.

[dlburns36]

Yes, I’ve been to Alaska many times – and I’ve done the itinerary you’re doing on Pacific Princess 2 and Regal Princess twice as recently as a year ago. I did see more jeans than I would on a more tropical cruise, but the total number I saw was maybe six – seven if you counted the guy with the overalls. And that’s over 10 days.

 

Perhaps the experience on board the seven day cruises is different than that on the 10 days cruises. Never the less, my point had nothing to do with the number of people in jeans, or the formality of the cruise or what stories about getting in the dining room with jeans others might have. I just wanted the original poster to know that there are guidelines, they can be enforced and where he could find them to review. I think it a real disservice to tell the original poster that he can wear anything he wants in the dining room when in fact that is not true, hence my post.

 

Dave - I think your steakhouse dress for Smart Casual will do you fine. The personnel at the dining room are more apt to enforce the formal attire on formal evening, however, especially now that Princess expressly requests it.

 

Thanks BD...just went out and purchased a few pair of "docker" type pants just to be safe.

Dave

[dlburns36]

We were on the Sapphire north and southward this May. On formal nights, we did see people turned away from the dining rooms when they were attired in jeans, also when the men were not wearing a jacket.

On the first night of the cruise, and the last night of the cruise, jeans did appear in the dining room.

Right or wrong, it doesn't really matter. Just wanted to make you aware that sometimes the dress code is (partially) enforced.

Also, you might shorts a bit cool for the Alaska cruise. Really didn't see very many shorts about the ship or on shore excursions.

Other than that, have a fantastic cruise. Alaska is immense and magnificent. Every cruise is wonderful - our cruising time in Alaska is unforgettable.

And by the way, if you ask your friends to arrive at the pier at about 10:30 you should not be rushed in disembarking, and you also are unlikely to keep them waiting.

 

That is very helpful GG....can we stay in our rooms prior to disembarkation or do we have to "line" up to get off the ship. Is there time for breakfast before disembarking?

Thanks again

Dave

[qiangf2]

Bring some mosquito repellent and some binoculars. If you plan to spend time viewing wildlife from the deck, pack a cap and gloves too.

 

 

That's very good advice. I found the temperature is normally acceptable most of the time. But it got really cold when we sailed in Tracy's Arm. I think it probably because of cold wind blowing from the glaciers. I was glad to brought my ski gloves with me so I can stay out on the deck, scanning for wildlife using my binoculars and cameras..It was totally worthy it.

[nchank]

In SF, we got to pier 35 about 12:15 in a cab. Porters took the bags at the curb. We were on board in less than 30 minutes.

 

Disembarking is not so easy. Our group was allowed off at 10:30. There is a mob getting bags, trying to get a porter and a big mess at the curb. Perhaps use your cell phone to call your pickup since you can estimate progress of disembarking groups. They do it with alphabetical baggage tags and start with A. We were F. It seems to take about 10-15 minutes between letters, but sometimes they called 2 letters at the same time. The rule is, be patient.

 

I did not see any jeans in the anytime dining room. Most of the men did have ties. I wore slacks, a dress shirt and a blazer.

 

We never needed an umbrella or raincoat in port in Alaska, but who knows.

 

It was a great trip, have a wonderful time.

[nchank]

That is very helpful GG....can we stay in our rooms prior to disembarkation or do we have to "line" up to get off the ship. Is there time for breakfast before disembarking?

Thanks again

Dave

 

There is time for breakfast. Then you go back to your cabin, collect your carry ons, go through customs on board and then wait in a lounge. It was about 2 hours for us. We waited in the internet cafe and since I had some time left on my internet account I explored the web for awhile:)

 

Patience is the key for disembarking.

[dlburns36]

There is time for breakfast. Then you go back to your cabin, collect your carry ons, go through customs on board and then wait in a lounge. It was about 2 hours for us. We waited in the internet cafe and since I had some time left on my internet account I explored the web for awhile:)

 

Patience is the key for disembarking.

 

I like the cell phone idea! We are only about an hour away from the pier so my friend could leave when we call her and be there in plenty of time to get us.

Dave