KKB

Food MDR was brilliant as always. The AK cruises include A LOT of FABULOUS salmon...I was in HEAVEN. The only thing I didn't love was a pepper leek quiche. It was OK, but not as great as everything else. Burgers & hot dogs by pool great as usual. Gigi's pizza was fine. I have gluten free...boy I need to remind the chefs to cook those crusts WELL. Underdone crusts aren't fun, but GF, well, BLECH. Buffet was good. But it is HUGE & honestly I felt the layout to be not intuitive. I really do prefer the big horseshoe most ships have (tho Caribbean Princess has that small crowded place to start). It was impossible to remember where to go back if you wanted seconds of a fav! Buffet was PACKED on the day we viewed the glacier as the naturalist was broadcast there (as well as your stateroom). I recommend going early if you want to view from there. ONE complaint. PORK LOIN Aunt had it in buffet & said it was so tough she could not cut it. Last formal night she had it again in MDR--SAME THING. So...I'd avoid the port loin!

Activities & Shows Very fun activity staff--DuVaul (director) is hilarious & charming--we chatted with him a bit in Ketchikan Karen--she is moving to Coral for her 1st director job! She was geniune & lovely Conrad--he is quite new. Very charming & a voice for radio DJ JB--his humor REALLY came out during Hollywood Hiccups! Joy--we didn't see her as much; she is quieter & very sweet We played SO much trivia & attended most game shows. Great fun, even won a few prizes...unfortunately our carry on decision did no allow us to bring home those lovely stainless water bottles!!! Shows--Spotlight Bar & Rock Opera were both brilliant--a wonderful surprise after we were less than impressed on the Caribbean Princess. One note--PLEASE try to be on time. I was astounded the people that show up even 15 min. late then stand looking not even realizing they are blocking others' views.

Ship Discovery Princess is BEAUTIFUL. While the rooms are nearly identical to the Caribbean Princess we sailed in July, and the footprint very similar to all the Princess ships we have sailed, you can tell it is a bit larger. But overall, the layout is very similar. Ports Ketchikan, Juneau & Sitka We traveled w/ DH's aunt & uncle, both late 70s. They had done AK & we had not. They just wanted to walk around each town. So I scoped out bars. His uncle cannot always walk a long way but he did very well--we just stopped frequently for a drink! Ketchikan we hit The Asylum & The Arctic bar. Juneau we hit Tracy's Crab Shack (terrific but crab ain't cheap!), Red Dog Saloon & a bar in some old Victorian hotel. https://kingcrabshack.com/pages/menu Sitka...Skagway originally scheduled...then the rockslides so changed to Sitka. THEN week before back to Skagway. Then winds were high so changed back to Sitka day before as we couldn't tender. Sitka is BEAUTIFUL! Free shuttle from port to town...drivers give you a bit of history along the way. We did a bit of shopping in each place--very unusual for me compared to Caribbean cruises! But so many unique & local stores. Made my carry on only decision precarious--but we managed! We LOVED LOVED LOVED Alaska & want to do some excursions to hike and/or see wildlife when we return. We had scenic viewing of Dawes glacier the morning before Juneau. Truly spectacular!

We spent 1 night prior in Seattle & 2 nights after in Vancouver so just got back Tuesday evening. I didn't take notes this time so I will review by category! First: air We have companion pass with SWA but they don't fly to CA & the flights to Seattle were crappy times. We snagged Air Alaska direct to Seattle for $130 each--no more than it would have run us using companion on SWA. Nice airplane. We chose to do carry on to avoid luggage fees (and I saw it as a challenge!). Managed to get gate check--no brainer direct! We flew United home from Vancouver. Quietest airport I have seen since June 2020! We went from drop off to gate in 30 min. First plane was decent but short flight to Omaha plane was much cozier. Gate checked in Vancouver as well, wasn't worried if our bags were late...plus Air Tags JUST in case. Hotels: Holiday Inn Seattle Downtown. Good location (near Space Needle) & decent price. Spacious rooms. Ate dinner at nearby Thomas Street Warehouse. Good bar food, great waiter. Place started hopping about the time we left. Victorian Inn Vancouver. Decent location. Best price when I booked--I should have checked before we left as we could have gotten the Fairmont DT for the same price! It is a cute hotel but BE SURE to book a private bathroom if you want one as some have shared ones. Pender is the street directly north of the hotel & we walked along it about 10AM Sunday & their were A LOT of homeless as well as drugs being opening smoked (not talking pot...). No one bothered us & we even saw a few along the busier street as we walked around. But it was a shock initially & we worried we had chosen a bad area. As time went on we determined we had not. We walked along Pender at other times & never saw any at those times. Guessing early Sunday not as many people so they were more comfortable being out. DH was at a bar 2 blocks away on Pender Sunday night watching the game when a homeless woman attacked a woman. People tried to detain her (without touching here) until police arrived. She did escape but was caught. Bartender said this was NOT typical. I DO recommend the hotel--it was super cute. Close to the Waterfront & not too far from main shopping area. Several good bars/restaurants nearby. We walked along main shopping area (reminded us of Park Ave) & Waterfront on Sunday and went to Granville Island Monday--SUPER cool artsy area with many shops & a brewery, distillery & an AMAZING public market.

Well it's a crapshoot! DH & I each earned a bit over 2K points. Mostly played .05 STP VP--and we played A LOT. Were each offered $300 free play for future cruise. Went ahead & booked an open booking as well. Looking at 2 wk TA or Panama Canal next April. His uncle got $250 free play offered--and he earned 2-3x more than us (not sure what he ended at). His aunt must have gotten $600+. Truly no idea her points, suspect quite a bit more than ours. Uncle plays VP & slots, aunt just slots.

Glad to hear all of it! I bought the small carry on...looked at DD's & thought that is what she had but her's is also the bigger one. The smaller one is nearly identical to carry on I have so couldn't justify. I think I will exchange for bigger one. Seems it will be fine domestically, especially on SWA. DH & I got a good casino offer after getting off Discovery Sunday. Were looking at Panama Canal in April...but I can book us both on that TA PLUS me on that TA back for the same price!! Now I just need to convince him it is the best choice... Sail Sapphire Princess LA/SD/Ensenada for 4 days with BFF in 2.5 weeks--with a day at Disney before. Have a great time on your NE cruise!

Howdy stranger! Sorry to go such a bizarre way to get in contact but w/ no PM options, well, here we are! A--is your carry on an Away bag? Regular or large carry on? How do you like it? B--You mentioned your fav lines. I remember Celebrity & NCL. Was the other MSC (or Costa?)...DH & I may be doing a transatlantic on Princess in April but he wants to be back for golf league 1st of May. I am considering boarding the MSC Magnifica May 3 in Barcelona for a 16 day transatlantic back. $1350 all in for balcony with $500 OBC sounds pretty good!

Just curious…we have racked up more points in 2 days on Discovery than 2 weeks on CB. Wont “gamble to earn a cruise”, but will gamble so curious!! thanks!

Our traveling companions said their app says green lane & ours says blue lane. Which do we want for boarding next week & what needs to be done so we are "in the same lane"? Thanks!

Very impressed--especially since I had to send wonky screenshots from Etrade to show it was actually my account. Hoping Princess comes through...but not hopeful. I cut it too close for our July 9 departure, but some have had luck... Good thing...my timing for buying SUCKED. At least 8 cruises on NCL & Princess over the next 8 months will offset losses.

NCL says this is AI excursion. Would cost me $109 OOP. Worth it? Are drinks included? (Says AI, mentions lunch but not drinks)

Assuming drink packages do not work here… We booked chair ride over/ back plus clamshell & 2 chairs for $60. But looks like an easy walk & chairs r available for free?

We have never sailed with others in balconies--this sounds fun.

I see that Public Beach has these & that there is a bar if you walk north to Kimpton Beach. Can we just get chairs there on the beach?

We were surprised that drinks were NOT included on NCL's "private island."

We are staying 3 days before & 3 days after our late Sept. cruise. I am looking to stay "near" the Eye--it seems a lot of things we want to see are nearby. (we've never been, so the usual sites are at the top of our list). I am wondering if we may want to do that AFTER the cruise, assuming some jet lag on the way out. I still anticipate a day of sightseeing before. What other part of London might be fun to stay in? We are likely looking at IHG hotels as we have 2-3 free nights plus 260K points we can use. But we also have 135K points via Capital One portal so I am open to other suggestions. I noticed that the IHG hotels nearest the Eye are pricier...the Hotel Indigo Tower Hill (2 mi. away) gets best reviews & is the best value. Or are we better off to spend a bit more to be closer? We do not mind taking the Underground to sites if we could get a hidden gem in a fun neighborhood.