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Tipping is a personal thing, for us we tip based on service provided. So for bus drivers if they go beyond the duty of driving the bus, we give them a small tip. The driver in Juneau was great he basically gave a verbal tour as he drove. He had great knowledge. There was one other large family group on the bus with us, on the ride up and back to the ship they kept hammering him to go through the drive thru at mcdonalds or some fast food place, to the point of being obnoxious about it. They kept saying that we wouldn't mind. The drive looked at us in the review mirror and I guess our face said it all. We had had enough and were about to say something to them. So he quickly gaged the situation and said how about I pull over up here and y'all can walk to where ever and then told them how the the ship was. He then pulled over and they got off. We tipped him $15, way more than normal, but he did his job above and beyond.

We also tip excursions booked both ways. However we have always been taught it's not proper to tip owners but since We are not regulars and don't know who is the owner or not we tip, lol.

This is our second cruise to Alaska on NCL. I can't imagine cruising there in another line. We love the 2 bedroom haven cabins! No one does suites like NCL!

We sailed first time last year with 12 and 16 year old daughters. We told them absolutely no going into other cabins and no one into ours. We actually did situations where it may come up, "my parents have to meet you beforeI can go get ice cream/ coffee, shoot I left my (fill in the blank) in my cabin come with me to grab it. We gave them excuses to get out of it, so they were prepared should it actually happened. We talked about how hallwys were small and once on board showed them. Our girls are fairly independent and very intelligent but still have teen brain cells( I'm invincible). We also told them if they put their soda down, it is no longer theirs, to get a fresh one. We explained why, however some kids are not quite ready to understand about rufios, I know I didn't spell that right. Have to say that neither daughter needed any of this, thank goodness. And I know the whole role playing is corny, but in a new situation it helps. Also they were not allowed to wander the ship alone. i am not going to lie but we have taught our girls several self defense moves, however we not unrealistic in thinking they will actually be in the frame of mind to use them, if the need arises.

We booked a private tour with Harv and marv, last year. It was my husband and I and our 2 daughters 12 and 16. We loved it. No loud talkers, no children running around we could stay inside cabin to get warm or be outside with no one fighting us for space. She had snacks, blankets and binoculars. It was so peaceful and since it was just us it wasn't a big deal to zip around a find new set of whales to gaze at, when it got crowded from other whale watching groups. Honestly we would not do those larger tour boats. I think there are other companies that do private tours too, check trip advisor.

This is what we did last year

Juneau- private whale watch with Harv & Marv- booked it because we didn't want to be with loud people or run a muck children, even though we had our 12 and 16 year old with us. Highly recommend

Skagway- helicopter, glacier walk with temsco-booked directly is cheaper. A wow experience

Ketchikan- private fishing with baranof, loved it and doing it again this year!

This year Juneau we are exploring mendenhall glacier on our own and Skagway will be the Davidson glacier wilderness Safari. Unfortunately booked too late and had to go through cruise line.

We are an active family with teens, if that helps. I would definitely take a helicopter tour/hike but it's not cheap.

How do you track this. We want to do a Europe vacation but have no idea where to start or what a good deal is.

Thank you everyone. I have enlisted the help of a friend, well actually I told her I was baking and to come drink wine with me and keep me company. I'll bake the day before, lol. It's time let things go!

Last year we used US dollars and received Canadian monies, as change. They always warned us before hand and helped, we didn't spend a $20 on 3.00 worth of goods and have all that Canadian monies. By the end we wanted to make certain we had Every denomination( within reason,lol) they were very helpful figuring out what we lacked.

Last year we fished with baranoff and will be doing so again this year. If I could figure out how to post a picture I would. Check trip advisor, for reviews, then ask on their forum.

We went to Alaska last May. The main things we wore cuddle duds, jeans, fleece, water/wind resistant jacket, gloves, ear muffs. On the ship I wore leggings and tunics or long shirts with scarves. I brought 1 cocktail/ semi formal dress. Get polarize sunglasses! I had hiking boots(we hiked) flats and sketcher like shoes for leggings. Figure out hairstyles for wind blown hair, lol. I hand washed leggings and tank tops/under shirts and hung in bathroom to dry.

I have a closet of clothes. I just don't know how to pull the looks together. Ironically I can for my teens, but dressing a size 2 is different than dressing a size 16. Friends are of no help, either. Are there people that come in to your home and help you?

I book haven suites through online big box and get all the perks offered by NCL and obc from agency, also. It has been cheaper to book through them than NCL itself.

* I've never gotten beef, though maybe I need to look around some more😜

Maple leaves and Margo you guys made very good points! I booked the room, plus it's a suite and we need the space with all our luggage,lol. My husband is not so sold on the idea of not being wishing walking to yhe market, but I think he thinks we aren't in walking distance of anything. He will be pleased once we get there. Besides I just couldn't justify spending money on a room when we have points.

Margo I'm copying your info to have handy when we set out exploring.

We had a 12 year old and last year she could not move up. It's really for the best. AsFar as snoring how about a 2 bedroom, if cost isn't too much more? Also if you are in a suite or haven, the butler could bring escargot as an appetizer to your room.

Thank you both. Last year I really wanted to use points also to stay pre cruise and in the end decided the hilton properties were just to far. I don't know why I keep trying this year.

Is the homewood suite on 206 western ave a safe neighborhood for walking? I'm trying to find a Hilton brand hotel, for 2 nights. We will be doing pike market, space needle, ferries, maybe the Locke cruise, so kinda all over the place. However w want to eat yummy foods at night so need to be in safe area for night walking.

Thanks everyone, I guess truly there is no norm on when or how to tip. I just wanted to make sure how we did it last time didn't make us stand out like a sore thumb, lol.

For bar drinks that are ordered from a waiter is more apporiate to tip a coup,e bucks each round or tip say 5$ the first round then skip a few rounds and tip? We have the UBP and I prefer to give cash. I don't know what the norm is. Also at speciality restaruants is more common to leave a few bucks in cash or write in a tip? Also on UDP so charge will be zero out. This is of course if service is good, which I'm sure it will be.

Any update on the pearl crew?

Bless your heart, then chunk the BC! Hope you come back with a family in the making!

Unless you want the souvenir that last a life time, BIRTH CONTROL! :D

Shotchick- I would definitely be comfortable with both my kids going together to dinner, which they did. They also would go shopping or exploring, on the ship. We just think safety in numbers and all that jazz, lol.

Our 16 year old liked the club. She befriend another CC son and his friend. They hung out together. A great reason to go to the meet and greet! We also enjoyed his parents company through out the cruise. There was a large youth group on board and they mostly kept to themselves. Apparently there was a new youth person for the teens that just came aboard and didn't like what the previous person had plan and was changing everything. So everything that had been printed on the dailies were kinda wrong, also caused some miscommunication, but they figured it out. Our 12 year old did not like it. They group was 9 to 12 I believe. It might have been 8 year old too. There just wasn't enough older Tweens I guess to separate them. There was 1 other 12 year old. And she was a Whiney child. I thought my daughter was exaggerating until we happen to be around them, one night. I thought my husband was going to offer to fix that whiney, entitled behavior for them! My 12 year old still had a blast with us and her big sister despite lack of club. We however did not ever let her roam alone. It's honestly something we are just not comfortable doing.

We were on the jewel last year may30 sailing. There wasn't a ton of children. My then 12 year old didn't care for the kids club, as she was the oldest.(or maybe we are just that cool, she wanted to hang with us😂). Kids were at the shows, music and games, however you could tell that some were kinda bored at something's. The trivia was generally not something they knew about. The hot white party was a blast, they kicked kids out at some point. We did see many families playing games in the library or game room( can't remeber the proper name), we had brought our own cards and dominos. Y'all will have a blast.