Cruisingthesuitelife

I booked my first Alaska cruise in February 2014 for May 2015 doing Radiance of the Seas southbound from Seward to Vancouver. In early 2015 (before sailing on Radiance) I booked to do a B2B on Explorer (Alaska and Pacific Coastal) in September 2016. After the journey to get to Seward (via Vancouver, Seattle, Anchorage and the Seward Highway) I was already completely in love and doubting my decision for September 2016. After doing the cruise portion I was in no doubt, the Explorer Alaska itinerary just didn't compare (and neither would the journey to and from the start and end of the cruise). I landed back home and the same day cancelled the Explorer cruise.

Had I not done Radiance I'm completely sure I would have been totally over the moon with the Explorer itinerary and what I had got to see and experience and I know it would have left me wanting more.

You can only do what's right for you and if Explorer and the itinerary works for you, I'm sure with planning and research into what you can see and do in each stop, you will have an incredible cruise.

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Not sure how well this will come out on here, just getting to grips with a new camera. Heading towards sunset last night taken from near Devil's Dyke in Sussex, UK.

Our youngest grandchild stands here waiting for her mother to prepare props for her first birthday photo shoot. I mention “standing”, because she has started walking at just shy of a year old. This means I will blink and she will be going to Kindergarten. Another blink and she will be driving. This is yet another reason that I love photography. As long as one is diligent about pulling out the camera and shooting the photos, the images will be around at that future moment when your children are entering their forties and you look at their kids and wonder where the hell the time went. I also appreciate that Photoshop lets me add a soft-focus effect to lessen the sin of shooting in direct sunlight.

 

I'm Ready For My Close-up...

 

Dave

She is absolutely precious! Happy 1st birthday! You are so right about photography and the memories it helps capture.

Brilliant review, thank you again for taking the time to do it.

Is there a place I can search specifically for Royal Caribbean alaska cruise threads where people post their reviews and pictures? I see the Royal Caribbean boards, and the Alaska boards, but I'd like to be able to read reviews from people who did the itinerary I'm going on. Is this a thing? lol thank you!

There isn't a specific place where RCI Alaska reviews are posted. They could be post on this board or on the RCI board. In the pinned threads at the top of this forum there are reviews from this year and previous years. If you click on a year and scroll through there will be links to reviews for RCI Alaska itineraries.

Seems this was the charter:

http://www.shipsomnia.com/experience/

I'm surprised it was allowed to go on all night like that without some sort of intervention before 8.30am.

Such a brilliant review so far, thank you for taking the time to share what you did and your great photos.

I'm going in May 2018 and have been contacting vendors and booking tours since I booked my cruise in March. If vendors weren't advertising for 2018 I contacted them and most have either taken my details and will contact me at the end of the current season (which I will also monitor and re-contact) or have confirmed my tour reservations. I have also got all but one of my pre and post cruise accommodations booked. I'm a planner, what can I say!

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Is this with RCI UK as they don't offer price drop?

I agree, if booked through the UK no price drops are offered and with the added admin fee for changing a booking, this would result in an increase in price.

Pretty much the same but you should get Internet included now...! There is also Coastal Kitchen.

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Over on the RCI board there is someone doing a live review this week, they might be able to help with southbound compasses.

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Thanks for doing a live review, I'll definitely be following along :)

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Just a few suggestions: A stop at Alyeska Resort and a ride on their aerial tram. I can also recommend a stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. There is also Portage Lake and a 1 hour cruise on it to Portage Glacier. There's also plenty to do once in Seward, so make sure you plan time there too.

Thanks for sharing, your picture and video are great. I'll be doing this next year so it's brilliant to see your trip!

For whale watching I have used Harv & Marv's and found them very good. Next year I'm using Jayleen's Alaska - the communication I have had with her already has been outstanding and she has great reviews on Trip Advisor. I've also been looking at recommendations for glacier via helicopter and came across Temsco (who seem to be booked via your cruise line - or at least that's what it would be for me) and Coastal helicopters on these boards. I've had some communication with Coastal and they have been so helpful and informative, I've decided to use them. Hopefully that gives you some companies to look at :)

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I don't think there is anything crazy about it at all. As long as you have the time then why not make the most of your day?

I am looking at doing something similar when I go to Juneau next year, so if you are crazy, so am I!

With regards to sticking with HAL, that is entirely your call. I am doing independent excursions as I feel I have sufficient time and the prices are so much better. You have to do what you feel comfortable with.

The first time I went to Alaska I took over 4000 in the 2 weeks I was away. I absolutely loved spending hours once I was home looking at them all again and selecting which ones to keep. When I go next year I will probably do the same as that will be the last time I will ever go and I want to be able to look back at the memories I made and not say 'oh the scenery was stunning but I didn't take a photo of it'. When I'm taking pictures like that, I'm stopping to take it in personally, enjoying the moment and then capturing the memory.

A one way car rental would be great but does not fall in the economical category.

I disagree with this. Depending on how many people you have travelling, it can easily be more economical to hire a car. When I booked a one way car hire for 24 hours picking up at Anchorage airport and dropping in Seward, I got a rate of c.$101 including a 10% discount and with gas it came to c$145. The train is c.$100 per person. The coach/bus is c.$50 for a direct non stop route.

All I am saying is that actually, car hire can be economical depending on the circumstances and should not be immediately dismissed.

Personally I hire a car. I have found it quite comparable and affords the flexibility to stop at Alyeska and any other places on the way down.

I know there is a coach/bus and also the train.

Thank you for you advice. I appreciate it. I think the reason I'm leaning toward glacier wind is because their tour is half an hour longer

That is a positive, any additional time on the water would be a bonus for me!

I think you will come across equal numbers of great reviews for both companies. Personally, as I have been with Glacier Wind before, I am going to recommend them.

I would just say you need to look at what is offered by both companies and how it works for you but from what I have read, I don't think you will be disappointed whichever you choose.

I have stayed in Oliva Plaza which overlooks Placa de Catalunya. Lovely hotel and very close to shops and restaurants.

Great pics, thanks for sharing!

That is absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for your input :). Do they have a hydrophone on their boat so they can listen to the whales?

I don't remember them having a hydrophone unfortunately. Although I recall Teresa saying they have just got a new boat, so you never know!

What was good was that Shawn stays in communication with other boats and he was told of a sighting and we were able to go over to where there were a few whales playing around. Shawn has such knowledge and experience and Teresa's salmon dip is not to be missed!

Does anybody know which night is lobster night on the Radiance Southbound Alaska? I know the Alaska trips have not started yet, but was hoping someone would remember from last season.

Formal nights are 2 and 5 and from memory lobster was night 5 but of course, that may have changed.