renaissancewoman101

Thanks for all the replies.

Just curious, can you pre-purchase onboard credits for yourself before the cruise?

I am a noob when it comes to cruising:rolleyes:

I finally paid off my Sept 2015 cruise to Alaska on the Crown Princess. As I was filling out the onboard info, they ask me to provide a credit for onboard charges. I have read on here that it IS possible to provide a cash deposit at check-in, for onboard charges, and that I don't need to use a credit card.

I called Princess cruises and the rep told me that if I don't provide a credit card online, I won't be able to print out my boarding documents, and will have to do that at the pier. She also told me that if I am putting a cash deposit in lieu of a credit card, I will have to wait to check in until everybody who has done early check in, has done their stuff. Is that true???

If I have to provide a credit card I will, but I rather have better control of my onboard spending (hence paying a cash deposit).

Thanks for all the advice. I really wish there was time to do both, since both are equally appealing to me. As of now, I think I will stick with the Pilot's Choice heli tour, since I want to do a glacier walkabout. This just gives me the impetus to come back and take another Alaska cruise :)

As of now, I'm booked for the Pilots Choice glacier helicopter tour (I love being able to fly over and walk on the glacier), but I am also interested in doing the Taku flightplane and lodge excursion. I hear it's a lot of fun and you also get good views of glaciers and wildlife at the Lodge. The timing of the tours only allows for me to do either tour but NOT both.

Which one would you suggest is better?

I've never been on a helicopter before so don't know how touring with that is like. I've been on the Twin Otter regular planes many times before so I know how seating is like on those planes.

This will probably be my only trip to Alaska for the time being (since it is expensive).

I am big into scenic tours and seeing wildlfe and nature.

I'm exactly 4'5" (measurement at doc office a few years ago). But I've had instances where (on stand up roller coasters), they say you have to be 4'5" but I still wasn't able to go on since they couldn't fit the harness on me without me on my tiptoes (which is a no-no).

I will call the company offering the excursion and ask.

I've been investigating tours for each of my Alaskan cruise stops. In Ketchikan I am interested in doing the zip line adventure park. For those of you who've done ziplining here, how strict are they about height requirements. They say you have to be 4'5" to be able to zipline (due to fitting the equipment). I'm barely 4'5". I know the 4'5" is just a guideline since they have to make sure you fit into the harness correctly. I know that I can't ride stand up roller coasters since although I fit the height requirements, they can't lower the harness on me without having me on my tiptoes.

Also, if I do sign up for the zipline tour on the ship and I get there and the people at the zipline excursion tell me that I can't do it, will I get a refund?

Thanks for all the advice. I now feel a bit more confident that I will be able to have a good view on the ship, despite not having a balcony cabin. SadieN, thanks for the tips about the life jackets.

I will also try to sign up for the excursions as soon as I can.

In regards to dining, I have signed up for "anytime dining" since I do not want to be restricted to dining times. I've traveled solo a lot so I tend to like to do things (eating) on the fly. With that being said, do the restaurants (which I know will cost additional), require reservations? I tend to be the type where, when I eat on my own schedule.

For a long time I've been reluctant to take cruises mainly because I like to travel solo and explore places on my own schedule.

for a small person? I am booked on Crown Princess's 9/5/15 Alaska sailing from Seattle. I am very excited about this trip since it will be my first time on a cruise and my first time to see Alaska and the icebergs.

I do have an inside room (A740) mainly to save money since I will be cruising solo so the rooms are more expensive for me. On the days they are cruising Glacier Bay and Ketchikan, I plan to be out on the deck to snare a good view.

My only concern is that I am on the small side (about 4'3"), so not sure where on the deck I can get a good view. From videos on YourTube, I see that there are railings around lots of the viewing areas on deck. How tall are they usually?

Also, if you want to do excursions like the heli flight onto the Mendenhall Glacier, can you wait till you are on ship to sign up for that, or do they sell out quickly? Also, I have heard that there are behind scenes ship tours. I am very interested in those? Can you sign up for them and pay for them before the date of the trip?

Thanks in advance, and as time gets closer, I probably will post more questions. I am excited about my first cruise.