Greg4502

In Juneau, I did the helicopter ride that landed on the Glacier. We landed in two places. Just 4 passengers and the pilot, no one else. I was amazing.

On my last Alaska cruise, I went the last week that the cruise company was making it's Alaska run. We were the only ship in all the ports, except Victoria, there was two others. Weather, expect some rain. We had rain in Juneau as we got off the ship. It cleared up about 15 min later. Some sprinkles in Victoria. All of the gift shop have big end of the year sales. They all have the same stuff, it's just finding who has it the cheapest. The smaller shops you can find some unique stuff.

First time I went to Alaska, tender in to Juneau. Was getting off the tender, it was RAINING. I commented to the worker on the dock, "Raining pretty good today", he said " Naw, this is just a sprinkle".

I have not been on a cruise yet, where you did not get any rain at all.

The La Patisserie and Buffet for morning coffee, but if you are awake before they are open, call Room Service for a pot of coffee. That's what I did. I am up early. By about the fourth day, when I call Room Service, they just said it is on its way.

All the secret places, are no longer secret. I shoot a lot of pictures on the ship. There are many places that are good to shoot from. Just move around, get different shots. Depending on where you are departing and returning to, try this spot just for looking, video might be good. Deck 8 all the way forward, dead center, bow. Look down into the water as you are cruising. It is amazing to see just how much sea life you pass by.

I did the Heli ride with landing on the glacier. It was raining when we got into port, well there goes this trip. We waited, it cleared and off to the airport. Just flying over the ice fields is amazing, but landing, WOW! We landed in two different places, watched others just fly over. One of the landing sites was a little cloudy. The pilot just move the clouds around with the downdraft, made a nice clearing.

Like said above, you just never know what kind of weather you will have. I do know this. I have seen some amazing lighting shows out on the water. No blocked views as in the city.

I am already booked, Emerald, Buenos Aires, around the horn, to Los Angeles,( San Pedro) 30 days. Feb 28, 2018. Can't wait.

I myself, use a car service. Picks me up at my house, drops me off right at the ship. It is a little more expensive, but no worries about returning a car or finding parking and walking and I don't have to drive in the traffic. Renting a car, how far is it drop off for the rental to the port?

I would say it depends on what you want to do while you are there. Remember in Venice your options are water taxi or bus and walking. When I took my cruise out of Venice, I was there 3 days prior, so I could look around. I stayed at the Regina. I took a water taxi on departure day right to the cruise port right from the hotel. If I remember right, it was about a 45 min ride.

I thought everyone knew. Those that don't. Each deck sign shows which way the bow of the ship is. Simply go the direction seen on the sign. These signs are posted at each elevator and show the way forward or aft.

I too, have Meniere's. With the tinnitus, 27 years. I was very worried about going on my first cruise having the Meniere's. Had some pretty rough seas, but I was fine. The vertigo part only gets me now every once in awhile. I know what effects it the most and try not to do those things. As for the ear patch, I wear it as a precaution. I just use half, lasts three days. I put it on before I leave to board the ship. I have found that the rolling action of the ship, if it does, has bother me some in the past, compared to the pitching of the bow. I mostly noticed it when I am inside, on the lower decks. If I feel a little dizzy, I go up to my balcony or out on deck for a bit of fresh air and it clears up.

I have flown and have not had a problem, with the exception of the normal pressure in the ear from cabin pressure. Chew some gum on takeoff.

As for over all with the Meniere's/Tinnitus, the ringing will be there, your brain just learns to block it out. I find it harder to hear in large crowds or noisy places. On days it may be really bad, as with the vertigo part, the doctor has prescribed Valium. When the vertigo hits, if I feel in coming on, I just relax in my recliner and lay still for awhile and I am good to go.

As for the pressure in the ear. My doctor has prescribed, Dyazide. It is a diuretic. It helps with the fluid built up. Warning take them if you are staying at home for the day, you will see why.

I have done a lot of research on these problems. There are many home type remedies out there to try. None so far have worked for me. I has seen specialists, been through the test and have tried many medications. There is a surgery for the Meniere's, but I do not recommend. If done wrong, your face on the surgery side could be come paralyzed.

So now I go on my cruises, try not to think about, have fun and enjoy.

The camera fitted rain covers, I find to be a pain. I just go for under the coat. If you don't travel with a laptop to download your pictures at the end of the day, plenty of extra memory cards. My last Alaskan cruise I shot 1500 photos. I nice big telephoto is nice. But a telephoto lens that works close in works really well. No need to be changing lens all the time, unles you have two camera bodies.

What it did with my cameras/lens, was to wrap them in a towel, then wrap the towel was a plastic garment cover like you get back from the dry cleaners. I put them out on the balcony on the chair. It keeps the equipment from getting too much moisture on it when out on the balcony.This work great. If you do want some nice photos when aboard ship, you have to plan in advance to warm up the lens/camera, or you may miss the shot. I did not have any problems with my cell phone, but it was in my backpack, as I only carry it is case of an emergency.

I use the patch, called Transderm Scop. With my size I only use half of the patch. It is good for three days. Your size maybe a 1/4 of a patch will do. I do not get dry mouth or dizzy when wearing it. With the patch you always have it on. With pills you have to remember to take them. With pills you have to take them before you start felling seasick. Taking after will help some. I know from the first time I went to Alaska, the second night it was rough, even the crew said to was not the norm. But the second night out you pass through an area where the sea comes in from the bow, so up and down motion. Our evening was walking forward, you stopped when the ship went up and walked when it went back down. As for once out of the inside passage. I can not comment on that. But you are in the ocean and the seas will be what the are. I came across the Atlantic a few years back, thought there would be some rough seas, since it was in December. It was the smoothest waters of the whole cruise. I have found that if I do start to feel a little dizzy form being inside the ship, I just head out to the balcony for some fresh air and in a few minutes I feel good again.

It is over a three hour drive from the port, to Seattle SeaTac.

Rain coat, umbrella a must. The weather can change at anytime. On my last trip Sept 2015, the weather was great. Did have some rain, but that's Alaska.It was the last run for Princess to Alaska for the year. What was great, was we were the only ship in all the ports, except Victoria. It was like having the towns to all to ourselves. I was in Juneau on my first Alaska Cruise. Getting off the tender it was Raining. I mention it to the gentleman assisting people off the tender. He said " Naw this is just a sprinkle".

Victoria is nice. Seeing the gardens there was amazing, wish we had more time there. What I did find different was compared to tours in the Mediterranean and the tours in Alaska. In the Med, organized, escorted off the ship to your tour guides. In Alaska, you get off the ship and find them yourself.

I have always asked for robes before the cruise. Not that I wear them, as they are a little small. But I use the robe tie to tie up the extra hangers in the closet. This way they don't rattle around at night when I am sleeping if the sea is a little rough.

The games are shown. But they are received by satilite. So if the signal is lost, some of the game will be missed.