Charleen2

I love such concise responses. It answers my question, thank you so much!

My question is - Is there a charge for partaking the contents of the cabin mini bar or is it's use charged to your account by the piece? I booked a balcony cabin on the Island Princess.

I have searched the CC posts and could find only one old thread that offered any discussion on the cabin mini bar. Given how old it was and how Princess frequently will change what is included in your fare vs. needing to buy an additional package of some type, I hoped some recent cruisers could answer my question.

Thanks! :wine-glass:

Sorry if you can't see the photographs, I guess the photos won't link individually from my Google Photos so here is the album link (Public Shared) since I can't edit my post above: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPiU9EntHQGiCQD6AbMNUIDcqpE9dma3PBZotUVZeSr4hW2DCJAftW8AUm3-jFARw?key=a3U5cGprWUd2Q1JWdGlEZkFyLTQxWHprOHE4bDFn

Very nice! Thank you for sharing!

The row by row patterns are free from June 21st until Sept 5th at all of the shops that are participating. You can come back a second time and pick up another free pattern.

Why?

1) I mail them to my out of state friends and they, in turn, mail me ones they have spares of from their state.

2) Maybe there will be quilters on your cruise and you can exchange the 'spare' patterns from your state for one from their state.

I think the best way to find your fellow cruising quilters would be to give a shout out in your ship's roll call thread and see who is interested in swapping patterns. Just a thought.

There is a shop in Denali that carrries fabric right across the road from McKinley chalet resort. Not sure of the hours of all the shops in port. I was able to get to 5 shops. Went to Whales Tale in Ketchikan, Changing Tides in Juneau, Rushin Tailors in Skagway,I think it was called Northen Heart Origial in Denali, and Quilted Raven in Anchorage. I got many new projects to do.

Thanks for letting us know about the shop up by Denali. Google is our friend, we will find it. :D

http://www.rowbyrowexperience.com

The URL above has photos of the shops and the shops have info about their location, if they are within walking distance to the dock or if there is a shuttle available. The Row By Row with the free patterns will run until Sept 5th. It's a great way to pick up something to remember your AK trip and the patterns are free (Kits do cost).

When are my fellow Alaska quilters going? We can look out for eacither. I am on the Coral, leaving Whittier 7/15. I set up my own pre cruise tour for eight days.

I am on the Island Princess starting 9/6 leaving Whittier, but I am also doing a pre-cruise tour to Denali for 4 days. I land in Anchorage on 9/2 to begin my adventures.

Fellow Quilters, beware: the last time I was in Alaska I bought so much fabric that I had to buy a rolling duffle bag to carry on the plane, in order to get it all home. It was just so hard to say no to the beautiful batiks...

You've been warned...

 

Liz

I know what you mean. Its a feast for the eyes when I find fabric and such that can only be found where I am at the moment. A Hawaii visit forced me to buy a rolling duffel bag to get it all back home. :p I am hoping to find some Northwest unique designs that remind me of totem pole characters. They could end up in a quilt or as a table runner. :D

Yea!! Another quilter cruising! I want to be through in my quest for unique quilting fabric and had just started my search - please help me out also by posting info. Sadly, there are no quilt shops up at Denali. I am going there too and found there are not even towns nearby much less within walking distance.

Anchorage - seems to have 4 quilt shops. The Quilted Raven - http://www.quiltedravenalaska.com/. The Quilt Tree - http://www.quiltree.com/ - 341 E Benson Blvd #5, Anchorage, AK 99503. Seams Like Home Quilt Shoppe - http://www.akseams.com/ - 2153 E 88th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99507. The Quilt Zone - http://alaskaquiltzone.com/ 510 W Tudor Rd, Anchorage, AK 99503.

Skagway -Changing Threads - 7th Ave, across from Walsh Park Skagway, AK http://Business websitechangingthreads.com They don't seem to have a web site but my search came up with the above info. Anyone know about this place or been here?? Lots of info on the Rushin Tailor Quilt Alaska store! http://www.rushintailor.com/index.php?page=visitus Unique Alaskan fabrics and kits. Their site map states they are within walking distance of the port. I am confused about their hours - they say they are closed on Sunday and Monday but also say they are open whenever ships are in port. I hope they are open when I arrive on a Sunday along with 5 other ships due that day!!

Juneau - Changing Tides - http://www.alaskastitching.com/ 175 S. Franklin ~ Suite 203 Juneau, Alaska. Again not much info as to their hours or how close they are to the port. Rain Tree Quilting Airport Shopping Center 9131 Glacier Highway #7 Juneau, Alaska 99801. I have no info on this one yet, so how about someone who can fill in the details? TIA!!

Ketchikan - Whale's Tail Quilt shop - http://www.dragonflyquilts.com/weblog/?p=2324 5 Salmon Lndg, Ste 204. Can't find a web site for this store but this blogger has photos of the shop and says it an easy walk from the port.

One thing that kind of struck me is most of the shops are closed on Sunday and Monday. I don't know if they are REALLY closed on those days when ships are in port. Unfortunately for me two of the four port days are a Sunday and a Monday.

Looking forward to hearing about the shops I missed, please help a girl out.

The shuttle bus is much cheaper. It doesn't come with the snack box.

The Princess Tours do not let you off the bus. Princess just refunded me $99 for dropping the 'included' Natural History Tour (i.e. 17 mile park tour). The reviews I've read said it was not worth it. 5 hours stuck on a bus and you do not get to see much. Ugh! After reading on this thread what is in the snack boxes, I'll pass. (Plus the park shuttle buses are free to ride for the first 17 miles of park road!) The Princess Lodge has free shuttle buses from the Lodge to the ranger station located .8 miles inside the park entrance. The Lodge shuttle buses are also free.

The Denali NP Shuttles to Eielsen Visitors Center (at mile marker 63) cost $43 dollars for an all day ride ticket. You can even reserve your Denali bus ticket on line right now if you wish. URL -> http://www.reservedenali.com/

You can get off the Park shuttle bus at any point and walk awhile to see sights, take pictures and stretch your legs. When the next shuttle comes along (approx 30 mins between shuttles) you just hail it and get back on.

Polychrome Pass at milemarker 53 is a must see location. On a clear day you have an endless visa view of Denali. Here is the URL for Denali National Park, you will find a lot of information about what is available and where to find the Park's highlights. https://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm

I will be there in early September and want to see the park beyond the developed entrance area so I have been seriously studying up on this. :cool:

Princess and NCL both have supplements for solo cruisers. I booked one via Princess through an online travel agency. Yes, I still am not happy paying 150% for a cabin, but I do understand the cruise lines make money by having a full ship.

With that said, you need to look hard to find them as there are only a few available on each cruise. I have a balcony suite, so not all of the solo offerings are for interior cabins only. If your dates are flexible, check different sail dates for the place you wish to see.

Good luck! :D