Oscar13

We just did that tour.  Small buses 12-14 people.  DH loved the food, choice of mild/medium and pass the fire extinguisher.  LOL  Only issue, if you want to call it that, was it was HOT; temp gauge in bus said outside was 45 degrees Celsius.  Now this was early May.  There was the push to buy local products of course but not bad prices.

All in all it was an interesting tour.

K2

Really enjoyed reading your planning and then your reports and pictures once aboard.

Now onto the next adventure.

K2

Stunning pictures.  Thanks for posting them.

karen

Our first Princess cruise we did without a package of any kind.  I created a spreadsheet of spending when we got home.  Doing the Math, looking at what we spent daily and what the Plus Package is, the Package wins.  We didn't drink a lot of alcoholic drinks every day but we did drink a number of Perrier and other cool drinks (Panama Canal cruise, so warm).  That added up over time.  Not sure if the Premium Package is worth it for us, maybe one day we will try it; not interested in the fitness classes or the specialty ice cream (we split one last cruise and it was still too much).  But for now we will sail with the Plus.

Happy cruising

karen and kevin

Take a walk along Creek Street.  Stop and visit Dolly's house.  If you enjoy hiking take the "married man's trail" to the top of the hill.  Wonderful view of the harbor from the top.  

We've been to Alaska several times and always find something new to do.

Happy travels.

K2

We had a friend join us May of last year to do Alaska and she is a BIG fan of Deadiest Catch.  The grin on her face when she got off was priceless.  She had a great time.

K

Wonderful pictures, especially the up close ones of the dolphins.

K2

Still happening for me.  I get to the last page and get the "Sorry try again later" message.  

Yes I am Canadian.

K2

Had a retinal detachment in Dec 2006, a week later it detached in another area of the same eye.  Buckle put in the first time.  Second time they did the gas bubble treatment.  I was not allowed to go higher than sea level for 6 weeks.  Docs told me the chances of it happening in the other eye were good but it has been 17 years, knock on wood.  It is scary but treatable. I was told the risk factors were age, near sightedness and pale blue eyes; all of which describes me.

K

We've done several early May cruises to Alaska.  The weather isn't bad, no need for the parka.  Might be a little rainy but other than that quite nice.  We did one trip on the train in Skagway several years ago and the snow beside the train was as high as the train.

We were on the Coral for Panama and loved the ship.  Lots of space and walking areas.  Going on her sister ship in April/May for Panama this year.

Happy cruising

Karen and Kevin

Might want to add some time to the commute out and back.  There is MAJOR road work being done on the main highway going out towards the Gardens.  This will be ongoing for, we are told, about 2 years.

I get to go thru it everyday to go to work and back. 😞

K

As it is an Alaskan cruise, I would chose Sitka. There are many places to see within walking distance of the port (if you are tendered near town.)

Victoria is a beautiful place but only having just under 5 hours isn't enough to really get to see much.  We had a port day on our Pacific Coastal cruise in Victoria, so we went home and did laundry and checked the mail.  LOL

Happy planning.

Karen

We were on the Crown in May and had a 3rd adult in the suite.  My TA booked her a Plus Package when we booked the cruise.  Easy peasy.

Karen

We'll be on this cruise also.  We live in Victoria so short hop to Vancouver to start and another short hop to come back from Seattle.  We spent 28 days on the Crown in April/May looking forward to seeing if some of the staff are still onboard.

Karen and Kevin

When we were on the Crown in April/May I just asked at Guest Services and I got one.  I'd rather carry the map than my cell.

Karen

Another vote for the CG here.  Haven't had a bad meal there.  Only "complaint" is sometimes there is too much food.  🙂

Karen

On 8/31/2023 at 9:46 AM, voljeep said:

I Love the APP - shows we have the Premier Package !

 

Darn Travel summary and onboard services each show PLUS50

 

 

Same for me.  For our 3 booked (1 that leaves in 3 1/2 weeks)the app says Premier and I know I only paid for Plus.  Asked my TA what is going on thinking she upgraded us but no; she doesn't know why either.

Would be nice if they honored it.

Karen

We did a B2B2B this April into May.  1st cruise and 2nd cruise were as Ruby and we were upgraded for the 3rd cruise to Platinum.  We just had to go to the Loyalty desk and they made the arrangements and then to GS to get the new sticker.  Now to aim for Elite. 🙂

karen

We just made up a sign on our own for our friend's first cruise.

Made it up using a Word program and attached to the door with some interesting magnets.

Had some laughs from fellow cruisers.

Karen

Ours has to be the one we did this earlier year.  It was a B2B2B2B.  These were cruises we had planned but had to cancel due to COVID.  First we spent a couple of days in LA.  Then we went from LA roundtrip to Hawaii, then Pacific Coastal to Vancouver and then Alaska roundtrip.  28 days aboard the Crown Princess.  The last 7 days had a friend who had never cruised before join us, now she is hooked.

It was interesting going from the heat in Hawaii to the coolness in Alaska.  We did excursions in 3 of the Hawaii ports, Alaska we did  it on our own as we have been several times.  Our friend did the Deadliest Catch tour in Ketchikan tho.

DH however has decided that the trip was too long, doesn't want to spend more than 14 days or so again.  There goes my dream of a World Cruise.  😞

K

When we were on the Crown in April/May I was introduced to Moscato by a waitress in the Salty Dog.  I am now addicted.  Vines carries it, but you have to bring the glass back.

K

And she handed me twenty dollars
For a two fifty fare, she said
"Harry, keep the change"

I stuffed the bill in my shirt.

Harry Chapin at his finest.  The extended version is the best.  🙂

Hi Torfamm

Thank you for the info.  I was sort of hoping we had a day or 2 in Anchorage to explore.  If we don't, will just have to come back another time. 🙂  Your pictures are beautiful.  I will look into the tours also.

Karen

On 1/28/2023 at 2:59 PM, Torfamm said:

I did a Princess Lodges rail tour that was completely separate from my cruise and loved it. There was no bus travel nor were there lots of organized group excursions or planned meals. We could pick the excursions we wanted at each lodge or book something on our own. To me it was the best of all worlds - hotels, train tickets and transfers arranged, leave luggage outside your door each departure morning and find it in your room at the next destination but spend each day as you wish. To me, traveling every leg by train was way better than doing half by bus on a land tour.
 

https://www.princesslodges.com/alaska-rail-tours/learn/

 

i chose this unescorted 6 night tour from Fairbanks to Anchorage and would highly recommend it. 

https://www.princesslodges.com/alaska-tours/itinerary-3ts/?from_search_query=dG91clR5cGU9ZXhwbG9yZXImc2VhcmNoT25seT0w#3TS

I'm thinking about doing one of the rail packages.  From what I have read the tour ends up in Anchorage.  How long did you have to stay in Anchorage in order to connect with a Southbound cruise?  Next day or a couple of days?

thanks

Karen

We were just on the Crown and the puppies came on at 5 pm.  Lots of squirming, doggy kisses fun.

K2