RSF Cruiser

Your grandson needs to be at least six months old. We were planning on doing this for our SFO cruise this July, but my grand daughter will be only four and a half months old, so she can't come on board. The Princess agent told me the age requirement is set by Homeland Security. I rather doubt that, but I couldn't get around it and am not willing to risk showing up with her and being turned away...

We had the photo package last year on the Grand, 10 day round trip San Francisco to Alaska, and came back with hundreds of images and print photos. This was before the special offer, and the price then was $200 and worth every penny. While we were at the Margerie Glacier, photographers were every where and we had many wonderful pictures taken with the glacier in the background. I don't remember other times the photographers were wandering about, but I'm sure they were.

We also had the package on a 15 day Panama Canal cruise (paid $200, the $99 offer started the next week), and photographers were about taking candid shots on embarkation day, during the canal passage, and during special events. On this ship (Island), they also did sunset shots on deck each night. We ended up with over 300 images!!!

An advantage of having the package is not only do you get lots of photos, but the photographers get to know you, so when they see you during an event, they capture great candid shots. The photographers also took lots of fun photos when they had the photo stations set up. We have three more cruises planned, and for $99 decided to buy the package. We certainly don't "need" photos of us, but I mainly use the digital files for photo books and keep the print photos in a binder.

We watched this program and now I want to travel to Greenland.

Yes, the trip looked amazing. I love glaciers and icebergs!

I just noticed on my TV listings the Smithsonian station has a one hour program on the Fram. The series is called Mighty Ships and the description says it's about ice-choked fjords of Greenland. We're in Pacific Time and the show is scheduled at 5:00 and 8:00.

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We were in Cartegena Dec 24 - everything was open, the Panama Canal Christmas Day - the only problem was some of the Christmas festivities like Santa interfered with being outside during the canal passage. We chose the canal passage over Santa... It was really festive being on the ship over the holidays. Other than the increased price, I'd always sail over the holidays!!!

It depends on the ship. We always have a table for two, and have had no problem on the Grand, Crown, Coral, Island, or Golden. The tables were too close on the Sapphire. I guess it depends on the class of ship and how the dining rooms are configured.

Question - we are a couple' date=' do both have to buy the package or is it $199 for both of us?[/quote']

The photo package is sold by cabin, so anyone staying in the cabin that bought the package gets any picture anyone of them is in. Meaning, if it's a single cabin, you get all of the pictures for that one person. If there are four people in the cabin, you get all of the photos any one or more of the people from that cabin are in a picture.

We were on the Island this past holiday season and as everyone has said, being on a ship during the holidays is wonderful. For those who celebrate Chanukah, the ship's staff is more than willing to help with passenger led events. We had an announcement placed each day in the patters about our Chanukah celebration, and the ship provided latka's, sour cream, jam, jelly filled donuts, an electric menorah, and song booklets. One night the ship had Chanukah themed goodie bags for everyone. We even asked the video and photography staff to come, and the videographer included Chanukah in the cruise video. Bottom line: if there's something you want, just ask, and they will do the best they can.

Suite passengers do get room service on disembarkation day. I place the items I want on the door hangtag, and sometimes it gets picked up, and sometimes not. Either way, I always call in the morning to confirm the order. Several times the person who answered the room service phone told me there is no room service on disembarkation day, but when I point out I'm in a suite, the order comes. We order a hot breakfast from the suite breakfast menu and are out of our cabin by 8:00.

We were on the Midnatsol for the 12 day coastal voyage in Dec/Jan a few years ago. We were a group of six people in four different cabins. My adult daughter and I each had an inside cabin, and we were very happy with our choice (the others had outside, all on deck 4). I just looked at the deck plan, and believe we werein cabins 457 and 453. The open space on the map between outside cabins 461 and 459 was what we endearingly called our "living room". The "living room" has floor to ceiling windows and a few upholstered chairs. We'd sit in the chairs, read a book, talk, use the internet, or just relax. On other cruise ships I've stayed in all kinds of cabins from outside to suite. This was my first time in an inside cabin and I had no problems (I was concerned about not being able to see outside). I was generally in the cabin only to sleep, and if I did anything in the room, I kept the door open. There was very little traffic in our "living room" area, so it seemed like our own private space. I never felt trapped or closed in, either. The main difference I find is when I'm in an inside cabin, I'm out on deck a lot. When I stay in a suite, I tend to stay in my room more. Especially for Antarctica, you'll save a lot of money being in an inside cabin.

I always rent a car in Juneau from Juneau Car Rental ~$65 for the day. If you dock at AJ, you are a short walk from their lot. Most ships dock closer to town, and that's about a 20-30 minute walk to get there. Their cars are older ones, but in good working condition.

With a car, you have more options and flexibility. Google things to do in Juneau and review these boards - there's plenty of typical and off the beaten track things to do if you have a car: world's smallest Costco, Alaskan Brewery, Treadwell Mine, hatchery, multiple hiking trails, Shrine of St. Therese, Eagle Beach...

You can easily walk to the tram from your ship if you are docked in town, so there's no need for a tour. If you can see the viewing decks when you dock, then the weather is good and you'll have spectacular views from the top. There are some enjoyable, rather short hiking trails up there, too.

My wife and I had a good laugh about that one. We figured that's what you meant but I just couldn't resist commenting on the number. Sorry about that. ;)

No need to apologize - We got a good laugh out of my error too - I do vacation photo books, and my family always has to review my work before I hit the order button - there are always funny "typos".

Now that is a lot of suitcases! :eek:

Oops ... meant 3 or 4 suitcases :-) Guess I didn't proof read what I wrote..

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We come from Oakland and hire Uber. There are two of us, and usually 304 suitcases, and we've always been able to get them in the car (I do worry our luggage won't fit, but so far, that hasn't been a problem).

on Alaskan cruises does the package include new & stock scenic photos of Glacier Bay for example?

I had the package last summer for Alaska (there weren't any sales), and no, stock photos were not included. That said, we were a group of four, only one cabin (two of us) bought the package, and we had 100s of shots - many of us on deck while we were in Glacier Bay.

On our Panama Canal Cruise this past winter, we were a group of six, two cabins bought the package (again, not on sale), and we had over 300 pictures. We were able to get duplicates of some of the shots because we had two packages. We also did not get the stock photos on this cruise, only many images of us!

I create vacation photo books and use the digital images in my books. The paper copies are a bonus, and I "stash" them in a binder. Sometimes I'll frame some of the special ones. I get the package for the digital images.

I need to read the blurb very carefully but they all seem the same. Is there anything you would say I really should be looking for?

My guess is you'll go to Yosemite Valley with views of some of the famous water falls and "big rocks", and possibly photo op at Tunnel View with one of the iconic viewpoints in the park. The Yosemite web site has some good information. https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm

Yosemite is one of my all time favorite national parks. I've been there every season of the year, and they were all magical trips. I've even done DIY day trips from the Bay Area. It's a long day, but the beauty is worth it. In February, there hopefully will be snow - everywhere, and the park will be extraordinarily beautiful. With the drought a year or so ago there was hardly any snow, but hopefully that won't happen again for a long time. Since you are going on a tour, you don't have to worry about driving in the snow - chains are required when there's snow on the ground. I never miss a chance to see this park... do you have specific questions that will help you decide on which tour?

We did a one way rental with Enterprise this past January and it was a terrible experience. We've rented from different Enterprise locations, so the problems we had seem to be the San Pedro franchise. Although there is a specified pickup area for car rentals at the San Pedro port, the driver didn't use it. He first picked up people at the exit, so when he drove past the pickup area, his car was full. That meant those of us waiting at the designated spot had to wait close to an hour to get picked up. We called the Enterprise office, but to no avail. Furthermore, the driver drove a regular car, not a van, so only four or five people could go at a time, and there wasn't enough room for all of the luggage. Once we got to the rental location, they were understaffed, and it took about another 45 minutes to an hour to get a car. The staff working said that they had asked management for increased staffing for when cruise ships are in port, and management hadn't done anything about it. They also told us our experience was typical for when a ship is in port. Bottom line - try a different agency! I hope you have a better experience than we did.

We drove as far as Emerald Lake on our first visit and it took us about 9 hours total including a stop at the cemetery and hiking to Reid Falls. Guess you can tell we did a lot of stopping!

 

I've read about the overlook. Could you give me directions to get there?

You take Dyea Road. According to Murray's guide, Dyea Raod is 2.4 miles from the ferry dock, off the Klondike Highway. We stopped on the way back - Dyea Road is off to the right coming back - before you cross the bridge to town. If I remember correctly, there was a small sign that said Dyea. The overlook is 1.4 miles down Dyea Road on the left hand side. There's a pull out and it's easy to see.

My Murray's Guide is a few years old, but the directions to Dyea Road are on the last two pages of the pdf file.

We use Murray's Guide, make multiple stops, a few short hikes, and take our time. The entire trip to emerald Lake and back for us is 6-7 hours. We spend time wandering in Carcross, hike to the top of the dunes at the desert, take the short path across the highway from Emerald Lake, and things like that. Most people do it in about 5 hours. Then, when we get back to Skagway, there's still time to go to the overlook on the way to Dyea, wander about the cemetery, walk up to the falls, and even wander around town. In other words, there's plenty of time to get to Emerald Lake and back.

If you drive, be sure to take Murray's Guide with you - search Murray's guide Skagway, and you'll see his link. This guide has everything you'll need, including where there are bathrooms! As others have said, it's really a personal choice. I prefer to be on my own and make my own schedule, so we always rent a car in Skagway and drive to Emerald Lake.

RSF Cruiser

 

We are considering the snorkeling excursion, but are concerned about water temperature in May. What time of the year did you do this? 60 degree water in August with a wet suit is fine, but I'm not sure about May when temps may be 40s- low 50s.

I was there the beginning of August. I don't remember the water or air temperatures, although it was raining a bit and the sky was grey, so it must have been cool. What I do remember is how hot I was once I had the wet suit on and before I got in the water. The only part of me exposed was a small portion of my face. I couldn't wait to get in the water to cool off! The wet suit is thick enough I don't think the May temperatures will be a problem.

Have you considered snorkeling? The kids might really enjoy that. As excursions go, it's not that expensive, and snorkeling in Alaska is totally different from warm water places. The kelp forest is interesting and you see plenty of different colorful star fish. The guides are great. You wear a 7mm wet suit with hood, booties, and gloves, so you are warm in the water. I think you can book independently, although we did it through the ship.

Deck 8 on the Island also has an aft viewing deck. When we did a full transit in late December, there was a sign in the photography department with specific estimated times for entering the canal and the various locks. We ran an hour or two late, though.

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I have rented from Juneau car rental many times and have never had a problem. They are really nice people too who are very helpful.

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