RSF Cruiser

We always fly in and out of Oakland - a much easier airport to navigate and fewer delayed/cancelled planes. We take Uber/Lyft and give ourselves an hour for traveling. Our flights are generally between 1:00 and 2:00, and we sometimes get there before we can even check our bags (four hours)!!! Traffic varies, but there's always a delay somewhere...

Depending on our pre-cruise plans, we often take an evening flight to Oakland the night before the cruise, stay in one of the Oakland airport hotels, and then take Uber/Lyft to the port in the morning. Again, it seems to take about one hour. The biggest traffic jam the last time was waiting in line to get into the port area. We arrived around 1:00 like I guess most other people did!!!

On 8/28/2019 at 1:47 PM, jlatels said:

A quick google search told me that Hubbard Glacier is one of the best ones to see from a cruise ship.  I'm wondering if there are any differences between the cruise lines with respect to how they view it.  That is, which cruise would have the best Hubbard experience.  Or are they all pretty much the same?  Any ideas?

I've been to many glaciers on cruises, and they all are spectacular in their own way. Look at these boards and you will see some people have strong feelings about which one is "best". Many say Glacier Bay is a must/the best. Although I love the sailing up to the Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay, and the spires on the glacier are beautiful, other glaciers are also spectacular, but in different ways. I love the huge icebergs in Tracy Arm. College Fjord has so many glaciers to see. And Hubbard Glacier is massive! I do think if you pick a cruise for Hubbard Glacier, be sure they offer the small boat experience like the pictures above. I've done small boats to Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm, and now Hubbard Glacier, and prefer the small boat experience to the cruise ship - I like being closer to the water and looking up to the glacier. If you stay on the ship, the experience will be probably be the same no matter what cruise line you are on.

This is the boat we were on... yes, we got within a half mile of the glacier - this shot is from before we got on the boat.

I've done the drive alone in a rental car and had no issues with the road. Using Murray's guide is wonderful and I would not hesitate doing the trip. The views are spectacular and since you are doing the driving, you can determine where you stop and for how long...

I LOVED the snorkeling excursion. The wet suits they provided kept me almost too warm! There are lots of pictures online of snorkeling in Ketchikan - I thought it was fascinating and totally different from warm water ports. Lots of star fish and kelp.

For the Hawaii ports get the Revealed books (Oahu Revealed, Maui Revealed etc.). Libraries generally have them, and there are many used ones available online. We go to Hawaii often, and always bring our Revealed books - lots of editorialized reviews on everything!

1 hour ago, tnelias said:

On the Celebrity Eclipse at the moment. Hubbard Glacier yesterday. Ship got within half a mile of glacier but seemed even closer. Amazing. Saw the small boat the whole time. Seemed to get closer than we did - maybe 1/3 of a mile? But can’t imagine it was $279 pp better than our view. We saw amazing calving from the ship. I had been signed up for the smaller boat but then backed out when read some of these reviews. I am glad I did but of course those that went on it may have other thoughts. Did not see any wildlife. 

We were on the Hubbard Glacier small boat excursion a few weeks ago. We were told the Coast Guard allows boats/ships to get up to a half mile from the face of the glacier. so the small boat and ship generally get to the same distance from the glacier's face. The advantage of the small boat is you are closer to the water, so it's a different glacier view from a large ship; there are fewer people with more space for viewing/pictures; and you encircle Haenke Island where the wiwiwakes (white birds) live. We literally saw thousands of birds. Although the small boat excursion is expensive, we thought it was worth every penny. We've been to numerous calving glaciers over the years, and find the experience in a small boat superior to a ship. That said, I think it's a personal decision as to whether paying for the small boat is "worth it". The experience on a ship is different, although it is still spectacular!

If you place your bags on the scanner, you have to take them to your cabin. The only way not to take them to your cabin is to give the bags to a porter when you are dropped off.

If you want to carry all of your bags on, you certainly can (we do it all of the time in San Francisco). Cruise ship staff will repeatedly tell you they will not help - you have to be able to manage the bags yourself, including lifting them up onto the scanner. We cruised from San Francisco a few weeks ago, and a porter told me we were not permitted to carry our bags on (we had two 24 inch and one 21 inch bags). I knew he was wrong and was trying to intimidate me to give him the bags. The only limit to carrying bags on is you need to be able to handle them yourself. We like having all of our things with us when we get to our room.

I've cancelled and rebooked when the lower fare is for new reservations only or I booked the cabin I wanted but didn't have a future cruise credit, so had to rebook once I got the future cruise credit. I've been told there is a slight risk when you cancel and then rebook, someone might grab "my" cabin in those few seconds/minutes between the cancellation and rebooking. Although that is a risk, it has never happened to me. When I simply refare because of a lower price or better incentives, there's never been a risk with losing the cabin.

I agree. We once went to Crown Grill on a formal night, and we were sorry we missed a great dinner in the MDR. The food in the MDR seems to be a bit better on formal nights. Now we go to the specialty restaurants on a regular night when we don't care if we miss a MDR menu.

I love being on board for the holidays, especially New Years. The ship is festive and hopping. We did the OP's itinerary last year and loved the cruise so much we are doing it again!!!

Buy or check out from your library Maui Revealed. There are "Revealed" books for each of the islands, and although we've been to Hawaii many times, mainly on land tours, we always take our Revealed books with us. Not only do the authors give opinionated reviews of sights, restaurants, activities, tours/excursions, and hotels, they explain why they like or dislike something, so you can evaluate if you might agree with them or not.

Like everything, it depends on your priority/what's important to you. We always book an aft Vista suite. We used to book the one on the Emerald deck since I like to be as close to the water as possible and near the promenade deck. Then we saw the larger balconies on the Dolphin deck, and started booking those (my favorite Vista suite). Although the balcony on Dolphin is great, the sitting room is slightly smaller, so there is no second desk or end table next to the sofa in the sitting room (my husband doesn't like the interior of the Dolphin deck Vista suites). Now we book the Vista aft suites on the Caribe deck - the balcony is the worst of the three levels, but the sitting room is a bit larger and has a desk and end table next to the sofa (my husband's favorite). So, my husband would say the Caribe deck is the best, and I would say the Dolphin deck - you just can't please all of the people all of the time!!! We generally stay on the even number side, since sometimes there is a smoking section on the promenade deck on the odd number side and if you are sensitive to smoke, you may notice the smell (I don't and my husband does...). We could satisfy both my husband (larger sitting room) and me (larger balcony) by booking an aft premium suite, but I don't want to spend the extra money!!! There always seem to be trade-offs...

We just got off the Grand and did not buy the package. I paid $25 for an 8*10 and $15 for each of the two 6*8s. I brought a ship thumb drive from a previous cruise,  and they willingly gave me the digital images. In other words, when you buy a print, there is no extra charge for the digital image. If you don’t have a ship thumb drive, they will be happy to sell you one. I do not know for sure, but I think to get the digital file, you have to have a Princess ship thumb drive, although, the thumb drive can be from a previous cruise.  

3 hours ago, Kingofcool1947 said:

What about Jewish PAXs?   Anything special for them on these Holiday cruises?

We were on a holiday cruise a few years ago (Island Panama Canal) that was over both Christmas and Chanukah. The staff was very accommodating - we had the chapel every night for a short passenger led Chanukah service with an electric menorrah, latkes, and all the trimmings. The staff really doesn't know much about Chanukah traditions (e.g they brought us a challah), but they are more than willing to get you what you ask for. We requested jelly donuts, and the next night we had them. They even created little Chanukah bags for us with different Chanukah themed decorations and stuff. The photography staff went out of their way to create Chanukah themed backgrounds for the photos. This past year we did a holiday cruise to Hawaii and Chanukah was over by the time we got on the ship, so there wasn't any type of Chanukah celebration.

Buy or see if your library has Maui Revealed. It's an outstanding guide book and you can read various options/car trips and decide what you like to do. The authors explain why they like or don't like a particular entry. The Revealed books are available for each island. We go to Hawaii often, and always take our Revealed books with us!

I highly recommend El Jardin (The Garden) in Liberty Station. As the name implies, the vegetables come from the restaurant's own garden to the side of the building! The owner/chef is an award winning chef and the food is upscale with a Mexican twist. The selections are in no way traditional Mexican options. We just ate there the other night and had three delightful, creative dishes. Some kind of shrimp dish served on a beef bone - you eat the dish by scooping out a bit of marrow with the shrimp and spread the mixture on yummy toasted bread. Then we had a selection of four stuffed peppers that were stuffed with either a crab or cheese mixture. Absolutely delicious. Our third course was a 2.5 pound roasted sea bass that was incredible. I've also had their guacamole, and it was the best guacamole I've ever had! There is no view, although they do have inside and outside seating.

Liberty Station is a re-purposed military base and has a large people's market patterned after the public market in Seattle, lots of restaurants, some interesting museums (comic book, women's, and I can't remember the others), and just an all around fun place to visit. Liberty Station is adjacent to the San Diego Airport, so the planes taking off fly directly overhead. It's noisy when a plane takes off, but you get to see the belly of the plane up close and personal!

The Island is our favorite ship - the staff is great and I love the size. The aft suites are the best we've stayed in - with the remodel they updated the furnishings and the bathroom has two sinks.

The cost is $199 precruise and $249 on the ship. My e experience  is they will credit you if you cancel the first day. 

You get the hard copy and a small digital file for the photos taken by the ship’s photographers. I make photo journals and the files are fine for that. They are generally in the kb size, rarely mb. That said, it’s fun getting the all inclusive photo program. The photographers het to know you, and often do fun shots. 

We've sailed out of all three, and as you are learning, each has advantages/disadvantages. For San Francisco, there's nothing more exciting than cruising under the Golden Gate Bridge! We even wake up before dawn to watch the ship go under The Bridge when returning to San Francisco. You do have more time at sea and in the open ocean from San Francisco.

Seattle has less time in the open ocean than San Francisco, but there's no incredible bridge to sail under 😞

Vancouver has the Lion's Gate Bridge. Not as iconic as the Golden Gate, but fun to sail under none the less! In Vancouver you have the least days in the open ocean.

The first time we went to Alaska, we flew into Victoria, stayed a few days, took the ferry to Vancouver, sailed out of Vancouver to Seward, stayed over night in Anchorage, took the train to Denali, then up to Fairbanks, and then home. The trip took two weeks and was incredible.  We were hooked and have been back many times - land only, cruise only, and combo. We've sailed to Alaska from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver. We've loved every one of the trips for different reasons. I don't think there is a wrong way to visit Alaska! Bottom line is you really can't go wrong. That said, I remember the first time we went I was overwhelmed with all of the options. I finally made a spreadsheet with the ports for the various cruises and times in port to help figure out my priorities.

I just reread your question; if you are talking only about embarkation, hands down, San Francisco is my favorite. I LOVE sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge...

3 hours ago, Nattyg1723 said:

Hi, all

 

First time Princess cruiser here (but have cruised HAL prior). I am considering taking the Ruby Princess in 2020 for a trip and am undecided between Vista Suites D736 or C750; it appears that the D736 suite has a larger balcony on the deck plan with less neighbors.

 

Any information from others who have stayed in these suites is much appreciated. 

The balcony is better on D736- larger, and the beam isn't in the way. That said, our first choice is C750 😕 The balcony isn't as nice or large, but it still has a wake view. The beam is more in the middle and gets in the way more. But, the sitting room is larger and has a desk. In D736, the sitting room is slightly smaller and has no desk. We've never had any hallway noise in either suite.

Both suites are nice; it just depends on what's more important to you. My husband spends a lots of time in the suite, so he prefers the second desk in the sitting room. Although I prefer the larger balcony, I'm not out there that much, so if C750 is available, we take it. We do not like the cabins on the other side since sometimes cigarette smoke wafts up since smokers can smoke in the back section of the promenade deck.

I really enjoyed exploring the cemetery on the outskirts of town. The tombstones are interesting (Alaskan spirit houses and other interesting things) and there is a memorial to the people who have not made it back from climbing Denali. We probably spent about an hour there.

We were on a similar cruise, and the day before we were to arrive in Ensenada, the captain announced we would arrive during the day - I think it was just after lunch. I don't know how often that happens, but with the change in arrival time, they added some tours. The winery tour is actually quite nice - it's a pleasant ride through the country side, and most of the time is taken up touring the facilities with an explanation of how they make the wines. The wine tasting wasn't that long, and also included bread, olives, and olive oil.

We had an aft suite on the Aloha deck next to the youth center. There was absolutely no noise from the kids. The doors are not in the back hallway, so there wasn’t any traffic from the kids, either. We went over the holidays, so the kid center was busy.