jsn55

Seems like a good idea. There will be 4 or 5 big ships in Juneau when I'm there in August. I'll take a ship's shore ex, but probably not even go looking around the town. Therefore, I will not be spending any money to support Juneau's small businesses. I'm not cruising Alaska to stand in endless lines and walk through crowds everywhere.

It's a shame you're dropping this clever idea. Why not limit the 'huggers' to maybe 5 on different days? Don't let the sourpusses sway you from delighting your son.

While the medallion system can be a horror, I had no trouble onboard getting things delivered to my cabin. It was great fun to order champagne and chocolate cake!

If the above advice doesn't calm her, find a hotel near the parking area and make a stop there first. Knowing positively that she won't have an issue, nor will she have to wait, might make her just that more comfortable.

Victoria is a lovely walking town. About half an hour from port to the Empress which is kinda the area's highlight. Pedi-cabs available on either end if walk is too much.

Other than outerwear, I wouldn't wear anything more than twice without washing it. Checking a bag for a cruise is so simple ... you arrive at the port, someone takes your bag away and it appears in your cabin. With the incredibly variable Alaska weather, I'd definitely check a bag.

My standard 'formal uniform' is a nice scarf and pretty earrings with a black silk tunic top & pants. Men don't need to pack anything more than a collared shirt and a belt. But people who do enjoy dressing up are always welcome, so us peasants can admire them.

weather dot com is your friend.

I've taken several Avalon cruises and don't even look at other companies. Friends who know me well are taking their ninth Avalon cruise later this month; they knew I'd love Avalon. Avalon just has a way about them that makes me feel that I can ask for anything at all and they'll gladly deliver it. But I rarely have to ask; it's all just there. I'm picky, very picky ... I hate tacky stuff, scrounging, things not done as well as they could be. I just finished Avalon's Grand France and for two weeks the only negative I came up with was that they had the same kind of (delicious) cookies out in the coffee lounge every day. Double chocolate, what's not to love? That lounge has a cold water dispenser; six flavors, sparkling or still. Huge coffee machine that will make you anything your heart desires ... and I like my coffee just so. The reading lights on each side of the bed are a perfect example. Attached to the wall, they rotate 360 degrees so you can focus light right on your book. The shower is huge for a river ship, with plenty of hot water. Cabins have tons of storage space. Avalon just doesn't miss a beat. I do agree with several others, a spreadsheet with elements that are important to you is a real help.

I don't think the people who run parking lots or garages care much about individual customers. I cruise out of San Francisco occasionally, and I just book an airport hotel that includes parking for the night before. Just take a cab up to the port. The last thing I want is to have issues with parking my truck in SF, I'd much rather have a nice late breakfast at the hotel before boarding.

Oh, I can't wait to read this! The concept of living on a cruiseship is insane, but it's always really interested me. Thanks for posting this.

Alaska in June several years ago, it was HOT. We had to buy t-shirts. Bring layers, always a good packing scheme for any trip anyway.

Lots of good advice. Don't think travellers can imagine how awful it is to have a serious emergency connected with a trip. Once you're 'been there', you understand! The top Chase Sapphire card might be tough to get, but it offers benefits that far outweigh the eye-watering annual fee.

I've lived in California too long! I don't recall ever seeing a pair of waterproof pants. Where would I go to find some online?

It really doesn't matter what the 'rules' are. Carry the contact phone and/or email when you travel, and notify your insurance company ASAP if you have a medical issue. If you're travelling alone, put a note in your wallet in case you arrive at the ER unconscious.

This is a good reminder to us all to check our insurance coverages. Does your auto insurance cover you in a rental car? Does your health insurance kick in overseas? What will your credit-card insurance cover in the way of unexpected expenses? It's a good idea to at least have a clue before you start your journey. I think I'll make up a little summary to keep on my laptop just in case.

'big travel websites' are not travel agents (or advisers as they wish to be known as now), most travel websites are just online booking services. You tell them what you want, they book it, they make money. If trouble arises you're on your own. There's big money in these websites. Cruisers need to find a real travel advisor, one who is a cruise expert.

I agree that some cruiseline websites are too glitchy for words. Good IT people are incredibly expensive. I think it's a double-edged issue ... 1) they don't want to spend the money for a really good IT experience because most of the people using the website probably cause the problems themselves. And 2) cruiselines probably want you to use a travel agent (a real one, not some online booking service) to add some space between the cruiseline and the pax; then they can blame the middle-man for pax errors. I know that information I can barely wade through is a snap for my cruise-expert TA ... and she does most of the work on the phone.

Well, this is going to ruffle some feathers! As a smoker, I don't smoke inside anywhere. I just don't like to annoy others, kind of a personal issue I guess. Unless cruise ships provide adequate ventilation in an indoor smoking location, I'll be happy to smoke outside. What I'd like to see addressed on cruise ships is quieting down the constant loud talking ... on and on the yappers go. And the loudest talkers are also the ones who have little to say, they just like to hear the sound of their own voices I suppose. But the rest of us would rather not hear every inane word they utter.

If she does decide on a backpack only, Rick Steves' sold me one about 15 years ago that still looks like new, even after about 45 trips. It's unstructured with 3 main compartments ... almost weightless.

An updated thread is always a good idea with subjects like 'yay or nay' on a travel agent. Not sure why anyone would object to it, especially since it does refer to old thread(s) so peeps can dig back in if they wish.

I know that asking for help to stow your rollaboard is a topic fraught with danger, but I'll just put in my 2 cents here. My shoulders have been 'troubled' for years. Just putting my hands over my head can be painful. I travel too much to not use a rollaboard ... those long airport walks! NOT ONCE in 20 years has anyone not either come forward immediately or failed to say yes when I ask for assistance hoisting my rollaboard into the overhead. On a flight from Houston a few months ago, the PILOT came along and stowed it for me. I think that ladies over 70 (even tho I'm 6' tall and not 'feeble') deserve some assistance and I've never had anyone who wasn't happy to help. I have a travel cube with all the stuff I might need on the flight which I stow under the seat in front of me. Getting the thing down isn't too difficult, and I'm often asked if I want help with that as well. When my joints started to go, it took me about 6 years to learn to say "Why yes, I'd love some help". People are happy to help; I never hesitate to help someone at the airport if I can physically do so. Profuse thanks are always appreciated.

I'm very happy with my cruise-expert TA. She is more meticulous than I am, and together we come up with the best booking. I do all the initial research, so I know what I want. She's instantly responsive and she pays close attention to every detail. She never hesitates to make suggestions or offer her expert opinion. It's her close attention to detail that I admire ... I never have to worry about anything, because she's on it before I am. I just finished a Grand France cruise with Avalon from Provence to Normandy with serious water-level issues ... it was better than I could have imagined.

Well of course Iphones are far superior to any ol' Android machine.

So true! I just bought an 6euro metal tray in Paris, it will make me happy to look at it for the rest of my life. But I will spend money for jewelry while travelling ... not thousands but occasionally several hundred. Every time I wear my little bauble I remember everything about the purchase.