Katems75

Booking a back to back is an interesting idea...how does one actually DO this? Is there a way to link the cruises? If I booked a six day back to back, should I anticipate the six day to be a younger, rowdier crowd? I've heard the shorter the cruise the more crazy it can be guest wise. How does one book refundable group rates? Do you need eight cabins?

I'm looking at the nine night Eastern Caribbean/Perfect Day for August 9 on Symphony, along with a LOT of seven night Bahamas/Perfect Day cruises on the same ship in June, July, and August. It's almost $1000 more for the nine night cruise vs. the seven night cruise. That just seems really odd to me, that the additional two days would be so pricey. Is it Eastern Caribbean vs. Bahamas? I don't care about the ports, I'm a cruise day girl, not a port girl, so that doesn't matter to me. I don't know why this nine night cruise got stuck there amidst all the seven night ones throughout the summer. It seems really strange that they interrupted their regularly scheduled seven night Bahamas/Perfect Day cruises for this random nine nighter to the Eastern Caribbean... Any insight on any of this? Any thought that maaaaaybe the price would come down? I've been watching it for months and it hasn't gone UP, so that's something! If we have six or seven rooms is there a better way of booking for a discount? Thanks!

If the above doesn't work, go to 'Need Help Using the 'Forums' and scroll down to my own 'How do I stop receiving emails from this site?' post from September 14. It's currently the last one on the first page.

I believe a few people on here are travel agents...how would I get contact info? I believe the people on this board know RC well and know the ins and outs but I don't know for certain who they are or how to contact them in that capacity. If this isn't allowed, where else would you suggest I find a travel agent who knows RC as well as the people here? Also, is it really totally free? I'm really not sure how travel agents work I'm afraid! Thank you.

Thank you all so much! All your advice worked! Now I can concentrate better on work and come here afterward!

I enjoy browsing here and asking questions and such, but somehow I seem to be on a list where I receive constant email notifications of posts here that I may have commented on or liked or showed an interest in and my phone is going off constantly. I don't see a way to unsubscribe from emails and when I click manage notifications or mange followed content it just takes me to the Cruise Critic site. Please help my phone to stop buzzing!!

We were told to lean back so our heads wouldn't hit. I was worried the whole time my head was going to hit. Do most people ride down sitting up 90 degrees?? I hated sliding in a halfway laying down position. Only did it once, was not impressed, too much to worry about with the head, arms, and legs!

How could the family of ten board the ship from a later port when just a few posts before this one it was mentioned that you can't board any later than ninety minutes before departure?? This family of ten would definitely be boarding way later than ninety minutes before departure and the manifest would be closed, right?

I didn't think the life vests were in the cabins...I thought they were at the muster stations?? Yikes, I've only done two cruises but I guess I am one they didn't get through to! One was pre covid and one post.

Looking for a longer cruise than seven or eight days, but finding not very many leaving from the USA next summer on Oasis class! So what exactly is a back to back cruise? Would it be the exact same cruise two weeks in a row? Is there any discount for booking that? Is there a special WAY to book it? Also, what is a repositioning cruise? Thank you!

Doesn't everyone need a credit card on file while they cruise? Therefore if one incurred any medical bills the card on file would cover them and you'd get off the ship just fine. Not understanding the posts that say if you owed anything they wouldn't let you off the ship...seems to me your card would be charged and you'd be free to leave without even doing anything.

Thank you again, for everyone's replies. My takeaways are: Alaska is beautiful. Alaska is very expensive. No one regrets doing an Alaskan cruise, and MOST would do them/have done them again and again, but not all. Excursions are a must and excursions are expensive. A land trip is probably better for truly seeing Alaska, especially if you view 'cruises' as warm, tropical floating resorts and not just a vehicle of transport. Princess is best for Alaska. Small ships are best for Alaska so they can use better, closer ports. The weather is indeed often chilly and surprisingly rainy from what I have gathered. And mist can obscure your views. Ice floes can prevent you from seeing the icebergs you've come to see (which is another reason perhaps a CRUISE to Alaska is not the best option). Thank you for giving me so much to think about. While I think hiking a glacier and sled dogging would be fun, in general I do not think an Alaskan cruise is for me. However, I am now better able to advise my family as they plan their trip and I hope they have the best time ever. I will enjoy looking at their pictures.

Oh this is interesting...I learned about duck hide and seek on my second cruise back in May. It was on RC and we found at least 14 ducks. It was super fun and I'm a little disappointed to hear so few are found on Princess ships. (I am here as my family is considering an Alaskan cruise and I was advised Princess is best for that). On RC the ducks we found all said to NOT hide in pool areas (no pools, no casino, no bars, no shops). Love the duck Christmas tree!!! My mom had so much fun with this phenomenon that this weekend I will be hiding ducks in her plants on her front steps. When she goes to water them and finds them I just know it will make her day. 🙂

I appreciate everyone's responses and gorgeous photos! I'm very much on the fence. The cold, or even just 'not hot' weather is truly a turn off. I've lived in upstate NY my whole life so I am no stranger to cold and so for me 'vacation' is somewhere decidedly NOT COLD!! I don't ski, either. Thank you to the person who said to book a smaller ship that can get in to more ports. I'm concerned that excursions are so necessary and so expensive! Eeek, lots to think about!

My extended family wants to take an Alaskan cruise, which has never appealed to me. I understand it's beautiful and all, but the thought of taking a coat and hat and mittens on a CRUISE is depressing to me. So what are Alaskan cruises REALLY like? How is the weather and what would be the warmest time of year? Are you still in coats during the warmest time? Which ships are best for cold weather? Are people standing around on their balconies shivering? If you don't book excursions, can you still see the beauty of Alaska, or are excursions necessary? Most importantly...would there be ducks hidden on the ship??? 😉