sept10dsm

I have a whale tail pendant that I bought on my first trip to Alaska in 2001 and I wear it nearly all the time. I recently got my ears pierced for the first time (looong story) and now I'd like to buy some whale tail earrings also. Can anyone recommend a locally owned jewelry store in Ketchikan, Juneau, or Skagway? I don't want cheap junk from a souvenir store. I have sensitivities to metals so I need 14 k gold. I also won't set foot in Diamonds International or that ilk. Any suggestions?

While is Skagway we were told of a local store. It was open all year. I am sorry but I cannot recall the name of it but it was down the main street, Broadway, on on the right from what I recall. If I were buying, I probably would have paid more attention.

If it's any consolation, you may have had a better time sailing out of Whittier your first night. I took the Major Marine Kenai Fjords tour on June 17 out of Seward. I guess on both the 16th and on my day they shortened it to just a Resurrection Bay tour due to the storm you sailed into. I was fine as long as we were in the Bay, but when we crossed over the Gulf of Alaska to get to the other side of the Bay, I got pretty seasick! Boy, were the seas rough! I would do it again though, just because of the wildlife we saw.

On our second cruise to Alaska, we sailed into a storm on our second day. 25 foot waves all day. Half of the crew got sick. They said it was the worst they had seen in several years. Once we got through the Straights of San Juan de Fuca things calmed down. I have decided that I prefer the one way cruises much better! Not as much time in the open seas!

We did a Major Marine cruise on our turnaround day in Whittier and it was wonderful!

I have to say the 3rd/4th fares that I have seen are not very favorable.:(

I know. Almost worth another cabin to be booked for the extra room/bathroom. Of course, not in the case of the OP but in general for adults or older children.

Seward & Whittier almost have the same weather most of the time. Seward is closer to the Gulf of Alaska. I've seen cruise ships stuck in Seward for 3 days while they wait out the weather.

and it is all the luck of the draw. We had a wonderful sunny day last summer in Whittier! We did a 14 day b2b out of Vancouver. So just never know. All the days were sunny except a slight drizzle the second time in Juneau and then it was sunny. The first cruise we departed Seward back a few years ago on another sunny day. So Alaska is a rainy place along the cost. We were told by our Captain how lucky we were for such a sunny time-both cruises!

I think it will be too cool for sandals and swimwear to wear for a long period of time. If you want to jump in the pool..you will want it to be an in and out thing. Remember when the ship is at sea....it will be even cooler. You probably won't want iced tea but hot chocolate instead!

Yes, very true, even when the weather is sunny! Alaska is a different type cruise than most other warm climate places. Ports can be warm as we were able to wear shorts on most days. But on board cooler especially when crossing the Gulf of Alaska.

Yes, as long as your name is on the account owning 100 shares of Carnival Corp. It can be any type account including an IRA

That's good to know thank you! I wondered as well once the question was asked.

So here's the deal.

 

I recently booked an obstructed oceanview cabin on deck 8 of the Golden Princess (category OW). Princess was nice enough to offer to offer me a complimentary upgrade to an unobstructed oceanview cabin on deck 5 (category OC).

 

Then, I looked at availability for this cruise...

 

My new category, OC is almost fully booked. While the old category, OW, is nearly wide open.

 

So I started wondering if the reasons behind the upgrade were entirely altruistic?

 

For example, there would be little reason to lower the price on non-obstructed oceanview cabins since they're nearly full. So it would seem less likely that I would be able to take advantage of a future price drop, as they won't need to do so since they're near capacity.

 

But there are a ton of obstructed rooms left and if I'm a betting man, my guess is that they will reduce prices sharply on those obstructed rooms in order to fill them.

 

So...by moving many from the obstructed rooms to the at capacity non-obstructed category, they prevent passengers from taking advantage of the future price reductions that are likely to occur.

 

Am I thinking this through properly or not?

Could be someone else maybe wanted the cabin you had booked. Could be anything.

Yes, and so silly of me not to remember! While we did not use the library or card room during our Glacier Bay days for viewing, we were also very close to these and made great use of these 2 rooms! It was very nice having them near. Also, be sure to use the aft open balcony, of course on the nicer days, but it is at the end of the hall and so neat to be on. Not a lot of people! We were in one of the obstructed OV cabins and had a great 14 day B2B! We loved the Island.

The deck 8 cabin midship was a great location for us. Close to the above rooms we made a lot of use of as well as internet cafe and just a deck or a couple from the main deck, dining and coffee in the am!

That is one of the truly great things about Princess. No matter how many different kinds of OBC you qualify for they let you use ALL of them. From what I've read this isn't common as far as cruise lines go.

It really is so great that they do this!

When the offer was made to us it was for a specific date, but we asked for a date that worked better for us and Princess agreed.

and still got their offer I assume? That's great if so.

Also, if you have a National Parks passport book, bring it along. The NP Ranger on board while in Glacier Bay will have the stamp with them as well as NP items for sale. The National Forest visitor centers also have stamps!

Thanks so much! Our cabin is actually close to the library and card room so that can be my backup plan in case pf horrible weather!

Yes, and so silly of me not to remember! While we did not use the library or card room during our Glacier Bay days for viewing, we were also very close to these and made great use of these 2 rooms! It was very nice having them near. Also, be sure to use the aft open balcony, of course on the nicer days, but it is at the end of the hall and so neat to be on. Not a lot of people! We were in one of the obstructed OV cabins and had a great 14 day B2B! We loved the Island.

Lucky you! Have a wonderful cruise!

This is correct. When we cruised with our then 16 month old grandchild, the first pricing for the 3rd person was actually greater than the first 2! The first 2 had a 'sale' and 3 and 4 none or not at least lower than what the sale was for person 1 and 2. The price ended up becoming the same as the first 2 people but that was just the luck of a new sale before final pmt. (cruise was booked about 5 mo. prior to sailing if that matters) A soul is a soul. I just read that NCL is having a children sail free but it comes with a 2 paying full fare deal. So may or may not be less costly than a good regular sale.

Sometimes you can get a hotel stay and park as well. You may want to check into that since at times, the hotel cost may be less than the parking fees.

WOW that is a great port guide - thank you for posting the link. I wish I'd have known about that site before my last cruise.

As well as what is online, I call or contact each port I will be visiting for any free info they send out. It is always so very helpful

You can go the Horizon Court (Front of Lido Deck) and sight see as you have lunch or just a snack. Both the Coral & Island have the buffet located forward on Lido Deck. You could ask the steward for a couple of blankets.

yes and also some window seats on the main deck but hopefully you will have nice weather! I would be out on an open deck as opposed to the balcony anyway. So much to see! The Captain does turn the ship for half hr each side so basically a complete view and can go to the other side of the ship to see longer!

We were very lucky last yr. Princess ran great sales. They were combining their 7 day one way to RT out of Vancouver for 629 PP some sailings were even less! I recall some of the one way for 199 but they weren't avail with another low cost trip to make it less than what we paid. I thought very good for a 14 day trip. Can't beat it. Plus the 250 military OBC!

But this was for a july sailing not sept.

We were very lucky last yr. Princess ran great sales. They were combining their 7 day one way to RT out of Vancouver for 629 PP some sailings were even less! I recall some of the one way for 199 but they weren't avail with another low cost trip to make it less than what we paid. I thought very good for a 14 day trip. Can't beat it. Plus the 250 military OBC!

We have seen whales from the ship some pretty close as well! But of course the luck of the draw.

We did our 1st Royal Caribbean cruise (Explorer of the Seas to Bermuda) last year after about 20 on Princess. We had a thoroughly wonderful time. I agree with most of your findings. In particular the entertainment on Royal Caribbean was superior to that on Princess. The Ice Show was the best show at sea we have ever seen. We would definitely cruise Royal Caribbean again. But price and itinerary being equal we would still choose Princess. It felt somewhat like a mall/amusement part on Royal Caribbean. The ambiance on Princess is more refined and elegant but not stuffy.

I agree. We have done 2 RCCL (Bermuda on Explorer and a western Caribbean on GOS) and quite a few on Princess and yes, we as well will pick Princess. No Princess to Bermuda and really not much out of NY area anymore. Wish they did more from local ports. RCCL does NJ and Baltimore and that's nice.

and be sure to dress in layers! and bring rain gear and a pair of extra shoes. On my Alaska cruises we had sunshine all days! but, being in a rain forest, rain is the norm. We were told on our first cruise by our Captain how lucky and rare our weather was. Usually 10% sun! is what he stated. Anyway, all types of clothes for an Alaska cruise.

also, they have a stamp you can put in a National Park book if you have one. While not a NP, I stamped in the back of the book on the extra pages

Great point, pedialyte can be a lifesaver, both for kids and for adults with noro (heaven forbid) as can childrens tylenol. They now make it in a powdered form, its not cheap, but perfect for travel. Also, do a little google searching before you go to find big box pharmacies/groceries in the towns. Ketchikan has a safeway about a mile or two north of the cruise port and I think Juneau's main shopping areas are a bit north of the cruise area also. Skagway is limited in this department, so be aware. Just remember, the prices for the products you get at home can be up to 2x more expensive in Alaska.

 

For those reading this travelling with babies now drinking milk, deck 5 on grand class ships is a great place to have a cabin; the international cafe will give milk upon request. Sure beats hoofing it up to the buffet.

Coconut water is so much more healthy and contains electrolytes. Last time we purchased (and returned) pedialyte we saw it contained sucrolose which is so unhealthy esp. for children. We use coconut water with a pinch of natural salt and it is the best hydrating drink. Of course like anything check for allergies.

I guess we really shouldn't try to wake the mods up.:)

Funny. This thread was ever so helpful last summer for me. You as well as others offering guidance to find a stay/park/transfer for our 14 day Alaska cruise.