DarkJedi

My luggage just arrived! Thank you all for your advice! I am so happy and relieved!

Congrats!

Although it does ruin the excuse for a perfectly good shopping trip.

Had someone complaining about how cold the ice was on the glacier. They then grabbed some to take back to the vehicle where their partner was but it kept melting.

Sadly, not that strange. We live in FL and when DW's coworkers found out she was going snowmobiling in Russia they wanted her to bring back some Russian snow.

Yes, but not many on the thread It's usually like that for small ships.

 

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Check other ships in port the same time and see about their roll call threads.

They aren't available unless 3 other people turn up who are interested in booking the tour. I'm traveling solo and they require a minimum of 4 people.

Have you asked on your roll call thread?

I have heard complaints about how the lifts only go up and down at the back and don't go to the theatre at the front of the ship as well. When I said that there were other lifts at the front, she said but those ones don't go to the MDR at the back. What can you say to that?

She needs to stop watching so much Star Trek.

So pretty much we're getting more free internet and free phone calls. I'll call someone at home once just to say I benefited from the perk :P

We're doing a Trans-Pac, so I figure the ability to call home every few days and check on the four-footers was a nice addition. But felt the same way as you about the rest.

Same here, we declined the air and hotel package. It might be worthwhile if you don't care about when you arrive, but they offered us I think $400 per person air credit, on flights to Japan from FL. We did not get to pick the flight or the day of arrival.

In general, it is worth what you feel it is worth. We booked before they did the DV thing and did not see prices increase on our sailing.

Keeping in mind, of course, that some states don't use raised seals. One can play all sorts of magic math tricks one wants but it's still $600-ish for a family of four. (And it depends on how old the teen is, 16 and over get a 10 year passport, 15 and under get a 5 year).

And some states, like Hawaii don't issue birth certificates.

(Not getting in to politics here with this.)

Thought-provoking: while I do not think playing games with elevators is commendable, I do feel that too many cruise passengers are too impatient (or self-important). Having to wait for an elevator, for whatever reason, is not an offense against decency.

 

People would be happier if they were less uptight about some small wrinkles in their day.

Imagine if these people got in this elevator!

Nope, the PV one was within the past 6 months. The other within the past few years. I live 8 miles from the border and we need a passport/passport card/Enhanced Drivers License to cross the border and it happens once or twice a year that someone goes to Canada and loses their document. They are still allowed to re-enter the US after they've been verified in secondary inspection.

I'm impressed that they let them get on a plane that easily then.

And of course, this also proves how these new rules really aren't doing anything but hassling people and making other people feel good thinking that they do something. Sort of like the harassment in airports.

There are four of us, me my wife and two kids aged 13 and 7. I would really appreciate any advice

Leave the kids with Grandma and enjoy some alone time with the wife?

As stated for most people traveling without a passport is a low risk proposition and millions of US citizens travel on closed looped cruises each year with something other than a passport. Make sure you have government issued birth certificates and non-expired ID. If I didn't have any immediate international travel plans (within a year or so) then I would be hard pressed justifying spending an extra $600-ish on something that might be needed, unless there was an evident risk factor in play that warranted it (such as an elderly parent at home whose health could require an immediate return).

 

For your question there was a gentleman who missed the ship in Nassau because of a miscommunication with the rest of his party and he waited too long for them. He went to the embassy the next day (after getting passport photos) and walked out an hour and a half later with his passport (he did have an expired passport but nothing in his story suggests that this helped with the process). So for a non-emergency it didn't take that long to get a passport, noting of course that this traveler was on an island with an embassy (as you will be). I also recall reading about some travelers who left the ship in Puerto Vallarta because of a medical emergency. They were directed by the port agent to go to the airport. It took them about 45 minutes to find someone in the airport that would give them permission to board the plane and then spent about 10 minutes at secondary inspection with CBP. So, yes, if you have to return home it's going to be a hassle. Having a passport would lessen the hassle somewhat, but there are provisions in the regulations for having the passport requirement waived for emergencies/humanitarian reasons and the fact remains you will make it home.

Sadly I'm betting those happened before all the rules changes. I do a fair amount of international travel, and they have gotten extremely picky about passports.

My ideal cruise would have zero sea days. You can occasionally find them. There should be a way of searching cruise company WEB sites on the basis of the number of sea days.

 

DON

+1

Would be very nice, especially in the Carib where islands aren't that far apart and they artificially put in that sea day. Plus they always want to do their private island, OK, it's a beach, next.

Just curious, any issues with pre-FAA registered drones?

They are hired by Disney to "be" a photographer. There's no training involved for it except how to press the button.

 

They are not professional photographers (with a studio, or other accouterments necessary for photo shoots).

 

I'm not saying licensed as in a license required to be a photographer. But as in a trained person who can take really great photographs. PhotoPass photographers are hit or miss as to their abilities.

So are a lot of other photographers. Disney has seasonal guys that are OK, and they have pros that have been doing it for years and do all sorts of things. They guy doing your photopass picture may have been doing portrait stuff with the dress like a princess/pirate stuff earlier. All of them are required to have prior photography experience and most of them, even the seasonal ones, have worked at places like mall photo studios or those photo places in Walmart.

I don't use Disney photogs so I have never really dealt with them professionally, but have met a couple through friends who work for Disney and they are professional photographers with years of experience doing everything from advertisement photographs, portrait work, studio sets, Disney wedding photographer, all the way up to sports photography and aerial photography, all for Disney.

Royal Caribbean recently changed their drone policy. Expect others to follow as drones become more mainstream.

 

https://cruiseveryday.com/rci-drone-policy/

Got tired of everyone bringing them and checking them in and out of security at every port I'll bet.

Still, I can see some serious issues happening with people that think since the ship let them bring it on they can take it at every port.

The PhotoPass photographers are not professional photographers. Well, not a licensed photographer for Disney. They may be professionals (with their own photography business outside what they do at Disney), or learning to be photographers.

 

Since they are not Disney professional photographer, there's no "never say no" about it. It's part of their job.

The guy who has been doing photography for Disney for 18 years may disagree with you about if he is a professional photographer or not. And there is no licensing requirement for a photographer in FL, if you own your own business you need a business license (although a lot of the Groupon type photogs don't seem to bother) but nothing specific for photography.

I had a great childhood, loaded with lots of kid activities and tons of fun. But, my parents were smart enough to teach us manners, responsibility and showing respect for others. We were not given free reign to disrespect people and cause problems for others. Seems as if yours were a bit short on those life value lessons. What you consider childhood fun, most of us consider delinquency. Teaching children what is acceptable and not acceptable makes them better people as adults. Quite simple, really.

 

Must be differences in the values children were taught decades ago compared to the minimal values that parents apparently teach them today.

Possibly, childish pranks where no one was hurt and nothing was damaged, were something that when I was growing up you got grounded for or some other form of light punishment. Not something that warranted execution by firing squad.

Of course we were also encouraged to use our imaginations and not spoon fed from electronic devices (no I am not saying you were either.)

But I would still be curious to know what your reaction would be to an elevator at a mall or hotel opening to find a podium and person in a tux asking if you had reservations. And what your reaction would be when asked to sign the waiver for TV.

Personally I love the Intellivator skits that Ylvis puts on where they remote control an elevator. Sure, it takes a few minutes out of your vacation, but if you can laugh at it should you really shoot the people who made you laugh?

BTW, did you enjoy Candid Camera growing up?

Apparently the strangest complaint I have ever heard of was that there was a desk in the elevator and you were asked if you had reservations for the car!

Honestly, couldn't tell you the strangest complaint. We either travel just the two of us and keep pretty much to ourselves or we travel with a large group who all think pretty much alike. In which case most of the complaints involve either the bars or security.

I'm fairly certain that someone, without a passport, has encountered a problem if they need to fly home to the US from a foreign port. They would be delayed while an emergency passport is issued.

 

What are the chances that will happen to you? Not very big. Could it happen to you? Yes.

You don't need them, until you need them. I would not even consider leaving the US without a passport. I also carry mine when off the ship in case something happens and I miss the ship. I am not going to rely on the ship to leave my passport behind when it leaves.

But those choices are entirely up to you. You don't have to have one, and there are people that have never needed one. You don't have to carry it in port, and there are people that will tell you that you shouldn't. You have to decide what the risks are to you.

We took a cruise several years ago and because of a hurricane we were told that we may not return to Miami on time, several people from our group had to purchase flights from the Bahamas because they HAD to be back on time.

I agree...they probably didn't think...but that doesn't make it right or make us just overlook it as innocent and funny or "boys will be boys". Teenage boys (and girls...let's not put it all on boys) not thinking has resulted in some pretty horrible things. I'm not saying this "prank" could or would have caused something horrible to happen...just saying that not thinking does not excuse what they did.

I don't think anyone thinks the boys should not be chastised for what they did. But they used their imaginations and the tools at their disposal without damaging anything. Did they annoy a few people who were inconvenienced for 5 minutes of their vacation where they had to wait for the next elevator? Probably, because people already have zero patience and a personal sense of entitlement. But did they also make a few people laugh and get a few chuckles out of their little prank? Probably.

Would you be as upset if it was on land at say a mall? The elevator doors open and a tuxedo dressed man was standing there with a podium and asked if you had reservations for the booth? Would you sign the waiver when you found out it was for a TV show and be all smiles for the cameras?

It's a prank, it's funny, no one gets hurt, and nothing gets damaged. You chew the boys out, you make them put everything back, and you put them in some sort of time out while you go laugh about it. Then in 20 years you bring it back up so you can laugh about it with your now adult children and warn them that their children will be doing the same thing.

When we play Elevator Roulette we do not TOUCH the elevators (for you who ride in chairs and on scooters)

We number the elevators from left to right and then stand back next to the stairwells with our number signs in groups and try to guess what elevator will relate to the Question posed by our chosen Game Host. Like "Which elevator will be the next one where a man gets off and has a beard?" Then we hold up our chosen number until it happens..

So rest easily when we play this fun game..we're old and know not to get in the way of you who are swarming for the buffet!

OK, that is even easier than my thoughts. I like it.

Not a bunch here I'd want to cruise with. Not a sense of humor among them. I thought it was inventive. Have spent 33 yrs working w/ convicts and the world would be a better place if more kids occupied themselves w/ what amounts to victimless and imaginative pursuits.

 

So you had to wait for another elevator. Were you on deadline? You're on VACATION.. roll w/ the punches..

I agree, but I think considering our professions we have a warped sense of humor. I don't like kids, but this is a bit of fun that seems like they did to maybe add fun to other people by asking for reservations. It's not like they destroyed anything or just filled the elevator with a bunch of stuff and left it.

As to elevator roulette, it sounds like fun. Have to pick the right spot though so that enough people could gather and not block everything. Maybe do it more like a scorecard or maybe a bingo card? Have to get so many sequences right that way instead of just the limited number of elevators to guess on.

Just because others got there first and booked the dates/times you would have wanted does not mean anyone did anything to make you choose to be annoyed. :)

I think he is annoyed at NCL because they said he could book but did not expressly stated he had to book on the phone.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

The $300 budget is per person, per activity. So for example, in Ketchikan, I would be willing to spend up to $300 per person for any 1 activity. If I choose 2 activities, then I would be willing to spend $600.

 

Thank you..

In that case, you have budgeted plenty!

Ketchikan

Juneau

Skagway

Victoria BC

Our family consists of 2 seniors, few 40 year olds, two 17-year old and 1 6 year old. It's quite a big range.

Our main interests are dog sledding (not via helicopter), bus rides, scenic routes, train rides, and of course alaskan king crab feast.

So my questions are:

Is it better and cheaper to purchase the shore excursions in advance via Norwegian's website or Alaskan cruise websites, or purchase them on site?

Ketchikan, you don't have a lot of time here, so I would look at cruise ship offerings. Potentially the best place for your crab feast. The cruise line may offer a feast out at the lodge, not really sure about what times they are open. Otherwise I would look at taking new_cruiser's advice for Kethcikan. Just PAY ATTENTION TO TIME. This is your first stop, and it leaves early, be on the boat.

Juneau is probably your best bet for whale watching but you better book soon. With a ship departure of 1:30pm you will have to make a morning trip. Whale watching would get you back on time from any good provider. If you want to go out to Mendenhall Glacier center, might be best to do a ship's tour to make it back by 1pm without issue.

Skagway, do either Chilkoot or Dyea Dave. This will get you a bus ride one direction and the train the other direction. You can work in the musher camp for the dogs here as well. Departure is not until 5:30pm so you should have plenty of time to do this with a small tour operator and not worry about getting back on time.

Vancouver, sorry, can't help here, and it is where you have the latest departure time> I do know they have a great garden here.

In general small tour operators are who we like to use. They tend to give you much more personalized service, and are a much smaller group. Cost tends to be about the same, or lower. And while tour operators will do their absolute best to get you back to the ship on time, with such short times in port for Ketchikan and Juneau you may want to stick to ship tours for anything that will leave the main area of town. Especially as you are all new to cruising.

The main thing is to have fun, and you have budgeted more than enough for everyone to have a great time.