tmitchell82

Thinking about buying a new camera. I'm looking for some opinions on which camera you might choose and why. Would your choice be the Cannon 80D or the 7D MK II.

 

Bob

I have a 7dmkII and love it. I couple it with a canon 70-200 f2.8 USM II and the images it produces are really impressive. The combo is built for action. Either will work fine, unless you are trying to produce professional images. It becomes more about the lens. You could rent the 70-200 for Alaska. If you want longer zone, you can couple the

lens with a 1.4or 2.0 extender. You lose a little aperture with the extender, but you still get decent performance. Both cameras are a step up from your entry level Dslr. Remember you marry your lens and rent your bodies....

Tim

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We have flown with Island Wings twice. Once for them Misty Fjord tour second time for the bear tour. Cannot say enough positive things about Michelle and her operation. First rate all the way. Would not even consider anyone else. Flying with her has been the highlight of our trips to Alaska.

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Also depends on the ship. Most have the fold out bed, but if you are on the Royal or Regal, the couch folds down so you end up sleeping on the cushions of the couch rather than a fold out bed.

Tim

Here is my video from our cruise aboard the Royal Princess last month. It was our exchange daughter's first time on a cruise and she had a great time. A little long, but I wanted to capture everything for her and so we could show her family back in Germany. Enjoy.

Tim

I strongly encourage you to consider renting, as it may allow you to get much more <whatever> that you could justify purchasing. I always rent at least a long lens for our Alaska cruises, but what I rent has changed over the years (2010 was a 500 f/4, 2012 was a super-light 400 f/4 plus a 1.4x, 2014 was a 200-400 f/4 with a built-in 1.4x to make it a 280-560 f/5.6, 2015 was a 600 f/4 plus a 1.4x). Take a look at http://www.lensrentals.com/rent/nikon/lenses and browse anything/everything. Be sure to click on any lenses that are even a distant possibility, and read the "Roger's Take" (or someone else, though the vast majority are written by Roger, the founder). The RT is always what I consider a "man to man" (or woman!) chat about a lens, no punches pulled, no monetary influence, just the scoop, warts and all. Also, don't hesitate to call them and ask to speak with someone for lens advice. You can tell them where you're going, what he has now, what the goals/budget are, and they'll help you out. You can have the lens shipped to you (I suggest at least a day early for a cruise), or you can have it shipped to a FedEx Office location and pick it up with photo ID (signature is required either way, so if you're not home during FedEx time, best to go to FEO; it's the only way I do it). There are other companies out there, but LR's testing and repairs are distinctly well above the rest, and that makes a difference in the quality of what arrives for your rental IMHO.

I have rented lenses both times I went to Alaska and it was the best decision. I was able to use some really really high end lenses that I would have had few uses for back home and took some incredible pictures. I use a Canon, so can't be much help in specifics for a Nikon, but the advice I got from folks on renting lenses for Alaska was get one that has a good zoom (I used a Canon 100-400L) and get something that will do wide angle or ultra wide angle. I assume that Nikon like Canon has consumer lenses and professional lenses, go with the professional. Also, if you rent them, get them a day or two earlier so you have some time to play with them. Alaska is such a great place to take pictures. Went for 10 days, came back with over 3000 pictures.

Tim

We also wonder about the legal issues of taking an exchange student...if she is under age 18. Technically that makes her a minor and that can possibly cause issues unless there are proper notarized documents signed by both parents authorizing the trip. If the OP has not done this yet, we suggest directly contacting Princess to ascertain what paperwork is required. As to the Chef's Table, we personally would find a teen exchange student good company at dinner :).

 

Hank

It was actually very easy to take her. All Princess wanted was that she had a passport and a credit card. Never asked for anything from her parents about being allowed to take her out of the country. Now that being said, there is a number of things we had to do from a hosting perspective. One, we did have to get written permission from her parents (not certified, email worked) and we had to have our sponsoring organizations approval. There is also a State Department form that all exchange students have called a DS2019 that has to be signed off on by the sponsoring organization. We have never been asked for any of these documents by Princess (we did this last year as well) The biggest things is the visa. She is here on a J1 visa and under the Entries part it has to be stamped M for multiple re-entries. We flew right through customs. They just checked her visa. She did have her own customs form, but nothing to declare cause she was not leaving anything she got in the US. Now this is Princess and I did call and verify this beforehand. Other lines may treat it differently so call, but if your exchange student has an M on their visa Princess is an option.

One of the best parts was she sat next to an man in his 70's who was traveling alone and they had a great conversation about Germany and such.

So we took our exchange daughter to the Chef's Table. She really enjoyed it. The staff was great and found her a white wine with 1% alcohol in it (which we could not find any other place on the ship). The food was great and despite being the youngest by far she was amazing. I think if we had not told the others at the table that she was 15 they would have thought she was older. We were so happy she got to experience the Chef's Table. So if you have a teen who is mature and enjoys food, the Chef's Table works. We all had a great time.

Good to see that most folks say take her. I think we will try and book it. She enjoys food and preparing it here and we have talked with her about the experience and shown her videos from our prior times at the Chef's Table. She is also very sociable and talkative so I think she will be fine. Thanks

Tim

A little off topic, but...Have you taken a foreign exchange student on a cruise before? There have been posts about people denied boarding because the student didn't have the proper papers/visas. Would hate for this to happen to you. EM

We took our exchange student last year on Princess. She was also from Germany. We had no issues what so ever. There was some paperwork we had to complete with her parents and the organization, but no issues with Princess or customs. The only issue was to make sure her visa was stamped "M" for multiple re-entry which is was.

Tim

So we are set to sail on the Royal Princess next month. We are taking our German exchange daughter with us (she is a junior in high school). We are thinking of trying to take her on the Chef's Table. We have done this a few times and enjoyed it very much. The food and experience has always been great. We are thinking of taking her for the experience. She does like food and cooking (which she is pretty good at) and this would be an interesting experience for her. We have talked with her about it and shown her pictures from our previous Chef's tables and she has expressed and interest. Obviously she cannot have the alcohol. She is very mature for her age. What are people's thoughts on taking a teenager to the Chef's table? Pretty sure she would be the youngest. Princess says they do not have an issue with it so........ Thoughts??????

Tim

Here is a link to my video from our recent cruise aboard the Regal Princess. We took our German exchange daughter on her first cruise and this video was put together to show her family and friends back home in Germany what her cruise adventure was like. Enjoy.

Tim

Thanks everyone for the information. I don't think I will have to worry about my 17 year old DD going to the fitness center early, she will be lucky to be up by 10:p

We are leaving this weekend for our 7 Day Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard the Regal (cannot wait to get out of this cold weather:D:D). We are a family of 4 traveling together. I have 2 DD, one 17, the other 10. Can the 17 year old go to the fitness center without an adult on her own and use the equipment or will one of us need to go with her? Also, do they still give out those blue Princess bags to carry stuff in like we have gotten on prior cruises? Thanks

Tim

Sailed on a Princess cruise which saw both. Enjoyed both, but IMHO I would take Glacier Bay. Glacier Bay was an all day affair and we got to see multiple glaciers and beautiful scenery. For Hubbard Glacier we just saw that glacier and then left, not a lot else to see. To me, Glacier Bay was stunning.

Tim

Tim,

Thanks for the great videos. Looks like a fantastic trip. The land tour you took is similar to one we're thinking about. How did you feel about the amount of time at each location on the land portion of your trip prior to boarding the ship? Was it enough time at each location? Did you want more or less of any location? Anything you would book differently if you were to do another land tour?

 

Dawn

I could have spent another day or two at Denali easily. So much to see and do there if you like hiking and being in the outdoors. Princess's McKinley Lodge was nice, but you are limited to what you can do since there is really nothing else around there. They days on land were long and busy, but we wanted to see as much as we could. Don't think I would have done anything differently, just more time at Denali. Would have liked to have gotten deep into the park. We skipped the Wilderness tour in favor of the rafting so I would not mind that tour in the future. You do spend a lot of time on buses going from place to place so that was one reason we ditched the wilderness tour. Would go back and do the whole thing again in a heartbeat.

Tim

When we were at Denali Lodge, we took a flight seeing tour that landed on a glacier inside of Denali National Park. It was amazing to fly around Denali and the landing was incredible. Had some time after we landed to walk around on the glacier and take some good pictures. Expense, yes, but well worth it IMHO.

Tim

also have authorization that you can make medical decisions for the child.

I hope it works out. you are the best host family ever!

We have the medical authorization as part of the paperwork for her being here with us already so that is not an issue. Talked to Princess this morning and they gave us some specifics which was helpful. Now to just get her parents back home to say yes :):)

We are looking at going on a cruise and taking our Germany high school exchange student with us early next year. She is here on a J1 visa to go to high school for the year through an approved sponsoring organization. Leaving and coming back is not an issue with the visa. We know there are a few things we have to do with our organization to get authorization, but wondering what Princess might want to see? We are not her legal guardians while she is here, but we sign everything. We do need her parents permission which is part of the approval, but would Princess want to see something in writing from the parents or sponsoring organization indicating that we are fine taking her out of the country?

Thanks

Tim

We are looking to book a flight tour with glacier landing during our Princess Cruisetour in June. We have it narrowed down to two:

 

1) Mt. McKinley Glacier Landing by Airplane

499 per person, Leaves from the entrance of Denali

 

 

2) Talkeetna Ruth Glacier Landing by Airplane

379 per person, Leaves from Talkeetna

 

 

Which flights have you taken? Which do you recommend? Thank you so much for any information!!

We did the McKinley Glacier Landing by Airplane through Princess back in 2012. We flew out of Healy on a turbo Otter (plane holding about 10 people) We landed on the Ruth Glacier. Weather was great the day we flew, but weather is the biggest factor in how the flight goes. Expensive, yes, but IMHO it was well worth it. You can watch some of the flight on the link below.

I think that any flight where you get to land on a glacier in Denali is worth it. Definitely one of the best experiences I had in Alaska.

Tim

Tim,

 

Your Videos were awesome.

 

I can't wait to start planning my 2015 Alaskan cruise

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed them. I am still trying to work on thrones from last summer. I want to go back again.

Tim

What is the software that you used to do the Alaska video? It is great!

Glad you enjoyed it. It was all put together in iMovie. It's about at the limits of what you can do with the current version. The key is to have a lot of footage and picture to work with. I took 2800 pictures and over 7 hours of video. The sequel is coming this summer......

Mine are in my signature. Warning, it is long....

Tim

Please suggest a cruiseline offering a cruisetour 2 Alaska.

I need a balcony. The #1 thing I would like is 2 C lots of wildlife.

What cruiseline do U suggest? Why?

Do U think ship or train is better to do 1st? Why?

Where do U think is the best place 2 leave from?

What is the best month 2 go?

Thank U in advance 4 your time in ans my questions. I love 2 plan trips. This seems like it is gonna B tough 2 plan since so much 2 do !!! I think its a good thing I started 2 plan now even though I still have 2 years 2 go!!!

There is so much to do and see in AK. Best trip we have ever taken. As for seeing wildlife, there are a number of opportunities. Going into Denali is a good way to see wildlife. There are also opportunities to see bears up close at Anan Creek (45 minute flight form Ketchikan) after 7/1. Granted, we saw moose just of the side of the road while taking a break on the bus trip to Denali. And then there were the whales we saw in Juneau and from the ship.

IMHO, Glacier Bay is a must for 1st time cruisers to AK. Princess and HAL are the 2 lines with the most itineraries to Glacier Bay. For that reason alone, I would look at those lines. If you are doing a land tour, which IMHO is a must as well, I would do that first and then cruise. Just my preference, but it was nice to relax on the ship after running around on land. Only down side to the land tours is that you need 2 one way flights. Definitely spend a few days at Denali. Our land tour had 2 days at Princess's Denali lodge it was great to have the flexibility to do a few different things. We found it better not to be running from place to place everyday. We really enjoyed the train ride to the ship as well. Was nice to get let off right next to the ship. If you are doing the NB or SB cruise, you are either going to leave from Whittier/Seward in AK or Vancouver, BC. Depends on which way you are going and the line. There are links in my signature to our trip if you want to see any of it. We really enjoyed Alaska. Very different from a Caribbean cruise. I could have spent all day on deck just watching everything. Guess that is why we are going back this year.

Tim

Great review. We did basically the same cruise in 2010 on the Island. Loved seeing the Panama Canal. We had stopped in Ocho Rios after Costa Rica and had heard that the stopped going there due to some issues on there.

Glacier Bay