Christine Frances

The Elite breakfast was usually held in the Olympic before. On our Japan cruise last fall it was in the MDR. Does anyone have up to date info on where the Elite breakfast is being held? tks

wow A whole bunch of CC envy going on here lol:D Next AQ people will be demanding our better cabin locations:)

perhaps the reason for 0/10 score!

lol:d

Avoid the Lawn Club Grill on Equinox and Eclipse. We tried both and the food was not only flavorless, it was much too hot and seared our lips.

 

0/10 - do not recommend

There isn'f a Lawn Club Grill on the Equinox and Eclipse. LCG is only on the Reflection and the Silhouette!

I can assure you, both my dh and myself, again we were polite, complained to Princess customer service, etc. and said that for the reasons that I mentioned, we would not use the Coral for an Alaska cruise. The Lotus Pool was the deal breaker on this ship. We found the food quite good, the layout of the ship just fine, etc. If we hadn't already been to Glacier Bay, perhaps we would have ignored the pool area and just go on the Coral again in any case. We also cruise on Celebrity; again pros and cons on both cruise lines-- but for our situation, for next Alaska cruise, Celebrity will get our business-- so that we can once again enjoy sitting in a hot tub in enclosed area enjoying the Hubbard scenery, which I hope will be at least almost as nice as Glacier Bay. We haven't gone on HAL due to their smoking policy. I'm hoping that one day they will change their smoking policy to be similar to Princess and Celebrity.

You will absolutist love Hubbard Glacier:) It is the only glacier still growing and it is very noisy lol. Lot's of thunder during calving etc. You will not be disappointing!. For frequent Alaska cruisers it is a toss up between Hubbard and Glacier Bay. This is Hubbard https://www.google.ca/search?q=glacier+bay+access&rlz=1I7ACGW_en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBkPz_5NXMAhVLw2MKHQouAnAQ_AUIBygB&biw=853&bih=397#tbm=isch&q=hubbard+glacier

HAL & Princess do not have to compete for the concessions to go to Glacier Bay. This is the current list of the other cruise lines that have bid on the concessions to go to Glacier Bay.

Norwegian Cruiselines

Carnival Cruise Lines

Crystal Cruises

The other cruise lines that go to Alaska and visi other areas have great tours, lodges, triains etc to make it well worth while. In Alaska, itinerary is king and cruise line second.

While not clinically proven, it has been suggested that excessively dry air contributes to the development of many respiratory problems. When your air passages are too dry they lack the mucous coating which serves to protect against bacterial and virus infections. Wet towels - or other humidifying effects can help. I know that when I fly, occasionally holding a wet handkerchief or napkin to breathe through seems to prevent the sort of coughs I used to develop on flights.

When a lot of people got the cruise crud in Indonesia the Doctor said the same thing about the AC and nasal passages. My pharmacist recommend a nasal saline gel (Secaris) that all his aniline related customers use. I have had good luck with that. The cruise crud is airborne (as opposed to Noro which is transmitted more by contact which makes it so hard to prevent. All it takes is someone coughing or sneezing in an elevator eg and bang, you are going to be sick.

We stayed 3 nights pre cruise in beautiful Barcelona with another couple. We rented a lovely 2 bdr apt in the Gothic quarter (2 blks from Ramblas) through AirBnB. We walked everywhere as it was so central. The Gothic quarter is amazing and reminded us of Venice because was so much fun getting lost. Very very economical compared to a hotel.

Last year we arrived at 10:30 and I had a martini in hand at 11:00 :)

That's the way we do it as well!!!

A leisurely check out at my hotel dictates my cruise arrival between noon and 1. Lunch when we get onboard and room check in about 1. Arriving too early involves too much waiting around for me.

Last weekend people who arrived before 11 were on the ship by 12. People who arrives after 12 waited in line for 4 hrs to board. See post #13 and following posts. We board on the 22nd and there are 4 ships in port and we will be there at the crack of dawn lol

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2352784

I am planning on arriving before 11am:)

It is all on Celebrity's website. Go to

1) Already Booked

2) Getting Prepared

3) Travel Documents

4) Visas

5) then "Click here for more information"

This opens a document with all the information you are looking for.:)

while the additional perks booking cc are ok, are they really worth paying perhaps $400+ additional for the cruise for a balcony cabin? If my DH and I do not book a suite, we book a balcony and enjoy more specialty restaurants or other services that are meaningful to us. We are elite plus and free laundry is a real perk IMO

We are Elite + as well, We don't book AQ because we always travel with friends who book all over the ship so then we can't eat together lol. We have a 6 or 8 top early seating where we have a wonderful time catching up on everyone's day. Our whole group has noticed the increase in the quality of the food in the MDR over the last few years and because of that we hardly ever book a specialty. We much prefer CC cabins due to the great locations (and get annoyed when AQ is cheaper) but if the budget does not allow we will book a regular balcony. CC is more "valuable" to us on M Class because of the increase in cabin size. We are quite happy with the MDR and see no need for BlU or Specialties. We will enjoy the embarkation lunch and will probably use the Concierge. Appreciate

it all:)

Ah, sorry. I think we had a semantic misunderstanding. Darn internet makes conversation difficult:D :)

 

I have cruised both HAL and Celebrity to Alaska, and they are both great. There are about five other cruise lines I would like to try. It's those little things like time and money that get in the way:D

Well we have the time but the money.............lol I think a lot of us give up other stuff just so we can keep cruising:)

I was merely providing information regarding Alaska land operations for the original poster, A Couple At Sea, to assist them with their question regarding the difference between HAL, Princess, and Celebrity. I was NOT denigrating the land-based infrastructure of other cruise lines. I was stating that there is essentially no difference between the land operations of HAL and Princess, because they are the same operation. I said this to aid the OP in any decision-making process which might involve possible land/sea itineraries with either HAL or Princess. The OP did not ask any questions regarding the many other cruise lines that offer Alaska itineraries.

Sorry:( Didn't mean it to sound that way:o I was replying and adding to your comment as the OP did ask as the thread title was "Celebrity vs Princess vs Holland America"

When boarding, did anyone use the BorderXpress kiosks before they went to US Customs? If so, did it save time? Tks

All Alaska/Yukon land operations for HAL and Princess are owned by them jointly as part of the Holland America Group. That means they share hotels, rail services, buses, shore services, and tour operations for the land portions of the land/cruise itineraries.

That's funny. Celebrity, Luxury lines, NCL, Oceania etc also offer wonderful land tours of Alaska using hotels, coaches and beautiful, not too shabby trains https://www.alaskacruises.com/cruise-lines/alaska-celebrity-cruisetour-trains.html All the cruise lines can offer spectacular cruises and tours. Just decide what you want to see and then decide how to get there. Lots and lots of homework if you are deciding to do a land tour but cruise only is all about the ports.

We would not book a cruise if we couldn't get early seating or Anytime dining. We got stuck at late dining once, because we booked so late, and hated it. We have a set routine and it threw everything off. Not looking for an argument it's our opinion.

Totally know where you are coming from. We book the early seating because we like all the entertainment after (normal "dinner and a show" experience") We usually are in our cabin by 11pm after the casino, theatre, casino, bars etc. The one time we had late seating we hated it. Didn't finish eating until 10 and went to bed feeling like a beached whale which makes for a bad nights sleep:(

Concierge Class booker"s have lived through years of "I would never book CC as the perks aren't worth it and people that do are stupid." There have been a lot of us defending our booking of CC due to the better cabin locations So I am very pleased that Celebrity has chosen to up the benefits for this category:)

Just ask your TA or Celebrity to put you on the list. I would never do Select if you are interested in Traditional Dining (so much better IMO). Celebrity does Traditional well but for early bookings they seem to hold off before opening the times. Pick Select but make sure you are wait listed for your seating time in Traditional. Everyone says that you clear no problem.

Alaska is all about the itinerary. I think Vancouver is the best port to cruise from as you travel up through the southern inside passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Cruises leaving from Seattle go on the West Coast of Vancouver Island and it takes 2 days to get to an area where you see any scenery. If you have been to Glacier Bay I would highly recommend the fabulous Hubbard Glacier:) It is the only glacier that is still growing it is always moving so there is much loud, spectacular calving. From what I have read, you will have much the same experience on Celebrity as Princess but they both have their individual styles. The weather seems the best in May/June with less rain. Have fun with what ever line you choose.

They always say it's a gastro illness first until they get the test results which determine if it is Noro (which it usually always is unless it is e-coli)_

I think that an itinerary should include both Hubbard Glacier and Icy Straight Point. ISP is the most incredible, non commercialized ed port. Built, opetated and developed by the Tlingit, it is authentic and wonderful. Only one ship at a time can port there. http://icystraitpoint.com/ We sat at the aft bar drinking wine,after a day poking around ISP and there were whales all around us!! Going back in May and can't wait!

Don't forget Hubbard Glacier as it is awesome. It may be on an O itinerary. https://www.google.ca/search?q=hubbard+glacier&rlz=1I7ACGW_en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7vtW4wbLMAhUGwmMKHeceB-QQsAQIKA&biw=1164&bih=541

We (two couples) reserved Alcoves for two of our three sea days in early February prior to boarding the Reflection. They were completely booked for the third sea day. I would definitely book ahead of time. Our attendant brought fruit late morning and cheese/crackers mid afternoon. We also ordered Bloody Mary's one morning and frozen drinks and mojitos one afternoon. The first sea day was very windy so the awning couldn't be put up but was used on the second sea day. It just depends on the weather. I think they are better suited for two or three people. Although there is seating for four, you can't spread out and get comfortable and there is only one lounge chair. If were just my husband and myself we would book one again but wouldn't book with others.

I think sharing the Alcove worked well for us because we were not always there at the same time. They did their own thing as did we. If we happened to meet up at the Alcove we would chat a while and catch up and then we were off. So nice to have that place on deck to return to:)

Paul what you have posted is correct re CDC reporting but as we all know, the cruise lines do suffer from Noro in other areas ie Asia and the Med which are not reported as they do not port in the US. CDC protocols are followed however. That is why i questioned this statement as O has had Noro in the Med and Asia in the past and you seem to dismiss it because it is not on the CDC website.

"What is your explanation for the fact that from 2002 when Oceania was founded until very recently there were no incidents of Noro on any of their ships despite their "lax" attitude toward hand sanitizes?"