cruzinfamilyof4

Michael Connelly.

 

Good stories and they're based in Los Angeles. I enjoy imagining that I am in the neighborhoods where the action is taking place. I also get a kick when I find a mistake--e.g., there is no Runway 19R at LAX. I've heard that the Bosch TV series is pretty good, but I've never seen it.

This is why I love Kellerman's books; they are based in LA. His are pretty accurate, but I did find an "error" in one of Dean Koontz's books. One of the characters drove right through where I lived and he added an AM/PM to a location where there isn't one. Made me laugh.

Fortunately I haven't had any real bad experiences so my worst is actually pretty funny. Back in the day when it was easy to smuggle cans of booze on board I had a 12 pack of beer in my luggage. By the time it made it to my cabin most of them had been broken open and soaked about 1/2 my clothes. Just made for a good memory, and a shopping trip when we got to Ensenada.

Princess has a roundtrip out of San Francisco. We did this a couple years age and loved it so much that we are doing it again this year. Last time we did an inside which was worked fine, but this time since we aren't paying to take kids we are getting a balcony and very much looking forward to it. Glacier Bay (which is spectacular) and Skagway were on our itinerary last time. This time we are going to Icy Strait Point and Tracy Arm Fjord. I'm not sure you can go wrong with what ever it is you pick!

Yes - total.

We usually tip 5.00 and we have 2-4 bags.

This is where we ate in Juneau, can't wait to get back there. https://www.kingcrabshack.com

Thank you! He is going to be happy to hear this.

So when we booked we received specialty dining as a perk, which we have never done before. DH is wondering can he order more than one entree, appetizer, etc? Or is it order one thing from each course? Thank you!!

Our favorite paid excursion was through TNTours (http://www.tntours98.com/emerald-lake-tour.html) in Skagway. We had an amazing tour guide who took us up to Emerald Lake with a lot of stops for picture opportunities and stories. Someone had organized this on our roll call, it ended up costing us about 60.00 per person. It was awesome!!

Our favorite non paid excursion was hiking in Ketchikan.

I took a pair of tennis shoes, hiking shoes (we hiked in Ketchikan), flip flops, and dress shoes for dinner. If we hadn't hiked in Ketchikan I would have been fine with just the tennis shoes.

I sprained my ankle less than a week before our cruise to Alaska a couple years ago. Before the trip I just propped, iced it and took ibuprofen; my ankle had a knot the size of a baseball. I refused to miss our trip, we even hiked in one of our ports. If he feels he can go I would definitely go. As for the luggage there are porters who will help. If you are driving I would drive up to the luggage drop off, drop off the luggage, husband and kid then park. If you are taking a cab/shuttle to the port I am sure the driver will help you with the luggage. Please go and have a good time!!

When we were there we hiked Deer Mountain Trail. We were able to walk to it from port. I just did research online before hand and found a map on how to get to the trail head. Our kids were able to make it to the top, DH and I were not able to because I sprained my ankle a week before our trip and was having a hard time. They said it was AMAZING! Unfortunately it was an overcast day, but they said the hike was awesome. This port ended up being everyones favorite. Can't wait to go back one day and make it to the top.

That's what I was afraid of...thank you!

We have to cancel our cruise that is in January. I have searched the website/My Princess and can't find where to do this myself. I don't actually have to call Princess to do it do I? Thanks for any help!!

We did that itinerary with our kids when they were about that age and they loved it! In Juneau we went to Mendenhall Glacier/Nugget Falls and then Tracy's Crab Shack. Skagway we did an independent tour to Emerald Lake with A LOT of stops for photo ops, musher camp, smallest desert in the US, etc...Both of our kids LOVED this. Ketchikan we went for a hike and did very little in town; this was our favorite port. In Victoria we got a map and just walked around; went to Parliament building, Fisherman's Wharf, and Ogden Point Break Water.

Our son did a lot of sleeping, which we were okay with since it was his vacation too. Our daughter spent a lot of time at night in the piano bar; she met a couple of older ladies that she met up with every night to listen to the musician.

One of our most favorite vacations with the kids. If you are concerned if your kids will have fun or not make sure they are part of the planning. Have fun!!

Thank you! I will wait until the end of the week then.

I am wondering how long it is taking the powers that be to post our onboard credit. I requested it almost a week ago and there isn't anything posted yet. I faxed my request if that matters. I'm starting to wonder if I should call since we are cruising soon. TIA!

In Skagway we used http://www.tntours98.com It was really cool because he told us a lot about the area, if we wanted to stop and see something he would stop, he looked for wildlife, it was much more intimate than I would imagine going on a ship excursion would be. I'd definitely use them again.

My son is not a fish/seafood eater. On our last cruise he tried all the fish dishes to see if his tastes had changed. Barramundi was his favorite dish of the whole cruise and he now likes fish. We love getting to try food that we aren't familiar with!

Pringles, swedish fish, carmel apple suckers (DD's) and mint patties (DH's). I like to have stuff in our cabin incase I don't want to go hunt something down to munch on.

They will probably have you come down to identify/claim them, they won't open and reseal though.

Thank you! Think I will just box them up so I don't have to carry them.

I didn't think about a box. I am assuming once they scan it and see they are bottles they will open it, yes? Do you think they will re-tape it and then just deliver it once they see the seals haven't been opened?

We are purchasing vodka but want to take grapefruit juice as a mixer. I'm going to be buying it from Costco so two of them will be attached together. What is going to be the best way to get it to our cabin? Slap a tag to the handle? Write our cabin number on them? Put them in an unlocked suit case so the "naughty room" can check and see there isn't any alcohol in them? Just carry them? I'd rather not carry them but if I have to I will. Are the cabins ready as soon as we board? If so I guess we could carry them and just drop them in the cabin. Thanks!

We are going on this cruise too...have you check out our roll call yet?

We are only doing one ship sponsored excursion, the rest we are doing on our own; mostly just exploring the towns on foot.

We thought about doing the gardens in Victoria, but with a 17 year old boy with us I know he (and his dad) won't like it. But I have heard real good things about it.

We've never had a problem taking DS epipen; we put them in a carryon.

As for the expiration date, our pharmacist said that the epipen is still "good" for up to a year after the expiration date. It isn't as effective but it will still work. I know this because of a conversation I had with him about being afraid of having to use an expired pen.