flip side of fifty

Thanks for the report!

Going on the CP on a B2B in December so it all sounds good!

OK I am going to be blunt- WHY did you choose Talkeetna? Especially twice? AND for 2 additional days?????

 

As for the Toklat Shuttle- I encourage you to find out the details in what you purchased. Your included Tundra Wilderness tour- will be going 53 miles into the park. the bus picks up at the Denali Princess. You stay with the same bus all day. From the Wilderness Access Center- which is a mile+ from the Princess Lodge- with the Princess Lodge having shuttles to there. From the WAC- there are Toklat Shuttle buses available- also going to mile 53. You DO have to take in all your own food and drink- Princess Lodge has box lunches, and there is a limited supply at the WAC. In the past Princess has refunded their tours- which would be over $200. Toklat shuttles are less than $30pp.

 

Going along with my "harsh" comments- I suggest you reconsider your Talkeetna idea, in my opinion you are wasting these days. There is so little to do, and Mt Denali is rarely visible. Hopefully you weren't staying at the McKinley Princess? Consider the extra days in Fairbanks? Plenty to see and do- with cruisetours, seeing very little. In my opinion a car rental is necessary. Alternative- go to Seward- this is the most scenic segment of the train. You don't state how many days you are at the Kenai Princess or what you are doing? But Seward is a multiday location. Or- go to Whittier and take advantage of an extremely scenic Prince William Sound boat tour. Your cruisetour doesn't allow you to include it.

 

Even though your husband doesn't like flying- flying Anchorage/Fairbanks is only an hour and a fraction of the cost of the same train route you are already taking. Which parallels the Parks Highway. Bonus is the scenery- sitting on the left has an opportunity for a Mt Denali view. Even partial- is excellent. :) just alternative suggestions.

Oh Dear

I am glad you are blunt. And the reason I posted this here was because I wanted assistance, so thank you for both.

We are flying into Anchorage and getting there in the morning after a red eye flight (the only non-stop which is the reason why). We will tour that day, have one night, then spend the day touring so the Talkeetna stop was a "resting" stop in a way. We get there midday, stay the next day and leave the next morning. So really only 1 day. We have a place in town - not the lodge. We are spending extra days in Fairbanks.

But based upon your recommendations I will revisit this part of the trip plan. I have time to make the changes. Continuing with our trip;

Denali National Park is next and the afternoon after the coach ride down is at leisure. So I wanted an optional excursion for this stop.

The next day is the Denali National Park TUNDRA WILDERNESS TOUR. I have read where some have suggested up grading to another tour which I think I would like to do- but you are saying to dump this entirely - get refunded from Princess and take the Toklat Shuttle buses (?).

The next day - McKinley - only one night here.

Because we were going to be in Talkeetna before we were going to spend our time at McKinley and only the evening is at leisure. The next day we leave - McKinley to Kenai.

We have 2 days open for tours at the Kenai Park. Here is where I could use some advice too - could we rent a car from here and visit Seward? Or, go to Whittier and take the Prince William Sound boat tour. Again - the distance would not be too far from the Kenai Park?

Then the motor coach from Kenai to Whittier to board the ship. As far as flying - I would in a heartbeat - but I am doing good getting my husband on the plane to Alaska. :rolleyes:

I would appreciate any comments or recommendations.

Thanks in advance.:D

You guys are so cool. Thanks so much for all the great information and advice. We are cruising out of Houston and, as I recall, there's not much of interest in the area.

My question to those that know, regarding a B2B at a US port. I booked 2 separate cruises, in the same cabin. The reservations are linked, but it is definitely 2 - 7 day cruises - out of Houston.

May we bring 4 bottles of wine on board when coming on board for the first leg, and if so, do they take 2 bottles and store them until leg two?

Also, If I buy a bottle at a port on the first leg of the trip and turn it in when I come back on the ship, do they hold it until the second B2B has completed, or bring it to my cabin after the first? :D wish it was the second option.

Calgirltraveler

We are also cruising a B2B, out of Houston, in December. Are you going to be sailing before that date? If so, can you post a note on how the process went? I am traveling with my 83 year old mother.

check these vids for ideas.... Once off the boat... All the port excursions are about the same.... You might need more than 7 days to enjoy all of vancouver....

 

 

e_embvwq8lu f4pecfmk1ey mjowp2oaupu txo8vk4lalq

zll6du--lqa vivtsz1b60q evh_rolyuzq gcyt8xdvsgs

tha:nk you so much!!!!!

There are hundreds of tours available. My favorites aren't going to be yours. :) Why did you choose this cruise tour? Were there tours you wished to include? Your mainland- locations at the McKinley Lodge and Kenai Lodge- are isolated, and will require a 2 hour round trip transfer to Talkeetna and Seward. I would suggest, if on the train- you take advantage of being there and plan your activities after or before the train arrival/departure. You don't want to make the commute more than you have to. :)

 

You do know about the Toklat Shuttle- which will be the SAME distance with your included TWT? Would be ahead a couple hundred dollars, if you cancel and switch. Of course, this will involve some independent effort on your part. :)

 

I always am in the air in Alaska, no better way to see the beauty and vastness. You have the opportunity of some excellent views of varied wildlife out of Kenai Fjords.

First Thank you for so many suggestions!!!

You do know about the Toklat Shuttle- which will be the SAME distance with your included TWT?- have no idea what this is. Can you explain?:confused:

Why did you choose this cruise tour?

We chose one of the "longest most complete as we could tours" because it is probably the only time I will get my husband up there. He hates flying and gets motion sickness so he is nervous about the cruise. He has never gotten sick on a train, however, so...we are flying non-stop to Anchorage a week before the 15 day tour starts and staying for several days in Vancouver after the cruise and flying non-stop home, but that's going to be the only flying he's going to do.:rolleyes:

We have reservations on the Alaskan Train from Anchorage to Talkeetna and staying there for 2 nights. Then on the train again to Fairbanks, where the tour starts. We do have a couple of excursions included but we also have free time so that's why I asked the question. Again, this is probably the only time I will get my husband up there.

We have gone on many 3 - 4 week tours (not cruises) before each with one "carry on size" suitcase with temps that were all over the place and we do fine. We are use to that sort of travel.

Singles screwed again. <sigh>

I booked last week (a B2B) and then saw the sale notice and thought "well of course...:rolleyes:"

But my booking was not part of the sale anyway - and I got a wonderful rate from my new TA!!!

..............A Personal Shout Out "Thank You Pam!!!"

(And sorry that singles are getting the shaft again. I will probably be in that group at some point.)

Also, make sure to check the Alaska section of the ports of call forum...

I have reposted my question in the Alaska Port of call section - thanks!

Alaska 2016 Excursions are open for booking. We are booked on the 15 day Connoisseur Escorted Cruise tour in May, our first for Alaska. There are a couple of excursions already included, and I realize, there might be some that will not be available that early in the season.

I have also read several reviews on the Alaskan cruises and the information is there on excursions, but, I thought if I asked the question:

For each Alaska location, what was your best excursion and why?:)

Fairbanks

Denali

McKinley

Kenai

Skagway

Juneau

Ketchikan

Vancouver

Thank you for your time and attention in advance

It might be helpful if you listed the excursion ports that you are interested in.....

Oh Sorry about that! I meant to :o

Fairbanks

Denali

McKinley

Kenai

Skagway

Juneau

Ketchikan

Vancouver

The email was sent out yesterday informing that the Alaska 2016 Excursions are open for booking. We are booked on the 15 day Connoisseur Escorted Cruise tour in May, our first for Alaska. There are a couple of excursions already included, and I realize, there might be some that will not be available that early in the season.

I have also read several reviews on the Alaskan cruises and the information is there on excursions, but, I thought if I asked the question:

For each Alaska location, what was your best excursion and why?

Thank you for your time and attention in advance.:)

We will also be on that December cruise from Houston. :)

My question is regarding a B2B (we are on 12/6 and 12/13 - and my first B2B cruise). I plan on taking 4 bottles of wine on board when we first embark.

Questions?

Will they take 2 of those bottles and store them until the 2nd leg of the cruise?

Has anyone else gone B2B from Houston and, if so, had a problem with taking 4 bottles on board?

(I have seen on CC that I just need to show my B2B paperwork and I will have no problem, but I have also seen where some ports are different than others)

Thank you for your time in advance.

Flu shots are starting on Sept 26 at our HMO, the day we sail. :)

I use therapeutic grade essential oils and use a diffuser onboard. Hopefully, we will stay well.

 

Patti

I have already had my flu shot for this year ( early, as I do every year) and normally I have no affects at all, but this year I did feel under the weather for several days afterwards. If you do have any reaction like me, try to get it a couple of weeks before you sail, I think it takes a couple of weeks to get working anyway. As a cancer survivor was advised to always get one and I do. Even though I felt bad for a few days - I feel it is worth it.:)

My question:

Can you explain your therapeutic grade essential oils and use a diffuser ?

I am interested.

In addition to any OBC that a TA may optionally give out of their commission, if the TA has group bookings with Princess for a cruise, they get "amenity points" that can be used for either the TA's benefit or the passenger's benefit.

 

For example:

 

Four amenity points can be used on a cruise of 6-8 days to either give $50 OBC to a cabin or to give $50 additional commission to the TA.

 

Two amenity points can be used on a cruise of 6-8 days to either give a bottle of wine at dinner or to give $25 additional commission to the TA.

I think I might look for a new TA. :mad: Too late for my next big trip, however.

I booked the 15 night Connoisseur Escorted tour for May 2016. I notified my TA of the Princess internet price for the cruise date I wanted, the specific stateroom number I wanted, added on 2 nights before and 2 nights after the trip at hotels through Princess (through the TA). Everything was laid out for him. In return I received No OBC, No specialty dinner, No bottle of anything, and the price was exactly what was listed on Princess's site.

When I asked him if we could "add on the 3/free promo" that is now attached to my cruise date he wrote back that "the costs saved by the promo would not offset the added PP price of the cruise" that was the only comment. I knew that - it would have been nice if he would have just bothered to call Princess and ask to add it on.

Feeling burned now that I have this info...

I book with a discount TA that saves me 12-15% over Princess fares.

 

I have never had a problem and often received specialty dinners, bottles of wine etc on top of the discounted fare.

 

If one books a higher category cabin this can amount to quite a sum of money. If you are happy with an inside the savings may be minimal.

 

Mike:)

My 2016 tour/cruise date to Alaska now has the 3 for free promotion attached. My original booking was completed within a week of the 2016 open booking date and my total cost is less than the fare advertised now (my TA offered me the exact fare listed on the internet without any additional TA credits). Even when you add in the savings of gratuities and a specialty dinner it's still less (I currently have a B2 balcony) so, of course, I would not switch out the reservations if I could not get the same lower fare, but... when I asked about it my TA just responded that we would have to "refare" to the current rate.

Has anyone's TA been able to add on a promotion after you booked, but keep that original booking cost?

Just to throw it out there :D:

Has anyone's TA been able to add on a promotion (like the 3 for free) after you booked, but keep your lower booking cost you received originally?

My 2016 tour/cruise date to Alaska has the 3 for free promotion attached. My original booking was completed within a week of the 2016 open booking date and my total cost is less than the fare advertised now (my TA offered me the exact fare listed on the internet without any additional TA credits). Even when you add in the savings of gratuities and a specialty dinner it's still less so, of course, I would not switch out the reservations...... but, even with the risk of being called names on the board :eek:....

Has anyone's TA been able to add on a promotion after you booked, but keep that original booking cost?

I agree & have received the military OBC since it was started 5 years ago (heard about it on CC before it was even officially announced as a Veteran's Day promotion) and since its inception have never read anywhere about it applying to police & first responders.

 

I saw that RCI had an option for a police cruise fare discount however it was minimal & other discounted rates were better. So they had a discount but even if eligible it was useless.

 

I think that Princess has been very generous to give military veterans OBC & I am very thankful for Princess' generosity. It's possible to get a great cruise fare and to still receive the MOBC which is combinable with other types of OBC unlike on RCI.

My Police Officer son has cruised on RCI many times - because they had a Police Discount. He lives in Florida, so maybe he can take advantage of a sale and the discount, but RCI is the first place he and his wife look because of that discount. He loves cruising but has never been on Princess.

As for Princess, my Platinum Member widowed mother (dad was retired after 27 years and died, resulting from a VA determined Service outcome), who lives in an Air Force Retirement community, called once to see if their discount is only for the Active/Retired, not the dependent. It is, but the gentleman she talked to at Princess was very nice acknowledging my mothers "Contribution" to our nation. She was so pleased with the respect he gave her on the phone call, everybody at the community heard about.

My point is sometimes a little discount can go a long way in the perception of a company.

I received the same survey that asked if I was active on CC and if so what was my screen name. I didn't answer but after that it asked for my Captains Circle number which I thought they knew when I joined the Princess discussion group so figured it was as a scam and deleted the whole thing.

I did enter my member number before submitting......:confused:

Now I hope this was legit - :(

I received and responded to it. They were asking for your CC name, NOT your login.

 

You do have the option of not doing the survey or participate in the community. This survey was sent by someone who works for Princess and is above board.

 

Another thing is you're NOT supposed to discuss the Private Princess Community here.

My Bad on two points::o

1 I completed that survey, then in my memory (I am on the "Flip side of Fifty" and counting as my name says..) retained the question as "CC log in" instead of "CC Name". Really with that information you would not have anything to go on, except my past comments.

2 I did not know (again retain!!) that I was not suppose to discuss anything from that survey - and I have not up to this point so I will definitely not do so in the future.

I wrote this as a result of reading another member's comments, and probably didn't think enough about it before writing in. I have been participating in the survey when asked and will continue to do so, and follow the rules.:o

As a "member" of the Princess Community Profile survey group I was recently sent a survey from Princess Cruises requesting an assortment of my cruise likes/preferences, etc.

This one was similar to ones I have received in the past, except for one thing. Towards the end of the survey I was asked if I was a member of the Cruise Critic forum. I responded Yes. Then it requested my Login name. :confused::(

I found this strange, did not provide the information, and the more I think of it, it annoys me. Has anyone else had this survey sent to them, and if so, how did you respond?

I guess it depends on whether one has been naughty or nice.

 

Naughty? Santa might bring fog.

Got a big laugh out of this one, ;)

Yes, for one that has left from the Houston port in November - Santa may bring fog!

We were on the Star this pass June (2015). On the formal nights we saw men turned away from the MDR without a jacket. On our cruise at least on the formal nights most people tried to follow the dress code. The other nights were pretty casual. The only clothing I saw not allowed in the MDR on non formal nights was shorts.

I have been on a Princess cruise on formal night where one of our table mates was in a tux and another was in a short sleeve button down loud Caribbean print shirt. Was everyone at the table fine with the choice, no, I don't think so, but he was served anyway.

Just got back from a cruise to Alaska on the Crown Princess (Absolutely incredible) Our stops were Juneau, Skagway, Tracy Arm Fjord, Ketchikan and Victoria, BC. Round trip out of Seattle.

I will be posting photos from my trip on my Facebook page starting today (Just got back home last night) and have so many will probably continue posting them for the next month at least. (I am a nature photographer from Michigan)

 

https://www.facebook.com/jasonmciverphoto

I will be waiting for your pics!

Thanks!

We are cruising on Star Princess next May for 7 days from Whittier to Vancouver after an 8 day Land Cruise. We haven’t cruised with Princess before (just P & O and Holland America) nor have we been to Alaska. Do many men wear dinner jackets on formal nights in Alaska or would a dark blazer and slacks be ok? Similarly do ladies wear trousers? We have heard people say that Alaska cruising is a bit less formal than in other places but the Princess blurb does refer to DJ or dark suit for men and long or cocktail dress for women. We like to dress up but don’t want to look out of place so just wondering what will be best to bring. We are flying from England so we do have a weight restriction.

Hey Jazzyjill !!

We are also going next May for 7 days from Whittier to Vancouver after an 8 day Land Cruise, Tour RB8, starting May 20. Are we on the same tour?

And regarding formal nights, I stick to the black basic "travelers" (from the store brand Chico's, and you can check them out on-line). They travel great. You can wrap them in a ball, then pull them out of your suitcase and they are ready to go. I dress up or down with scarves, costume jewelry and a change of top depending on the evening. Just a suggestion.

Let me know if you are on the same tour!

We are on the Southbound 15 day connoisseur (Fairbanks to Anchorage land portion and cruise down to Vancouver) on the Star, May 20, 2016. Plan is:

Flying non-stop Vegas to Anchorage (DH hates flying), then taking the train from Anchorage to Talkeetna. We plan on 2 nights there to rest up, then taking the train up to Fairbanks. We would arrive the day before the land portion starts.

I have looked on line for Talkeetna hotels (we will have no transportation) but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I have already noted your general store and meal suggestions, but any more info would again, be greatly appreciated.:)

Thank you

good information