tortoisegirl

We've only done Alaskan cruises on NCL and Princess, but was disappointed in the lack of regional cuisine. I remember having Alaskan Brewery beer on at least one of them, but that was about it. Besides that it, on those lines at least, it was the same menus as any other itinerary. The salmon was still "atlantic" (ie. the farmed kind that I as a NWer find gross). I think including regional food would be way more work and cost for them. We got some great food in port though, at least as far as fresh local seafood goes.

The best cruise I've been on as far as incorporating regional flare is NCL Pride of America - at the time at least they had two full time local staff members (husband & wife) who had all sorts of Hawaiian and Polynesian activities for us, like talks, music, dance, and crafts.

On Explorer in September they had two lines, but there was no distinction between reservations or not, very odd, and that doesn't seem to be the norm from what I've read here. We had early ish reservations, 6pm or so. At that time we never had to wait (besides in line), and I saw very few people being asked to wait after getting to the front of the line (they had a very small waiting/seating area). Longest wait in line for us was the first night, maybe 25 minutes. The other nights it probably averaged 10 minutes.

We were never given the option to dine with others, always just given a table for 2, and it was in the same area each time, although we had 1 waiter ~ 5 nights and a different one ~ 2 nights. I agree to consider making reservations due to having a large party, but you can always dine at a different time if that doesn't work, just be prepared to wait. Dining early will probably help reduce waiting time though.

My husband sits out on the balcony all the time. Me not so much (I don't do well with heat and am not an outdoorsy person), but I love lounging on the bed reading and having the giant window to look out, and being able to pop outside to look at anything interesting like when we're pulling in and out of port. Most of the oceanview cabins seem to just have a small window above the bed, so its not very useful for seeing out, just letting in a bit of light. Therefore I think a balcony cabin can be enjoyed even if you don't use the actual balcony much.

I think it is fine as-is, but they really should just raise fares enough to actually pay their employees enough.

I think the restaurant model for tipping based on a percent of the bill is unfair. Sufficient employee pay should be just included in the price of items, like it is everywhere else. In many states restaurant employees get over minimum wage plus tips, so they can actually make quite a bit of money. Its also why I don't believe in tipping at a coffee shop or similar. Seems like everyone wants tips now. I think the whole system is stupid.

In restaurants I actually typically pay a higher than usual percentage when the bill is low, and a lower than usual percentage when the bill is high. I don't think its fair to pay more just because I ordered something expensive and didn't require more service. However, one thing to think of though is that at fancier restaurants the servers usually have less tables / spend more time with each table.

Agreed with the others; I would have no concern with going on the last cruise of the season as far as the ship/crew. I would be more concerned with whether you will have as many excursion options / all the businesses will still be open. Early October is later than many of the cruise lines stay in Alaska.

We have done Alaska in both May and September. Much preferred May due to the longer days and it seeming more Alaska-like (cooler weather, more snow on the mountains, more ice in Glacier Bay). May was only slightly more expensive than September. Plus May is closer to halfway through the year, when I get itchy for a vacation (vs. September which is getting closer to winter break).

I've sailed Royal twice, NCL twice, and Princess once. For us, from best to worse:

food: Princess, Royal, NCL

service: Royal/Princess, NCL

activities: Royal/NC, Princess

people (feeling like we fit with the crowd and their target market): Royal, NCL, Princess

pricing: NCL, Royal, Princess

ships: Royal, NCL, Princess

Overall Royal is our favorite. We really liked the idea of NCL, as far as the atmosphere (freestyle), food options (although most are an upcharge), and low pricing, and even gave it two tries, but we're kinda meh about them compared to Royal. From the itineraries I looked at NCL was running a couple hundred cheaper per person but included a beverage package (minus gratuities), which I like, but its not like we'd buy the bev package on Royal (we just limit our drinking and pay cash - can't see paying that much for a week just to drink) so its not as huge of a "savings". In general I think by paying a bit more for Royal we really enjoy the vacation more.

I might be swayed to a different cruise line though depending on the itinerary. For example: We did NCL's Pride of America which does the only 7 night all Hawaii cruise (Honolulu round trip). NCL also goes to Glacier Bay in Alaska (in addition to Holland America and Princess at least) while Royal does not.

If there aren't any items which are really important to you that NCL won't be a good fit for, I suggest giving them a try if the itinerary and price is right and seeing how you like it. I think all these major cruise lines are more alike then they are different.

We typically look at what excursions the cruise line offers in each port to get an idea of the common options. From there we decide whether or not we want to do an excursion for each port. If so, then I look at excursions in more depth, usually booking independently unless there is a reason to book with the cruiseline (such as the cost being the same, or if the excursion takes us a long way from port or ends right before all aboard time).

If we choose not to do an excursion, then I research the port and make a list (and often a map) of ideas of things to do, places to eat, etc, along with a couple notes (like their hours of operation, cost, description). I'll look into transportation options if we may want to go further than walking distance. I often also do that in addition to an excursion booking if the excursion won't eat up the entire port time. Keep in mind that they usually let you off the ship 30 min after the published time, and you have to be back on at least 30 min before the published time, so you have an hour less than it appears.

My husband doesn't like to be tied down, so that way he can pick that day what he feels like. I'm too much of a Type A person as to know we want to do an excursion but wait until we get there, as there is too much of a chance of it being sold out. They will however typically have tour operators with signs selling independent excursions when you get off the ship, and you can still book an excursion on the ship if it isn't sold out. Not pre-planning things is easier for the Caribbean vs. other destinations (like Alaska) too. I also don't like to not do any planning as I wouldn't want to find out later we missed out on something cool, have to waste time doing research (phone, map, guidebook) once we get there, waste time wandering around looking for a restaurant that meets our dietary preferences, etc.

So, I definitely plan, but don't plan specific times for anything outside a planned excursion. If you like one activity like snorkeling or whatever, there is nothing wrong with doing it multiple times on one trip, especially if there will be a significant difference in the sites. Do at least consider all the options though. Especially as it is a longer cruise and you are considering similar activities, you may not want to book something each port, or at least not the entire day for every port. I find that even while doing something fun on a vacation, having a full port day every port day is tiring, especially in heat. Best wishes.

mango daiquiri

We always bring some packaged snacks, primarily for excursions, but sometimes they get eaten in the cabin. I try to grab snacks from the buffet (a reasonable amount, what I can east myself in 1-2 days) for the afternoons as I am always hungry getting back from excursions before the buffet opens, and promenade cafe is pretty limited. Plus I usually bring gummy bears, as even with all the sweets on board, I often want something less rich.

In addition to the regular menu and a by-request Indian option, there are also veggie options on the kids menu (like mac & cheese, pasta, and pizza), and things they can easily accommodate without prior request (baked potato, side of mixed veggies). The veggie main entree options I've seen are primarily pasta, plus sometimes some soy based stuff like fake chicken nuggets, or a veggie based option like Eggplant Parmesan.

Something else to consider is to wait long enough that the risk of the cruiseline cancelling the cruise (such as if they booked it as a charter) and not covering 100% of your nonrefundable airfare is reduced. I'm not sure when this point has passed though, so you'd have to ask someone else. Somewhere between 6 and 12 months out?

There are articles out there showing how far out to book for the best prices. Selection in both flights and seats goes down over time though.

I bring few baggies each cruise, keep few cookies in my room with milk for late nite snack...

I do the same! I'm always starving when I get back from excursions, and of course that is when even Windjammer is closed. Plus it always seems like they only have the ranger cookies at the beginning of a cruise, or at least never when I want them. I miss room service being free, as I'd just order milk & cookies. Having to run down to the Promenade Cafe at least helps offset them a bit though.

cream of mushroom soup

all the chilled soups

shrimp cocktail

coconut ranger cookies!

breakfast triangle hash browns

french toast when it is made fresh at the MDR

frozen dairy dessert by the pool (not that its all that great - more that its readily available)

cheese tortellini (2nd formal night in MDR on 7 nighters)

starter salad with warm goat cheese at Chops

For those lamenting over no longer seeing their favorite on the menu - ask! The worst they can say is no, and that is pretty unheard of. The mostly likely option is they bring it out (I've heard they still have a lot of these items available, just only on request), and second most likely is they have it made for you the next night.

I was able to bring a small backpack on the canoe and set it at my feet, no problems. There is also a staging area (after getting off the bus, where the bathrooms are) that you can leave things at. It was then that they had us change into rubber boots, and offered extra layers for anyone who needed them. Just be sure any bag that you bring with and plan to take on the walk and canoe is one you don't mind getting the exterior dirty and damp. You can kinda put it on top of / between your feet if the bottom of the canoe is a puddle, but it seemed like they try to keep them fairly clean, so ours just had some sand and dampness.

I wore a short sleeved shirt, long jeans, low top hiking shoes, and a wide brimmed floppy sun hat. At the staging area they had us change into the rubber rain boots, as a bit of wading can be involved. I brought an extra pair of socks for padding in the boots and it was appreciated. I also brought both a light fleece and a lightweight hooded rain jacket, so I could wear one or both. I only needed the fleece, and only part of the time. I also brought gloves and a ski cap, but didn't need either of those.

Both layers fit in my backpack, but if you wanted to share 1 bag between 2 people, and each didn't need either layer, then you could each tie one around your waist and put the other in the bag. I was also able to put the hat, gloves, water, snacks, and the usual purse stuff in my backpack without it being cumbersome.

Be careful when using a cruise travel agent to check if they charge any fees beyond what the cruise line does. I have seen several of the big names that do this, such as charging $25 to take advantage of any price drops after one, $100/cabin to cancel even prior to final payment, or $50/cabin for any change. It is likely to cover their costs. However, it is often only in the very fine print at the very end of the booking process, and easy to miss.

Popular excursions often book up 3-6 months out. Agreed, if anything is a must-do, and especially if you are looking at small group or specialty stuff like helicopter, then book it now, or risk being stuck with basic bus tours and such. It is only those sorts of basic tours that you may be able to get a slightly better price on the day-of. The best deals you are going to get on the good excursions (the ones which you should be looking at doing if you are going to travel all the way to Alaska) will be with private vendors, not through the cruiseline.

I recommend bringing your own shower products as the supplied ones are usually pretty bad, and often just 1 tiny bar of soap and a bottle of 2 in one hair product (or a wall dispenser). If its in a bottle, 1 a day may not be enough for 2+ people.

Many lines have a very short flimsy pull-out laundry drying line in the shower, but of course that can only be used when the shower is not in use, and the bathroom stays pretty humid, so its not really ideal for drying things. No pegs supplied, plus those drying lines can't tolerate any significant weight (not more than a women's bikini - men's swim trunks or a rain coat would be too heavy).

Most lines have a coat hook or two by the cabin door, and a desk chair; those (or the closet, if you can keep it away from your clean dry clothes) are usually the best places to hang rain gear and such. Note that if you have a balcony, most lines prohibit leaving items out there to dry (even if you bring clothespins) as they could be blown overboard.

For a full ish day excursion we most often do $40 (for 2 of us), maybe more if it was amazing, less if it was more transportation than tour. I'm sure you'll hear widely varying answers though. You can give it to anyone leading the tour; they typically split all tips.

and then I walked this route 5 times with the camera to get a good enough take to use

Wow! I can say though that it all being one shot really added to the effect.

Very cool - thanks! So how long did it take in total, and how many steps/miles?

Thanks again for sharing your awesome view!

(Also, I second the suggestion for the fitness center hot tub. We used it exclusively, as you don't have to go outside into the cold, and it was much less popular. Plus they have nicer towels in the fitness center which you don't have to check out, vs. the old ones you have to check out at the pool.)

It is $65!

Dang that is a good deal, even if it didn't yet include gratuity (and in my experience the quoted price did include it). It was $79 (including gratuity) on my Explorer cruise last fall.

I'm a picky vegetarian and am usually too scared.

I'm also a super picky eater. Even without asking for special accommodations there are off-menu options they have always available, like plain pasta, baked or mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, and rotating Indian food selections. Plus there is the kids menu (mac & cheese, pizza, pasta). You can also order multiple starters (or double or triple portions of 1 single one), or ask for a fruit or cheese plate from the dessert menu. I've always been able to find something on the menu or something that can easily be asked for, no problem. A cruise is a great time to try something you may not at home (feel free to order a backup option too!). My husband prefers the MDR so we always do that for dinner.

Great review--thanks for sharing!

Also, for seasickness, I recommend to try to stick to bland starchy foods (nothing rich/fatty), and eating less, but more frequently (~ 5 times/day not 3). Also, note that for Bonine/Meclizine, it can be dosed up to 100mg/day (I take the 12.5mg tabs and do 4 every 12 hours). Some packaging says much less than that (only 25-50mg), but the dosing indications I have read online say up to 100mg/day, especially if well tolerated and for the short term. Hope he feels better soon! I too am very prone to it, and think prolonged mild seasickness is worse than short term severe seasickness. Usually that sea day between Seattle and Alaska is by far the worst for Alaska cruises that are round trip Seattle (we've done 2).

I take otc generic Bonine (max dose every 12 hours, as even though you can go 24 hours, I find half the dose every 12 hours is better) starting the night before the cruise. Then I put on the Seabands if it starts to get bumpy. I am very prone to severe motion sickness with every mode of transportation (even driving a car myself), and even with those precautions I sometimes still need to go to the cabin for a rest and eat bland/starchy foods when we have a full sea day and its rocking. I have never felt more than slightly ill when I combine the Bonine and Seabands though, so I do think they help, at least for me.

Often I find the anxiety about the motion sickness is worse than the actual symptoms themselves though! I have prescription nausea medication for migraine and it is useless for motion sickness. My doctor wouldn't prescribe the patches, said they were very prone to causing side effects (such as blurred vision and sedation), and weren't much more effective than the otc meds. I bought some of that Motion Ease to try next cruise.

I would urge anyone with a history of motion sickness to consider taking precautions, as once you start to feel sick, it can take awhile for anything to help.