skrufy

We cruise Carnival exclusively. When a 14 day Carnival Alaska cruise pops up we book it. This cruise fills all our wants, 6 ports and many sea days at a good price.

Wife interacts with all the cruise directors on each cruise and after the cruises on Facebook. They are all nice people but I don't go out of my way to talk to them. When my wife and I walk up to one ( she drags me ) I enjoy talking to them.

Cutting it a little to close for me. If you can catch the 6pm flight with no problem, go for it. LGB is a nice small airport, very easy to get around, not crowded at all. Will take you about 15 minutes or so to get there. Disembark ASAP. Good luck.

The port website shows $23.00 a day parking, with no options to purchase on line. It's easy to get to the port, head south on Pico Ave, stay to your left on South Pico, follow signs to the port. The port garage is next to the terminal, with covered and open parking spots. My opinion as if it matters, I find the terminal area to be packed into a small area. Hope this helps a little.

Elaborate a little more.

Only time I would be concerned is if you hike secluded areas. We did a bear excursion a couple of years ago and had a guide and two gentlemen with shotguns along.

Our last Alaska cruise while in Ketchikan a shop owner told us that Orcas were in the river adjacent to the downtown area a week before. Also a pod passed by our OV window somewhere in the Inside Passage. My answer would be, you might see them anywhere.

Yes,

You will be fine with a noon departure if it's available. Wife and I take our time getting off the ship, have breakfast, get a cup or two coffees and relax letting the crowd die down then just walk off, collect luggage and on our way, we very rarely book flights before 1pm.

Celebration

My opinion is, I would not take the chance. Todays flying anything can happen to cause a delay. Have had flights changed by the airline on a few occasions to an undesirable time. Found another flight later in the day with a higher fee. Told the airline rep what happened, that I wanted to be switched to that flight with no extra charge. Was switched with no charge. Worth a try with your airline, we fly Southwest.

Have not sailed out of NO in a long time, so I will give you a general answer. If the ship is ready for boarding you will be on very quickly with a 10:30 check in time. If the ships not ready you will go to the waiting area until they call you boarding number. Have had both these situations happen to us many times

Yes

Take advantage of the extra days platinums get to secure their check in times. You should breeze right through the terminal and be on board quickly. Last December we had an 11:00 am check in time but due to the shuttle being late to pick us up we arrived about 11:20. Went to the front of the line, showed boarding pass and we were were shown right into the terminal, on board in 25 minutes. Our experience was Miami, may not work at all ports.

Don't feel like your the only platinum that don't get offers. We are platinum and have never received an offer.

Miami, especially when it's winter here in Illinois and you arrive and then on cruise day the warmth of South Florida ( goes for any Florida port )

Rockford IL to Honolulu Hawaii.

Thanks for your replys We are OV people. We book cabins as close to the elevators as possible but never abutting one.

Just booked a cabin on the Jublee almost sold out which abuts the bank of elevators on the 15th floor. Has anyone on the Mardi Gras had one of these cabins, did you find it noisy?

Last time I looked, about two months ago, there were a list of $80-$100 Alaska. cruises.

You can go to the dining room on embarkation day after noon and request the early dining time. If it's available you will be switched to it.

If Long Beach is the right price take it, even though you most likely will have a connecting flights. Really convenient, 15-20 minutes from the port. Small airport, never crowded. Save the headache of LAX. We have cruised out of Long Beach three times on the Miracle. This last time we flew into Long Beach, and loved it. If we have to go in and out of LAX we never book a flight before 1:30pm. Long Beach noon.

We have never watched the video. Just gone to the assigned muster station as soon as we board, get it out of the way. No waiting, takes 5 to 10 minutes of your time.

Can't comment on all port procedures, they seem to have their own rules. Our experience arriving late was last December at Miami. We are platinum also, with a check in time of 1100am. Just walked up to an employee by the door to the terminal, showed our boarding pass. We were escorted right in the terminal, and onboard in 20 minutes. Other stories I have heard people were put on another line used for early arrivals.