port msp
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On 8/8/2023 at 3:07 PM, shipgeeks said:
Not a very direct answer, but in recent years I gave up using sunscreens, and just wear a long-sleeve rashguard when I'm out in the sun. Easy on, easy off. I see a lot more people wearing them now, including crew members.
I'll second this solution, although it isn't exactly what you asked for. I got tired of getting burned because I missed a spot with sunscreen or I sweated it off and didn't re-apply soon enough. UPF 40-50 shirts from Orvis/Patagonia/Columbia/etc have kept me from getting burned for years now. I've also become a fan of big sun hats. Around home and at our lake place in the summer, I like big straw lifeguard hats or toquilla cowboy hats. Traveling with a formed/blocked hat is a pain, so I went on a quest for a good travel hat. I found a wide brimmed bucket hat on Amazon that I really like. The crown is crushable and vented but the brim is quite rigid, but foldable at a seam, and it packs flat. It doesn't flop down in your face in a headwind, which is kind of a must for me.
Free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.
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On 8/19/2023 at 7:35 AM, Carol28 said:
We only need the Global Entry for this one trip from the Amsterdam airport to the U.S. We are wondering if it is worth it since we have the TSA pre-check for travel in the USA. I'm wondering how difficult it is to go through the process without the Global Entry.
I think if you truly only need/want Global Entry for one trip, you're going to spend more time and effort getting it than you'd expend just going through Immigration the one time. But, I understand wanting it. We've had it and used it multiple times and it really has been a breeze coming back into the country. We renewed online during Covid and didn't have to do an interview. It was nearly effortless.
Having said all that, if you do want Global Entry, a little creativity can go a long way. For multiple years now, CBP had interviews at AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. I didn't go through that building this year, but I'd bet they were there again. Perhaps they do the same at other big events that have a travel theme? Maybe Fun 'N Sun AeroSpace Expo in Lakeland, FL 4/9-14/2024, or some big travel expo in FL might have a booth. A flight where you could do an interview on arrival might be worth exploring. Good luck.
Free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.
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On 8/3/2023 at 3:24 PM, Toofarfromthesea said:
Yup. It is amazing how knowledgable some of the folks there are. The website is
in case anyone would like to have a look.
Thanks for the link! I've been thinking about doing some exploring by Amtrak and that website should help answer a lot of questions. We took the Empire Builder from St. Paul to Seattle a number of years ago on a planes, trains, and automobiles (and many other modes of conveyance) trip and really enjoyed it. I liked the pace of Amtrak, just sitting, reading, and watching the world go by. A roomette would be about perfect for one, for two it's a little tight, especially in sleep mode. We've also traveled around Europe and Japan by rail and had great trips. My advice based on our Europe/Japan trips one Amtrak trip; 1) pack light in a bag that's easy to move up and down steps/down narrow corridors, and 2) don't plan a tight connection based on Amtrak's timetables. We got into Seattle many hours late. What was planned as an all day visit to the Museum of Flight on arrival day turned into a 1.5 hr mad dash through the exhibits before the museum closed. Because of work schedules, it had to be a very tightly scheduled trip. We were able to string together 16 modes of conveyance on that little adventure. After the leisurely Amtrak leg, the rest of the trip was pretty frenetic!
I hope your test run to St. Louis turns out well.
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On 3/21/2023 at 7:30 PM, gregma60 said:
Thank you, that's what we have been hearing. Unfortunately, I think it will spoil us, and prevent us from doing our two other cruise bucket lists. Panama Canal (pricing at $20,000+ in a neptune suite), and Hawaii (also pricing at $20,000+). I can get 30 days in an all-inclusive resort WITH a butler and airfare for that 🙂
More from the free advice dept: Suites are nice, but I wouldn't forgo a cruise through the Panama Canal or a cruise to Hawaii because a suite was prohibitively expensive. I'd just book a balcony (if avail) or ocean view room. The canal is really impressive, especially when one thinks about when it was built. I'd wanted to see it since 7th grade geography class. It didn't disappoint!
Just a thought.
On 3/21/2023 at 7:30 PM, gregma60 said: -
I've read most of the posts in this thread and it seems most have given you the 411 on weather/clothing needs. If you pack for a cool wet fall day in your home area, you'll be covered. Waterproof/breathable hooded jacket and a fleece jacket and/or fleece vest are all you'll need. I'd add a pair of rain pants to your day bag if you're doing anything outside for any duration. The weather can change by the minute. I forgot my rain pants for a whale watch excursion in Juneau, it started raining really hard, and I spent the rest of the excursion and a couple hours at Mendenhall Glacier in soaked jeans. The rain pants with side zips are much easier to get on/off. A fleece beanie and a light pair of gloves are never a bad thing.
If your concerns about outlets at the bedside are for a CPAP machine, give guest services a call and let them know your needs. It's a really common request that they're used to accommodating. The times I've sailed with my CPAP, they've provided an extension cord (if needed) and distilled water (for a charge). A couple other thoughts; get some gaffer tape. It holds almost as well as duct tape, but leaves no residue. Wrap 5-10 ft. of it around an old plastic gift card/credit card. It works great for taping down an extension cord if the need arrises. If your magnetic hooks slide down the vertical metal surface, put a small piece of gaffer tape on the wall/surface at the level you want the hook. It'll work like a curb/bumper and the magnet won't slide down over it.
Good choice on a Neptune Suite. We booked one for an anniversary cruise to Alaska and it was a wonderful treat. A suggestion for your photographer bride; make sure to be up on deck when steaming out of Skagway. The scenery is particularly breathtaking. Also, Eldred Rock Lighthouse is about 35 miles south of Skagway, and even leaving port at 8p, there may still be some backlighting as you steam by, depending on cloud conditions. Google it and take a look. Enjoy.
Free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.
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Mrs. Port MSP starts a couple weeks before departure and commandeers a spare bedroom for the process. The anticipation and packing are part of the fun for her. I usually pack after she goes to bed the night before we leave, which drives her a little bonkers, and is part of the fun for me
Truth be told, my packing lists don't change much, so it's pretty easy. For winter fun-in-the-sun cruises, we're going from cold (it's -7F as I type this) to a sultry ~80F, so we have to get the summer clothes out of storage to pack. We both have some travel type clothing that we "save" for travel use because they pack well, are easy to wash out in a sink, and they're presentable for most occasions. I've found that if I find an article of clothing that I like and works well, I now buy multiples of said garment because the manufacturer will invariably "improve" it or discontinue it for the next season. Buying multiples means I have some for travel-only, some for everyday wear, and some in reserve.
We have a room in the basement known as "the luggage room" filled with shelving units, where we keep the travel gear and all of our outdoor sports gear. Packing cubes, compression bags, electrical converter plugs, travel size toiletries, etc. all reside in rubbermaid storage bins on the shelves. Grab what you need, pack it, and you're done. When we return, we make a list of consumables we need to replace, put everything back in its bin, and we're ready for the next trip.
Wind chill factors in MN will be in the -30sF range this weekend. I'd very much like to be heading to FFL or MIA to get on a big boat and sail to warm places. Perhaps 2022. Likely 2023.
I find myself longing for a warm weather get away.
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We've been on a couple cruises in the past that went all out for Super Bowl games, showing them on the screen in the theater and on the pool big screen, as well as on the tv system. As the World Series goes for more than one night, I'd guess they might have it on somewhere public, but probably not in one of the big venues. Last Oct. on Zuiderdam, I watched the bronze medal round and the final of the Rugby World Cup on the tv system in our stateroom. The games were on at 0400ish. Mrs. Port MSP did not share my enthusiasm for the matches. The two fellas that ran jewelry stores onboard were from South Africa and were over the moon when the Springboks won the Web Ellis cup.
I didn't watch the game last night. It sounds like I should have.
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6 hours ago, martincath said:
Since you can print a boarding pass 24 hours in advance on any airline I can think of, you could certainly try - but there's way less to do inside the E Gates than anywhere else in the airport. If for some reason you can't avoid being at the airport way too early for your flight, I'd stay outside the Secure area until the 2 or 3 hour mark - there are more options for sitting, eating, and killing time. YVR's blog actually ran an article about stuff to do there, to entice folks who aren't even flying to come hang out!
Yeah, I'd printed off boarding passes the day before on the last cruise, but we were checking bags as Alaska in September seems to require more in the way of clothing options. I asked the Delta personnel why we couldn't go through to security but was given "it's policy" as a reason. I suspected that it had to do with capacity in the E Gates area, but the preclearance explanation sounds more logical. Yes, the E concourse is pretty limited in its offerings. At least there's a Timmy's! I suppose it might be worth a shot next time to go carry on (this requires prior approval from the much better half), or just do some exploring in the pre-security areas next time as it sounds likes there are better offerings. Thanks for the link. Local knowledge is always appreciated.
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4 hours ago, martincath said:
Yes, it's still enforced - primarily when flying to the US, and it's 3 hours preflight now from the reports I've seen. Domestically and International (non-US) the 4 hour limit was always simply down to storage space, varied by airline, just like many busy airports - but thanks to US Preclearance methods there's the additional issue that bags heading to the US are held separately just like people are 'fenced off' in the E gates area. The new (well, it's been a few years now...) system that CBP use take a photo of your bag and links it to your boarding pass, the holding area for checked bags is even less infinite than the domestic and other int'l areas, but your bag cannot be released for stowage on the plane until you have passed through Preclearance.
I know that it's still 4 hours for int'l as my relatives are all very occasional travelers and insist on being at the airport waaaaaaay too early 'just in case' - we've always been able to check bags 4 hrs before for UK flights. A lot of folks have been saying that a 3 hour limit is being enforced at YVR for US flights though, even when the airline still says 4 hours (e.g. Air Canada).
Thank you for the up to date info! I wonder if you could bypass the 3 hour limit and head to security if you were carry on only.
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What everyone else said. We've used the Canada Line for all three of our cruises out of Vancouver. Wonderfully convenient and easy to negotiate. There's plenty of baggage space in the cars.
A couple things to keep in mind; 1) if you travel "heavy" ie lots of baggage, it might be a bit taxing as you'll be doing some walking and it isn't all flat pavement. I'd guess it's about 200ish? yards from getting off the ship to the platform. Not a big deal, but if you're wrangling several roll aboards, it could be cumbersome.
2) On your return to YVR, take into account that on all three occasions, we were not allowed to check in until 4 hrs before the scheduled flight time. I don't know if this is just for international flights, a local YVR regulation, or the rule everywhere, but as our flights were early afternoon, and we'd arrived at YVR around 8am, we had to hang out in the lobby/checkin area for several hours before they would let us check in and go through security. (our last cruise out of Vancouver was fall 2017, so this may no longer be the case) Come to think of it, our last cruise in Oct 19 was out of FLL and we arrived 6 hrs before our flight and went through security. Anyone have a thought on this? I googled it but didn't find anything definitive.
There are seating areas and a Starbucks where you can caffeine up and get a bite to eat. I suppose one could stay on the ship longer, or wander around Canada Place with your bags in tow. For me, the cruise is over and it's time to get to the airport and on to the next phase.
Happy Trails.
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If I had the choice, I'd go for the US Air Force base. Closer to home and access to better medical facilities in the event I developed the disease. One of the news stories I saw said the US evacuees on the Air Force bases will be allowed outdoor recreation time. I think I'd be pretty sick of the confines of my balcony stateroom after a day of being confined, let alone 14.
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Consider Kenmore Air floatplane service from Downtown Seattle to Downtown Vancouver. It's an hour flight and $150ish+. Their base at Coal Harbor in Vancouver is an easy walk to Canada Place.
In Seattle they take off from Lake Union. You could cab it there, or take light rail from Seatac and Uber/walk to Lake Union. I've done the trip the other way (from Victoria) and it was pretty easy. We landed at Lake Union-- walked about a mile to Seattle Center--took the monorail to Westlake Station-- got on light rail at Westlake to Seatac. This would all depend on you traveling pretty light because you're schlepping your own luggage.
Personally, I'd never trust Amtrak when I had to make a same day connection. I've been 5+ hrs late on an Amtrak trip.
Depending on when your flight lands at SEATAC, I'd consider using Kenmore Air the same day, stay in a hotel right by Canada Place, and not deal with connections on embark day.
https://www.kenmoreair.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIocK46bOz4gIVF7jACh1LGw83EAAYASAAEgI1evD_BwE
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First cruise was 2007 Celebrity Millenium, Eastern Caribbean.
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On 5/10/2019 at 3:00 PM, crusingabuela41 said:
Hi everyone, I will be going on my first Alaskan and the one thing that I have no idea about is what type of clothes to pack. All my pass cruise were is warm weather. Can anyone help me with this. I appreciate and info
Thanks
cruising abuela
My Alaska must haves; goretex jacket with hood, rain pants, lightweight goretex hiking boots, a fleece vest, and light layers. Just like in MA/MN in the fall, layers are a must because the weather can change quickly. The coldest I'd plan for is a wet brisk fall day at home. I'd also suggest a good set of binoculars.
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We have shipped "stuff" home multiple times. If you're buying art-type items, the store will usually ship it for you, for a fee of course.
If you're on an Alaska cruise, and Ketchikan is near the end of your itinerary, give Frontier Shipping in the Ketchikan Plaza Mall a try. It's maybe a mile from the port and you can ride the free bus or grab a cab. They ship UPS/FedEx/DHL/and USPS. The last time we were there, (2 years ago) had the USPS "if it fits, it ships" flat rate boxes, which was great because I was shipping a bunch of books. The staff was extremely helpful, courteous, and fast. The whole process of getting there, packaging the stuff, shipping it, and returning to the port area took less than an hour. Not absolutely necessary, but it saved me from carrying a bunch of extra weight and bulk around in my carryon on our travel day.
Free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.
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On 10/31/2018 at 11:00 PM, 2Shoes2Go said:
We have cruised 62 times on Royal for 328 days. We have cruised Carnival 162 times for 883 days. There are many people we know, who have many more days at sea. It’s what we enjoy. When we don’t, we will stop.
Wow! That's impressive. Averaging 100ish nights on a ship a year for twelve years running. Clearly you have found your bliss. Our numbers are pretty paltry in comparison; 1/2007-9/2017 16 cruises, 5 lines, 120 nights. We've given it a miss in 2018.
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I like the braided rubber clotheslines with velcro loops on the ends, like these https://www.amazon.com/Lewis-N-Clark-Clothesline-Size/dp/B003MU9JZC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1495314684&sr=8-4&keywords=travel+clothesline
I've had no luck getting the suction cups to stay attached once clothes are put on the line. Nite Ize twist ties work well for attaching the line to fixtures in the bathroom.
If you don't like pruned hands, and who does, the Scrubba wash bag works really well, and you can use it as a dry bag in your daypack while off the ship.
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I doubt they'd use your coffee in their machine. If you really need "your" coffee, and I kinda get that, look into the pour over/drip filter setups. There are insulated mugs that also have a french press mechanism. A search on REI.com came up with lots of options. Then all you'll need is hot water. Good luck.
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2 hours ago, FGJones said:
I'm very much looking forward to the ports and excursions . My eight day trip only has one sea day, but when you really look at the schedule even port days are going to have some time to kill on the boat. Besides eating and sleeping what do people occupy themselves with? I don't drink, I don't swim, I don't gamble. I most certainly don't relax. It's not something I ever learned how to do. Have I made a mistake? Lol.
I get the apprehension. It took my wife 10 years to talk me into a cruise. 16 cruises later, I think I like them. Like you, I don't drink (much), I don't gamble, I rarely use the pools, but I always find something to occupy myself. I love my slothful sea days. Sleep in, late breakfast, some reading, lunch, nap, maybe a lecture, sit on the balcony and watch the world go by, work out, dinner, movie/read/sit on the balcony and listen to the ship crash through the waves, then bed. If you need to be doing something, and there's nothing wrong with that, check to see if a behind the scenes ship tour is offered. They're usually offered on seas days. They usually cost, but I've found them to be interesting. You'll want to sign up as soon as they'll allow as they fill up quickly. I enjoy the workings of an ocean going vessel. There's lots to see. I like to sit on our balcony with a book, an iced tea, and my binoculars. I enjoy seeing other ships at sea. The shops are usually interesting to browse. Every ship I've been on has had a library. I spent a few hours one sea day on HAL Eurodam just walking the passageways, looking at the historic photos on the walls. It was great. Most ships have lots of art on display. One ship I was on, I think it was a HAL boat, had an iPod with a guided tour of the ship's art that you could check out. I don't know if that's still a thing.
Free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.
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I'm eyeballing a cruise for Cindy next year (hopefully) - didn't work out in 2018 because we had to move unexpectedly. One of the guys staying with us talked up Carnival's Guy's Burgers - but my dad has tried Princess and Celebrity. What's the best way to spoil deer sweet Cindy - and who has the best burgers at sea?
The Dive In burgers on Holland America are pretty good. Spoil her by booking a suite on Celebrity. Then you'll have access to Luminae. The best burger I've ever had, anywhere, was a Luminae burger in the Luminae Restaurant on Celebrity. It was perfectly seared and juicy. I think they were only on the menu on embark day for lunch and lunch on sea days. This may have changed. I'm guessing if you ask for one at other seatings they'd probably make you one.
I know I've had burgers on Princess, but they weren't memorable. Not bad, just not something I remember as being great.
Johnny Rockets on Royal Caribbean was ok.
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Something I like to do on every trip (or any vacation) is to get a post card of the ship or destination. I write the ship and sailing dates & my travel partners. Then the fun part is writing a one or two word phrase of the different things that happen while on the trip. Things like “bingo win”, “bridge tour”, “ice cream mustaches “, Barb’s noisy neighbor”, etc ....later my husband & I review the postcards and the phrases remind us of things that happened that we had forgotten and we have great memories!
What a great idea! After 16 cruises over 11 years (which is nothing compared to many on this forum) I know I've forgotten many details. I will definitely be adopting this one.
A snap-valet-tray for each nightstand, to keep things from slipping into the slots.I completely agree. I've been using one of these for years.
I'll add:
-extra reading glasses
-a small zippered tool bag containing; mini mag lite, headlamp, duct tape, zip ties, TSA compliant multitool, advil, small first aid kit, ear plugs, iPod, roll of antacid tablets, gum, pen, moleskine notebook
- bluetooth speaker for room
- small packing cube of chargers, cords, etc
- "admin" cube with reading material, snacks, more compete first aid kit, and other travel miscellany
-folder with all travel docs and info
-scanned copies of same, emailed to self
- binoculars
- sunglasses
- scrubba wash bag with soap and a travel clothes line
- fleece vest
- goretex jacket
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Let's say for example one of my checked bags does not make it to the airport prior to my cruise for any number of reasons. I have read that sometimes these lost bags mysteriously show up before sailing or at the next port. My question is--how is it known that I am on a cruise? I have not yet attached my cruise line luggage tags. Do I have to actually tell someone I am on a cruise with no luggage? Is it in a computer somewhere? I have also read that sometimes these bags are gone forever.:(
The tag the airline attached to your checked bag states where it's supposed to go. When it's found, it'll get routed there. They'll know you're on a cruise because you'll tell them when you go to lost luggage and fill out a form.
Yes, some bags are never returned. I suspect because they can't identify the owner. But, there are some steps you can take before you travel to increase the odds of getting your bag back. Print out an itinerary including your name, cell number, a phone number of someone back home (in case they can't get you), your ship, the name/address/phone number of any hotel you're staying at, etc, put it in a plastic sleeve, and put it in an unlocked outside pocket. Put another copy inside the bag. I also attach a couple luggage tags on the outside of the bag. Not a guarantee that you'll get the bag back in the event it goes missing, but it should increase the chances.
Thankfully, it's never happened to us.
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Trying to get an idea of what the weather is like on an Alaskan cruise in the very end of the season. Has anyone been on the last week of September/ first week of October?
As you've probably gathered, the weather is extremely variable. We've sailed end of Sept/early October several times and had both fantastic weather and inclement weather, sometimes in the same two hour period.
Yes, we have seen Northern Lights while on a cruise. While fall and winter are the best times to see them, they can occur anytime. It's based on solar activity. There are websites that forecast Northern Lights, just do a search. I've seen them in the summertime in MN. It just depends.
I see you're from southern Texas. Check the average lows and highs for SE Alaska for Sept/Oct. Your tolerance for cool weather will dictate what you'll want to bring. I've grown up in the Northland, so 60F to me is bliss, and still shorts weather. I suspect that wouldn't be the case for you:D By way of example, we were in Iceland last month. It was 50F-60F everyday, much like AK in late Sept/early Oct. While visiting a waterfall on The Golden Circle, we met some people from Florida who were bundled up like I would for a cold December day; fleece cap, scarf, mittens, down coat and winter boots. I was wearing a t-shirt and khakis. They thought I was nuts. I was in heaven! I always give the advice to first time Alaska cruisers to buy a fleece vest at the first port, then you'll have a useful souvenir. I never travel without a fleece/wool vest. Get one with the Alaska state flag, a bear, an eagle, or some such embroidered on it. You'll be at the end of season so there will be clearance sales everywhere.
We've sailed from Seattle twice and Vancouver three times. Given the choice, I'd go out of Vancouver. As others have said, you'll be in the Inside Passage a good deal of the time. Plus, on the way back, the scenery is breathtaking. (On the way up it'll be dark, so you won't see much)
Good luck planning.
Free Advice is worth exactly what you pay for it
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The cruises I'm comparing don't go to both Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier Bay so if you HAD to choose which to see, what one would you do? This is the first time we will be doing an Alaska cruise
Too many variables for Alaska cruises, aren't there? What ships? Round trip or one way? Out of where? Days pre or post cruise in the embark city? All factor in for me when picking a cruise. If I knew I was only going to Alaska once, I'd probably pick Glacier Bay because you're there longer than you'll be in Tracy Arm. But I'd also pick Vancouver as a embark city because you sail up the east side of Vancouver Island and the scenery is spectacular on the way back. It'll be dark on the way up.
I've seen more of a variety of wildlife in Glacier Bay. It's also a National Park and they bring on NP staff to answer questions, narrate the natural history, and bring the all important NP Passport Stamp! If you're into that sort of thing, which I am. The scenery is spectacular.
But, Tracy Arm was other-worldly for me. It reminded me of something out of The Lord of the Rings. I was kind of awestruck, and we got pretty close to the glacier. I've been to Glacier Bay 3 times and I've enjoyed it each time. I've wanted to get back to Tracy Arm, but I haven't been able to book the excursion due to arrival times in Juneau.
If you pick Glacier Bay, make sure you're up and on deck/your balcony early. A good set of binoculars are a must for Glacier Bay, and all of Alaska really. The white dots you see way up on a patch of green on a rock face are likely mountain goats, but you won't get much of a look without some good magnification.
Enjoy your Alaska cruise. You won't go wrong with either choice.
Free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.
Truth be told, my packing lists don't change much, so it's pretty easy. For winter fun-in-the-sun cruises, we're going from cold (it's -7F as I type this) to a sultry ~80F, so we have to get the summer clothes out of storage to pack. We both have some travel type clothing that we "save" for travel use because they pack well, are easy to wash out in a sink, and they're presentable for most occasions. I've found that if I find an article of clothing that I like and works well, I now buy multiples of said garment because the manufacturer will invariably "improve" it or discontinue it for the next season. Buying multiples means I have some for travel-only, some for everyday wear, and some in reserve.
I am in need of a sunscreen that will not stain clothing
in Ask a Cruise Question
Posted
The one I have is marketed under the brand Einskey, but the same hat can be found on Amazon under other names. https://www.amazon.com/EINSKEY-Waterproof-Outdoor-Protection-Fishing/dp/B01J1GQ1HY/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=einskey%2Bsun%2Bhat&qid=1692738361&sr=8-3&th=1
It's not very stylish, but it definitely does the job of protecting your face, neck, and ears.