Cinderellie

Most of the shops in these port towns feature gold and precious gems. Same stuff in each store. I love unique silver and vintage marchasite. Silver we can usually find. But it has to be a unique piece which has to "speak to me."

I will definitely look in St. Thomas!

Thanks.

Never heard of the quest. What is it?

Hello. Are they just production/magic/comedian shows on the Grandeur, or are there any Broadway-type theater shows during a 10-day cruise from Baltimore to the Caribbean?

Is there a passenger talent show?

Thanks.

Thank you so much, RSLeesburg. I appreciate this update, and I bet we can get a lot more of those little things we should know about.

This thread is old, and perhaps out of date, but some great tips. Still true? Can anyone add more tips and secrets you wish you had known if you were on the Grandeur for the first time? It's our first trip aboard her, and our honeymoon (though we're a 50-ish couple of widowers remarried.)

Please share with us!

Thanks!

All kinds of jewelry stores in all those ports. You should have no trouble finding what you want. If you don't see it, ask. I do all my jewelry shopping in St. Thomas. I've gotten some good deals there. And they do have sterling silver and I'm sure I saw marcasite too.

 

Have a great cruise. I am going to those ports next week. Can't wait.

 

 

Gwen :)

Let us know if you see good unique silver pieces, and which port you saw them. Thanks and have a great time!

Does anyone know if there are any wonderful silver or marchasite shops in either San Juan, St. Thomas or St, Maarten? I love unique silver pieces, and especially vintage-looking marchasite. Coming to all 3 islands in April on the Grandeur of the Seas.

Your ideas welcome! Thanks!

Hello, my new husband and I will only be in San Juan for one day on our honeymoon cruise -- on Easter Saturday -- from 2:30 to 10:00 PM, and we'd like to do something very romantic for a dinner experience... but be sure to get back to the ship in plenty of time.

What would you suggest?

We are in our 50's, he does NOT dance, we do NOT like a lot of walking.

We do love good food, and having a fantastic experience, soaking up the culture of the locals... rather than tourist traps. But we also believe you do not have to spend $100 per person to have a great meal... not that we are cheap. We both travel for business and have "been there done that" with top restaurants with huge price tags... but now prefer native-to-the-area hole-in-the-wall restaurants where the locals go.

But we are not adverse to spending more to have a fantastic experience, such as a sunset cruise or something else I can't get here in shivery New Jersey right now!

Any suggestions? Much obliged!

What's the general probability of getting an upgrade to a balcony stateroom just two months out from a Grandeur of the Seas 10 day cruise over Easter.

You seasoned cruisers... I'd love to hear your best guesses. Or any tips?

Thanks!

And if you know... what's the general probability of getting an upgrade to a balcony stateroom just two months out from a Grandeur of the Seas 10 day cruise over Easter. You seasoned cruisers... I'd love to hear your best guesses. Or any tips?

Hello. We just booked a honeymoon cruise on the Grandeur of the Seas and were assigned an Oceanview cabin -- the forward-most cabin on Deck 2... 2508. We thought it would be private.

It's a 10 night cruise over Easter.

Good choice? Any experience?

Thank you!

We are an older couple in our 40-50's celebrating our honeymoon on the Grandeur of the Seas out of Baltimore... but just realized it is over Easter week, and there may be lots of kids aboard.

We were hoping for a quieter cruise, since it was 10 days.

Does anyone have any experience with this over Easter?

Thank you!

Hello. My husband and I are planning our excursions now for a June 2015 Princess cruise and land tour. Is the excursion Taku Lodge 5 Glacier float plane with salmon feast -- that is $297 per person -- worth the money?

We have read the reviews, watched the video... but how does it compare to other sea planes value-wise? We don't have a problem spending money to be wowed. But if there are other alternatives that give you that wow factor, I would love to hear your experiences. (I design interactive experiences for a living, so for me... it's all about the wow experience.)

It can be a sea plane from ports other than Juneau. Helicopters are out of the question for us.

Thank you, sages!

My husband and I are planning an Alaska cruise in June 2015. We are both chubby and can't do a helicopter tour without a great premium. So, we plan to do a sea plane over the glaciers. We start our trip on a land tour, arriving in Anchorage, then sightseeing for a few days, spending a day in Denali, and perhaps a day at Hotel Alyeska in Girdwood. Then we will sail on a Southbound cruise on Princess, stopping in Juneau, Glacier Bay, Skagway and Ketchikan.

Which sea plane excursion offers the most spectacular views/itinerary/most entertaining tour guides? Where does it leave from?

Thanks for your advice.

My husband and I are heading to Alaska next summer, and I am ready that others have said their best tip was to invest in waterproof shoes. We will NOT be hiking or anything like that -- rather going on some sightseeing/whale watching tours.

Could you recommend waterproof shoes for us? We don't want to spend a fortune, as we may never use them again.

I am a size 10 Wide women's.

My husband is a size 15. He won't wear hiking boots. I hope that's NOT what the posters have been recommending.

What do you suggest?

Thanks!

To those who shared your cruise ship preferences and reasoning, thank you. That's exactly what we were looking for. We did not ask for seasickness advice. I was hoping that some in this seasoned group had sailed on multiple Princess ships touring Alaska and to hear your "take" comparing the ships. Much obliged.

Hello. My new husband and I (in our late 40's - early 50's) want to sail Alaska in mid-June 2015. His first Alaska cruise... my 2nd, although we have cruised other lines.

Since we want to go to Glacier Bay, our options are reduced to Princess and Holland America.

Since Holland America is way more expensive, and I hear caters to an older clientele, we have probably decided on Princess.

So... which ship do we take? We sailed on the Star in March for our honeymoon, and want to try a different ship. That leaves the Coral, Crown and Pacific. All go to Glacier Bay.

The Pacific Princess is hailed as one of their SMALLER ships. Since we were a bit disappointed in the Star's activities on board and entertainment (mostly geared for SENIORS), and felt the food (especially the buffets) were mediocre at best, we would like to hear your recommendations for choosing a ship.

Things you should know:

- My husband gets seasick... tried ginger, dramamine, the wrist bracelet, and then succombed to the patch, which made him very tired during the trip. Would a smaller ship be worse for that?

- Would a smaller ship have more limited activities and entertainment?

- Are one of the ships geared to older passengers?

Your sage advice, please. Thanks!

rjeffler, thank you so much. I LOVED reading your pre and post summaries and your pics. I learned much from your postings. You have helped me immensely!

Both of you offer very sage advice. I agree ACTIVITIES are the key thing here as well. But I don't know what I don't know. Hearing other people's highlights -- what they absolutely adored (just like on a menu when I ask the server their favorites) helps me narrow down the vast selection.

I'd still love to hear some favorite things from Alaska land tours.

Thanks again.

Thank you so much, Aquahound for your photo journal. I was almost THERE with you!

When you took the tram up to Seven Glaciers... what time was your dinner reservation... for you to see that marvelous view? I think your post showed 11:30 PM for sunset.

Does the tram go often? Does it take you right back to the hotel?

What other MUST-SEES would you suggest for us form your trip? Killer views (without hiking) are TOPS for us.

Thank you!

Hello, traveling friends. Let me tell you about us before I ask your advice.

- We are a couple in our late 40's, early 50's -- recently married -- who are looking to see Alaska. DH, for the first time, me almost 25 years ago.

- We are BOTH chubby, NOT the hiking, outdoorsy type. We are sightseers who want to see all the WOW we can... the beautiful MAJESTIC LANDSCAPE, NORTHERN LIGHTS, and some animals/whales if we can.

- My DH gets SEASICK and we just survived our Hawaii honeymoon cruise, but only with heavy-hitting meds.

- We hope to cruise end of May or June next year or late August/September of 2015 to takes advantage of good cruise deals.

- We are both executives who are bargain shoppers, but do like nice places to stay... no budget motels, nor B&B's. But knowing what they REALLY cost as business travelers, we try to go as nicely but as inexpensively as we can. Bottom line -- we shop for VALUE.

- We would rather do things independently (than on a group bus) but don't mind group tours occasionally.

- We have NOT chosen a cruise line yet, but have sailed on most. Not important.

- We are not history or museum buffs... rather interactive experience type of people.

If you were planning a trip for us BEFORE our southbound cruise -- what would be the MUST-SEE things you would recommend? Where, what, why?

Where would you suggest we stay?

Yes, we will be doing tons of reading, but I would appreciate your "gotta do this -- this was INCREDIBLE" direction to guide our research.

Much obliged...

Hello. It's been a long time since I have booked an Alaska cruise... over 20 years! My new husband and I want to start making plans for a 2015 cruise -- don't know when -- either at May's end to sometime in June. We are flexible.

- When do you start looking for the best discounts for 2015?

- Do the cruise lines have special sales on an annual basis for Alaska? I get bombarded with cruise offers for THIS year... but when do the sales for 2015 start publishing, and become discounted?

- Are there special sites that you use to get deep discounts?

I am a past cruiser with NCL, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Carnival & Disney.

I know about last minute cruise deals. I don't want to play thing that close. For work purposes, we need to plan ahead and arrange time off.

Info about us... we are a newlywed couple in our late 40's, mid 50's. My 2nd time to Alaska, his 1st. He gets seasick but the patch worked. Going alone as a couple -- like a 2nd honeymoon. We are both chubby -- NOT the hiking, adventure type. More scenery, wildlife, fun type.

Suggestions for us?

Thanks in advance.

Hello. This is our first time on the Star Princess, and we are sailing in 9 days on the 16 day ship to Hawaii from LA. Are the pools heated? Are the Hot Tubs really warm on the Star?

And what's the deal about "Sanctuary?" Is this a premium service you have to pay extra for on the Star? What's included?

Thanks for filling me in.

Funny. My original post said nothing about coffee. My fiance' and I don't even drink it.

Hale Koa luau is for military personnel only. We wrote to them… TWICE. New rules. They only service servicemen.

That's OK. We are taking the advice of Cruz'n Couple here and making reservations for House Without a Key for a romantic dinner and wonderful music, then back to the ship at our leisure.

Thank you all for your responses.