Cruisin' Along

Just don't try to do it all in one week. You'll come home more exhausted than when you left!

 

This is my planning spreadsheet I used for our first cruise on Oasis. Some people like to plan - others don't. If you do like planning ahead, feel free to use it. Most of all, relax and enjoy. And what you don't do this time, you'll be able to do the next!

That is an impressive planning spreadsheet! I thought my packing list was complete but it's not as specific as yours with stating what items went into which bags. I am definitely a planner so may use parts of this. Thanks!

We booked the coastal cruise a few days ago and are actually pretty excited about it! It will be our first cruise with RCI. We are within driving distance of Seattle. No airfare involved, so it's a pretty inexpensive way for us to try RCI. We are taking this cruise as much for the ship as for the itinerary.

Astoria, while not the most exciting port out there, is a cute town. We look forward to spending 2 days in San Francisco without having to fly there and spend $300+ a night on lodging. We also look forward to a full day in Victoria, during the day, rather than the usual 4 hour late evening stop.

The price seemed very reasonable to me for a 7 night cruise, so we will give it a go!

Too many to count at this point! We've never booked a cruise more than 5 months in advance prior to this, so waiting well over a year is going to be really strange.

Enjoyed reading this thread. Just booked our first RCI cruise on the Explorer for next year!

Thank you for sharing this. My daughter needs GF due to allergies and will be happy to hear about your experience. We just booked our first RCI cruise yesterday and already can't wait even though it's not until next fall!

Thank you both for the information. We took the plunge and booked a superior cabin ....our first RCI cruise. Very excited!

We are new to RCI and considering a cruise on the Explorer of the Seas. I'm trying to decide between Deluxe or Superior balcony cabins.

Is there really a noticeable difference in size between the two cabins. I think it's listed as about 11 sq ft larger for the Superior.

I read a TR awhile back (based on the Oasis) that said to get a cabin with the bed by the balcony. Does this also apply to the EOS? If so, am I figuring right that 7614, 7622 or 7320 have this configuration?

Thanks for your help!

The weather in Alaska varies quite a bit. We did a late August cruise and the weather was great. Sunny and we were in t-shirts on our port stops. On our glacier day, a very warm coat and gloves were needed despite the sunny skies. It was cold!

The cruise before ours had cool, rainy weather all week. Layering is your best bet. I would recommend both a light jacket, maybe a rain jacket and something heavier.

Enjoying your review very much. Gorgeous photos. And I appreciate seeing the menus and the Daily. We haven't yet cruised NCL but are considering it, so your review is very helpful. Thank you!

I'm enjoying your TR. Haven't yet cruised NCL but we are considering it. I appreciate reading both the good and bad in TRs!

as a lifelong Elvis Presley fan I am so excited to see this show. I just really hope they pick a good Elvis Tribute Artist. The greatest idea would be to pick Justin Shandor the man looks identical to Elvis presly so much so that it's scary, if you watch this video you will have to rub your eyes and look twice because you won't believe your eyes. Tell me what you think? Do you have any ideas on who should play Elvis for the rest of the cast?

We've seen Justin Shandor perform live a number of times. While very good, he's not our favorite ETA. We'd much rather watch Joseph Hall or Cody Slaughter.

Not sure I can get the time off work for a cruise with about 200 sea days. But what the heck....the price is decent! ;)

I'd love to read more tips. Thinking about taking our first cruise with NCL on the Pearl to Alaska.

harryfat1:

Question for you about Last Minute Travel. (I was unfamiliar with them until your TR.) How far in advance did you find your good deals and make your reservations for your hotels both before and after your cruise? Is it truly "last minute" as in the week or so before, or did you find good deals months ahead?

Thanks again for all of your tips and great information! :)

"I am sure somebody is wondering this – if this dude is really that cheap, why is he even staying one extra night post cruise? Doesn’t that cost money? Wouldn’t he be better off going home ASAP? Good question. Time for another cost comparison.

We had 6 ships in port on sailing date, for approx.. 20,000+ passengers. Granted some will not need airplane flights as they will be driving but I would say more than half of the 20,000 people will be needing to fly home that day. Simple supply and demand will tell you that the planes will be packed on any given weekend, especially the busy holiday weekends when you have other land tourists flying out. So the cost will likely be higher on day when most cruisers are off the ships."

Thanks for another great tip. We've only cruised out of Seattle and Galveston, so not the huge cruise ports that Florida has. Good point about the flights being crazy crowded and probably more expensive with so many cruisers needing to fly home.

Seems like customs delays in the Florida ports are common. If and when we book a cruise out of Florida, we will plan to stay an extra day (or two!) Stressing about making a flight wouldn't be a good way to end a vacation.

As always.....thanks!

We've enjoyed the Maxwell Hotel. It's just past the Space Needle. Cheaper than staying downtown and free, secure parking for those who drive. (Can't leave your car there while on the cruise, however.)

It's in the quiet Queen Anne neighborhood, about a 20 minute walk to the Pike Place Market. They also run a shuttle to the downtown area.

"You do realize I am not done, done, yet, right? We stayed 1 night in FLL post cruise so I still have some stuff to share."

Well okay then. You've done a great TR......SO FAR! That's always subject to change, of course, even with one day left to go! ;)

So, if you have one day (10 years) left - keep the fat lady from singing!

The fat lady is warming up in the background and humming but not on the stage singing yet.

It's going to be sad when the fat lady is on stage singing! :mad:

I proclaim your TR my all time favorite. It's been educational, humorous and just plain fun. My family has asked me numerous times what I was laughing at while reading your TR. I had to share your latest escapades with them each day!

I don't know that I will ever cruise the Allure so it's been fun seeing the ship through your camera with you and your family. Thanks for taking the time to write this TR.

 

OK, here is a butt to butt competition. Whose butt is bigger? Of course our butt is bigger. Nah, nah, nah, nah, our butt is bigger than your butt…Let’s do a cheerleading chant. 2-4-6-8, whose butt do we appreciate? Allure, Allure…

I always knew - somehow, somewhere - there was a situation where it would be just fine to brag about one's butt being bigger. You found it! :D

Continuing to follow along. I get ridiculously happy every time I see you have added to your TR! Truly one of the best TRs I have ever read!

Fantastic TR. Thanks for taking the time to write it and share your photos. I'm especially enjoying it because I, too, am cheap! Looking forward to more. :)

Great TR - but what a pain about your luggage. I've been flying for years and this is the first I've read about them pulling luggage off the plane when it's overweight. Makes sense. But accurate tracking and getting that info to the passenger would be nice.

(I'm not sure that we need to worry about our luggage being pulled off - seems to be Murphy's law that our luggage is always among the last loaded on the belt at baggage claim, which must mean it gets buried at the back of the plane. :D )

We do usually cross pack. From now on we will cross pack several outfits instead of just one!

Can't wait to read more of your TR.

We are new to Princess and thinking about booking a cruise to Alaska in Sept 2015. We are thinking either mini-suite or splurging on a Vista suite since this will be a trip for a special birthday.

The suites already include a specialty dinner. The 50th anniversary special currently running also includes a specialty dinner. If you've booked your cruise under this special, did you get two specialty dinners or is there no stacking of benefits?

Thanks!

Last year I was on the second seating and on disembarkation day we were able to have the late breakfast.

 

This year we choose the main seating, but we do not want to wake to have breakfast at 6:45 a.m. If we show up at 8:00 a.m for breakfast will we be turned away? :confused:

We were in the same situation on our last cruise. We didn't want to eat so early when our bus to the airport wasn't departing until something like 9:30 a.m.

We told our Head Server and he said he would have a table for us at the later breakfast.

Sorry fellow readers, I know this has nothing to do with Disney cruising, but I'm curious.:o

We just toured the Queen Mary last month and were wondering the same thing!