Roo

On 8/15/2019 at 10:17 AM, ORV said:

Gosh, some people really need to lighten up. Jokes are fun, don't take life so serious.

 

The B3 rooms are at the front and back of deck 7 on the O ships. We had one on Marina recently and loved the extra space. 

 

I only take a Concierge room if I get moved to it, unless it's one of the ones at the rear on the R ships, then we'll pay a little extra for those. 

Curious which room number you had.... looking to book next Spring on Marina.  Thanks.

Nancy

Thanks for the info.  I searched through the amenities but didn’t see it, which either meant a coffee maker was not worth mentioning or wasn’t included.

Thanks for your reply.  I would if I could, but can’t right now.  That is why I was hoping  someone who has been there recently would reply.

Does anyone know if Princess Denali and McKinley Lodges have a (Keurig) pod coffee maker in THE ROOM?  I know there is coffee available at the various restaurants on the properties.  Thanks.

23 hours ago, SeahawkSiren said:

We just returned from a 7 day DIY land trip in Alaska (included Fairbanks, Healy, Denali, Anchorage and Seward) and there was smoke/haze every day at every location.  Luckily the 2 days in Denali we had very nice weather and had AWESOME views of Denali despite the smoke.  The section of the drive from Healy/Denali to Anchorage was the worst.  The smoke was less of an issue between Anchorage and Seward.  We were there from July 4 to 11.

 

I was going to post a review of this DIY land trip but wasn't sure it would be allowed since it did not include a cruise (we have done 3 Alaska cruises but this was specifically a road trip).  I have awesome photos from Denali (we did the entire 184 mile round trip bus tour) and Kenai Fjords National Park where we did an 8.5 hour boat excursion.

I would welcome your land review!  If the monitors think it inappropriate they'll let you know!  Hope you had a good time, we leave in a few days.

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/wildlife/2019/07/11/video-watch-this-anchorage-moose-cool-off-in-a-sprinkler-during-the-heat-wave/

Thanks everyone for your information!

Hi there,

I'm asking for a group of 4 couples who will walk down the Royal Mile after visiting the Castle.  Would you be able to recommend a few restaurants where we can grab lunch that can handle a group of 8 walking in at once?  Thanks.  

On 6/24/2019 at 12:28 PM, reedprincess said:

We did Off The Beaten Oath and thoroughly enjoyed it. And spent way less on food and drink than it would have been to be Connoisseur for same stops.

We ate out and about in Talkeetna (shuttle ride from lodge, $10 roundtrip when we went, about 45-1 hour maybe?)  And lots of options across the road in Denali.  We ended up having to eat at the lodge in Copper River as the limo shuttle to the town (run by the diner there) was out of commission. At least by then, we hadn't eaten at the lodges for every meal, so the menus weren't repetitive. It was also amongst the most expensive meals we ate during the trip.

Personally, there's no way I'd pay for the Connoisseur tours.  We had great info from our guides/drivers, got fab room locations, and ate and drank to our heart's content and came out way less expensive, and lots more variety, than if we'd gone Connoisseur.

YMMV

Thanks for this info.  re: shuttle bus from Lodge to Talkeetna - was it a school bus or a van?  If it was a smaller vehicle, did you have to choose your return time in advance?  Thanks.

On 6/29/2019 at 2:17 PM, mapleleaves said:

I

On 7/9/2019 at 5:37 PM, tartanexile81 said:

 

I live in Edinburgh now and I'm Scottish but I lived in England for many years. I never had any trouble using my Scottish bank notes in England including in and around London. 

Hi there,

 

I'm asking for a group of 4 couples who will walk down the Royal Mile after visiting the Castle.  Would you be able to recommend a few restaurants where we can grab lunch that can handle a group of 8 walking in at once?  Thanks.  

Can someone please comment on the weather Alaska has been experiencing?  Sure makes me rethink what I'm going to pack.  For those doing a land tour - how has it been with the forest fires (breathing?  sights?).  Thanks.

Nancy

Just thought I'd share this photo that was shared to me.... "This bear IS ALIVE it was a tag and release under sedation , but just to give u perspective of a grizzly bears paw!! "  Ain't Mother Nature grand?!?

Great ideas!  Especially the waterproof pouch for the camera/phone.  Thanks everyone.

Nancy

Thanks, I was leaning towards the Spencer trip with the Alaska Wildlife Conservation side trip.  The only thing that attracted me to the Portage trip is getting close to a glacier , not just the icebergs as in the Spencer trip.

Appreciate your advice.

Nancy 

There are two day trips from Anchorage that I'm considering - one is to Portage Glacier Cruise and the other to Spencer Iceberg and Pencer River Float.  I know there are differences such as travel by bus or train, but it's more the Iceberg/glacier experience that I'm trying to get a handle on as to which is the better experience.  Is there anyone who has done either who can comment?  Thanks.

On 6/2/2019 at 10:44 AM, Roo said:

Thanks for your advice.  As I mentioned earlier, do you have any suggestions for topical relief from bites?

Nancy

Thank you all for your advice.  You have confirmed my thoughts about what I would use for repellant and topical relief (as well as clothing etc.).  The Cruise Critic people ROCK!

Regards,

Nancy 

30 minutes ago, rma2001 said:

I use a mosquito repellent lotion on my body and then spray on some on my clothes. The lotion is “Sawyer Products Picaridin insect repellent”. Then Off deep woods dry spray on my and clothes. 

 

I like the lotion as it seems to last longer than spray alone.

Thanks for your advice.  As I mentioned earlier, do you have any suggestions for topical relief from bites?

Nancy

1 hour ago, zelker said:

We've been to Alaska 5 times, always take something containing DEET, and have never used any insect repellant (and I am a HUGE insect magnet).  This includes hiking in to fish or see bears fishing on streams, walking through forests, ATVing in forests … all potential places to encounter them.  When and where are you going?

Hi there,

We are doing a cruise tour mid July.  My DH is also an insect magnet and we certainly don't want to board the boat (after a week in land) in discomfort.  Thanks for your advice.  Any particular brand you recommend?

Having said that, do you or does anyone have any suggestions for topical relief from bites?

Thanks,

Nancy

Hi,  I’m looking for advice from those who have been to Alaska hiking in parks or near areas where this is required:  what bug/mosquito spray/repellant did you use and did you find it effective?  I read somewhere that there is a certain local brand, but would like to come prepared.  Thanks.

In most large Canadian cities, U.S. $ are accepted.  The exchange rate may not be as favourable as at the bank, but you have the convenience factor of using the one currency.

Hi Everyone,

There are 8 of us that are looking for private transfer from the port in Greenock to Edinburgh (and return) with perhaps a few hours at most tour in Edinburgh.  Any advice?  Thanks,

Nancy

Hi everyone,

Can someone please give me some advice regarding getting from Greenock (where we dock) to Edinburgh.  We are a group of 8.  Ideally a private transfer to and from;  bonus would be a short tour once we get there, then time to walk around.  I appreciate your advice.

Thanks,

Nancy

Hi there, 

Congrats in advance. I am interested in some of your questions as well, so will follow along!

Thanks,

Nancy

Similar but different question for y'all re: DIY.  We are flying to Anchorage and then to Fairbanks to begin our southward cruise tour.  We were thinking of DRIVING from Anchorage to Fairbanks, instead of flying (we have as many days as needed to do so).  Since we will be staying in Fairbanks, Denali and Mckinley during the official tour, can anyone advise what else there is to do/see along the way that we wouldn't necessarily do on the escorted tour portion, if we take a few days to do this appx. 6 hour drive [I know, I know, it depends on many factors in terms of driving time ;-)]. Thanks.

On 12/17/2018 at 4:34 PM, reedprincess said:

Worth is in the eye of the beholder. 

To us, the connoisseur tour was absolutely NOT worth the extra money. We did the Off The Beaten Path tour instead - and paid for all our own meals and drinks, and it was "worth it" to do it that way. We weren't tied to the lodges for meals but rather ate out in town and such, we ate and drank all we wanted along the way, and came out way less expensive than the connoisseur tour would have been for same itineray.  We had a guide with us all the way, great room locations, and way more variety for meals versus eating at the lodges with the same menus at all of them.. 

Worked better for us. Others love the connoisseur tour.  YMMV.. Only you know what's "worth it" to you.. 

Hi there,  When you mentioned that you ate out in town etc., which stops/hotels were you close enough to eat somewhere other than the hotel?  Could you walk into 'town"?

Thanks,

Nancy