Sailin Gal

8 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

 

If you get a beverage package, you will get an insulated drinking cup as a part of that purchase ... so consider that before you pack your own insulated mug.  Bring a bit of dish soap so you can wash your mug.  

We pick up ice water many times each day either in the Windjammer Buffet or the Cafe Promenade.  

 

 

 

Well dang, we’ve never gotten an insulated cup with any of the adult beverage packages we purchased.  Carnival and NCL were 5+ years ago, Princess last year.

On 3/17/2023 at 7:55 AM, DaveOKC said:

Stay at a hotel near the airport (one that has a shuttle from the airport to hotel) and then take Seattle Express to (and from if you wish) to Pier 91.  SE stops at most airport hotels (and I think now at the airport as well) but you need a reservation.  Great service and runs on time plus reasonable price.

 

Seattle Express’ website lists their partner hotels under the free mall shuttle section, or a mock booking will show you which airport area hotels they run to and from.  We just booked them for hotel to Pier 91, and for Pier 91 to SEATAC upon return, and it was $25/pp each way.  
 

You can also register with Seattle Port Valet luggage sevice for your luggage to go from the ship straight to your departing flight, and it is a free service (you just have to pay your checked bag fees if applicable; our reservation indicated Princess will charge our onboard account for that). 

5 hours ago, Thumper007 said:

They almost have it right

Just missing the Dr. pepper and Shiner Bock 😎🤠

Just now, Buckeye10640 said:

I think that was a mistake on the part of the server. We never specify 'fountain' coke or diet coke, but I assume they see our drink package and that's what we are served. The only time we got caught on the can issue was ordering a diet sprite, which is not available as a fountain drink, but we did not realize it at the time. 

Agree, server error, and it didn’t  happen again, but we were cognizant of the exclusion after that.

4 hours ago, Paula_MacFan said:

https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/food-and-dining/beverages/

 

Each package details are listed here.  

Note that it calls out ‘fountain sodas’.  We didn’t  realize that, and fist time DH ordered a Coke and he got a can, which we were charged for. 😞

49 minutes ago, lizardcruisemom said:

Thanks for the tips, we reserved a car through this place and are looking forward to driving all over and seeing the sights!

 

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

On 2/27/2023 at 1:42 PM, SuzieQ521 said:

 

Do you recall if there are any dinner restaurants (fast food even) that are walkable (assuming it's safe to do so)?

 

I read on Seattle Express’ website that they have complimentary shuttle service from several airport hotels to a nearby mall area where there are quite a few restaurants.  I’m sorry, but I don’t remember which hotels were listed.

On 2/25/2023 at 10:07 AM, lizardcruisemom said:

We are in Haines on June 28th and looking for what to do - if renting a car, where is good to go, what things can you get to?  Which rental car company did you use, were they easy to get to?  TIA

We rented from Lynn View Lodge, and they were very easy to use. The car was waiting for us in a lot near the pier, and we just dropped it off there when we were done. 

There are few different directions you can go from Haines.  We drove the Haines Highway up to the border crossing, then went back to Haines and then took Lutak Road to Chilkoot Lake Recreation Area.  Both were scenic drives, running along the Chilkat River, Lutak Inlet, and Chilkoot River.  Chilkoot lake was beautiful, too.  There were plenty of places to pull over and take photos, and we were there in late August when the salmon were running, so we got to watch black and brown bears fishing in the Chilkoot River.  Plans had included some hiking and a drive down to Chilkat State Park too, but DH wasn't feeling well so we returned to the ship early.

We had a forwrd facing balcony on Royal last year in Alaska, but I spent a fair amount of time outside on 16, 17, 18, and 19 to get pics in different directions while in Glacier Bay. The weather and sky were continually changing (fog, sun, clouds) so the colors of everything were likewise changing.  I was just so fascinated that I couldn’t stay put in one place.  😎

After watching videos from different Haines excursions we decided to rent a car and explore on our own.  Would do that again in a heartbeat. 

Similar situation, DH got covid on a sailing last August and was quarantined most of the cruise.  We had the platinum insurance  from Princess.  It took a little more than 5 months for AON to pay the claim and Princess to issue FCC.  We spent many hours on the phone with AON because the first reimbursement they sent us was just a fraction of the claim, and there was no explanation and the amounts didnt match anything we had submitted.   I hope yours is resolved much faster than that. 

We too are jeans/sweats/sneaks type.  Packing for an AK cruise is very different from a Caribbean cruise for us. Rain gear, layers, and hiking boots get top packing priority, so we have to get creative with what luggage space is left.  Last time I took black hiking and yoga pants that did double duty. They do outdoor activities during the day, are easier and lighter to pack than jeans, and easily pair with a cute top and shoes for dinner. DH took a couple golf shirts for dinner. As others have said, its all about the ports, scenery, and Alaska experience.  Just do you and enjoy Alaska!

6 hours ago, SuzieQ521 said:

Also, any balcony rooms to avoid on the Royal? We were looking at the Emerald Deck and trying to figure out if the obstructed view ones are worth the lower price.

 

If you have any concern about noise, look at the Promenade deck plan in relation to any Emerald deck cabins you’re considering; there are multiple entertainment venues on 7.  

You can use removable mounting putty.  

We've had nightmares with both AON and Princess trying to get reimbursement for expenses and our FCC after DH spent the last 4 nights of 7 night cruise in covid quarantine.  We filed the claim with AON immediately after returning home early September, and they sent us checks in November, but the amount was just a fraction of what we submitted for reimbursement (all we submitted to them was hotel and travel change expenses, along with ALL receipts and ALL documentation from the ship regarding the covid test results, quarantine process, and disembarkation instructions).  The real problem has been that they have provided no information as to what was or was not covered, and the amount of the checks (we are not cashing until this is resolved) do not correspond to any of the expenses we submitted.  After hours on the phone with them and multiple agents/supervisors, I waited weeks for a c/b from a 'claims specialist' who couldn't figure it out either.  She said she was referring it back to the adjustor and they would contact me within 2 weeks.  Here we are more than a month later and nothing from them.  Spent more time on the phone with them today and they don't seem to have any way to connect us with anyone who knows anything.  

As for Princess, we patiently waited 4 months and still have not received the FCC or per diem.  A couple more hours on the phone today with them and hopefully their customer relations will get that taken care of now.  I have more faith in PCL customer relations staff than the AON staff.

We also had things booked outside of Princess during and after the cruise that I had a separate insurance policy on, and they paid 100% of submitted expenses promptly.  Will definitely use that insurance company again in the future instead of anything offered by the cruise line.

We've been very disappointed with Princess, from the poor handling of the quarantine process on board, and now the aftermath.  Awful customer service.  I think if we ever get that FCC, it will be use for our last sailing with Princess.  We really wanted to love Princess since they've returned to TX, but they can't treat customers like this and expect us to continue giving them our business.

Definitely.

I saw a recent vlog post from the Royal and the couple had brought some books to leave in the library.  Yes, there is one, but it didn't look like it had a lot of books.  It was well stocked with board games, though.

You might try pulling up your favorite map app and searching for lodging in the desired area.  We’ve found some great places that way, because we can get to the establishment’s website, as well as visitor photos and reviews from the links on the map.  We have also avoided some places based on the satellite overlay or street views from the map.

Has anyone else had their dining reservations disappear from the MC app, but still been able to see them from the web version?  We sail Aug 27 on Royal, and I had booked 6 of our nights via the app several weeks ago (Symphony DR).  Went back in last week on the app and couldn't see them, but they were showing up on the web version of MC.  I booked the 7th night's dinner via web version, in Concerto since Symphony wasn't showing up as an option. It DID show up  in the mobile version of the app.  I've since seen some comments about the Symphony being closed on less-than-full sailings, so have a feeling that is why they dropped from the mobile version of the app? Princess tech support for the app was no help. Today I edited the original 6 nights' reservations via web version. Symphony was not an option so picked other DR's. Have to wonder what would have happened if I hadn't checked it before boarding.

We did the small boat excursion in Endicott Arm to the glacier and it was absolutley worth it to us.  It was a thrill to us to feel the boat rocking in the waves created when the glacier calved, and to get so close to that incredibly blue ice. JT1962’s recommendation above is spot on - look at videos on YT of the excursion, as well as other excursions you’re considering, especially if its a matter of having to choose between one excursion or another.  

On 7/24/2022 at 11:31 PM, SightCRR said:

Here is a 2 hr  youtube video that drives the many of the roads in Ketch and points out many sights. It is like your friend picked you up at the airport and is showing you around. Stuff you never get from a tour book. "go beside the Safeway to view the water and look for whales after checking f/b for whale sighting group" "there is nice secondhand store where I found nice pair of shoes" . Video shot before Ward Cove open.  I really enjoyed it but did skip some of it. Make sure to check out Herring Cove. 

Ketchikan, Alaska Complete Drive North & South Tongass Avenue - YouTube

sightcrr

Thank you, sightcrr, we did watch that a couple weeks ago and it is an excellent guide!!

We didn’t see any Ketchikan excursion options that interested us for our cruise next month, so have a rental car reserved to go exploring on our own. 

We have sailed both and enjoyed both.  Carnival seemed noisier to me - we got tired of all the announcements.  That said, I was always able to find some peace and quiet.  Princess just seemed classier and more subdued to us, maybe in part because of the difference in decor.  We found lots of food options we enjoyed on both.  At end of May, there will be more kids since school is out. 

@GTJgood point.  I seriously doubt the 4pm train would postpone departure if the ferry back from Haines broke down and there were pax on the ferry who had booked B2B Princess excursions.  We ended up not booking the B2B for other reasons, but that is a very good point.  Stuff happens.

On 4/18/2022 at 4:54 PM, don't-use-real-name said:

 

The main thing is there enough port time to pull off both ?

If not take an earlier Summit train trip to have time to browse around Skagway town. 

 

If the Princess excursion booking page will let you book the B2B excursions, then there is time to make both.  We were booked for the train to Bennett Lake Princess excursion for this August, so I asked that exact question to our PVP because we were thinking of switching to an AM excursion to Haines, and the 4pm train excursion.