skrapngal

roll call is not up and running yet, but I will certainly keep that in mind. Great idea.

There is also a chance that the motorcoach will be stopping somewhere pre-port to pick up soft drinks. So that might also work.

Last resort is to find somewhere and order online. So it's all good.

And I realize that Bayonne is not technically NY or NYC, but when you're just driving to the port from Canada, it works for my purposes as magnet from departure port.

Thanks everyone!

I like to pick up a magnet for every cruise port, but since we are coming into the cruise port via motorcoach, I won't be able to pick one up in the NYC area.

Is there a gift shop at the port where I can pick up a NYC magnet? Or might there be some in the gift shops onboard Anthem?

This is a PORT DAY for us and NOT an embark or disembark.

We have yet to decide how to spend our port day in Port Canaveral, but are thinking of renting a car and going to Brevard Zoo.

Is there anything of NASA that can be seen from the ship, or is there a quick driving tour we could do?

Not sure I want to spend a full day visiting NASA, but it seems a shame to be in port and not see at least some of it.

There will be 5 adults travelling, doing a 5 or 6 day DIY (Anchorage/Denali), then a 7 day Southbound with 4 stops (Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan).

If the books are worth it, would we need 2?

The Compass is a favorite souvenir, do we still get paper copies?

Will we board together? (ie. will they allow the new cruiser to go to separate boarding waiting room with the Gold member?)

What about 3 in a room: 2 Gold and 1 newbie? Same answer?

so do you get a list of these in your stateroom?

Given that the coupon book no longer exists, there must be some way of knowing what you are getting...

I did a similar itinerary in mid-May 2014 and it was absolutely awesome!!!

We did a whale watching excursion out of Juneau and saw lots of whales, even saw 2 that breached.

The only thing we saw that might be different later in the summer was that the train in Skagway did not go quite to the end of the line (Bennett or Carcross, I'm not sure), but we did a bus to Carcross and back to Fraser and then boarded the train back (booked through Chilkoot Tours). It was fantastic!!!

It took me the last day but I found it for you.

 

YOU ROCK!!! Thanks so much!!!

love to "learn" from previous cruisers. Feel free to post anything that you discovered while onboard.

My only gold panning experience was in Fairbanks. Yes, it was hokey and the bag was seeded, but it was a lot of fun. The best part is watching the faces of your friends/family; they get SO intent, like they're going to find a million $.

 

if you have a car, there is gold panning along the Turnagain Arm, less than an hour from Anchorage. Haven't been there myself but use SEARCH THIS FORUM to find past threads about it.

http://www.alaska.org/detail/crow-creek-mine

I've added the website to my fav's list!

we did the gold panning in skagway..

we hadn't planned on doing it, but my 88 year old mom suddenly complained that we hadn't done any...

so we quickly changed one of our skagway excursions to the gold panning/dogs/40 below excursion..

it was surprisingly good....we all enjoyed it...

in addition to the gold panning, you meet sled dogs, and experience 40 below..

 

there are even actors in period dress...cheesy as can be, but well done..

all 4 of us enjoyed it (ages 28, 30, 60 and 88)

that one is already on my fav's list. Am thinking it might be a great way to get gold and sled dogs done in one excursion.

Yes, I know it's tacky, but hey, it's what I wanna do!

I would have liked the Dredge 8 tour in Fairbanks, but it doesn't look like we will do Fairbanks this time around. We will be renting a car for the 5-6 nights precruise DIY.

Leaving out of Seward with stops in Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.

So out of those choices, where would be the best gold panning experience and why?

We have booked a private whale watching tour with Glacier Wind Charters for this coming May 2016 for $170 each for 3 1/2 hours and super excited. We were here a couple years ago and enjoyed walking around the cannery row. This year we are also going to have to stop in to the new Icy Strait Brewing Company near the dock. They also have an easy and free short walk at the beautiful Tongue National forest nearby...very peaceful and serene. You can also zipline from around here. You can also walk about 20 minutes, each way, on a easy path to Hoonah and see in person the super nice guys that are totem pole makers...that too is for free. Across the street, or nearby, there is also a eagles nest that seems to recur every year? The cemetery that you pass coming and going to Hoonah is pretty cool too....but we like checking out cemeteries wherever we go. I also believe you can purchase shuttle tickets for like $5 per person to go to town in Hoonah. Plenty to do on any budget :D

Have an awesome time...I know we will.

We have been looking at just that whale watching company!!!! Please tell me all about it when you get back.

oh yes, and if you were to REDO only one of the 3 sled dog excursions, which would you do and why?

To the moderators, I posted this on the Bahamas board and am not getting an answer so am reposting here.

I've never tendered and was wondering how these work? Can you go back and forth at will? Is there a schedule? or do they basically leave anything they have X number of passengers aboard?

Also, how long of a ride is it from ship to island?

No thanks, I think I'll just keep telling you what I think.

 

Sorry skrapngal didn't mean to hijack your question with nonsense.

Carry on.

Not nonsense. I happen to admire your courage (as I didn't have it!) Kudos to you!!!

just came across your review this morning. We just booked the Anchorage-Vancouver cruise in May of 2017. We'll be renting a car and doing 5 or 6 days (Anchorage-Denali and possibly Fairbanks).

We looked into the cruisetour, but I'm a research guru in my spare time and I figured between the 5 of us in our party we could do it cheaper by renting a car and staying in B&B's. Sure it's a little bit more hassle, but I love doing the research legwork.

Loved your pictures, I was especially interested in learning about the 30% Denali viewing. That way everyone will know about not having too high of an expectation there.

Do you remember what the upcharge for Samba Grill was? I realize it might change between your cruise in 2015 and mine in 2017 but it will give me a ballpark.

I've not tendered in either of my 2 previous cruises. Can you go back and forth at will or is there a schedule? Or is it kind of a relaxed schedule (i.e. every 30 minutes, or when tender is full)?

Also, how long of a ride is it from the ship to cococay?

I've read of no plans to drop traditional dining, but they do seem to block it off very early. Could be travel agents were given blocks of space with traditional dining.

I'll keep checking, maybe it will open up.

I find it odd that when I tried booking a Junior Suite on Radiance (to find if the price would be worth it), it offered Traditional Dining to Junior Suite passengers!

I have 2 Royal cruises booked for 2017 (so lots of lead time) and in both cases, I was unable to choose Traditional Dining (or Traditional Dynamic in the case of Anthem).

What's up with that?

My Radiance cruise was just published less than a week ago, so it's obviously NOT that traditional dining is full!

so with the lovely elevator art, do people generally face the rear of the elevato on this ship?

really? Can someone confirm? and why not?

I love having it attached to lanyard. Guess I'll have to figure smth else out.

Sails out of Seward at 8, but we would like to transfer to Seward, get there in the morning (10 at the earliest) and visit the Seward Aquarium.

What time will RCCL accept our luggage at the port?