seamanfs

We have done Alaska several times and needed gloves and hat maybe 2/3 of the trips. We leave on the Coral on Aug 9th and we will pack light weight polar fleece head bands and gloves just in case!! Rather have them than not.

It worked for me on the Coral in April but even out of the 4 formal nights we only went to the DR once since the Horizon was great for our tastes. We ate in the Horizon so often for dinner they would bring out drinks as soon as we sat down.

That's what we are thinking will happen on the Coral!! Too many late ports and fabulous scenery to worry about changing into formal clothes in Alaska. We don't mind the Horizon Court at all for meals.

For the first time after 23 cruises DH is bringing a long sleeved shirt, tie and dress pants for formal night on the Coral in 2 weeks time. Usually brings dark suit . For Alaska we just have too many heavier items to make the weight limit for air travel. We may just do one formal night too-just depends on the schedule!

I hope you find pleasure in your cruise and take time to appreciate the excellent service these people work so hard to provide. I can't imagine them trying to get their work done without the carts.

Very well stated! Agree completely. When we see the carts in the hallways the only thing we think is " Woww! These stewards work so hard 7 days a week and very long hours to make sure our cabin is spotless. We know we could never do their job without complaining and getting fired!"

Just got off the phone with Princess and changed our existing OV on Plaza to a balcony on Baja mid aft on the CB for Feb . Had 3 B2B cruises to get the same cabin arranged and got B638. Ended up paying about the same as OV in the end as the last segment is a 5 day and that wasn't included in the sale. Very pleased we were able to get a balcony for the price we wanted!!

Good upgrade! We did that on the Star to Hawaii last November. B623. Loved it. Found the balcony to be about 25 sq. ft but fine for the 2 of us. Had 2 chairs and a table and was very comfy for the price!! Wishing for an upgrade offer on the Coral for August like that!! Keeping fingers crossed!

Correction! 45 sq ft-not 25 as written above. Husband saw and informed me.

Good upgrade! We did that on the Star to Hawaii last November. B623. Loved it. Found the balcony to be about 25 sq. ft but fine for the 2 of us. Had 2 chairs and a table and was very comfy for the price!! Wishing for an upgrade offer on the Coral for August like that!! Keeping fingers crossed!

Here is a link to the review I did of the Crab Shack on the Coral from our Alaska cruise in May. I don't know if it will be the same in Aug.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2053637

Thanks for the answer!!! Missed your review!

We will be on the Coral in Aug. Anyone know if the Crab Shack is available !?? We did it on the Star last Nov and remember it being very good and very filling! Too much food really and lots of waste just from us!!

So here's a question for past Alaska cruisers because I'm starting to panic a bit about packing.

I'm going to Alaska for the 1st 2 weeks of September. Other threads which comment on the topic of packing discuss more general ideas like make sure you dress in layers... and Alaska is more casual. Plus we are going to be spending 4 days in the Denali Parks first.

Does anyone have an ACTUAL packing list that they are willing to share? I think that would be most helpful. I'm worried about the wide range of temperatures that we could encounter and don't want my luggage to be over 50lbs!

 

Oh also, question about laundry, I've heard that the ships will have self-laundry and we should bring a roll of quarters. How much does it cost per load/dry and do you suggest bringing your own detergent or will they have some there?

 

Sorry if I missed this topic, I breifly tried to search for it, but didn't really see exactly what I was looking for.

 

Thanks!

Sydney

We are leaving for Alaska on Aug 9th for 2 weeks on the Coral. Have no list as such but will bring layers as suggested, including polar fleece pull overs, long sleeve tees, rain coat and water proof hiking shoes (wear on plane), light weight polar fleece gloves and headband and a couple of cheap throw away folding ponchos each.We are doing only one formal night per 7 days and DH will for the first time bring long sleeve dress shirt, tie and dark pants-no jacket! Laundry is $2.00 to wash and the same to dry. Change machine in each laundry room or passenger services will give change. We bring our own Tide pods and dryer sheets but they are for sale by dispenser in the laundry room. Hope this helps and enjoy your cruise.

Fantastic review!! Pictures were wonderful and narrative enjoyable with a lot of facts and tips! We board the Coral on Aug 9th so the photos of the ship make us more excited and ready for our 14 days!! Thanks for posting.

.50?? Not a problem.

My happiness is standing at the rail, drink in hand, next to my SO and hearing that horn sound as the ship starts to pull away from the dock and head out to sea. :)

Yes!! I'm with you!! Knowing there are many days ahead with low stress. That is happiness!

Thanks for posting this. We are on the Aug 9 and Aug 16 trips. The activities and events were helpful!

From your lips to all a Princess CDs' ears, please!!

 

I am early 50s and love all music except Opera and Country. But the Piazza is no place for any of it except a string quartet or pianist. Especially when it's played so loudly you can't hear another person standing a foot away.

Agree 100%! It just seems right for such a beautiful atrium on Princess ships!

Personally, I would recommend doing two weeks, north and southbound, on one of the Princess ships. Check the airfare for Anchorage and then balance it against that second week of cruising......

 

That gives you two shots at good weather in Glacier Bay (do not omit this) and a chance to do and see more in each port. I am following my own recommendation yet again in May/June next year taking the family (8 of us) on the Grand for a north and south bound 2 weeks of bonding and relaxing.

 

Next piece of advice - when it comes to ports, get out of town. Check out the amazing variety of things to do by leaving the little town that will be overrun by all the cruise passengers and seeing the beauty of Alaska.

 

I love the Ruby too, she is a beautiful ship. Here's the thing - more passengers = more time to disembark. I also think the Coral or the Island are great choices, there is just something really special about the Coral. The Coral and Island, along with the original Grand class ships will not seem that much smaller to you. The one drawback is that the Coral and Island don't have a Skywalker's, and neither does the Grand anymore.

 

 

If you can possibly do two weeks in a row, go for it. IMHO.:)

Agree 100%! We are doing a B2B on the Coral starting on Aug 9th for the reasons you mentioned. Also flying into Seattle and taking Princess transport to Vancouver. Having a family reunion in Seattle so timing is great!

What I've done is tell the steward to come in and I go out on my balcony. I've done this several times and my stewards seem to have been fine with it.

 

As has been said, they are not supposed to clean while you're there. And, the count is important mostly because someone unethical could claim something was lost and demand compensation. :( I not only count everything twice but I take a photo of the slip on my iPhone so I have a record. It's easy to forget what you've sent out if you do it regularly or forget if you've put special instructions.

We have done the same with going out on the balcony while he /she cleans. Not a problem so far with any stewards. Good idea about the picture of the laundry sheet!

Grand and Golden have covered pools.

The Horizon Court on the Star had a Bavarian night and an Italian night when we traveled to Hawaii in Nov. of 2013. Very tasty, esp the Bavarian.

22 Princess cruises. Upgraded once from OV obstructed to full OV, Offered upsells several times from OV to balcony. Book almost always through Princess.

Do you mean the 16th of Aug to board the Coral going south? We are on that ship and the 16th is when it leaves Whittier for Vancouver.

Some people aren't happy unless they're miserable.

Isn't that the truth!!!! Lots of those on any cruise!

On the Coral they were taking room numbers as they handed out blankets but there was no check at the end of the first segment as we keep ours in the room for the next trip. Some nights they would hand them out individually & other nights there was no one at the desk & people were helping themselves to as many as they wanted.

We just need 2!! Now that we are "older" the cold and wind is difficult to handle! The sjip

The problem with this is that if a lot of people keep blankets, then they run out on deck. They only have so many blankets, and they need to launder them after use, so there are times when they totally run out. I've been to MUTS at night were they were handing out TOWELS to use instead of blankets because they had run out of clean ones. Maybe Princess needs to get more blankets, and put a couple in each balcony room, but until they do that, don't be a blanket hog. :D

I will ask the deck stewards if it is OK. Don't imagine there is a crowd looking at movies at night in Alaska not like there would be in the Caribbean! I'll go by what they suggest.

I was on a b2b on the Coral (sister ship). Dinner was open seating. But I did hear that service was suspended early for the muster drill. I do not recall when they opened the dining rooms again. I am sure they accounted for the muster drill and stopped diners from coming in too close to the scheduled time. I had dinner at 5:30 and was through before muster (which I did not have to attend since I was doing a b2b....oh the pleasures of doing such a cruise).

Yes! We too are B2B on the Coral in Aug! Love it.