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Like you I have some heath issues and I have booked an R/T Alaska cruise on Holland America from Seattle. A bucket list item for me. I have absolutely no experience. This is just a guess but I would think a cruise that would allow you to fly to Vancouver and return from your last port might provide more Alaska time increasing the opportunities to see more wildlife.

Fewer shore excursions might cover the increased expense of a longer trip. Providing more opportunities to see wildlife from the ship. Some of the shore excursions can be expensive and cost that same as a day or two of the cruise cost.

Or consider adding a land tour to your cruise for more sightseeing opportunities.

I've skimmed some of the options I've suggested while having some tunnel vision on what I wanted.

I made sure my boots were large enough to accommodate two pairs of socks if necessary. No matter what part of your body, it is AMAZING how much warmer two thin layers are than one thick layer.

First, I've never been or cruised to Alaska. I have spent years living in Michigan and Northern IN. I've also read and know about layering.

If you have a tendency for cold feet or hands purchase hand and foot warmers for your shoes and gloves. They work well and will be dirt cheap in about a month or so. I keep about a dozen of them in my SUVs survival bag during the winter.

A pair of long underwear can be handy. You only need a lightweight pair. It's unlikely you would even need to wash them while on the cruise.

I have the E4 included a booking I made at the last minute in November directly with HA. It was a rather quick booking because both I the agent didn't have much time to clear up a few options. Refundable deposit so it wasn't a big deal.

I'm going to go over it again with her, I also have 2 quotes from online agents.

The E4 is not a perk for me. Neither my wife nor I drink alcohol. She usually drinks water, and occasionally ice tea. I drink soft drinks usually. But not enough to make a package worthwhile. We cruise to get away and the likelihood of traveling with someone as a 3/4 in our cabin is about as likely as the Captain taking an inside cabin for a cruise while I used his cabin.

It's garbage like this that gave journalism a bad name. What a piece of equine excrement.

They were much more factually correct than covering the election.

It's all about the headline to use as clickbait.

Best experience was my agreeing to go on an Alaskan cruise.

I was just getting ready to pull the trigger in February for a cruise over the Fourth of July. Got a MRI and referred to IU Health. Diagnosed with liver cancer. Liver resection scheduled for May 2 with an estimated stay of 5-7 days. Liver was much worse and was "sliced up like a pie", cardiac arrest and kidney failure. 25 day stay in hospital as one sick dude. Middle of July got a pinched nerve and am still weak from surgery with constant pain. November I booked for next summer because cancer was removed and gone.

This year I plan to check this off my Bucket List. Biopsy next week on an abnormal lesion. Expected to be cancer again. If so, I think the only option is a liver transplant. Two weeks to wait for answers. :cool:

You Tube has substituted a little.

I can pack a rolling carry-on, a large laptop computer bag with a small computer, and my CPAP machine. I can cram a lot of stuff on me and in the bags. I can strap/or one or both bags to the carry-on. I also tend to pack some items to throw away.

I have done this on several trips. Then trimmed things down and just take a tablet. No computers anymore.

The way I read it was the OP want to cruise r/t Vancouver then see some of the sights in Seattle post cruise then fly out of SEA

Exactly. I thought it was an R/T out of Vancouver on Regency Seven Seas with a 2 for 1 price. I was limiting myself to Seattle only. Then the above thought came up.

Thanks for the answers and suggestions. I tried looking for the RSS cruise I wanted and the dates won't work. :( I'll probably do some more looking around in January. But I have a HAL cruise reserved with a deposit out of Seattle. The 2 I was comparing were almost exactly the same price.

I have a cruise booked out of Seattle for Alaska. The primary reason the port and cruise was chosen is to visit Seattle a couple days post cruise. I've always wanted to see Pike's Place Market, Space Needle, and ???

I have found a couple of other cruises that look better but leave Vancouver.

Anyone have experience flying into Vancouver and flying out of Seattle on the return? Best options for getting between Vancouver and Seattle.

Thanks. It makes sense. I guess some people are just fussy about not seeing the water below them. I'm interested in the Alaska views. We were in a tad bit of a rush to complete the booking. I had to leave and she was leaving shortly for the day and next week.

I believe in trust but verify when buying.

I booked a cruise on the Oosterdamnto Alaska. I booked a verandah balcony midship on the deck just above the deck the lifeboats are on. The PPC said some people don't like these cabins. When I asked why the only answer I got was. "Some people say the view is blocked to the water."

Any credibility to this. I know I can change cabins...

Thanks

Makes sense, thanks.

I am always intimidated to play in the casino because I felt I would do something "wrong" since I am new to it all.

:)

Casino staff are well versed explaining things. Kind of watch what others are doing. All of us had a 1st time. Frequently the first time you win some money, pulling you in to play (lose) more. Sometimes the offer a class or two.

Got to have some capers on bagel and lox.

Ignore those posters who minimize your concerns and provide no answers or help. Sleep disruptions are real and people are affected differently.

 

I find that I try to get myself on "vacation time" asap. For example, when flying E to W in the US, I try to get a flight that arrives mid-late afternoon. I am able to have dinner at local time, albeit a little early, and go to sleep, a little later than my body clock, and a little early relative to local time. I tend to wake up early the next day, but I just go slow, and by that evening I've adjusted to the three hr difference.

The sleep patterns of my wife and I are strange. She falls asleep about 7:00 pm and will sleep until midnight or 1 pm then wake up and drift in and out the rest of the night until the dog wants to be fed at 5:00 am. Me I tend to stay up to anywhere from 1:00 - 3:00 am and sleep in until 10:00 am. My time can move around a lot. Depending upon if I fall asleep napping during the day. I'm just trying to figure out how to make the adjustments pre-boarding. I'm also recovering from a recent liver resection needed by liver cancer The surgery was successful, but post surgery I went on to have kidney failure, infections, etc. turning what was supposed to be 5-7 days in the hospital to 25 days. After coming home I developed a pinched nerve in my back and constant pain for the past 2 months. Nerve block didn't help. Some pain medications I can't use or are too strong. Besides, I don't want to use them too much. Hopefully, a lot of my stuff has recovered soon.

I'm not booking the trip until January or February as I will have a much better idea that we can follow through. This is sort of a bucket list thing for me. A lot on it, but this is the most practical one to do. I've had 2 different cancers over the past 3 years. Both caught early enough for one surgery to cure them.

This has been helpful.

Should have struck up a conversation about it one of the kitchen staff. I can't imagine they would want to keep it a top secret.

You might even email and ask a few questions what they use and do.

Booking a RT Alaska Cruise from Seattle. Flying from Chicago (CST) or South Bend, IN (EST) to Seattle. I'm having trouble understanding the timing of a reservation to disrupt our normal sleep patterns. Leave early or later in the day to make adjusting easier. Or fly overnight. A brief look seemed to show leaving South Bend is less expensive than leaving from Chicago. Especially since Chicago will have greater parking and a hotel cost. Flight cost plays only a small part of the decision. We want to arrive at least the day before, possibly 2 days. Went LV once and it was not pleasant adjusting to the time change.

Thanks for any info.

For less than 150 miles from home, we'd hope a regular ambulance could be used, and that's not likely to cost in the hundreds of thousands (or close to it). And our regular health insurance might cover such a need anyway.

I was recently transferred by ambulance from Indianapolis to South Bend! IN. Charge give or take $4500 and this was not an emergency

I think I would enjoy the process of doing this myself. But, a TA would be helpful with many minor details that I might miss. I think my wife's anxiety won't raise more than normal..

Im recovering from serious liver cancer surgery right now and Alaska is a bucket list item. I'm at fairly high risk for a recurrence and transplant eligibility is iffy. We were going right now but the MRI in Feb shut that down quick.

I'm trying to figure out the best way to book 2 crises? We would like to book a Caribbean Cruise over New Years? We would also like to book an Alaska cruise out of Seattle early July 2017.

We enjoyed our only previous on HAL 14 years ago. I know things have changed. I pretty much know what I want to book.

Our choice of line are HAL, Princess, and Celebrity which seem comparable. We are Mariner Society with HAL.

Should we book through a travel agent and book both at the same time on the same cruise line? Or book our Caribbean cruise and try to get a better deal booking on board.

I'm not wedded to the same cruise line for both but I do value loyalty.

Security is far more advanced than 15 years ago.. Shopping centers.large crowds ,airports are much more vulnerable a cruise ship. I would hope passengers would attack and defend themselves es if anything happened.

I usually just check a few airlines +/- a day either way of the trip then just buy what fits. I don't quibble over prices too much. I once bought my ticket at the counter with an open return. It was in the neighborhood of every flight I've taken to the same destination.

Good advice.

Will do that!

Thanks,

tnt

Post what they say please. I'm in the same boat on another cruise line. I'm thinking about buying a smaller one to make it easier to travel with.

Is a passport needed to get off and back on the ship at Canadian stops.

I suspect ou can get something simple done pre cruise. At least ask.

First cruise was an oceanview. Future cruises I'll go with inside except for a cruise to Alaska.