Dawn1004

What a fantastic review, loved hearing of your adventures, and have looked into quite a few tours you mentioned...really interested in the Era Glacier Landing for our 2nd Alaska trip.

You can cruise from Hawaii via Tahititi, Bora Bora to Sydney, have a feeling it is via NZ.

I recall looking enviously at this cruise but couldn't tag it onto our already 6 weeks abroad holiday.

Can't recall cruiseline, but there are lots of cruise websites you can search for your desired cruises.

Happy cruising.

You'll love Alaska, and you'll be off the ship more than on the ship...if u really don't like the foods then eat something ashore... Some lovely pubs at the ports you'll visit.

We (on NCL) were so busy at the ports, that we were fairly knackered by the evening, still some entertainment, good times, but we found ourselves a lot more sleepier than usual (think it was the fun and lovely outdoors fresh air).

The only downside is you will probably be missing Alaska as soon as u hop on the plane home and you'll have to start to plan your next Alaskan cruise!

Nb we did Alaska in 2012 and we're returning next year - loved it so much..our once in a lifetime Alaska trip has now turned into our twice in a lifetime Alaska trip!

Please post a review and post some lovely Alaskan photos;)

Also some of the ships don't stock your particular cool drink?

Like NCL I think only sells Pepsi, we take a couple of cans of Coke on as hubby and son like coke, but don't like Pepsi (tastes like flat coke!)... i guess the pepsi drinkers probably take pepsi on say Royal Caribean (they prob think Coke tastes like flat Pepsi!).

Must say on our last Royal cruise, we purchased the water package and the juice package and it was really good (for us), I drink a lot of water ( cruise was 17 nights).

Can't comment on the alcohol smuggling, as we generally just purchase glasses on board. But we always leave with our full duty free allowance of alcohol!

Love the sleeping bear photo....looks so cute and cuddly..which of course I know it's not so keen on cuddles from future dinner!

Loving the review...I love anything posted about Alaska....

Thank you for the photos and the info.

Geeze...if I had a case with $4,000 worth of gear in it I'd be pretty peeved too. I'd be peeved if it was just my clothes and tourist souveniers ( which would be significantly less than $4k)

Great review - love the photos. funny enough was watching a tv show (An Doh does Iceland) and he'd just been to the Blue Lagoon and the Geyser, so was nice to read about tem in your review also.

We had looked at doing Iceland/Norway on X next year but we ending up deciding to return to Alaska.

Iceland and Norway will stay on the bucket list for now!

I agree it would be handy to have self do laundry options onboard, but it's not what I make my decision to cruise on.

I wish that one of their suite perks was free laundry.

Am looking forward to my 10 day cruise to Alaska next yr on NCL...self laundry or not!

Loved the Onion Soup on NCL Pearl on our Alaskan cruise..yummmy.

Managed to bring up the itinerary under partner's name, and bingo could see the problem, and why searching with my details couldn't find the booking - my name had been entered incorrectly (different surname).

Luckily my TA is sorting it out now, the paperwork I have from her is all correct. She's really good and was onto it as soon as I advised her.

Glad I looked into it nice and early so plenty of time for it to be fixed.

Thanks guys, no didn't set up a new user id, signed in as my old sign in and then a guest/new search and just did as pizzalady1 has pointed out, in both instances the cruise booking was not found.

Was going to contact cruise agent today, but totally forgot (how did that happen.. My cruise should be first and foremost on my mind.. A tad too busy at work).

Will let you know how I go.

I'm sure it will be an easy fix. My latitudes point is still at what it was following last cruise with them.

Once again a big thank you to you all. :)

Yes, the My NCL.

Hmmmm that's strange then... Perhaps a little oversight from them that will need to be fixed up. I may be better checking with my cruise agent, she may have a contact at NCL, as all I can do is email NCL.

Thank you for the quick response.

:)

Can anyone confirm when a new cruise booked is added to your personaliser?

I have a NCL cruise booked for next May (2015). Booked it Jan or Feb this year.

Currently not showing in my personaliser, is it:

a) because it is so far in advance;

b) because it hasn't been paid in full;

c) just an oversight?

I have emailed NCL but no response as yet, perhaps as it is so far out NCL have put my query to the side and answering the questions for the closer cruises, which is understandable.

Have tried both using my personaliser from our last NCL cruise, and also signing in as a new user and both times trying to search using surname and booking reference (ncl reference not cruise agent's).

Thank you

Great review, love the info and pics.

Could I ask the adult price (approx will do) for the Bennett Scenic Skagway trip?

Just checked on their website but you need to contact them for prices - we're not going until next yr, so only need an estimate.

We did the Whitepass Train (return train trip) via NCL shore tour.

Went on 10 day to Glacier Bay on NCL Pearl 5/8-5/18. Wonderful cruise, nice weather! 3rd cruise to Alaska..1st on NCL. Loved the itinerary..started in Vancouver..ended in Seattle. Already making plans for 10day next May on either NCL Pearl or Sun.

Think we do this one next yr - 10 day on Pearl Vancouver to Seattle - did you stop at Sitka amd Icy Stait? Did u go to Glacier Bay?

Love the Pearl and love love love Alaska.

Great review, we'll be back on her next May, can't wait, we live Alaska too. your lil man is so adorable.

hi all

Was hoping for some (helpful) advice.

Ok firstly we come from the north west of WA (that is Westerm Australia), in a desert type environment - so no snow ever, seldom rains and only about a week or two of cooler weather, I haven't owned an umbrella for over 15 years, and own one jumper, which I haven't worn for some time. i do have a lovely thick jacket from Disneyland (which I loved dor our Alaska travel in 2012.

So while I'm right for our clothing for our cruise and most of land based holiday - I am wondering....

For snow mobiling, Dog sled (on snow not cart), ice walk in Japer - would jeans/pants do or would they become too cold/damp and need snow pants? If we can get away with jeans/pants then thats what we'll go with, if we need to get snow pants, then I'll have to buy these online from over east (they have some places that snow) but would rather save the money for the new pants for other things (there are 3), think that money would be otherwise spent on A tour or souveniers or meals etc.

Secondly, snow mobiling, I see some is available at Jasper (we are doing Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper) but I can't see dates, so not sure is snow mobiling tours normally avail in late April? I have no idea when snow mobiling season is....I did see a snow mobiling tour avail in Whistler (pick up from Vancouver) but think would prefer to do at Banff or Jasper instead of additonal trip to Whistler. We do have a couple of days in Vancouver so we could do the Whistler trip if need be.

Last Alaska trip we were fine with jeans and pants, did not feel cold or get damp, but thinking this time we will be in the sbow/sleet a bit more so jeans /pants may not do the trick. :)

Thank you very much for any advice given

As mentioned above, lots of the aerial tours get delayed/cancelled due to weather.

Glacier Bay is a generally a fantastic scenic day on board. We loved our Glacier Bay day and was just awestruck with the scenery, as I believe were most passengers given all the collective ooohs, ahhhs and camera clicks heard.

Enjoy your trip, whichever way you decide to go.

We did a cruise in early May a few years ago. We walked around the deck (on the jogging path) every night after dinner, and we saw TONS (literally! :p) of whales, on all sides of the ship, including tailfin dives. Without binoculars. Yes, they were in the distance, but they were easy to see. Also saw otters and sea lions. You can see plenty of whales if you're outside and looking. As a benefit, you get your exercise.

We heard a woman complaining while waiting to disembark that she hadn't seen any whales. Guess they weren't in the casino or lounges.

Was this by any chance on NCL Pearl in May 2012?

We woke up one morning and son went out onto balcony and said WOw, mum look at this, and I wandered out and there heaps and heaps of hump backs right next to the ships, and they along side of us for ages, so there must be a lot in the pod - it was amazing.

We also saw a whale from a distance jumping up out of the water and thrashing down it was amazing, but that one was from a distance (naked eye but a way off).

We also saw an orca and a younger one glide past us, that was amazing too, the wildlife and scenery in Alaska is just awesome, I don't think I ever sropped smiling and being awestruck on that cruise (looking forward to next April/May when we return).

We also didn't do a whale watch tour, but intend to this time around, if you can add a whale tour do so.

 

Seriously, the gall of someone to insinuate that because someone wishes to not dress in a manner that others think is appropriate, they are somehow "uncultured". Pay for my cruise fare and then you can tell me how to dress. And if they are so high class and cultured, why are they not sailing suites on Cunard or one of the other luxury lines? Give me a break. Life has changed. Vacation for me is casual. I won't be wearing ripped up t-shirts and pants hanging below my butt in the MDR, but what is the difference between a skirt above the knees for women (cocktail dresses sometimes come that length) and shorts for a man? It's a more casual world. And to suggest that some people cannot have a nice cruise vacation because they choose to live more casually is ludicrous.

 

themselves.

Agree with this post whole heartedly.

Loved the review too, we're on NCL Pearl Vancouver to Seattle in May 2015, can't wait.

Had a little giggle when you said about your hubby collecting the HD shirts - so does mine.... We were in Alaska in 2012, and he still wears the HD shirts and singlets he purchased then religiously.

If we were to drive from Ancorage to Denali do we go past that Harley Davidson store in Wasila?

Currently reading all the Alaska posts, as the cruises for 2014 have commenced (know yours was 2013).

Your photos were fantastic.

Am envious - a 7 day RM trip would be fantastic, but we just can't factor it in. Am really looking forward to our 2 day RM trip.

A friend of mine is taking an Alaskan cruise this summer.

 

Have any of you either taken bear spray to Alaska or been eaten by a bear??

Lol... i'm interested to hear from the ones that have been eaten by a bear!

But in all honesty, if she would feel better taking bear spray, she should take it, but I don't think for cruises and cruise tours it is a requirement, perhaps if she is doing hiking or camping. i think you can get bear bells too, so they can hear you coming and hopefully move themselves away.

We're going to go on a walk (guided I think) around Denali and don't plan on taking bear spray ( I'd probably spray myself in a panic anyways).

Hope she enjoys her Alaska holiday.

Enjoy Alaska, it is beautiful, completely different to any other cruise I think.

We were always only ever going once - you know, the trip of a lifetime. But we loved it so much, we pretty much decided on last day of first cruise that we'd be returning.

we're organising our 2nd Alaskan cruise for 2015. We'll be away for about 6 weeks all up, visiting Disneyland, Niagara Falls Canada side, some time in Vancouver, Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper. After cruise we're going up to Anchorage, Denali Wilderness Park, Girdwood.

This time round we'll self drive quite a bit on our pre and post cruise tours, last time we didn't dare drive in the USA, but think this time round we'll be right ( although we won't be driving around Los Angelas!).

We're flying in from Western Australia.

Excellent post and quite timely for me too.

We're doing a fair amount if travelling pre cruise and post cruise - just the way it worked out with certain things only opening up on certain day of the season. Enjoy your tours and cruise.

Just wondering, I have pretty much decided on my itinerary for Alaska and Canada, but I miscalculated our Jasper to Kamloops to Vancouver 2 day train ride, I had originally thought that we could catch the RM from Jasper on Mon 4th May and arrive in Vancouver on Tues 5th May. We'd then have Tues night and Wed in Vancouver and catch our cruise on Thurs 7th.

Have been advised by RM that the 2015 schedules are now released and theh are taking bookings for 2015, but I miscalculated by a day, as the RM is not leaving Jasper until Tues 5th, arriving in Vancouver on the 6th.

I generally like a bit of wiggle room before the cruise, but I really want to do the RM this time around.

I'm not sure what time we get into Vancouver on the 6th, I think early evening?

I would ideally like to get some laundry done prior to boarding the ship for the 10 nights, but you know what I can knock out some washing early before boarding ship if need be (or in the evening on the day of arrival into Vancouver).

If I stick to current itinerary we would have already done our sightseeing etc of Vancouver earlier in our holiday.I think my main concern is - is the RM a dependable way of transport, i.e is it likely/usual for lengthy delays? If there was a delay are RM obligated to find you another way of getting to Vancouver on time (or thereabouts). Would I be taking a big risk to catch RM and arriving into Vancouver the afternoon or evening before the cruise do you think? We would be booking direct with RM not through cruiseline, but I imagine there would be other passengers onboard that would be booked through cruiseline, so am thinking they must be pretty reliable.

Would I be better rescheduling this leg of my holiday, and perhaps do a reverse RM trip from Vancouver to Jasper earlier and just change the order of what I had planned (was Calgary to Banff to Lake Louise to Jasper to Vancouver).

Sorry to hijack original post, but my thought wax this kinda fits in with pre and post tours.