rjm11

There is an ultimate arcade package that includes unlimited access to most of the games in the arcade. The only ones that are excluded are things like the claw game, and skeetball where you earn tickets that can be exchanged for prizes- everything else is included and played for free. It's only available around 30 days from sailing (maybe 60?) but not when everything else like dining becomes available. It's also available once onboard. I don't know if you can get credits in smaller amounts.

I've seen pictures of the Land Shark one in reviews on here, but can't find it now. They are also on the sister site to this one that starts with "trip".... if you look under Landshark Bar and Grill Harvest Caye Belize.

Le Bistro Ocean Blue Teppanyaki Cagney's

Le Bistro has a very good vegetarian dish in puffed pastry.... and some salad and soup options that would work for apps.

the arcade package is available for purchase before the cruise- but only about 30 days out maybe? It might be 60... I can't remember. It's not when everything else like dining becomes available. Most of the games work with the package... all the standard games like the first person shooter games, the driving games, the traditional arcade things.... it's only the things like skeetball that award "prize tickets" that are not included. Those are available for a fee (around $1 per play maybe?)... and you accumulate the tickets to turn in for (cheap) prizes. My kids always seemed to find some game where you get a plastic duck at the end (guaranteed every time)... and I know that wasn't free, I think it was $1.

we used Sitka FIshing Excursions for a private trip for the 4 of us this past June and they were FANTASTIC. Can't' say enough good things- the boat was literally parked right next to the cruise ship when we docked and we got off one and onto the other... no need to shuttle to town or to another dock or anything. They had sandwiches, tons of snacks/drinks, and everything we needed. We caught a bunch of fish (ling cod and rockfish we limited out on) in the 5 hours we were out there.... they had everything cleaned and filleted and frozen and then shipped to our house when we got home- we didn't have to do a thing except show up. The boat was GORGEOUS, and the captain was so so nice- he was great with the teen kids as well. https://sitkafishingexcursions.com/

we did whale watches this past year the first week of June in both Juneau and Icy Straight and both were fantastic. All of these things can vary, but the viewing area in Juneau was more crowded with boats, however we also saw orcas. The area in Icy Straight had a lot fewer people (rarely even saw another boat), and the "backdrop" scenery was outstanding. Both were so so good- we were happy that we did both, but whales were a primary interest. We did private tours in both ports (as in we rented the whole charter for the 4 of us)- in Juneau with Harv and Marv, and in Icy Straight with Glacier Winds.

We bring cards and dice games (things that are easy to pack)- and play those a lot- my kids were never really into the kids club so they tended to want to do their own thing. They have always enjoyed the extra freedom that comes with being on a ship and having some independence.

Another tip for traveling with littles is to make sure you bring all the pediatric medications you might need- they don't have much for pediatric strength for purchase onboard so make sure you bring a variety. We also brought those little packets of pedialyte you mix with water in case there were GI issues.

I have never seen the arcade closed, but I've also never checked in the middle of the night- I don't think it has any hours though. Both my kids were able to use one pass without any issues. The games included the VR type games too which they really enjoyed. It was well worth it for us and we get it every time.

check out the family board too- they will have lots of tips and suggestions. It's a real bonus that you drive to a port- that will make so many things easier! My advice to consider taking a family member- we paid for an adult cousin to come along once when the kids were young- we were in a 2 bedroom family suite in the Haven and she had the living room sofa bed- and the kids had the small bedroom. In exchange for her trip, she watched them a couple of nights so we could go to dinner... it was nice having her, and with the 3, 4, 5 person sailing free often as a promo it didn't add very much to the overall cost (port taxes, some specialty dining/drinks, and in our case airfare). Speaking of Haven, that's another great option when you have little kids because they can have a quiet space with the second bedroom, and you can have room service delivered from any restaurant on board the ship (even specialty ones) to your room after they go to sleep- your butler will set everything up. If you go that route though bring a baby monitor- it can be hard to hear what goes on in that small bedroom in the suite because it's pretty well insulated!

I have respiratory issues that are sensitive to smoking and LOVED the Bliss. The casino itself had no smoke smell, nor did any other area. It was lovely!

We sailed on the Bliss in June with a 14 and 16 year old, and did go up to the "adults only " sundeck a couple of times- there was never anyone there (this was an Alaskan cruise)- so I'm not sure who we were bothering- or who would have been enforcing the rule.... We used the hot tubs up there a few times (all 4 of us as a family)- and again at least when we were there we never saw anyone else in the hot tubs or even on the deck itself. But maybe that was because it was Alaska.

we have spent lots of Thanksgivings on NCL (for the same reason you mention!)- and yes they always had a special Thanksgiving themed menu in the main dining rooms, and a big spread of Thanksgiving favorites in the buffet. I haven't been on the Sky for it though we did enjoy it on the Sun once.

I'm interested in hearing about how this goes without the covid testing requirements- hopefully the system is a little better this year.

check out the family board- they may have some suggestions too. We always brought a convertible car seat stroller thing- it's safest to have the kiddo in a car seat on the plane too, and these are FAA approved- the one I used was lillygold sit n stroll. The wheels tuck up under it for a car seat, or pop out when you pull up the handle like travel luggage. You don't even have to take the kid out to convert it back and forth. They are expensive, but you can resell it for almost all the price once you're done using it. https://www.lillygold.com/ That way you have a stroller for on the ship and in port- and can use it as a car seat for taxis and transfers.

This was not my experience on the Dawn in 2019- As I said, I wanted to book a cruise and the told me they didn't do that.

One thing I was surprised that they do NOT do is help book another cruise while you are on one. I liked an itinerary I saw in the presentation, and went to them to ask if I could book it and they told me to wait until we were back and call or do it online myself.

The Dawn and Sky do not have dedicated Haven areas, so cross them off the list. The Pearl and Gem have them, but not a Haven Restaurant. They have special haven breakfast and lunch in one of the specialty restaurants- but no haven dinner, so if that's important to you then skip those. People rave about the Epic Haven, but I have not personally tried it. I LOVED the one on the Bliss though, so I would recommend the Encore (sister ship)- that Haven-dedicated huge lounge in the front is wonderful. We played cards and games with our kids there, and they set out little snacks (sandwiches, desserts, etc) all day long in there.

this is an incredibly stupid design. Especially since the slide tubes appear to be enclosed (not clear)- so there is no reason to have them over the side of the ship like that..... like they might if being in a clear tube over the ocean was part of the fun.

Are you sure that's the right date? That was a Monday.

last year we did a harbor cruise past the statue of liberty on December 22- it left the dock at 4:30. It was wonderful seeing all the lights coming on (both the regular city lights, and the holiday lights), and the statue lit up.

were your previous trips that were icier around the glaciers a different time of year? We were on the Bliss in early June and went to Dawes and there was TONS of ice floating in the water as we approached.

we shared and had no issues with it- I didn't get the impression it was against the rules.

I fondly remember our Sept cruise to Alaska back in 2010 because of the weather that looked like that. I loved it! I found it so soothing and cozy. I've been back to AK several times since and still think about sitting in the spa area on the Pearl, watching the rain and the whales.