littlelulu01

Juneau

Here's what we did in ports. In Juneau we had no planned excursions. Both times we walked off the ship and took a taxi to the glacier. There is also a bus and we took the bus back the first time. It was $8 pp for the bus. Can't remember cost of taxi but if you have a few people it will be less expensive to take a taxi. Plenty of taxis lined up just as you walk off the ship. The glacier is pretty and if it's your first visit it will be that much more exciting as it's a first look at the glacier and massive falls. Very easy to walk out to and very well marked. We saw black bears in the trees both visits. In August the salmon were pink and fun to watch from a little bridge. Both times we also walked around town after return from the glacier. I found a free bus that returned passengers to the ship and we took that back. Very inexpensive day and very easy to do.

While waiting for the taxi in Aug some fellow passengers asked to share the ride so we did. We stopped by the fish hatchery outside of town and watched for a min. Not really worth the stop because this time of year you see the salmon in the streams which is more exciting. We ended up calling the taxi driver after we were done at the glacier and he took us back to the town as well because it was less expensive for his ride, $8 pp round trip, with a stop at the hatchery, before tip vs. $8 each way on the bus.

Those are the deck 10 balconies. Deck 9 is much better for privacy as you can see in your pic. ;)

Deck 9 looks to have a lot more privacy. I think the only way to see deck 10 is from the bridge and I doubt they care to look. Deck 12 view from the spa can't see these suite balconies. Does look a little too windy and out in the elements for my tastes though.

and here's a pic of the ocean trip up out of Seattle. We had a couple ships tagging along behind us but not much in the way of land to look at.

Thanks for your compare and contrast. :)

 

Which time of year do you prefer? For ourselves we love earlier in the season (despite colder temps) because the scenery is more dramatic with more snow in the mountains.

I preferred May as well and for the same reasons as you. The first sailing of the year leaves from Vancouver so we got to sail the inside passage which was beautiful. Sailing out of Seattle you get right out on the open ocean.

The second morning when we woke up and went on our balcony we were amazed that a ship this big could be sailing around these islands and the passage with the land so close.

The logistics of starting in one port and ending in another can cause a problem though. We flew into Vancouver to get on the ship and then flew home from Seattle. When I went with my daughter we drove to Seattle and kept car at a friends house and she dropped us off at the port and picked us up after our cruise. If having someone pick you up after the cruise it's easier to meet at the Edgewater hotel. The traffic was pretty bad in front of the ship so we just walked to the Edgewater and had her pick us up there. Here's a pic of the inside passage day two:

Daughter and I did not eat in any pay restaurants. We thought the food was really good and the service was excellent. In fact my favorite server from May was often our server in Aug in the grand pacific dining room. We took most of our meals in the main dining room. The buffet was a little too push and shove for my tastes. The last night of the cruise we ate in the buffett and had excellent Indian food. Everyone was in Victoria so the buffet was empty except for some staff.

And then there was Cagney's. The food was good and I gained 4lbs in a week. Here's our favorite server Rochelle. I think she's now on the getaway.

There are also suites located under the bridge. Not sure they got much use of the balcony in Alaska and also not a lot of privacy.

While my husband enjoyed looking at the instruments and such. He's an avid boater and can park our boat on a dime. Don't think he'll be trying to park the Pearl in this lifetime.

There were a couple other perks as a suite guest however these perks were not something my daughter would have cared about so not missed. We ate breakfast and lunch in Cagney's and we had a bridge tour. I was most impressed with the officers coffee machine.

We also received mini towel art in the inside stateroom and my daughter tickled. Didn't show her the towel art we got in the Haven. In fact did not show her any Haven pics but then again she would not have cared. She's used to living in a dorm.

And the towel art. A little different in the Haven. Our room steward had a sense of humor.

sofa that folds into a bed to accommodate a 6th person.

The Haven room also had a Lavisso? machine that made horribly addictive drinks. There were a couple mornings I got a little too wired on the stuff while waiting for husband to wake up.

master bathroom. I don't usually take a tub but when out at sea how could I resist. This was a fun place to hang out while out on the ocean. I brought an ihome so that we could have our music too.

And no need to get fancied up for a meal.

eating in the room was a little more appealing and fun, especially when your butler delivers while you are in awe looking at the surroundings.

Now the Haven room. There were two bedrooms, one of which we did not use except to store luggage but the extra bathroom was nice. The second bedroom was the size of our inside stateroom for reference and it slept up to three people.

and the lovely bathroom. The area was small but adequate. Sorry about the goofy pics of daughter. Tried to get a person in pics for size reference and she thought I was crazy for taking a pic of a toilet room.

blow dryer commercial grade.

A table. I suppose one could eat here but we did not.

two beds and they were very comfortable. The bedding was also of high quality, crisp clean sheets. Not a lot of privacy but it was just daughter and I so that did not matter.

So now I'll compare the inside stateroom vs. the Haven. Well there is really no comparison in the rooms themselves but...

My daughter and I had a fabulous vacation and loved almost every minute of it. I of course would rather have sailed in the Haven but I actually enjoyed this vacation more than the Haven trip with husband. The Haven entailed more pampering, better food, balcony, bathroom to die for, and a relaxing romantic vacation. The extra benefits of having a concierge and butler were also nice and the Haven area was also missed. The inside cabin and vacation experience was more about the ship, activities, being on the go, meeting new friends, and spending time with my daughter. We took advantage of what the ship had to offer vs. what the Haven had to offer. In all honesty I did not miss the experience as much as I thought I would and felt like we were still pampered and taken good care of with the inside, lowest priced cabin. I did however miss the balcony and sitting out there in my own private space watching the ocean and sea life. Cost wise though the inside guarantee cabin was sooo much less than the Haven so the savings made up for the loss of the Haven and a balcony.

We ended up with an inside balcony on deck 10 aft. 10167, the only inside cabin facing the aft balconies on this deck. The cabin itself was very clean, well laid out, cozy and had plenty of room for the two of us. There were no noise issues whatsoever. Our cabin steward, Leslie was excellent. I would say he treated us just as well as our Haven Steward, Tito. Shower size was ample. The bathroom was the same size as our second bathroom in the Haven two bedroom villa. The cabin size was just big enough and very cozy. Very well laid out and had everything we needed. Cabin steward emptied our fridge and we put water/diet soda that we brought aboard. We had enough room to hang our clothing and we actually brought more clothing this trip because we brought along some dress up clothing and more shoes. We both slept very well, beds extremely comfortable. I was happy that the pillow situation was decent as was the bedding. I remembered our Christmas sailing aboard Royal Caribbean in a balcony room and the biggest turn off we had was each receiving one flat well worn pillow. I had asked my room steward for extra pillows and our room steward told us there were none. We had paid 6k for the two rooms for the Christmas sailing aboard this vessel and not having a decent pillow for that price was the last straw for my husband thus we had not cruised since till our NCL cruise earlier this year. I was expecting much the same this trip with sailing in an inside stateroom on NCL but it was not the case at all. Our steward even voluntarily asked us if we needed extra pillows but we had plenty so no need.

I'll post some pics of the inside stateroom daughter and I shared and then the Haven room Husband and I had.