GOLDEN PRINCESS REVIEW - ALASKAN CRUISE 6/11 to 6/18

[Janet Foster]

What a fantastic review. I LOVE the theme nights and the pictures. :) Hope to sail with you at some point Janet!

Thank you for your kind comments. We always say the more the merrier. I was sad I didn't get to go to our groups Meet & Greet but when you are in a large group like that it is really hard.

 

Oh, we also had unlimited WiFi with our suites. So when we were on the ship headed into Victoria, I SKYPED my mother on my iPad and got to take her around the suite showing her everything, then I took her out on the balcony and everyone got to tell her "Hi".. Was great. I also updated on Facebook constantly. Was a great way to keep up with my daughters...

[Janet Foster]

I really enjoyed your review and the photos. Thanks so much. We sail golden in Feb to Hawaii, so I am hoping we don't need the jackets!!

Not sure how the sailing is to Hawaii out of LA in February. I know LA is probably a bit on the cool side during that time but even when we knew that Alaska would be cold we just dressed in layers. My husband didn't take more than a windbreaker and my London Fog jacket was waterproof, lightweight and I was able to cram it in a bag or suitcase. We still got sunburnt..

 

We would love to do the sail to Hawaii..

[Janet Foster]

I really enjoyed your review. We stayed at the same hotel in Seattle when we cruised HAL to Alaska in 2008. I loved that little supermarket on the next block!

 

I also loved your ideas of theme nights. What a great idea. You looked like you had so much fun.

Oh yes! When we look for hotels here is the critieria: Has to be in a good safe location, has to have full breakfast, has to have a grocery store and liquor store within walking distance. Hampton Inns are usually where we stay when we are cruising.

[Amcdon]

Loved reading your review. Glad you had a good time. I have been to Alaska two times and loved it! :p

[4cats4me]

Ms. Janet, your review is one of my all-time favorites! I love the Carnival pictures. They are so funny. We're going on the Golden in two weeks and your pre-cruise info as well as post-cruise info has helped me greatly.

Thanks to your review, I will be participating in luggage express so that I don't have to deal with trying to find a porter post-cruise.

I would like to be able to get off the ship very early as our flight leaves at 11:30 a.m. What was the earliest group to disembark? I'm assume Express walk-off? And if so, what time was the first express walk-off goup allowed to leave the ship, if you know? We really don't feel like taking a Princess bus and would prefer to cab it to the airport.

Edited June 26, 2011 by 4cats4me

[JasmineC]

The play by play of your trip was fantastic. The pictures were an added bonus. Thanks for the review, we are off on the Golden in about a week and a half, and your review gave me some last minute ideas/things to write down.

[Lin336]

What a wonderful review! Really enjoyed it. We are looking forward to being on the Golden in September.

[Janet Foster]

Ms. Janet, your review is one of my all-time favorites! I love the Carnival pictures. They are so funny. We're going on the Golden in two weeks and your pre-cruise info as well as post-cruise info has helped me greatly.

Thanks to your review, I will be participating in luggage express so that I don't have to deal with trying to find a porter post-cruise.

I would like to be able to get off the ship very early as our flight leaves at 11:30 a.m. What was the earliest group to disembark? I'm assume Express walk-off? And if so, what time was the first express walk-off goup allowed to leave the ship, if you know? We really don't feel like taking a Princess bus and would prefer to cab it to the airport.

Thank you!!!!

 

One couple in our group walked off at 7am. So you will be fine.

 

The cut-off date to do the EZ CHECK is on TUESDAY of your cruise... Did you see my info about EZ CHECK?

 

hthttp://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1435396&page=3

[Janet Foster]

The play by play of your trip was fantastic. The pictures were an added bonus. Thanks for the review, we are off on the Golden in about a week and a half, and your review gave me some last minute ideas/things to write down.

Thank you.. let me know if you have any questions.

[flashdog_1]

Great thorough review! Thanks for taking the trouble to insert all the links and photos.

 

I saw that you'd been to Elliot's in Seattle. One of our friends had recommended it so I made a reservation there, too. Did you enjoy the food immensely? DD wants to wear jeans because the dress code is casual, but I looked it up and it says ambience is elegant casual, so I'm not sure about how to dress. Any advice would be welcome.

 

It's funny how you look at a port on a map and you think you'll be able to hoof it just fine. But then I saw your photos of the port, for instance, of Victoria, and it looked very confusing! Wish us luck! Thanks

 

oh! And why was the Sanctuary cold?

Edited June 26, 2011 by flashdog_1

[LaCal]

Gosh have a great time... I have the CRUISE BLUES so it's time for me to start thinking about our next cruise.

 

Great Review once again , Thanks SOOO MUCHHH, Brought back all our memories from last year in Alaska ...

 

Now what we do to get rid of those Cruise Blues...Is start planning your next one right away....

 

We Always get the Future Cruise OBC..Last year we did Alaska in May on Princess, then when we got back were given a FREE Cruise on NCL through Harrahs(Youd like NCL as they also gave us FREE Drink Cards for all the booze while in the Casino:eek:, Saved $100's ),then when we got back from this cruise(Mexico)...The next day I booked the Hawaii Cruise on the Golden on 11/09/2011(Using the Future Cruise Credit from our Alaska one)...

 

And when we get back in Nov from Hawaii we have to Decide if were going to use NCL or Princess for Next May, Back to Hawaii......

 

Oh the Hard Choices one has to make....:rolleyes:

 

Keeps the mind busy and something to look forward too...:)

 

We Always get Mini-Suites but after seeing your photos and reading your reviews it might be time to upgrade...:D

 

If some Extra cash rolls in I'm hoping to Upgrade just once to the BIGGEST SUITE THEY HAVE.....HEY YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, RIGHT...:D:D

[NRG]

"One couple in our group walked off at 7am. So you will be fine."

 

Thanks for the great review and all the info Janet. When your friends' did the self walk off at 7am do you know how long it took them to get to the airport? What time was their flight? I am thinking about doing the same for our cruise next summer if we book a 10:45am flight out of SEA. I always like to be early off the ship and at the airport before the lines form. Thanks again.

[Janet Foster]

"One couple in our group walked off at 7am. So you will be fine."

 

Thanks for the great review and all the info Janet. When your friends' did the self walk off at 7am do you know how long it took them to get to the airport? What time was their flight? I am thinking about doing the same for our cruise next summer if we book a 10:45am flight out of SEA. I always like to be early off the ship and at the airport before the lines form. Thanks again.

Their flight was at 10am. They had no troubles. Now had we been delayed due to fog or something that would be a different story but think about it. We were docked in Victoria, B.C and only had to go to Seattle....soooooooooooooo you will be fine. By 8:15am they were at the airport.

 

Not only did our ship arrived back in Seattle but so did a HAL and a NCL so the airport on Saturday is a bit crowded with the cruise passenger surge.

[Janet Foster]

Great thorough review! Thanks for taking the trouble to insert all the links and photos.

 

I saw that you'd been to Elliot's in Seattle. One of our friends had recommended it so I made a reservation there, too. Did you enjoy the food immensely? DD wants to wear jeans because the dress code is casual, but I looked it up and it says ambience is elegant casual, so I'm not sure about how to dress. Any advice would be welcome.

 

It's funny how you look at a port on a map and you think you'll be able to hoof it just fine. But then I saw your photos of the port, for instance, of Victoria, and it looked very confusing! Wish us luck! Thanks

 

oh! And why was the Sanctuary cold?

Elliots... My husband had jeans on. We really did enjoy the food and the service was great as well.

 

Yeah, I had no clue about Pier 91 until we arrived which is why I wanted to document. I really had no idea of what to expect in Victoria. Hal and Princess both arrived in Victoria close to each other so the influx of passengers coming off the ship was a bit overwhelming. But it is like this at all of the ports we traveled to. Did you have plans for Victoria?

 

Sanctuary was cold because it was a cold rainy day and the entire area was wet and miserable.. which is why we stayed out of the elements that day. (our Sunday full sail day)

Edited June 26, 2011 by Janet Foster

[Janet Foster]

Great Review once again , Thanks SOOO MUCHHH, Brought back all our memories from last year in Alaska ...

 

Now what we do to get rid of those Cruise Blues...Is start planning your next one right away....

 

We Always get the Future Cruise OBC..Last year we did Alaska in May on Princess, then when we got back were given a FREE Cruise on NCL through Harrahs(Youd like NCL as they also gave us FREE Drink Cards for all the booze while in the Casino:eek:, Saved $100's ),then when we got back from this cruise(Mexico)...The next day I booked the Hawaii Cruise on the Golden on 11/09/2011(Using the Future Cruise Credit from our Alaska one)...

 

And when we get back in Nov from Hawaii we have to Decide if were going to use NCL or Princess for Next May, Back to Hawaii......

 

Oh the Hard Choices one has to make....:rolleyes:

 

Keeps the mind busy and something to look forward too...:)

 

We Always get Mini-Suites but after seeing your photos and reading your reviews it might be time to upgrade...:D

 

If some Extra cash rolls in I'm hoping to Upgrade just once to the BIGGEST SUITE THEY HAVE.....HEY YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, RIGHT...:D:D

Thank you.. I will be planning our next cruise soon. I have over 1,000 pictures that I am still downloading and editing for our friends... so this has kept me busy so far.

 

We always got mini-suites too.. we like the extra room and the balcony but.... just don't know if I can go back now.. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

 

Thanks for your kind remarks..

[PrincessNancy]

Fantastic! Love your review style. Your themed parties were so much fun!! Thanks for sharing your cruise with all of us...

[Janet Foster]

Fantastic! Love your review style. Your themed parties were so much fun!! Thanks for sharing your cruise with all of us...

Thanks Nancy..

[flashdog_1]

Elliots... My husband had jeans on. We really did enjoy the food and the service was great as well.

 

Yeah, I had no clue about Pier 91 until we arrived which is why I wanted to document. I really had no idea of what to expect in Victoria. Hal and Princess both arrived in Victoria close to each other so the influx of passengers coming off the ship was a bit overwhelming. But it is like this at all of the ports we traveled to. Did you have plans for Victoria?

 

Sanctuary was cold because it was a cold rainy day and the entire area was wet and miserable.. which is why we stayed out of the elements that day. (our Sunday full sail day)

 

Thanks for responding. We want to try the ivory salmon at Elliot's.

 

I've never been on a Princess ship, so was unaware the Sanctuary was not enclosed and heated!! Thanks for the heads up.

[msweeble1]

Oh that would be great if you can get the same upgrade.. They called us 10 days before sailing. When I went online, I could see that the category AA cabins were waitlisted... so I am sure it was easier for Princess to call one person (me) and move a whole group to free up all those AA cabins that they sold last minute.

 

The Hampton Inn, I would return because it wasn't a bad hotel it was just unfortunate that they were doing a refurb when we were staying there. It should be great by the time you go! Be sure to make your reservations early to get a good rate. Unfortunately we all qualified for the AARP rate. LOL

Thank you for your information!!!!!

[Janet Foster]

Thank you for your information!!!!!

You are welcome!

[bchbum4evr2]

Thank you Janet for this amazing review.

 

I am sailing with my 80 year old dad on 7-9-11 and have been worried about packing proper clothes. I live in a very casual area and wear a lot of nice jeans with nice tops for nights out. I am hoping that will be acceptable on this trip. I have the formal nights covered.

 

What was the weather like? I know to bring a 'jacket' but how heavy? I live at the beach in North Fl, so anything under 80 seems cold!

 

Appreciate any suggestions you have for a newbie. I've only been on one cruise 10 years ago and it was the Disney Cruise.

[DocM4]

What a great revue!!! Thanks so much for posting it.

 

Your pictures made it all come alive.

[legalwife]

Let's see now. All of the above and then some! I just love your sense of humor too. Alot like mine. So glad you got the upgrade and you sound very worthy. ;)

[Romy40]

Wow! Your review was very helpful. Thank you.

My husband plays guitar and sings in a band here (NOT his day job, ha ha), so I know how it is to have a music "critic" along when taking in bands, shows, etc.

I KNOW we'll hit that Jimi Hendrix museum.

I'm going to check out the company that you used to transfer from airport to hotel to ship. Thanks for the link!

Romy

[Janet Foster]

Thank you Janet for this amazing review.

 

I am sailing with my 80 year old dad on 7-9-11 and have been worried about packing proper clothes. I live in a very casual area and wear a lot of nice jeans with nice tops for nights out. I am hoping that will be acceptable on this trip. I have the formal nights covered.

 

What was the weather like? I know to bring a 'jacket' but how heavy? I live at the beach in North Fl, so anything under 80 seems cold!

 

Appreciate any suggestions you have for a newbie. I've only been on one cruise 10 years ago and it was the Disney Cruise.

If your dad gets cold then long pants, shirts (some long and some short sleeved) and sweaters and waterproof jacket. So that he can dress in layers. A knit cap would work great and some gloves to keep his hands warm. My husbands ears got cold a few times.

 

For the MDR the guys wore docker type pants or nice jeans and a short sleeved shirt. We did not do the formal night dressing. We had ANYTIME DINING.

 

This cruise was more casual than cruises in the past that we have taken and you will be fine~

 

Ladies had on nice jeans and tops or a dress for dinner. I packed 2 pairs of jeans, two pairs of capri's and my tops were short sleeved and long sleeved. I also had two sweater tops.

 

 

My jacket was like a LONDON FOG waterproof windbreaker jacket that I got on sale after the Christmas Holidays. My husband just had a waterwindbreaker. The gift shops in Juneau sell really nice inexpensive fleece and lightweight jackets that say "Alaska" on them. So if you think you need something warmer you could always pick up one there in the store.

 

The only time we were really cold was when we were up on deck watching the glacier but you can do that inside the SKYWALKER Lounge. We sat out on our balcony alot. It got chilly but we were fine with our jackets and sometimes hats. Being from Florida you may think it is colder.

 

We didn't have any rain but it was misty one day, then it stopped.

 

Hope this helps! I was way worried about it too as I don't like being cold.