Alaska - First Cruise & Pictures - 5/30/14

[frawnsay]

[quote name='theopup']That was a wonderful review with incredible pictures, thanks[/QUOTE]

[FONT="Georgia"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]Thank you! I'm glad that I kept a journal along the way. I will pass along the photo pleasantries to my DH ;)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[frawnsay]

[quote name='nativetexan']Thanks so much for your detailed review! What a great trip!


Sent from my iPad using Forums[/QUOTE]

[FONT="Georgia"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]Thanks so much! My husband is still, STILL saying that we must go back to Alaska. He loved it so much that he would even consider living there. That's quite a trip, eh?! :eek:[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[frawnsay]

[quote name='flyingv4me']Excellent review and pictures! Thank you so much for sharing!!!![/QUOTE]

[FONT="Georgia"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]Thank you for the "thank you" :p

I see all of your Caribbean sailings--we're headed down south this summer! Going to see Cozumel, Belize, and Roatan via Galveston. I hope it goes as well as Alaska via Seattle![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[frawnsay]

[quote name='jimbri']Wonderful review and photos![/QUOTE]

[FONT="Georgia"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]Thanks! Sorry for my delayed "thank you"--took a break from CC. But now our next cruise is this summer, so I shall begin the preparations :)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[frawnsay]

[quote name='BrusselsGirl07']What a fun review! Thanks for sharing the story of your first cruise. We are off to Alaska for the first time next month (can't wait!) and will be on Solstice for the first time at Christmas and can't wait for that either!![/QUOTE]

[FONT="Georgia"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]Our cruise was fun, so that explains the fun review :) Thanks!

I hope that your first time to Alaska was as absolutely fantastic as our was! I also am envious of your Christmas cruise on the Solstice--was she GORGEOUS?![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[frawnsay]

[quote name='cruise47']Thanks for sharing your review and pictures.[/QUOTE]

[FONT="Georgia"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]No problem! Every trip is different (isn't the saying "your mileage may vary"? ;)) I think the more "real" experiences, rather than that extreme love-and-hate stuff you see sometimes on CC, can really help fellow travels plan and prepare.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[frawnsay]

[quote name='Keith1010']Great report and photos.

Keith[/QUOTE]

[FONT="Georgia"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]Thank you for the quick note on the trip and the hub's pics :) [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[Lois R]

Hi, glad this got bumped back up:D...I am sailing to Alaska in May:D
So looking forward to it. It will be my 4th time there but the last time
was in Sept 2009 so it has been a few years.

Love your pictures:)

[frawnsay]

[quote name='Lois R']Hi, glad this got bumped back up:D...I am sailing to Alaska in May:D
So looking forward to it. It will be my 4th time there but the last time
was in Sept 2009 so it has been a few years.

Love your pictures:)[/QUOTE]

[FONT="Georgia"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]I must admit that I re-read the review. Wow! I had forgotten some stuff that had happened. So glad that I typed this review (and saved it to my computer) to keep for memories :)

Have a lovely trip! As you can see, May 2014 treated us very well :)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[angie1818]

Really enjoyed your review! We are trying to decide which cruise to take for Alaska. We've cruised several times with Carnival so we are really exploring another cruise line. With Celebrities 123go promotion they are really on top of the list. I actually have a coursety hold on an aqua class room on the Solstice.

I noticed in your review that your husband didn't go "formal". My husband is also not a fan of formal attire. He wants to be on vacation! But you had no problems? Did the ship seem relaxed and casual? I would expect it to be a little more formal than Carnival but I still want to be able to relax and be myself without fear of thinking I need to dress to the nines to go to dinner every night.

How was the casino?

Thanks for your review again! Very helpful!

[NOSaints1]

My wife and are going on the Soltice, my question is we go to Church every Sunday to a Christian a Church, does this ship have a place on the ship to worship?


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[frawnsay]

[quote name='angie1818']Really enjoyed your review! We are trying to decide which cruise to take for Alaska. We've cruised several times with Carnival so we are really exploring another cruise line. With Celebrities 123go promotion they are really on top of the list. I actually have a coursety hold on an aqua class room on the Solstice.

I noticed in your review that your husband didn't go "formal". My husband is also not a fan of formal attire. He wants to be on vacation! But you had no problems? Did the ship seem relaxed and casual? I would expect it to be a little more formal than Carnival but I still want to be able to relax and be myself without fear of thinking I need to dress to the nines to go to dinner every night.

How was the casino?

Thanks for your review again! Very helpful![/QUOTE]

[FONT="Georgia"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]Thanks for reading my review :)

GO FOR AQUA CLASS ON THE SOLSTICE! It. Is. AMAAAAAAAAZING!:D:D:D

With being AQ, you aren't assigned to the MDR, but rather Blu, a specialty dining restaurant for all AQ pax. It is the absolutely best part of AQ in my opinion. In Blu, the dress code is always business casual...even on formal nights. He wore an oxford (a button-up collared shirt), with slacks and dress shoes each night to dinner. On formal night, though, most men had on a jacket, suit coat, or blazer. My husband simply said that the next time that we cruise, he will bring such an article of clothing for formal night. Again, no one (not the staff nor fellow pax) said a word to him. He was welcomed and enjoyed dinner with me each formal night. Your DH will have no problem!

If he really decides once on board to dress up, X offers a rental of formal wear. My DH didn't look into it, as he's a pretty big guy and didn't think that his size would be readily available. I have no idea if it would have been--we didn't ask!

The Solstice was polished, clean, and quiet. We noticed two main groups: there were middle-aged couples to older couples and then there were generational family groups traveling. We saw children, though not many, and all were well behaved and with supervision (whether family or X care provided) at all times.

I can only base this on what I saw, so here's the book's cover for you...I saw a variety of clothing styles (it is Alaska, where the weather can really vary from one port to the next), but never anything distasteful or shocking. I will also say that everyone seemed polite and respectful--pax and staff alike. I've read other reviews of selfish, inconsiderate pax, and we did not encounter this at all.

As I mentioned, Alaskan weather varies. We saw jeans, boots, sweaters, slacks, skirts, hoodies, and so forth. Again, lots of variety on appearance. You mentioned dressing for dinner. I chose (again, this is JUST me) to wear a dress each night--something that I would wear to church or on a date night. On formal night, I would describe that as an evening date night or cocktail attire--darker colors were noticable. In Blu, we didn't see anything formal (no gowns, no bridesmaid dress, no NYE dresses), but we did see some shimmer, some statement jewelry, and other accessories to kind of dress up a look (like a cute clutch or something).

Did my husband notice this? Probably not ;) Do you need to bust out your best taffeta? Nope. :)

And the casino...non-smoking (don't know if that concerns you). It closes sometimes due to where we are sailing; I don't recall now, but do a search on CC, and you'll find when on an Alaska cruise it closes (or someone may chime in). Ample slots were available, but the card tables weren't always open. There were times when just two card tables were going in the evening. As the night grew later, more tables would open, or on sea days you'd see more tables open. Also, some other games (like craps or roulette) were not available during "down" time unless requested. I witnessed a couple ask about craps in particular. They were asked by the staff, "Just you two," and the gentlemen responded, "There's a group of 7 of us." Table was opened. I don't know what is normal procedure, as this was our first cruise. I am also aware that there was a special group on our tour of frequent gamblers (there was a name for them--the image of a blue gemstone is in my head, but I don't know why I'm remembering that). There is a small bar with TV in the casino as well. Three entrances to the casino, and pax may also easily walk through the casino as a general path to the theaters.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[Blondie008]

Hi
Thanks so much for your review
We are considering this cruise for our 20th wedding anniversary - looking at 3-4 days in Seattle before the cruise. (May 2016)
We are from Scotland so its a long way for 7 nights
We are in AQ on Equinox this year - I had been thinking for Alaska we would be fine with a balcony cabin -?
What were the views like along the way?
We are very famous salmon fishermen/smokers (as in scottish smoked salmon not Marlborough!¬) - Are there any opportunities along the cruise for salmon rivers?
Seattle - I guess for us the sheer joy of being in the USA will be fun - but Seattle - any tips for us for pre cruise?
Thanks again
B

[NOSaints1]

We're looking forward to the Boeing plant outside of Seattle.


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[Lois R]

Blondie, Seattle is an awesome city:)......they are famous for alot
of things.......Pike's Market and The Space Needle are 2 of them.
Here is a link to Pike's.......click on it and you can see what it is all
about:D......
[URL]http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/[/URL]

[Blondie008]

[quote name='Lois R']Blondie, Seattle is an awesome city:)......they are famous for alot
of things.......Pike's Market and The Space Needle are 2 of them.
Here is a link to Pike's.......click on it and you can see what it is all
about:D......
[URL]http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/[/URL][/QUOTE]

Thank you so much!
Off for a peek ;)

[angie1818]

I just booked the Solstice for May 1st! Aqua Class! I am so excited. Not so sure how I will like a "cold" weather vacation but it's a bucket list item! I'm sure I will get plenty of hot weather before we go. Living in Panama City Beach we have a lot of that.

What will the weather be like in May? Any other helpful hits you have would be great! I know my why around Carnival but I'll be a first timer on the Solstice!

[frawnsay]

[quote name='Blondie008']Hi
Thanks so much for your review
We are considering this cruise for our 20th wedding anniversary - looking at 3-4 days in Seattle before the cruise. (May 2016)
We are from Scotland so its a long way for 7 nights
We are in AQ on Equinox this year - I had been thinking for Alaska we would be fine with a balcony cabin -?
What were the views like along the way?
We are very famous salmon fishermen/smokers (as in scottish smoked salmon not Marlborough!¬) - Are there any opportunities along the cruise for salmon rivers?
Seattle - I guess for us the sheer joy of being in the USA will be fun - but Seattle - any tips for us for pre cruise?
Thanks again
B[/QUOTE]

[FONT="Georgia"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]I would definitely want a balcony for Alaska. There are two sea days, one entire morning in the fjord before Juneau, and the entire day before the evening in Victoria. And with sunrise and sunset so early and late (4am/10pm), you have a long day with the sun up. Sealife, wildlife, mountains, cliffs, other ships, towns, and then coming to and leaving any port. I hope the beauty and the peace of watching something disappear on the horizon never gets old!

Salmon rivers and fishing--yes and yes! We didn't take an excursion for fishing, but our friends did (on a previous cruise). The wife of the couple had no luck, but the husband actually caught some salmon! We did find on our rainforest hike in Ketchikan baby salmon. :) We were educated on the five types of salmon at nearly every port. We also purchased salmon to bring home (including smoked salmon ;) )

Seattle...as said previously, Pike Place Market is a must to see. After our cruise, we visited the Space Needle and the gardens of the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum. The fun group from our roll call enjoyed a coach tour of city a couple of days prior to setting sail. Search the West Coach Departures forum--that's what I did for help on hotel, dining, and things to see and do!

And congratulations on your anniversary! To many more happy years![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[frawnsay]

[quote name='angie1818']I just booked the Solstice for May 1st! Aqua Class! I am so excited. Not so sure how I will like a "cold" weather vacation but it's a bucket list item! I'm sure I will get plenty of hot weather before we go. Living in Panama City Beach we have a lot of that.

What will the weather be like in May? Any other helpful hits you have would be great! I know my why around Carnival but I'll be a first timer on the Solstice![/QUOTE]

[FONT="Georgia"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]YAY! You will have a blast, I'm sure! :D

I was checking the weather from mid-April until we set sail, so I can only speak of 2014 ;) Seattle had highs anywhere from mid 60s to 80F. Ketchikan is similar to Seattle. Juneau may be a bit cooler (maybe 5 degrees less). Skagway will most likely be the coolest. And then Victoria will be like Seattle. In late May/early June, we had 70s. The coldest day was the morning of Juneau in the fjord, but that was due to a lot of wind. It got as low as in the upper 40s that morning, plus the wind. And, anywhere on this cruise it could rain on you, so be prepared for wet. Luckily, we only experienced rain in Skagway.

You'll see again and again on CC: Alaska=layers. Everyone says it, because it's true. Our coats were 3-in-1...layers. Scarves, whether decorative or utility are a good idea. For the morning in the fjord, all winter accessories are important if viewing from outdoors. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[Blondie008]

Frawnsay thank you - and thanks again also to Lois R - The market has me sold on Seattle already - Foods, arts and crafts - I am there!
The cruise - think your review just put the final nail in - yippeeee
Our anniversary is May 30th - so same week as well albeit two years on
We can do Europe and the med any old day (odd huh but to us the Med is cheap and cheerful)
We love the Caribbean but often cruise there in winter
Our bucket list has Hawaii, Panama Canal and Alaska. In May we cant really take much time off work - thinking this plus 3 days Seattle is doable.
The cruise price is great - just the flights that are the killer - going to call celebrity and see what UK is offering as a flycruise package. Often its the cheapest option.
Thanks so much for your input!
Promise to come back 1.5 years on and let you know how it goes ! Edited January 12, 2015 by Blondie008

[suenterry]

we are doing the same cruise this June, but have no idea about footwear. Because we will be traveling throughout the US for 5 weeks prior to the cruise I dont want to be carrying boots etc. Like yourself, we have North face jackets but footwear? any recommendations?

[my3cees]

I'm so excited, we're getting all of our planning done as well. One of my concerns was the type of shoes. Was actually out at DSW found a really nice pair of Merrells at 70% off. That was my concern, having a pair of hiking boots in our suitcase, that's going into our packing weight. I'm sorry I'm still new with CC, otherwise I'd post a picture.

[frawnsay]

Shoes! :)

We did pack hiking boots, because we had a hiking excursion (Ketchikan and the Tongass Rainforest). We wore these shoes on our flight and on/off the boat to maintain our light, carry-on only baggage.

Truly, we didn't need the boots for our hike; the path was very easy to manage. In my opinion, hiking boots or special terrain footwear is only necessary if you're planning an adventurous excursion.

[frawnsay]

What did *I* pack?
-wore hiking boots
-running shoes/sneakers
-flip flops for pool/hot tub
-two pairs of ballet flats
-one pair of high heels for dinner

I packed sock, camisoles, and other "foundational" pieces in my shoes to help with space in my carry-on.

[Lois R]

I am also going to Alaska......May 8th:D I don't own any boots....
hiking or otherwise;) so none are going with me.