rsmdude Posted April 4, 2015 #51 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Thanks for the post Zuki! Do you mean that one doesn't drink much on the Alaska cruises, so a beverage package isn't worth it? I've never done a large cruise ship before, so this may sound like a silly question, but are cups of water, juice at breakfast, iced teas, etc, included or do you have to buy each of those separately? Ideally I'd love to not be "nickel and dimed" on a cruise for each beverage, but I know I'm pretty spoiled having mostly sailed on seabourn. Thanks! Iced tea, coffee, milk and juices are included with meals and available in the Lido Buffet most hours on HAL ships. NON-bottled water is free all over the ship but bottled water as with anywhere will cost you. Soft drinks like Coke, Pepsi, etc. are extra cost on all the cruise lines. Of course any wines, beer, champagne, liquors or other mixed drinks will be charged for and availability varies throughout the ship. I usually drink a good bit of soft drinks especially when I'm in a hot, humid climate but of the two times I purchased a soft drink package on a cruise I really didn't get my money's worth in the end. If you tend to hit the pool and piano bars often then a drink package may be right for you. The prices and features of those vary for each cruise line. I have only sailed on HAL, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean lines so I can't vouch for NCL. I have heard that while they have more restaurants to choose from many have a surcharge. On HAL only Canaletto and Pinnacle grill are surcharge restaurants. You are much less likely to have a bunch of rowdy children roaming around on HAL ships as well since their demographic leans older. Also HAL ships are not nearly as big and overwhelming as many of the newer ships from the other cruise lines, I'm always able to find a quiet spot to relax and read or just watch the sea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsmdude Posted April 4, 2015 #52 Share Posted April 4, 2015 How does HAL work for booking and getting a deal. I was just poking around and for 4 people in an inside room for 2016 it can be $350 per person. HAL is showing $1200 per person. A few years ago, I must had see a fire sale for 1 way sailings on HAL and they went very low. But they only had 2 person cabins available and airfare would be super high that close to sailing. After you book your cruise keep an eye out for sales and promotions that are introduced afterward. I have done that for several cruises and either received price drops or improved cabins at the same price by calling the cruise line and telling them about the price difference. It can't hurt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mobius Posted April 4, 2015 #53 Share Posted April 4, 2015 Sorry, been away since I injured my foot. I will send you that email ASAP! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supatraveler Posted April 4, 2015 Author #54 Share Posted April 4, 2015 thanks for your input everyone!! Mobius--I wrote you back--appreciate your help! My travel agent doesnt work on the weekends, but hoping to book on Monday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judynorth Posted April 6, 2015 #55 Share Posted April 6, 2015 thanks for your input everyone!! Mobius--I wrote you back--appreciate your help! My travel agent doesnt work on the weekends, but hoping to book on Monday. Be sure to ask about the Anniversary Sale going on on HAL right now. It gives you excursion credit, a dining package, and lower deposit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supatraveler Posted April 6, 2015 Author #56 Share Posted April 6, 2015 thanks judynorth--that doesn't apply to all trips though, right? just a select few? thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judynorth Posted April 6, 2015 #57 Share Posted April 6, 2015 thanks judynorth--that doesn't apply to all trips though, right? just a select few? thanks! I thought it applied to most Alaska cruises. Are you booking through a TA? If so, contact them and see if your cruise is included. Ours is but our TA said that we get a better deal with the past passenger discount. I want to check with her to make sure that this is true since it appears that we should qualify for both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poolwife Posted April 6, 2015 #58 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Which excursion lets you see puffins otters Eagles and whales all in one excursion in Sitka? We are Silia g on the Celebrity Millenium on May 12 and Sitka is our first stop on May 14. Would appreciate your help. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judynorth Posted April 6, 2015 #59 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Which excursion lets you see puffins otters Eagles and whales all in one excursion in Sitka? We are Silia g on the Celebrity Millenium on May 12 and Sitka is our first stop on May 14. Would appreciate your help. Thanks It should say in the description of the excursions in Sitka if you check online at the Celebrity site. We took one of the two boat excursions offered in Sitka when we sailed on HAL. It was a great excursion and well worth the money. It is best at low tide though because you can see the sea stars clinging to the shore at low tide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted April 6, 2015 #60 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Have you checked port arrival and departure times? They may be different. DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supatraveler Posted April 6, 2015 Author #61 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Thanks Judy North--unfortunately I called and the date I am looking for is not included in the anniversary sale. Speaking of Sitka--HAL stops there from 7:00-3:00--Is that enough time to do one of the excursions you're speaking about? Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted April 7, 2015 #62 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Which excursion lets you see puffins otters Eagles and whales all in one excursion in Sitka? We are Silia g on the Celebrity Millenium on May 12 and Sitka is our first stop on May 14. Would appreciate your help. Thanks For puffins you need to get to St Lazaria Island. IF you take a ship tour- they do not always go there. I highly recommend the Ester G. I went out about a week later and had good sightings last year. Sitka independent boat tours offer varied wildlife. I did charter the boat, since my priority was wildlife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilidog11 Posted April 7, 2015 #63 Share Posted April 7, 2015 We just booked a marine wildlife tour in Sitka with Gallant Adventures. Gets great reviews on TA. Paul was very prompt with answering questions and gave lots of great info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supatraveler Posted April 7, 2015 Author #64 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Thanks Chilidog--how long is that excursion? It sounds great! Are you going to Sitka with HAL? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilidog11 Posted April 7, 2015 #65 Share Posted April 7, 2015 The tour is 2.5-3 hrs. He will take you to what you want to see. No more than 6 people on the boat. It was $125 a person. We are cruising with NCL May of 2016. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted April 7, 2015 #66 Share Posted April 7, 2015 The tour is 2.5-3 hrs. He will take you to what you want to see. No more than 6 people on the boat. It was $125 a person. We are cruising with NCL May of 2016. The "what you want to see" is only going to be for birders, St. Lazaria, as an example. Are you going there. There is no way this is done with any other wildlife you want to see, except maybe some possible haul outs. You usually see, humpbacks and sea otters, but is considered a varied wildlife tour. If you want to see puffins, then you specifically need an independent vendor to take you to the rookery at St. Lazaria. Otherwise these are jackpots. :) Flame away, but there are specific guidelines, in the sticky, above, about recommendations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilidog11 Posted April 7, 2015 #67 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Didn't really recommend them. Just answered a question about who I booked with. So sorry I upset the CC police. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mapleleaves Posted April 7, 2015 #68 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Speaking of Sitka--HAL stops there from 7:00-3:00--Is that enough time to do one of the excursions you're speaking about? Check the town web site for info on sights, getting around, vendors, FAQ's, free visitor guide, etc http://www.sitka.org/explore/wildlife/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supatraveler Posted April 7, 2015 Author #69 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Hahah--I appreciate your input chilidog11!! I will definitely look into it--you didnt upset me! ;) I am officially booked on the Westerdam in June! Now to look at excursions and ports! thanks so much for everyone's input! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mobius Posted April 8, 2015 #70 Share Posted April 8, 2015 Congratulations! What sort of room did you end up getting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supatraveler Posted April 8, 2015 Author #71 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I ended up booking a midship veranda VA room, Mobius! The TA's deal was the best price and package I could find anywhere online!! Thanks for the recommendation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judynorth Posted April 8, 2015 #72 Share Posted April 8, 2015 I checked with my TA again and found that, although we could get the anniversary sale deal on our particular cruise, we got a much better price with our past passenger discount and the OBC from the consortium that our TA belongs to. We saved about $400pp on the cabin alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Singinman Posted April 14, 2015 #73 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Sitka is my favorite port in Alaska. It has some incredible excursions. Sitka chocolate is wonderful. The only thing Skagway has going for it is a rental car option for the highway to Canada. By car, you can stop where you want to stop. Sitka is also more fun to walk around and the food is better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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