Cheapo Dad's Trip Report on the Majestic Princess (Maybe with few pictures added)...

[harryfat1]

After being out in the open deck, we moved over to the Hollywood Conservatory area where the park rangers have set up shop for few hours.

 

Park rangers have map of Glacier bay and estimated time we will be arriving at the key areas on display at the Hollywood Conservatory. I like how the park ranger write in big block letters that the best side is “outside” next to a whole group of people sitting squarely inside and not moving outside

 

 

 

 

As the area is in the front of the sip and enclosed, it was an extremely popular spot the entire glacier day.  If you didn’t get there early in the morning to stake out a seat by the window, good luck getting one later as many of people are not vacating their window seats.

 

 

 

 

Shopping (aka visiting uncle in prison)

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

 

This dude with chopsticks probably grabbing early lunch/snack from the noodle bar one deck below.

 

 

A rare opening for us to sit down for a bit as most people were very firmly in place at the Hollywood Conservatory

 

 

You can get a GB national park stamp as a free souvenir – free?  Yeah, I like free stuff.

 

Funny how they had to tell people NOT to stamp their passports as GB national park is not considered visiting a foreign country…

 

 

Close up view of the map on where we will be all day long

 

 

 

Oh, the big excitement we encountered while at the Hollywood Conservatory was that the park ranger from the bridge spotted Orcas and mentioned that they were just in front of the ship.

 

Holy Cow! I have never seen 75-year-old grandmas run so fast with their cell phones trampling over people as they run to the window trying to get a glimpse of the Orcas. 

 

I never saw them live as I was on the ground with heel marks from various grandmas running over me as I now understand this famous Christmas song:🤪

 

 

However, my older son took this picture of 2 orcas near the bow of the ship.

 

 

Edited September 16, 2022 by harryfat1

[harryfat1]

After that, we went outside to see what else is going on at other parts of the ship. 

 

There was a shipboard photographer at this side of the ship so we went and fed the crazy aunt in the basement (aka having your picture taken with shipboard photographers)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note that most of the people are lined up in areas with no blue tainted plexiglass coverings.  Those may be good in the Caribbean/Mexico to block the sun, but bad for Alaska when you try to take pictures as the color distorts your photos.

 

 

But good if you want to take a picture of the whole area by yourself:

 

 

I like how smooth the water is and the ripple the ship created in going slow. 

 

 

As we were up there on deck 17 & 18, we visited parts of the ship we didn’t see on day 1 due to the rain at Whittier.

 

 

[harryfat1]

We saw glimpses of air puff from whales but never any body while at GB. You know there’s something underneath the water disturbance but they were doing their deep dives so we never saw them while the ship sailed by.

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Sports Court

 

 

 

 

The Obligatory Wake Shots.  Since the ship doesn't have wrap around Promenade deck, you have to go way above deck to get these shots

 

 

Although I like the side ripples and the mountain background.  Typically you don't see ripples in the water out in the open ocean.  Only in these calm inlet waters do you see ripples

 

 

[harryfat1]

OK, folks.  As I mentioned in previous post, I need to take my son to college this weekend so there will be no uploads for next few days. I will have my phone so I can respond to any comments and questions next few days.

 

This break will serve to see if more late comers can catch up and comment on luggage packing and whatever else.

 

If anyone gets bored, just make some controversial remarks about MDR dress codes or masks and watch sparks fly.

 

Cheers,

 

Harry 

 

 

[wowzz]

Harry - I've been enjoying all your posts, and appreciate your different "take" on the cruising experience. 

I am now probably going to upset thousands of Alaska lovers, but were you bored,  standing in the cold (and rain?) for hours and hours,  on what looked like a dull old day, looking at distant scenery ?

 

[Happiest when cruising]

38 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Harry - I've been enjoying all your posts, and appreciate your different "take" on the cruising experience. 

I am now probably going to upset thousands of Alaska lovers, but were you bored,  standing in the cold (and rain?) for hours and hours,  on what looked like a dull old day, looking at distant scenery ?

 

I would feel that way. Alaska is not on my bucket list, but I’m enjoying the trip report. Living in British Columbia, we see lots of beautiful scenery and I don’t  really want to wear a jacket and hat on my vacation. One day, we’ll go, since it’s so close. 

[wowzz]

1 hour ago, Happiest when cruising said:

I would feel that way. Alaska is not on my bucket list, but I’m enjoying the trip report. Living in British Columbia, we see lots of beautiful scenery and I don’t  really want to wear a jacket and hat on my vacation. One day, we’ll go, since it’s so close. 

Glad it's not just me !

Obviously for us, the distance is rather greater than for you, but, whilst I am Harry's reports, the overall impression of the cruise is putting me off. If I want cold, wet weather,  I can stay at home for free,, and if I want scenery, the Norwegian flords are rather closer !

[Happiest when cruising]

6 hours ago, wowzz said:

Glad it's not just me !

Obviously for us, the distance is rather greater than for you, but, whilst I am Harry's reports, the overall impression of the cruise is putting me off. If I want cold, wet weather,  I can stay at home for free,, and if I want scenery, the Norwegian flords are rather closer !

Oh….the Norwegian Fjords look amazing, too. 

[Pluto_fan]

We had a fabulous Norwegian Fjords cruise a few years ago, and our first Alaska cruise coming up.  I'm curious to hear from people who have done both, what is similar and different between the two?

[Ed Hibbard]

I love your picture of the whale fluke in post #3. I hope to take a similar “money shot” during our June 2023 Alaska bucket list trip. A few questions about the photo:

Did you take that shot with your phone camera or with your “zoom camera”? 
Were you on your balcony or an upper deck?

Were you all at a destination or just enroute? (I was going to ask you where the ship was when you took that shot but I knew your response would be “right behind me “ )

Thanks 

 

[HeyJut]

Well @harryfat1although I didn’t bring any refreshments I thought I’d help provide a little filler while you are attending to family matter. This is the first time that I have actually been on the ship that you were writing about. I haven’t ever cruised on Royal but definitely enjoyed reading your other reviews. My DS, DIL, GS, other grandma and myself sailed on the Majestic the week after you. We had the northbound out of Vancouver to Whittier. I think our weather was probably better than yours although we did have a rainy windy morning in Skagway. There were two other ships in port and we were relegated to no pier due to the rock slides and had to tender in. We missed our excursion which would’ve been on the white rail pass because we had an 8 o’clock reservation and they kept postponing when the tenders would be able to make it safely, which ended up being around noon time. In the meantime we had a second one scheduled which also got canceled. The ship was very close to shore so the tender was quite short timewise and it was one of the ships lifeboats which I had never been in before. The afternoon was beautiful weather in Skagway I’m going to attempt to upload some pictures and one will be of my GS and DIL on the dock in Skagway.

 

Long story which I’ll try to make short, was that we had the Alaskan cruise scheduled from last October going out of Seattle on the crown princess. Because I had paid my membership fee I was able to follow along on CC and read disturbing comments about the crown princess with propulsion problems, port times being cut short, or losing the port completely. We hesitated on what to do which meant we did nothing. A couple of weeks before the cruise we attempted to use the cancel for any reason and get a refund so that we could go on a different line using the same week as of course the younger people work . What we didn’t realize was that cancel for any reason results in a future cruise credit not cash on the spot which was what we needed.

eight days prior to the cruise we decided we were not going on the Crown and after many many hours on the phone with Princess and then airlines we were able to switch to the Majestic for the same dates although leaving out of Vancouver and ending up in Whittier. So we flew into Seattle then took an Alaskan flight to Vancouver spent the night there and then when you got off the ship apparently we got on. Too bad I didn’t know that then or I would’ve searched for you and your family. Probably would’ve had fat chance of spotting you though .

 

anyway we were able to get the last three club class mini suites on the ship they were on three different decks which actually suited me fine. I’ll include a picture of my cabin although as you can tell from the luggage tags on the bed that I didn’t take a picture till almost the end of the cruise. I depend on my DIL to take pictures and share with me later. The club class meant that we could eat in that separate little area of the concerto dining room known as club class. I have never been onprincess before and I am not cheap  but definitely like to save money where I can but since I am now traveling by myself in a cabin which is definitely my preference since my DH died a couple of years ago, I have to pay double the price. But I digress, my DIL was the one who wanted the club class as there’s a six year old involved and we wanted to be able to eat whenever we (read as the child) felt like eating and this worked out perfectly. 
 

I loved the cruise, the crew, the ship and the scenery. I have never been to Alaska and it was on my bucket list.

 

 

[Outerdog]

On 9/14/2022 at 10:58 PM, harryfat1 said:

Although it’s kind of sad that people need to be reminded of not throwing stuff overboard while on the cruise.  That should be common sense 101.

 

Wind.

[HeyJut]

I got annoyed trying to post pix.

one is of Skagway 

other of club class mini suite

 

I liked the Medallion.

[HeyJut]

Ketchikan. I took the Deadliest Catch excursion-pricey at $250, but I enjoyed. Got to get up close to a fishing boat pulling in their catch.

 

 

[harryfat1]

On 9/15/2022 at 10:49 PM, wowzz said:

Harry - I've been enjoying all your posts, and appreciate your different "take" on the cruising experience. 

I am now probably going to upset thousands of Alaska lovers, but were you bored,  standing in the cold (and rain?) for hours and hours,  on what looked like a dull old day, looking at distant scenery ?

 

Thanks for reading along.

 

I'm not sure my take is that unusual as I'm just an average bean counter trying to stay within a vacation budget so I just try to maximize my value.

 

Maybe I speak from a family guy's perspective in traveling as a multi generational family vacation makes my perspective different.

 

As for being bored, yeah, I think I mentioned that I'm not a traditional CC type of cruiser that can look at ocean for hours. My ADHD temperament makes me want to be entertained constantly, which is why I don't think I'll do long cruises with 5+ days of sea days. 

 

Aa for this cruise, it wasn't too bad as first sea day was Hubbard Glacier in the afternoon. Second sea day was in Glacier Bay National Park a day long. Then followed by 3 Port days. So only had 1 technically true sea days on day 7 so it was pretty eventful as far as outside activities go.

 

But as I have pointed out, we missed the more fun entertainment RCI provides. 

 

Also need to point out that I enjoy looking at the big chunks of ice so I don't mind the Glacier viewing days. If someone doesn't enjoy glaciers,  then this itinerary is not for you.

 

Technically we never stood outsides for hours in the dreary bad weather.  We moved from station to station as you saw from pictures. Having a drink helps to alleviate the boredom also.

 

Having 3 balconies connections for first time was new experience for us so we enjoyed being out there as a family. Think that's the real key. We used to drive 2,000+ miles to Wyoming and Utah and as far as south Dakota from CA for summer road trips being in a van all day so it's just being on vacation as a family is what's special.  The destination is important but think the process itself is what we remember the most. 

[harryfat1]

On 9/15/2022 at 11:30 PM, Happiest when cruising said:

I would feel that way. Alaska is not on my bucket list, but I’m enjoying the trip report. Living in British Columbia, we see lots of beautiful scenery and I don’t  really want to wear a jacket and hat on my vacation. One day, we’ll go, since it’s so close. 

I hear you. That's why we don't do the California coastal cruise that Princess offers as we are from California and we are familiar with the ports.  We cruise mostly for ports as well as new ships to explore.

 

Although if you are interested in seeing glaciers, then try to see the one way sailings that Princess or HAL has to offer as they provide more than one chance to see the glaciers. Sometimes with bad weather,  the one day you are to be at the glaciers  may not work out so having second Glacier day can increase the odds of seeing something.

[harryfat1]

On 9/16/2022 at 8:24 AM, Pluto_fan said:

We had a fabulous Norwegian Fjords cruise a few years ago, and our first Alaska cruise coming up.  I'm curious to hear from people who have done both, what is similar and different between the two?

I have always wanted to see the Norwegian Fjords. From various photos and YouTube vide, I would think the Norwegian Fjords cities are more picturesque than the Alaskan cities but do the Norwegian Fjords glaciers sailings include glaciers viewing? For me, that's the key.  

 

For others, it may be other things like whale watching or dog sledding that makes Alaskan cruises special for them.

 

[cr8tiv1]

That was a short move in trip.  You are back so soon.  We didn’t have a chance to “talk amongst ourselves” or anything.  
 

I didn’t think summers were crab season?  Every episode was in the dead of winter with horrendous seas.  Hope you got a sampling at Tracy’s Crab Shack.  That’s supposedly their retail outlet.  

[caribill]

10 minutes ago, harryfat1 said:

I have always wanted to see the Norwegian Fjords. From various photos and YouTube vide, I would think the Norwegian Fjords cities are more picturesque than the Alaskan cities but do the Norwegian Fjords glaciers sailings include glaciers viewing? For me, that's the key.  

 

For others, it may be other things like whale watching or dog sledding that makes Alaskan cruises special for them.

 

 

The Alaska ports are more touristy than the Norwegian ones.

 

There are no Diamond International shops on a Norway cruise.

[harryfat1]

4 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

That was a short move in trip.  You are back so soon.  We didn’t have a chance to “talk amongst ourselves” or anything.  
 

I didn’t think summers were crab season?  Every episode was in the dead of winter with horrendous seas.  Hope you got a sampling at Tracy’s Crab Shack.  That’s supposedly their retail outlet.  

Still in hotel on the road. Just checking CC from the phone...

[harryfat1]

On 9/17/2022 at 7:19 AM, Ed Hibbard said:

I love your picture of the whale fluke in post #3. I hope to take a similar “money shot” during our June 2023 Alaska bucket list trip. A few questions about the photo:

Did you take that shot with your phone camera or with your “zoom camera”? 
Were you on your balcony or an upper deck?

Were you all at a destination or just enroute? (I was going to ask you where the ship was when you took that shot but I knew your response would be “right behind me “ )

Thanks 

 

Hi, Ed,

 

The whale picture you saw was taken when we were at Icy Strait Point on Day 4. It was pure luck that we saw the whales while we were walking along the shoreline.

 

To answer your question, the ship was about 1.5 miles away from where we were.

 

The picture I uploaded back on #3 was taken on my wife’s cell phone zoomed in.  Here few more:

 

We saw the whales walking along the shorelines of ISP

 

 

 

 

 

 

So you asked – what was I doing? Recording on the cell phone so I don’t have many pictures:

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

On 9/17/2022 at 12:46 PM, HeyJut said:

Well @harryfat1although I didn’t bring any refreshments I thought I’d help provide a little filler while you are attending to family matter. This is the first time that I have actually been on the ship that you were writing about. I haven’t ever cruised on Royal but definitely enjoyed reading your other reviews. My DS, DIL, GS, other grandma and myself sailed on the Majestic the week after you. We had the northbound out of Vancouver to Whittier. I think our weather was probably better than yours although we did have a rainy windy morning in Skagway. There were two other ships in port and we were relegated to no pier due to the rock slides and had to tender in. We missed our excursion which would’ve been on the white rail pass because we had an 8 o’clock reservation and they kept postponing when the tenders would be able to make it safely, which ended up being around noon time. In the meantime we had a second one scheduled which also got canceled. The ship was very close to shore so the tender was quite short timewise and it was one of the ships lifeboats which I had never been in before. The afternoon was beautiful weather in Skagway I’m going to attempt to upload some pictures and one will be of my GS and DIL on the dock in Skagway.

 

Long story which I’ll try to make short, was that we had the Alaskan cruise scheduled from last October going out of Seattle on the crown princess. Because I had paid my membership fee I was able to follow along on CC and read disturbing comments about the crown princess with propulsion problems, port times being cut short, or losing the port completely. We hesitated on what to do which meant we did nothing. A couple of weeks before the cruise we attempted to use the cancel for any reason and get a refund so that we could go on a different line using the same week as of course the younger people work . What we didn’t realize was that cancel for any reason results in a future cruise credit not cash on the spot which was what we needed.

eight days prior to the cruise we decided we were not going on the Crown and after many many hours on the phone with Princess and then airlines we were able to switch to the Majestic for the same dates although leaving out of Vancouver and ending up in Whittier. So we flew into Seattle then took an Alaskan flight to Vancouver spent the night there and then when you got off the ship apparently we got on. Too bad I didn’t know that then or I would’ve searched for you and your family. Probably would’ve had fat chance of spotting you though .

 

anyway we were able to get the last three club class mini suites on the ship they were on three different decks which actually suited me fine. I’ll include a picture of my cabin although as you can tell from the luggage tags on the bed that I didn’t take a picture till almost the end of the cruise. I depend on my DIL to take pictures and share with me later. The club class meant that we could eat in that separate little area of the concerto dining room known as club class. I have never been onprincess before and I am not cheap  but definitely like to save money where I can but since I am now traveling by myself in a cabin which is definitely my preference since my DH died a couple of years ago, I have to pay double the price. But I digress, my DIL was the one who wanted the club class as there’s a six year old involved and we wanted to be able to eat whenever we (read as the child) felt like eating and this worked out perfectly. 
 

I loved the cruise, the crew, the ship and the scenery. I have never been to Alaska and it was on my bucket list.

 

 

 

On 9/17/2022 at 1:36 PM, HeyJut said:

I got annoyed trying to post pix.

one is of Skagway 

other of club class mini suite

 

I liked the Medallion.

 

On 9/17/2022 at 1:43 PM, HeyJut said:

Ketchikan. I took the Deadliest Catch excursion-pricey at $250, but I enjoyed. Got to get up close to a fishing boat pulling in their catch.

 

 

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Many thanks for your compliments and much appreciated that you have read my other installments even though you have never sailed on RCI. You definitely deserve to go on a vacation after all that gibberish from the past.

 

Sorry to hear that you couldn’t make your 8 AM reservation for Skagway.  We would have missed our 8:30 AM Yukon bus/shuttle tour if we had ended up in Skagway. 

 

Glad to hear that you were able to make the switch out of the Crown as many people are aware of all her propulsion issues and not making the ports as originally scheduled.

 

We were on the “bubble wrap” Canada disembarkation program where couple bus loads of people were “secretly whisked away” from the ship.  Our luggage went directly from ship to airport such that we didn’t collect them after disembarking.  We went directly into the waiting bus at the bottom of Canada Place and then airport where we collected our luggage so you couldn’t have seen us if you knew we were on the ship.

 

The special disembarkation program we had to sign up for by day 4 of the cruise:

 

 

When they say "Direct to Bus", they were not kidding.  Bee line to bus at the very bottom of Canada Place that very few tourist will ever see:

 

 

 

 

 

Good that you were able to have the nice perks of club class.  Our table is on the other side of club class tables and I can see the head waiters were paying special attention to that section to make sure they are well taken care of.

 

Yeah, I have seen videos of the Deadliest Catch and it looks like a nice excursion.  Given that you haven’t been to Alaska before, you can splurge on these special excursions.

 

Again, thanks for reading this and my previous uploads.  Hope you will find some parts of the trip report helpful in re-visiting your Alaska cruise.

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Hi, Everyone,

 

I'm back.  Sorry had to pause the trip report for past couple of nights but had to get my son ready for his upcoming school year.

 

Now, where were we on the trip report?  Day 3, Glacier Bay Continued:

 

+++++++++++++++

 

Putting green.  Another evidence of Princess cruise with little interest to attract families.  I can understand no water slides on their ships like many cruise ships out there trying to attract families as the water slide/water park can be loud and an eye sore. 

 

But it doesn’t take that much effort to try and create a mini gold area to keep the family busy for a bit.  With Princess, you have ZERO theming. They didn’t even TRY to make it appealing. I have seen older Carnival ships with more golfing pizzazz.

 

Artificial turf area with few holes is Princess definition of putting green/mini golf.