Best things onboard Alaska cruises, not the excursions... Also what kind of entertainment to expect.

[TheArtfulPenguin]

Going from Whittier to Vancouver in late June.  

 

Of course, I don't plan on being on the ship at all while in ports, but there is sea time. So a couple of questions:

1. What are your favorite things to do to onboard? Not casino. I work in the gaming industry, IGT, and tend to avoid casinos when not working.

2. What kind of shows/entertainment onboard?

 

Thanks. 

[memoak]

13 minutes ago, TheArtfulPenguin said:

Going from Whittier to Vancouver in late June.  

 

Of course, I don't plan on being on the ship at all while in ports, but there is sea time. So a couple of questions:

1. What are your favorite things to do to onboard? Not casino. I work in the gaming industry, IGT, and tend to avoid casinos when not working.

2. What kind of shows/entertainment onboard?

 

Thanks. 

Lots of trivia contests, showroom shows and educational lectures. Plus just relax 

[Incognito1]

We were on one where the enrichment talks were from a retired Canadian Mountie.  Really interesting!

 

Next best thing was photography events.  Although we're pretty decent photographers, we did learn some things and took some great photos.

[TheArtfulPenguin]

7 minutes ago, Incognito1 said:

We were on one where the enrichment talks were from a retired Canadian Mountie.  Really interesting!

 

Next best thing was photography events.  Although we're pretty decent photographers, we did learn some things and took some great photos.

I didn't know they had photography events.  I also do photography as a hobby and feel you could always learn more.  What kind of events? 

 

p.s. my photography: HTTP://instagram.com/theartfulpenguin 

[Ken the cruiser]

For us we enjoy going to lectures on sea days, evening shows in the theater, and the game shows in the Explorers Lounge. We also like to hang out on sea days on the balcony watching for wildlife and awesome scenery as we cruise around Alaska. 😁
 

FWIW we will be on the Grand starting April 30 for 22 days on a B3B, with the 3rd leg going from Whittier to Vancouver. I will be posting to a Live From thread which may help give you some insight, at least with regards to what’s happening on the Grand.

Edited March 23 by Ken the cruiser

[partybarbie]

On the Royal Princess, there was a totem pole carving demonstration in the piazza. Libby Riddles gave a presentation about dog sled racing. On Glacier Bay day, the park rangers board the ship and give commentary. 

[capriccio]

If you haven't seen this section of the Princess website, check it out:  https://www.princess.com/en-us/cruise-destinations/alaska-cruises/north-to-alaska-cruise-activities

 

Princess Alaska cruises have a full time naturalist on board. When not giving lectures and presentations, they are on call to narrate wildlife sightings from the bridge.  We've had two spectacular naturalists (Barbara - can't remember her last name - and Michael Modzelewski). 

[jean-lynd]

They sell a 300 page book on board that follows the route your ship takes and it comes with a map. It's great because it provides information on what you can see between the ports. It points out areas that are good for wildlife sightings and other points of interest.

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, capriccio said:

If you haven't seen this section of the Princess website, check it out:  https://www.princess.com/en-us/cruise-destinations/alaska-cruises/north-to-alaska-cruise-activities

 

Princess Alaska cruises have a full time naturalist on board. When not giving lectures and presentations, they are on call to narrate wildlife sightings from the bridge.  We've had two spectacular naturalists (Barbara - can't remember her last name - and Michael Modzelewski). 

Yes, Michael Modzelewski is terrific.

 

Also, if your Princess cruise stops in Glacier Bay, the forest? rangers come aboard. 

 

 

OOPS! I think that should be park service rangers.

Edited March 23 by ontheweb

[TheArtfulPenguin]

4 hours ago, capriccio said:

If you haven't seen this section of the Princess website, check it out:  https://www.princess.com/en-us/cruise-destinations/alaska-cruises/north-to-alaska-cruise-activities

 

Princess Alaska cruises have a full time naturalist on board. When not giving lectures and presentations, they are on call to narrate wildlife sightings from the bridge.  We've had two spectacular naturalists (Barbara - can't remember her last name - and Michael Modzelewski). 

Thanks. I had not seen that page yet.  

[kamelia]

There is usually quite a variety of Alaskan-themed enrichment onboard, so check the Patter daily.  Along with what's already been mentioned (Glacier Bay U.S. Park Rangers and first woman to win the Iditarod, Libby Riddles), you may also see:

 

- lumberjack demonstration by the crew of the Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan

- presentation from David Lethin, captain of one of the Deadliest Catch boats

- presentation and photo display by Nick Jans, author of A Wolf Called Romeo

- introduction to sled dog puppies by an Iditarod musher, often Ryan Redington, grandson of Joe Redington who's credited with starting the Iditarod, and he's also the 2023 Iditarod champion

- a brief history of Alaska in story and music by Steve Hites

- language lessons and cultural history from a local Tlingit 

- naturalist Mark Harris, naturalist Sandy Schemp

 

Watch for special dining options, too.  We've been on ships that have served Alaskan seafood chowder on the outer decks as well as bringing on crab cakes from Tracy's Crab Shack in Juneau.  And, much to DH's delight, Princess even offer several brews from the Alaskan Brewing Company.  

 

I second the suggestion of buying a copy of The Alaska Cruise Companion once you're onboard and would highly recommend bringing a good pair of binoculars!  HTH!

 

[dahuffy]

On 3/23/2024 at 10:07 AM, jean-lynd said:

They sell a 300 page book on board that follows the route your ship takes and it comes with a map. It's great because it provides information on what you can see between the ports. It points out areas that are good for wildlife sightings and other points of interest.

How much was it, if I may ask?

[jean-lynd]

3 minutes ago, dahuffy said:

How much was it, if I may ask?

Around $20

[memoak]

On 3/23/2024 at 8:07 AM, jean-lynd said:

They sell a 300 page book on board that follows the route your ship takes and it comes with a map. It's great because it provides information on what you can see between the ports. It points out areas that are good for wildlife sightings and other points of interest.

We have a 15 day cruise next year that does to ports that Princess never goes to like Seward and Wrangell. I am assuming they are not going to publish one just for that trip. We have done inland passage and voyage of glaciers many times

[jean-lynd]

2 minutes ago, memoak said:

We have a 15 day cruise next year that does to ports that Princess never goes to like Seward and Wrangell. I am assuming they are not going to publish one just for that trip. We have done inland passage and voyage of glaciers many times

Correct, those ports aren't in the book.

[dahuffy]

11 hours ago, jean-lynd said:

Around $20

That's not too bad really. I pulled the same book up on Amazon and it was $53

[Ellipooh]

Best thing onboard is the PUPPIES!

Get there early...

[capriccio]

In our experience, Libby Riddles brought a full grown sled dog that you could pet before the presentation at the table she set up outside the theater.  She was very gracious and the dog couldn't have been calmer and more friendly.

[jean-lynd]

4 hours ago, dahuffy said:

That's not too bad really. I pulled the same book up on Amazon and it was $53

I didn't think the price was bad. Some people have found used copies on line cheaper. I wish you could order them from Princess so you could read them ahead of time.

[memoak]

2 hours ago, Ellipooh said:

Best thing onboard is the PUPPIES!

Get there early...

If we see this in the patter we avoid the area. One time listening to puppies crying and whimpering was enough. They often bring on board very young puppies who are not accustomed to the screaming kids etc. I believe this is close to animal abuse

 

[frugaltravel]

I love wildlife and photography So much of my time on the ship is spent either outside toward the front or in a forward-facing lounge. I have binoculars and a camera and I'm constantly searching for wildlife. The more time I spend there, the more I can see.

Edited March 25 by frugaltravel

[Incognito1]

On 3/22/2024 at 7:39 PM, TheArtfulPenguin said:

I didn't know they had photography events.  I also do photography as a hobby and feel you could always learn more.  What kind of events? 

 

p.s. my photography: HTTP://instagram.com/theartfulpenguin 

Your photography is beautiful!  You might not get as much out of it as we did :-).  They had a few small-sized hands-on events limited to 25 people and taught by one of the portrait photographers (not the annoying dressed liked an idiot ones at the docks).  He was young, but knew his craft.  One was in the studio all about lighting and another was about motion - for that one we took pics around the ship (few of which turned out well. lol)

[Kabuki12]

On 3/25/2024 at 10:00 AM, memoak said:

If we see this in the patter we avoid the area. One time listening to puppies crying and whimpering was enough. They often bring on board very young puppies who are not accustomed to the screaming kids etc. I believe this is close to animal abuse

 

It is animal abuse.  What is the difference between this and bringing tiger cubs to malls?   A news magazine should investigate this practice.    I'm very skeptical as to what these puppies were bred for and what will happen to them when they outgrow their puppy cuteness.  

 

Here is an eye opening article:

 

Iditarod Scandal: Mushers Abuse And Kill Sled Dogs, Insiders Say - The Dodo

 

Edited March 27 by Kabuki12

[kamelia]

On 3/25/2024 at 1:00 PM, memoak said:

If we see this in the patter we avoid the area. One time listening to puppies crying and whimpering was enough. They often bring on board very young puppies who are not accustomed to the screaming kids etc. I believe this is close to animal abuse

 

7 hours ago, Kabuki12 said:

It is animal abuse.  What is the difference between this and bringing tiger cubs to malls?   A news magazine should investigate this practice.    I'm very skeptical as to what these puppies were bred for and what will happen to them when they outgrow their puppy cuteness.  

 

Here is an eye opening article:

 

Iditarod Scandal: Mushers Abuse And Kill Sled Dogs, Insiders Say - The Dodo

 

That's not what this thread is about.  Please open a new topic if you wish to discuss it.

[memoak]

6 hours ago, kamelia said:

 

That's not what this thread is about.  Please open a new topic if you wish to discuss it.

We did not start it. Somebody posted pictures suggesting it and I for one want to warn people because for us if was very traumatic