Live from the Golden Princess

[2Oregonians]

We're having a great cruise. The weather, unfortunately, has not been so great. It's been COLD and drizzly until today - Ketchikan. Juneau & Skagway, we had to bundle up for our excursions, and it drizzled off and on. It didn't stop us though! The fjord was absolutely gorgeous beyond words, but cold when viewing from the outside. They had blankets you could sign out, which helped, but you just had to tolerate the cold because the views were out of this world. We got all the way to Sawyer Glacier. Today in Ketchikan, it was mostly sunny and 60 degrees. Loved it. We're on our way to Victoria right now. Till then.. bye bye from the Golden Princess!!!

[Love Boat Dream]

Thanks for the report! I'll be getting on when you get off!

 

I'm packing now and putting in some warmer clothes!

[DisneyScrapper]

I still have a few weeks to go. Hope the weather cont. to get better.

[jojamidwood]

Thanks so much for the posting-sorry the weather wasn't all that great. It sounds like you are still having a super time

I am so looking forward to going in five weeks

Quick question--I noticed on a thread a few weeks back that you were wondering who the Captain of the Golden was 'cause you wanted to write a letter to him requesting a tour of the Bridge

1) Were you able to tour the bridge?

2) Who is the captain? Is it Tony Herriot?

 

My Dad is a boating fanatic, LONG time meber of the US Power Squadron, teaches Navigation, etc and would love a chance to tour the Bridge during the Cruise. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again

Johanna

[rhgru]

I was on the Golden a week prior to you- We couldnt get all the way to Sawyer so I am jealous- I think we had better weather than you though- didnt rain at all when we were in the ports and it was warmer.

 

Have a great time in Victoria- it is a grogeous city-

[2Oregonians]

Thanks so much for the posting-sorry the weather wasn't all that great. It sounds like you are still having a super time

I am so looking forward to going in five weeks

Quick question--I noticed on a thread a few weeks back that you were wondering who the Captain of the Golden was 'cause you wanted to write a letter to him requesting a tour of the Bridge

1) Were you able to tour the bridge?

2) Who is the captain? Is it Tony Herriot?

 

My Dad is a boating fanatic, LONG time meber of the US Power Squadron, teaches Navigation, etc and would love a chance to tour the Bridge during the Cruise. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again

Johanna

 

Captain is Tony Nash. Great guy. English. Bridge tour is in 15 minutes, so I'm hurrying. My parents are Elite members and I wrote a letter from my Dad which he signed, so I think that got us the pull. Our invitation says they currently are not conducting bridge tours, but I think the folks' 18 prior cruises had clout! Looking forward to it. Oh.. we were asked to be discretionary about our tour, but I'm telling all you guys. Haven't mentioned it onboard the ship though. Bye ... headed for the bridge!

[gertz]

Nothing wrong with your post. Alaska is a wonderful addictive land. The Golden is a great ship. No disclaimer needed. Next time try Voyage of the Glaciers in an aft covered mini sweet.

 

Tony Nash was skipper in February when we did the Mexican Riviera.

 

GERTZ

Princess Elite

Next Tahitian 9/18 Vancouver to Honolulu

Coral 4/12 FLL to LA

Island 8/17 Back to Alaska 4th time w/grandson:D

[2Oregonians]

Nothing wrong with your post. Alaska is a wonderful addictive land. The Golden is a great ship. No disclaimer needed. Next time try Voyage of the Glaciers in an aft covered mini sweet.

 

Tony Nash was skipper in February when we did the Mexican Riviera.

 

GERTZ

Princess Elite

Next Tahitian 9/18 Vancouver to Honolulu

Coral 4/12 FLL to LA

Island 8/17 Back to Alaska 4th time w/grandson:D

 

The disclaimer is because of previous stuff. I know there's nothing wrong with this thread. Thanks for the advice on "next time", but it'll probably be another 10 years - just like it has been 10 years since our last cruise, unfortunately.

[2Oregonians]

The bridge tour was fantastic, btw. They allowed us to take pictures, which surprised me. No video, however. I took about 30 pictures, including one with hubby sitting in the big chair, one with me standing beside him in the big chair, about 3 of the captain, and several others. Loved the tour.

 

We get to Victoria in about 4 hours. We're eating at the Desert Rose onboard in about 2 hours. Looking forward to that. Trying to think if I have any sage advice for anyone yet to go on this itinerary, but can't think of anything right now. I probably won't post until we get home, so if you're leaving Saturday, all I can say is have fun. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Go ahead and post any questions and I'll answer them as best as I can. I might check before we disembark, but no guarantees.

[jojamidwood]

The bridge tour was fantastic, btw. They allowed us to take pictures, which surprised me. No video, however. I took about 30 pictures, including one with hubby sitting in the big chair, one with me standing beside him in the big chair, about 3 of the captain, and several others. Loved the tour.

 

Thanks so much for the information. It sounds as if you really loved the tour. I hope the rest of the trip was as much fun

[jojamidwood]

The bridge tour was fantastic, btw. They allowed us to take pictures, which surprised me. No video, however. I took about 30 pictures, including one with hubby sitting in the big chair, one with me standing beside him in the big chair, about 3 of the captain, and several others. Loved the tour.

 

Thanks so much for the information. It sounds as if you really loved the tour. I hope the rest of the trip was as much fun

[2Oregonians]

Off the ship exactly 5 hours ago and am now sitting in my own home. Ahh, the joys of living nearby. Unfortunately, we had to miss Victoria due to high winds. The Oosterdam was able to dock, but apparently Princess' berth is narrower and more difficult to get into, so Capt. Nash decided to anchor outside in the open water. Oh well. I've been there twice by car (ferry).

 

Oh, I put the Captain's first name as Tony - it's Nick Nash. Sorry. I realized it the minute I logged off on the ship.

 

Great cruise. Will answer any questions if I can. Can't wait for the next one!!

[2Oregonians]

I'll be posting a review including links to my pictures on shutterfly.com just as soon as I can get them uploaded and organized. I took 500!!!!

 

There were rumors that we missed Victoria due to code red for Norovirus. FALSE. It was due to wind, even though we didn't notice the wind. Hmmm.

 

Still a great trip, and I've seen Victoria, so no biggie. Feel bad for those who haven't seen it though.

[kwknight]

Hello! Thanks for the info. My fiance and I will be on the Golden on 8/16 for our honeymoon. I have a couple of questions that you may be able to help with.

 

First, I've read numerous posts about when to arrive at the pier for embarkation, but most give a variety of answers. Since you have been through the process so recently, what would you suggest? We originally considered getting there around 8am so we'd have extra time to explore the ship, but if Princess doesn't open check-in until 10:30 causing us to have to wait around for 2-3 hours outside in the sun anyway, is it really worth it to be that early? Would it be better to arrive around 9 or 10 and wait in a line that is at least starting to move? How long did you have to wait before you boarded the ship?

 

Second, do you know of any grocery or convenience stores at either the first or second ports where we would be able to buy a few gallons of water for the trip if we don't get a chance to get some in Seattle?

 

Thanks for the help!

[2Oregonians]

Hello! Thanks for the info. My fiance and I will be on the Golden on 8/16 for our honeymoon. I have a couple of questions that you may be able to help with.

 

First, I've read numerous posts about when to arrive at the pier for embarkation, but most give a variety of answers. Since you have been through the process so recently, what would you suggest? We originally considered getting there around 8am so we'd have extra time to explore the ship, but if Princess doesn't open check-in until 10:30 causing us to have to wait around for 2-3 hours outside in the sun anyway, is it really worth it to be that early? Would it be better to arrive around 9 or 10 and wait in a line that is at least starting to move? How long did you have to wait before you boarded the ship?

 

Second, do you know of any grocery or convenience stores at either the first or second ports where we would be able to buy a few gallons of water for the trip if we don't get a chance to get some in Seattle?

 

Thanks for the help!

 

We got there just before 11am, but I can't tell you how long it would've taken to go through the process, because we were escorted through the process quickly and were in our stateroom at 11:25. My parents were on an Australia/New Zealand cruise and one of their tablemates was a supervisor who works at the Seattle pier. My parents already had this Alaska tour booked, so the guy said to ask for him when we got there. Our cards were already made with a VIP sticker on them! It was cool. But to try and answer you ... at 11:00 there wasn't much of a line at all. The ship is disembarked completely by 9:45 or 10:00, so you really can't get onboard much before 11:00 anyway.

 

As far as the water - all the ports had plenty of shops near the ship. Whether they will have bottled water, I'm not sure as I wasn't specifically looking for it. Maybe someone else could help with that question.

[kwknight]

Wow! What luck. That must have been fun.

 

Thanks for the help!

[SeattleCruiselover]

How were the seas between here and Dixon Entrance? Did Golden wallow much (flat bottomed ship and all, you know)?

[2Oregonians]

How were the seas between here and Dixon Entrance? Did Golden wallow much (flat bottomed ship and all, you know)?

 

Hi Karen. We had a very rough time of it. I don't get a bit seasick, but hubby does. He woke up in the middle of the night and had to stand in the open balcony door for about an hour. He also put on a patch which he didn't take off till the end of Juneau day (Monday). I saw lots and lots of patches the first 2 or 3 days!

[SeattleCruiselover]

Hi Karen. We had a very rough time of it. I don't get a bit seasick, but hubby does. He woke up in the middle of the night and had to stand in the open balcony door for about an hour. He also put on a patch which he didn't take off till the end of Juneau day (Monday). I saw lots and lots of patches the first 2 or 3 days!

 

I'm not surprised, honestly, with the weird weather lately. We are midships both horizontally and vertically (D414). Where were you located?

[2Oregonians]

I'm not surprised, honestly, with the weird weather lately. We are midships both horizontally and vertically (D414). Where were you located?

 

Opposite side, but very close. We were D401 & D405.

[SeattleCruiselover]

Opposite side, but very close. We were D401 & D405.

 

Thanks. Guess I dig out the Sea Bands, since I have Meniere's and don't want to have to spend the night on the floor of the bathroom again....:eek: