Live from Island Princess Northbound Alaska

[HoneyBubba]

We are going on the IP when it returns to Vancouver. Can't wait, getting to near a week left.

Did you try Sabatini's or Bayou? I am trying to figure out which one to go to. DW and I like Italian. I like the Cajun food. But I heard that it is "fake" Cajun.

We will be on Caribe in the bump-out in a balcony. I think it will be great.

Thanks

[W5KAP]

Good morning from Glacier Bay! Partly cloudy skies, but the bay itself is totally flat ... VERY smooth sailing. We are the only ones in today and it is like we are just gliding in. We'll be at the glaciers around 10:00 a.m.

 

We've been up since 6 and there is a lot to see on the way in. Just saw our first tidewater glacier. Great narration coming into Glacier Bay.

 

We had Libby Riddles (iditarod champion) come do a talk in Juneau. Princess is doing a MUCH better job here in Alaska than they did 6 years ago. The location of the cabin is great although it is a HECK of a long way from the Horizon Court to our cabin.

 

Off to watch the glaciers.... will check back later today!

 

Thanks for all the great info. We are following you along with LadyLeo. Both she and her DH and me and my DW are celebrating 40 years of marraige!! We all can't wait and it sounds like you guys are having a ball

 

 

Cheers, Kenn

[Alaska05]

I checked and there are five washer/dryer combinations in the laundry room. $1 for each. Soap was $1 and fabric softner another $1. So to do a load of laundry will cost you $4. Before I left, I saw a commercial for Purex 3 in 1 sheets. I bought some and am VERY impressed. It has your soap, fabric softner, and anti-static sheet all in one sheet. If you think you're going to need to do laundry, check into these. They are compact and light weight (and will save you money).

 

Thanks for your opinion on the Purex 3-in-1 sheets. I saw a commercial for them last week and was considering buying them for our upcoming B2B on the Coral in July. I did find them at Target for $5.99 but was waiting to buy. Now I definitely will because I know I will be doing laundry.

[Richard]

We are going on the IP when it returns to Vancouver. Can't wait, getting to near a week left.

Did you try Sabatini's or Bayou? I am trying to figure out which one to go to. DW and I like Italian. I like the Cajun food. But I heard that it is "fake" Cajun.

We will be on Caribe in the bump-out in a balcony. I think it will be great.

Thanks[/QU

 

We will also be on the Island on June 8th and on Caribe deck too. Only a week to go and looking forward to good weather, I hope.

Richard

[Shewuf]

Thanks for the info. We are on the June 8th northbound cruise and are really looking forward to it.

[Shewuf]

My husband and I are booked in D702 for the Island Princess June 8th northbound cruise. I've looked forward to this almost a year! ;)

[HoneyBubba]

My husband and I are booked in D702 for the Island Princess June 8th northbound cruise. I've looked forward to this almost a year! ;)

 

[quote name=Richard;19773277

We will also be on the Island on June 8th and on Caribe deck too. Only a week to go and looking forward to good weather' date=' I hope.

Richard[/quote]

 

I know Richard has found the roll call. But come on over and take a look.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=854232

 

Thanks,

[Grannycb]

Just thought I'd mention something no one has talked about: There is an English Pub lunch at the Bayou at no extra charge. We didn't try it but it did look interesting.

[cindep]

We're off the ship and sitting at the Comfort Inn in Anchorage. One of my fellow cruise critic cruisers ate at the Bayou and said it was VERY good.

 

Here's the "skinny" on some things that have been discussed in the past ...

 

They basically "tossed" us off the ship at 9:00. The only luggage that was left was for those of us who were taking the train back to Anchorage. There is a man in the terminal who has tags if you are using the Alaska Railroad to leave Whittier. People are VERY friendly and helpful. Just ask. They tagged all of the luggage we didn't need and put it on a Princess bus. It was waiting for us at the train terminal in Anchorage. Very easy and we didn't have to lug it around.

 

We took the Major Marine Prince William Sound glacier tour. Worth EVERY penny and then some!! They took us out to two different glaciers. We got VERY close and both glaciers did some major calving. Now admitedly we had a very nice sunny day so that may have been a factor. But it was wonderful. We also saw a humpback and at least a dozen or so sea otters. If you are really wanting to see glaciers, this is the way to do it.

 

There are several small businesses outside the cruise terminal in Whittier. If you don't want to walk, there is a cafe right next to Major Marine that had pretty reasonable prices.

 

I'll be writing a review once we get home. Oh ... we also saw several moose and sheep on the train from Whittier to Anchorage. You do need to purchase advance tickets from the Alaska Railroad for this train, but it is definitely a nice relaxing option for getting out of Whittier after your cruise.

 

I have unlimited internet for the next couple of days, so if you have any questions, ask away.

 

Oh yes ... they did have the "English Pub" food two separate times in the Bayou at lunch. It is a very limited menu. I had the Cottage Pie and my husband had the fish and chips. Both were "OK". If you want to try "English" food, try it there for free. If you don't like it ... hit the Horizon Court.

[Party Teacher]

Cindep,

 

So how's the Comfort Inn? It sounds like you're doing our exact same itinerary 2 weeks before us. Thanks so much for the reviews!

 

PT

[cindep]

The Comfort Inn is just fine. It IS within walking distance of the train station. BUT if you have very much luggage, call them when you arrive and they will send their van over to pick you up from the train. We (actually DH) drug our luggage all the way over to the hotel which was taxing on DH and totally unnecessary.

 

Just an FYI, the Sled Dog Rodeo is literally right next door to the Comfort Inn.

 

The hotel took us out to the airport this morning to pick up a car. We drove down to Seward today for lunch and then went to the Sea Life center. I don't know how much longer they will have him, but they currently have a baby sea otter. He is only 4 months old, but boy is he cute! I was able to get some great pictures. Poor baby, he was showing off so much when we first got there that when we went back to that area he was sound asleep!

 

If you bought the Northern Lights book, it only costs $20 plus tax for 2. That's a good bargain. I don't know if I would have paid $20 a piece, though. That coupon book has been great so far.

 

Got to give up the computer to DH. BTW ... the Comfort Inn didn't advertise wireless, but they have it for free in all rooms.

 

Oh yes ... the mosquitos a/k/a Alaska state bird ... are out in full force here in Anchorage. DH has already been bit and he normally doesn't get bothered at all. I'm toting an Off clip-on tomorrow. I KNOW they like me!!

[Alaska0799]

Thank you for taking time to provide such good info! Loved hearing all the good news you had about the Island. Really want this cruise to be special--we planned it shortly after my father passed on last year to give Mother something beautiful to look forward to. Will celebrate her 80th BDay in Glacier Bay. She and my father took 22 groups of people on Princess cruises in their earlier years (as a sort of extension of their ministry), including 12 to Alaska. Alaska is the one place my father always said he'd like to return to.

 

Sounds like we have much the same itinerary, in reverse! We'll be in D718 for the 7/27 Southbound on the Island. Any problem with noise from any service doors or laundromat? Is there an accessible deck out that back door? We're also at Comfort Inn on 7/25-26, Alaska RR to Whittier then Blackstone Bay cruise via Major Marine. We cruised Blackstone Bay in '07 (sailed on the Coral that year) and it was one of the highlights of that trip--can't wait to get back there! We never miss the whale watching cruise in Auke Bay/Juneau. The last 2 years we saw a group of a dozen or so humpbacks feeding and bubble-netting. Are they still there?!

 

Best filet (garlic crusted, I think) I've ever had was in the Bayou Cafe in '07. We'll definitely do that again!

 

We're wildlife lovers (not shoppers!). Any excursions you particularly enjoyed other than Auke Bay whale watching?

 

Did you happen to meet a waiter in the dining room by the name of Rolle (sp)?

 

52 days to go and I don't think I could be much more excited about returning to my favorite place on earth!

 

Thanks for the warning about that state bird! We may do some fishing in Ship Creek behind the Comfort Inn so we'll be sure to prepare properly. Thanks again for taking time to share this information!

[cindep]

I'm back home and have more time to reply (and a guaranteed internet connection). We didn't have any problems with our cabin as far as noise was concerned at all (D716). There is a balcony out the aft door. It isn't wide enough for chairs, but it can be great when they site something that isn't on your side of the ship.

 

Didn't meet Rolle ... but our waiter and assistant waiter were excellent. I think you'll have fine service. This ship also has some of the "prettiest" presentations of food I have ever seen!!

 

We saw one lowly humpback on the Major Marine tour, but it is still a little early.

 

In Ketchikan we did the Bearing Sea Crab Fishermen tour. My husband ranked this as the highlight of the cruise ... even surpassing 3 hours of glaciers calving on the Major Marine tour in Whittier!! You'll definitely get to see wildlife in a very unique environment on this tour in Ketchikan. If you can work it in your budget ... do it. It is also good if the weather is going to be "iffy" in Ketchikan. You are in a covered enclosed area on the boat ... HOWEVER, it is a pretty long walk from the ship, so be prepared if it is rainy. Also be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to get to the boat. We just barely made it!!

 

BTW ... I am sporting 5 LARGE mosquito bites ... two on my face, one on my hand, and one on each leg. The Off clip-on was worthless against these suckers!! I think it would have been more effective for swatting them with it. So much as I hate the stuff .... get out the heavy duty repellant with Deet. You're going to need it!!

[Alaska05]

In Ketchikan we did the Bearing Sea Crab Fishermen tour. My husband ranked this as the highlight of the cruise ... even surpassing 3 hours of glaciers calving on the Major Marine tour in Whittier!! You'll definitely get to see wildlife in a very unique environment on this tour in Ketchikan. If you can work it in your budget ... do it. It is also good if the weather is going to be "iffy" in Ketchikan. You are in a covered enclosed area on the boat ... HOWEVER, it is a pretty long walk from the ship, so be prepared if it is rainy. Also be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to get to the boat. We just barely made it!!

 

We booked this tour independently using a Toursaver coupon. My e-mail confirmation says, "Please be at the Ketchikan Main Cruise Ship Dock at least 30 minutes and no less than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. Our crew will meet you on the dock and escort you to the ship. You are also welcome to proceed directly to the Alleutian Ballad at the Berth 3 Tender Float where she is tied up."

 

Did you opt to walk to the ship?

[Party Teacher]

Thanks for the heads up about the Deet Cindep. I have the wipes packed as well as some Bounce dryer sheets. We leave TOMORROW!!!!!

[cindep]

On the Aleutian Ballad tour in Ketchikan, I never saw any type of transportation. They had a person with the Princess tour number board waiting outside of where the ship docked, but that was it. We had to "hike" to the Aleutian Ballad. You can't miss it ... it was tied up behind the Island Princess. We may have just had a "bad" pier location that day. Holland America was much closer.

Since they didn't take the tickets until we actually got on the boat, I'd suggest leaving early and getting down there within a reasonable amount of time. You're still going to have a pretty steep incline to go down to get to the boat. We found this to be the case at most places to get to individual boats ... the docks are fairly low to the town's sidewalks. Hope that makes sense.

[Alaska05]

[quote name='cindep']On the Aleutian Ballad tour in Ketchikan, I never saw any type of transportation. They had a person with the Princess tour number board waiting outside of where the ship docked, but that was it. We had to "hike" to the Aleutian Ballad. You can't miss it ... it was tied up behind the Island Princess. We may have just had a "bad" pier location that day. Holland America was much closer.

Since they didn't take the tickets until we actually got on the boat, I'd suggest leaving early and getting down there within a reasonable amount of time. You're still going to have a pretty steep incline to go down to get to the boat. We found this to be the case at most places to get to individual boats ... the docks are fairly low to the town's sidewalks. Hope that makes sense.[/quote]

Did you book directly with them, use the Toursaver coupon? I'm going to have to give them a call to clarify. I seem to recall when I booked with them they said I could get on the same bus as those who booked thru Princess. I definitely need to check this out. Thanks for the heads up.

[cindep]

I used the Princess tour rather than the coupon. To be honest ... I was glad I did. I know that sounds silly, but this is one tour I really wanted every penny to go to the tour operator. I gave a $20 tip at the end. These guys to a lot with the Make a Wish foundation granting kids' wishes. This is NOT your run-of-the-mill tour.

Here's a picture I took from the back of the Island Princess. As you can see, it was a pretty good walk.