Alaska cruise questions.

[cruisinsince75]

We have friends that are sailing on the Sapphire Princess this July and she has some questions that maybe somebody can help her with.

How early can they board the ship? They sail out of Seattle and the ship sets sail at 4pm.
I know typically on our RCCL cruises they say board at 1pm, but they actually start boarding about 10:30 to 11:00am. Is it the same on Princess?

Any advice on what shore excursions that are must sees??? Any private excursions that you would recommend and if you have website information that would be great.

Thanks for the help,
Don

Carnival Mardi Gras - 04/75
NCL Skyward - 05/84
NCL Southward - 04/91
Carnival Ecstasy - 12/93
Crown Princess - 12/94
Seabourn Legend - 05/96
Enchantment of the Seas - 08/01
Celebrity Infinity - 10/01
Rhapsody of the Seas - 11/02
Splendour of the Seas - 4/03
Splendour of the Seas - 10/03
Silver Whisper 4/04
RSSC Diamond 8/04
Caribbean Princess 11/04
Celebrity Infinity - 4/05

Until our RSSC Diamond Cruise
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Until our Caribbean Princess Cruise
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[jhannah]

They usually start boarding the ship around 11:30. You may be asked to wait in a public area until they issue a call over the public address system that your cabin is ready. Usually, they're ready by then, however.

I strongly suggest you visit the Ports of Call board and look at Alaska specifics there. You'll find lots of detailed information is ready and waiting.

'Vegas Jim

[mii]

I agree with jhannah. The ports of call board has a wealth of information. Our cruises that we have been on generally start loading about 11:30 p.m.

Marilyn

[Budget Queen]

For any port information- they need to look over a shore excursion list for ideas and then narrow down their intersts. There are way too many good choices to recommend otherwise. Budget fully- flights are a top choice. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif