Alaska on Grand last week!!

I don't post much...I'm more of a lurker. But, wanted to let everyone know a little about our cruise last week. Southbound...1st cruise with Princess (only our 3rd total...Carnival & MSC before).

We had a wonderful time!! Weather was perfect every day!!

We spent 1st night in Anchorage at Cook Hotel...then took the train to Whittier. Dropped us off right at ship...perfect!! Getting on ship was easy & fast.

We had a balcony on Caribe deck.... loved the size of the balcony...our room steward was awesome!! In fact, the whole ship staff was great!!

We did dog sledding in Skagway......whale/eagle/seal watching trip in Juneau (my favorite!!).....floatplane/crab feast in Ketchikan.

On the ship, we did the Crab Shack meal. Had fun with Karaoke, BIL sang. My SIL was brought on stage as volunteer for magician.. which was so funny for us!!

Food on ship was OK, a few things were great!! But, I'm not a "foodie" so, I don't worry about the food too much. (I did like the fact they had hand sanitizer at each food place)

We did donate some money to the casino & bingo games...lol.

Ended in Vancouver....stayed over night at Fairmont Waterfront (right across the street from dock).

The condition of the ship....I was a little concerned reading all the issues. We didn't have any. Was it old? Could it use some major sprucing up (in areas)?...sure. Some window cleaning was badly needed and on an Alaskan cruise, that is something they really should stay on top of. Beds were very comfortable. I did not see any buckets catching drips.

All I can say is, we had a blast!! But, I am worn out and need another vacation...LOL.

Too Funny!!!! Glad you had a great time!!!

I don't post much...I'm more of a lurker. But, wanted to let everyone know a little about our cruise last week. Southbound...1st cruise with Princess (only our 3rd total...Carnival & MSC before).

We had a wonderful time!! Weather was perfect every day!!

 

We spent 1st night in Anchorage at Cook Hotel...then took the train to Whittier. Dropped us off right at ship...perfect!! Getting on ship was easy & fast.

We had a balcony on Caribe deck.... loved the size of the balcony...our room steward was awesome!! In fact, the whole ship staff was great!!

 

We did dog sledding in Skagway......whale/eagle/seal watching trip in Juneau (my favorite!!).....floatplane/crab feast in Ketchikan.

On the ship, we did the Crab Shack meal. Had fun with Karaoke, BIL sang. My SIL was brought on stage as volunteer for magician.. which was so funny for us!!

 

Food on ship was OK, a few things were great!! But, I'm not a "foodie" so, I don't worry about the food too much. (I did like the fact they had hand sanitizer at each food place)

 

We did donate some money to the casino & bingo games...lol.

Ended in Vancouver....stayed over night at Fairmont Waterfront (right across the street from dock).

 

The condition of the ship....I was a little concerned reading all the issues. We didn't have any. Was it old? Could it use some major sprucing up (in areas)?...sure. Some window cleaning was badly needed and on an Alaskan cruise, that is something they really should stay on top of. Beds were very comfortable. I did not see any buckets catching drips.

 

All I can say is, we had a blast!! But, I am worn out and need another vacation...LOL.

Thank you for posting a review! We are getting so excited for our first trip to Alaska on the Grand leaving 20 June 2015! We are also doing a post cruise land tour. Thank you again!

Glad you had a good time. We leave on Monday for our RT on the Golden to Alaska. The weather forecast doesn't look as nice as you had, but being fromCalifornia, incremental weather is fun. I vaguely remember seeing rain but don't remember what it's like.:rolleyes:

I must have been on the same cruise as you. Last week on Grand. It was great. Food great. Entertainment good. Scenery fantastic! I loved it. It was my first cruise and it made an impression. I will be doing another cruise.

Thanks for the review. We were on Grand Princess in 2004 on a Baltic cruise and will be on her again next month doing a cruisetour. We are northbound with the tour post cruise. How was the Captain Cook hotel? We will be there the first night before heading up to Denali.

Thanks for the review. We were on Grand Princess in 2004 on a Baltic cruise and will be on her again next month doing a cruisetour. We are northbound with the tour post cruise. How was the Captain Cook hotel? We will be there the first night before heading up to Denali.

It is nice. I got there late so didn't see much of it, but the next morning I went exploring before I had to catch the bus. It is a nice hotel. Can't say anything about the restaurants tho as I did not eat in them.

Cook Hotel was nice....it's old, too but, I like the hotels with charm. We stayed only 1 night before catching the train on Saturday to Whittier. We didn't eat at the hotel. We walked a couple blocks, had drinks at "The Brewhouse" and ate at "Orso". The next morning, we walked across the street to a small place called "Sandwich Deck"...all places were great!!

The hotel lost power that Friday night for a few hours but, after 10 hours of travel & several hours of exploring, it was bedtime for me so, I didn't mind..lol.

The airline misplaced both our luggage pieces....1 went to Seattle & the other to Phoenix....the hotel & Princess helped a lot and let me know (at 3AM) as soon as they arrived at the hotel. (yes, I was a little stressed about that..LOL).

I must have been on the same cruise as you. Last week on Grand. It was great. Food great. Entertainment good. Scenery fantastic! I loved it. It was my first cruise and it made an impression. I will be doing another cruise.

So glad you liked it, too!! I wish I could cruise more often but, when I do, I make it a "bucket list" trip.

My 1st cruise was our 25th anniversary...wasn't huge...a 5 day cruise to Mexico...but, it was a big deal for us.

2nd cruise was a "Donny & Marie Osmond" cruise....only 4 days but, what a fun time I had!! It was to the Bahamas.

So, thinking of a "cold" cruise was so different for me....but, I completely loved the Alaskan cruise. Next cruise, will "hopefully" be Hawaii!!! :cool:

Thanks for the review. We were on Grand Princess in 2004 on a Baltic cruise and will be on her again next month doing a cruisetour. We are northbound with the tour post cruise. How was the Captain Cook hotel? We will be there the first night before heading up to Denali.

Mek,

I wish we could have done the land tour, I just couldn't get off work that long. But, I heard nothing but wonderful things about Danali tour. ::very jealous:: :(

Thanks for the comments about your cruise.

Love the train trip south! Do it every chance we get. :)

Thanks for the comments about your cruise.

Love the train trip south! Do it every chance we get. :)

We did enjoy the train ride. It built the excitement for us!! And dropping us off right at the ship, was wonderful. The tunnel shared with cars, was something we had never heard of & my DH didn't even believe me when I told him about it..LOL.

I will be doing the southbound trip on the Grand in July, along with 11 family members! We want to dine one night in the Crown Grill and, maybe, once in Sabatini's.

With a group this large, I want to book the specialty dining as soon as I get on the ship but I don't want to choose nights with particularly good menus in the MDR. Do you happen to have copies of the dining room menus each evening? Also, which nights were formal?

Thanks!

I love it when people have a great cruise. There's so much anticipation and it's terrible when people say their cruise wasn't good. So far, all of ours have been good. :)

I love it when people have a great cruise. There's so much anticipation and it's terrible when people say their cruise wasn't good. So far, all of ours have been good. :)

Totally agree.

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Sounds like you had a great time! Thanks for the review. :)

By any chance do you have the Princess Patters for your cruise? We are going to be on the SB in June and would love to see the Patters.

Thank you for sharing, and glad you had fun! My in-laws are doing the southbound on the Grand this weekend. What day was the Crab Shack offered?

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All I can say is, we had a blast!! But, I am worn out and need another vacation...LOL.

We have always felt that way...........Probably why we keep booking new cruises........:cool:

Nice to read that you had such a great cruise. I'm with Thrak, I have enjoyed every cruise I have been on. Sure, some were standouts and some might have had a few issues. However, I can't imagine much that would make me not enjoy a cruise.:):):)

Sounds like you had a great time! Thanks for the review. :)

 

By any chance do you have the Princess Patters for your cruise? We are going to be on the SB in June and would love to see the Patters.

Montgomeryfamily,

I think I do have all the Patters.....I still have not unpacked everything. I'll try to scan them this weekend and put them on here. I do know my DH circled/marked on some.

Thank you for sharing, and glad you had fun! My in-laws are doing the southbound on the Grand this weekend. What day was the Crab Shack offered?

Crab Shack was 2 nights....Monday & Wednesday

Formal Nights were Sunday & Tuesday

(we missed the 2nd formal night because the Patter on day 1 had it listed for Friday and we didn't catch it changed)

Thank you so much!!

Do you know if the wi-if was upgraded, or if the new Princess Messenger app is available yet on the Grand. We will be boarding her in eight days! [emoji3]

Don

Montgomeryfamily,

I think I do have all the Patters.....I still have not unpacked everything. I'll try to scan them this weekend and put them on here. I do know my DH circled/marked on some.

Thanks, that would be great! :) It is ok if they are marked--actually might be helpful. :cool:

Do you know if the wi-if was upgraded, or if the new Princess Messenger app is available yet on the Grand. We will be boarding her in eight days! [emoji3]

 

Don

Sorry, I don't have any info on Wifi.