laughalot

We live in Western Australia and have just booked our first trip to Alaska.This thread has so many great suggestions for people like us who never get to experience a climate like we are going to.

I'm very grateful that you started this Lisichka and to everyone else who has since posted.

We are from Western Australia and watch Curtis Stone cooking on tv all the time. We are on the Sun in April, the first cruise that she does after dry dock with the new Share restaurant onboard.

We hadn't heard much about what was on the menu, so thanks very much for your run down of it. Sounds fabulous. Did I mention my mouth was watering as you took us through the dessert menu;)

Cheers

Have you thought about booking a day room in a local hotel?

 

I assume you want to store your luggage for the day as you are flying out later. My apologies for posting if I am wrong.

 

This is a dearer option than just luggage storage but then you can enjoy your day, shower, change...before going to the airport. We were going to do this in Sydney last year before we decided to just add on an extra couple of days.

Thanks for the suggestion. We have 2 nights at a SF hotel before we cruise so I may ask them when we are there if they can do this for us. We do have a long trip home and a shower and change before hand would be nice.

Great information. Thanks so much. Just trying to get organised from the other side of the world:)

Does anyone know where we can store our suitcases for the day after we get off our cruise ship at Pier 27?

Just got off the Grand Princess this morning after taking a 6 day Connoisseur and a 7 day cruise. The Connoisseur was worth every penny. And it's not just the included meals...it is the attention of a dedicated tour guide while you are on land who smooths the way for EVERYTHING!!! You NEVER have to check in at the lodges...you are given a packet with all your tour information, luggage tags and room keys while you are on the bus to get to the lodge. The tour guide makes dinner reservations for you. The tour guide is responsible for tipping the bus drivers and any guides on tours that your group is on. You should, however, tip your connoisseur tour guide at the end of the land portion...$5-$7 per day per person is recommended by Princess. We had 50 people on our Connoisseur tour and most were exceptionally lovely people.

 

Our tour guide went out of her way to help us locate a new camera battery charger after we lost ours. She always made sure you were happy with your accommodations and was always available. Together with the included meal vouchers, the Connoisseur Tour is the way to go on your first trip to Alaska.

 

Let me know if you have any questions about the tour.

thanks so much for your information. We have now booked a 7 night Connoisseur tour followed by our cruise :)

Except for the Music of Denali show, the vouchers could be used at any restaurant. We chose the main restaurant at each facility

Thanks Diane, all this information is invaluable to a first time Alaska visitor like me :)

With the meal vouchers, were they for a particular restaurant at each given lodge or could you choose out of a couple of restaurants where you would like to have dinner?

Thanks everyone for your invaluable information and tips for our trip.

Gives us a lot to consider and plan ahead with. Really looking forward to the trip, just not the 30 hours flying to get there :(

Hi Dianne, thanks so much for replying to my question about the Conneisseur tour. By doing so I have found your blog and read it.

It is fantastic and you have mentioned everything that I was wanting to know.

We are really looking forward to the trip even if it is a year away. Your comments will help us with so much of our planning.

Again thank you.

Suzanne

Thanks Eleanor, much appreciated. As we drive on the other side of the road to you guys we are not comfortable to drive ourselves so the whole bus thing is the way to go for us.

We thought the Connoisseur fully escorted tour might be the one for us as meals and tipping are included and again tipping is not familiar to us so one less thing to worry about.

What you mentioned about arriving late and trying to find somewhere to eat if there is no meal package - that is good advise to know.

Again thanks for your reply.

Suzanne

We are late 40's from Western Australia wanting to do Princess cruise tour next August. Are connoisseur cruise tours worth the extra dollars or is it better to just pay for meals as you go? Is it easy to sort yourselves out without a guide all the way? We have never been before.

We live in Western Australia and have booked Alaska for the first time in August 2016. Our TA advised us to book early as it all sells out as it is seasonal. So we did and got the exact cabin we wanted. Can't believe how quickly the cabins fill up on the Alaskan cruises!