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DentoAlaska

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Posts posted by DentoAlaska

    Panama Canal

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted

    Full transit or partial transit?

     

    The front viewing decks will still be available. All the way forward on Baja and Caribe you just go through the doors at the end of the passageway and then there is another door and you are out on the forward viewing decks. Those are good places but can get quite crowded at times during the canal passage. One of them - probably the one on Caribe - will have the naturalist who is broadcasting interesting things about the passage.

     

    Thrak,

    Do you know if these front viewing decks also available on the Coral? Just wondering since they are sister ships.

     

    Thanks!

    Debi

    Coral - Where Do You Go to Enjoy Sailaway

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted

    We will be on our first cruise on the Coral, departing out of Fort Lauderdale on April 17. Though we could remain on our balcony, we think it would be more fun to be around other people, enjoying the shared energy and excitement of being with others...hopefully with adult beverage in hand.

     

    Where, on the Coral, do you like to be when the ship departs to begin the cruise, and why that spot?

     

    Thanks.

     

    We are on the same cruise! We are not frequent cruisers so I want to be outside somewhere to view the (I think it's called) Bridge of the Americas. I heard it is quite the sight.

     

    Hope to meet you on the cruise.

     

    Debi

    Huatulco

    in Mexican Riviera

    Posted

    We are visiting huatulco on NCL cruise can we just get off boat and find someone to take us snorkeling

     

    Yes. That should not be a problem. They may refer to it as a 7 bay tour. Just make sure it includes snorkeling stops.

     

    Debi

    A new question about Huatulco beach

    in Panama Canal

    Posted

    Hi! We like the sound of the beach that has been described as right next to the dock. It appears that you pay from $20-40 for beach chairs or possibly get them free if you buy your food/drinks there. My question is, can you just plop your towels on the sand, spend the time you want in the water, and then come back out maybe sitting on the towels for a few minutes to dry off with everything being safe (i.e. possessions, sand fleas that I read about somewhere)? We basically go to the beach just to swim and walk around and never just lay down on loungers very long if at all. Thanks!

     

    We are frequent visitors to Huatulco (10 consecutive years) and would not recommend the beach by the dock. There will many, many cabs and there are two beaches very close to the dock.

     

    One is La Playa Entegra - this beach is calm, clean with many restaurants and snorkeling from the shore. The other is La Playa Maguey which also is in a calm bay with many restaurants. Our absolute favorite though is La Playa Entegra.

     

    You can drop your towel on the beach and not worry about leaving some things while you swim. PLEASE use the same judgement you would at any location and don't leave anything of great value unattended. I'm sure some friendly beach goer will be happy to keep an eye on your things if you ask.

     

    Both of these beaches would be less than a $5.00 (US) $50 Peso ride from the dock. They are both cleaner, less crowded and will be a better experience than the beach at the dock.

     

    Enjoy your visit.

     

    Debi

    Huatulco

    in Panama Canal

    Posted

    My husband and I are visiting Huatulco for the 10th time in January. We spend two weeks there every year.

     

    Taxis are very plentiful and reasonable in that area. I would not worry about the availability of a taxi back to the ship. The drivers know when and where there will be demand and are usually there waiting. If (in the rare instance) there is not a cab there waiting, the visitor center will be happy to call one for you. You would have a maximum wait time of 5-10 minutes.

     

    I would not recommend trusting a driver to be at an appointed place and time. If they have the opportunity for another fare that lapses over your appointed time he will take it.

    Huatulco

    in Mexican Riviera

    Posted

    We are planning to take a cab to the Copalita Ruins in Huatuclo in January. Should we just have the cab drop us off or would it be wise to have him wait for us?

     

    My husband and I are visiting Huatulco for the 10th time in January. We spend two weeks there every year.

     

    Taxis are very plentiful and reasonable in that area. I would not worry about the availability of a taxi back to the ship. The drivers know when and where there will be demand and are usually there waiting. If (in the rare instance) there is not a cab there waiting, the visitor center will be happy to call one for you. You would have a maximum wait time of 5-10 minutes.

     

    I would not recommend trusting a driver to be at an appointed place and time. If they have the opportunity for another fare that lapses over your appointed time he will take it.

    Best balcony stateroom on Coral

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted

    Since your cruise will go through the inside passage, in my opinion it doesn't really matter what side of the ship you are on. There are great views from either side.

     

    I have attached a document posted by another cruise critic member that may help you decide on a cabin. We LOVED our balcony but am very happy that we had a covered balcony. It really helped during the rainy periods.

     

    http://www.cruisedeckplans.com/Princess/odell/res76zxu/princessbalconies/index.html

     

    I hope this helps you. You may have to copy and paste the link in your browser.

    Global entry

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted

    We used our new Global Entry credentials yesterday for the first time! So happy we did this! We walked right by the long line at customs, up to a GE kiosk and were out of the customs area in no time at all.

     

    Now we can't wait for our next domestic flight so we can use the TSA PreCheck line.

    Global entry

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted · Edited by DentoAlaska

    That could speed up Customs and Immigration but the real issue is TSA security screening. Returning to the U.S. in 2014 in Philadelphia, Customs and Immigration took just a few minutes but after we got our bags the line at TSA to get to our connecting flight took well over 90 minutes while we saw TSA PreCheck passengers skipping the line. TSA PreCheck is a major benefit with Global Entry.

     

    The only "gotcha" with TSA PreCheck could be if your airline doesn't participate in PreCheck. We are flying to London in August on British Airways and they don't participate in PreCheck so we will be prepared for the long security lines.

     

    We have other flights scheduled on Southwest and United later in the year and had no problem adding our KTN to our reservations.

    Global entry

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted · Edited by DentoAlaska

    We submitted our paperwork May 13th, received conditional approval on May 22nd, our first appointment wasn't until November, kept checking and got appointments for last night. Our appointments were for last night at 7:00 and 7:15. We were both out of there at 7:07. Quick and easy. One question, finger printing and done! I checked email this morning and our approval was there.

     

    The waiting for an appointment is obviously the worst part. Now...to amend our upcoming flights with our KTN!

    Review - Coral Princess Northbound 6/11 - 6/18

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted

    We did have a great family vacation as I mentioned and we definitely made the best of it, but I wanted to post an honest opinion. My opinion may differ from other's and I purposely wrote this review because I know it differs from almost everything I've read on this board.

     

    Also, I have been all over the world to some remote places with incredible scenery and this surely impacts why I was underwhelmed, which is exactly correct - I was underwhelmed. I highly highly recommend people travel to Iceland if they want to be more amazed with scenery than Alaska...and it's a much shorter flight for those on the east coast!

     

    We had our first trip to Alaska last year. I also posted an honest review with the good and the bad and received "snarky" comments back also. I personally appreciate honest reviews with honest experiences.

     

    Our next trip is on the Coral so I appreciated your honesty about the food and the ship's entertainment.

     

    Thank you for your honest impressions.

    Global entry

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted

    WOW! Thanks all for your recommendations to continue to check for earlier interview times! Our application was approved on May 13th and the first interview appointment available at DIA was in November. :eek: I checked again minutes ago and was able to secure interviews for my husband and I on July 1st!!! :D What a relief to get an earlier date.

     

    They are evening appointments so I'm assuming with the onslaught of applications being filed they have extended the hours here for interviews.

     

    Thank you all for your information about the possibility of rescheduling to an earlier date.

    Bear Hotel Fairbanks

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted · Edited by DentoAlaska

    Personally..I wouldn't be too upset about being moved from the Princess Fairbanks "Lodge". It was my least favorite of all the lodges we stayed in during our cruise tour.

     

    It was a huge, run of the mill hotel with little to no appeal to us when compared to the other lodges we stayed in. To me, it's only saving grace was that it is along a river which made for a lovely walk (if you could stand the bugs :o).

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