kennystwin

Most important is comfort then I'd add waterproof. If your feet are dry, they will be warm too. I bought some Timberland waterproof low cut hiking shoes back in 2018 when I did a short hike up the Chilkoot Trail. They weren't expensive and I still get a ton of use out of them. Now I wear them everywhere when I'm in Alaska, even in the winter. Comfortable and dry. My feet are happy!

From Carnival's "Orlando Transfers" in the FAQ: Airport-to-pier transportation To purchase Carnival's transportation service, your flight must arrive at: • Orlando International Airport: No later than 1:00 PM on the day of your cruise. • Melbourne International Airport: No later than 1:00 PM on the day of your cruise. Transportation service will be provided from: • Orlando International Airport between 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM. • Melbourne International Airport between 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM. A couple of points: "The flight must arrive no later than 1:00" not just be scheduled to arrive. Big difference. I occasionally fly in same day, but I always have a Plan B, and Plan C, and Plan D (including multiple airlines and airports) or I go in the day before. It doesn't take much for that 15 minute window to slip. The Orlando airport is big and getting to baggage claim requires a train. Plan on at least 15 minutes from the plane to baggage claim. This assumes you can get off the plane quickly. And you will likely have to navigate around lots of sugared up kids wearing mouse ears. Check in with the Carnival rep ASAP in baggage claim. If the last bus (1:30?) hasn't left, you're fine. They'll get you on the bus and make sure it makes the ship. Note that baggage check at the pier stops 2 hours prior the sailing.so expect to carry all your luggage onto the ship. The 2:30 "Final Boarding Time" is to allow Carnival to prepare the final manifest which MUST be submitted to US authorities 1 hour before sailing. With online check-in, you will be on the manifest, but last minute changes can delay filing and sailing. They want you on! I hope you purchased your airfare through "Fly2Fun". Carnival will at least be on the hook if delays happen. Keep their number handy. Lastly, enjoy your cruise! And Good Luck in the Casino! (You are obviously a gambler.)

I just booked FlightEase out of DFW and checked Dallas Love Field (a major Southwest hub) as an option. Yes, it showed Southwest flights but they were restricted fares only and were priced higher than the "Wanna Get Away" public pricing. While other airlines start selling tickets 330 days out, Southwest publishes their schedule only 6-9 months out, so you might have to wait to book your tickets. I always factor in luggage fees when evaluating the fares. On occasion, I find that the first class (or some premium economy) fares can become a good value as they generally include 2 checked bags per person and sometimes have higher weight limits so you may want check that out as well. And yes, FlightEase lets you have different origin and return cities.

These have been my go-to dinner wines and I got the premium package with them in mine. Looking at the lists in the app for my Summit cruise next week, Decoy is now elevated at $19 and Mer Soliel is by the bottle only ($80). Now, I'll just have to work my way through the list to find new "go-to"s. I'm hoping to befriend the sommelier. In the past, they have found some off list wines that were really good that they could serve me by the glass. I'm hoping in this wine list transition, they can find some leftovers that need to be drunk. I'm happy to help!

On the Summit in 2016 repostioning from San Juan to Cape Liberty, she attended our Cruise Critic Meet and Greet with a bunch of senior officers in tow. The ship had recently been in dry dock and we were all wanting to talk about the new outdoor movies or upgraded bars. She would answer our questions, but she would prefer to talk about the enhancements to the propulsion and navigation systems. I walked away with a couple of observations: 1. It was clear she was Master of the Ship and the crew really respected her. 2. She was "the real deal". Her promotion to Captain wasn't a PR stunt (though Celebrity took full advantage of it): she seemed very well qualified for the position.

I get these (and take advantage of them) too. Nothing says special like an inside cabin!

I'm a former Alaskan resident and have done many Alaskan cruises on all the major lines except Norwegian. For the glacier experience, my favorite is Glacier Bay. I've had some amazing sail-ins with lots of sightings of bear and sheep and you will pass several glaciers along the way, though not up close. Margerie Glacier, the ultimate destination, is impressive, but I've seen dozens of impressive glaciers in Alaska. I find the sail in with the rangers onboard to be the highlight. Do take advantage of the cultural ranger to understand the relationship of the Tlingit people to their native lands in Glacier Bay. Hubbad Glacier is definitely the largest glacier visited by cruise ships and certainly worth visiting, it's just not the same experence you get in Glacier Bay National Park. And if it's glaciers you are into, Mendenhall is easily accessible in Juneau as well or take a float plane by Taku Glacier and enjoy some salmon (and bears) at Taku lodge. If you take a one-way through Seward, take a Kenai Fjords tour that takes you up close to some glaciers from the Harding Ice Field as well as lots of marine life. In Seward, it's an easy hike to Exit Glacier if you want to get up close. As others have mentioned, College Fjord is visited by cruise ships headed to Whittier or there a local operator there that does a "26 Glacier Cruise". Oh, and there is a lot to see and do besides glaciers and there is no way to do it all so pick the line and itinerary that works best for you. Regarding the question about the mosquitos, mid-May should be fine. That said, I always travel with industrial bug spray just in case but would never expect to need a head net on these cruise ports. (The interior in the summer - that's another story).

I doubt the CDC cares about a vessel that doesn't enter US waters, so there is no reason to report the Rotterdam to them (it's cruising Northern Europe out of Amsterdam).

I started out to respond to this thread but got carried away with my love of Alaska and what a wonderful, "real Alaska" town Hoonah is. By all means, take the beach trail and walk into town. When I was first there in May of 2018, the whales were active and I saw many as I walked into town. Even saw some bubble net feeding just off the harbor. Definitely eat at the Fishman's Daughter. Their "locally sourced" seafood is an understatement - the fishing boats dock literally across the street. It's all fresh and great. If in doubt, just ask and they will lead you straight. Sit at a picnic table outside as you eat and observe life in Hoonah. Look for the totem carver in town for some insight into Tlingit culture. For another authentic experience, stop in at the Office Bar - a real, Alaskan bar populated by real Alaskans (unlike that "Alaska Guide" you'll meet in the Juneau or Skagway who is really a seasonal worker from Iowa who has never spent a winter in Alaska). Back in the ISP port area, check out the cannery for intersting info on the history of the salmon canning industry in Alaska. Take the trams up the mountain for some great scenery. (As an added benefit, there's a cell phone tower on the top so you will get as good coverage as you can get in the area.) If you're hungry or thirsty after all that, stop in at the Duck Point Smokehouse for some smoked salmon dip and a beverage as you watch the fire or water from the deck. And yes, this is all doable by foot. This 71 year old did it last year (though the Office Bar was closed).

Instead of deleting and reinstall, I was able to get back to the "new login" screen by going into my settings (I have an Android), then apps, app management, then Carnival HUB, then storage usage and clear cache and data. Easier (to me) than reinstalling. YMMV

I lived in Alaska decades ago, am in love with it, and go back whenever I can, travelling year round. I've been watching these 14 day cruises over the years because the itineraries are so unique with ports like Kodiak, Homer, and Valdez (as well as downtown Anchorage - not hours away in Whittier or Seward). You will see a very different (I would say even more authentic) perspective of Alaska. A B2B of 7 day cruises is not going to be the same at all. Back in 2018, the Zaandam did these 14 day itineraries all season. In 2019, both the Maasdam and Amsterdam did occasional 14 day itineraries. Then the world changed and we're all trying to figure out the new normal. HAL appears to be trying out these itineraries again in these May and September 2023 and 2024 cruises. I suspect the 2025 offerrings will be different (better or worse) based on their experiences. If your only 2025 options are May or September, don't let the weather deter you. I've seen spectacular days in both months as well as the too common cool and drizzly days you can get all summer. Layers and raingear are necessities year round. I dare say sitting in the rain eating fresh seafood from a local food truck is an authentic Alaskan experience!

I'm also Delta Medallion with TSA Pre-check as well and here is what I would do: First of all, plan, hope and pray that everything is smooth: the ship is on time, customs clears timely, taxis are available, etc. If so, you will walk off at 7:30 and be at the airport by 8:15. Prepare a plan B (and C and D as well). Know your flight options using different hubs if possible and even an alternate airline if Delta has catastrophic problems. Know your backup plans, but don't execute on them until it's obvious you won't make your flight. I assume you will be sitting in the Platinum lounge and monitoring Delta flight status while you wait. Once you know you're going to be unreasonably delayed leaving the ship, give Delta a call and start executing Plan B. You can do a same-day change at 24 hours, but you could do it at 2 hours as well, so I'd wait until you have a better idea when you will be off the ship. My experience is Delta answers calls from Medallions quickly and you usually get agents that know what they are doing. Enjoy your cruise and hope you don't need to execute Plan B!

You can't use them at the casino cage, but any charges to your onboard account (such as charges from a slot machine) can be settled with gift cards.

You can go to the Ocean Players Club web site and click on "Contact Us". There is an option there for "Verify Casino Offer" where you can provide your cruise details and they will email you back with the perks you have for that cruise.

I've done several cruises on both lines and have cruises planned on both. Yes, they each provide a very different experience, but I enjoy them both. On the Rdam, there are lots of altenative dining options (i.e. extra cost) which are quite good: Pinnacle Grill, Rudi's, Tamarind, Canaletto. I think they are a big step up from Carnival's options. HAL's Dive In burgers isn't Guys, but it's good. As someone else mentioned, HAL's Lido seems to have better variety and quality than Carnival. I find the MDR good on both. To me, one of the biggest plusses to HAL is the music. BB King's and the Rolling Stone Rock Room are big hits for me (Rdam has both and you will find me there every night - if I can get a seat or a good place to stand, they are generally packed). They tend to have very good musicians and a high energy set list that reaches most of the passengers whether they are 19 or 90 (yeah, there are a lot of them on HAL). On the main stage, Carnival wins as HAL has decimated that venue replacing their production shows with small travelling troupes or recorderd programs. HAL might have an occasional comedian or magician, but nothing like the Punchliner (where I generally spend my evenings on Carnival). I find the daytime activities quite varied on HAL with things like wine tastings, cooking demos, and "more genteel" pool activities reflecting their demographic. I have sailed in a Neptune Suite before and had a great time. The cabin is spacious and well appointed with a larger balcony. The room stewards and concierges worked hard to go above and beyond. The Neptune Lounge isn't big, but I would often pop in for a coffee, snack, or drink and chat with the concierges. If your cabin is nearby, you are more likely to utilize it than if you are on the other end of the ship. Frankly, HAL's Neptune Suites have a lot more "suite features" than Carnival's suites (or HAL's other suite classes for that matter). Bottom line: I have a great time on both. YMMV. The deciding factors are more likely to be the itinerary and price.

Your cruise is one of 2 this year that will actually dock at the Port of Anchorage (Nieuw Amsterdam will stop in May) instead of the dozen or so per week that dock at Whitttier or Seward (1-3 hours away) that transit passenges to Anchorage for onward travel (to the interior or to the airport to return home). So despite the huge cruise line presence, there is little attention paid to excursions from the city itself (as evidenced in your paltry offerings). That said, you will be a just a couple of minutes to downtown (hopefully they will run a shuttle) where there is plenty to do and there are lots of tour operators serving the local tourists. There's a lot to do in Anchorage and you are "minutes from Alaska" (inside joke from a former Anchorage resident). Search like you were staying at a hotel and you will find plenty of options.

I've done HAL and Celebrity both in Alaska and other itineraries. Would certainly do either again. Here's my $.02: - I personally like the entertainment on HAL, but I admit I spend most nights at BB Kings YMMV. Celebrity's main stage entertainment is better than the current HAL offerings. - I enjoyed the food on both. Escargot every night in the Celebrity MDR is a winner for me. But Tamarind is a plus for HAL. - I sailed on a pre and post revolutionized Summit and generally liked the improvements so a revolutionized Millie would be a good option in Alaska. - I give the Crow's Nest an edge over Celebrity's sky lounges, especially in Alaska. It just seems more focused on the scenery outside. - On Celebrity, your experience will vary widely based on your class of service: regular, concierge, aqua or retreat. The Retreat is a truly premium experience surpassing the Neptune Suite offering on HAL. But "steerage" on either is just fine for me. - Itineraries: this should be deciding factor and, to me, HAL wins with Glacier Bay - truly the best big ship glacier experience for Alaska. Tough decision.

Hi David! Thanks for your live blog. We're doing the July 10 cruise in the PH along with our adult kids and their spouses (in mere Concierge cabins). This has been a long planned family trip delayed by Covid. I was solo on the Summit last November and the "private yacht" experience (600 pax, 800 crew) made for the best cruise ever. As others have noted, the Summit crew was stellar and I look forward to seeing some of them again on this cruise. Do you have a passenger count for your cruise? Are any venues crowded? Looking forward to following your trip!

Everything should be back to normal by 2023, but I wouldn't expect Carnival to have the excursions up until after this season. Actually, that is a picture of Kenny, but I do look just like that when I trim my normally full beard into a goatee.

I too was looking forward to taking the railroad on my cruise in May following yours and have been following this closely (Carnival still has me confirmed on a rail excursion that definitely won't happen). The only train trip that will be running is the Summit trip which still shows available on my cruise. It appears there are also trips available through the WPRR at various times when you are in port (you need to select a time before it shows availability). Any other train trip or train/bus combo will not be happening, though a few are still showing up for my cruise. Chilcoot Charters has cancelled all their train/bus combo ( except for their Summit + city tour). They are a reputable company. They have replaced some of their rail/bus tours with all busses and seem to be more on top of it than Carnival.