sirclean

" snotty gram" Very interesting! I may use that phrase in the future!! I usually use the phrase "nasty-gram", but sometimes "snotty-gram" would be more appropriate!!

Im sure it wasnt Princess, but my parents have done a few cruises with a musical theme. I think that it was related to Gospel Music. They got some sort of ID but even then, the venues were not large enough for the full group so they had to do the events twice, and even the group members could only attend one of them. Im sure that my parents enjoyed those cruises, but they are early to bed sorts and given their limitations at the time (pre knee replacement) they didnt get off on port days. Those were some of their favorite days as hey noted that the hot tubs helped their knees and were not at all crowded! Im not sure that they have been interested in getting off the ship at the ports that the cruise visited. Not sure if it is a safety thing, or if they just could not enjoy the extra walking a shore visit would include. As I was about to post this, I remembered that they said that they ate at the buffet more often because it was too late to get anything from the MDR. My dad has blood sugar issues, so the buffet is faster for him, but he also mentioned that it was hard to eat and get to the shows he wanted to see. I dont know if those were the Special Group shows or the cruise line shows. For what it is worth, I dont think that my parents (78 years old) are going to be going on many more cruises any time soon. Im not sure if they would consider another gospel cruise, though.

I remember that I had a similarly frustrating problem with mine, but I dont remember the solution. I dont remember if it was a hanging space, or if putting my middle name with my first resolved the situation, but I think that one of those did solve it! I hope that this helps!

Thanks for all of the pictures and sharing some of your trip with us!

Our next trip is in March. While on Discovery over Thanksgiving week I was able to get my email (a miracle! given the slow internet speeds!) I had 48 hours to waive off their 'upgrade', but no internet ability to research what they had done. Fortunately, I went to the future booking agent on board and confirmed that the 'upgrade' room was not a 'pig in a poke'. The bottom line is that they will (are supposed to) send an email of the upgrade, but the time limit to respond is 48 hours, not 5 days, currently.

I stayed at a LaQuinta near the Airport. It is walking distance to a big mall (or grocery store anyway). It had a van to get to and from the airport. (Richmond is the official city I think).

Yes, that is the link that I had seen before. I believe that I had read one of your earlier threads with that link, or perhaps someone else had posted it. It seems then that some of the excursions are included and some are 'optional' (and at an additional fee). Generally speaking, does the Connoisseur Package include one excursion per hotel in the package?

Thank you so much for the information! I think that I had read your previous posts about the trip and enjoyed the information. There was another post that was old with a lot of detail and pictures but I could not find it and didnt bookmark it when I first read it! For the more recent tour with the additional 2 days, did you go to another hotel as well? When/how did you get the information on the excursions that were included? (I see the meals that are provided, but dont see the excursions listed). Any recommendations or suggestions? Anything that you wish that you had known before you got there? Any expectations on going again? IF so, what tour would be your preference?

Thanks for the information.I tried to email/message Thrak, but I got a signal that "this feature is disabled". I dont know if that is in general, or if for some reason, I am disabled (... or rather that feature on my account is disabled!)

In 2024 I turn 60 and I want to celebrate with a long Alaska Adventure. Nearly a decade ago to celebrate my parents' 50th anniversary we had a family trip that included a short cruise tour. We did an 'on your own'. This time I am considering a Connoisseur Tour. I know that it includes a contact person and some meals (mostly breakfast and dinner). I think that some land excursions are included too. However, I dont see anything online or in the 2023 travel guide indicating what excursions are included (or how many). Can anyone with experience in the Connoisseur Cruise Tour (especially if it included Fairbanks) discuss if there are excursions included in the land portion of the cruise tour? If you have any comments on your experiences, please include them! Any advice or suggestions? What would you have done differently?

Ruby in March (1 week) Out of Galvaston. Sapphire in June (2 weeks) Out of Vancouver, round trip, to see Glacier Bay! Nothing else booked, at least not yet! (looking at a 2024 Cruise Tour in Alaska!)

Compared to all of the other replies, I feel like a slacker! (But I am still working, and I suspect that many are retired, given the 50th anniversary discussions!). January 2022 Disney out of Galvaston Thanksgiving Week 2022 Discovery on the Mexican Riveria (Love Boat TV show route). (There were a lot of people! I agree with above, the ship didnt exactly feel crowded all of the time, except for the very full shows, and the pool decks on sea days! Some of the sea day lunches were packed too...Everything on Sea Days on the pool/buffet deck was crowded! ) We booked a week out of Galvaston in Mid March using credits from a cancelled (COVID) trip that were going to expire. We have also booked 2 weeks in Alaska in June!

"Rented a cabana in the Sanctuary and did the Ultimate Balcony Dinner for 2" Did you have to get the Sanctuary 'subscription' for the full week to be able to rent a cabana or can you do it for just one day? What extra benefits come with the Cabana rental? Any advice or suggestions about that? (What was the rental fee)? For the Ultimate Balcony Dinner, what was the cost of that and where do you order it? (Is it something that can be ordered on the ap in the room's TV?)

How far (long) is the train ride from the lodge in Denali to McKinley? My first Princess Experience (to celebrate my parents' 50th anniversary) was a Cruise Tour that included a wonderful train ride from Talkeetna (I think) to the ship in Whittier. That was a Great Experience and I would not mind doing that trip again. The cruise tour I am looking at now for 2024 starts in Fairbanks and includes a train ride from the Denali to McKinley lodge. How does this compare? Is it a long journey (in distance or time?) Any thoughts or suggestions? Also, I have tried to save the Cruise Tour agendas in my Saved list, but when going back, it seems that I only have the ship portion, not the tour portion, meaning I have to start all the way over. Am I looking in the wrong place, or is this usual? Thanks!!

If it is a regular flight, may I suggest that you consider staying a day in Vancouver and play tourist, then fly out the next day? The ride to the airport via the train is convenient. The walk to the train is not too bad, unless you have big bags, multiple bags or have problems walking up hill. Once you transfer to the airport there are several nearby hotels with airport shuttles that can get you from the airport, and then back early the next day.

Check to see if the rooms are connected. That would solve the problem, and I would not be too surprised if the handicapped room connected to the next one. (I tried to check, but my internet connection is having issues today - or Princess is !)

So far, they have not 'upgraded' me unilaterally. But by saying 'no upgrade' I reduce the risk that what THEY think is an 'upgrade' will surprise me! On the other hand, on my very first cruise, I had an inside cabin (with a lot of family) going to Alaska. I paid the full fare very early (like 9 months before the sailing date). I found that I was upgraded somehow to a balcony, ADA rated cabin! It spoiled me for life! I really enjoyed that huge cabin (big enough to drive a scooter around the bed, a big balcony and a huge roll around bathroom! My room was bigger than any of my other family member's! No one could explain the reason for the upgrade, and I have not been able to replicate it! After that, though, as I am picky about the cabin, I prefer not to risk the 'upgrade'.

Please take a trip to the Beline Bar (which I can not spell ) and say "howdy' to Mikee and Jaquine. They are GREAT bartenders! If you have a hankerin, please order a Toasted Almond and tell them that 'Gene from the Thanksgiving cruise said Howdy!

"Oh, by Alaska is Alaska, I meant the Inside Passage. It's the same Glacier Bay regardless of (big) ship. " I woulr argue that if you can get on on open, outside deck, Glacier Bay is a much better experience. My preference was to be on the Star (or its sister) and get on the deck on top of the bridge. It is open and large. It was packed for the first 20 minutes or so, but after that, once the ship was turned, it cleared out. You could see the glacier calving (and not look at it through colored glass) and you could HEAR the creaking and cracking! On the new class of ship (like Discovery), there are not the open deck spaces. Even the smaller Island Princess and Coral Princess have the full promenade (deck 7) open. It is wide and the view is unobstructed. So while Glacier Bay is the same, the expierience offered by the ship to view everything is different (lower quality on the Biggest class ships).

"Personally, I have only witnessed people skipping dessert." Then it WASNT ME!!

I have my profile set to decline upgrades (though this is about bidding for an upgrade). I primarily cruise in Alaska and I am picky about the side of the ship, the deck level, and particularly what is above or below me (noise) and how close to the elevators the room is. IF you agree to an upgrade, you may find yourself on the other side of the ship, by the elevator, under a bar! "Just Say 'no'" Nancy Reagan

Team TD for me! We were on a Thanksgiving week trip on the Discovery. Though we booked the same table at the same time (early), we waited a short while to get our table (reserved on the first night). We only had a table for 2 so we didnt get to meet any other passengers. Worse, the wait staff didnt really get to know us either! In the past, they would learn our preferences and have things ready for us. This time, not at all. I guess that as they were dealing with new people much of the time, or that they had to deal with big families surrounding us, that they were just too pulled in many directions. I do miss getting to know other passengers most! I have several friends that I have met on trips that I still email regularly. Our next trip is in March, and we have already booked a big table for additional guests, and we will have to navigate to see if others will be willing to dine with us regularly as well or not. Fortunately, we pick the early time seating to free up the evening so that we have the option of the 2 show seatings or whatever else strikes our fancy. When I travel with my primary travel buddy (other than My Bride) this is a way to align our schedules. He wont miss a meal, and this way he can do what he wants to do and knows where we will all be at 530! From there we can make the nightly plans.

I was on Discovery over Thanksgiving. I looked at it with an eye toward sailing it in Alaska, particularly Glacier Bay. In the past, we sailed on smaller ships with more open deck areas to enjoy Alaska without seeing everything through glass. There are very few places on outside decks on Discovery that are open (that you can see the glaciers without the tinted glass in the way). However, if you are not going to be going to Glacier Bay, and if being outside on the decks to view the scenery is not a priority, I will say that Discovery is a big, new, glorious ship! I dont know the other ship you are comparing, though.

Anyone on a New Years Cruise want to comment (or are you otherwise busy and entertained on board to bother with internet?) Enjoy your trip!

Flash Back Alert!! Visions of the Ronco Pocket Fisherman just popped into my head!!