jinpasco

We just got off the Caribbean Princess and DMY just doesn't work. If you had a reservation at 5 or 5:30 it was fine. Dinner took so long as they are short staffed that guests were lined up waiting on long lines. One night the line to the Palm went from the door, up the 2 sets of stairs and to the Vista lounge!!!! After night 2 we just went to the buffet. Unfortunately the food is not what it used to be so at times the buffet was the better choice. One night was Sabatinis and it is so worth the effort to make a reservation there ! May be time to look back to the old ways. 3 dining venues...One early, one late and one for anytime. Seemed to work fine for years.

We just got off the Caribbean Princess and had an obstructed view deck 8 , room E 119 and loved it. Bed on side wall. Exact pic posted by Purple Traveller.They close off the steps at dusk and the Windows have a coating so no one sees in ( I went out and looked) We could look out over the bow and even down to some water view . I am not sure I would go any further forward as rooms say for four and have this awful bunks. They also may be smaller. Some sailings we don' t worry about balconies and this was one of those times. Worked for us and saved some $.

I think I replied to a roll.call by mistake. We are also.interested in thoughts and pictures as we are thinking of a Spring cruise.I know she's older and smaller but that's not always a bad thing. We have been on older ships and first sailings of new larger vessels and one of the best times we had was on the old Rotterdam 3 yrs ago. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you

Love this site. After reading these posts I decided to try to send it myself . We are part of the Hurricane Ian destruction and our TA is not open yet. . I don't think it was 5 minutes and it's posted . 😍

Park N Go. Easy access with shuttles going to your individual.ship. Do ahead online and save $. Used them.many times.

Good to know....did they charge you for another cruise ? Let you out of your room after your 5 days to enjoy your way back ? Interesting.

Did you have that as an alternative choice of wouldn't they let you off in Vancouver?

First, hope he is well now. I so wanted to blame bad tests! So little time from testing negative prior to the land and then testing positive a few days later by Princess. Yours is not the first story where the one wearing a cloth mask has been the one to test positive. I have the kn95 and have no issue wearing it. Hubby wants to wear those blue paper ones because KN 95 ones are too tight. We also have air travel , hotels and restaurants even before the land portion. Wish us luck !!

We leave soon for our cruisetour and am worried about that test. Did you feel sick or was it a surprise one tested positive? So many seem to be testing positive it makes me wonder how accurate the tests are. Given there is an incubation period seems so soon after starting the land portion this is happening. Thank you for your first hand account.

Glad I bought a box of kn 95 last year. And here I thought I may never need them. People can laugh at us all they want but I plan on wearing them as much as needed ,especially on land. Also packed hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes. Might be overkill but we have a stockpile. You must have been in a panic waiting for those results ! Thank you so much.

Thank you. I do so fear that one test to stop your whole vacation. I don't mind wearing a mask of it means traveling again. Better than sitting on my couch not wearing one. I am just not sure it will help with all I have read. You made it through the testing...any secret as to why you tested negative ? There is only so much distancing you can do at certain times.

Sorry if I have missed the answer somewhere.....when do we do it when you board in Whittier Alaska ( land first) but DISEMBARK in Vancouver? 72 hrs from embarking at the start of cruise or 72 hrs before Vancouver. We have done the preliminary work on the app. 😵😵 Oh how I miss the " good ol days"

So happy to know Prospectors Pizza is still there. We did a similar cruisetour about 8 yrs ago ( this tour has different lodges except the Fairbanks and Denali). We loved Prospectors. I have read the food is not great at the lodges so looking for places outside the Princess facilities. I realize some places it may be our only choice. Were you able to spend anytime in Talkeetna or do they take you right to the lodge? How long do you have in Anchorage ? I assume Humpys is within walking distance? A traveler also mentioned Snowy City Cafe. How was the 7 hr bus ride ? We planned this trip 3 yrs ago ( postponed twice due to covid) and back then I looked at it as an " excursion". Now I feel it's a petrie dish on wheels. Thank you for taking the time to write.

Anyone recently on this tour that has any advice ? We chose this over 2 years ago when things were " normal". Now, I know we will need patience and understanding. We leave in a couple weeks so anything you can warn us of or not to miss ideas is appreciated. Especially for those remote lodges. Thanks.

We came in a couple days early and just went back to Terminal 3 cruise day to catch the Princess Shuttle. No problem at all. Once you purchase the transfer ( from Princess of course) ,they give you instructions on where to go to get the shuttle bus. Let me know if that has changed as we leave next Aug from Southhampton and will again be flying in early. With the news of possible strikes at least you know you will be on a Princess bus and they will wait for you. Good luck.

We have been checking out food prices and know it will be a big part of the land $$. We are bringing protein bars for the in between times . I am calling it the "diet" part of the trip. Hope Prospectors Pizza will still be open in Denali. We enjoyed it years ago but who knows what it's like now or if it will be open in Sept. Years ago we did the Denali tour on the school bus. It wasn't uncomfortable but the Windows kept fogging due to snow and freezing rain...in August ! Then 3 days later we had on our shorts and 70 weather. Gotta love Alaska. Being from Fla I doubt we will need ac but to us anything lower than 60 and we are shivering. Glad to know you had heat. I thought it was strange but then thought lodges may be different than hotels in ammenities. It's a challenge for all this year. You managed to stay healthy. I dread that test between land and ship. Even a false positive and vacation is over. Thank you

Ok , New question. Some poster on FB was saying there is no heat or ac at the lodges....any input from.people here who have been ? You have to wonder if some of those posts are people just trying to "stir the pot ". No one here has mentioned this issue. We are starting Sept 5 and it could be a bit chilly ! Denali, McKinley and Kenai are our lodges.

That's a post card pic.....beautiful !

GottaLuvCruising mentioned covid......how do you feel that was addressed on your land portion since its the exact tour we will be on. You did the 7 hr bus ride between lodges ? I value your opinion on what to watch out for and how you avoided issues. I am taking zinc, vit c to build immunity been vaxed and boosted. .Maybe a daily dose of alcohol ??? Seems the people who try the hardest to keep it at bay get sick.

I understand that ! Believe me it's weighing heavy on my brain . This cruise was booked a couple years ago after being cancelled because we were SURE covid would be over with by now. And that's why I don't gamble ! now We already plan on NOT taking the Denali Bus tour on that rickety school bus. Been there , saw that. So missing is not a deal breaker. I am hoping the transfers from resort to resort have better air circulation. If you have any better ideas , feel free. What is your opinion on why so many are contracting covid on land.

This will be our second land portion. We did the 10 hr train ride on the first one . Beautiful scenery. I am kind of dreading the 7 hr bus ride this time but chose it hoping to get a different perspective on Alaska scenery. Maybe I will be bored ??? We are doing the land first for just that reason of it being in and out of suitcases for a few days , setting alarms ,hopping busses, finding places to eat etc. Then it's the beautiful ship and ( most) worries are over. A drink in the hand and beauty all around. I am a bit concerned with the covid numbers growing on these cruisetours. We have been vaxed and twice boosted but it doesn't seem to matter. I really don't want to be quarantined in Anchorage and will not sleep night before they test is prior to embarkation. Only other choice is wait another year and time is getting short older we get. I appreciate any and all information, thank you

That's the one we are to do in Sept. We chose it as it goes inland more. Many years ago we did Fairbanks to Whittier 3 land days only. Nice but wanted a different perspective.

For those that have done the recent land portion, how are things going? I see another line has cancelled some land portions due to staffing issues I believe. I imagine it's different from years ago and they are trying their best. Are lodges able to accommodate everyone with few issues? Restaurants open ? Tours keeping up? Any information and views would be appreciated as we are on the Royal in Sept. Thank you

Anyone have information as to what hotel is used in Anchorage for quarantine? Reading all these recent posts from cruisers is making me scared for our Sept cruise. I certainly won't sleep prior to testing day .

Good to know as I had the Wilderness Exploration on my wish list. I don't eat crab but hubby does so plan was to swap my crabs for his salad and dessert ! I know you can get a non seafood meal but crab was the reason for the excursion. I had read somewhere else that they had changed the meal to 2 legs now. We go in Sept so I have time to look into it. Thank you for your information.