MagnoliaBlossom

We started cruising in 1994 and for several years after that I remember hearing the announcement for visitors to exit the ship. I do believe it was 9/11 when things changed, although some lines may have stopped it before that.

The seniority matters in that the most senior gets better docking positions. Might not matter but a few years back Juneau had all its berths filled and we had to tender. Don’t know how the new pier situation affects that as it’s been a few years since we’ve been to AK but it can. I believe that last year when part of Skagway pier was closed the open berths will go to the most senior lines we used to feel that Princess was a better product than NCL but Princess has cut quite a bit of complimentary items and are now charging for them so they may be on par with ncl. We sail them in two weeks so we shall see

I never use the salon, even years ago, it was overpriced and now it is ridiculous. I can go to the most upscale salon in my Texas city and it is nowhere near the spa’s cost. I get it, it’s like airport food, you’re captive and it’s exclusive, we used to always get massages but those too are over the top for us. The spa employees are more aggressive in the pursuit of additional tips than anywhere else on the ship. Therefore we use the thermal pass but we no longer subject ourselves to the bullying of the staff for tips or product purchase. Years ago, on my admission paperwork, I wrote in very large letters that I did not want the sales pitch for products and would cancel my tips if they even mentioned it. Amazingly, it stopped. Nowadays, tips are out of hand. I was at a convenience store to buy a bottle of water and the credit card machine asked me if I wanted to add a tip. Stand your ground, but realize many people like the pampering and are willing to pay the price, so it will not end. Just avoid the situation,and enjoy your extra cash.

I think much of the “gotta have a balcony” feeling is from ships where common space was not as nice as it is on the current ships. Our first AK was on Vision f the Seas, RCL, and we did have a balcony but to appreciate the full vista you needed to be outside or in an observation lounge. Some cruises we didn’t spend much time on the balcony because of the weather, other time# it was delightful and we bundled up and enjoyed every minute with a nice cup of coffe, or adult beverage. The weather is unpredictable in AK, but spend the money where it best suits your budget. I would say, a “must” is doing an air tour, either float plane or helicopter. You can’t comprehend the massiveness (is that a word) of AK until yo u see if from the air. Our favorite was Michelle with Island Wings (hmmmm? Ketchikan, I think) float plane, she flew the glaciers and waterways where we saw orcas and she circled until everyone had their picture, she set us down on an alpine lake (men’s rom behind that tree, ladies behind the big rocks). It was delightful. Such a nice lady and so very knowledgeable. We also did an excursion to Taku(?) Lodge where we toured the glaciers and he set us down in a river in front of a glacier at a lodge for a wonderful meal of grilled salmon, fresh blueberry cobbler and steamed apples. We could wander through a bit of alpine forest with a provided mosquito zapper. The foliage was beyond words. Almost prehIstoric. Then back to the ship. Another favorite is George’s Inlet crab feast. All the crab y🦀 u can eat in a jovial, sometimes competitive atmosphere - people stack the carapaces of the crabs and they come round with a yard stick to measure. We happened to have 2 engineer SILs with us so this was cutthroat (we won). So much fun. Check out tours beyond the ships offerings, you will save money, most likely, and have a more personal experience. AK is a world of oohs and ahhh, give yourself the opportunity to experience that on something other than a 40 person tour bus. Enjoy, my friend!

Yes, there are home test kits, but they are not reliable, when I was working inhome health we used then for a period of time, but finally a banded it for obvious reasons.

Since we now live in Texas they just assume it’s that other orange team from around here.

Well, most of them are from south central Kansas so they’re just fine with OK folks.

My best friend is on Okie, OSU to be exact, so I’ve gotten kinda fond of orange.

I wish the misty fjords was still part of this inside passage, it was magical. Favorite picture of my husband was taken with him looking out at the scenery in the fjord.

I don’t recall it from,our February cruise.

We have done 6 Alaska cruises with RCL, Princess and NCL, and have found them all comparable. Princess and HAL have seniority in most ports there so they will have preferable docking space, but that’s not really a big deal. I would sail NCL to AK again in a heartbeat. It is always the itinerary, but as this is a once in a lifetime cruise, be sure to pick an itinerary with Glacier Bay.

Not something I would use, but it seems like an app similar to IDme that confirms veteran status, etc.

We docked there once a year or so before the shut down. But it was the first time in all our Cozumel cruises on NCL. we have tendered, but that was after Wilma when the piers were destroyed. Aside from those occasions it’s always been Langosta, downtown.

Paid off our June family cruise by using two different NCL cards. Woohoo! Additionally we got our property tax bill yesterday and DH used his NCL card to pay it. Our family motto is “free is good”. So this should be a national holiday for us 🤑

Off topic, but our roll call for that cruise has disappeared this morning. Hmmmm.

My take on it is, the person received a special offer through the VIFP department. This could be casino, although casino offers are usually identifiable. I receive several of those every day. Some are casino, some re VIFP, others are just specials. With CCL it is at times difficult to understand where the offer comes from. if it is a significantly discounted cruise then your shareholder OBC will be denied. For instance, last month I was offered a $100 pp cruise, with $100 OBC, so essentially I was cruising for port and taxes only. No shareholder was bailable.m. The same is true with any deep discount cruise whether it comes through the casino of VIFP dept. or last minute deep discount. If you do not spend a certain amount of money, and I have no idea how they calculate that, they are not going to give you OBC. It’s just the way it is.

No, but you could join us! 🤭

I remember the last upgrade. Oh my, what a mess it was. Some people were grandfathered, some were not and to make matters worse some people had their VIFP numbers changed. It took months for them to straighten it out. I hope when they do the next big change they will institute it better than the last time.

The only ones we have had denied were complimentary casino cruises.

Yes. There are restrictions, though. I believe it is balconies and above

We have theee booked. One went down a bit over $500, one is the same and the other is $1000 more than when we booked. FWIW, tomorrow starts the triple up promotion.

I was talking to my PCC today and checking prices, of course, it didn’t matter cause we were inside penalty, but I’m looking forward to meeting you and several others onboard!

Well, I guess that’s it. Thanks.

What I can’t find, is the itinerary showing how the Prima gets to Galveston.

I think there are similarities, but not identical. But,I’ve slept since I last looked at those so I can’t swear to it.