door60

We just came back from a cruise to Alaska, and I've got to say, if I were to do it again, I would just do the land portion of the trip -- no cruise. I think you miss a lot by going on a cruise, and there is a lot of at sea time. Honestly, this was the first trip I have ever been on where I had the time to do laundry!

I know many of you are stressing over what to wear on the ship, especially for formal nights. I have just returned from a cruise to Alaska from Vancouver, and I am here to hopefully, give you the correct information...

Let me start by saying, this was my 1st cruise in 20 years. I am not a cruise vacationer. I usually travel independently with my family, and we did so all over Europe and Asia. We were deciding between a trip to Tokyo or Alaska, and my 21 year old son wanted to experience a cruise, and so that's what we did.

After reading these boards, I thought we needed day clothes and evening clothes. Boy, was I ever wrong, and so grossly over packed. Ladies, you do not need to beg the men in your life to wear a sports jacket, or a suit or a tie, if they don't want to. It is simply not necessary. Formal nights are just photo opts, and ways for the ship to make more money. The restaurants on the Coral Princess, at least, do nothing different on these nights in the restaurants, so why go overboard (hah!)? The women and men who were dressed to the nines looked ridiculous, in my opinion. It was as though they were all dressed up with the same place to go. Business casual is absolutely appropriate, or whatever else you would like to wear to take a picture or 2 or 3 or 1 dozen! On the other nights, wear whatever you wore in the day, except, I would not wear shorts and a graphic tee shirt. Jeans and any other type of shirt (even a clean plain tee shirt) is absolutely fine and appropriate.

We took 3 suitcases amongst the 3 of us. We could have easily taken just 2, if I had known that 2 sets of clothes per day is simply not needed!

I am sure I will get a lot of slack for this statement, but I was so appalled at the treatment of the dogs in the musher's camp, I feel compelled to share. I honestly think everyone should ban going to the musher camps. The dogs are tethered all day on a very short chain lease. They are never bathed. The mushers and trainers could say they are treated well all they want, but to me, if you're chained all day on a short lease, it's awful. So, if you love dogs, skip this excursion, it will make your heart sink.

Could you tell me what the dress code was in the evenings, both during formal nights and the other nights.

Thank you so much.

We will be sailing in 10 days from Vancouver to Alaska. Embarkation begins at 12:30pm, and the ship sails at 4:30pm.

When is the best time to embark to avoid long line for check in?

Thank you in advance for your advice.

we will be spending the night before inour embarkment city. Should we get. To the ship just as it opens to passengers, or later in the day?

We will be going to Alaska in about 3 weeks. I own a small business, so I want to be able to read emails when I am away. We will be on the Coral Princess. If I get an internet package for my tablet, could my husband use the same package for his phone?

I own a small business, so I do want access to my emails. What is the best way to keep in touch. Do any of the internet packages make sense to buy?

Just received an email from Princess cruises about some of their beverage packages. I was interested in 2.

Can someone tell me if it's worth it:

1. New Grounds Coffee Package: $35.65 for 15 specialty coffees (I drink about 2 a day). What is the price of specialty ordinarily, sans package?

2. Bottled water package: $6.90 for 12. We are 3 people, and drink at least 1 bottle each a day. What is the usual price for water?

Thanks in advance.

Just received an email from Princess cruises about some of their beverage packages. I was interested in 2. Can someone tell me if it's worth it:

1. New Grounds Coffee Package: $35.65 for 15 specialty coffees (I drink about 2 a day). What is the price of specialty ordinarily, sans package?

2. Bottled water package: $6.90 for 12. We are 3 people, and drink at least 1 bottle each a day. What is the usual price for water?

Thank you for your help.

Dorrie

does my husband and 20 year old son really need a sports jacket for formal nights or can they just wear a shirt and tie? Sports jackets take so much room in luggage.

So, everyone is saying the weather in Alaska fluctuates a great deal in a given day. How hot does it typically get in the summer?

We will be on the Coral Princess, docking at Whittier. We need to be in Anchorage at 6pm in the evening. Is there a tour we could take to Anchorage fromWhittier? If not, how do you recommend that we get from point A to B?

thank you in advance for your responses.

I feel the price of the excursions are high enough, and don't believe it's necessary.

our flight to go back to New York is at 8:15 pm from Anchorage. How should we get to the airport when we dock? What should we do with all our time? Is there something to do in Whittier, or something interesting to see in Anchorage?

Thank you in advance for your responses.

Dorrie

Where is the better of the 2 ports to do a helicopter excursion ride?

Thanks in advance!

Dorrie

We booked our Alaskan cruise on The Coral Princess for August. I understand there are 2 formal evenings, but I also understand that Alaska cruises are less formal than others. What is appropriate attire for men & women?

Also, are packable down jackets a good thing to bring, or are they overkill?

Thank you in advance.

Norwegian has 2 cruises that work for my son and both lack something where I am concerned, but if you had to choose, which cruise would you prefer...

The Jewel: Leaves from Seward, Hubbard Glacier, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Vancouver (I'm really upset they dont pass Glacier Bay)

or

The Pearl: Leaves from Seattle, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, Victoria, Seattle

(I really would like to see the inner passage)

Thanks again

I'm still trying to decide which cruise to take my 20 year old. Seems like none of the cruises have everything we want.

I prefer leaving from Vancouver. My 20 year old would like an active ship. I thought I found it in The Norwegian Jewel, they don't go to Glacier Bay, which is something I really would like to experience. How is The Princess Coral for a young person? Are there things to do in the evening?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

My husband and I are taking our 20 year old on an Alaskan cruise this summer. We've been going back and forth as to which cruise would be most interesting for him. As he's an only child, we would like a ship that has people his age, that is why we are a bit apprenhensive about Holland America's The Vollendam. We do like Norwegian's Pearl, but that sails out of Seattle, and I prefer to sail from Vancouver.

Just discovered that The Coral Princess may work for us. Does that draw a younger crowd than The Vollendam?

I know Alaska is all about the ports, but sailing time is also important to us.

Thank you in advance.

Incidentally both ships go to the same ports. The difference is the embakement port, which I guess means leaving from Seattle would preclude us from seeing the inside passage.

We are a couple in our 50's , taking our 20 year old son to Alaska for his 21st birthday in August. We have narrowed it down to The Pearl and the Volerdam. I like the Volerdam because the day of the week it departs is more convenient, and I prefer to depart from Vancouver than Seattle where The Pearl departs from. However, I read that The Volerdam may not be as fun for my son, since the age of the passengers tends to be older.

What is your advice? This is a trip for my son.

Thank you in advance for your responses.