Peachestravels

Can't wait to hear about the train ride. We sail in 67 days. We picked the train ride luxury car. Cant wait. Love your posts. 

I'm sorry my fellow cruisers if this has been asked before. We are sailing in a few months on Ovation. I am on a restricted diet due to health issues. I am limited to what I can eat and I can only drink water and low sugar smoothies to help establish nutrients that I lack from food. Does anyone who has been on Ovation know if they have a low sugar or sugar free smoothie option available? I would greatly appreciate any info. Happy Sailing!!!!

We booked ours the minute they became available. Our cruise is not for another 500 days. I booked those puppies fast. Didnt want to lose the spot. 

I apologize if this question has already been asked. I recently have been to my Dr. and now I am on a strict diet due to health issues. I can only drink water or flavored water. DH and I purchased the premier beverage package for our future cruise. Do the soda machines offer water or should I purchase a water package for myself? Thank you kindly. Happy Cruising!!!

We for some reason were able to book excursions for a sailing 500 days away. And I'm glad I check often because the one excursion we wanted to do only had 6 slots left. You should check often and book as soon as you can so you don't lose that spot. 

Allow me to approach the question another way. Where are the best places to stay in Seattle for a nervous Nelly who would like to explore with some caution? And what places should we avoid to have a good time in Seattle?

8 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

@Peachestravels, I am very sorry about what happened to your DH and absolutely won't wish it on anyone. It is not acceptable nor right. Again,  I  absolutely do not approve of it in any way. I suggest the more appropriate thought is that the incident was caused by a person.  Would you really want to specify it was done by a black, Latino,  gay, veteran, homeless or some other group of people? No, it was done by a person who cannot follow reasonable rules of society. 

You are absolutely right. I apologize for labeling homeless. It was a person who we were just trying to help. It is a burden we must live with but it does not stop us from helping others or trying to take trips. I'm just cautious more now then ever. Again I apologize for labeling. Thank you.

1 hour ago, martincath said:

That's a terrible thing to have happen to you, and I hope you're able to get over it sufficiently to return to helping folks again (while nowhere near as bad, I've never been someone to just hand over money but instead to actually engage with people and see if I can help them without feeling like I enabled continued substance abuse etc.; taking them for a meal and a chat, buying groceries, that sort of thing - and it does backfire every now and again, fortunately for me never beyond verbal abuse or spittle, but even those incidents make me second-guess before helping the next person for a while afterward).

 

Realistically, I think you and DH are going to find a lot of downtown West Coast cities troublesome, even triggering for some time - right now I'd strongly suggest that rather than starting your vacation with additional stress stay out at the airport. Shuttles to the pier on embarkation day are decent value from Seatac area hotels, the hotels themselves are much cheaper than downtown, and the savings might be used for a tour by vehicle rather than wandering about downtown on foot.

 

Much like here in Vancouver, while locals can give you a heads-up about current homeless camp locations to avoid, you'll still find that tourist sites and homeless hangout areas overlap significantly - at the very least you'll find people begging in the places where folks with disposable income go. It sounds like at the moment anyone asking you for money might make you & DH relive some painful memories, which is why I'd stick to a drive-by tour option until you both feel you've put this behind you enough.

Thank you kindly. DH suffers from memory losses and I had to have a total knee replacement but where we live i do still try to help our homeless and yes I go to therapy. But still would like to travel. Thank you for your kind words of advice.

19 hours ago, trivia addict said:

Why bother to travel if you fear seeing something you might not like?

Seattle is no more dangerous than any other big American city.

Its not that we don't like homelessness. We are being careful. A few years ago while on vacation we were attacked by a homeless person with a bat. My DH was in a coma for weeks. I'm a veteran and had just been discharged from military. I do suffer from PTSD. we were trying to help the homeless person who asked for money. We gave him some and a hot meal then he attacked us with a baseball bat. I just wanted to be a little more cautious this time. We do love sightseeing. I have helped several homeless veterans get off the streets and got them jobs. I did not mean to offend anyone. My apologies. 

22 hours ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

@princeton123211, thank you for providing the OP with a lovely hotel suggestion that the travel party can "cocoon" themselves in.  The OP's thread title and general question does suggest that cocooning might be their best accommodation strategy, lest they come face to face with those less fortunate.  Thank you my friend for having the patience that I did not have in responding to their question.

Did not mean to offend. Have PTSD. veteran of these states. Was beaten by homeless person a few years ago while on vacation. Just being cautious. My apologies.

Because a few years ago we were attacked by a homeless person while on vacation. Put my DH  in hospital with a coma for weeks.  We have nothing against homelessness and those less fortunate. I have helped several homeless get back on their feet. I am a veteran and have seen terrible things. I suffer from PTSD. just nervous is all. Did not mean to offend anyone by all means. My apologies. I don't want to cocoon. Just want to be more careful is all. 

We will be cruising in 2024 and are going to stay the night before the cruise in Seattle. Would like recommendations for best and safest hotels to stay in Seattle with least trouble and homelessness? Any info would be freely appreciated. Thank you. Happy Cruising!!!

Could you add more things for handicapped people. Hot tubs are hard to get in to. Not enough seats at shows, limited spots. Special elevators since noone is kind to those with special needs. Sensory tables and rooms for adhd and autistic children. You would be surprised as to how many cruise. Please take them into consideration. Flavored water. 

Can you have Portside BBQ on all class ships? You offer great places to eat on some ships but not all the ships. If it is a great place to eat, it should be offered on all ships. 

Could you please include more perks for junior class suites. You guys are changing everything and making it harder for us to cruise. 

Could you provide perks for health care professionals and others in law enforcement or firefighter? They all work so hard through these rough times. 

Would it be possible to have a variety of flavored waters in beverage dispensers for those who cannot drink sodas?

Good Morning Fellow Cruisers!!! I know this is an odd question and I do so apologize if it has been asked before. DH and I will be going to Alaska next year. We are definitely doing the ATV excursion in Sitka. We did one on our cruise to Hawaii a few years back and because the two of us rode in a 2 person ATV we only paid the price for 1 person. So here is my question for those of you who have done this excursion. 

Is the price you pay per person or do you get the same deal we did years ago in Hawaii? One price for 2 people since DH will be doing all the driving in a 2 person ATV?

Thank you in advance. Happy Cruising!!!!

We are not very outgoing so what we do is probably silly. We like to go to the Solarium and sit in a lounge chair with a drink. Just breathe until its time to go to our cabin. Then we sit on the balcony at sail away time and order strawberries and champagne. My favorite memory when we cruise. 

Everything is going up in price. We have to try and enjoy cruises as much as we can and do a little budgeting in the process.. You can't even go the grocery store without paying $7 for a dozen of cheap quality eggs anymore. 

There are alot of free things to do in each part of Alaska. DH and I understand when you can't afford excursions. We had massive medical bills due to Cancer and could only afford the rooms and a few extras.. We have had a blast cruising and not doing any excursions. In Sitka you can go to Totem Trails, Harrigan Centennial Hall, St. Michael Cathedral, Castle Hill, and the beaches to look at star fish that come in low tide. 

In juneau you can do the State Capital Building, The Shrine of St. Therese, local hiking trails, local beaches, Russian Church, and downtown historic walking tour. They are all free also. 

In Ketchikan you can do Totem poles, historic walking trail, Alaska Discovery Center, Creek St., Settlers Cove, and Robert Beach. They are all free also. 

Alot of places offer free shuttle. 

You can make great memories for free. Happy Cruising!!

Happy New Year!!! May we all have a wonderful 2023 and alot of happy cruises and memorable moments. 

All the cruises we have been on have been wonderful. Even if the food was not so good or there were rude people on the ship. We made memories, beautiful memories to always keep close in our hearts. It was our time together. Make those memories and you will have a wonderful time. 

34 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

What ship are you talking about?  We have stayed in a J4 JS on Anthem and noise from the elevators was not an issue at all.  Noise from above was though.  Avoid deck 13 if you are talking Quantum class.

We are going on ovation of the seas considering deck 9 or 10

Good afternoon fellow cruisers! Quick question and I do apologize if this has been asked. DH and I are looking at the J4 Junior Suite on RCCL near the elevators. Do these suites have alot of noise from the elevators? Any info would be greatly appreciated. 

Ok Cruisers here is a question that I am sure has been asked before but after hours of scrolling I could not find one. Hope all is well. DH and I would like to cruise to Alaska in July of 2024. Patiently waiting for Royal to put it up to book.  Biting nails with anticipation. We would like to book a Junior Suite with Large Balcony on Ovation.  Cannot afford more. Cancer Survivor with bills up the wazoo. Here's the question.... we know it is near stairwells, is the room worth it? How are the noise levels? And of course what deck would be best? We were thinking deck 9 or 10. Any info and advice would be greatly appreciated. Happy Cruising!!!!

Hello fellow cruisers! I am newer to Carnival and have a simple question. I do so apologize if it has been asked before. Does anyone know when Carnival will be opening up sailings for bookings to Alaska in July of 2024? Alot of the cruise lines are already offering sailings for this time, but DH and I would like to sail with Carnival. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you and happy sailings!!!