JC in CA

Anyone going to be in Alaska on May 17, 2018? The forecast for the Northern Lights that night is very favorable!

http://auroraforecast.gi.alaska.edu/?area=Alaska&date=20180517

Hope someone here will get to see them this year!

-Jerie

I’m allergic to shellfish and Tuna. I always note it in personalizer. I’ve never had a problem in the Crown Grill or Sabatinis. We do late seating in the MDR and ,on the first night, my waiter will invariably ask about the allergy. I find Princess very good about it.

 

 

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Thank you for mentioning that- I just went and checked the Cruise Personalizer and found the "food allergy" box. Checked it and wrote shellfish. I will also make sure to talk to the Crown Grill prior to dining there.

thanks!

-Jerie

Mendenhall glacier perhaps?

I have a life-threatening crustacean allergy and dine in the Crown Grill every sailing we’re on - well, maybe only half of the 1NTers, but all the rest.

 

In any event, it’s never been an issue. I often have an appetizer portion of a finfish offering alongside a salad and soup and a meat entree. They’ve been super accommodating and in hundreds of nights on board, I’ve never had so much as a slight reaction.

 

Take the galley tour some time and see how they isolate allergens in the Main Dining Room. It’s incredibly impressive.

Thank you!

You can definitely order both a soup and salad. My suggestion would be that you talk with the head server from the Crown Grill before your dining time to make them aware of the situation. They may arrange some alternative selections or allow him to choose from the menu in advance so they will be fully prepared for his needs.

 

Depending on the person' date=' there can be a lot more to an allergy than "can't eat this food." There is the concern about "cross contamination" where a food may touch a grill or cooking surface that may not have been adequately cleaned, or plated using a utensil that was previously used on another food. For an allergy issue that the staff knows of, they will assure that there is no cross contamination--each time a tool or utensil touches an item, it is fresh and clean.[/quote']

 

Thank you. His allergy isn't severe, yet, but he does react to shellfish. We definitely don't want his reaction to become severe, so he stays away from all shellfish.

We will definitely talk to the Crown Grill in advance.

I would approach the head waiter at the Crown Grill the evening prior to your reservation to discuss options. Also, any appetizer on the menu in the MDR would be available to your husband in the Crown Grill. Check the dinner menu posted near the entrance of one of the MDRs sometime during the day to see whether there might be an appetizer of interest.

Thanks Lew. Didn't realize that MDR appetizers might be able to be substituted. This is very good to know.

No experience, but I would suggest you speak with the CG head waiter regarding your reservation. Princess is really good with allergies.

thank you, good to know

I did notice a spot in the Cruise Personalizer that I could list food allergies. Wasn't thinking I would since her can easily choose dishes that don't contain shellfish.

No personal experience with the allergies but lots of visits to the Crown Grill. We have always found them willing to modify items so I suspect you could order a soup and salad as the two courses. He could also just skip the appetizer course and still have plenty to eat.

Great, thank you

No personal experience with the allergies but lots of visits to the Crown Grill. We have always found them willing to modify items so I suspect you could order a soup and salad as the two courses. He could also just skip the appetizer course and still have plenty to eat.

Excellent, thank you!

Here is a link to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park in Skagway.

We reserved a walking tour- it is free, however there is a 75cents per person reservation fee. There are a few different options and the website might be something for the kids to look into in advance of your trip.

https://www.nps.gov/klgo/index.htm

We will be on the Grand Princess in May and are thinking about dining in the Crown Grill.

Looking at the menu (May, 2017 that I found online) my husband is allergic to 3 of the appetizers and won't eat the other. (Three contain shellfish, the other is beef tartare.) So I am wondering if there are other off menu items or what they can do to help a shell fish allergy. Perhaps order both a soup and salad?

Has anyone had any experience with this?

thanks for any info!

-Jerie

I mailed my request and proof of shares in- the credit showed up on my cruise personalizer within 1 week. Quite impressed with the timeliness.

There is a thing where you have a card and go to multiple different designated locations on the ship. Each location has a stamper and marks your card. Then you turn it in for a drawing. The time of the drawing will be in the Patter--typically the atrium on day 2. There is also a spa drawing (separate thing). Tour the spa or just show up for the drawing.

Thank you!

Start from the top and work yourself downstairs. Get your stamps for the first/second day drawing. Do not waste your time if you have to sit through the shopping talk to win the raffle prizes. Usually it is held in the atrium after muster.

Creative one-

I'm new to Princess- would you elaborate on "get your stamps" and how will I know where the drawing will be held? Guessing it is for spa services? Will this be in the first day Patter?

thanks for any info!

-Jerie

alaska books recommended by alaskans. 2014

 

https://www.alaskapublic.org/2014/06/24/the-top-10-alaska-books-and-tons-more-to-add-to-your-reading-list/

Thank you! More to add to my reading list!

Heaven knows why it didn't open for you. Try the basic Geophysical Institute website: www.gi.alaska.edu

 

There is a tab for aurora viewing. From there check both the "Traveler's Guide to the Aurora" and also "Viewing the Aurora in the Northern Summer."

Wow- from that map I am really wishing our cruise was a week earlier! Looks like there may be a chance seeing the Northern Lights in early May as far south as Juneau.

I just finished and really enjoyed "The Great Alone" by Kristin Hannah. Fiction, taking place in the 1970's in Alaska. Family moved to Alaska with little knowledge about the area.

Grego,

Was the confirmation an email, phone call, or that you checked the "payments and Credits" section on your booking info?

I'm asking because I mailed our info in and am wondering how to expect notification.

thanks for any info

-Jerie

Just found the answer! I did not see the form to submit with my documentation- just read what was required and wrote a letter with that information in it. Now that I found the form- I see that it says to check the cruise personalizer and it will show up within 7 days.

-Jerie

Just had the quickest posting of our SHB. Faxed it in on Sunday and received confirmation and posting on our statement on Monday!!!

Grego,

Was the confirmation an email, phone call, or that you checked the "payments and Credits" section on your booking info?

I'm asking because I mailed our info in and am wondering how to expect notification.

thanks for any info

-Jerie

It's especially nice to have your own mug when sailing somewhere such as Glacier Bay, Alaska where paper products (cups, straws, etc) are not available when in the bay.

That is exactly why we brought the mug last time! We had read the suggestion to bring an insulated mug since it was so nice when cruising the glaciers.

Excellent! This will make my hubby VERY happy!

Thank you everyone

I have done this many times. Bring a travel mug back to Mrs. Pablo, first thing.

 

One emerald once, I saw a woman bring a room service coffee caraffe to the IC and demand that it be filled.

I was a little put off by what I viewed as greed or glutony.

 

But, I was able to overlook that, and simply be put off by her wearing a bathrobe in the atrium.

Oh my.... some people!

Hi,

Just wondering- has anyone brought their own insulated coffee mug to the International Cafe and had it filled? The last time we were in Alaska my husband brought along an insulated travel mug and used it. But, we were filling it from a dispenser, not at the coffee place on board.

He likes his big cup of coffee every morning and this would be a great solution. If they won't, I'm thinking he will just take his mug with him, order 2 cups of coffee and pour them in himself.

thanks for any info

-Jerie

Thanks for the link! We were planning on doing our own walking tour using the map from the Skagway site, but this looks like a nice option.

glad to be of help

They also have a good display of photo's and artifacts of the Klondike gold rush in the downtown building. They have a small theater where they show a movie on the history of the gold rush and the building of the White Pass RR. We saw the free movie there first before we boarded the train for our excursion. Though there was a narrator on the train, the free movie from the Park Service had us informed about what we were seeing. We had the afternoon WPRR excursion.

 

The Park Service in Skagway = FREE. You don't see that too often in Alaska.;)

Excellent info! Will definitely check it out! And you're right - not a lot of "free stuff" - besides the view, and fresh air!