JanetAlice

Thanks everyone. I knew I would find the answers here. I am not going to book ahead of time because we won't go if the weather is poor. I know I run the risk of the boat being sold out.

We are training it from Anchorage to Whittier on the 9:45 train. If the weather is good we would like to try one of the Phillips cruises out of Whittier before boarding the Coral Princess. I have a couple of questions that I hope one of the many Alaska experts on this board can answer.

1) This is NOT a Princess transfer but I was wondering if there is someone from Princess at the train to get our luggage.

2) I have heard to everything is close together in Whittier and the vendor says there wouldn't be a problem making the 12:30 tour. True?

3) If for some reason we can't get on the tour, there is a shorter tour a 1:00. Is this shorter tour worth the expense?

thank you.

There is a shop in Denali that carrries fabric right across the road from McKinley chalet resort. Not sure of the hours of all the shops in port. I was able to get to 5 shops. Went to Whales Tale in Ketchikan, Changing Tides in Juneau, Rushin Tailors in Skagway,I think it was called Northen Heart Origial in Denali, and Quilted Raven in Anchorage. I got many new projects to do.

That's great. Any fabrics unique to Alaska?

Don't drink the ship's Koolaid. I have been booking independently for years including four cruises to Alaska. I have never had a problem and prefer it to being herded onto buses with large crowds. This board is filled with suggested independent vendors in each port. As you have discovered, Alaska is expensive but as several people have correctly stated, it's a short season.

Thanks for the review. We head out in less than a month. I am curious. How did your expectations compare to the reality ?

Fear not, you will likely receive many more positive replies. We're sailing on the Regal in September, and based on the reviews and raves I've read, we are very much looking forward to it.

 

Have a Great Cruise!! :D

I see you will become elite next March. Congrats

Following

If the machine is empty you can try a machine on a different deck or get them from passenger services.

 

 

 

Save your quarters (and their weight) JA ;p All the ships are using tokens now which you purchase with your cruise card. Anthony, a laundry aficionado, loves them. :D

Thanks cruise buddy.

Any Princess Patters to share?

Thanks

Day 3

 

My husband loves a big breakfast so we ate at the hotel which was good! They had a buffet also but it was pretty pricey. (most restaurants in AK are) Our waiter, Alex, gave us some good tips about Talkeetna and Anchorage. So we headed North and it was raining...AGAIN. The Seward Hwy is still amazing even in bad weather. Our first stop was Potter's Marsh. A wildlife area South of Anchorage. Lot's of birds, waterfowl and of course moose! (I didn't tell my husband, I drive him nutty!)

 

 

Very pretty area and saw ducks, a few eagles, and a moose! The moose had 2 calves which I was dying to see but you don't upset "BIG MOMMA!" She was actually on the news that night with her little ones!

 

 

From Anchorage we traveled to Wasilla. Ate lunch at the Loose Moose. It is a burger place with a mixed burger of Bison, Pork, and Beef. A nice place to stop and a big step above fast food. Then on to Talkeetna. We rented a cabin at the Denali Fireside Cabins. Very cute and would have loved to have stayed longer!

 

 

 

The Princess buses were all coming to town for the train stop and so on. I waved to all the buses! We had a short walk to town. Light rain mixed with sun so it wasn't too bad. Welcome to Talkeetna!

 

 

Let's talk a little about temperature. As I said above, it had been pretty rainy. In the photo I have on a waterproof ski shell, a vest, a light hoodie and jeans. Also waterproof boots. This was May and Talkeetna so a little chiller than the cruise ports. It was a steady 40 degrees with drizzle and a slight breeze. None of the planes were flying, no one was climbing mountains, local shops were just opening for business.

 

I won't show you photos of all the shops and restaurants that I took. You've seen most of them if you've done any research on the town. But the most intriguing was the legal marijuana shop! Our waiter in Alyeska had told us about it or we would have had no clue. Being a child of the 60s.....I did have to go inside! They card you and you have to smoke it in private. I never asked the prices, just went to say "I've been there!"

 

 

We had dinner at the Wildflower Cafe. The chef was George Bush's private chef. It was good. After dinner we asked were the locals go and we were told the Fairview Inn. The bar was pretty much what you would imagine for Talkeeta! We loved it!

 

 

 

Everyone we talked to was very friendly. I'm sure the locals get more of an attitude as the tourist season ramps up.

 

Next Day 4

We are staying at the Denali Fireside Cabins. Glad to hear you liked it. So you didn't go up to Denali NP?

We have done the train but prefer to rent a car

stren003: Formal nights on the May 20 Southbound Coral voyage were Sunday and Thursday.

 

Other random thoughts on our cruise:

Sue the naturalist was so entertaining and informative. Her lectures as well as her comments over the speaker system were well worthwhile.

Spending time on the aft Caribe deck with binoculars was rewarding - very few people and little wind.

Seafood entrees were well-prepared.

Anytime Dining: Either arrive a good 15 minutes before the doors open; or wait much later closer to 7:30 pm

Buy laundry tokens in laundry room first day on ship before the machine is empty.

Crew, overall, very friendly and accommodating.

Walking the wrap-around Promenade deck was pure pleasure - great way to burn off some calories if you go around enough times.

Tokens? I've have two rolls of quarters saved. Lol. Do you need cash or does it go on your princess card?

The days of cruise documents and luggage tags in a lovely case are gone. I would recommend purchasing these.

https://www.amazon.com/Cruisetags-Cruise-Ship-Luggage-Tags/dp/B007UXMQXO

We have had them for years.

We have done the balcony champagne breakfast on Glacier viewing days. We love it and don't really care if it's chilly. The split of champagne helps.

I guess I'm just posting to gloat. I bought at $32.30 per share back in 2009. I am a happy cruiser. [emoji846]

 

 

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I bought it at $39 and change In 2010. Great investment when you consider how many $100 obc I've used with two more coming up. It's not Google which I bought at $179 before the split but I'm happy. I won't tell you about the losers of course.

When are my fellow Alaska quilters going? We can look out for eacither. I am on the Coral, leaving Whittier 7/15. I set up my own pre cruise tour for eight days.

Thank you for the info everyone! I'm new to quilting but already find it addictive and look forward to buying some fabrics to create a souvenir quilt (just finishing one with Oriental fabrics following a trip to China and Japan last year).

I am new to quilting as well though I have sewn my whole life. I love the idea of a souvenir quilt.

Your family should treat you to a balcony breakfast on a scenic cruising day for all your hard work.

I too am a quilter. If you want an educated guess they will be open on port days even if it is a Sunday or Monday. The Alaska cruise season is short and I doubt they would want to miss a potential sale.

Is there a major price difference?

 

Thinking about accommodations, are there many other places to stay other than Denali Princess Wilderness lodge in that general area? I am guessing that only Princess cruise people can stay there.

As someone stated anyone can stay at the lodges. We planned an 8 day tour ourselves for this year. We are stayed at efficiency cabins and small BnBs around southern Alaska. That is much more our style than big hotels. Happy planning.

And don't overlook Newark Liberty (EWR). It's very easy to get to Manhattan from there. La Guardia is a zoo right now because of the construction.

Second that. Newark is much easier. Are you leaving from Manhattan or Brooklyn?

Turo Synagogue, White Horse Tavern, and the Black Pearl are all less than a 10 minute walk from the tender dock and each other. You can get to Cliff Walk by public bus; about 10-15 minute travel time.

You'll be spending too much time looking for parking that it makes having a car not worthwhile, JMO.

SBtS

Thanks for the info. I didn't realize everything was that close. I haven't been to Newport in about 25 years and it's my sister' first visit. Again, much appreciated advice.

Where do you plan to go with the car? Otherwise, Newport Center is easily walkable.

SBtS

Cliff Walk, Turo Synagogue, White Horse Tavern, the Black Pearl (waterfront)

Has anybody tried to rent a car in Newport for the day?

Make sure you get there early to check in for your flight. The airport is packed. Four years ago we almost missed our flight home from Seattle on SW. We were there two hours + ahead of our flight.