vegasneon

We are cruising on the Oosterdam Seattle 7 day round trip to Alaska on May 7, 2017.

Michael & Rebecca (vegasneon)

First cruise on HAL, 5th cruise.

We took The Carnival Spirit to Alaska in 2011 and it was a really wonderful cruise. The naturalist was up early and reporting on whale and eagle sightings. She had various informative lectures in the showroom while we were sailing. She really added a lot to our first Alaska trip. We didn't go to Sitka that time but we will be on our upcoming HAL cruise.

Thank you for letting us join your vacation! It was really fun to see what you were up to each day.

also a belated Thank you to Raina for identifying the Java Finch.

I leave for Hawaii in a little less than 4 months! We are going round trip from Long Beach CA in Jan via Carnival.

One question- you said Marie likes to go in every ABC store. Does that mean they all have different merchandise?

I am enjoying following your cruise immensely. Our first trip to Hawaii will be this coming January. Thank you for posting all of this !

Do you happen to know the name of this little bird you photographed? - hopefully he will show in this message. He was the single gray bird with a puffin shaped head. In your post he was between the yellow birds and the dogs. I tried to use Google image search but nothing simular came up.

We've always done self assist, mainly because I can't wrap my mind around giving up my luggage the night before (family of 5...that's lot's of thinking when mom and Dad are too busy enjoying the last night on the ship!) Does anyone have a tried and true strategy for what to keep behind? Do you just stuff pajamas and toiletries and such into a carry on in the morning?

Exactly, we pack up everything AFTER we are in our jammies, leaving just toiletries and tomorrows clothes hanging in the closet. I put out my suitcases hoping nobody sees me in my nightgown! The next day I have my toiletries case and my purse to carry and my husband has a carryon with our jammies and electronics.

If we have a balcony we also tie a streamer made of curling ribbon to it, that way we might be able to pick out our cabin from the shore. Similarly, if we have OV, we put an American Flag decal in the window, that way we can pick it out.

I have only been on 2 short cruises and I have not yet seen decorated doors! I will be on the lookout from now on.

I love the idea of ribbons on the balconey! That I will be sure to do. We have a balconey on our May 4 cruise to Alaska.

Smiles,

Rebecca