StayingAfloat

I get club soda for the no calorie thing. There are a list of Mock cocktails they will make for you as we had the soda plus. I know I went through more than $8:00/. Day as the mock cocktails go for $5:00 each.

Yes. We had them on the last night of the 10 day cruise. They were great. I could have used a bit more garlic.

I just came off the August 10-20 cruise to Alaska on the Golden Princess out of San Francisco. It was a great trip. The staff were attentive and courteous. The onboard entertainment was great. Yes Megan you still are a liar. The stateroom was appropriate and worked well with lots of storage. Of course the views were fantastic and the ports were fun to visit. We had fair weather on our side. The only port that was was not sunny and dry was Ketchikan. Glacier Bay was awesome with blue skies.

There are a few things that I think Princess needs to improve on. (1) The coffee needs to be improved. I do not go to coffee shops for my cup of Joe but I make it at home. I could not drink the coffee made onboard. I went to the IC and order a cup of coffee to compare and it was much better. I have tasted coffee on other cruise lines and they tasted like a cup of coffee should taste. Mind you that was ten years earlier.

(2) Anytime dining is not managed well. We waited in line for a long time just to get a pager to tell us a table was ready. Luckily before I received a pager, the other dining room changed over from Traditional early service to anytime and we were able to get a table. I was told by staff that this only happens on the first night of the cruise. We decided to switch to early traditional as we did not want to hassle getting a future table.

(3) Shore excursion management needs improvement. We had a 2:20 Princess excursion for a float plane trip to the Taku lodge and salmon BBQ. There was a long disembarkation line forming so I asked staff managing the line that I had a 2:20 excursion and do they have that group meeting in a separate place for priority disembarkation. They told me the excursion company would wait. Once off the ship, the excursion company said no they did not wait for us to come off the ship and that they could book us for the later excursion. Since the excursion was 3.5 hours long, we had to be back to the pier in an 1 1/2 hours. Not much time to visit Juneau. Other cruise companies have asked groups with excursions that are close to arrival times to meet at a separate place for priority disembarkation. Princess needs to do better on this one.

Other than the few things that went wrong, the overall experience was very good. I would recommend this trip for anyone wanting to leave out of San Francisco. Next year, the Grand Princess will be sailing from San Francisco.

I'm a brewed coffee person. Nothing fancy. I make my own at home. Isn't coffee that comes from syrup similar to vending machine coffee? Or does Princess perfect it? Just curious. If it's good, I will get it delivered to my cabin before I venture out so I don't get grumpy. Lol.

My TA said that the 50th Anniversary special that includes a speciality dinner for two is prearranged by Princess and I cannot pick the restaurant or day or time. Has anyone who has cruised this season have that experience? How did it go?

We are leaving on August 10th and I asked my TA about the specialty dinner for two reservations. He told me the Princess on my behalf will pick the restaurant and time of that dinner. Has anyone's TA told them this?

That's good news.

The Golden Princess is currently in Drydock in San Francisco. Could see it getting worked on.

Stay at a park and fly hotel near the airport and then take Bart and Muni to the pier. Hotels in San Francisco do not offer packages. Land too expensive for hotels. Pier parking is $18.00 a day with reservations and is only a few blocks away. No easy answer to give.

I'm renting a car and driving to the Yukon and back. $140 for the day.

You'll feel good moving around not eating for a few hours. Don't worry I'm sure you'll find a way to make up for the loss.. Lol. There are places in town. Get some squaw candy to get your protein and Omega-3's.

Take the city bus near the library. It stops near the brewery with a short walk. Costco just down from the brewery. Get back on the bus and see the glacier. Wear waterproof boots and walk down close to the waterfall. Take the bus back to town. Hit the red dog saloon. Salmon spawn everywhere in Alaska. Find a creek and watch. I have seen them spawn in a drainage canal. Never did the tram but it could be fun up there.

NCL is good. Never done HAL but you are on a cruise to Alaska. Time to get spoiled and with majestic views of Alaska.

Golden Princess in August. Nice to get spoiled on a ship. Best way to experience Alaska is spending time traveling by car, ATV, bush plane. It gets into your blood and all you can do is think about the next time you can go.