georgiacat

Hi CruiseGirl6,

We took a Princess cruisetour to Alaska in 2011 and plan another for 2022.  I looked at your choice.  My "opinion" (only), if possible choose a longer land tour.  You will have very little relaxing time on your own.  It takes a long time to travel between places.  We plan to spend 2 days at each stop with no set excursion planned.  The hotels do have excursions to offer or ranger talks and other entertainment.  Another choice we made is a smaller ship (albeit older) the Sapphire rather than the new large one Majestic.  You have your own reasons for choosing that ship, I'm sure.

The rides on buses and trains were enjoyable and informative although long.  I believe both modes of transportation are equipped with restrooms.  They can stuff that 26" suitcase under the bus.  Carry your medicines, camera, book, whatever you need with you in a large purse or smaller carry on bag (zippered rather than open on top).

The Natural History Tour (?) to Denali was on a schoolbus.  I have heard others say that has been upgraded.  There were sufficient restroom stops (from an old lady who goes often).  The provided snack was not enough to curb your hunger.  We had extra granola bars (husband diabetic), and I read that someone took sandwiches from SubWay across the street on the bus trip.  We plan to check that out this time 2022.

From the Mt McKinley hotel, catch the shuttle bus to Talkeetna.  We LOVED that little town.  We walked and ate twice in locally owned restaurants and took a flight tour.  Disappointed not to see the top.  Excuse to go back.

Juneau - we plan to go whale watching (did not go first time); I would like to see Mendenhall glacier; I enjoyed it greatly first time.

Skagway - walk around town

Ketchikan  - totem bight state park (again); I really enjoyed it the first time.  Not so the LunberJack Show; will skip that.

Take layers, with hats, scarfs, gloves, sunglasses, warm pants.  It can be cold or record hot.  Our first purchase in Alaska was a hat for my husband who forgot to pack his, and he always wears a hat.  HA!  We have had people in Germany follow us around because of that hat and start a conversation.  He always packs his Alaska hat no matter where we travel because it is such a conversation starter.

Arrive a day early in your first town, so you have some time with jet lag and get rest.  Use EzAir from Princess.  We take the transfers, but I am sure there are plenty of taxis.  I have not priced them.

Do not try to do it ALL.  That will give you an excuse to come back.

Enjoy.  I am so looking forward to our Alaska 2022 cruisetour.

On 12/25/2020 at 1:14 PM, Discus16 said:

We were going to plan one for Mid May 2022 for our 20 wedding anniversary. We have about $2500 in future cruises credits to use. Then I look and you have to sail by May 1, 2022. We did Alaska cruise/ tour a few years ago on the Coral and really wanted to go back 😒 now to plan B 

Our TA booked a June 2022 Alaska cruisetour for us last week.  He called and had Princess extend our FCC that was due to expire May 1, 2022 so that we could use it for that cruise.  Princess was very nice about it; they even called me to say they were extending the FCC.  We paid $200 deposit, and the booking shows the FCC credited to the balance.  We are pleased with that.  Now hope and pray that cruise ships will sail again soon.

Last week we booked a June 2022 Alaska cruisetour through a travel agent.  We had a FCC that expired May 1, 2022 and the travel agent had the time extended on the FCC so that it was applied to our new Alaska booking for 2022.  We did make a deposit of $200, but the FCC shows up applied to our balance.  Princess was very nice about this.  They left me a phone message saying they were doing it too.  (goodwill and all that)

My advice:  call and ask.  I would suggest that it would be good to have a specific cruise in mind that you wish to put money on.  They are ready for money.

I am also looking at cruisetours for Alaska 2022.  I am considering Grand vs. Sapphire.  We have not been on either ship.  Can someone tell me which ship you prefer and why?

Mini-suites also have the shower in the bathtub.  Thus a larger shower area.  I have read that some people have trouble getting into and out of the tub, so you may consider that.  It is not a problem for us, and the larger shower area (do not need tub) plus more space in the room, is why we book mini-suites.

I do not guarantee that every mini-suite has a tub, but the ones (few) that we have stayed in did.

I have really enjoyed your reviews.  It helps with this no-cruise time.

When is your next cruise?  Have you been brave enough to book one yet?

Unfortunately, Princess cancelled our cruise.  not going anywhere at the moment.

Hi HRPro, yes we are on this cruise.  We will be stopping at the port for Ephesus on May 19.  We board in Barcelona on May 8 and debark in Athens on May 22.

Did you arrange a private tour with Mr. Solmaz, or are you trying to put together a small group tour?  If it is a small group tour, we may be interested in joining you.  Can you let me know the details here, or I can give you my email address:  cat913smo@aol.com.

I am enjoying another great cruise with you.  I notice that you seem to only take Carnival tours.  Is there a reason, or do you take independent tours occasionally?

Thanks, alcpa1, we are familiar with the Atlanta airport and usually fly Delta.  However, I am making flight reservations through EZAir with Princess for a cruise from Barcelona in May (hope it sails with us on it!).  I had a direct flight with Delta from Atlanta to Barcelona reserved, but I changed it to one on American Airlines from Atlanta to Philadelphia to Barcelona because it was more that half of the price (round trip) less expensive.  (We fly business/first class.)

I will continue to watch the EZAir prices with Princess and expect to make my final decision later, however I like to plan far in advance.  I usually get better prices that way; I can always change the reservations if I find something more to my liking and price.  That is one of the many reasons that I like to make flight arrangements with EZAir.  It has worked great when we fly international.  I have not tried any of the other cruiselines flight arrangements.

Thank you Petra, for providing us with this information review.  Enjoy your trip.

Thank you for all of your responses.  This puts my mind at ease that I don't have to look for different flights.

Now if we can get back to cruising.

I booked EZ air with Princess for American Airlines flights that go from Atlanta to Philadelphia and then Philadelphia to Barcelona, Spain (same airline).  There is 1 1/2 hour between flights.  I now realize that there will be a change from a domestic flight to an international flight.  I have never been to Philadelphia, so I do not know the layout of the airport.  I know that in Atlanta I would need more time because domestic and international flights take off from different buildings.  What is the situation in Philadelphia?  What would you suggest?

This may not be the correct forum to ask this question, but I know someone can help me.  Thanks

I'm enjoying another cruise with you.

I enjoyed your trip pictures and narrative so much that I had to go look at our pictures from our Canada/New England cruise with Princess.  Just what we need in these trying times.  Wish we could go cruising again soon.

Hope you are all well and that we will be on the ships soon.

Thank you all for the input.  I get the feeling that it may be better to schedule my own flights if it matters to me about how/when we fly.  Princess has me spoiled with their lower prices (than I can arrange on my own) and the control they give me with flights.

Are there "formal" nights?  Does my husband need a sport coat/suit; do I need a long dress?  Or is Hawaii strictly casual?

We are considering using the Pride of America for our Hawaiian cruise if/when things may get back next year.  We have never been on an NCL ship.  Tell me about Pride of America; I understand that it is different from the normal international ships.  We usually sail with Princess.  We enjoy Princess' EZAir.  I believe that NCL has similar air arrangements.  Are they reliable?  How do you find them?  We can find the cost of Princess EZAir just by looking at the booking.  Please give us advice.  Thanks.

I am enjoying your review again (at least the second or more time).  I love your pictures and your style of writing.  I wish we were all on a cruise now, or at least soon.  I have no idea when.

Keep sailing and writing, so I can enjoy some more.

Thank you all.  Ephesus and Istanbul are stops for the Enchanted Princess Mediterranean cruise in 2021.  I appreciate all of the information you have given me; I will check out Levent  Solmaz as a guide.  Let's hope the ships will be cruising by then.

If you did private/shared tours, do you remember who the guides were?  (and their contact info?)  Did you feel safe?  That is a big consideration for us taking a Princess tour, is the safety factor.  Otherwise, I favor shared tours.

I notice that is a young, fit male.  What about me - a fat, old lady?  I like to get in the pool occasionally to cool off.  I need steps.

thank you for keeping us updated on the Enchanted.  I second the notion of steps into the pools.

Hoping for the best.

Thank you for all of the information.  It does look interesting.  I will check into the guides that you mention.

Thank you both for the feedback.  dogs4fun, I checked into the Terrace Houses, but the Princess excursions that go there said they were strenuous.  I do not think I am ready for that much activity.  I think I will investigate another easier tour; I do not think this is a do it yourself place.

We hope to be on the Enchanted cruise that stops here May 2021.  Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions of what to do/see?