Tips for CCL Legend Cruisers sailing to Alaska.

[nealstuber]

Just back from a great cruise to Alaska on the Legend. As this was our first Alaska cruise, I scoured this website looking for some tips. I found out a lot, but I thought I share a few things we learned along the way.

 

#1 If you don't own cold weather clothes don't run out and buy them and pack them. Being 8 year residents of South Texas, we had next to NO warm weather gear. So we bought light weight rain proof jackets and ball caps. Was SHOCKED by how reasonable the prices were for good quality logo wear in the shop on board. Also, every port had even better prices on "Alaska Wear"

 

#2 - Tuesday 2 Tuesday cruises rock! We liked the cheaper airfare on the front side. What we were not expecting was how much easier getting to the Seattle port would be and there was much less congestion in the ports of call - which meant much better availability of shore excursions.

 

#3 - National, Alamo, and Enterprise. We got great rates on one way rentals with a free (and very frequent) shuttle from the rental car center on 3rd Ave and the port. Maybe the other guys are there too, but these were the only guys with a dedicated receptionist at the pier on the back side.

 

#4 - Late seating is probably a bad idea on this cruise. All aboard times in the three AK ports are so early that we would not have felt like we were cutting our day short to be back on time for dinner if we had early seating. We had late seating (by request) and the only down side was we did not want to miss our last dinner with our great team in the MDR so we lost half our time in Victoria which looked very nice for the hour we were there.

 

5 - Do your pre-cruise shopping by the airport. We planned a Walmart run for things we did not want to pack and are glad we thought to do it while we were still by the airport as downtown would have been someplace more expensive.

 

6 - HOV lanes fool Google maps. We stayed by the airport pre and post cruise. We were worried that it would take too long to get to port, as Google maps knows about traffic. But we were 2+ and the HOV lanes shaved about 15mins off each way.

 

7 - Chopsticks. The Chinese section of the buffet on the Legend is on Par with PF Changs. Go there the 1st and/or 2nd day - once the word gets out on board the line is justifiably crazy.

 

8 - Rental Binoculars. By far the worst pre-cruise purchase I made was a pair of binoculars. The ship rents them and while the rental price was about what I paid to own, they were better than what I bought and I doubt I'll ever use them again (and DW could have packed another pair of shoes).

 

9 - Deck 7 aft. Between the midship and aft elevators, We thought our cabin location was perfect for just about everything.

 

10 - SKYRIDER in the Casino. Play the machines with the redhead, not the brunette. You can freeze the wheels by hitting spin when you see the free play symbol on those machines. The other three just end your game sooner.

[jimbo5544]

Good tips! How was your cruise?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone

[nealstuber]

Good tips! How was your cruise?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone

 

 

On the whole, much better than I expected.

 

Service was much better and friendly than our recent RCCL experiences. Live entertainment (both in and out of the showroom) was way better than our last CCL cruise on Magic where all they had was Kareeokke. At lest now they've upgraded to one man bands and the playlist productions did not suck as much as I thought they would.

 

We had great weather (for Alaska) which helped. And the lack of port congestion meant we basically had our own busses and boats for our extended family. Traveling with extended, extended family kept it interesting

 

The CD Jamie, was on her first Legend cruise and she went all out.

 

I feel like it might almost be politically incorrect to say this (but I will because I'm part Troll): We never get tired of beaches and palm trees. Whales and Mountains will be a once in a lifetime experience for us - especially when we kept having to wake up at 7am to see them.

Edited August 3, 2016 by nealstuber

[jimbo5544]

On the whole, much better than I expected.

 

Service was much better and friendly than our recent RCCL experiences. Live entertainment (both in and out of the showroom) was way better than our last CCL cruise on Magic where all they had was Kareeokke. At lest now they've upgraded to one man bands and the playlist productions did not suck as much as I thought they would.

 

We had great weather (for Alaska) which helped. And the lack of port congestion meant we basically had our own busses and boats for our extended family. Traveling with extended, extended family kept it interesting

 

The CD Jamie, was on her first Legend cruise and she went all out.

 

I feel like it might almost be politically incorrect to say this (but I will because I'm part Troll): We never get tired of beaches and palm trees. Whales and Mountains will be a once in a lifetime experience for us.

 

 

Good to hear. We have done two and while I would go again, the wife says two and out. Palm trees and beaches.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone

Edited August 3, 2016 by jimbo5544

[nealstuber]

Good to hear. We have done two and while I would go again, the wife says two and out. Palm trees and beaches.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone

 

 

Hey don't get me wrong, I love wildlife....I just prefer a good portion of it to be in Bikinis!

[jimbo5544]

Hey don't get me wrong, I love wildlife....I just prefer a good portion of it to be in Bikinis!

 

 

Certainly does not hurt. By the way Jamie

Is a great CD!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone

[Sh1035]

I'm a fan of carnival but after looking at the intenerary I had to go with HAL. Why even stop at a port from 7-1 or 2? What not cut off a port and give us more time in the others? Then yet the end it's only a pit stop in Victoria. I would of never had the orca experience I had.

 

But glad you enjoyed it and it was amazing. Plus I saved money with HAL and was a nice upgraded change.

[nealstuber]

Actually, it was kind of nice to see a port at night for a change and Victoria was very pretty. We would have been fine with it if we had the wherewithal to bag our last night at late seating, but we had a big group and it was kinda goodbye time. I should have just ponied up for an early steakhouse reservation the last night.

[joepeka]

On the whole, much better than I expected.

 

Service was much better and friendly than our recent RCCL experiences. Live entertainment (both in and out of the showroom) was way better than our last CCL cruise on Magic where all they had was Kareeokke. At lest now they've upgraded to one man bands and the playlist productions did not suck as much as I thought they would.

 

We had great weather (for Alaska) which helped. And the lack of port congestion meant we basically had our own busses and boats for our extended family. Traveling with extended, extended family kept it interesting

 

The CD Jamie, was on her first Legend cruise and she went all out.

 

I feel like it might almost be politically incorrect to say this (but I will because I'm part Troll): We never get tired of beaches and palm trees. Whales and Mountains will be a once in a lifetime experience for us - especially when we kept having to wake up at 7am to see them.

First, thank you for your tips and report on this cruise. Like you, I am a "beaches and palm trees" person but DW has grown tired of those locales and is bugging me to do Alaska. I guess the once-in-a-lifetime perspective will sway me soon into going there so thanks for the insight. :)

Edited August 4, 2016 by joepeka

[nealstuber]

AK was on DW's bucket list. And she says she might go again but not until she's on one of those scooter thingies.

[joepeka]

AK was on DW's bucket list. And she says she might go again but not until she's on one of those scooter thingies.

 

LOL! I hope I'm not in one of those scooter thingies before we get to Alaska!

[kctwinmommy]

I feel like it might almost be politically incorrect to say this (but I will because I'm part Troll): We never get tired of beaches and palm trees. Whales and Mountains will be a once in a lifetime experience for us - especially when we kept having to wake up at 7am to see them.

 

:D :D :D - Couldn't agree more! We loved Alaska, it was beautiful, but it was a one time thing for us. I prefer to sit by the pool, soak up the sun, and then take a shower in the afternoon and sit on my balcony in a bathrobe relaxing before dinner! LOL!

[Buffettfan 225]

:D :D :D - Couldn't agree more! We loved Alaska, it was beautiful, but it was a one time thing for us. I prefer to sit by the pool, soak up the sun, and then take a shower in the afternoon and sit on my balcony in a bathrobe relaxing before dinner! LOL!

Nothing wrong with Alaskan cruise, but as nealstuber post also said, we agree back to cruising in warm weather and swimwear. While this past cruise was mostly 60, needing a hat,jeans and fleece jacket not my bucket list of a cruise packing list.

 

Agree many clothing items can be bought on ship or port stops, we did the Tracy Fjord excursion - a must see, and glad we all packed 100% hooded rainwear. Those wearing ponchos and plastic baggies were very wet and being whipped in wind and pelting rain we experienced. In Alaska weather can change rapidly. So if planning on a tour in Alaska before you hit a port, plan for a raincoat, and good footwear for wet weather.

 

Planning on creating a review as collected all Fun Times and made some notes too. Just need figure out but photo server to get photos on here.

Suggestions?

Edited August 4, 2016 by Buffettfan 225

[kctwinmommy]

Nothing wrong with Alaskan cruise, but as nealstuber post also said, we agree back to cruising in warm weather and swimwear. While this past cruise was mostly 60, needing a hat,jeans and fleece jacket not my bucket list of a cruise packing list.

 

Agree many clothing items can be bought on ship or port stops, we did the Tracy Fjord excursion - a must see, and glad we all packed 100% hooded rainwear. Those wearing ponchos and plastic baggies were very wet and being whipped in wind and pelting rain we experienced. In Alaska weather can change rapidly. So if planning on a tour in Alaska before you hit a port, plan for a raincoat, and good footwear for wet weather.

 

Planning on creating a review as collected all Fun Times and made some notes too. Just need figure out but photo server to get photos on here.

Suggestions?

 

Exactly! LOL! I have never packed a suitcase as full as I did for this trip!

 

That stinks you guys had so much rain. We got lucky then, we didn't have any. But you're right, the rain coats are definitely needed. My parents said the same thing from when they went 10 years ago. We actually borrowed their raincoats, since my husband could wear my dad's and my son could fit in my mom's!

 

I have been using Photobucket to insert photos here. I usually use Flickr for my regular photo sharing, but it doesn't share as easily for inserting the actual photos here. Photobucket was easy, and it's free.

[Buffettfan 225]

Thank you for answer where to post photos. Our weather wasn't too bad. Really only needed rainwear for Thurs excursions. Other days just cool and overcast. After early dinner from Seattle tried going outside boy were the winds were a blow in' and rocky, with whitecaps. Needed Bonine being out in open waters. Gathering info for a review.

 

 

 

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[DANCING GRANDMOMMY]

Thank you so much for your post. Booked for 2017. Always looking for helpful hints.

[shutuph]

We were on Legend and love the cruise. Wondered if the ship has made it into Tracy arm as opposed to Endicott Arm?

 

thanks

[nealstuber]

Not so far. Endicot was pretty nice and ice is ice. BTW, am I the only one thinking cruse lines going to Alaska are missing the boat by not showing Star Trek IV? That was DW and I's first date and I could not get it out of my head the entire cruise (especially the theme song). If that wasn't bad enough, every time Melissa pointed a whale out DW would turn on her Scottish accent and ask "Humpback, People?".

Edited August 5, 2016 by nealstuber

[clearwaters]

Thank you very much for the tips. We are going in 2017, also. And thank you for the picture posting info. Should be very helpful next year. :)