Carnival Legend Alaska Cruising with the Olds (August 27-September 3, 2019)

[mgasaway]

2 hours ago, Ak4n3 said:

 

Alaska is really beautiful.  Thanks for sharing the before pic.  Now I'm sad.

 

If you're going anytime soon at Mendenhall, please take another pic.  I want to see if there is any difference from my trip.

I leave this Sunday and we are in port on Wednesday.  I'll make sure to get a 10/3/2019 pic.

[Ak4n3]

Ketchikan September 1

 

This is probably the easiest Alaskan port we have, although the ship only stayed until noon.  All we planned was walking in town, go to creek street, hunt for the salmon and just hang. 

 

It was foggy this early morning and I contemplated if I should watch the Lumberjack show...I was out voted "no"

 

I guess hubby and I were too tired and really grateful to just have an easy day.  No more driving.  YAY!

 

We spent the day walking in town and going to Creek Street, taking pictures and look for salmon.  The rest of the morning was spent buying souvenirs.  Which was great, considering Pops wanted to go back the ship to continue watching the US Open.  Oh well, let him and Monami do what they pleased.  

 

So early, no one is here yet.

 

 

 

 

I decided not to tell Pops the significance of this sign. 😄

 

 

The creek all dark with salmon

 

 

 

 

 

By 1 pm I was so dead tired that I napped and only woke up for dinner.

 

The next day was Victoria by 7pm so it will be a very easy port stop for us.  My feet have never been so happy.

 

 

[Ak4n3]

Victoria September 2

 

I guess the trip now is winding down at this point.  We did the rest of the cruise-y things (casino, shows, trivia, karaoke,  and eating all day).  We also began the sad sad activity that is packing.

 

At the beginning of the cruise, we received a flyer notifying us if we want to participate in Port Valet.  Even if I booked a Seattle Essentials excursion and knew that our luggage will be safely in the bus while we toured, I was happy that we don’t have to bother hunting for our luggage in the luggage zones.  Our flight was at 440pm for Southwest back to Burbank.  We had everything packed up and ready for luggage pick-up later that night. 

 

We still have a short jaunt at Victoria 730pm-1130pm.   Just barely enough daylight to go walking to Fisherman’s Wharf after dinner.

 

 

 

The saddest view when we returned from our walk...

 

 

[Ak4n3]

Seattle September 3

 

The next day,  we all rolled to the MDR for our last breakfast.  Our Seattle Essentials excursion told us to meet at the Piano Bar at 830am. 

 

Hubby's last breakfast.  Breakfast board

 

We boarded the bus, thankful that we didn't have to deal with the luggage.  Going through Customs was a breeze.  Again it was sunny and not so cold.  The views were wonderful and I managed to get a mac and cheese from Beecher’s in Pike’s place.

 

 

 

Amazon Spheres. (Insert immature teenage joke here)

 

We meet again, Space Needle.  Our tour included tickets to the observation deck.  The bluest skies you've ever seen 🎶 (cue Perry Como)

 

Some views at the observation deck.

 

 

 

Walking to Pike's place from where our bus dropped us off.

 

Piggy at Pike Place

 

 

 

Our tour lasted until about 1230pm then we were whisked to the Airport.  Back to where we started.  We parked ourselves in the boarding area and I had my most needed nap before we boarded at 440pm.  

 

We arrived Burbank at 830pm, found our luggage at the carousel, and waited for our pick up.  Thus our vacation is done.

 

My Thoughts

 

As I go through my meager pictures, I realized that I just had a taste of Alaska and is thirsty for more.  I think I would like to do a Land Cruise combo so I will be able to go hiking at Denali and then go back through the south east portion to go to other ports not previously visited.  I have a lot in my  wish list.  Alaska is such a beautiful place and it just makes my heart feel like bursting because of all the beauty and it needs another dose.  Once is not enough.

 

Popsie and Monami are satisfied now that they've been to Alaska.  I guess they just want to go to Alaska for the sake of being able to say "I've been to Alaska."  I asked if they want to join us if we plan a return trip, Popsie said he's probably pass and choose to visit another place.  I think my sister plans to take them on a European tour or something.  That's good enough for me.    

 

Bren wants to go and is still bugging me to book a trip to Alaska.  Land trip, cruise trip, he doesn’t care.  He just wants to go.  He is eyeing that helicopter to the glacier thing with the dogsled and ice cave hiking.  I told him to keep his grades up, we’ll see what we can do.  Hubby and I would probably need to save for 3 years knowing Bren’s penchant for a more adventurous excursion. 

 

Thank you so much for reading along.  I hope that in some way I was able to help someone planning the same trip.  My only request…please take me with you!

 

Edited October 2, 2019 by Ak4n3

[mommio]

What a wonderful trip to share with us!  You've succeeded in nudging an Alaskan cruise up the want to do list.  Thank you.

[cruisequeen4ever]

Great review! You’re a wonderful daughter to want the Olds to have some adventures!  Have fun planning your next cruise!

[Oakman58]

Great review, I enjoyed it immensely and thanks for including all those great photos.

[Ak4n3]

On 10/21/2019 at 11:35 PM, cruisequeen4ever said:

Great review! You’re a wonderful daughter to want the Olds to have some adventures!  Have fun planning your next cruise!

Thank you so much for the compliments.  Here's to more adventures!

[Ak4n3]

On 10/22/2019 at 3:51 AM, Oakman58 said:

Great review, I enjoyed it immensely and thanks for including all those great photos.

Thank you for reading along my journey!  Looking back at the photos, I want to go back.  🙂 

[disneyochem]

Just read your review this morning with my first cup of coffee!  Thanks for the entertaining read!  

 

Sounds like you’ve been bitten by the Alaskan bug!  We were bitten on our first cruise (also a trip with parental units) and have been back yearly for the past six years in addition to a two week land tour scheduled for next summer!  Would do more except for those financially draining college tuitions....

 

 

[Ak4n3]

2 hours ago, disneyochem said:

Sounds like you’ve been bitten by the Alaskan bug!  We were bitten on our first cruise (also a trip with parental units) and have been back yearly for the past six years in addition to a two week land tour scheduled for next summer!  Would do more except for those financially draining college tuitions....

 

 

 

Ahh, the Alaskan bug...a very expensive bug for sure.  Isn't that why we work?  😛 

[Negril60]

Thank you for this review. Its really nice to see pictures.

[Shazzah]

 Great review. It was nice of you to take your parents as well. 

[five.]

We will be doing this same cruise on the Spirit this year with my in-laws. They both have scooters and I am trying to figure out logistics on making an 11:05 AM return flight. In your review you mentioned using the Port Valet service. Do you happen to have pics or remember what the earliest flight was able to use that service?

[mapleleaves]

49 minutes ago, five. said:

We will be doing this same cruise on the Spirit this year with my in-laws. They both have scooters and I am trying to figure out logistics on making an 11:05 AM return flight. In your review you mentioned using the Port Valet service. Do you happen to have pics or remember what the earliest flight was able to use that service?

 

Last yr the earliest flight was 11am.   (Southwest Airlines also had some other restrictions ).

You'll probably have to wait until someone uses it in 2020 to see if anything changes OR contact the Port of Seattle since it's their service. https://www.portseattle.org/page/port-valet-enjoy-seattle-luggage-free

 

SeaTac airport can be a zoo, esp on weekends when there are thousands of cruise pax arriving/departing. 

Plan on arriving 2 hrs prior, and 30 minutes for the drive.

 

[jlynchtx]

On 10/2/2019 at 12:41 PM, Ak4n3 said:

Seattle September 3

 

The next day,  we all rolled to the MDR for our last breakfast.  Our Seattle Essentials excursion told us to meet at the Piano Bar at 830am.

Thanks for all the great info. We are doing the same cruise on Carnival Spirit this summer and we are also doing the Seattle essentials excursion after the cruise. How did they deal with your luggage? Did you check it the night before or take it to the piano bar? If you check it, are you able to make sure it made it on the buss with you? I’m always nervous about luggage...

 

Also, how did you like the Tracy Fjord boat excursion? How long did it last and do they have seats? We are also taking my parents and I know they will need to sit most of the time. Thanks for the help!

 

[Ak4n3]

On 1/4/2020 at 2:52 PM, jlynchtx said:

Thanks for all the great info. We are doing the same cruise on Carnival Spirit this summer and we are also doing the Seattle essentials excursion after the cruise. How did they deal with your luggage? Did you check it the night before or take it to the piano bar? If you check it, are you able to make sure it made it on the buss with you? I’m always nervous about luggage...

 

Also, how did you like the Tracy Fjord boat excursion? How long did it last and do they have seats? We are also taking my parents and I know they will need to sit most of the time. Thanks for the help!

 

 

Hi, 

 

We did Port Valet (which took our luggage the night before directly to the airport for our flight later in the afternoon) so I only have my hand carry to contend with.  The other people in the bus carried out their luggage with them.  I didn't noticed if they rolled it with them or if they picked it up in the luggage area.    I guess (and I'm ONLY GUESSING)  you can try to get the earliest luggage tag, so you can pick up your luggage from the pick up area and HOPE that it's there by the time the shore excursion schedule is called.  YMMV.  Our schedule was 8:30 am meet up at the piano bar.  I'm happy to report that our luggage was safe and complete when we picked it up at our final destination airport.  I'd do Port Valet again in a heartbeat.

 

We liked the Tracy Fjord boat excursion.  Our schedule was 11:00am and we were taken back to the ship at around 2:00pm.  They had seating areas below and at the top deck, so my parents were comfortable while the boat/ferry is moving.  My parents also sat but there was so much to see that they were walking around when they could.  Just make sure they wear sunglasses for the wind is chilly and hurts the eyeballs.

 

Let me know if you have any questions.  I envy you going to Alaska...

 

[Ak4n3]

On 12/31/2019 at 9:31 AM, five. said:

We will be doing this same cruise on the Spirit this year with my in-laws. They both have scooters and I am trying to figure out logistics on making an 11:05 AM return flight. In your review you mentioned using the Port Valet service. Do you happen to have pics or remember what the earliest flight was able to use that service?

 

I tried to hunt the papers that I received and couldn't find it.  Our flight was for Southwest and first flight was noon and last flight was 6pm.  

 

I think every year, Port of Seattle make changes though.  So it will be better to get a new flyer/schedule for the Port Valet Service next Alaska Cruise Season.

[jlynchtx]

7 hours ago, Ak4n3 said:

 

Hi, 

 

We did Port Valet (which took our luggage the night before directly to the airport for our flight later in the afternoon) so I only have my hand carry to contend with.  The other people in the bus carried out their luggage with them.  I didn't noticed if they rolled it with them or if they picked it up in the luggage area.    I guess (and I'm ONLY GUESSING)  you can try to get the earliest luggage tag, so you can pick up your luggage from the pick up area and HOPE that it's there by the time the shore excursion schedule is called.  YMMV.  Our schedule was 8:30 am meet up at the piano bar.  I'm happy to report that our luggage was safe and complete when we picked it up at our final destination airport.  I'd do Port Valet again in a heartbeat.

 

We liked the Tracy Fjord boat excursion.  Our schedule was 11:00am and we were taken back to the ship at around 2:00pm.  They had seating areas below and at the top deck, so my parents were comfortable while the boat/ferry is moving.  My parents also sat but there was so much to see that they were walking around when they could.  Just make sure they wear sunglasses for the wind is chilly and hurts the eyeballs.

 

Let me know if you have any questions.  I envy you going to Alaska...

 

 

Great! Thanks for all the helpful info. I will check into the Port Valet option.