1st time going on a cruise

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: Rike
So my wife and I are going on a cruise to Alaska next week. Neither of us have ever been on a cruise before and I'm looking for general advice. What to do, what not to, noob mistakes to avoid, etc.

I just got back from the Alaskan Cruise. Took the inside passage stopping at Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway.

Was on NCL...the Norwegian Sun. Man, I should really post those pics I promised.

 

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
The quality of food is shocking when you think that they are making 20,000 meals a week.

1. Dont miss the boat drill, they WILL find you
2. Dont call it a boat
3. The workers onboard are people and you should treat them as such (I weep because I have to say that )
4. Dont like you table at dinner? Change it. Nothing is set in stone.
5. Dont gamble or go to the art auction except for free alcohol

I skipped the drill...they did not find me

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
The quality of food is shocking when you think that they are making 20,000 meals a week.

1. Dont miss the boat drill, they WILL find you
2. Dont call it a boat
3. The workers onboard are people and you should treat them as such (I weep because I have to say that )
4. Dont like you table at dinner? Change it. Nothing is set in stone.
5. Dont gamble or go to the art auction except for free alcohol

I skipped the drill...they did not find me

NCL is a hole, that's why. They hope you don't survive.

 

[Rike]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Rike

Originally posted by: Engineer
One final recommendation...(if you want to stay married)...

Stay away from the top "Adults only" deck! :Q

(no sneaking up there either)!

Um yeah, we're going on a cruise, not cruising. :Q

What line, btw?

Princess Cruises -- Dawn Princess

I think it's medium sized ship.

 

[amdskip]

Very cool, Alaska is great this time of year!

 

[Rike]

Strange DP from before.

 

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: Rike

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Rike

Originally posted by: Engineer
One final recommendation...(if you want to stay married)...

Stay away from the top "Adults only" deck! :Q

(no sneaking up there either)!

Um yeah, we're going on a cruise, not cruising. :Q

What line, btw?

Princess Cruises -- Dawn Princess

I think it's medium sized ship.

the Princess Dawn is fukking huge...IIRC. Saw it parked behind us in each Alaskan port we stopped in

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: Rike

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I've never been on a cruise in my life. Personally, I don't think that you can get any feel for a place at all from the deck of a ship 10 miles offshore or from a few hours spent in a port city. It's like saying that you've experienced California because you've been to Universal Studios and Disney World.

I'm sure you'll have a good time though.

A few hours is too much experience of California, IMHO.

Spend some time in Santa Barbara when it's not on fire and we'll see if you don't change you're mind.

Exactly. I live up in Northern California but I absolutely love the Central Calif area.

 

[DaTT]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: DaTT

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
The quality of food is shocking when you think that they are making 20,000 meals a week.

1. Dont miss the boat drill, they WILL find you
2. Dont call it a boat
3. The workers onboard are people and you should treat them as such (I weep because I have to say that )
4. Dont like you table at dinner? Change it. Nothing is set in stone.
5. Dont gamble or go to the art auction except for free alcohol

I skipped the drill...they did not find me

NCL is a hole, that's why. They hope you don't survive.

That cruise was full of newlyweds and nearly deads. Wish it was a younger crowd, but not too young.

 

[revnja]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Mosquito repellent is your friend.

This.

Princess has been docking here a bit this year. Will you be making a stop in Valdez?

 

[Scarpozzi]

Congrats on your 10 year.

A coworker went on a cruise last Fall to Alaska. He had a good time...he left from Seattle and got to see all the american indian stuff there before heading up to Alaska. Most of the cruise ships will have a lot of choices of things you can do when you get up there. I wouldn't put too much effort into planning...that's why you're on a cruise. Just take your camera and have a good time relaxing. I'm sure the scenery itself will make the trip awesome.

 

[Rike]

Originally posted by: adambooth

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Mosquito repellent is your friend.

This.

Princess has been docking here a bit this year. Will you be making a stop in Valdez?

No, Skagway is as far north as we will make it, but I'll take the repellent idea to heart. It's hard to enjoy the scenery if you're getting eaten alive.

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Congrats on your 10 year.

A coworker went on a cruise last Fall to Alaska. He had a good time...he left from Seattle and got to see all the american indian stuff there before heading up to Alaska. Most of the cruise ships will have a lot of choices of things you can do when you get up there. I wouldn't put too much effort into planning...that's why you're on a cruise. Just take your camera and have a good time relaxing. I'm sure the scenery itself will make the trip awesome.

We're leaving from San Francisco and we'll start off by sailing under the Golden Gate bridge. The not planning part may throw us for a loop, we're both planners, sometimes compulsively. But that's OK, vacation is supposed to be about doing something you don't usually get to do.

Alaska is one of the few states I haven't already been to, so I'm looking forward to seeing something new.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I've never been on a cruise in my life. Personally, I don't think that you can get any feel for a place at all from the deck of a ship 10 miles offshore or from a few hours spent in a port city. It's like saying that you've experienced California because you've been to Universal Studios and Disney World.

I'm sure you'll have a good time though.

A few hours is too much experience of California, IMHO.

If that's all the time you've spent here then you are clueless and have no business commenting on this state or its people.

Oh my holy God, how I wish Californians would take that stance when opining on The Southern US, the Midwest, etc...

 

[Squisher]

The only things not mentioned is that you should get some pre-emptive sea sickness medicine from your doctor. Same for some sun burn medicine (although my experience is more with the Caribbean).

Fountain passes can save you big bucks.

Look into the shore excursions now and figure out your budget now. Some will sell out fast.

Don't bother with the on board dial-up internet offered, if you were planning on trying to use a laptop. IT SUCKS!

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Squisher
The only things not mentioned is that you should get some pre-emptive sea sickness medicine from your doctor. Same for some sun burn medicine (although my experience is more with the Caribbean).

Fountain passes can save you big bucks.

Look into the shore excursions now and figure out your budget now. Some will sell out fast.

Don't bother with the on board dial-up internet offered, if you were planning on trying to use a laptop. IT SUCKS!

Great ideas. You can buy generic motion sickness medicine from almost any pharmacy that will work fine (I know, we bought the generics and could tell a big difference taking them vs not taking them as I have extreme motion sickness and the medicine did the trick).

Fountain passes are indeed a money saver. They can be looked at as expensive, but if you drink pop (soda, cola, whatever you call it), they'll save you money. If you want the free juices, tea, coffee, etc. and don't drink pop, don't buy the fountain pass.

 

[RaistlinZ]

One word..... Dramamine.

 

[SZLiao214]

Get some pants with an expandable waste line and EAT

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Squisher
The only things not mentioned is that you should get some pre-emptive sea sickness medicine from your doctor. Same for some sun burn medicine (although my experience is more with the Caribbean).

Fountain passes can save you big bucks.

Look into the shore excursions now and figure out your budget now. Some will sell out fast.

Don't bother with the on board dial-up internet offered, if you were planning on trying to use a laptop. IT SUCKS!

I have never had an issue with sea sickness. I have only known a few people to suffer it at all. I have gotten a little woozy in some heavy, heavy seas with 25-30 foot waves, but that was after I was half in the bag .

Originally posted by: Rike

Originally posted by: adambooth

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Mosquito repellent is your friend.

This.

Princess has been docking here a bit this year. Will you be making a stop in Valdez?

No, Skagway is as far north as we will make it, but I'll take the repellent idea to heart. It's hard to enjoy the scenery if you're getting eaten alive.

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Congrats on your 10 year.

A coworker went on a cruise last Fall to Alaska. He had a good time...he left from Seattle and got to see all the american indian stuff there before heading up to Alaska. Most of the cruise ships will have a lot of choices of things you can do when you get up there. I wouldn't put too much effort into planning...that's why you're on a cruise. Just take your camera and have a good time relaxing. I'm sure the scenery itself will make the trip awesome.

We're leaving from San Francisco and we'll start off by sailing under the Golden Gate bridge. The not planning part may throw us for a loop, we're both planners, sometimes compulsively. But that's OK, vacation is supposed to be about doing something you don't usually get to do.

Alaska is one of the few states I haven't already been to, so I'm looking forward to seeing something new.

You will be offered the the task of planning if you choose. There are dozens and dozens of activities that can be done so sometimes a little juggling is necessary.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I have never had an issue with sea sickness. I have only known a few people to suffer it at all. I have gotten a little woozy in some heavy, heavy seas with 25-30 foot waves, but that was after I was half in the bag .

Neither have I, but the wife got it once. The problem was that the Dramamine patch she had made her sleep all day too.

The OP has kids and that could make it interesting.

The ship will have a doctor and a pharmacy on board, but when I had to get some sunburn medicine (silver sulfadiazine) the stuff cost 3 times what it should have and about 10 times what my costs would've been using my insurance.

btw-I love the rocking of the sea, it reminds me of my mother rocking me to sleep when I was a babe in arms.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I have never had an issue with sea sickness. I have only known a few people to suffer it at all. I have gotten a little woozy in some heavy, heavy seas with 25-30 foot waves, but that was after I was half in the bag .

Neither have I, but the wife got it once. The problem was that the Dramamine patch she had made her sleep all day too.

The OP has kids and that could make it interesting.

The ship will have a doctor and a pharmacy on board, but when I had to get some sunburn medicine (silver sulfadiazine) the stuff cost 3 times what it should have and about 10 times what my costs would've been using my insurance.

btw-I love the rocking of the sea, it reminds me of my mother rocking me to sleep when I was a babe in arms.

You can buy generic "non drowsy" motion sickness medicine from almost any pharmacy (including places like Walmart or Kroger) - (over the counter).

 

[BoomerD]

I refuse to go on a cruise...the pricks refuse to let me drive the dammed boat...WTF? :roll:


(yeah, I know, those fuckers at the airlines refuse to let me fly their dammed airplanes too...assholes!)

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
I refuse to go on a cruise...the pricks refuse to let me drive the dammed boat...WTF? :roll:


(yeah, I know, those fuckers at the airlines refuse to let me fly their dammed airplanes too...assholes!)

LOL. I'm sure the other passengers would like to keep it that way too!

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: BoomerD
I refuse to go on a cruise...the pricks refuse to let me drive the dammed boat...WTF? :roll:


(yeah, I know, those fuckers at the airlines refuse to let me fly their dammed airplanes too...assholes!)

LOL. I'm sure the other passengers would like to keep it that way too!

only teh intelleegunt ones...

I figure I could drive the dammed boat...in open water. I'm qualified for, and ALMOST took the USCG 100 ton test for work, so I could drive tugboats and crewboats, but I just couldn't see a lot of need for it after that job. Not a lot of $$$ in it other than in maritime construction. Regular tugboat operators don't make enough money IMO to want to do that for a living, especially with the headaches and responsibility that goes with the job.

 

[rh71]

We finished a cruise to Alaska last September. It was the best yet and we've been to the Caribbeans that had better weather, but those didn't measure up as far as overall experience. As you cruise through Glacier "Park", you need to be outside (in raincoats) and take it all in. It's breathtaking and such a unique feeling being in the middle of it. Sometimes, with the help of binoculars (must bring a pair for Alaska), you'll see brown bear cubs running around with their mom - you realize this is actually their natural habitat and go about life like this as if humans don't exist. Bald eagles too - not so rare up there. We did a kayaking excursion in a lake overlooking a glacier which was something out of a postcard. To be there in person is better than any exotic tropical location anywhere in my opinion.

Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway

Stopped at those too and Ketchikan was probably the biggest "touristy" place. Skagway is an old mining town and we did a downhill biking trip there while viewing all the mountains. Not much there, but they'll tell you a ton of stories though. Oh look for a store in Skagway very much in the same vein as Old Navy but they have everything for tourists. Juneau was really dreary that day - but it added to the affect on that lake while kayaking - I think this is a must-do, and not dangerous at all. BTW, don't they still have the electricity problems or some such?

Dawn Princess

We didn't go on Princess for Alaska but did use them for Eastern Caribbean... they are probably top 2 in our book. Great experience and it's supposed to be personal-choice dining. We prefer not having to sit with other people like on Royal Caribbean though we met a nice couple. But we just like time to ourselves.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: rh71
We finished a cruise to Alaska last September. It was the best yet and we've been to the Caribbeans that had better weather, but those didn't measure up as far as overall experience. As you cruise through Glacier "Park", you need to be outside (in raincoats) and take it all in. It's breathtaking and such a unique feeling being in the middle of it. Sometimes, with the help of binoculars (must bring a pair for Alaska), you'll see brown bear cubs running around with their mom - you realize this is actually their natural habitat and go about life like this as if humans don't exist. Bald eagles too - not so rare up there. We did a kayaking excursion in a lake overlooking a glacier which was something out of a postcard. To be there in person is better than any exotic tropical location anywhere in my opinion.

Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway

Stopped at those too and Ketchikan was probably the biggest "touristy" place. Skagway is an old mining town and we did a downhill biking trip there while viewing all the mountains. Not much there, but they'll tell you a ton of stories though. Oh look for a store in Skagway very much in the same vein as Old Navy but they have everything for tourists. Juneau was really dreary that day - but it added to the affect on that lake while kayaking - I think this is a must-do, and not dangerous at all. BTW, don't they still have the electricity problems or some such?

Dawn Princess

We didn't go on Princess for Alaska but did use them for Eastern Caribbean... they are probably top 2 in our book. Great experience and it's supposed to be personal-choice dining. We prefer not having to sit with other people like on Royal Caribbean though we met a nice couple. But we just like time to ourselves.

We have never sat with other couples that we didn't know. When alone, we always request a table for 2 and get it.