Suzila

That's what I want to do the next time we go to Alaska. I want to see so much more of it.

Unless things change for us, I would not be able to make a May/June cruise. However, we've been to Alaska twice, and I'd like to make the following suggestions: The first time we were on Princess in a July. This last time we were on Royal Caribbean, in August. Either line was wonderful. While we didn't see bears from the deck of the ship, the people who went on the bear-hunting excursion brought back plenty of pictures of sightings. Also, the people who did the whale-watching tours saw them, and we did see them from the deck of the ship as we were passing. I would suggest your itinerary definitely include spending a day cruising the glaciers...i.e.: Glacier Bay. I missed seeing that on this last cruise, but we did see it the first time. We wanted a different itinerary this time around. While we were able to see some of it in Juneau at the Mendenhall, it's not the same as spending an entire day watching parts of it melt off, hear it cracking off, etc. If you are doing May/June, be prepared for a cold cruise. It was freezing cold this time in August, and we actually lucked out with a good week of weather. The captain told us that our cruise was the only cruise this summer that had sunshine. So, try to choose a ship that has an indoor pool...i.e.: RC Vision of the Seas. No one sat outside at the pool, and I can only imagine the temperature in May or June. A word about a stop in Icy Strait Point: there wasn't a lot to do there. Hubby and our friend went salmon fishing. They caught fish, had it shipped back...our friend's fish wasn't packed that well and they were afraid to eat it, and we never received ours at all. Called them, emailed them, faxed them, they never answered, and we finally had the smoking/shipping charge taken off our VISA. (when we went to Ketchikan and did the salmon fishing, we had our fish smoked and shipped home and it was here before we even arrived home!) My girlfriend and I did the excursion where we learned how to filet, cook, prepare the fish. Nice, but I'd never do it again or even recommend it. There is NOTHING to see in Icy Strait Point...it's just a small dock. Try to find an itinerary that doesn't include Icy Strait Point. This last cruise left from Seattle, and we made a stop in Victoria. Definitely worth it, if you can manage that itinerary. Hope this helps a bit.

Welcome to our group, it's nice to have you join us. You're in the right place...we'll answer all your questions, and by the time you're ready to go, you'll be an expert, even if it is your first cruise. My suggestion to you would be, for your first time, to allow the cruise lines to make your airline reservations for you. You are flying from Utah (where in Utah? We used to live in Cedar City), and need to get to the east coast. If you book through the cruise line, you will be assured of getting on the ship, even if there is a flight delay. Depending upon when your flight arrives, you may need to book a hotel room the day before the cruise. I would suggest taking an excursion of the city you are leaving from on the last day of your cruise. This will allow you to disenbark early, and after the excursion they will take you directly to the airport. However, you will probably have to have a flight some time after 2:00pm. My last suggestion to you...with 5 kids at home, get yourself some trip insurance. You never know what emergencies may pop up. Buy the insurance through an independant company, i.e.: insuremytrip.com or something like...NOT through the cruise line. Again, welcome to the group!

I'm in the chat room too...but it's not working correctly...too bad, I was looking forward to this

Nah! There's a reason they have programs like 'Platinum Members'...if those people continue to cruise, they'll be in the same position as you were and be able to bypass 300 people too. I wouldn't feel bad about being loyal to a cruise line...they rewarded you for it.

I knew what you meant, Rose...I wasn't offended in any way. Just to let you know, my own hubby, the pilot, refuses to fly with any helicopter pilot he doesn't personally know. Besides the fact that he does fly every day, and when he's on vacation does NOT want to go flying, he has said many times, he knows how these guys have been trained, and will not fly with them. Gosh, I guess that sounds really bad, when I read it over, but that's how he feels, and he's been flying for over 30 years. So really, when you're on vacation and taking these excursions, you're at risk with many of the adventurous new experiences you take. Personally, although I love my two dogs, I'm just not an animal person. I don't care to be around wild animals and feel they can turn on you at any moment. 'I' would not consider swimming with stingrays. On the other hand, we did the white water rafting trip in Alaska a few weeks ago, and the river can also turn on you. Besides that, the guide we had told us he had only been doing that job for about 4 months (he didn't tell us this until we were in the middle of the river !!!), although he had been white water rafting many times before he got the job. I do think Steve Irwin's accident was a fluke...'most' times stingrays are reported to be passive, but he was a person who took chances often, working with wild animals. Sadly, I just believe it was his time to go.

I guess I'm in the minority here. We've been to Grand Cayman, and we opted out of swimming with the stingrays. I had no desire to 'enjoy' swimming with wild animals around. Yes, I've heard everything about how they don't normally attack, they're passive, etc., but they will defend themselves if necessary. Like every other animal...you just never know when you're going to tick them off. Rose, your comment about helicopters doesn't compare for me. Helicopter pilots are very well-trained, especially before being able to give rides to others. (my hubby is a helicopter pilot, and has been a mechanic on helicopters in the past). Yes, there are helicopter accidents, just as there are car accidents, but humans are trained to fly, trained to maintain the vehicle. You're not dealing with wild animals. I have two very peaceful dogs. I would never tell someone 'they don't bite'. It's true, they have never bitten anyone, but provoked, I have no doubt they may bite and I have no control over that. Anyway, that's just my feeling about swimming with wild animals, passive or not. I'm not that adventurous. BTW, we went in the glass bottom boat in Grand Cayman so I could see the stingrays, but have glass between them and me.

Rick, we did the inside Passage on 8/11, just a few weeks ago. We had watched all the weather reports closely before we left so we'd know what to pack. When we got there, we did have drizzle in Juneau, but we were pretty well covered anyway, because we did the white water rafting...they provided all the rain gear we needed. Everywhere else we stopped, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Victoria, was sunny, although it had been predicted for rain the entire time we were there. The captain did say we hit a great week because it had rained everywhere, all summer long. I also saw someone else post on another website that he went the week after us and most of the excursions had been cancelled because of the weather. He loved the scenery, but was disappointed they couldn't do everything they wanted. The only excursions that were cancelled on our trip was the helicopter trips...too cloudy/foggy to fly. Those people were terribly disappointed, and couldn't get on to other excursions because they were already filled up. The only day it was cold for us was the day we were in Juneau, because of the rain, but when we did the Inside Passage 12 years ago and cruised in Glacier Bay, it was extremely cold...we wore heavy coats, gloves, hats. That was in a July.

I would add more storage room for suitcases and packed clothes in the staterooms. The storage on Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas, oceanview room was not adequate. I packed for two people for a 7 day cruise and did not have enough room to hang things/store things in the drawers. In an inside cabin (specifically on Carnival, don't know about others), I'd add more electrical outlets. I'd also add more space on the sink counters to put items while you're getting ready. I don't need a bathtub...haven't taken a bath in years because I have arthritis and can't get in and out of a tub. The shower in the cabins is fine for me...as long as I don't gain any weight! (fat chance! ha ha!) I like the large ships, with lots to do onboard. I guess I'd say more activities for days in port, when those who have already visited that port don't want to spend time off the boat.

They paid their deposits, and waited for their docs to arrive. The anticipation...

They paid their deposits, and waited for their docs to arrive. The anticipation...

So, they started looking around...which cruise line made a stop at Kokomo?

So, they started looking around...which cruise line made a stop at Kokomo?

How funny you guys! (could also be a driver's license photo or a passport photo!) Now, let's see...I need a frame for this picture of Joey, holding HIS trophy. Then I need a place to put MY trophy!

How funny you guys! (could also be a driver's license photo or a passport photo!) Now, let's see...I need a frame for this picture of Joey, holding HIS trophy. Then I need a place to put MY trophy!

Although they were able to meet every day online, they now decided to plan a REAL cruise together. Where did they want to go?

Although they were able to meet every day online, they now decided to plan a REAL cruise together. Where did they want to go?

get together and talk about their favorite pasttime....cruisin' !

Thanks Cheryl! Joey, you can keep your 'ship on a stick'...just take a picture of yourself holding it and I'll frame it and hang it above my computer! LOL!

I'll just have a plain 'ole cherry Pepsi please!

Does anyone here like cheesecake?

Or maybe some lobster and prime rib...no sense in having to choose, right?

Here's the lobster: Enjoy!

"Hi everyone Just wanted to introduce ourselves we are Joey and David an Alternative Coulple from the Los Angeles, California Area. We currently have two booked cruises both for the 2006 seasons. Our first will take us to the Caribbean Feb/27 thru March 9, 2006 aboard the Celebrity Century and the second is for David's Birthday In October .. we are going on the Millennium from Barcelona to Venice. (that cruise is October 29 thru November 10, 2006). That is what we have going on at the moment, Our past expierence was with Carnival and Hal. Look forward to meaningful forums, and learning from each other. As always,"

And although 60's rock 'n roll is my very favorite, I'll add a little Garth to the mix: (I took out the third verse, just in case there are kids online) Blame it all on my roots I showed up in boots And ruined your black tie affair The last one to know The last one to show I was the last one You thought you'd see there And I saw the surprise And the fear in his eyes When I took his glass of champagne And I toasted you Said, honey, we may be through But you'll never hear me complain 'Cause I've got friends in low places Where the whiskey drowns And the beer chases my blues away And I'll be okay I'm not big on social graces Think I'll slip on down to the oasis Oh, I've got friends in low places Well, I guess I was wrong I just don't belong But then, I've been there before Everything's all right I'll just say goodnight And I'll show myself to the door Hey, I didn't mean To cause a big scene Just give me an hour and then Well, I'll be as high As that ivory tower That you're livin' in 'Cause I've got friends in low places Where the whiskey drowns And the beer chases my blues away And I'll be okay I'm not big on social graces Think I'll slip on down to the oasis Oh, I've got friends in low places