Suzila

Thanks, Cheryl. I took your advice and printed them out, covered them with the contact paper and punched a hole in them, with a tie. They're good to go. And, thanks everyone else...I'll wait and attach them when we get to Honolulu.

We are leaving in 19 days on NCL Pride of America. Everything is done online now...I printed out our documents, we're set to go. Part of the documents is the luggage tag. Print out as many as you need. Great. I did that. Luggage tags freak me out. The reason is, when we went on our Panama Canal cruise, we took American Airlines to get to Miami. At the check-in counter the woman was adamant that we COULD NOT have our Princess cruise luggage tag on our suitcase. We could only have one tag, and that was our name, address, etc. It was just a stressful way to start a vacation, right? Okay, we get to Miami Airport, and one of the bags was lost. It didn't catch up to us until two days later, we were already on the cruise, had to borrow a tux for hubby, and shoes, etc for me for formal night. Finally, the bag catches up to us, but the cruise people complained it was harder to find BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CRUISE TAG ON IT! Okay, all that is in the past. Now, we have luggage tags to print out for NCL. It says, fill it out, fold it here, and staple it. Yes, i can do that. We are flying to hawaii on ATA Airlines this time. Should I put the tags on the suitcases BEFORE we fly, or wait until we get to the airport in hawaii, and attach them then? If I wait...I have to bring a stapler with me? I know this is ridiculous, but I really want to know what you all do. BTW, when we flew to Seattle last August, we had the cruise tags on the suitcases while on the flight, but our friends, who went on the same flight with us but to a different check-in counter at the airport, had their tags taken off until they arrived in Seattle. What's the correct way to do this, or is it just up to the check-in people at each airport?

You know Joey, all I can remember is the tv. There was no VCR or DVD in the room, and maybe the tv had a music channel, but I don't remember it. They play the same movies over and over in the room.

Definitely do it, if it's something you've been looking forward to for such a long time. Hubby and I have done a few different excursions separately. He likes deep sea fishing, you wouldn't catch me on a small boat. Well, if you did catch me on a small boat...it wouldn't be pretty! He fished in Alaska and I went to a culinary spectacular and learned how to cook the items he caught! Yes...do the excursion if you like, and enjoy!

I do get seasick, and it's more by suggestion than anything else. If you start talking about it, I feel it. I also have to sit in the front of a car, or I will get motion sickness. I can't sit in a rowboat. I can't go on a roller coaster, or anything that goes around. A merry-go-round will do me in. I use Bonine when we cruise...it works because I have it in my mind that I WILL NOT GET SICK IF I TAKE BONINE. The patch works for me while it's on, but when I take it off, when we get off a cruise, I can't see for 24 hours straight...that scares me, and I will not use it again.

We've been on 15 cruises, with #16 booked, and we're looking into #17. We expect to step it up to 2 every year when we retire in a few years.

I'm not sure I really want to know where any of you have made whoopie on a cruise ship, other than in your cabin, and I sure don't want to tell you about our escapades. However, since you brought the subject up, you have to wonder where and what people are doing on a cruise. I think I prefer to remain oblivious.

The 10 hour drive would be my determining factor. I assume, since money is tight, you wouldn't be making a stop in a motel overnight? A 10 hour drive is a 'forever' drive. We've done it when driving up to my brother's home in Washington state. When we go on a cruise, I want to get on the cruise. When we get off the cruise, we want to get home as soon as possible. I don't want to be wrecked and too tired to do anything when we arrive at either destination. I would go with the 7 night cruise for more money. Even if you can't do all the things you'd like to do, there's always plenty to do on a cruise to keep you busy. You'd have a shorter drive time, and a longer vacation. Both cruise lines are good...we've been on both (been on Ecstacy here on the west coast, but have been on Vision of the Seas, not Rhapsody). I tend to agree with you and would say that the Royal Caribbean would be a nicer cruise.

According to the reports, this cruise line prides itself on having smaller ships so they can get closer to the shoreline to see the views. Guess they got a little too close. I don't know about the water temp, but it's only 45 degrees up there today and it's raining. How miserable is that?

Here you go, Linda...this is the one we took: http://www.carnival.com/ShoreExcursionDeta...sioncode=171011

We would like to do: 1. Mediterranean (we will wait until retirement for this) 2. Canada/New England (this may be in 2008) We will be crossing off Hawaii this summer. (August) We've done: Baja, many times Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Cabo, once Panama Canal, once Alaska, twice Caribbean, once Of all those, the Caribbean is the only one we didn't care for very much. Didn't like the destinations, and won't be going back unless we happen to get another free cruise.

You will love Alaska, Linda, especially if you're into adventure. We've been there twice, and still want to go back and do a longer cruise. Not in the cards yet (we just went in August), but it will be in the future. My favorite excursion is the white water rapids in Juneau, down the Mendenhall Glacier. It's a class 3 rapids, and a lot of fun. I can't really help you with what to buy up there, because we're not big on souvenirs. My souvenirs are all the pics I take. But my hubby has gone salmon fishing twice, once in Ketchikan, and once in Icy Strait Point, and both times we had the fish smoked, canned and sent back home. We had plenty for gifts and snacks for ourselves for some time. We did Princess the first time, and this past summer we were on Royal Caribbean.

I have to agree with Jackie, especially since I was the one who posted about the dog sledding. We didn't have any dust, most likely because the weather had been very wet before we got there. No dust flying around. No, it wasn't a real sled, it's on wheels because you're running on ground, not snow, but we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The main excursion in Skagway IS the White Pass Railroad. We did the railroad the first time we were up there, and yes, I agree...the scenery is spectacular, but for us, it wasn't a spectacular excursion. Yes, we got the pictures, but sitting on a train going one way with a lecture the entire trip, getting to the end, turning the seats around and going back in silence, except for the sound of the train, wasn't for us. And when we got off we said, "is that all there is?'. We then went in search for something else to do. Our friends, who did it without us this past August, felt the same way. We wouldn't do it again, and neither would they. Especially when we raved about the dog sledding. It depends on what type of excursion you like to do. Like Jackie said, do as much as you can. Try out as many different things as possible. If you haven't done white water rafting, I'd recommend the class 3 rapids at Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau.

Great info! Thanks so much to you all. I've printed it all out and with my maps, I'm trying to organize our itinerary. I don't think we'll have much time (if any) to get around Honolulu, which is fine...we've been there many times. Our plane arrives at 11:50am on Saturday. I wouldn't mind going to the Arizona before the ship departs but certainly don't want to have my carry-ons with me. Can we check in on the ship, leave our bags off and then go to the Arizona? The ship doesn't launch until 8pm. On the day we go home, our flight is at 1:10pm. No time to go anywhere that day. Here's another question...do they have actual formal nights on Pride of America...I'm not bringing a gown, just some nice dresses. Does my hubby need to bring a suit? Should he bring his sports jacket, or can he dine wearing Dockers and a nice shirt? Does he need a tie? What exactly should we bring in the way of clothes for the evening?

Jennifer, you're supposed to leave the puppies there! (very hard to do!) We went in August, it was a cold day, but there is no snow. They get you on a sled (6 people I think), and you go on a dirt road for about a mile, pulled by the dogs. Then after that, they take you to a small sitting area and they have a lecture telling you about the dogs, about the Iditarod, etc. That's about another half hour. Truthfully, if we ever get back there again, we're doing it again...we loved it. From the description of it, it didn't sound like much...but everyone who did it was thrilled. Our friends, who had never been to Alaska, did the railroad. We didn't want to do it again because we had seen it before. The day was foggy, and their pictures were not as good as ours when we went because of that. They missed seeing a lot of the scenery, which was too bad, because it is a beautiful excursion. Here is a pic of one of the puppies, and a pic of one of the sleds:

As I recall, there were plenty of seats on the train. When we went we booked once we got on the ship...not before. Our friends went on it this time around and it was a foggy day...not as good for viewing as when we went on a sunny day. However, instead of the railroad (we had done it the first time we went to Skagway), we went on the dog sledding excursion and would recommend that. It was a cold, foggy day, but didn't phase the dog sledding at all. A lot of fun, the lecture they give is given by a man who was just in the Iditarod, and it was very interesting. Plus you get to spend some time w/ the puppies.

My hubby went salmon fishing when we were in Alaska. Then we had the fish he caught, smoked and canned...they do for you as soon as you get off the fishing boat. We had it shipped home and had cans upon cans of salmon. We were able to give them as gifts, and had plenty to serve when people came over. If you aren't going fishing while up there, you can buy the cans in any of the stores. We're not too big on buying souvenirs in any of the locations we visit. My home is early American and most items sold in souvnir shops don't go too well w/ what we have.

We don't gamble either, but I seem to remember the casinos were closed during the day when we were in port, but open at nights when we were cruising. Yeah, they definitely were closed during the day when we were sitting still. This was this past August and it was Royal Caribbean.

I, on the other hand, am a positive person, but not Alfred E. Neuman. I worry about things, but things that are more in my control. I can't control what happens on an airplane as far as the plane flying, I can't control whether a captain runs the ship into a rock, etc. I can control my own driving, but not someone else's when I'm on the road. Like Howard says, everyday life problems are the things we should worry about. Other than that, go on a vacation, be aware of your surroundings and things happening around you, and enjoy your vacation. And if something terrible happens, hopefully not, you have to deal with it. What else can you do? I know, from past experiences, that when stuff happens, I can be in control. I think that's the best way to be, the best way to enjoy life.

I'll look into that Terry, thanks for the idea. I don't remember seeing that offered as an excursion...did you do it on your own? It's cold up there during the day, I can imagine what it's like at sunrise. I'll look into it...thanks for the website. Sue

That's exactly what I was thinking, Howard. People who have cruised before and know what it's all about , shouldn't have too much trouble cruising again. Those who haven't ever had the pleasure of cruising, will be turned off by all the problems. Cruising may become a bit cheaper if the cruise industry is trying to lure people in.

Hi all, I'm starting to look at what we'd like to do while in Hawaii in August. We'll be on NCL Pride of America. Hubby and I, and our two sons have been to Hawaii many, many times, but never on a cruise. So we pretty much know what we'd like to see. But the other four people with us, the boys' wives, and one set of in-laws, haven't been to Hawaii and know nothing about it. My son works for Hertz and will be able to get us a large car (Suburban-like, etc) so all 8 of us can drive around together. There are places and things some of them want to do that others of us have no interest in...i.e.: hubby and I will not roast on a beach all day. My thought is I'd like to go together in Hilo to see the volcanoes and Rainbow Falls. I'd also like to do a Luau together. I figured I would buy some Hawaii maps and use Mapblast to map everything out, and we could drive to these places on our own, at our own pace, rather than do the ship excursions. My question is: is there any excursion that anyone has done that we shouldn't miss doing? Forget the helicopter tours...hubby is a helicopter pilot and does that 7 days a week. He refuses to get into a helicopter with someone else flying. The only place we may think about that is in Maui...his friend is running the helicopter tours there. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

that makes me ill, especially knowing there were people stuck in their cabin.

Although the responsibility ultimately rests on the shoulders of the five people who were arrested, I think a lot of people dropped the ball on this matter. If I<] were about to do a muster drill and found there were no life vests in my cabin, I'd let the cabin steward know immediately. I think there's even a posting in the cabins that says such. Then, if the cabin steward didn't come through with it, surely you would get one when you showed up at the muster station for the drill?!? OR<], maybe they didn't even have a muster drill? We don't know...no one has mentioned it so far. On the other hand, we've been at muster drills where people showed up with drinks in their hand and talking throughout the entire presentation. I even had to tell two women to be quiet for a few minutes so we could hear what the announcements were. (needless to say, they weren't happy with me) I do take muster drills seriously, and always have. I consider the beginning of my cruise is when the muster drill is finished. IBCRUZIN', welcome to the group. Where in Brooklyn are you from? I was born in Brooklyn, but we moved to the Bronx when I was 10 months old. My Mom came from Flatbush, and my daughter-in-law comes from Sheepshead Bay.

So, this is strange...they arrested 5 people regarding the sinking....why the chief cabin steward and housekeeper? Read the article here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070407/ap_on_...ece_cruise_ship Nevermind...I just realized it's because there weren't enough life vests to go around.