BeachGal

Magnets and ornaments - Seapass cards stay in my drawer for travel stuff.

Wonderful pics!! It makes me want to go back to Alaska again.

I'm booked... can't wait!

I got it, but it's already been deleted. Thnx to our great moderators!!

I thought I would provide a little info since many folks may not have sailed out of this port before (unless they sailed on one of those 'other' lines... shhhh, we shall not speak of them!)

Thank you all for your advice/memes!! After speaking with Daniel at MEI we decided to leave my two reservations with the current TA (one is just under 60 days out), and for my celebration cruise in June I will refer my traveling buddies to Daniel instead of the current TA. That way I am not pulling business away from anyone, but I know that my friends will be taken care of.

@12thman this is great, but I need to transfer from a current TA to a new one. I have one cruise that is 60 days out, so I won't be able to change that one, but I'm hoping I can change the other one.

Does anyone know if it is possible to change a TA on a reservation? I have two booked with my current TA, and they are far too difficult to reach. I just booked a cruise with MEI, and the entire time I just kept thinking, "Why isn't my current TA making this much effort for me?" I'm a little frustrated right now. @Matt thank you for getting me in touch with Daniel... he was great!

I have my Pre-check appt. this Friday. I looked into doing this a few years back and it was just too difficult to get an appointment anywhere near me at a convenient time. Many more options available now.

Hey all, I know there are a bunch of you that are coming to Cali for a cruise on Navigator at some point this next year. Living in the area I thought I would roll out the welcome mat and give you options for some of my local favorites that are within an Uber/Lyft drive. If you are staying in San Pedro, one of my all-time favorite breakfast spots is San Pedro Cafe (605 S. Pacific Ave.) - try the strawberry stuffed French toast (to die for!!). Can get a little crowded on the weekend, so plan accordingly. Most of my favorites are breakfast options, but I will check with some locals for dinner options... more to come! OK, back again (edit) with some additional ideas/recommendations: Think Cafe (302 W. 5th St) - casual dining, breakfast/lunch/dinner. San Pedro Brewing(331 W. 6th St.) - lunch/dinner. 22nd St. Landing (141 W. 22nd St.) - lunch/dinner, a little pricey. After looking at the menu, I might have to check this one out (just to make sure it's OK for you all... you know, taking one for the team! ha ha) Ports O' Call Village isn't what it used to be (filled with shops & restaurants), but it's still a nice spot to walk through, with some terrific spots for fresh fish. Battleship USS Iowa opens at 10 am for visitors. If you want to wander a little further, you can check out the Korean Friendship Bell located at 3601 Gaffey St., or further into Palos Verdes you can visit the Wayfarers Chapel. Located just past Portuguese Bend, it is a small chapel, tucked away in the trees. It is also known as the 'glass church' because its walls and ceilings are made of glass. The winding road to get there affords amazing views, and the chapel is truly amazing. It is one of the most peaceful and beautiful spots that I know. Long Beach is a close Uber/Lyft drive if you want some options for dining overload, or just a nice spot to stretch your legs and enjoy the view. Shoreline Village is one of those spots to simply take in the world around you (located on Shoreline Dr.). If you want to dine there, I would suggest Parker's LIghthouse or Yard House, but there are many options in the area. A further drive into Long Beach, 2nd street (between PCH and Livingston Dr.) is another lovely spot to wander, shop and eat. Looking for a romantic gondola ride around Naples island? Check out Gondola Getaway (http://www.gondolagetawayinc.com/). Just up Ocean Blvd. a bit is Belmont Brewing (good food and great views). If you have a day to spare, I would highly suggest a drive down PCH to Laguna Beach. The views on the drive there and back are definitely worth the time spent getting there. Suggestions for getting around in the area: If you are looking to check out anything in Long Beach or further out to Huntington Beach, be aware that weekends are crazy crowded, especially on Sunday. Plan accordingly, head out early, and know that traffic in So. Cal is truly insane! Use a ride service to get around if you can, it will take the stress out of getting somewhere and then looking for parking (which is a whole next-level challenge). More ideas to come as I think of them. Feel free to ask any questions and I'm sure that more of the locals will chime in with their answers/suggestions as well.

Thanks for layin' the groundwork for those of us heading out in the next couple of months!!

Thank you for your calm and clear explanation.

Same - I'm already paid up!! One less thing to worry about I guess.

Yes to the night lights, and mini med bags, but my must-have travel item is my set of booze protector travel bags. I have managed to bring back some lovely treats with the help of these bags (you all in Florida are lucky that you can drive home and don't have to worry about damaging these boozy treasures!).

I remember doing this a couple of times when I was a kid. My grandparents enjoyed cruising and we got to go on the ship to see them off. It seems so crazy (now) that it was allowed.

Thanks for the info - glad you had a good experience!

@AshleyDillo you will probably be OK in October with a lot of the summer travel done with. I think fewer people will be traveling so SWA won't have as many issues with staffing (crossing my fingers).

I flew SWA this summer, and based on what I saw (overbooked/full flights, paying for volunteers to stay behind (even though there were a few empty seats on board), reports of cancellations, etc.), I was grateful to get to my destination and back without too much issue (3 of the 4 flights/legs left late due to weather issues). I am a long-time SWA flyer, and even with that loyalty, I would give myself plenty of time (2+ days) if I were flying in for a cruise. If you can get the extra time off work, it might be worth it for the peace of mind.

Ha ha, Navigator... she hasn't even made it to the west coast and I have 3 booked... for now! ?

I swear, my fingers just slipped.... I didn't mean to book another cruise! No really, it just happened! **Insert happy dance here**

Apparently this person never watched The Brady Bunch, Hawaiian vacation episode... bad things happen when you take what doesn't belong to you. All kidding aside, if this person's entire vacation was spoiled by one thing being confiscated, then there are bigger issues involved than a simple conch shell.

Your grandson is a Jedi of wisdom! ?

Nice!

I've done two trips through Alaska, and both were loop trips. My next one is definitely going to be a southbound out of Seward. I really love all the ports and glaciers seen on that cruise. I think that both Seattle and Vancouver have wonderful sightseeing options for before or after your trip. Both are really fun cities. @Bob_KY I also did the Bike and Brew excursion and had a great time, but what I really want to know is what is in that Duck Fart Shot?

Yup, that's the plan! ?