Riley

Second vote for the hot dog cart - those reindeer sausages are REALLY good.  Assuming a stable location, it was close to the local pharmacy, on the left-hand side of the street when you are walking towards the open town square and sort of across from a local bookstore.

 Keep in mind salmon and crab both have seasons and crab season can be tricky.  If you're looking for King Crab it's neither better nor less expensive than what you may find at your local fish place. Tracey's Crab Shack in Juneau is right at the port and really popular but the king crab is priced at, like, $80 a pound and I prefer heading to CostCo and firing up the boil pot.... that said the place is really, really popular. 

You're just starting the salmon season in early May but if you can get it, I have heard really good things about the Gold Creek salmon bake.

It's neither salmon nor crab, bu the Halibut Tacos at Deckhand Dave's are messy perfection and only a few blocks away. There is a chowder I regret not trying, and they have a Catch of the Day board. Also in Juneau when you exit the dock area if you bear left along the waterfront you'll see two Filipino food trucks (usually with a very long line of crew), both of whom have terrific food. 

Ketchikan is a LOT of fun and there are several places that will serve salmon, plus if you walk right along the waterfront boardwalk when you get off the ship there is a fresh kettle corn stand almost at the end of the dock that is addictive. 

Good luck, and have fun!

We went to all three last year - there is not a lot of touristy "Stuff" but we enjoyed all three ports.  In Nuuk - which is the largest city on Greenland - we took the shuttle to the town drop-off and then just walked around from there. You will see a couple of shops along the waterfront, a coffee shop, a very small local museum and a few statues/art objects. There is also a pedestrian mall-style and tourist area where the shuttle picks you up again that has a few nice souvenir places. We also stopped in the local grocery store, which includes hot deli items if you are hungry. Though we did not take one, there are walking tours available and we saw a few going by.

Qaqortuq was tiny but has some lovely walking areas, including "up" a gentle rise to see a small local lake, or along the waterfront where there are carved rock walls. The big red and white barn-looking building near the tender port had some great T-shirt prices. We did the excursion to the island where the Norse ruins were and it was interesting.

In Nanortalik we took the Iceberg tours and that was a highlight. You're in a very small boat and we got right up to the icebergs (literally touched one of them) - I recommend this one. 

You're not going to see or buy a lot in any of these places (there are no tanzanite stores!) but you can feel the history and the weight of living on the edge of the world here. Worthwhile for the adventure, the people are lovely (very excited to see tourists but not in a creepy way) and I'd go back.

Note: they use the Danish Kroner and I got some at my local bank before we left, which made the exchange rate a lot less pricey... every place we shopped took credit cards and the souvenir shops took US dollars but at an (understandably) unfavorable exchange. We bought postcards, a couple t-shirts, some Danish chocolate for a snack, a small carved reindeer antler from a local artist, and about a dozen cloth printed shopping bags from the local grocery store for about $1 each that folded down to nothing and made great gifts for everyone at home. 

Did you have to surrender your old driver's license? Even if expired it can serve as another document to back up your birth certificate.

1 minute ago, Riley said:

Viet Name isn't visa-free (just filled one out for the Dearly Beloved's land tour) but it's inexpensive ($25 single entry, $50 multi-entry) and easy to do online. You will need a good head shot (think passport photo style) and a photo of your passport to upload, then it takes only a few days. You can specify your travel dates and fill it out nicely ahead of time, unlike Singapore's. 

NOTE: my info is for US citizens - for UK Viet Name may not require a visa. Sorry about that.

Viet Name isn't visa-free (just filled one out for the Dearly Beloved's land tour) but it's inexpensive ($25 single entry, $50 multi-entry) and easy to do online. You will need a good head shot (think passport photo style) and a photo of your passport to upload, then it takes only a few days. You can specify your travel dates and fill it out nicely ahead of time, unlike Singapore's. 

19 hours ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

Okay but HOW did it get on?! Carry on or checked have to go through X-rays.....did....did someone just sedate and X-ray a cat...?....how did the staff not see that?! I have so many questions....

I know, right? Also did they simple stateroom cleaning? Where was the litter box (and just how did they dispose of things), let alone how did they sneak all the cat stuff (food, sneak kitty litter, a cat box, etc.) on.  I promise you, that long a trip would require a not-tiny amount of that stuff...

You should be able to see the menu - we did it a couple of years back and it's a mix of the paid dining options - for ours, the appetizer was from Izumi, the main was from Chops and the dessert was from Wonderland. It was okay but I won't do it again as it took a long time for the lunch.

If it's offered in Dunedin, the Royal Albatross Sanctuary or Penguin Sanctuaries are great places to tour if you're into wildlife watching. 

FYI the Singapore entry card can't be filled out until three days before entry - it's a simple online form but includes a health attestation... if you can't do this ahead of time on the ship you CAN fill it out at the airport but that will delay you clearing Customs. 

Bon Voyage!

Jewel IMO has one of the nicest Diamond Lounges in the fleet as it's way up on Deck 13 with awesome views (and yes, you can get the same views from the Vortex Lounge right next door). Also their Safari Club is nice and they have a robust library area on your way back there past the Schooner Bar.  Finally, in decent weather the outdoor seating at the back of the Windjammer is terrific. I like Jewel. I like Grandeur too, but agree that Jewel is an upgrade.

7 hours ago, bobroo said:

Little known fact: You might think to yourself, Gee guys this place is busy for such a small place. The needs or concerns of this group isn't so much that they get together in this specific space, why not have Happy Hour in a different , larger venue say...Dazzles or the Safari Club or the Solarium or 270 or even those little known, unused conference rooms? Boy, that would make a lot of sense. Much larger space. They have already have bars. They already have furniture. In most cases like a solarium on Oasis class or 270 on Quantum class already look elegant in the evening. Good chance these venues have better or closer washroom facilities. So why can't they just do it in there?

Well, I've asked this question in the past. The answer is decisions to move events--even to a better or more accommodating unused venue--must be first requested and second approved by Miami. A ship can not just do it on the fly.

 

They did this in September on Jewel - there were 300+ Pinnacle on the cruise so they turned the Safari Club into the Pinnacle Lounge for happy hour.  Worked just fine.

I often gift bottles of champagne or wine (I can only drink so much, darn it!) and my understanding is the attendant can keep it or trade it for something else they want.  Whereas no, they can't keep booze in their room they can access it if they want to drink it as part of a crew party or whatever. I also provide a note stating it's from me in case their floor supervisor wants to make sure they didn't just pick it up without my okay.

1 hour ago, Rob Fitz said:

On our trip in February, we stop at both Nha Trang and HCM City. Do we need a 'multiple entry' visa for that?

It's about $25 US more to get a multiple so - if you are physically leaving the shore and then returning - I would get a multiple just in case.

One note on the train (which we have used and enjoyed) make sure your day doesn't land on a Holiday or strike day. Second tip for Rome - if you use taxis to get around City Center make SURE they turn the meter on - it's not unheard of for them to not turn the meter on and therefore insist they don't take credit cards, cash only, and offer to drive you to an ATM. They all take credit cards... but if you do pay cash use small bills if at all possible. Also "skip the line" tickets are a must.  Good luck!

1 hour ago, Doug_Texas said:

You left out announcing early this year upgraded wine list for D+ 340 “Welcome Aboard” then doing away with “Welcome Aboard” alcohol.

They did? We got ours on "Jewel".

4 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

Sad to see a lot of people order their voucher drinks and do not tip.  
For the non believers, sit at a bar at closing time and watch.

I’ve met a lovely couple on my current sailing who will be Diamond after this sailing.  I’ve gifted them a few drinks and they see the tip.  They acknowledged that’s what they will be doing since they understand no tip is included.  I’m grateful they understand. (They also now do the tip for the drink I gift them)

I believe that and (as a former bartender) it's too bad, especially on a Caribbean cruise where the blender is going non-stop. Golly I used to loathe making pina coladas! (drinking them is another tale altogether, of course...) 

I present my sea pass AND tip when I order and try to use the same bar tenders. It's amazing just how large a shot can become by around Day 3, and my liver starts to whimper by Day 5.

(shut up, liver! You knew the dangers going in!)

I don't think it's a bad general question, to be honest. My answer is we plan four to six cruises per year and book as early as possible to get the best deal, then I make the numbers work (e.g., interior cabins, saving on air fare). Honestly my biggest expense is often boarding our two cats and enormous dog; they are the biggest expense on a per-day basis!

Also as I'm in the Midwest cruises are planned in multiples: we are doing back-to-back Alaska next year so when I budget I only have to worry about one round of plane tickets and one night hotel, as opposed to double that.   2024 is a biggie for us as we are on two Transatlantics next Fall when "Adventure of the Seas" goes to Europe in October for its refurbishment - we are in a Balcony on "Adventure" and coming back on "Voyager" in a junior suite to take advantage of double points on a long cruise. That blew our budget up for the year but I only need to buy round-trip plane tickets from Chicago to Orlando so it all shook out in the end.

About half of our vouchers go toward bottles waters, which are pennies (or less) of cost so that might lower your calculations even further, Rack.  

I'd also be willing to bet the bar staff likes the vouchers, as they are more likely to be tipped in cash (as opposed to an auto 18% gratuity added on to the bill).  

It is possible to get a "gristly" filet, depending on how it's cut - the fibrous sheath the tenderloin is wrapped in needs to be removed and if it isn't the cut will cook up poorly and be chewy/tough in spots.

It's important to consider long-term supply chain issues with all of this discussion when talking about the size of the orders and sourcing RC has to do in so many different locations around the world.  For example, Beef ranchers are still trying to settle down COVID issues: it's a lot easier to adapt raising chickens, for example, than beef. Also drought and other conditions and how that's changing animal feed. For better or worse, a bad corn crop like we've had here in the US Midwest this year affects the steak that reaches your plate next Spring. 

Only one item to check - not all cruises are eligible for the single supplement discount (usually the entire summer cruise season isn't, for example). Otherwise ENJOY! I sent the Dearly Beloved (who's retired) on a whole slew of solo cruises so we'd hit Pinnacle fast. It worked out well

One note for the SW Ontario folks headed to DTW - check into crossing at Sarnia. The Bluewater is often less-congested than the Ambassador Bridge and - though it seems further - might be a smoother crossing, especially as it's faster from London to go straight across.

We live in Chicago and so try to stick with United for everything plus I have a United Visa that accumulates miles. I use them to upgrade flights when we are flying to Europe or Asia, as I'm not a big fan of 10+ hour flights in Economy any more.

It does depend on where the food is sourced from and also when a large contingent of "new contract" crew come on board.

The first night of a recent cruise was not good (the veggie was frozen green beans?) but then things settled down and food in both the MDR and the WJ were fine.  Hurricane Lee changed our itinerary and that would have resulted in changes to what could be stocked at different ports... RC can only source so many pallets of produce at a time! 

NOTE: I'm not a picky eater (if I don't have to cook it and clean up myself I'm usually content. 

The Windjammer asks that people don't refill their bottles directly from the dispenser (it's a health issue) but you can grab a few glasses of water and ice and fill up that way. Also On Deck 2 where the gangway usually is look for a refill station at the drinking fountain - I usually stop and fill up my bottle on the way off the ship... it's convenient though not very cold so pre-ice if that's an issue.

FWIW we were on Jewel recently with a LOT of Diamond and higher guests (including over 300 Pinnacles) and they split D/D+ into the lounge and Pinnacles into the Vortex next door... opened the divider between the two spaces and had a discreet rope inside with a staff member checking for Pins and the Vortex entry.  Each space had snacks set-ups and a support staffer (I checked and there was sometimes a difference between the two set-ups but not often), cocktail waiters worked both sides, and the Vortex bar was open with two bar tenders to help the waiters as well as any Pinnacles who wanted to belly up directly.  It worked pretty well and eased a lot of congestion.  Jewel has one of the nicer lounges (IMO) since it's on deck 13 and so was a really popular place.

I put my little gold pin on if I have to deal with something at Guest Services or if 'm going to the designated Pinnacle area, mainly to help the staff out as otherwise they're stuck trying to card people at the entry: the Safari Lounge was designated "Pinnacle Only" for happy hour on a recent cruise due to about 300 Pins.  Another cruise there were four of us so we were on our own in the Diamond Lounge.

I don't usually wear it otherwise, partly because it's not my style and partly because every time I do some obnoxious dude in the elevator just has to make a comment about it.

*rolls eyes*