FSUFAN

The Virgin schedule sounds good, but I want to get early on and then get off and go home.

Biggest hassle I see is that looking to do some things now is that due to the change, specifically in Ketchikan, some of the venues are sold out. The change has put us to the back of the line for excursions. Sitka was day 2 and is now day 3. Ketchikan was not a port stop and now it is day 2.

Got the notice about 2 hours ago. Lost Skagway, gained Ketchikan.

We specifically booked the Quantum 7-night sailing June 12th due to the Skagway stop. My son was pushing for the week before, but Skagway, with the train and all is too much fun to miss and the prior week did not have it as a port stop. I hope this is just an unfounded rumor.

We rented a huge house one time for the family and it was a disaster. People fighting over cooking, cleaning, even things as simple as movie choices or who got which bedroom. Some stayed up late (creating noise) some slept in creating breakfast timing issues. We quickly learned that we just don't do well when we are constantly "stepping over" each other. A cruise just works. Want to go to a bar... go. What to eat - plenty of options. Karaoke, casino, book reading, dancing, sitting by the pool, take a mid-day nap (in your own cabin), you name it. Tons of options to be together or separate. The upcoming sailing on the Quantum offered a Sushi making class. I asked Mrs Fan if she was interested and got a big nope. I texted the group and said I was going to go. Three others have decided to join me and signed up. Easy peasy.

44 days. I was able to get check in times on 45 days till sailing via the App. I went to the website after checking in on the App, and the Entertainment tab was different from the standard splash screen. Still could not book anything, but it was not the "Coming soon - Lights Camera Action" page. Then the next day (44 days out) it was open for booking Starwater only. I assume that will be the only entertainment that I can pre-book on the Quantum.

No problem with them booking. One of the stipulations of the trip is that everyone meets for dinner and then we are on our own unless you specifically want to do stuff together. We do well as a family when there is plenty of space between us. A cruise works because of the variety of things to do and privacy of your cabin. I didn't even put us all on the same deck. Mrs Fan and I have been to Alaska, so we will skip most of the excursions that they will go on. My daughter and I are early risers. She and I will meet for coffee each morning. Her husband is a late riser and Mrs Fan would rather have her morning tea in the room.

Okay. Duh on my part. Yes, that makes perfect sense now. The entertainment reservation system just came online/live yesterday. I'm surprised to see that one of my kids beat me to the punch on making reservations.

So the entertainment reservation system is now open on our June Alaska sailing on the Quantum. We are traveling with our grown kids and spouses, and I have all of their reservations linked. When I go out to the entertainment tab, the show "Starwater" is now accepting reservations. 3 of my 4 cabins in our group have a "Blue Ball" on their initials and one has a "White Ball" that says "Limited to once per Cruise". So I have one of our kids and the spouse different than the others including myself and Mrs Fan. All cabins were booked to a single CC. Mrs Fan and I have The Key, but not sure that has any bearing.

Not quite newbie (1 prior sailing). But if there was free sushi at one point, I sure would like to have it available. And the 10-drink punch card. With Mrs Fan, there is no way not to lose money on a drink package for us both. Even if she would be allowed to downgrade to the refreshment package, she is a hot tea and water drinker. And for the tea, she brings her own English Breakfast Tea bags called Awake by Tazo. I'd love to be able to buy a couple of drink cards on board and use for myself.

Thanks to this board and check-in suggestions. I was able to grab the 10:30 slot for all 4 of our cabins. Today (4/28) was our 45 days out for our sailing out of Seattle on the Quantum OTS (June 12). We had huge storms last night that woke me up. I got up knowing that it was after midnight Pacific time, so I jumped on my phone thru the App and got the early times I wanted. Much thanks to all.

You're probably not going to find a downtown hotel with a free shuttle to the pier. Your best bet is Uber, taxi or shuttle for hire/limo. Staying out by SEATAC will be cheaper, but as you mentioned not much to do and see. We consider staying downtown within walking distance of restaurants and local sites part of the getaway/vacation. We've been there a couple of times prior to Covid. Downtown Seattle is not the hellscape that some media outlets seem to portray it as. We don't wander too far off the regular tourist areas and usually head back to the hotel after dinner out. We've not felt unsafe (again, pre-covid trips). As mentioned earlier, we are staying at the Warwick and I just looked up the cost and it was under $250/night if you are a member of the (free to sign up) frequent guest program. Go to Hotels.com and do a "view in a map" search. You can see hotels near downtown and close to the embarkation pier. Not an endorsement of Hotels.com. I think you get the best prices by calling the hotel directly. But Hotels.com is an easy way to search the area.

I just read where a guy on a Carnival Cruise fished from his balcony and CCL came down hard on the guy and banned him for life. That could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your perspective. LOL Also, one of my sons was a fishing nut. I found a telescoping pole with micro reel at a garage sale and gave it to him. He carried it in his backpack when he was a student at UF. He fished ponds around campus (catch and release) between classes all the time. He had a small "Beetle Spin" lure on the rod and it worked for him. He said he would catch small bass and brim/blue gill all the time. He did have a Florida Fishing license.

I make a run to the buffet and fill a plate with cheeses, meats, olives, crackers and such and create our own charcuterie plate. I actually do this most days before dinner. We have wine and the nosh as a happy hour - get ready for dinner thing. It takes Mrs Fan longer to get ready for dinner, so I can run out and be back. I ordered the chocolate strawberries last sailing and won't do that again. They were finally delivered as we were heading out the door to dinner. I was hoping to have them at mid-afternoon for our leaving port.

I didn't know this was a thing! I love wings. I really like "Dry rubs". Do you know if you can get them with a spicy dry rub or are they just sauced?

@instaGator We are staying at the DoubleTree Hotel with HH points in August.

I normally use Costco Travel but we stepped away from them and tried another TA for a sailing last October. Honestly, I bid more than I should have for a Canada/NE sailing on Voyager and still missed out.

We are doing Norway out of Amsterdam (but with HAL) in August. We are doing the RIB boat tour in Alesund and I like the idea of the HOHO bus in Bergen. Thanks to @DocLC for the funicular ticket advice.

We are sailing on the Quantum OTS in June. DBP is a money losing proposition with Mrs Fan. Has anyone seen the 10 Drink cards lately on any sailings? Sure would like to get a few cards once on board.

We are on the Quantum in June and the slots are already sold out. May just try it during port stops.

We flew in and out of Vancouver on a trip to Whistler in February. Mrs Fan and I both have Global Entry so our experience may be a little different. We checked our bags, so we only had backpack type stuff. Even with Global Entry/Trusted Traveler/TSA-Pre (since TSA-Pre is a U.S. thing) You still have to unload your laptop, take off your shoes, belts, coats, etc. We did get directed to another line that was less people, due to Global Entry. Things are handled pretty much the same as any US airport. Your passport gets looked at several times as you traverse the concourse so keep that in mind.

Morning. Get fresh towels, bed made. I can come back during the afternoon and rest on made up beds and a room that has been tidied up. It will stay looking good for most of the day and not having to look at towels hanging to dry and such all day.

I stated in another thread, that I request a feather pillow once on board. Can't sleep with a fiber filled one.

That was a couple's price. In my case, Mrs Fan would join me for dinner (or I would be like a man on death row, my last meal). So your $77.20 x 2 = $154.40. Chops +1 on our upcoming Quantum cruise is $85/pp. So, in that case ($85+$30) x 2 = $230. Add in the 18% and you are now at $260 for a couple. Add in a few glasses of wine and a couple of scotch on the rocks and you are in Smith & Wollensky territory. Again, I'm not down on those who choose to spend that money - and it is their choice.

Kind of like PT Barnum's "(in)famous freaks". Bearded lady, Tom Thumb, wolf boy, and now contortionist guy. LOL Got to wonder what that is doing to his joints and ligaments long term?