Alaskan Cruise Misc Questions...
Jul 6th, 2017, 02:28 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Alaskan Cruise Misc Questions...
My husband and I (both in our 50s) are about to go on our first Alaskan Cruise aboard the Emerald Princess and I had a few questions if anyone can help...
1. Does anyone recommend purchasing an internet package? If so, which one?
2. Is it true that you can you take soft drinks and wine aboard?
3. Has anyone taken the Ketchikan Duck Tour and if so do you recommend it?
4. One person suggested that it might be less crowded to wait in the International Cafe on embarkation day...thoughts?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
1. Does anyone recommend purchasing an internet package? If so, which one?
2. Is it true that you can you take soft drinks and wine aboard?
3. Has anyone taken the Ketchikan Duck Tour and if so do you recommend it?
4. One person suggested that it might be less crowded to wait in the International Cafe on embarkation day...thoughts?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Jul 7th, 2017, 07:55 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey lk,
1. Why do you need internet on a cruise vacation?
2. See www.princess.com.
3. Not my cup of cocoa.
4. It might, but then, that person might have told hundreds of other people.
You will be sailing on a very nice ship to a very lovely part of the world. Relax and enjoy it.
1. Why do you need internet on a cruise vacation?
2. See www.princess.com.
3. Not my cup of cocoa.
4. It might, but then, that person might have told hundreds of other people.
You will be sailing on a very nice ship to a very lovely part of the world. Relax and enjoy it.
Jul 7th, 2017, 07:56 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
,
Jul 8th, 2017, 10:33 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi lk,
>to check on my teenage daughter;
Cell phone?
We have a $10 Tracfone (www.tracfone.com/) that will work in AK. You buy a phone card for $10 (I think).
$0.50 to send a text.
>to check on my teenage daughter;
Cell phone?
We have a $10 Tracfone (www.tracfone.com/) that will work in AK. You buy a phone card for $10 (I think).
$0.50 to send a text.
Jul 12th, 2017, 01:55 PM
#6
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1. I always buy one in the past but I get mine free now. I check up on my kids and connect to work. I know, I am on holidays but check my email daily is better than get bombarded with 1000 email when I get back. I allot 20 minutes per night before bed time. It helps me sleep after reading the email. LOL
2. Soft drinks never an issue, wine is a bottle per person. You can bring more but there is a fee which makes it not worth it.
3. Lots of things to do other than Duck tour in Ketchikan. Look at my trip report Alaska excursions on the cheap for more excursion ideas.
4. You wait at international cafe, you won't know if your group is being called. Go get a coffee there and then go to your designated area. If you can, ask to be on the self disembark group (first group to leave) but you have to be able to take all your luggage without any assistance.
Internet is expensive on board the ship. Since you are in Alaska, you can get free wi-fi at every port (on shore). Look for where the crew hangs out and there is the hot spot for free wi-fi.
Before I get my loyalty reward, I pay the 150 minute package for about $75. You just have to login and log out real quick and also ration your time.
Also, be fore warn that the internet on board is VERY slow as it is satellite based. Just imagine a thousand people on the same connection all on the same time. I connect usually late at night or very early in the morning when there are less people on line.
Be careful with cell phones. You actually have cell phone service while on board from time to time, especially when it is "close" to shore. Depending on your plan, you maybe paying through your nose on roaming charges as a lot of plan may not cover Alaska, and worst of all, you maybe connected to a Canadian network and you will be really paying roaming charges.
My rule of thumb is keep airplane mode on at all times unless I needed it for emergency. Wi-fi and blue tooth on is okay.
Check with your cell phone provider and ask about Alaska and Canadian service charges. You can buy a package that may cost you $5 a day which is a whole cheaper than the ship's internet.
2. Soft drinks never an issue, wine is a bottle per person. You can bring more but there is a fee which makes it not worth it.
3. Lots of things to do other than Duck tour in Ketchikan. Look at my trip report Alaska excursions on the cheap for more excursion ideas.
4. You wait at international cafe, you won't know if your group is being called. Go get a coffee there and then go to your designated area. If you can, ask to be on the self disembark group (first group to leave) but you have to be able to take all your luggage without any assistance.
Internet is expensive on board the ship. Since you are in Alaska, you can get free wi-fi at every port (on shore). Look for where the crew hangs out and there is the hot spot for free wi-fi.
Before I get my loyalty reward, I pay the 150 minute package for about $75. You just have to login and log out real quick and also ration your time.
Also, be fore warn that the internet on board is VERY slow as it is satellite based. Just imagine a thousand people on the same connection all on the same time. I connect usually late at night or very early in the morning when there are less people on line.
Be careful with cell phones. You actually have cell phone service while on board from time to time, especially when it is "close" to shore. Depending on your plan, you maybe paying through your nose on roaming charges as a lot of plan may not cover Alaska, and worst of all, you maybe connected to a Canadian network and you will be really paying roaming charges.
My rule of thumb is keep airplane mode on at all times unless I needed it for emergency. Wi-fi and blue tooth on is okay.
Check with your cell phone provider and ask about Alaska and Canadian service charges. You can buy a package that may cost you $5 a day which is a whole cheaper than the ship's internet.
