I just booked a room on the Star Princess.
Baja (towards the front of the ship)
How are the balconies in the area?
What is the noise level like?
This is my second cruise ever, and my first cruse on Princess.

Also I just booked my shore excursions...how did I do ?

Ketchikan: Lumberjack & Totems
Juneau: Salmon Bake & Mendenhall Glacier
Skagway: Klondike Summit & Liarsville
Victoria: Butchart Garden Tour

You will be very pleased with your balcony cabin on Baja deck. You have cabins above and below you and the farther forward you are, the less foot traffic you will have past your door. The balconies are covered and a very nice size.

I can't comment on the other excursions, not having been on them, but Butchart Gardens is extraordinary. Definitely one of the highlights of the cruise. Take plenty of memory for your camera and have a great cruise.

Rick

We are about to take an Alaska cruise. After tons of research, here is what we'll do....

Ketchikan -
Walk around town
Flighseeing - Mistry Fjords
LumberJack Show

Juneau -
Mt. Roberts Tramway
Mendenhall Glacier
Whale watching (reviews said it is a must-see in Juneau)

Skagway -
White Pass summit/Carcross/Emerald Lake (White Pass is another must-see)
Walk around town

I visited Butchart Gardens many years ago and agreed with f-mattox that it is so pretty that you won't want to miss.

quote:

Originally posted by Kellorn:
Also I just booked my shore excursions...how did I do ?

Ketchikan: Lumberjack & Totems
Juneau: Salmon Bake & Mendenhall Glacier
Skagway: Klondike Summit & Liarsville
Victoria: Butchart Garden Tour

You will love the Salmon Bake and Glacier


The Lumberjack show is fun.

But make sure you see Creek Street!!

I have not been to Butchart Garden Tour in decades, but look forward to going there again next summer.
You will have a great time on your cruise.

Hi Kellorn, welcome to Cruise-Chat. You picked a great deck and a great option with the balcony. Princess is our favorite line, so far. We've sailed on Carnival, Costa, HAL, RCCL, NCL, and Princess, so far, to me, they're the best. I prefer the Caribbean since I love snorkeling/diving. The water in Alaska is just too cold for me. I've had friends that have taken the Alaska cruises and have raved about the sights, food, and itineraries. Best wishes for a fantastic cruise, and once again, welcome aboard!

Thanks for the responses....I am all set for my trip in September. I just need to book a hotel for 1 night in Seattle. Any suggestions?
I plan on seeing the Space Needle and Pike's Market while I am there.
I will not have a rental car.

quote:

Originally posted by Kellorn:
Thanks for the responses....I am all set for my trip in September. I just need to book a hotel for 1 night in Seattle. Any suggestions?
I plan on seeing the Space Needle and Pike's Market while I am there.
I will not have a rental car.

I've heard very good things about the Inn at Harbor Steps, a bed and breakfast in Seattle across from the Art Museum and near Pike Place Market and the brewery.

Cheers, Neil

My Wife and I were on Island Princess last May and we really enjoyed the whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier. Salmon bake was so so, they kept running out of everything. The train ride in skagway is a must. Have a great cruise. Rickyb

It was years ago when I stayed there, but I stayed at the Washington Plaza. It was really close to the Space Needle, unfortunately, it poured the entire time I was there. I didn't want to pay to go up and not be able to see.

quote:

I just need to book a hotel for 1 night in Seattle. Any suggestions?

The Alexis Hotel is lovely, and a nice walk to the Pike St Market. It's a small, boutique hotel with great rooms, recently refurbished, so it may be a bit pricey.

Sandy

We love this Grand class of ships (been on that class 6 times). I have mixed emotions about the Baja balconies and will try to give you the pros and cons (remember, it usually possible to change your cabin through your TA at any time). The balconies on the A and B decks are typical crusie ship balconies about 5 feet deep and 8 feet wide. They are totally covered, have 2 chairs and a small table, and a lot of privacy. Being forward is no problem (we like forward cabins because its far from propeller or engine vibrations). However, on the Grand Class Ships (this includes the Star) we think that the Caribe Deck balcony cabins are one of the best deals in cruising. Its because of the design of these ships. The balconies on Caribe are actually 9 feet deep (nearly twice the size of those on A and B decks) and have 4 chairs and a table. The first 5 feet of balcony on Caribe is covered just like those on A and B above. But, those last 4 feet are out in the open. Its nice on a sunny day although when you are sitting in the open you are in view of those in the upper A and B deck balconies. But, if you want privacy you simply stay under the covered section. To us, its a win win. The neat thing is that these Caribe Deck balconies are the same size as those in the mini-suites (they are mostly on Dolphin Deck) but unlike the mini-suite balconies (we do not like the mini balconies on D) half of the Caribe deck balcony is covered (the minis on D deck are totally uncovered and exposed to the view of those above on A B or C decks. This is probably more than you want to know. Interesting, when Princess first launched the Grand Princess they charged less for the Caribe deck balconies because they used the traditional formula of charging more as you went up to higher decks (A and B). When they realized how popular the Caribe deck was, they changed the pricing so that the Caribe deck is Cat BA and BB and generally a bit more money (not always).

Hank

I am really considering changing my Skagway shore excursion. Right now I have Klondike Summit & Liarsville booked thru Princess.
I have read several reviews raving about the White Pass Railway. Should I change excursions?
What are the top 3 Skagway excursions booked thru Princess?

I get more feedback on White Pass Rail Line than any other Alaska excursions. I've yet to have someone who didn't like it or feel it was well worth the cost. It is one of the more affordable options in a place where little is affordable. Based on the reviews I've had, it's one I'd want to do if I were going to Skagway.

Cheers, Neil

You'll be hearing more feedback from me soon, because we are doing the White Pass railway tour on our imminent cruise. I am a rail fan anyway, so this will be really special for me.

Dave I've read or heard (maybe it was on here, I'm not sure) you want seats on the left side of the train. for the best view.

Cheers, Neil

Seats on the left....it was posted here recently and that is what we plan to do.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Beers:
Seats on the left....it was posted here recently and that is what we plan to do.

It depends on two things:
Are you going up or down?
Do you want by the cliff or wall?
Assuming you want the cliff, you want the left up and right down.
Myself I preferred the outside platform.

Most want to set on the cliff side. This train is going down so it is on the right.
Notice the one person on the right...that's my wife she does not like heights of any kind.

What an amazing picture; what a story it tells!

I can sympathize with your dear wife; I also do not like heights.

Rick