Cruisin' Through Alaska...

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Today is the day!!! Have fun and have a safe trip!

[Sukoshi's Mom]

Thanks for the well wishes everyone! We're on our way! We had terrible issues a few weeks ago with US Air screwing up our plane reservation (they cancelled one leg of our flight and failed to notify us , so when I checked my itinery, it showed we couldn't get there ), and after several phone calls, long hold periods, and lots of talking with various agents, etc., they finally found us another schedule that would get us to Vancouver and "made it up" to us by upgrading us to first class for the trip to Vancouver (where the cruise departs from). I'd already used my miles to upgrade the leg of the flight from Los Angeles to Phoenix, but they upgraded us from Phoenix to Vancouver for free, so yay for them! Then, Canival called a couple months ago and said they really needed our room, and they asked if we'd mind being upgraded to a suite for free! Of course, I jumped at the opportunity. So...everything is falling into place for a wonderful 1-year anniversary so far! We just got off our first leg - from Los Angeles to Pheonix. It was the first time flying first class for either of us, and it wasn't as exciting as I was hoping (not as much legroom as I thought there would be)...but hey...the extra cushiony seat was a plus. Now...we have a 2 hour layover in Pheonix, and then we'll be on our way again. And the Pheonix airport has free wifi, so of course, I rushed to jump on YT!!!!!!

[Sukoshi's Mom]

Originally Posted by mistyinca

No need to worry about Sukoshi. She did beautifully her first night here! She and Chloe are getting along like best friends! I think I'll even start another thread with pictures and videos of the two of them while she's on her "extended sleepover!" That way, when you get back on YT, Lisa, you'll have a little scrapbook of her little vacation!

Misty - I'm so glad to hear my baby girl did so well her first night there! It sounds like Chloe and Sukoshi will just play all week, and she won't even notice I'm gone (I'm not sure how I feel about that ). Yes...please take lots of pics for Matt and I to see. I'm hoping to check in at least once during the cruise (we'll just suck up the expensive fee the cruiseline charges for internet, and I'll try to keep it short), so maybe you could PM me the link to pics/video if you post any. I'm sure I won't take the time to check lots of threads on the ship...but I'd love to see pics of Sukosh's "sleepover"! Thanks again for watching her!

[Sukoshi's Mom]

Originally Posted by bdbmamaw

Enjoy your trip!!! Hubby and I have been twice and loved each trip!!!! You are going to have a great time! And kudo's to Misty for watching your furbaby!

Tip: Don't scrimp on the Offshore Excursions! They are worth the money! And make sure you take the "Wildlife Quest and Whale Watch"! The absolute best!!!! I think it's offered in Ketchikan or Jeneau... can't remember which.

We leave in September for a cruise going to Canada and the New England States. Would love to hear comments if anyone has been on this one.

Yea - we were shocked at the price of the shore excursions for Alaska compared to our Caribbean cruises, but I think you're right that they'll be worth it! We're doing 2 excursions in each port except Sitka. Let's see...we're doing zip-lining and flightseeing in Ketchikan, glacier exploring via helicopter (where we actually land on a glacier) and "whale watching & wildlife quest" in Juneau, glacier flightseeing with dogsledding and steam train adventure in Skagway, and then kayaking in Sitka. We booked these months ago, but I'm even more excited now that you actually recommended the same whale watching excursion we're going on. My hubby wasn't keen on the idea of doing whale watching since we can do that anytime we want in SoCal, but like I told him...you don't see killer whales in SoCal, and that's what I want to see. Hopefully we spot at least one!

[Sukoshi's Mom]

Originally Posted by LuvMyPrinceKobi

I was just reading CNN.com about the 5 people in the sightseeing accident, and immediately thought of you. I just now re-read the thread and realized you are on Carnival and those five were on Sun Princess or something, so thank goodness you are okay. I hope everything goes really well and you have a safe and fun trip!

Thanks for your concern...but nope...not us! We're not even to the cruise ship yet, but we should be in about 5 hours!!!! Yay!!!! Now, if you hear any news of the Carnival Spirit, THEN you should be worried!!!! Iceberg ahead!

[bdbmamaw]

Originally Posted by Sukoshi's Mom

Yea - we were shocked at the price of the shore excursions for Alaska compared to our Caribbean cruises, but I think you're right that they'll be worth it! We're doing 2 excursions in each port except Sitka. Let's see...we're doing zip-lining and flightseeing in Ketchikan, glacier exploring via helicopter (where we actually land on a glacier) and "whale watching & wildlife quest" in Juneau, glacier flightseeing with dogsledding and steam train adventure in Skagway, and then kayaking in Sitka. We booked these months ago, but I'm even more excited now that you actually recommended the same whale watching excursion we're going on. My hubby wasn't keen on the idea of doing whale watching since we can do that anytime we want in SoCal, but like I told him...you don't see killer whales in SoCal, and that's what I want to see. Hopefully we spot at least one!

It sounds like you guys are doing the right way!!! Be sure to tell your husband that you will see a WHOLE LOT more than whales on the Wildlife Quest. We saw: sea lions, whales, eagles, bears, seals, otters, dolphin and the list goes on!!!! It was awesome both times. We did Seattle the first time and Vancouver the 2nd time. And both were good. You are going to have so much fun!!! It was the first trip we ever took that we didn't wish we were home...

[mistyinca]

Here's the new thread I started for pictures of Sukoshi while she's on her extended sleepover!
Babysitting Sukoshi

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by LuvMyPrinceKobi

I was just reading CNN.com about the 5 people in the sightseeing accident, and immediately thought of you. I just now re-read the thread and realized you are on Carnival and those five were on Sun Princess or something, so thank goodness you are okay. I hope everything goes really well and you have a safe and fun trip!

OMG, tell me about it! I heard about the crash within hours, and all I could think about was YTers. Both SukoshisMom and rowdysmom are visiting. I had to double check their itineraries before I relaxed.

The crash was horrible. Two sisters and their husbands from Massachusetts. In their 50s and 60s, I think. One recently retired.

But that tragedy aside, I hope it works out that I get to meet SukoshisMom! Maybe she'll bring some of that SoCal warmth to Alaska!

[Booboo'smommy]

Have a great time, I have cruised Alaska myself with Norwegian Cruise Line and I can say, it's beautifull. And you do have internet access. Have a wonderfull time and tell us all about it when you come back.
Maria

[camly]

i think you're alreayd in alaska but have fun! take lots of pics to show us when you come back! I'm sure sukoshi is having TOO much fun with chloe to miss you just kidding!!!

[Sukoshi's Mom]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

OMG, tell me about it! I heard about the crash within hours, and all I could think about was YTers. Both SukoshisMom and rowdysmom are visiting. I had to double check their itineraries before I relaxed.

The crash was horrible. Two sisters and their husbands from Massachusetts. In their 50s and 60s, I think. One recently retired.

But that tragedy aside, I hope it works out that I get to meet SukoshisMom! Maybe she'll bring some of that SoCal warmth to Alaska!

Well...the cruise is over , and we're back to work. Our flight left Anchorage an hour late Wednesday evening, but luckily we had an hour and a half layover scheduled in Las Vegas, so we still made our connecting flight, and we arrived home at 2:30 am yesterday (Thursday) morning. Mike (alaskayorkie) was so wonderful to pick us up from the airport so we could meet, and I must say it was so great to get to meet he and the boys! Jack and Eddie are soooooooo cute, and Jack is so tiny in person...Sukoshi's size! Mike was so nice to pick us up from the airport after Carnival transferred us there from the cruise ship (which docked in Whittier, AK), and then we grabbed a bite to eat and went back to Jack and Eddie's house...um...I mean Mike's house for awhile to chat. I got to see Jack spinning and Eddie running his agility course. They are both so adorable! And Mike was so wonderful! Thanks again Mike!!!!

Speaking of this plane crash, when we got our shore excursion tickets, we also got a note that our floatplane excursion had been cancelled because the tour was not currently in operation. I was pretty upset about it (I'd REALLY been looking forward to experiencing a floatplane), until I learned in Ketchikan that the company we'd originally booked our shore excursion through was "not currently in operation" because they were the company that had the plane crash ! Apparently they're closed pending an FAA investigation. So...we ended up booking another floatplane tour with a pilot who's been flying in the Misty Fjords for 30 years (the pilot with the other company who died in the plane crash had only been flying in Ketchikan since April - a retired Navy man apparently), and we didn't have any problems. But it was a sobering moment to realize the tour we'd booked was the one that had crashed earlier in the week . Other than that moment though, the entire cruise was absolutely amazing, and one I would most certainly take again in the future. It was better than either of the other 2 cruises I've taken so far, and our shore excursions were amazing! Thanks again everyone for your well wishes! I'm looking forward to getting caught up on what I missed on YT while I was away!

[Wylie's Mom]

Pics please!

[alaskayorkie]

Thanks for the kind words, Lisa. We really enjoyed your visit, and Eddie LOVES the soccer balls you brought them. He waits for me to come home every night with one in his mouth.

That was a great "review" of your trip. My family has been talking about doing the same trip for a few years now, so I'll tell them to go for it. Just make sure their floatplane pilot has experience!

Thanks again for visiting.

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I cant wait to see pics!!!

[Yorkiekids]

Please take lots of pictures to share. A lot of us will never get a chance to go and see what you will. Glad you got such a great babysitter.