SueC

I'd probably go..if I could get my sisters or a friend to go along. I'm on the shy side and I don't think I'd have a very good time alone. My sisters and I take a vacation together, just the 3 of us, every June and have a ball, but we also take a vacation every year with our spouses, either all of us, some of us or just as a couple.

The first time we went to Alaska in 2000 we didn't have a balcony. This time, we did and I loved it. There's always something to see, and sometimes it gets pretty windy and chilly on deck. Relaxing in our cabin, or on our own balcony and watching the world go by was very peaceful. However..I'm not sure I'd splurge for one in the Caribbean. There's much more going on out on deck than there was in Alaska. The last time we were in the Caribbean though, we did have a window...which I would do again.

We went to Alaska in 2000 and cruised Glacier Bay...it was awesome. We cruised again a month ago and cruised Tracy Arm, and did a land tour that included Mendenhall Glacier....it also was awesome. The first time we did the land tour first, then the cruise. This time it was just the cruise and I honestly preferred just the cruise. (Didn't have to have seperate luggage for the overnighters in different places for one thing.) We did entirely different land tours this time, and I think we saw a lot more. I'd go back again just because, as others said, there is so much to see. No way does one or two cruises cover it. P.S. This time we did the Yukon Jeep off roading adventure with NCL...it was absolutely worth the being bounced around in a jeep for 20 miles. The 90 miles of scenery on The Yukon Highway is breath taking!! Especially in September..the fall flowers were in bloom, and the mountains were gorgeous!

Thanks so much for the "welcome back". I can't say I was as glad to be back to work as the boss was to have me. Ahh well...it's the paychecks that make the cruises possible. (I keep reminding myself.)

We've never had a long wait whether it was embarking or disembarking. Our cruise that started Sept. 2, we landed at Sea-Tac airport at 10:30, (28 min. early..imagine THAT!) collected our luggage, put the cruise tags on them, used NCL transfers, arrived at Bell St. Pier, #66 at about 11:50, and was on board, at the buffet enjoying lunch by 12:30. Can't complain about that one bit! Unfortunatly getting off was just as quick, but much more painful. :wink:

We just got back, yesterday, from 7 days in Alaska on the NCL Sun. It was cool, (mid to upper 50's ) but dressing in layers helped. A water repellant jacket or rain coat is almost a must. None of our excursions were cancelled, we did the Whale watch, Wildlife Quest in Juneau, in Stephen's Passage. Saw a lot of whales, and a small island where there were probably 120 sea lions lounging about. It rained for one short bit, but then was just cloudy to very partly sunny. Also did the Lighthouse, Eagle and Totems excursion in Ketchican, and a Yukon Jeep adventure in Skagway. DH and BIL even did the helicopter glacier thing in Skagway. Went up with no problems. D sister and I stayed on the ground and wandered about town and shopped. I really enjoyed having the balconey, this was a first for us, because you had the comfort of your cabin while still being able to see the awesome scenery. We had the door open most of the time...the balconey was protected enough that there was very little wind, and the rain never came in. But like everyone else has said.....the scenery makes it all worth while. Last week the fall flowers had begun to bloom and some of the mountains in the Yukon were just carpeted with gold, red, and purple....just breath taking.

I had no idea which ship it is, but I'd love to be there...and what's with all those empty deck chairs? Must be a port day or dinner time.

I'm not so sure this being an independent tour is really even a factor. Think about some of the tours you've been on in the Caribbean..some of those roads are pretty darn scarey. This accident could have happened on a ship sponsored tour just as easily.

I think if I had my docs a whole month before the cruise, they'd be dog-earred, faded and just plain worn out from being read and re-read over and over. CONGRATS on the dance! Get Down!! :cheesy:

More Info: MIAMI – March 23, 2006 – Celebrity Cruises is confirming information provided by authorities in Arica, Chile, regarding its Millennium guests who were involved in yesterday’s tragic bus accident. “We have spent the past 24 hours in almost constant contact with the families of our guests involved in yesterday’s terrible accident,†said Dan Hanrahan, president of Celebrity Cruises. “We also have been working around the clock with Chilean officials and can now confirm the names of those involved. Our most sincere condolences go out to all the families and friends who have been impacted by this heartbreaking event.†Formal confirmation of death falls under the jurisdiction of the Arica, Chile, medical examiner. Celebrity Cruises continues to cooperate fully with all local authorities to assist the injured and families of the deceased. Confirmed deceased: 1. Carole Ruchelman, 63, of Monroe Township, NJ 2. Miriam Diamond, 75, of Monroe Township, NJ 3. Linda Greenfield, 63, of Stamford, CT 4. Ira Greenfield, 67, of Stamford, CT 5. Marvin Bier, 79, of Monroe Township, NJ 6. Shirley Bier, 76, of Monroe Township, NJ 7. Maria Eggers, 71, of Monroe Township, NJ 8. Hans Eggers, 72, of Monroe Township, NJ 9. Robert Rubin, 72, of Monroe Township, NJ 10. Barbara Rubin, 69, of Monroe Township, NJ 11. Frieda Kovar, 74, of Monroe Township, NJ 12. Arthur Kovar, 67, of Monroe Township, NJ Confirmed injured and in stable condition: 1. Harold Ruchelman, 68, of Monroe Township, NJ 2. Bernard Diamond, 68, of Monroe Township, NJ Celebrity Cruises will provide additional information regarding this matter as it becomes available. Information will also be posted on the Celebrity Cruises web site at http://www.celebrity.com.

Long weekend road trip to FL from OH over Easter weekend for my aunt's 82nd birthday bash, a week in Old Orchard Park ME with my sisters in June and CRUISE on NCL Sun to Alaska with my dh, sister and B-I-L the first week in Sept. That will pretty much use up all my vacation time. :wink:

Bon Voyage..have a great time...raise a frozen drink for the rest of us. :wink:

I don't know where the picture was taken, but with 4"+ of new snow today...I'd sure like to be there!!!

Back to the Naval Academy for me also.......I got 9 right..but I knew what the Beauford Scale was.....