Preparing to take a cruise: I have questions!
April 1, 2014 in Inspiration
Okay, People, I need your help!
In July, we’re taking a cruise as a family.
I know, we don’t exactly seem like cruising people, do we? We’re more of the boots and a backpack, hammock and a dusty truck, tent sleeping, chicken bus and train hopping, get there the hard way sorts of people, don’t we? Perhaps we are, which is why I need your help!
Ten years ago we committed to going on this cruise with chosen family, to celebrate a 25th anniversary. We agreed that it would be a lovely big family holiday, and “last hurrah” before the teenagers start leaving the nest. It seemed a great way to meet in the middle, do something that will be fun for everyone and see something new.
I always imagined myself taking a Caribbean cruise and island hopping, if I did one at all. Snorkeling in crystal clear water, drinking from coconuts on the beach and basking in the warm. Instead, we’re taking a cruise to Alaska, the one remaining state I’ve not set foot in. I can’t wait to see the glaciers from the ocean side, but I suspect there will be no swimming in the ice blue water!
Cruising is a new concept for us: fancy dinners (I’m buying up evening wear at resale shops at the moment!) endless food buffets and entertainment on the Lido deck. I’m not sure I’ll know what to do with myself in that sort of travel! I have independent adventure travel with a tribe down to a science, but this cruising thing has left me feeling quite out of my depth. I don’t know what to expect, what to pack, or if we’ll even like it!!
So here are the challenges, and perhaps some of you, who have traveled this way before, can help me.
- Time. I need to get everything organized for the cruise (end of July) before mid-May when we all disperse for six weeks of solo adventures: Hannah is backpacking in Europe with her friend. Gabe is interning at a farm. Elisha has a job in the mid-west. The big boys are going sailing for a month with Gramps. Tony and Ez are camping out at an off the grid cabin in Canada May-July. We will reconvene only one week before the cruise. This makes logistics challenging.
- Clothing. WHAT do I need to pack for a one week Alaska cruise? We are the family of three outfits each and nothing too fancy.
- Laundry. Can I do laundry on board or do I need to pack for a whole week?
- Activities. What will there be available to do for the teens? There must be stuff, right?
- Health. I’m worried about the germ factor. Seriously. I’m worried. Should I be? How do we not get sick with thousands of our closest friends?
- Connectivity. Will there be any? Or should we just plan to be right off the grid for that week?
- Tips. I’ve never done this before. Do you have any tips or tricks that a newbie (like me) won’t know about?
Have you taken a cruise? Did you like it? I need some words of wisdom and encouragement here, people!
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From my research, there is wifi, there are many different activities including some ships having rock climbing walls. As for germs, I would take tea tree, lavender which both have great germ busting capabilities. This is what I always use to clean laundry, clean fresh food and even add to the water if needed. The cruise website will have a link to the ship being used and will tell what facilities it has. Laundry is available on the ships too. Hopes this helps and I look forward to the post about the cruise 🙂
Most of your questions will be answered on the cruise ship Web site. They’ve heard them all before.
You have so many dining options, you don’t need to have a different dressy outfit every night and even if you did wear the same outfit, no one would say anything.
PLENTY of activities for everyone of every age. Again, depends on the ship.
Regarding illness — wash your hands frequently — with the sanitizer stations or soap and water and for at least 30 seconds. Wash after you shake hands, walk along a handrail, push an elevator button, etc. Realize that you hear about these norovirus outbreaks because they are so rare, but they do happen. If you’re ever going to be paranoid, this is the time.
The last time I went to Alaska, I heard the average age is 72 with lots of regrets that the visit hadn’t been done sooner so it could be done again. Talk to those average age people because they have a long lifetime of experiences to share.
Remember, the birds are puffins, not penguins. The ice in the glacier is blue because it’s so dense the light can’t get through. The growing season is 100 days and they grow an amazing amount of stuff. It’s light late and early.
Enjoy and start making plans to return.
I thought I would hate cruising a few years ago too..but then we took a cruise and it ended up being great. You don’t have to pack anything too fancy. Alaska is cold and wet most of the time, so I packed like we were hiking near our home in Seattle and it was fine. Many cruise lines have formal dinners or dress codes, so we did bring one nice outfit and skipped the formal dining room on the real dress up days. We were able to do laundry onboard, no problem. The best part of the cruise was free kids/teen activities that lasted almost all day except for meals – we signed our kids up and they happily abandoned us. Leaving me with more free time to read than I had had for most of my adult life (hence part of loving the cruise). There will be internet connectivity, but it will be slow and expensive – I spent about 10 minutes a day checking email, etc. I would also check out cruise critic.com as they have a lot of helpful info. Are you sailing out of Seattle? If you are going to be in Seattle and want to do some touring let us know – You don’t actually know me, but I am a long time reader of your blog and would be happy to show your family around or make recommendations!
Just take one pair of black trousers and then 3 diff tops that you can change around for each night…take scarves, shawls to change the look. Laundry is usually expensive onboard…I just do my own in the shower NB do not leave out on the balcony overnight as it gets salt coated and ruins zips!!! 1 week isn’t long so prob not required. Internet is usually expensive and unreliable. Love cruising …. Lots of reading time or you can always enter into all the onboard entertainment.
Jen, Alaska is one of my favorite places although I’ve never cruised there. The most recent time, my son and I went gold prospecting and drove 1000 miles all over the state… we went all the way up to the arctic circle in May (still lots of snow). The other time I went was when I was in College many moons ago and that was over Christmas break. You only see a small portion of Alaska from the ship but I’m sure you’ll love it.
As far as cruising, although I haven’t done one in Alaska I’ve done two in the Caribbean on different cruise lines, there is nothing to it, show up and they do the rest, much like that fancy hotel you stayed at in Australia. Dining options depend on the Cruise line but all you need is one nice outfit the rest is casual. Usually have the option for casual or fancy dining so we did some of each. Washing machines and Irons are usually available but we never used them. You can pack for a week why do you need a washer? Internet is available but ridiculously expensive so we didn’t use that either. They always have lots of photographers snapping pictures of you and then they try to sell you the pictures (expensive again) but we always end up buying some anyway. Hope this helps, wish I was going with you!
Thanks everyone… so glad to hear there is generally laundry on board. We don’t have a full week’s worth of clothes! Too much to pack! We are treating this as a reconnaissance trip and hoping to spend more time exploring Alaska by land in the future. It’s the only state I haven’t been to, so it’s exciting to cap off the USA this year! Mary Ellen… thank you so much for the kind invite. I’ll send you an email. I’d love to at least connect for coffee when we’re in Seattle!
Jenn, I did the cruise to Alaska- not my idea but so my mom could go. The shore excursions were fascinating to me- I had read Michener’s Alaska. The integration of the native culture with the Russian, especially when you factor in the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church connected East and West across space and time. We had a tour guide in Sitka who was raised by her grandmother and this young woman had learned and was using all the native plants and herbs. Most everything on the ship was casual dress and you will need jackets- it can be cold and blustery on the deck, and you will want be out there to see the glaciers. We had rangers on board who helped us learn about the uniqueness of the land. Take along something for motion sickness, there is one night out at sea and it can be rough. For the germs, take some salt and gargle then swab out your nasal passages each night with warm salt water, and drink hot tea at bedtime. If you kill the germs before they get to your lungs and wash them into your stomach you will be the healthy ones.
I would be delighted to host you if you want to stay with me both before and after your cruise. I have a queen, a double, and several air beds. By then my bathroom remodel will be done so there will be two full baths! And I can get you to and from the cruise center.
I actually think this is the best choice for your family cruise. It is less about self-focus, and more about adventure. There is so much to learn, the culture, the geography and how the gold rush in Alaska put Seattle on the map.
Granwa
I have never cruised on a ship. We have gone to Alaska in 2000 and it was a trip of a lifetime!! I made sure I saw everything I wanted to in case we didn’t get back. Now we are planning to go as a family sometime in the near future. Not sure this info will help as it isn’t about “cruising”, but about Alaska in general…If you get a chance stop for a tour of a sled dog kennel. I know there is lots of controversy about sled dogs, but they are integral part of Alaskan history and very interesting. If you get a chance to go on a Denali tour to see the big animals( moose, bear, Dall sheep) DO IT! It was a long tour, if I remember right it was 8 hrs, but I would do it again in a heart beat and plan to with my kids. Have fun! Alaska is a very beautiful and diverse place.
Hi Jen,
Alaska was our first trip and we loved it. Casual clothes quite OK (I like the idea of black trousers with 3 different tops and scarves. Brilliant packing!). We skipped the Formal nights – there are always many eating options, and the buffets allow multiple choices. Only downside is the gluttony exhibited by some passengers. The 2 or 3 times you may need to dress up are the Captain’s dinner (Formal) and the dress up nights (not so formal but an excuse for those who like to feel “classy” and those who love bling).
We found the organised shore excursions very overpriced. Some research before you go and teaming up with your friends allows you to see the same things at a much reduced cost. There are always taxis, buses and entrepreneurial people waiting to show you the local and not-so-local places, but be sure to get back at the stated time. The ship will not wait for late comers. Ships make little money on their cabins and lots of money on grog and shore excursions, the gym and the beauty spa.
Infection – always a risk in a confined space, so out on the deck looking at the spectacular scenery has many additional positives (Caps, gloves, scarves and coats.) The liquid antibacterial stuff only works if your hands are WETTED with it. The tiny amount the staff put on your hands is ineffective – that was a real bugbear for the microbiologist NHC – so either take some of your own, or ask for two pumps each time it is applied.
Washing we did daily – only the “smalls”. (Take a line and pegs for each cabin and put up with the ‘Chinese laundry’ look). Wear outer clothes as often as needed. Who cares??? Activities on board are varied and wide ranging, both for adults and kids. I agree about the Internet. Costly and slow. Maybe the week off line will test you all, but factor it into your mental preparation for the cruise. Hope you have a really fabulous time and get to enjoy the lectures, the provided meals, the extra reading time and the amazing scenery.
I thought this was an April Fools’ joke at first. Can’t wait to hear your reflections after the event, especially after reading people’s comments. Alaska sounds like a Bucket List item now.