GM's Thread About Everything/GM's Thread About Nothing (8 Viewers)

[krista4]

Have any of you been on a cruise? I have never wanted to go on one but am planning to take my mom and stepfather to Alaska so it's kind of required. I am finding all the booking options so damn confusing. Any tips? One specific question: for some reason the middle of any particular deck is more expensive than the front or the aft (I'm sure there's a technical term for "front" I don't know)--why is this?

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

why is it required?

I went to Alaska and didn't take a cruise. Well, there was a day trip on a boat to see some glaciers and stuff, but not sure that qualifies.

 

[urbanhack]

nocruises.com

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Just realized I put my boxers on backward today

I seem to do this about once a month

 

[kevzilla]

Not a cruise expert, but "fore" is the word you seek.

 

[Limp Ditka]

I've been on two and had a great time on both. Regardless, I don't think I'd ever go on one of those floating Petri dishes again.

 

[kevzilla]

Or "bow" and "stern".

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Have any of you been on a cruise? I have never wanted to go on one but am planning to take my mom and stepfather to Alaska so it's kind of required. I am finding all the booking options so damn confusing. Any tips? One specific question: for some reason the middle of any particular deck is more expensive than the front or the aft (I'm sure there's a technical term for "front" I don't know)--why is this?

My aunt somehow did a national geographic cruise in Alaska. That seems much more interesting than the diseased booze cruises.

 

[krista4]

Have any of you been on a cruise? I have never wanted to go on one but am planning to take my mom and stepfather to Alaska so it's kind of required. I am finding all the booking options so damn confusing. Any tips? One specific question: for some reason the middle of any particular deck is more expensive than the front or the aft (I'm sure there's a technical term for "front" I don't know)--why is this?

My aunt somehow did a national geographic cruise in Alaska. That seems much more interesting than the diseased booze cruises.

Yeah, that's one of the two companies I'm considering. There is also a company called "Un-Cruise" that I know a lot about from their participation in the Race to Alaska. Their largest cruise "ship" holds 84 passengers.

 

[Abraham]

I have done an Alaskan cruise. It's awesome. The middle rooms are more expensive because they experience the least amount of turbulence and are quieter.

 

[krista4]

I have done an Alaskan cruise. It's awesome. The middle rooms are more expensive because they experience the least amount of turbulence and are quieter.

Thanks. Is the general rule of thumb also that the higher the deck the better?

 

[Abraham]

I have done an Alaskan cruise. It's awesome. The middle rooms are more expensive because they experience the least amount of turbulence and are quieter.

Thanks. Is the general rule of thumb also that the higher the deck the better?

Yes. And even though you aren't likely to spend a ton of time in your room, the smaller rooms on cruise ships really feel small. It's worth a few extra bucks to not feel cramped. 7 days sleeping in a closet size area will start to drive you nuts.

 

[UOFI_316]

My parents have taken a few alaskan cruises, make sure if you get an outside cabin that it is on the correct side of the cruise ship. You don't want to pay extra to see the ocean the entire time.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Have any of you been on a cruise? I have never wanted to go on one but am planning to take my mom and stepfather to Alaska so it's kind of required. I am finding all the booking options so damn confusing. Any tips? One specific question: for some reason the middle of any particular deck is more expensive than the front or the aft (I'm sure there's a technical term for "front" I don't know)--why is this?

Be suspicious if Dr. Bricker offers to come to your cabin to check your porthole.

 

[Ignoramus]

My parents have taken a few alaskan cruises, make sure if you get an outside cabin that it is on the correct side of the cruise ship. You don't want to pay extra to see the ocean the entire time.

This is probably a dumb question but don't the views get switched on the return trip? So if you saw the ocean on the way there you'd see the land on the way back?

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

My parents have taken a few alaskan cruises, make sure if you get an outside cabin that it is on the correct side of the cruise ship. You don't want to pay extra to see the ocean the entire time.

This is probably a dumb question but don't the views get switched on the return trip? So if you saw the ocean on the way there you'd see the land on the way back?

No. Once they get to Skagway they just put the ####er in reverse until they get back to Seattle.

 

[Abraham]

My parents have taken a few alaskan cruises, make sure if you get an outside cabin that it is on the correct side of the cruise ship. You don't want to pay extra to see the ocean the entire time.

This is probably a dumb question but don't the views get switched on the return trip? So if you saw the ocean on the way there you'd see the land on the way back?

Many cruises don't have a return trip. We left from Vancouver and ended up on Anchorage or somewhere. But on ours we were in a sound or inlet most of the way. One night out on open water. So it didn't matter what side you were on.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

why is a cruise a requirement?

planes > cruises

 

[Limp Ditka]

My parents have taken a few alaskan cruises, make sure if you get an outside cabin that it is on the correct side of the cruise ship. You don't want to pay extra to see the ocean the entire time.

This is probably a dumb question but don't the views get switched on the return trip? So if you saw the ocean on the way there you'd see the land on the way back?

No. Once they get to Skagway they just put the ####er in reverse until they get back to Seattle.

Speaking of skags, did we ever get the story about you roughing up your sister?

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

My parents have taken a few alaskan cruises, make sure if you get an outside cabin that it is on the correct side of the cruise ship. You don't want to pay extra to see the ocean the entire time.

This is probably a dumb question but don't the views get switched on the return trip? So if you saw the ocean on the way there you'd see the land on the way back?

No. Once they get to Skagway they just put the ####er in reverse until they get back to Seattle.

Speaking of skags, did we ever get the story about you roughing up your sister?

No and not sure if/when it will happen.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

why is a cruise a requirement?

planes > cruises

Cruises are easier especially for older folk or inexperienced travelers. You get on the boat. You do a bunch of stuff. You get off the boat. WALA

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

why is a cruise a requirement?

planes > cruises

Cruises are easier especially for older folk or inexperienced travelers. You get on the boat. You do a bunch of stuff. You get off the boat. WALA

so it's required because they are old, and not because it's Alaska?

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

why is a cruise a requirement?

planes > cruises

Cruises are easier especially for older folk or inexperienced travelers. You get on the boat. You do a bunch of stuff. You get off the boat. WALA

so it's required because they are old, and not because it's Alaska?

both?

 

[krista4]

why is a cruise a requirement?

planes > cruises

Cruises are easier especially for older folk or inexperienced travelers. You get on the boat. You do a bunch of stuff. You get off the boat. WALA

so it's required because they are old, and not because it's Alaska?

both?

Yep, it's the combo factor here.

 

[Henry Ford]

Wife just attacked me and did things to me that are illegal in several states after I finished working on her car. Then told me just just had to attack me when she saw my undershirt stained with grease and blood from the battle with the engine. Reminded her of a young me.

I didn't have the heart to tell her the shirt was stained with chocolate and jelly from my celebratory donut. :(

My wife has now twice (after the day it happened) mentioned this shirt while seducing me. I'm beginning to feel like a fraud.

 

[General Malaise]

How many more offspring before GM is considered an executive reproducer?

What's that pay?

 

[General Malaise]

I need a crappy black watch for a Halloween costume so I took a quick look for 'Black Watch' on Amazon

Filtered by Prime, then price, lowest to highest.

I did not filter by department.

Do it yourself and let me know what you get

Why don't you just tell us what happened?

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Hey guys I've got this really great story about something funny that happened

Maybe I'll post about it later

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

I need a crappy black watch for a Halloween costume so I took a quick look for 'Black Watch' on Amazon

Filtered by Prime, then price, lowest to highest.

I did not filter by department.

Do it yourself and let me know what you get

Why don't you just tell us what happened?

Hey guys I've got this really great story about something funny that happened

Maybe I'll post about it later

I can't. I don't want to talk about it. Leave me alone. You wouldn't understand.

 

[Sammy3469]

Wife just attacked me and did things to me that are illegal in several states after I finished working on her car. Then told me just just had to attack me when she saw my undershirt stained with grease and blood from the battle with the engine. Reminded her of a young me.

I didn't have the heart to tell her the shirt was stained with chocolate and jelly from my celebratory donut. :(

My wife has now twice (after the day it happened) mentioned this shirt while seducing me. I'm beginning to feel like a fraud.

Beginning?

 

[Frostillicus]

I need a crappy black watch for a Halloween costume so I took a quick look for 'Black Watch' on Amazon

Filtered by Prime, then price, lowest to highest.

I did not filter by department.

Do it yourself and let me know what you get

Why don't you just tell us what happened?

Hey guys I've got this really great story about something funny that happened

Maybe I'll post about it later

I can't. I don't want to talk about it. Leave me alone. You wouldn't understand.

It's not your fault.

 

[General Malaise]

Went on an Alaskan Cruise via Norwegian when Kellen was 6 months old. I'm glad I did it, but I would never do a cruise again.

Pros:

- Terrific scenery and up-close views of things I'd never seen before and probably won't see again like:
1) Giant, awe inspiring glaciers calving in plain site.

2) Big asssssss whales right up close on a whale watching excursion in Juneau.

3) Bald Eagles so close I felt like I could pet them.
4) Watching an island of bears do bear things like walk on all fours and be hairy.

5) Soaking in all the unfettered beauty of land unmolested by mankind.

- Being able to walk to a casino in minutes.

- Some of the food. Our cruise was all-inclusive for food so long as you ate at their Old Country Buffet style restaurants with mediocre food and crowds of gluttons who seem to enjoy jello salads, mystery fish and soft serve yogurt. Much better was paying a $10 or $20 cover to enjoy the finer dining options which may or may not be an added charge to your final bill.

Cons:

- The added costs of everything. I'm a drinker. I like my booze. They charge pretty high prices for this and screen you hard for bringing outside booze on to the boat.

- Everybody has their hand out. I get it, cruise workers are paid like a citizen of Burundi and I know they are there for the tips. But lordy be, the hovering around until cash is exchanged gets awfully old awfully fast.
- On tipping, it pissed me off pretty hard that when you do buy a beer, you run swipe your card and out pops a receipt. No matter what, that transaction comes with an automatic 15% tip. Then there is a tip line underneath that. Nobody tells you about the 15% automatic gratuity. I think I tipped 30% for a few days until somebody in my party pointed it out to me. Shame on me, but come on...I walk around like Mr. Magoo. I'm not going to notice such things. A heads up would be nice, my cruise ticket alone was very expensive.

- Being able to walk to a casino in seconds. I won $1,500 playing BJ one night. I lost $800 the next.

- The endless selling of jewelry. You learn immediately how rare and hard to find Tanzanite is, but they have it, boy, do they have it. Felt like a giant floating infomercial at times.

- On that note, if you don't book excursions in Skagway or Ketchikan because you are saddles with a 6-month old baby, you learn that each town is just a few blocks of jewelry stores selling tanzanite, t-shirt shops, coffee shop, deli and MAYBE a bar. Skagway even had a brew pub, which sounded great until you learned THEY DON'T HAVE ANY BEER FOR SALE!!!! You kidding me? Could buy a t-shirt though of this fake brewery.

- Seeing the same people over and over, especially if you have an obnoxious group on your ship and we did. Giant family from the North East that whined and complained incessantly. Their small kids ran amuck making any dining experience impossible to enjoy if you were near them. Loudly complaining and just an awful group of people. Sometimes you hear about people "falling" overboard? Yeah, another day of them and I think some "falling" would have happened on our vessel.

- The bill at the end. I'm not a country club guy so I don't encounter this, but after the full week, you get a bill of everything you enjoyed that wasn't part of your ginormous cover charge ticket. Again, if you like teh boozes, this can be a bit of a gut punch at the end.

We had an inside room. That was a mistake. I should have paid more for a room with a view, but that was a lot more money at the time and we were a one income family with a small kid and it was my 2nd year in the hedge fund biz, which wasn't very lucrative.

I would have booked more excursions in our ports if we didn't have a 6 month old.

I would never again do a GIANT cruise with so many other passengers. If you generally hate crowds and stupid people, avoid this at all costs.

TL;DR, I agree with Rude. I'd get a condo or a lodge and book some trips to see Alaska with a base. I'd cook my own meals or dine at restaurants. I'd rent a car.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

I flew into Anchorage, rented a car and drove down to Seward (stopped at Alyeska for one night first). Took a day cruise to see glaciers and tons of wildlife, whales, etc. Then drove up to Denali and saw that. Then drove back to Anchorage and flew home. Was only there for 4 days so packed a lot in but saw a ton of stuff. Would like to do a plane trip around Denali if I went back as you can't see a ton from the main road since it's cloudy like 80% of the time. The scenery while driving is amazing just about everywhere you go.

Most of the cruise stories I've heard sound like hell to me, but I'm sure there must be decent options available somewhere.

 

[El Floppo]

Went on an Alaskan Cruise via Norwegian when Kellen was 6 months old. I'm glad I did it, but I would never do a cruise again.

Pros:

- Terrific scenery and up-close views of things I'd never seen before and probably won't see again like:

1) Giant, awe inspiring glaciers calving in plain site.

2) Big asssssss whales right up close on a whale watching excursion in Juneau.

3) Bald Eagles so close I felt like I could pet them.

4) Watching an island of bears do bear things like walk on all fours and be hairy.

5) Soaking in all the unfettered beauty of land unmolested by mankind.

- Being able to walk to a casino in minutes.

- Some of the food. Our cruise was all-inclusive for food so long as you ate at their Old Country Buffet style restaurants with mediocre food and crowds of gluttons who seem to enjoy jello salads, mystery fish and soft serve yogurt. Much better was paying a $10 or $20 cover to enjoy the finer dining options which may or may not be an added charge to your final bill.

I know this was your point- but all of your pros seem to have nothing to do with taking a cruise (aside from the casino thing).

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

4) Watching an island of bears do bear things like walk on all fours and be hairy.

Pretty much trumps all of your cons.

 

[Limp Ditka]

I need a crappy black watch for a Halloween costume so I took a quick look for 'Black Watch' on Amazon

Filtered by Prime, then price, lowest to highest.

I did not filter by department.

Do it yourself and let me know what you get

Why don't you just tell us what happened?

Shock factor? Pretty boring if I tell you what happened instead of stumbling upon a bunch of cuckold inter-racial pr0n results yourself

 

[Limp Ditka]

4) Watching an island of bears do bear things like walk on all fours and be hairy.

Pretty much trumps all of your cons.

Especially when you get the chance to see Cutler walking by, enjoying a smoke without a care in the world.

 

[General Malaise]

Went on an Alaskan Cruise via Norwegian when Kellen was 6 months old. I'm glad I did it, but I would never do a cruise again.

Pros:

- Terrific scenery and up-close views of things I'd never seen before and probably won't see again like:

1) Giant, awe inspiring glaciers calving in plain site.

2) Big asssssss whales right up close on a whale watching excursion in Juneau.

3) Bald Eagles so close I felt like I could pet them.

4) Watching an island of bears do bear things like walk on all fours and be hairy.

5) Soaking in all the unfettered beauty of land unmolested by mankind.

- Being able to walk to a casino in minutes.

- Some of the food. Our cruise was all-inclusive for food so long as you ate at their Old Country Buffet style restaurants with mediocre food and crowds of gluttons who seem to enjoy jello salads, mystery fish and soft serve yogurt. Much better was paying a $10 or $20 cover to enjoy the finer dining options which may or may not be an added charge to your final bill.

I know this was your point- but all of your pros seem to have nothing to do with taking a cruise (aside from the casino thing).

Well, the cruise ship did sidle up nicely to this giant glacier...not sure how else I would have seen it without a private plane taking me near enough to drop me off on another boat which would drift me in closer.

Also, most of the scenery was soaked in via the decks of the cruise ship, so that was kind of cruise related.

And I think most of my food anecdotes applied to the cruise.

Sorry I posted my thoughts, I guess.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

I need a crappy black watch for a Halloween costume so I took a quick look for 'Black Watch' on Amazon

Filtered by Prime, then price, lowest to highest.

I did not filter by department.

Do it yourself and let me know what you get

Why don't you just tell us what happened?

Shock factor? Pretty boring if I tell you what happened instead of stumbling upon a bunch of cuckold inter-racial pr0n results yourself

http://www.tartans.scotland.net/Tartans/wr1r.gif

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Sorry I posted my thoughts, I guess.

I'm finishing all of my posts from now on with that sentence.

 

[El Floppo]

Went on an Alaskan Cruise via Norwegian when Kellen was 6 months old. I'm glad I did it, but I would never do a cruise again.

Pros:

- Terrific scenery and up-close views of things I'd never seen before and probably won't see again like:

1) Giant, awe inspiring glaciers calving in plain site.

2) Big asssssss whales right up close on a whale watching excursion in Juneau.

3) Bald Eagles so close I felt like I could pet them.

4) Watching an island of bears do bear things like walk on all fours and be hairy.

5) Soaking in all the unfettered beauty of land unmolested by mankind.

- Being able to walk to a casino in minutes.

- Some of the food. Our cruise was all-inclusive for food so long as you ate at their Old Country Buffet style restaurants with mediocre food and crowds of gluttons who seem to enjoy jello salads, mystery fish and soft serve yogurt. Much better was paying a $10 or $20 cover to enjoy the finer dining options which may or may not be an added charge to your final bill.

I know this was your point- but all of your pros seem to have nothing to do with taking a cruise (aside from the casino thing).

Well, the cruise ship did sidle up nicely to this giant glacier...not sure how else I would have seen it without a private plane taking me near enough to drop me off on another boat which would drift me in closer.

Also, most of the scenery was soaked in via the decks of the cruise ship, so that was kind of cruise related.

And I think most of my food anecdotes applied to the cruise.

Sorry I posted my thoughts, I guess.

I hate your thoughts.



figured all of those pros could've been done on day trips too. but nice and convenient that it was all seen from the cruise ship.

 

[Thorn]

My parents have taken a few alaskan cruises, make sure if you get an outside cabin that it is on the correct side of the cruise ship. You don't want to pay extra to see the ocean the entire time.

the ships don't come back?

 

[krista4]

Lots of info here to digest from folks. Thanks for the posts from all, especially GM's. It's good to see Aaron's post of how he did AK without the cruise, too. If it were just the two of us, I would do that, and it might be that I'm just being lazy, but it feels like this particular trip would work better in terms of the septuagenarians if we cruised. A big factor there is also that we will all have a menu of things to do and we will not all have to do the same things all the time nor will I have to be in charge of everything all the time. Also I do think the ships can get to places on the Inside Passage that you can't get to in a day trip.

As for some of the cons on GM's post, I'm only looking at cruises where the booze is included (so long as you don't require the super-premium stuff, which is extra) and would definitely be getting outside rooms with verandahs/balconies. I'm not looking at ships big enough to have a casino. The tipping part will suck as will the seeing the same groups of people, especially if obnoxious.

All good food for thought--thanks.

 

[Thorn]

I need a crappy black watch for a Halloween costume so I took a quick look for 'Black Watch' on Amazon

Filtered by Prime, then price, lowest to highest.

I did not filter by department.

Do it yourself and let me know what you get

Why don't you just tell us what happened?

Hey guys I've got this really great story about something funny that happened

Maybe I'll post about it later

I can't. I don't want to talk about it. Leave me alone. You wouldn't understand.

It's not your fault, chief.

 

[krista4]

My parents have taken a few alaskan cruises, make sure if you get an outside cabin that it is on the correct side of the cruise ship. You don't want to pay extra to see the ocean the entire time.

the ships don't come back?

Almost all of those I've looked at don't. You fly one way.

 

[krista4]

Also won't be traveling with a six-month-old that I know of.

 

[General Malaise]

A smaller, more intimate cruise with a higher cover charge including booze might be the perfect way to go and eliminate some of the riffraff. A lady and her husband I used to work with did an Alaskan cruise when 9/11 hit (I was her backup at the time and remember thinking "how the hell am I going to get a hold of her?). They loved their experience (outside of learning about 9/11). I think they had to dress up for meals and sat with the same group of people, but they actually made lifelong friends with these people.

My experience felt like I was dining at Denny's a lot of the time.

 

[General Malaise]

Also won't be traveling with a six-month-old that I know of.

Oh, I can arrange for that, my friend.

 

[heckmanm]

I flew into Anchorage, rented a car and drove down to Seward (stopped at Alyeska for one night first). Took a day cruise to see glaciers and tons of wildlife, whales, etc. Then drove up to Denali and saw that. Then drove back to Anchorage and flew home. Was only there for 4 days so packed a lot in but saw a ton of stuff. Would like to do a plane trip around Denali if I went back as you can't see a ton from the main road since it's cloudy like 80% of the time. The scenery while driving is amazing just about everywhere you go.

Most of the cruise stories I've heard sound like hell to me, but I'm sure there must be decent options available somewhere.

Very similar to what I did, although I also took a side trip (plane) to Juneau and was then able to hit Glacier Bay NP.

 

[Thorn]

My parents have taken a few alaskan cruises, make sure if you get an outside cabin that it is on the correct side of the cruise ship. You don't want to pay extra to see the ocean the entire time.

the ships don't come back?

Almost all of those I've looked at don't. You fly one way.

Huh. Weird.