Virgin Voyages begins their very first Alaskan season with some very successful approaches.

• Different sorts of entertainment and enrichment activities on the ship.
• Shore excursions were made a little extra special by Virgin’s Shore Things teams.
• Small touches and new approaches make a big difference from other Virgin Sailings and other cruise lines in Alaska.

Could Virgin Voyages Pull Off Alaska?

The Alaskan cruise market is one of the most competitive, in demand, and saturated areas in cruising. When Virgin Voyages announced that they would be delaying the launch of their fourth ship, the Brilliant Lady, to modify it to be able to traverse the Panama Canal, they also said that they would be sailing in Alaska. Fans of the line were immediately excited, yet many remained trepidatious that Virgin, who built their ships for the balmy warmth of the Caribbean and Mediterranean, would handle the colder Alaskan climates well.

Could a line that throws a party like this, ever fit in up in Alaska?

Many pointed out that Virgin’s pools were open air, that Richard’s Rooftop (the small part of the ship reserved exclusively to suite guests) was also exposed to the elements. Virgin Voyage’s famous balcony hammocks were feared to be useless in the Alaskan weather, mostly because of the brisk temperatures. Speculation swirled around what the line could possibly do to stand out in a market swelling with other options. Is it possible to offer something no other line has offered when there are already more than 800 Alaskan sailings each year? Well, I went to find out.

One last thing before we dive in, this is a review. That means that even though we are travel agents, when we took this sailing it was at full price and there were no special benefits that we received. That means that what we experienced was the same that anyone could experience.

Expectations

I’d sailed Virgin Voyages six times before stepping onboard their inaugural Alaskan sailing, including once before on the Brilliant Lady. I’m well familiar with what the line offers. I also want to be clear about what I mean when I say inaugural, since Virgin has muddied the water somewhat. I sailed on an itinerary from Vancouver, B.C. to Seattle, WA and that itinerary was the first time Virgin Voyages sailed Alaska, it was not the “Mer-Maiden” Voyage though, that was actually the voyage after mine. Their rationale for this was because the “Mer-Maiden” was the first time they sailed from their home port of Seattle.

The Mer-Maiden was the next sailing after the one I took. So, I was on the first Alaskan voyage for the line, just not the big flashy one.

When crews have never sailed to a region before, it can be a bit of a shakedown voyage. The staff have new menus catered to the region, that means different drinks to concoct, new dishes to prep, and new suppliers and supplies to work with. The crew are also getting used to the behavior of guests in the new region, such as when sailors are leaving their rooms so the house keeping staff can clean up and what activities are popular. Virgin Voyages has a very good reputation for guest service and food quality on their ships, so there’s pressure to perform here.

All in all, my expectations were high, since I’ve had many nice voyages on Virgin, but I was prepared for some hiccups.

The Brilliant Lady Is Different

Since not everyone is up to speed on Virgin Voyages, their ships, and their reputation, it’s worth a quick rundown.

• Virgin has four ships, The Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady. The Brilliant is the most recent addition.
• They’ve got a reputation for great food and drinks.
• Their ships were designed with warm weather in mind – they’ve got balcony hammocks, lots of areas to lay in the sun, and tons of open-air spaces.

The last point has been a significant concern for some sailors thinking about taking Virgin Voyages Alaska.

Virgin Voyages was either thinking ahead or listening to feedback from sailors about concerns with the ship in Alaska. When the Brilliant Lady was delayed, Virgin not only modified the lifeboat mounting to become Panama Canal compliant, they also took the time to make some changes to their outdoor areas.

At the aft on deck 7, at The Dock, the outdoor chairs on The Brilliant Lady have been improved when compared to their counterparts on the other Lady Ships. As many people have noted and commented on, the original wooden deck chairs are extremely heavy, low to the ground, and generally not very comfortable to sit in. The chairs at The Dock on the Brilliant are much more comfortable and easier to sit in. This means better viewing of the gorgeous Alaskan vistas.

On deck 15, the two pools are heated, unlike the other three Virgin ships. They weren’t what many would call warm, but they were comfortable. We, and several others we became friends with, all went in the pool and thought it was quite nice but colder than when in the Caribbean. I’d guess the water temperature was around 70-75˚F (21-24˚C). There also wasn’t anyone really using the pool, so it wasn’t crowded. The folks that we were with were quite happy with the experience. The hot tubs were still hot, just so we’re clear that they are there.

Virgin swapped out some of the towels on deck for blankets. A welcome change and something that I wasn’t expecting them to do.

There were some, online, bemoaning that the pools weren’t enclosed, which is true. Whether that matters to you isn’t for me to say, but it didn’t dissipate my enjoyment. For what it’s worth, in my experience, Alaska isn’t the kind of place you go to enjoy a pool, even on a cruise. Most excursions involve being outside, many involve hiking, and almost all the ports are inside a literal rain forest, so being wet outside isn’t exactly a novel feeling in The Last Frontier.

One deck up, on 16, at the Athletic Club, the Brilliant Lady was updated to have the day bed lounging face outward and for the outer railing to be glass. As I write, the Valiant Lady is being updated to an identical configuration of the day beds on the Brilliant, but the other two ships face inward. Appreciating Hubbard glacier from this space was very easy and relaxed.

At every outdoor area, Virgin Voyages swapped out the stacks of towels for stacks of blankets. Although having outdoor blankets is hardly unique to Virgin, Princess offers blankets for their Movies Under the Stars, it’s something that I’ve not found on some lines in Alaska. Sailing Regent Seven Seas last year in Alaska, for example, they did not offer blankets on the open-air areas. On Virgin Voyages, I spent an hour or so lying comfortably under a blanket by the pool on one of the lounge chairs, it was quite enjoyable.

Cuisine

Virgin Voyages’ eateries are all what the cruise industry has come to call “premium restaurants.” This means that Virgin’s ships have no Main Dining Room, unlike many other cruises. Instead, you’ll eat at one of these dedicated and culinarily themed establishments each night. This has led some repeat customers to complain about the mostly static menus. Fortunately, Virgin has been listening here as well.

In the last year, each of the dining establishments on the ships have added limited time specials in addition to their standard menu. I always take the kitchen up on their short-term offerings and have never been disappointed. Virgin has gone a step further for their Alaskan sailings, though, by offering specific regional dishes on some of their menus.

Of the Alaskan exclusives, my personal favorite was the venison loin at the wake. I’m from a state where our schools and communities actually shut down for the start of deer season. Venison is a staple in our diets and I’ve eaten it my whole life. I can say with certainty that Virgin’s preparation was close to the best I’ve ever tasted. If you like fish, I also wouldn’t miss the roasted cod at Rojo. When I reviewed Rojo last year, I said it was the best of Virgin’s restaurants; their cod only reinforces the skill of that kitchen.

The venison at The Wake was astounding! One of my favorite dishes that Virgin has ever made and an excellent preparation even when compared to restaurants on land.

There are also limited items at the bars. Should you be inclined to partake of some alcohol on your sailing, Virgin has brought a cask of mulled wine aboard! Okay, so I don’t know if they actually have a cask, but they are offering the spiced drink. They also added a Hot Toddy to the drink list. The classic bourbon beverage happens to be one of my favorite cold weather drinks and I thought that they made theirs quite well. Virgin has always used higher quality alcohol than other lines in their cocktails, and they continue to do so with the these beverages.

Virgin Voyages’ Alaskan sailings feature additions to the coffee bars as well. At the Grounds Clubs, the ship’s cafés, I found two limited time espresso drinks, the Salty Sea Otter and the Denali Late. The former is a salted caramel and mocha brew, and the latter is a birch syrup infused latte. Both were delicious, although if you prefer a less sweet coffee, I recommend the Sea Otter as the Denali tended to be slightly more saccharine. That being said, it’s not often you get the chance to have birch syrup, so I would suggest trying it at least once because the taste is unique.

Events and Experiences

I’ve taken quite a few cruises and Virgin Voyages offers what, I think, to be the best entertainment, activities, and events of any line. I made my feelings clear some time back now and it hasn’t changed since then. The new shows on the Brilliant Lady are very popular, including the additional paid dinner shows.

On Virgin Voyages Alaska they are offering some new events and activities as well as speakers. The Happenings Cast is hosting several new events that were very popular with the sailors. The Crack The Crab event was a game show tied into eating crab and it was a massive hit. I personally get quite nervous in games like that, despite how very low stakes it is, so I only observed, but the participants were very invested.

In the evenings while the ship sailed in the Alaska fjords, which is to say the end of port days, there was an outdoor event at The Dock at sunset. As hues of auburn dapple the gold washed sky, one of the Happenings Cast will tell a short story to the assembled crowd. It’s only about 10 minutes total, but then an interesting thing happened each time, the people stuck around. Nearly everyone who came each night, which was usually 75 or more people, gathered together with their blankets and just started talking with each other. It was a wonderful event. I can’t guarantee that will happen with any particular sailing, but it happened with mine.

Virgin Voyages Alaska had a new game for the Happenings cast to host called, Crak The Crab. It was a riot!

Virgin also had a member of the Tlingit tribe on the ship to teach guests about the traditional woodworking techniques of the tribe and share the history of the people. When we were at Hubbard glacier, Virgin brought a naturalist on the ship who spoke over the PA system about what we were seeing around us. They also had mobile drink carts serving coffee and hot chocolate (as well as more adult beverages) on deck 16 while we were at the glacier. Although those sorts of things are the expectation for any cruise that visits Alaska, they are new for Virgin, especially having someone talking on the PA. After all, the line is known for their approach to reduce announcements as much as possible. Virgin, for example, does not have the captain address the ship each morning while most other lines do.

Just like their musical performers, these two guests will change between sailings, and you’ll experience something different from me. The point of mentioning it here is to highlight that Virgin Voyages Alaska is doing things a little differently from their usual approach. There’s even a temporary Happenings Cast member, The Lumberjack. If you read my Alaskan excursion article, you’ll know how much I enjoy lumberjacks! He was only on for a couple days, until we reached Ketchikan, where he got off the ship. How much he’ll be back I don’t know, but it was fun while he was aboard (I just wish I got a picture with him, but there was considerable competition).

Successes

Virgin Voyages Alaska had some truly outstanding things that they do to make your time onboard their ship special. While every line does something a little different for Alaska, Virgin is one of the few adults only cruise lines in the world, so their clientele is slightly different.

What I haven’t mentioned yet in this article are the small touches that they put into their rooms. Each room was equipped with a very soft, plush, fleece blanket. Our Sea Terrace room had two, one each for Nichole and I. Of course they were a red color, but hued closer to maroon than Virgin’s signature scarlet. Not only were they warm enough to make for a cozy bed each night, but they also kept you toasty should you decide to spend time outside on your balcony, like enjoying the hammock, which is something I certainly did.

In the RockStar and Mega RockStar suites (which I didn’t pay for this trip but certainly have in the past), Virgin included not only the blankets but also a pair of Binoculars. The brand and model they chose is, and I swear I had no idea, the exact same ones that I recommended just a matter of weeks ago in my article on What to Pack for Alaska. I asked several suite guests what they thought of the binoculars and they had nothing but praise for them. It seems that my recommendation is a good one.

I wasn’t sure if Virgin Voyages Alaska would make an adaptation to their linens, but they did. There’s nothing amazing about these fleece blankets, but having them at all made a huge difference.

There’s other small touches that made a difference. During our time at Hubbard Glacier, Virgin had mobile hot chocolate and coffee carts on deck 16, which is where most people were observing the glacier. You could also have spiked those beverages if you wished. We also got a sneak preview of what, we confirmed with crew, Virgin is trying to do at Hubbard. They brought a small boat up to the Brilliant Lady for a film crew to get on. That was also a test to see if they could sell that as an excursion! Keep an eye out for that in the future because the camera crew said it was stunning.

Speaking of beverages, something that I hadn’t expected was the included alcohol on several different excursions we went on. It’s not that I have never had alcohol included with an excursion, there are many catamarans in the Caribbean who serve cheap rum drinks while you snorkel, it’s more that I wasn’t expecting it in Alaska and it wasn’t included in other cruise ships that booked them. The only reason that I know that is because when we went to the Lumberjack Show (which you should go to), the announcer specifically stated that guests from our ship were given drink tickets and that other lines weren’t. I can’t say if that will always be the case, but I can say that it’s a lot easier to throw in a free drink as a bonus for booking that excursion if the cruise line has no kids on it.

Some Failures

Not everything is perfect, though, not that I expect it to be but it should be mentioned regardless. Virgin Voyages Alaska had some shortcomings that did impact our trip.

At the top of the article, I mentioned Richard’s Rooftop, the suite guests’ exclusive area of the ship. People worried that it wouldn’t be used much in Alaska given that it’s an open air space and Alaska is, well, not the Caribbean. Since I wasn’t staying in a suite, I didn’t have access to this space but, I can look through the glass partition. What I saw was minimal use, which was what people predicted. I’m not sure what Virgin could do to correct that short of a complete redesign that I don’t think they want to do. The one thing that was in use in the Richard’s Rooftop area was the hot tubs, those remained popular.

The most significant shortcoming is the tender port of Juneau. For anyone who is unfamiliar with the term, a tender port is any port where you are not docked at a pier, but rather you are docked away from shore and need to board a smaller boat to get to shore. There are many places where this is the only way to visit, from small towns like Eastport Maine, to very popular places like Grand Cayman.

Juneau has quite a few shoreside docking places, but it also has many ships that come each day. If your ship is smaller or newer to the rotation, you’re likely going to experience Juneau as a tender port. Virgin’s ships are not small, nor are they particularly large for the cruise industry. They are new to Alaska, however, and that puts them fairly low in the pecking order, thus they are tendering people in.

I don’t know what Virgin Voyages Alaska has going wrong in Juneau with the tendering, but they really do need to sort that out.

The tender situation was rather chaotic for us. On every cruise, people with shore excursions will get priority to take the tender, often staged by groups, before anyone without an excursion will be taken to shore. Even with the grouping and scheduling, we didn’t get to shore until an hour after our tour was supposed to begin. This meant that we lost time on our excursion. We still went on the excursion because it was waiting for all of us from the ship, but we lost an hour. That meant that we didn’t get to whale watch and hike at Mendenhall glacier as much as we should have.

Problems with the tendering don’t seem to be limited to just our cruise either since, as I write this, there are reports coming in about similar issues happening at Juneau once again.

I can’t say for sure what the cause of the delay was, but something wasn’t right that day. Keep this in mind when booking things in Juneau. Also, to be clear, when I say people with an excursion get priority, what I mean is, people with an excursion booked through the cruise line get priority. If you booked an excursion on your own… you will have to wait in the standby line or book the first available slot once tender slot booking is opened up in the Virgin Voyages app. Realistically, if you book an excursion in the morning at Juneau and it isn’t through the cruise line, you aren’t going to make it. You shouldn’t book anything before, at the earliest, 1PM if you’re doing it on your own.

In fact, I would caution you from booking anything on your own in Juneau right now.

Most of the dishes on the Virgin Voyages Alaska sailing we did were excellent… not the Achiote Spiced Salmon from Pink Agave. Maybe skip this one.

That was the only major issue that we ran into, but there are some minor flubs that you should have a heads up about.

• The shows are very popular, so much Virgin is rumored to be bringing back ticketing for them. (That doesn’t mean that they will cost extra, it’s just to control crowd size and eliminate people just waiting in line.) We can’t confirm their plans as of writing, but this is a widespread rumor.
  
  For now, you should know that if you want to see a show, you’ll need to line up early; unless you are sailing as a RockStar, of course.
• When the Lumberjack is on, they aren’t on for very long. I can’t even say this is truly a flub, but Virgin didn’t make it completely clear that he is only on for a couple days of any cruise.
• Pink Agave’s Alaska menu item, the Achiote Spiced Salmon, isn’t great. I love salmon and cook it frequently; I’m no stranger to this fish. The approach here, with the combination of flavors and the cooking technique, just doesn’t work. I would avoid this one and get something else from the menu.

Conclusion

Many fans of Virgin Voyages worried that they would fumble Alaska. They said that the pools won’t be any good, that the ship wouldn’t be fun outside of balmy weather, that Virgin wasn’t designed as a line to sail in cold weather. I can confidently say that all those fears are overblown.

Virgin Voyages Alaska sufficiently altered their approach to sailing to meet the needs and desires of the area. There were many long time Virgins… wait… There were many returning Virgin guests we met on the ship that raved about how much fun they were having. I ended up socializing with people more than I usually do because folks were in a fantastic mood and having fun.

I love Skagway! The owners of the Red Onion put this sign out for our first visit and it’s perfect. I really do love that town.

Yes, Scarlet Night was a little more subdued given that the top deck dance party was moved inside and likely will be for much of the season. That change didn’t dampen people’s spirits, though, as all through Scarlet Night people were spotting whales off the side of the ship and it turned into a mix of dancing and nature watching. That’s not something that I’ve ever seen in the warm waters of the gulf.

I spent hours watching the scenery pass by, warmly wrapped in blankets, curled up in the hammock. There was delicious venison, cod, crab, salmon, and halibut, at every restaurant. The mood was bright and fun, as it always is, but there were opportunities to engage in culture and education that don’t typically happen on Virgin’s sailings.

At the end of the day, I’ve been to Alaska before, but I’ve never had such a good time as this.

The post Virgin Voyages First Alaska Sailing Review – Stunning And Successful appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Please, believe me when I say that these tours are worth it.

Ellis Island Hard Hat Tours

The first thing you need to know about these tours is that their name isn’t playful, they require you to wear a hard hat when on the tour because of the environments you’ll be going through. These tours take you into areas that visitors are otherwise restricted from entering because the buildings are in a state of arrested decay. Tour guides will only take you to safe places in the complex, but they don’t want any unexpected stray piece to fall on your head.

There’s a real reason for protection on Ellis Island Hard Hat Tours.

On the tour, your guide will tell you about the history of the island, the immigrants that came through here, and what the buildings and the people in them did. Principally, the buildings you’ll see are tied to the hospital system that supported the immigration process. There are dormitories, industrial laundry facilities, quarantine buildings, even a surgery theater.

You’ll be part of a small group, which could mean as many as 30, but it could also mean just a handful. The tour we went on had just eight of us. The tours are emotional, giving names and sometimes faces to the real people that came through here. Sometimes their tales end in joy, others end in sorrow, and all journeys took deep courage. Perhaps most surprising of all the things I learned is how compassionate this system was.

I don’t want to imply that there wasn’t plenty of tragedy within the walls of Ellis, but hearing the lengths that the hospital workers went through to care for patients was inspiring. The sometimes terrible realities faced by people and the heart wrenching decisions made by family members is almost unfathomable. The fact that so much empathy existed for them by the staff charged to manage this entire process is admirable.

A Historical Primer On Ellis Island

Although Ellis Island’s immigration building was opened in 1892, its roots date back further in US history. It’s first recorded use was as a military fortification in the 1790s during rising tensions with Britain and France. Since the island’s natural state would have left it submerged at high tide, it’s unlikely that there were earlier permanent human uses. The U.S. military, though, did make good use of Ellis Island and it’s neighbor, which is now known as Liberty Island. They constructed forts on each of them which were important defensive structures in the war of 1812, helping to protect New York harbor. Although little remains of the original fortifications, the Statue of Liberty is constructed on one of them. Fort Wood, completed in 1811, now serves as the pedestal for the statue.

The military uses for the two islands faded following the U.S. Civil War and by 1890 the federal government took over immigration within the country. That same year, Congress ordered the construction of the first federal immigration site on Ellis Island. The fortifications were torn down and the first immigrant stations replaced them. It was completed in 1892 but burned down in 1897, fortunately there were no recorded casualties.

The second immigrant station was opened in 1900 – this time it was built to be fireproof, or at least more fireproof. This is the building that we are familiar with today, although it has been significantly expanded since its original construction. The first expansions included a ferry house, a hospital, and a kitchen with laundry facilities. Later expansions were made to include an contagious-disease ward, greenhouse, and even growing the island itself.

On an Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour, you’ll learn so much more about the history of the site.

Immigration to the island was in the hundreds of thousands per year from it’s opening until the outbreak of the First World War in 1915. During the war, immigration to the island collapsed to tens of thousands. Although immigration rebounded to more than half a million after the war ended, new and highly restrictive immigration laws were passed and brought about and end to the era of mass immigration.

There’s a great deal of important history that I’m glossing over and a great deal more that I haven’t even covered. Afterall, despite my history degree and training, my job, here and now, is not to give a seminar on Ellis and immigration history, despite an intense desire to go on and on about interesting things that you likely didn’t know – like I bet that you haven’t heard about the Black Tom explosion that damaged the immigration station on Ellis and was caused by spies from Germany that set fire to a stockpile of munitions! It was the lar…

I’m being told that I should stop by my editor.

As I was saying, my job is to entice you to travel to interesting places. It’s the job of the guides on the Hard Hat Tours on Ellis Island to tell you all about the fascinating history. Seriously, though, I’m leaving a lot out on purpose because that’s the point of the tour!

Why Should You Take The Tour?

If you care about the preservation of Ellis Island and the facilities on it, you should do one of these tours. The proceeds go to Save Ellis Island, a National Park Service partner whose goal and purpose is to preserve and restore the 29 buildings on the south end of the island. As surprising as it may seem today, most of the island’s facilities were abandoned after its closure in 1954 when it had been serving as a detention facility and military complex once again.

Ellis Island Hard Hat Tours are an activity that fills your soul!

The structures sat there, exposed to the elements for nearly twenty years. During that time, there were multiple proposals to redevelop the island into private use for high rise residential or hotel accommodations. All of those fell through. In the mid-1960s, though, the National Park Service proposed to redevelop the island into a national monument and, although the Johnson administration liked the idea and pursued it, nothing happened during that time. It wasn’t until the 1970s when any renovations began by the NPS and only a hundred or so visitors were allowed on the island each day.

It wasn’t until 1990 that the main building was renovated to the point that it was reopened to visitors. Not long after additional renovations allowed the north side of the building to reopen. The original ferry building was renovated as well and it was opened to visitors in 2007. It took 30 years to reopen three-ish buildings. Yes, they are large buildings, but it was 30 years. There are 29 more buildings on the island that haven’t been restored.

Now, the mission of Save Ellis Island isn’t, necessarily, to restore every building in the same way the main building has been. Right now the mission is to bring the other buildings into a state of arrested decay and preserve them from falling into further disrepair. As you might imagine, that takes a fair amount of time and resources. By taking one of these Hard Hat Tours, you help support that effort. You get to personally help support the preservation of American History, you learn things you never knew, and go to places you never thought you could go.

At least for me, personally, I literally cannot think of anything else I would rather do than those three things.

The post The Beautiful Unrestored History of Ellis Island appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

This is your guide to Virgin Voyages deals. Virgin Voyages is shaking up the cruise industry with its bold new approach. Setting itself apart from traditional cruise lines, Virgin has a strict No-Kids policy, leads the way in environment-friendly cruising, and includes more in the base fare than any similar cruise line. Discover the latest Virgin Voyages deals for an unforgettable cruise experience.

Virgin Voyages continually rolls out an assortment of offers and promotions—some combine, others not. Keeping track of these deals can be complicated. Here’s our up-to-date guide, designed to keep you informed.

Please note: Virgin Voyages deals often include sales on select sailings which only last a few days. They won’t be included in this article.

If you would like to find special group rates, or special individual sales, check out this SubReddit.

Current Primary Virgin Offer

Buy one, get 70% off the second sailor for eligible cabins, XL sea terrace and below to insider cabins.

The current primary promotion is for new booking made until May 28.

This combines with the MNVV use, loyalty offers (see referral bar tab below), Paid in Full discount, resident rates, and military-first responder rates. Lock it in rates do not qualify.

Sail on the any of the four Lady Ships with Virgin Voyages deals.

What’s a Bar Tab? What’s Sailor Loot?

Bar Tab is prepaid credit you have received through a promotion or purchased before the cruise.  It is credit you can spend onboard toward the cost of alcohol, smoothies, mocktails, energy drinks,  specialty coffees and teas, and fresh pressed juice.

Sailor Loot is what is typically called onboard credit or OBC. This money can be spent on bar tab items but can also be spent on shore excursions (if you book them while on board), spa services, extra cost items in the restaurants such as a tomahawk steak, tattoos, room service charges, specialty coffees and teas, mocktails, bingo cards, gambling, onboard events that come with an extra charge, or to purchase items in the gift shops. You can even buy a hammock! Once you have spent your Bar Tab money, they will charge the remaining drinks to your Sailor Loot. When that runs out, they will charge your credit card.

In both cases, if you do not spend it by the end of the trip, you lose it.

This is what you’ll spend bar tab on.

If you wish to purchase more bar tab before the cruise, there are bonuses: Virgin Voyages offer sailors the opportunity to buy a ‘Bar Tab’ before they sail. Bar Tab can be purchased in several ‘chunks’ each with a corresponding bonus if you buy it before the cruise. While Virgin often sells these at the terminal as you board, it is safest to buy it at least a few days before your sailing. Once you are onboard the bonuses are not available.

• $200 Bar Tab: Bonus $25 (12.5% extra)
• $300 Bar Tab: Bonus $50 (16.7% extra)
• $500 Bar Tab: Bonus $100 (20% extra)
• $750 Bar Tab: Bonus $175 (23.3% extra)
• $1000 Bar Tab: Bonus $250 (25% extra)

If you would like to look at bar menus to get an idea of prices, we have put this together (dinner menus too).

Virgin’s Standard Discounted Rates

Virgin has long-standing discounted rates for specific types of sailors. They often don’t combine with other offers but can provide some of the lowest fares. These are not offered on every sailing and usually appear only a few months or weeks before the sailing date.

1. Resident Discount Rates. For any of these rates, you will need to show proof of residency.
   • Florida
   • Georgia
   • Puerto Rico
   • New York
   • New Jersey
   • Connecticut
   • California
   • Oregon
   • Washington
   • Nevada
   • Arizona
   • Mexico
   • Canada
2. U.S. or Canadian First Responders or Active or Retired Military. These include active, veteran, spouses, or surviving spouses of any branch of the military. First responders include firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and police. ID proof will be necessary when checking in at the port.
3. Solo Travelers. Solo travelers often get stuck paying double as cruise lines tend to charge per cabin. Virgin often offers Solo sailor rates at discounted prices. Read more below.

Is this your first time sailing Virgin? Get Free Bar Tab!

Virgin Voyages has a referral program which can get you extra free Bar Tab on your first sailing. Ask us for a referral code BEFORE you book, and you can qualify for a free $150 bar tab on any cabin except for a lock-it-in rate or Mega Rock Star.

This offer does not combine with many other offers.

If you have sailed Virgin before, you can get a referral code link to share with your friends. You can earn $150 free bar tab for every successful referral you make and can spend them on your sailings for up to a year. You can use up to of 2 per sailing for up to $300 free bar tab.

My Next Virgin Voyage Certificates (MNVVs)

There are two kinds of MNVVs, however, Virgin discontinued the older version, which was more generous, so only the new version is regularly available.

We often have new style MNVVs available for our clients’ use. If you’re interested, find our contact us links at the bottom of this article.

My Next Virgin Voyages (MNVV) certificates which can only be purchased while sailing on Virgin. It is what other cruise lines call a future voyage deposit, but Virgin’s is more generous than most. We buy batches when we sail with Virgin so that we can share them with our clients. They can be transferred to another person once, and because they represent such great perks. To use one, you reimburse us the $150 we paid for it, and we use it to make a new booking in your name. The $150 is then applied as payment toward your deposit when we use the certificate.

• If you book a cruise of 4-5 days with your MNVV: You get $150 discount off the price of your cabin and $150 Sailor Loot (On Board Credit)
• If you book a cruise of 6-8 days with your MNVV: You get $200 discount off the price of your cabin and $200 Sailor Loot (On Board Credit)
• If you book a cruise of 9 days or more with your MNVV: You get $250 discount off the price of your cabin and $250 Sailor Loot (On Board Credit)

These certificates only work on a sea terrace (balcony) or better, not a lock-it-in rate. They expire after two years and are non-refundable. If you have one you will not use, we and other travel advisors often reimburse for them for the use of other clients.

Important: Buy these while on board. If you buy them after you sail they usually have the loot but not the discount.

The old style MNVVs cost $300 but provided a $300 discount and added $600 on board credit sailor loot.

There are plenty of “sweet” deals to be had!

There is another type called a “Lasting Glow.” If you missed buying one onboard you can sometimes buy one after you sail but it typically includes only the sailor loot, not the discount. We recommend always buying onboard to get the best value.

Lock-It-In Rates

When these are offered, they are the lowest prices you will see. But they come with many restrictions. The internet is littered with tales of woe from people who booked a lock-it-in rate without understanding the fine print and who later need to cancel or change.

While the rate is good there are serious restrictions to consider before you choose any lock-it-in rate:

• No Cabin Changes: Once assigned, cabin changes are not allowed, this means you could be left with a less desirable cabin such as a noisy cabin. Or, booking a sea terrace, one that has no hammock or has a metal balcony.
• No Date Changes: Cruise date changes are restricted, and no future voyage credit will be provided if you change your cruise date.
• No Refunds: There are no refunds available once booked and  they are not eligible for flexible policies. This means the usual 7 day period to cancel for a full refund does not apply with a lock-it-in rate.
• Unknown Cabin: You might not know your cabin number until you sail, as assignments can occur up to and including the day you sail.
• No Referral Code Bonuses.
• MNVV Restrictions: You can not use a My Next Virgin Voyage Placeholder on Sea Terrace Lock It In Rates (it can be used on Rockstar and Mega Rockstar Lock It In Rates)

If you do decide to book, we strongly suggest purchasing travel insurance from an outside vendor. We have had many clients who had a last-minute health emergency, or who had to cancel due to family illness.

Pay In Full and Save

Paid In Full Discount. If you book a cruise more than a year before sailing, on most sailings you can pay in full and save 10% off the price after port fees and taxes. This does not apply to suites or lock-it-in rates.

Reduced Single Supplement Rates

Solo travelers love Virgin Voyages as the Virgin provides many opportunities for solo meet-ups and activities. Contact us and we’ll tell you which sailings have this discount.

More information

If you’re still wondering about Virgin Voyages or have specific questions, some of our most popular articles might help.

• Virgin Voyages Dining Guide
• Splash of Romance
• Virgin Voyages Fitness
• Scarlet Lady Lucky Lotus
• Sailing as a Mega Rockstar

Of course, if you don’t see the exact question you’re interested in, contact us and we’ll help.

The post Guide to the Best Virgin Voyages Deals – May 2026 Edition appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

What Adults Only Cruise Lines Are There?

There are currently three adults only, or as they sometimes say “kid-free”, cruise lines in the world, which certainly lends a bit of exclusivity to them. Those three lines are, in order of how long they have been adults only, Viking, Virgin Voyages, and Oceania. The last of those only joined the game in January 2026 and, before that, Virgin Voyages only joined in February 2020. Suffice it to say, this is still a small field of players.

Offering up an option for people to sail the seas, and rivers in the case of Viking, without children around has obvious appeal. In fact, there are a growing number of establishments that cater to adults only in the travel world, especially with boutique hotels and B & Bs. I doubt that this segment will ever become dominant in travel, simply because plenty of people want to travel with their kids, but I do expect to see more companies and venues offering this experience.

You may notice that the three cruise lines I listed are higher end experiences, and that does seem to be typical. The ships are smaller, especially Viking’s, and the target clients for these companies are often higher-earning adults that want sophistication and refinement in their experiences, typically meaning luxurious accommodations. In fact, a very popular type of client for these lines are parents with their adult children. It’s commonplace to find families traveling together on these ships, especially for reunions.

Even though each line has the same rule of, no sailors under the age of 18, each one is different in the atmosphere they offer.

Viking

Viking cruises is the largest of these lines, by a long shot. They offer both river and ocean cruises all over the world, so there’s lots of offerings for itineraries. Viking is also the most senior player in adults only cruises and they have the biggest advertising budget, so most people in their target markets have heard of them.

A Viking Cruises River Boat

Onboard, the Viking experience is mostly all-inclusive. There are some alcoholic beverages that will be charged to you should you wish to have them, but they do offer a selection of alcoholic beverages at meals in the restaurants, and these will be included in your ticket. Alcoholic beverages ordered outside of restaurants will be charged to you, but there is a beverage package available for an additional cost to cover these sorts of occurrences.

Wi-Fi is also included in your bookings on Viking, and they even offer a limited selection of included excursions. Another gratis amenity is access to the spa on the ship. The exact offerings in the spa changes from ship to ship over their large fleet, but in general it will have saunas. Since this question gets asked frequently when spas are the topic, no, massages are not included on the ships that offer that service.

The vibe on their ships tends to be, what I would call, reserved and quiet. Viking’s clientele trends older than some other lines and it’s uncommon to find sailors younger than 45-50 on any sailing. The entertainment on board is focused on enrichment, emphasizing science, culture, and history lectures, rather than show tunes or stand-up comedy. The décor is elegant and refined, with glass railings and rich wood surfaces.

We’ve found that the line has excellent customer service and offers more overnight stays in ports as well as longer itineraries than most competitors. If what I’ve described sounds good to you, then Viking might just be the line for you. Given that they offer both ocean and river cruises, that gives them an extra edge that’s hard to beat.

Virgin Voyages

Virgin has made a name for itself on the seas with its target market. They offer a distinctly youthful experience on their ships, emphasizing fitness, top-notch entertainment, and top-tier food. The onboard experience is amazing no matter what cabin you are staying in, whether that be a Sea Terrace or a Mega-Rockstar suite. While Virgin only has four ships, and their itinerary diversity is more limited, they still offer many diverse and excellent options.

Virgin Voyages Top Deck Running Track on Their Adults Only Cruise Ship

Included amenities cover, Wi-Fi, fitness classes, and most beverages. There are no restaurants walled behind an upcharge, every dining establishment is included in your booking – a major departure from every similarly priced cruise line. They do not, however, include the spa like Viking. There are also no included excursions on Virgin, but at a lower price point than Viking, that makes sense.

Most shocking for a cruise line is that there is no drinks package available. The customers on Virgin Voyages seem to prefer it this way and, for what it’s worth, so do I. I rarely encounter overconsumption of alcohol to be a problem on their ships, not that it doesn’t happen but I’ve never seen it become an issue like it can on other lines. Their drinks are also reasonably priced at, what I would call, typical bar prices. The quality of the drinks, though, is unmatched on the ocean and they also offer some of the best mocktails I’ve ever encountered.

The vibe on their ships tends to be youthful. That doesn’t always mean young people, but it does mean people who are young at heart. There are twenty-year-olds and sixty-year-olds sharing the dance floor, having a blast. People are, generally, polite, fun, and diverse, the same goes for the staff. Overall, joyful and relaxed are the best descriptors for Virgin. You can just as easily relax in your Sea Terrace hammock, reading a book, as you can dance the night away at the pool on Scarlet Night.

If that sounds appealing to you, then Virgin Voyages may be the cruise line for you. If you do like the experiences, Virgin brands also have other travel opportunities that may appeal to you, like hotels and airlines, which is quite different.

Oceania

Oceania cruises, as I mentioned above, only very recently joined the adults-only cruise lines. Before January 2026 they were open to all ages which puts a bit of a wrinkle into their new change. To accommodate the passengers that have already booked an Oceania cruise with their young children, they are allowing those bookings to proceed as purchased. That means that, for a while, you will likely still experience kids on the ship, but there likely won’t be many of them. That’s general lack of children is the reason they made the change, most of their customers didn’t travel with kids.

Onboard, Oceania offers a mostly robust basic package. Their standard fare includes specialty dining, Wi-Fi (one per guest), gratuities, soda, specialty coffee and tea, Vero still and sparkling, cold pressed juices, smoothies, gourmet ice cream, free self-serve laundries. It’s worth noting that suite guests get free laundry service. That puts their included amenities somewhere between above Virgin and below Viking.

Oceania Makes A Big Deal Out of Afternoon Tea

They do offer a drinks package as well as a larger upgrade package they call Simply More which includes a drinks package, excursions, airfare, and transfers (transportations from the airport or a hotel to the ship at the start of the cruise and then the same at the end of the cruise).

The vibe on their ships tends towards a country club feel. The Oceania clientele is often in their 40s-60s. The entertainment on board features pianists, classical string quartets, and dynamic vocalists. They also boast of their lecture series, culinary center for cooking classes, and art seminars. Afternoon tea, the classic affair, headlines their activities, which gives you an idea of how important they think it is.

We’ve had clients rave about their time on board and want to sail again immediately. The line is part of NCL, so if you’ve have status with that cruise line they recently opened up so you can status match with NCL to Oceania. Reports are that many NCL sailors are quite happy stepping up to this line with the status match. If what I’ve described sounds good to you, then Oceania might just be the line for you.

Options

These are the only three truly adults-only cruise lines in the world, so if you don’t want to have a single child around you on the ship, you’ll need to pick one of these. However, there are other lines that, while they don’t explicitly ban kids, kids just aren’t very common.

Among these are Regent Seven Seas, Azamara, Silversea, Explora, Seabourn, and Seabourn. More specialized lines, sometimes called expedition cruises, often have few children on them. Lines like HX, Ponant, and Lindblad are all in this more rarified area of cruising and young kinds are just a very uncommon sight.

There’s one common thread among all the lines that don’t allow or don’t frequently have children on them, though, they are more luxury focused. Don’t get me wrong, you can sail Virgin Voyages for a price that’s competitive with RCCL once you factor in what’s included with Virgin against RCCL’s packages to achieve the same thing, but that’s the only listed here line I can say that about.

The truth is, if you want to sail kid-free, you’re going to be looking at a premium experience and a more premium price. That’s not exactly a terrible thing, but price is a factor to consider. That being said, I cannot even count how many times I’ve sat down at breakfast on Virgin and someone says to their dining partner, “I’m so glad that I don’t hear screaming kids.”

The post The Only Adults Only Cruise Lines In The World appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Hotel room coffee makers are kinda gross, is there a good travel kettle and, if so, what is the best travel kettle?

Wait, what’s the problem?

Hear me out. Hotel room coffee makers are indeed disgusting. Coffee makers are meant to be things that simply heat water and dispense it over coffee. Some of them use pods, some use little discs that go in a tray, and others are just a good ole’ drip coffee maker.

There are videos of people “cooking” chicken in the coffee makers of hotel rooms.

Do. Not. Do. That.

I also like tea, especially in the evenings when I have a little peppermint tea before I go to bed. It’s my ritual. The in-room coffee makers always make the tea taste like coffee and that ruins the tea. Since I’m in the U.S. we don’t typically have kettles in our hotel rooms like many European places do.

It would be nice to get rid of the coffee taste and not worry about the cleanliness of the coffee maker. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a huge fan of coq au coffee…

What is available?

My search proved that there were only a small number of what I think of as portable kettles. To be qualified as portable, I wanted them to be about the size of a tumbler mug, easily fit in a carry on bag or backpack, and able to boil water. The kettles also had to be made with a stainless steel heating chamber (some models had plastic walls and that is unacceptable).

Those qualities ruled out all but a few “portable” or “travel” kettles and left me with three to trial.

The first kettle is from a company called Nicewell. It was the smallest of the bunch, but the most pleasing to the eye. The next was from balbali (yes, it’s lower case) which was the largest of them but also the most utilitarian. Last is the Conyee which came in the middle of the sizes and also had a small cloth bag to protect it, which was a nice touch.

Here’s a few stated specs and features comparing them.

* The model changes, but it does have color options.

As you can see, these kettles are all pretty straightforward and don’t come with a lot of extra features. I also will take a moment to explain the grades of stainless steel. All processed metals have different grades to them with each grade being for a different application. These grades are not necessarily indicative of quality, they are to indicate the intended use case. Stainless steel grades 304 and 316 are both food safe and used in cooking products but 316 is more resistant to corrosion, specifically the type of corrosion from salt water.

Testing Parameters

To find the best travel kettle I needed to test these three candidates and see how they performed in the task of heating water. To do so, I devised a testing environment that gave consistent conditions to observe performance. I also used my personal electric kettle to create a standard to compare against.

Here are the conditions:

• Time how long it takes to heat cold tap water at two different temperatures. First at 175°F setting, then at the boil/212°F.
• Each timed test will use 300ml of water.
• Temperature accuracy will also be measured by temping the water once it is poured into the mug. Temperature is taken using a food grade thermometer and the water will be poured into a warm mug.
• The test at each temperature will performed twice, chilling the kettle with cold water in between.

To answer questions that I anticipate some of you may ask, here are my answers.

Why use a warmed up mug? Because warming a cup is common practice for both coffee and tea drinkers. I recommend that you try warming your mug at home. Just fill your mug with hot tap water and let it sit to absorb the heat while the coffee finishes.

What is the rationale for 300ml? That is a volume the all the kettles could hold and it is slightly more than one U.S. cup and about the right volume for a large ceramic mug or small tumbler mug.

Could the Conyee be the best travel kettle?

Why measure the temperature after pouring? Because the tea or coffee brewed with the water should be made in a separate mug or another vessel. You should not brew the tea or coffee in the kettle as that will stain and corrode the material.

Did you temp the tap water? No, because you cannot precisely control the temp of the tap water in the real world and I wanted to replicate that fact.

Is there a reason for the use of Fahrenheit? Yes, because that is what the kettles are programmed with. 175°F becomes 79.5°C and 212°F is, you guessed it, 100°C.

Are 175°F and 212°F chosen for a particular reason? Absolutely, those are two of the most common brewing temps for hot beverages and will likely be used most often.

Did you actually have a food grade thermometer already? Yes.

Why? I have my own espresso machine after spending years as a barista and I use the thermometer for steaming milk and occasional candy making.

Being a barista didn’t cause you hate making lattes? Weirdly, no.

Results

The baseline of my tests from the home kettle was made with a Cuisinart model, specifically this one. I quite like it and have been using it for years. It may not be as stylish as some other electric kettles, and more expensive, but the performance and simple to use features make it superior to anything else I’ve had. Here is how it performed:

Here is how the travel kettles performed:

* The thermos never achieved the target temperature in this run and I ended it at 4:45. In the second test I let it continue and it did, finally, arrive at the temperature after 9 minutes.

Conclusions

Right out of the gate I want to make clear that I never expected the Cuisinart and the various travel kettles to perform at the same level. That shouldn’t surprise anyone that a dedicated countertop kettle outperforms the small travel ones. I included it so that people could have a baseline when comparing these travel kettles to kettles that you might be used to.

There’s another element that I expected, which is the measured temperatures being less than the target temp. Most kettles like this have a thermostat that is designed to turn the heat plate off once it detects the target temp. Most of the thermostats are on the bottom of the kettle since that is the part that will always have water on it, no matter the volume of water being heated. The water nearest the heat plate will always be hotter than the water higher up in the chamber, meaning that the water isn’t evenly heated when it turns off. Some models continue to run for a few seconds after the target temp is reached to make sure all the water is that temperature, but these models here do not seem to do that.

That isn’t the only reason the measured temp will be lower. There are other factors, such as the mug absorbing some of the heat as well as energy loss to the air. These things cannot be accounted for with a thermostat. However, poorly calibrated thermostats could also play a part, which is what I am suspecting happened with some of these.

The balbali didn’t quite measure up to be the best travel kettle.

The results made clear that there is a problem with the balbali at 175°F. The components seem to be poorly calibrated for that temperature. During testing it appeared as though the heating element would turn off prematurely. I actually ran the test 5 times and only once did it heat up the 175°F at the time I expected, which was around 5 minutes. Every other time it took 9 minutes or longer.

What’s bizarre is that the balbali heated to boiling the fastest of the three travel kettles. Obviously the fact that it has the largest heating element helps with that and it makes the 175°F issue all the more frustrating.

Nicewell, conversely, was very consistent with the temperature. Job well done to whoever calibrated that kettle! It did, however take a while to reach 175°F, which doesn’t surprise me much because it had the smallest heating element.

The Conyee heated faster than the other two models to 175°F, but it also didn’t come anywhere near 175°F in the actual temp. I suspect that is because the thermostat being used is poorly calibrated. It also didn’t even break 200°F when set to boil/212, which furthers my suspicion regarding calibration.

Something else that isn’t conveyed with the data is that the Conyee seems to be a model that any seller can purchase. I saw many listings with nearly identical models to this one on Amazon. That’s not to say it’s bad, but it likely didn’t have the same thought put into it as the other two models, particularly the Nicewell which I cannot find any similar models to online.

The Winner?

I’m picking the Nicewell and here’s why. There’s a level of design and engineering that went into this that I simply don’t see in the other two. It’s stylish, very portable, and consistent to an extreme. These are all things that matter to me. I’m willing to take the slightly longer heating times in exchange for reliability.

The Nicewell is the best travel kettle!

The balbali clearly had calibration issues, but it did heat quickly to boil. It also has the largest volume so if you have a larger mug or tumbler, or perhaps if you are making tea for two, it will out perform the others. The increased size may turn some people off given that it will be more of a hassle to carry around. The Nicewell fits easily into a backpack or side pocket, the balbali… not so much. That means that you’ll have to give it more consideration in your packing. Between the size and the calibration, it’s just not quite what I have in mind, but it still could perform quite well for your needs and, I’ll be completely honest, when I travel with Nichole, I’ll probably bring the balbali because of the volume.

The Conyee, I would pick last. It never reached the target temps, by large margins, and it seems to be something that you can buy from dozens of different sellers. Does it work? Yes, but that’s about it. The one advantage it has is that it’s the cheapest, after that it’s getting beat in every regard.

If you’re interested in other travel gear reviews, check out my article on The Best Travel Humidifier.

The post The Best Travel Kettles appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

“To our Guests: all flights have been cancelled, and customer service is no longer available, we are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 34 years and had hoped to serve our Guests for many years to come.”

Following this message, they ceased all operations, leaving 277 flights on that day alone cancelled and the passengers stranded where they were.

Wall Street Journal first reported this turn of events was likely only the afternoon before, so the sudden shuttering caught a lot of people off guard.

In response, most major airlines have put out special offers and discounted rates to the people affected by the closure.

So now that Spirit is gone, how exactly did we get here?

Spirit Airlines Financial Issues

Spirit Airlines began its life as, believe it or not, Clipper Trucking Company in 1964. They appear to have been quite successful as by 1974, just ten years later, the company changed its name to Ground Air Transfer and then, only nine years after that, they changed their name again. In 1983, the company started flying as Charter One Airlines, which eventually changed its name, again, to Spirit Airlines in May of 1992.

Its business model was to offer very basic flights at ultra-low fares. Of course, as many people know, they would also throw in fees for any possible add-ons should you choose to buy them. This model let them undercut the larger players in the industry, even as those airlines merged and became more monopolistic in their markets.

As Spirit Airlines Shuts Down, a look back at when they started. By Aero Icarus from Zürich,

The next 28 years saw the airline grow consistently. At their peak, the carrier was the 7^th largest in the US. However, they ran into serious trouble during the COVID pandemic in 2020 when global travel ground to a halt. Although they, like their competitors in the industry, received financial aid in the Coronavirus Air, Relief and Economic Security Act, otherwise known as CARES, instability for the airline still followed the pandemic.

Beginning in February of 2022, there were several attempts by both Frontier and JetBlue to acquire Spirit Airlines. The first proposal came from Frontier Airlines, which offered a mix of cash and stock for $2.9 billion to Spirit’s shareholders. In April of the same year, JetBlue offered an all-cash deal worth $3.6 billion.

Both of these offers were initially rejected by Spirit’s shareholders. JetBlue was the first to be turned away in May of 2022, then came the rejection of Frontier in July of that year. In rejecting JetBlue, Spirit indicated that it believed that the Justice Department would reject the deal on the basis that it was anticompetitive. However, the rejection of Frontier seems to be a little more… simple. Spirit decided to reconsider JetBlue’s offer and accept it.

The warning that Spirit gave about the acquisition being challenged proved to be quite prescient, though, because it was. Over the next, nearly, two years the DOJ challenged the purchase and by March of 2024, JetBlue ended their efforts to acquire Spirit. In January of 2024, a judge blocked the takeover attempt writing in the decisions that the deal was anticompetitive. By November of that year, Spirit declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Only a few months later, in January of 2025, Frontier Airlines once again offered to purchase Spirit. The offer was for $2.1 billion in cash and stock but, unlike last time Spirit did not reject the offer. However, nothing seems to have ever come from this offer nor the negotiations.

Spirit completed their bankruptcy and restructuring that began in November 2024, in March but by August of 2025 they entered bankruptcy again.

The Final Nail

The final nail in the coffin for Spirit came in February 2026 when the United States and Israel engaged in a joint attack of Iran leading to the shutting down of the Strait of Hormuz. With the critical waterway shut down, gas and oil prices have continued to climb rapidly, affecting industries all over the world, including air travel. As you’ve likely heard, there’s a jet fuel shortage hitting Europe now, causing many airlines to cancel flights and consolidate schedules.

The shortage of fuel shot the price skyrocketing. These increases in costs pushed the flagging Spirit Airlines to the edge. In April of 2026, just last month, Spirit was seeking a government bailout to keep from collapsing. On May 1^st, those bailout negotiations with the Trump administration fell apart and less than 24 hours later they announced the complete shuttering of operations.

Spirit Airlines specifically cited the Iran War and the spiking fuel costs as the reason for its shutdown.

Conclusion

There were thousands of passengers left stranded by this closure, and I can only imagine how much luggage will forever remain lost. We are likely to see the fallout of this for years to come. There are now thousands of staff that are out of a job, and billions of dollars’ worth of equipment that is now sitting unused. There are also fewer options for consumers to choose for their travel.

I’m not sure why Spirit couldn’t come out of the pandemic with any amount of stability. There was a travel boom that sprung forth from lockdown being lifted, they just didn’t seem to be able to fully capitalize on it. By the time you’re reading this, most stranded passengers are likely already home or have sorted out their return plans.

On a personal note, to all of the staff that are now searching for what to do next, you have my empathy. I know all too well what it’s like to have your job unexpectedly taken from you. I wish you all the best in finding your next job or step in life.

*Image Credit: Acroterion – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=163002246

The post Spirit Airlines Shuts Down appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Importantly, EES is a different program than ETIAS, which is a separate program that we’ve covered previously. Because these two programs are being implemented around the same time, let’s highlight some of the details and differences.

EES:

• You don’t need to do anything before traveling.
• Biometric data will be collected at entry. Children under 12 years of age will not be fingerprinted.
• It does not require paying an entry fee.
• Applies to all non-EU and non-Schengen passport holders.

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System)

• You do need to complete a digital application form before you travel.
• Basic traveler information will be collected at application, but this program does not capture biometric data.
• There is a €20 fee due at time of application. The fee can be waived for people under 18 and over 70.
• Applies to any visa-free nationals that are traveling to these European countries.

The EES should become faster over time, but it’s quite slow right now.

These two programs have different aims. Going through the EES happens every time a traveler enters or leaves any of these countries and it is intended to track the movements of travelers through them. ETIAS is intended to raise money and control entry before travel. Additionally, the EES is active now and ETIAS is being rolled out in the last quarter of 2026.

Right now, the EES seems to be slowing down entry to Europe. Just a matter of two weeks ago, we had personal experience entering the travel zone at the Lisbon cruise terminal. Disembarkation took several hours to clear customs. That’s not great news for upcoming travels but, in the long run, European officials hope that EES will speed up the process.

For the moment, make sure that you plan for extra time to enter Europe.

Also, please note that these changes do not apply to the UK which, rather famously, is not part of Europe, I mean the EU. Indeed, The United Kingdom has it’s own travel fees coming online.

Princess Pours Program, What Is It?

The next update that might interest our readers is a major one from Princess Cruises. Just over a week ago, Princess announced that they are launching a new POURS collection, which will be arriving this summer.

As the name implies, this program is Princess looking to step up their game in the cocktail and mocktail experience. This collection isn’t another beverage package, it’s more of a marketing stunt. Princess wants to capture people’s attention by showing off nice drinks, and they’ve pulled in celebrities to help with that.

The announcement includes promotional images with Matthew and Camila McConaughey, Liev Schreiber​, Jason Momoa, Blaine Halvorson, Jon Bon Jovi and Jesse Bongiovi, and more besides. These stars aren’t just there for pictures, they all have their own alcohols that will now be served on Princess Cruises’ ships. From the McConaughey’s Pantalones Tequila to Kylie Minogue’s no alcohol sparkling rosé.

With the POURS program, you’ll be saying, “Alright, alright, alright…”

As I said, this isn’t a new drinks package so these new beverages will be included in Princess Plus and Premier. Which is nice to hear, since those programs got a price hike a while back.

My favorite thing about this is that as part of this revamp, Princess Cruises is markedly increasing the number of mocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks on offer. This is wonderful news for any sailor that doesn’t drink alcohol, like Nichole. These new offerings include drinks like the Hibiscus Zenberry Crush and Golden Orchard, which bring a level of sophistication without the hangover.

Given the shifting trends in alcohol consumption by the youngest generations, Princess is likely reading the room and looking to enhance their options. With Gen Z consuming far less alcohol than previous generations, increasing NA offerings will appeal to a larger portion of that market. Older generations still consume alcohol at pretty much the same rate between them, but over the years consumers of all ages have trended toward higher quality and more sophisticated drinks. The POURS program hits both of those desires and will step up Princess’ game at the bar, which is something I’m quite glad to see them do.

United Airline Changes: The Good and the Bad

United Airlines has announced several changes recently which are being met with both joy and annoyance.

First, United announced that they will begin kicking people off flights should they be listening to music or shows without headphones. In other words, if someone is broadcasting whatever they are watching to the whole cabin, you may be removed from the plane. While I haven’t personally encountered behavior like this before, it was apparently happening enough that they felt the need to create a rule for it.

Let it be known that if you fly United, you should bring some headphones. Or maybe a book. I really loved A Gentleman In Moscow, so I would pick that up.

In slightly less welcome news, United recently announced Fare Options, separating each seat type into three new forms, Base, Standard, and Flexible. These fare options will have different costs and different rules associated with them.

New fares from United means that you’ll be paying more for miles.

For example, a Base fare ticket will be charged extra if you want to choose your seat location, while a Standard and Flexible fare will let you choose the seat. Similarly, the Base fare will get one checked bag, while the others will have 2 bags. Flexible operates much more like Standard, but can get a refund, while the other two typically do not.

Finally Base Fare, even in business class, doesn’t earn miles when flying or give lounge access. This means you could pay top dollar for a Polaris seat and not get to stay at their special lounge or get a single mile for the flight if you choose the Base Fare option.

This puts United much more in line with how Delta has operated since they announced their fare options around this time last year. All of this comes on the heels of United cutting back their milage program to make it much harder to earn miles outside of the higher-cost seats.

I’ve included a chart from United so you can see some of the restrictions placed on the base fare. The chart you see is specific to Polaris, which is United’s top tier long haul flight cabin. As you can see, the base fare has plenty of restrictions on it.

I wrote an article last year that asked if airline status is worth it. These changes give me one more reason to say, no. I say, fly the best rate in the best seat you care to pay for, and whichever airline that’s with is who you fly on – diamond be damned.

The post You Need To Plan For Long Wait Times With EES appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Oh… You’re still here. You want an explanation, you say? Well then, I guess I’ll explain.

Can cruise ships really just change your itinerary?

Once again, yes, cruise ships can just change your itinerary with, basically, no notice. The cruise lines reserve the right to amend, alter, and cancel any part of the cruise, including any ports, and even cancel the entire sailing. To show you what I mean, let’s take a look at a contract from Princess Cruises. It’s a typical representation of a passage contract, which is what you agree to when you book a cruise.

Here is an excerpt from Princess Cruises passage contract:

Except as otherwise provided, Carrier may, for any reason, without prior notice, cancel the cruise; deviate from the scheduled ports of call, route and timetable; call or omit to call at any port or place or cancel or modify any activity on or off the vessel; comply with all governmental laws and orders given by governmental authorities; render assistance to preserve life and property; or change the date or time of sailing or arrival, change the port of embarkation or disembarkation, shorten the Cruise or substitute vessels, aircraft or other transportation or lodging.

Since most people are not versed in legalese, the “Carrier”, in this case, means the cruise line and that wall of text means they can change itinerary plans with no prior notification and they can do so for any reason. The passage contract continues:

Accordingly, You should not make any important arrangements or meetings based on the scheduled Cruise, which may change without liability to Carrier.  Furthermore, the Captain of the vessel as well as the operator of any other means of transportation may, in his/her sole discretion, take any action deemed necessary for the safety, security, comfort, or well-being of any person or to prevent damage to or loss of the vessel.

In other words, this is the cruise line advising you, the passenger, not to make important plans around the cruise ship arriving at where or when its scheduled to arrive. “Important plans” is open to some interpretation, but that could be something like a wedding, a business meeting, a funeral, even a medical appointment. The contract goes on to give notice that the Captain of the ship has the power to, at their sole discretion, change plans and take actions to keep people safe, secure, and comfortable and do the same for the ship itself.

This is just the first paragraph of Section 8, which covers schedule deviations, of 18 sections in the contract. There are three more paragraphs in Section 8 alone.

Lawyers be thorough.

To be clear, I am not one and this is not professional legal interpretation. Additionally, just to be doubly clear, Princess is not being singled out here. That language is similar to other lines, and I chose it because Princess is one of the largest cruise companies in the world so many people have taken a cruise under that exact language.

Should This Make Me Nervous?

Let’s step back and have a reality check about this for a second. When legal structure comes into play it starts to feel intimidating to many folks, which I get. However, this is not the time to hit the panic button.

The reason that this language exists is to protect the cruise companies from lawsuits because they didn’t go to a specific port on the itinerary and ensure that the captain of the cruise ship can make the call to keep a ship safe and undamaged even if it means that the passengers don’t get to go to The Bahamas.

It’s good to ask, can a cruise just change the itinerary, but it’s not a common occurrence.

In practice, this doesn’t really impact your typical cruise all that much. It’s not like cruise lines are out here just taking people’s money and telling them to get bent every time they leave port. It’s in the cruise line’s interest to give the passengers a good time so they want to come back and, broadly speaking, people want more cruises. The cruise industry has grown consistently over the decades to be one of the most popular ways to vacation, especially for families.

Customers often don’t go back to companies when they have a bad time and given the growth of the industry it’s reasonable to conclude that most people are having a good time on cruises.

That’s not to say that bad times don’t happen, though. What you need to know is what to prepare for.

Why do these changes happen?

To understand why the cruise lines reserve the power to change the cruise without prior notice, we need to discuss the realities of sailing.

The moment you step onto a cruise ship, you are embarking on one of the largest vehicles and most complex systems ever created. Take a moment to think about all the things that a cruise ship is, what it contains, and the tasks it performs. It contains hundred or even thousands of hotel rooms for guests, hundreds more rooms for the staff, not to mention the commons spaces like bars or theaters for people to spend time in. There are desalination plants to provide fresh water, there is an engine to propel the ship and provide power to every inch of the vessel. There is a brig, medical facilities, food preparation and storage to feed thousands of people every day. Most have at least one pool, many have two or more, there are hot tubs, gyms, spas, and shops. All of it needs to be cleaned, daily, and the ship is ten stories tall, or more, above the water.

Oh, the water. I almost forgot. The entire thing floats on the ocean and needs to navigate, safely, waters that can experience 100+ mph winds and waves that crest 40 feet or more.

Careful consideration needs to be given to the safety of all the people on board and all the equipment. That’s not something to be taken lightly and cruise lines will do what they need to keep you out of harm’s way. The reason you so rarely hear stories of ships navigating weather like that is because they take pains to avoid it, even if it means skipping ports or changing destinations.

The weather doesn’t even need to be that extreme to cause a problem. Some ports have narrow channels or shallows that could wreak havoc on a massive ship being piloted through tight spaces. If the waves and currents are too strong, ships might not be able to safely dock.

Besides the weather, another reason that needs to be considered is medical emergencies. Sometimes this means that a person needs to be evacuated from the ship and that means changes to schedules or experiences. I’ve taken several cruises that diverted for medical emergencies where we stopped at ports that weren’t planned on so someone could get lifesaving care.

Other considerations are widespread violence or war. We’ve seen companies scuttle destinations or pull out of entire regions because of both of those. Earlier this year, Mexican cartel violence exploded and some lines skipped Mexican ports. On the other side of the world, cruise ships no longer go through the Red Sea because of war in Yemen and ships being threatened.

I’ve given examples of just a few things, but once you consider the complexity of everything at play you start to understand the caution needed. Ships don’t like to change plans because they pick up fuel and supplies at some stops and sourcing all their various needs becomes more challenging the more itineraries are altered. They also, let’s not forget, want you to have a good time and changing plans makes that harder to do in many cases.

While all that is true, the bottom line for a cruise ship is that none of that comes before safety and security.

What recourse do you have?

If the plans change and your entire cruise is altered, there are still obligations that the cruise line has to you but, there are also things they are not obligated to do. Let’s start with what they are obligated to do.

Should the cruise line not stop at a port, they do need to refund you the port fee that you paid. Most of the time these fees are between $5 – $15 per person for each port. They also need to refund you any excursions that were booked at that port, if, and this is critical,you booked it through the cruise line. If youbooked thatexcursion on your own, outside of the cruise company, that loss is on you.

Additionally, if a cruise is shorter in length than what you paid for, you are likely entitled to compensation. As an example, if you paid for a 10 night cruise and the sailing only lasted 5 nights, then there is likely a refund of your fare that you are owed, prorated by the portion of the length of the voyage that was completed. In our example that would be a 50% refund. That may even be true in the case of weather causing the shortening.

You also may have paid attention to the phrase, “Except as otherwise provided”, in the passenger contract above. That clause is, really, about mechanical issues. Should a ship suffer mechanical problems, like an engine failure, those are, typically, considered to be the responsibility of the cruise line and, should they occur, the cruise line then becomes liable for some form of compensation to passengers. The specifics of the compensation will vary by situation, but there will be some form of remedy.

There’s another important document that passengers, at least North American ones, should know about when it comes to their rights, the International Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights, the PBOR. This document is not a law, but rather a set of rules that has been adopted by oceangoing members of CLIA, the Cruise Lines International Association. The PBOR outlines certain rights that these companies guarantee for passengers sailing on their ships. Take a few minutes and read it over, it isn’t dense legalese or complex, but it is important.

Beyond what I’ve stated above, there is nothing that a cruise line is obligated to do should they change your itinerary. They owe you no refund, explanation, or apology.

That, and this is true, does not mean that it doesn’t suck if they do that.

What can you do?

Well, there’s really only one thing that you can do should a cruise line decide to change all the plans and not tell you until it’s happening – complain.

There isn’t a better answer than that, truly. Complaining about the way that you were treated or how much the situation sucks is the only thing you can, realistically, do. With that in mind, I’m going to share my advice on how to complain most effectively.

Here are my bona fides on complaining.

• Manager of customer service call center that served 100,000+ customers.
• Food service employee, supervisor, and restaurant manager for 5+ years.
• Twenty years working in customer service and customer engagement and retention.

Believe me when I tell you, I know how to effectively complain.

Here’s the strategy:

1. Do not be rude. Personal insults, hostility, name calling, etc., will always get you little or nothing. The company has more money, PR, and lawyers than you do and the employees are often cogs in a machine given little ability to override policy or compensate people. What abilities, and mental/emotional bandwidth, they do have will not be used on a person who belittles them.
2. Know your rights. Understanding exactly what your rights are gives you grounding in the conversation. Not all employees fully understand the rights of the consumer, not out of maliciousness, but because most call centers suck at providing training to their staff and that’s something that’s only getting worse in my opinion. If you have firm ground to stand on with your argument, you are in a much better position should you need to escalate it.
3. Be firm and consistent. Know what you are looking to get before you complain. If you are looking for an amount, state that amount and don’t change it. It doesn’t mean you are going to get it, but being consistent in what you ask for makes you seem more reasonable.
4. Contact your travel agent. We travel agents have some pull with these companies. I don’t want to overstate our influence, but we do have a different relationship with them than you do as a consumer. If you book through a travel agent, we can help take up the fight with you and coordinate our efforts. There’s also the advantage that we can help advise you on the first three points.
5. As a last resort, publicly air your grievance. Sometimes shaming a company can get results. They want to control their image as much as possible and a public display of your bad interaction can bring about actions. However, you still need to follow the first three rules when you do this. If you post something publicly and you just make yourself look bad, it won’t help your case. Being courteous, professional, informed, and consistent are absolutely key to this working.

This is not a huge problem

I’ve just put more than two thousand words down, explaining the legal structure of passenger contracts and what your rights are under them. That’s a lot of information but it really isn’t that big of deal most of the time.

I’ve sailed on cruises more than most people; it’s part of my job. Changing or cancelling ports has only happened to me once. Yes, we missed some ports we wanted to see because bad weather made it unsafe to stop. In the grand scheme of things, that’s a small problem. The line gave our port fees back and we got some onboard credit for the trouble. I wish we could have stopped there, but sometimes things can’t be helped.

I’ve said this before, many times, but sometimes your job as a traveler is to roll with the punches. No one can control everything in life, and it can get messed up. Keep a level head, try to have a positive attitude and, if something goes wrong, follow the advice I gave above.

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These are some sights that you simply can’t miss. (Also, they’re my personal favorites because I’m writing the article and I get to choose.)

Lumberjack Shows

Some folks seem to resist doing touristy things when they’re traveling. I can understand the feeling a bit, but I would recommend that, at least sometimes, you just let yourself do the touristy thing because it’s usually fun. Lumberjack shows definitely fall into the category of touristy and also into the category of fun.

I haven’t been able to go to one yet, but I will be when I go on an Alaskan cruise with Virgin Voyages later this year and that’s got me really excited! I love watching lumberjack competitions. The skill, physicality, and absolutely ridiculous nature of them are perfect. If you grew up in the 90s, like me, Lumberjack shows are a bit like an adult version of Nickelodeon’s GUTS.

Ketchikan hosts the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show and it’s the classic display of axe swingin’. There’s also six foot saws, log floats, and massive chainsaws. It’s touristy as all get out and you won’t regret going.

Whale Watching

In the chilly waters of Alaska there are eight whale species that you might see. Humpback, Gray, Right, Orca, Minke, Beluga, Bowhead, and Blue whales all live beneath the waves up there. Of course, as an avid Star Trek IV fan, humpbacks pique my interest the most, but seeing any of these would be amazing.

The whale watching tour I had in Juneau was absolutely one of the best Alaskan cruise excursions!

This is one of the photos I took the last time I was whale watching in Juneau. In the late spring and early summer, humpbacks are arriving from their annual migration from the waters around Hawaii. They also bring their newborn calves with them and you might get a chance, like I did, to see them playing in the water.

There’s no shortage of opportunities to whale watch when you’re on the Alaskan coastline. Every town that you stop at will have some opportunity to go sightseeing for some cetaceans. Most of the whale watching excursions combine it with something else, like going to a glacier. Speaking of glaciers…

Mendenhall Glacier

Mendenhall glacier, which sits just outside of Juneau, is something that has to be seen to be believed. I can describe it to you, but it won’t do it justice. The total size of the glacier is just over 13.5 miles in length and, though the height is constantly varying, the face of the glacier is around 100 feet tall. It sits inside the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, a region of more than 5,800 acres nested in the larger Tongass National Forest.

I visited Mendenhall glacier immediately after I went whale watching.

Near the glacier’s terminus is a waterfall known as Nugget falls, which is, somewhat unbelievably, fed by another glacier, the Nugget glacier. This isn’t a small waterfall either at over 377 feet high, making it more than twice as high as Niagara. Next to Mendenhall, it looks like a quaint tumbling of water.

Mendenhall glacier, which sits just outside of Juneau, is something that has to be seen to be believed. I can describe it to you, but it won’t do it justice. The total size of the glacier is just over 13.5 miles in length and, though the height is constantly varying, the face of the glacier is around 100 feet tall. It sits inside the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, a region of more than 5,800 acres nested in the larger Tongass National Forest.

Near the glacier’s terminus is a waterfall known as Nugget falls, which is, somewhat unbelievably, fed by another glacier, the Nugget glacier. This isn’t a small waterfall either at over 377 feet high, making it more than twice as high as Niagara. Next to Mendenhall, it looks like a quaint tumbling of water.

There’s a visitor center where you can learn about the glacier’s history and it’s retreat due to global warming from climate change. For those inclined to walk, there are hiking trails that go right up to Nugget falls and get closer to the glacier face. You can also book a kayaking tour onto Lake Mendenhall and see the amazing wall of ice  from the water.

White Pass and Yukon Route Train

Located in Skagway, it’s likely the biggest single attraction in the small town. There are multiple trains running several times throughout the day. Riding the rail will entail a telling of the history of it’s construction, of Skagway itself, and the surrounding area. Lest you be wary of a boring lecture, the story of Skagway is far from that. The grizzled tale involves a crime boss and conman, an engineering marvel, a town all but held hostage by a “military company” during the Spanish-American War, falling boulders the size of a house, and a bloody and desperate gold rush that fueled it all.

The best Alaskan cruise excursions bring you views like this.

History aside, the views afforded by the ride are unparalleled and worth a trip to Alaska on their own. The train takes you high into the mountains surrounding the small town as the rail goes from the Skagway port and climbs over 2800 feet to reach the summit of White Pass and cross, briefly, into Canada’s Yukon.

After the ride is over, you can visit the original White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad administration building which is now the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park museum. Inside, you can learn even more about the stunning history of the town and its historic sites.

Helicopter and Airplane Sightseeing

There are two hotspots for aerial sightseeing, Juneau and Skagway. Each offers many options of airborne touring, soaring above glaciers, mountains, bays, and rivers. They all have guides to tell you about what you’re seeing and it’s importance to the area. Few places around the world offer so many chances to fly aboard a helicopter, even for a short period of time. In Alaska, however, you’re spoiled for choice.

Admittedly, I’ve not yet had the chance to do a helicopter tour, despite a long-lived desire to take one. These are, after all, one of the more expensive activities that you can participate in, which is a consideration when you’re making vacation plans. The opportunities to soar above the land are never more plentiful than in Alaska, though, and if it’s something that you want to experience, I would say that this is something that you really should consider.

Rainforest Hikes

When most people think of a rainforest, they think of the Amazon. It’s the most famous and it’s exactly what you’d expect from a tropical rainforest. Hot and humid, a thick canopy of leaves above your head, vines, rivers, the quintessential jungle. That’s not the only kind of rainforest, there’s also a temperate rainforest and that’s exactly what is found in Alaska.

The Tongass National Forest is the largest U.S. National Forest, making up a space larger than 10 U.S. states and 75 U.N. nations. Most of the national forest is a temperate rain forest, keeping more mild temperatures than surrounding areas. Sitka, for example, rarely experiences below freezing weather or temperatures above 60° F (15° C). It does rain a lot though. It’s a rainforest, so… that’s sort of what it does.

The roots of a living tree I walked under. Where else can you experience this?

Sitka offers some truly spectacular guided hiking opportunities where you will see things that you didn’t know could exist. On my two hour and change hike, I walked under the roots of a living tree, saw bald eagles diving for fish, climbed to a meadow that felt like it was transported straight out of Middle Earth, and learned about bears purposely giving themselves natural stool softeners. I promise you, I am not making that up.

There’s so Many Choices

This list is not exhaustive, not at all, but these are the types of things that I enjoy most or, in the case of helicopters and lumberjack shows, still want to experience. I know that when I first went to Alaska, I didn’t know what there was to do and I was a bit overwhelmed with the choices. I hope that this helps you a little in making a choice on what to do but know this, once you go to Alaska, you’ll want to go back.

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What’s the Weather Like?

No matter where you’re going, knowing what to pack revolves a lot around the weather and, unless you are a father in your late 50s or older, it’s unlikely that you keep track of the weather in any place other than where you live. Given that, and this is true, most of us do not live in Alaska, you probably don’t have any idea what the weather is like there. Good news, though, because I looked that up for you.

The Alaska Travel Industry Association has a page on their website dedicated to briefly describing the weather during different parts of the year. I’ve taken their descriptions, and other information I was able to find to create a very broad description of each month. It may surprise you that there’s quite a range of weather that you can experience throughout the Alaskan tourism season, which runs mid-May through mid-September.

Here’s how that breaks down:

Starting in May, the average daytime temps range from 40-55 degrees Fahrenheit or 4.5-13 degrees for my Celsius challenged friends. May skies are usually overcast or mostly cloudy with some scattered or light rain and 16-18 hours of daylight.

Typical Alaskan weather in May.

In June the average temperature ranges from 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit or 10-21 degrees Celsius. The skies are clearer and the days are drier. This time of year brings something special, specifically the summer solstice, where, in parts of Alaska, you will get 24 hours of sunlight. Having experienced close to that in Iceland, I can attest that it is truly amazing.

Moving on to July, which is the warmest month, you’ll feel temps ranging from 55-75 degrees Fahrenheit or 13-14 degrees Celsius. Although, some days it does get above 80 and even 90 degrees Fahrenheit or 26.5 to 32 degrees Celcius. Skies above will be mostly sunny and clear with 18-20 hours of daylight.

By August it’s cooling down a bit and fall is approaching. Temps are between 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit or 10-15.5 degrees Celsius. The weather turns back to overcast and rainy but there’s still 14-16 hours of daylight.

Once September arrives, though, things start to get fairly chilly as the average temps are between 35-50 degrees Fahrenheit or 1.5-13 degrees Celsius. As autumn rolls in, it’s often rainy and frost regularly forms overnight.

Clothing Advice and List

When it comes to your clothing, knowing what to pack for Alaksa, much like ogres, is all about layers. Throughout the season you can see that there are temperature swings of 15°-20°F (5°-10°C) during the day. That means that you’re going to want a light jacket, possibly fleece, (like this one) on the outside and a lighter piece of clothing, like a long or short sleeved t-shirt under it.

Personally, during the shoulder months of May and September, I would advise taking a water resistant or waterproof jacket as your outer layer because it was often misting or lightly raining when I was there. Many, but not all, windbreakers are water shedding and could be a good fit for this.

High quality socks are also a good idea. I personally like using merino wool socks. They dry out quickly and keep you warm. Bringing premium socks is doubly important if you plan on doing any hiking or other vigorous outdoor activities. I suppose that during June and July, the type of sock you have probably matters less, given the drier weather, but the rest of the season you’ll find this advice helpful.

I would also recommend a hat of some sort. During the rainy parts of the season, a good water-shedding hat will keep your head dry and during the sunny parts of the season it’ll keep the sun out of your eyes – and there’s a lot of sun!

I use a hat like this because I prefer function over form for this sort of thing. Which is a polite way of saying I don’t mind looking dorky but being comfortable.

As for footwear, that’s very dependent on what you are planning on doing. If you are planning a hike, I recommend bringing a pair of hiking boots or shoes. The trails that you hike on are marked and well-trod, but they are not sidewalks or paved. Sneakers or running shoes are fine if you’re just walking around town or doing a crab or fish feast. Don’t bother with sandals or flip-flops, leave them at home.

• Light out layer, possibly fleece. You may water it to be waterproof if visiting in May or September.
• Good quality socks, I suggest merino wool, especially if you’re hiking or doing other vigorous outdoor activities.
• A hat. If you have a hat that sheds water, that’s a good trait, but during sun or rain, a hat is very beneficial.
• Bring appropriate shoes for your activities. If you are hiking, bring hiking footwear. If you’re not doing vigorous activities outside, sneakers are okay. Forget the sandals.

Cruise Specific Clothing

Most cruise goers have their cruising experience in warm climates, but Alaska isn’t that. There’s unlikely to be good weather for you to lay out on the deck. Most outdoor activities on the ship will be less comfortable than they are in the Caribbean, for example. Sun dresses and shorts are probably not the right choice. Jeans, slacks, cardigans, sweaters, those are better picks. Evening attire depends on the cruise line, but plan to incorporate warmer things in your outfit.

Pools are sometimes heated on cruise ships, but not always, so before you pack any swimwear, check the specific ship you are going on and see if that ship heats their pool or pools. If they aren’t heated, they are almost certainly not warm enough to be used comfortably in Alaska. However, if there are hot tubs on your ship, which there often are, those can be fun to use, especially if you like a little bit chilly air on your nose while the rest of you is warm in the water.

• Bring warmer clothes than you would on a Caribbean cruise.
• Long pants are a must and if you want to wear a dress or gown, bring a wrap of some sort to keep you a bit warmer up top.

Accessories

Alaska is one of the most stunning places that you’ll ever visit and there’s a few things that you may regret if you don’t bring them. Some of these are activity dependent (you don’t need trekking poles to ride on a scenic railway), so use your best judgement one what ones you will personally benefit from.

Binoculars

No matter what you’re doing in Alaska, you’ll want to be able to see things a little better and a good pair of binoculars is perfect for a trip like this. Some cruise lines will provide binoculars in cabins, but most do not, and the lines that do provide them don’t provide great ones either. No matter how you’re visiting Alaska, though, you’ll want a pair for yourself.

You don’t want to miss a sight like this,

To get an idea of what I’m talking about, here’s a link to my Alaska album. There’s a lot of photos in it, so jump around as you see fit. I was able to use my telephoto lens to bring all that nature a bit closer to me and I think you’ll want to do the same.

There’s a big quality difference between the $25-$50 range and when you jump up to $100+. If that’s worth it to you, I’ve read very good things about this pair from Vortex.

I don’t personally own a pair of these, but from what I’ve read in reviews, people’s experiences are quite positive. They provide a 10x magnification and a fairly wide viewing angle without being too heavy to hold. They should last for many, many years and come with a case and strap.

Now, if you are open to spending more and getting the benefits of image stabilization technology, then you can step up to this pair from Canon.

I own a pair of these (of slightly older model). I’ve used them for wildlife spotting and birding for about 10 years. The image stabilization tech is astoundingly cool, making gazing through them much easier, but the price was certainly a jump. Strictly speaking, I don’t think it’s necessary to buy these if you are not going to use them more than for this trip, but they are very fun.

No matter what you choose, you’ll thank yourself for picking up a pair.

Trekking Poles

Getting a nice pair of trekking poles can be very beneficial if you plan on traversing some more difficult or slippery terrain. The key to a good pole, though, is that it fits you. Adjustable poles make that easier, but you still need to know the range of height you need.

Here’s a simple guide:

To know if your poles are a good fit, the most common test is to bend your arm at the elbow out at a 90° angle from your body and make it parallel to the ground. Your pole should fit right into your hand and preserve that 90° angle while the tip rests on the ground. Since everyone is a different height, getting adjustable poles is very helpful for getting the sizing correct and giving you adjustability for different terrain.

I quite like this pair, which I own, but I would recommend that you go to a store to try the poles out in person if that’s possible for you to do.

They’re extremely lightweight, not even a pound, and they have helpful length markers so you can zero in the correct height for you quite quickly.

One thing to note about trekking poles. If you’re flying, these must go in checked baggage. Don’t try to put them in your carry-on, you won’t be allowed to fly with them.

Humidifier

This is likely only necessary when going to Alaska in May or September, but I assure you that it’s very helpful. I have an entire article on the best travel humidifiers here. Read it over and pick up the best one for your needs.

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