Life Aboard

Thought I would mention a couple of things today that would be helpful to our NEW cruisers, and a reminder to our old hands.

As you can imagine, if you own a ship that gets about 1 INCH to the gallon of diesel fuel, you have to have lots of sources of income besides just the basic fare price.  ALL CRUISE lines therefore have other ways to make money.  We have a page of the specialty restaurants with the cover charges, so you already know about that. 

They have several "stores" on board where you can buy everything from razor blades to the most expensive jewelery and perfume.  As this is the next to the last Alaska cruise, you might find some bargain things related to Alaska that they would rather discount than send back to Florida for next year.  The best bargains will be after we leave Prince Rupert on our last night at sea. 

Photographers will want you to pose at every port in front of a sign, as well as circulate through the dining rooms to take pictures.  On formal night they will have a number of locations set up to take formal photos.  All these are displayed in the area reserved for them and you can buy them or pull them from the rack and put them in the recycle containers located there. 

Of course the Casino will make some money as well as the Spa.  They may also have the drink special of the day which if you ask for a PLAIN GLASS, you won't have to pay for the plastic souvenir glass it would otherwise come in.  There are other things you may be asked to purchase during the cruise.  It is always acceptable to just nod your head no, and say "no thanks."

Before we leave Seattle, we will have a life boat drill.  This is required by the US Coast Guard.  You will be directed to your "muster station" so you will know where to go in case the STAR sinks.  The cabins ARE CHECKED to see that EVERYBODY shows up at their station.  Your muster station is shown on a card attached to the inside of your cabin door.  People in wheelchairs and anyone who is claustrophobic will be ushered to a separate area adjacent to the outside deck area where they would have normally been placed.  Otherwise you line up, usually 5 rows deep on the outside deck, listen to the instructions, wait till the ship sounds its horn and then you are free to go to your cabin.  This will be about 4:30pm on Saturday.