My Alaska cruise tour began on a Sunday in May. We left for the Alaska cruise from Seattle on the Star Princess Cruise Ship. There was a lot to do prior to boarding the Princess cruise. There was a HUGE line up. I think the capacity of the Star Princess is 2600 passengers. The screening process to get onboard the Star Princess Ship involved a precheck of your travel documents. Then you had to check your luggage in. Then you had to go to the counter where they check your travel documents again before getting your room keycard (more about that later). You shuffle onto the gang plank where inside the Star Princess Ship you're greeted again with a security checkpoint complete with x-ray and metal detector. You also check in officially with your pass card. I never knew that security is so tight for these cruises. I guess they clamped down on skies, then by ground and now by sea. I guess these are a sign of the times despite it was only an Alaska cruise tour.
The keycard is kind of cool. It serves exactly as a hotel keycard but also has the ability to charge on the card as well. So while you're on board the cruise you're cashless. It's kind of handy. But I noticed that my card was blue while other cards were gold and other different colors. That is because the Princess Cruise lines give you a bonus rewards program. I think you get upgrades to your stateroom, and other amenities if you cruise with Princess a few times. I thought it was a good idea.
Well, after I finally got onboard the Star Princess for our Alaska cruise tour, it was time to find my stateroom. Since I get motion sickness easily, I had specifically asked for a room that would have the least turbulence. My stateroom was right in the middle of the Star Princess so I won't feel any swaying. That's a tip for others who suffer motion sickness as well. And by the way, for those who say you don't feel it because the boat is so big. That's bull. You feel the waves. The question is if you get sick or not. I took medication throughout the cruise so I was okay.
Well, after I got my stateroom it was time to walk about. My family who was more familiar with cruising than I told me to check out the Princess Patter. It was the newsletter of the Star Princess which gives you news on the on-ship activities throughout the day. Well, apparently there was a tour of the cruise so I went. Might as well to get familiar with the ship.
After the tour of the ship was over, there was a security drill to make sure passengers knew their muster station to go to. By the time it was over, I was starving. It was lucky that we were assigned early traditional dining. They do that because they can't accommodate all the diners at the same time although you can always go to the anytime buffet or call for room service. But early dining was fine with me. I didn't have to worry about saving my stomach for a late dinner or anything. Might as well get dinner over with and onto other activities the Star Princess Cruise Ship had to offer.
The food on the Star Princess was pretty good. I mean, I wouldn't call it gourmet as my newly acquainted table shipmates proclaimed but it was very good.
After the meal, it was entertainment time at the Princess Theater. They had a comedian on that I had previously seen on the Late Show. He was quite good. After his bit, was the welcome message from the Cruise Entertainment Director on stage. He introduced his staff and each station in which they were responsible for.
By that time, the first day of our Alaska cruise tour was over for me and I was tired due to all the excitement. It was great to be finally on our way to the Alaska cruise tour on the Star Princess Cruise Ship!
So the first day of our Alaska cruise tour was spent on the Star on our way to Ketchikan.
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