At this point in time, the Alaska cruise season is starting and it soon will be in full swing. While many already have plans in place for their cruise this season, many others are still trying to put together ideas of things to do. The goal of this guide to offer suggestions of some ideas to try for those that are still trying to select some activities. Keep in mind, if you already have plans it is not too late to change your mind. 

#1:  Try A Ride on a Hydroplane or Helicopter
        While you are in Alaska you will probably see many hydroplanes and helicopters. Some of these vehicles are being used for professional transportation, but many others are being used for tourism purposes. In some places you may be able to get a ride to view the top of a glacier or see a mountain valley below. If the weather is nice this is something you should look into. However, if you are afraid of heights or flying, this option may not be for you. The prices of a hydroplane or helicopter ride can vary based on the tour operator and your method of booking. 

#2:  Snorkeling
        This may sound crazy, but there are times and places where you can snorkel in Alaska. Typically, this in an activity that would be associated with warm weathered Caribbean and Bahamas cruises. If you want a chance to check out the water this might be an activity for you. You could see a variety of different forms of fish or wildlife in the water. 

#3:  Take A Horse & Carriage Ride
        In many Alaska ports, you will probably see a few horse and carriages transporting people around. If you want to see the sights, without walking, this might be an option for you to consider. This is a slower form of transportation, compared to a taxi or bus, but you can enjoy the sights around you as you move at a nice pace.

#4:  Visit A Museum
         You can find many different museums located in different ports across Alaska. If you need something to do or want to visit a place filled with history, consider visiting a museum. Personally, I like visiting museums and there are many in Alaska to choose from.

         Carnival's fleet of cruise ships are on a roll this year when it comes to earning exceptional health inspection scores from the United States Public Health's routine inspections. The Carnival Ecstasy is Carnival's latest ship to continue this wave of the company's hard work and dedication to keeping their ships clean and in compliance with strict health standards.
           The Carnival Ecstasy has earned a 100 on its most recent health inspection. According to Carnival's official press release in order to earn a 100, "...cruise ships must receive perfect marks on all 44 items that comprise the U.S.D.H's [checklist]". 
            While the Carnival Ecstasy is considered an older cruise ship, it is still providing guests with fun and memorable cruise vacations. This ship was my first cruise ship and I have since sailed on this same ship four times. Congratulations to the Carnival as well as the staff and crew of the Carnival Ecstasy for this well deserved accomplishment!
For Carnival's official press release:  Click Here

       There have been many times when I have wondered where Carnival's media coverage is when good things happen. However, when bad things happen for Carnival's company or ships the media will eagerly publish the bad news. The Carnival Triumph's name was plastered all over the media two years ago after the ship had an engine room fire. Nearly two years after this incident and of sailing back in service, the Carnival Triumph has earned a 100 on its recent health inspection. 
         The health inspection is conducted by the United States Public Health Department. According to Carnival's press release, "To earn a 100 score, cruise ships must receive perfect marks on 44 items...". Many areas of cruise ships are inspected during these health inspections, according to Carnival.
           This is an impressive accomplishment by the crew of the Carnival Triumph and Carnival deserves recognition for this. The Carnival Triumph still has a bad rap from two years ago because of the continuous media coverage the engine room incident received. However, since that time the ship has been dry docked and given multiple Fun Ship 2.0 features. I cruised the ship in June 2013 on the fourth cruise after the ship came back into service.
My Carnival Triumph June 2013 (4th Cruise Back in Service) Cruise Review:  Click Here
Carnival Triumph Before & After FunShip 2.0 Additions Photo Comparisons:  Click Here

         Congratulations to the Carnival Triumph and Carnival Cruise Lines!

To view Carnival's official press release on this accomplishment:   Click Here

      When the Carnival Vista makes her debut in May of 2016, guests will have new exciting opportunities to have fun, stay fit, and breath a fresh breath of ocean breeze outside. While a feature called Sports Square is currently on the Carnival Magic, Carnival Breeze, and Carnival Sunshine, the Carnival's Vista's Sports Square is going to the next level of fun. 
           The Carnival Vista's Sports Square contains a new feature called the Sky Ride. The Sky Ride contains two tracks that are suspended above the ship's Sports Square. The Sky Ride riders will get to petal themselves, similar to riding a bike. However, as you petal yourself around the Sky Ride you will get to enjoy a view of the scenery around your cruise ship. If your ship is docked in a port of call you can enjoy the sights of the port and if your ship is sailing at sea you can enjoy the open waters of the ocean your ship is sailing through. 
            Carnival ships all have mini golf courses, jogging tracks, and gym equipment, but the Sky Ride will be a new way for cruisers to exercise and burn off a few buffet or dining room calories. Imagine you are on the the Sky Ride and you feel a warm ocean breeze blowing against your face. You can see a blue ocean and the Carnival Vista's Sport Square below. You are exercising and having fun at the same time. You are on a cruise onboard the Carnival Vista. This will be a new exciting feature that starting in May 2016 you can find on the Carnival Vista. 

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For More Information About The Carnival Vista's Sky Ride:
Click Here (Will Take You To Carnival's Website's Skyride Page)

Thank to Carnival Cruise Lines for allowing us to use their rendering of the Carnival Vista's Sky Ride. 

       Alaska is a  different cruise destination than Caribbean or Bahamas cruises. Alaska is something unique and takes cruising to a different level. Here are my top reasons why you should consider taking an Alaska cruise vacation, if you are not already planning to do so:

#1:  The Scenery
       Alaska contains a variety of different scenic cruise spots. When you go to Alaska you have a good chance of seeing a glacier (on some itineraries you could see a bunch), many different mountains, and valleys. The scenery is what draws many people to Alaska. Alaska's scenery also makes good desktop backgrounds and Facebook Cover photo pictures. 

#2:  The Wildlife 
         On Alaska cruises you have the potential to see a variety of wildlife. From your cruise ship you could see aquatic life such as dolphins or whales. You may also see many different types of birds and creatures on land. 

#3:  Alaska Is A Cruise Everyone Should Try:  There Are Different Prices That Can Make It More Affordable
         Alaska cruises are typically expensive for most people. However, if you book your cruise and airfare in a sale and book the cheapest possible stateroom category you could go for a more affordable price. Alaska is not always expensive because of these sales and different stateroom category options that are priced differently. While interior staterooms are usually cheaper, you will not have a view from your stateroom. However, you can go outside and use the public decks to get a view. 

#4:  Alaska Is A US State, But Most Cruises Stop In At Least One Foreign Port of Call 
         Alaska is the 49th state of the United States. This means United States citizens will be in their own country for most of the cruise. However, almost all Alaska cruises stop in one Canadian port or other foreign port of call, at some point in the cruise, because of certain laws and restrictions. This means proper documentation is still needed for going out of the country and identification is always needed for boarding a cruise ship. On my Carnival Miracle cruise to Alaska I overheard one guest say Alaska was a part of Canada. Please don't be the guest onboard the ship that is confused! 

#5:  You Never Know What You May See Or Get To Do In Alaska
           While Alaska is not full of beaches and sunny activities like the Caribbean, there are a variety of other types of activities you can do in Alaska. In Alaska, many ports of call have whale watching or excursions that take visitors through different spots of nature. On these tours you could see different types of wildlife that you have never seen or heard of before. Each Alaska cruise is slightly different because the people will see different forms of wildlife. In Alaska always keep your eyes open and your camera ready because of the scenery and wildlife. 

        Setting sail from New Orleans on a cruise is one of my favorite ways to depart on a cruise vacation because of the sights along the Mississippi River. When you depart from New Orleans on a cruise vacation you will get to experience a trip down the Mississippi River (unless you are doing an upriver cruise). There are a variety of different New Orleans attractions and things you can try to spot as your ship departs from New Orleans. 
        Next time you sail on a cruise from New Orleans, try to spot these things. I have compiled a list of things that I have previously spotted during my own New Orleans cruises. This is just for fun and is not any type of contest or game.  See what you can spot and have fun watching New Orleans go by as you depart on your cruise. Here are the things I recommend trying to spot as you sail from New Orleans: 

Thing To Spot #1:  Crescent City Connection
         The Crescent City Connection is huge bridge that goes over the Mississippi River. It should be pretty easy to spot this bridge from your cruise ship while it is docked or departing. The Crescent City Connection is comprised of two bridges. Each bridge is for one way flow of traffic. When a cruise ship is docked in New Orleans you should be able to see the cruise ship from this bridge.

Thing To Spot #2:  The Port Administration Building
           If your cruise ship is docked at the Erato Street Cruise Terminal you should have a good view of the Port of New Orleans' Administration Building. This building is located on the opposite side of the Crescent City Connection. If you cannot see this building from your cruise ship because another ship is blocking your view, you should be able to see this building once your ship is sailing on the river to depart. 

Thing To Spot #3:   Steamboat Ship/Vessel
         New Orleans is a place where you have a good chance of spotting a steamboat. Each cruise I have been on from New Orleans, I have spotted a steamboat. If you are lucky you will get to see one of these boats sailing on the river.

Thing To Spot #4:  St. Louis Cathedral
          You should be able to see St. Louis Cathedral as your cruise ship makes its first turn on the Mississippi River. This cathedral is great place to visit pre or post cruise in New Orleans if you have some extra time!

Thing To Spot #5:   Riverwalk Mall
           The Riverwalk Mall is located by the Mississippi River and your cruise ship should pass by this mall right after departure. This building should be easy to spot because of the building's large exterior lettering.

Thing To Spot #6:  Train
            Can you spot a moving train from your cruise ship? If the timing is right and you are looking, you can! There is a train track that runs near the cruise terminals in New Orleans. 

Thing To Spot #7:  Streetcar (Trolley)
             In the past, I have been able to spot a streetcar or two from my cruise ship as it departed from New Orleans. While I don't have a picture showing that I have spotted a streetcar from my cruise ship, I do have a picture of a New Orleans streetcar I took during my vacation in the city. 

Thing To Spot #8:  
Building With "You Are Beautiful" Graffiti on Exterior
            Last time I was sailing down the Mississippi River I noticed a building with graffiti that reads, "You Are Beautiful". Next time you cruise from New Orleans look for this building that has an inspiring message to all sailing by. 

Thing To Spot #9:   Ferry
          There are ferries that transport people and cars across the Mississippi River. You should be able to spot a ferry from your cruise ship in New Orleans. 

I love cruising from New Orleans and I hope to be sailing down the Mississippi River again sometime soon! The last time I cruised from New Orleans was on the Carnival Dream to the Bahamas. If you would like to read my cruise review please click here. 

       The time when a cruise ship arrives or departs from a port often brings many passengers to the ship's public decks for a view outside. On a typical pleasant weather day, this part of a cruise can be bring hundreds to thousands of a ship's passengers outside to take a look at the view and watch the port's scenery sail by. 
        On Carnival's Fantasy Class ships (this includes the Carnival Fantasy, Ecstasy, Sensation, Fascination, Imagination, Inspiration, Elation and Paradise), there are a variety of options for getting a great view of the scenery around the ship.  This blog post will only include spots that pertain to Carnival's Fantasy Class ships. I may write future posts that relate to other classes of ships and cruise lines. 

Getting A View From The Front of the Ship
Ship's Observation Deck
       Each of Carnival's Fantasy Class ships have an observation deck above the ship's navigational bridge. You can find this observation deck on the Verandah Deck. This area allows for a great view of the ship's "mouth" and the front of the ship. 
       To get to this area you have two options. If you are on the Verandah Deck walk towards the front of the ship. Once you get to the area with staterooms turn to the left and walk down the stateroom hallway that is on the left side of the ship. As you keep walking towards the front of the ship you should reach a door. Open this door and you will see another door immediately following. Once you open the second door you should be outside. The second option to get to this area of the ship is to walk on the Lido Deck's outside area by the lifeboats towards the front of the ship. You should see a stairwell that will take you directly up to this area. It does not matter if you walk on the outside part of the port or starboard side of the Lido deck. Both sides have stairwells that will take you up.  

Jogging Track/Mini Golf Course Front Deck Area
         On the Sun Deck there is an area at the front of the ship that allows you to have a view of the Verandah Deck's Observation Deck and the ship's "mouth". You can find this area directly at the front of the Sun Deck. It is located by the mini golf course and jogging track area.
          This area offers a similar view to the Verandah Deck Observation Area, but on this deck you are higher up and have a better view of decks that are lower. 

Getting A View From The Back Areas of the Ship
Verandah Deck AFT Viewing Area
        The Verandah Deck's aft area is a great place for a view of the scenery behind the ship.  On the Fantasy Class ships, except for the Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise, this area is near the WaterWorks (waterslides). On the Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise this area is near the AFT pool.
         

Serenity Adults Only Retreat (Ages 21+)
       For adults 21 and older, wishing to get away from children or for a quieter view the Serenity Adults Only Retreat is a great place to be to see the view from the back area of the ship. All of Carnival's Fantasy class ships should have a Serenity Adults Only Retreat located on the Promenade Deck at the back of the ship. 

        There are other areas you can choose to take a look outside from, but these are a few of my favorites. Take some time to explore your cruise ship on the first day to find areas that you think will give you a great view. All 8 of Carnival Fantasy class ships have spacious outside decks that allow for viewing of the areas surrounding the ship.