Cruise Ship Excursions

It's Cruise Ship Saturday! Today we're talking about cruise ship excursions.

An excursion can be a great way to see and do a lot in one port. Ship-sponsored excursions can be reserved through the cruise line’s website ahead of time. They may also be available once onboard at the shore excursions desk. The length and amount of activity on an excursion varies. Tours can run from a sightseeing trolley which requires no walking to hiking a glacier to snorkeling to a helicopter tour of volcanoes. Tour lengths range from 30 minutes to full day. Be forewarned – excursions can be expensive. You can spend $29 for a tour of the city or $599 for a bear watching trip. Shoppers, know that some of the longer excursions may not leave time for you to hit up the stores.

If booked on a ship-sponsored excursion there are procedures common to most cruise lines:

• A tour ticket is issued with a number or number/letter combo.
• Passengers are given a place and time to gather where representatives will have signs with corresponding tour name/number/letter combos.
• After handing over the tour ticket passengers may be issued a sticker or wristband.
• Early arrivers may be allowed to board the transportation or may have to stand and wait. Your transportation could be a bus, van, taxi, shuttle, trolley, ferry, boat, or train.
• Some tours have several buses of passengers. Paying attention to the driver and bus/shuttle number can be important as you may be required to return with the same driver.
• The smaller the group, the more individualized the tour.

Excursions can also be booked independently. Non-ship excursions can be cheaper in some cases. These can be booked ahead of time or at the port. Hiring a driver to give a tour of the area is another option. This may require some preplanning or may require nothing more than showing up at the taxi stand. Talk to the representative about what you want and agree on a price before leaving. You may be able to negotiate so don’t be afraid to ask. In some ports free or fee-based shuttles take passengers to and from shopping centers or town centers. If renting a car, reservations will need to be made ahead of time.

Both ship and private excursions may be canceled because of weather but some excursions operate rain or shine. 

Swimming with sea turtles excursion. Not canceled.
Yes, I was in the water.

Don’t feel obliged to keep busy with tours the entire time. In many ports wandering can lead to great restaurants and shops. Some of the restaurants may have free Wi-Fi with a food or beverage purchase. There is nothing wrong – in fact there is a lot right – with sitting at a restaurant in Cozumel with delicious margaritas, chips and salsa, banana leaf wrapped tamales, good music, and free Wi-Fi. A very relaxing way to spend a Friday.

Excerpt from CRUISING WITH CONFIDENCE: HOW TO BE A FIRST TIME CRUISER WITHOUT LOOKING LIKE ONE by Deb Pfeifer

Suck the Marrow Tour, Spring 2018

It's Wanderlust Wednesday! Today we're wrapping up our Spring tour.

With our health and mobility issues it is imperative that we make the most of each day we have. So each time we go away we adhere to my tattoo, a quote from Henry David Thoreau.

"Live deep and suck out all the marrow of life."

Between May 5 and June 4 of this year we:

• Took three cruises
• Rented two cars
• Stayed in 12 different hotels
• Visited four National Parks
• Spent time in two countries
• Traveled to four states
• Traveled by plane, ship, converted school bus and converted prison bus, double decker bus, coach, train, taxi, car, and shuttle
• Went to two Major League Baseball games
• Won $1279.07 on a penny slot machine

Yeah, we sucked the marrow. But when we take these kinds of trips the same question comes up, a question that is hard to answer.

What was your favorite part?

Let's go with some of the prettiest views instead.

Harbor at Icy Strait Point, Alaska. There was a whale out there on the day we visited.

Flowers at Butchart Gardens, Victoria, Canada. 

Glacier Bay National Park

Moose in the road, Cantwell, Alaska

Penny Slot Win

Nugget Falls at Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska

Denali

Dogsledding Tour, Skagway, Alaska

Drive from Denali to Wasilla, Alaska

Island Princess

Just my prettiest views for the month.

How to Sew a Quick and Easy Sunglasses Case - Tutorial Tuesday

It's Tutorial Tuesday and I have a quick and easy project for you (and your sunglasses).

For this project you will need:

• Main fabric
• Lining fabric
• Fusible fleece like this kind HERE.
• Iron
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting ruler
• Cutting mat
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Something to make a rounded end, like a cup or glass or template from pattern

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you sewing and crafting content.

Digital PDF pattern now available in my Etsy shop with step by step written directions, color photos, and printable template. Click to get your copy today!

Looking for more travel ideas? Check out some of our other projects!

Check out the step-by-step how to video for detailed directions on how to make your own easy homemade fabric sunglasses case:

#EtsyCreatorCo

Suck the Marrow Spring 2018 Trip, Foodie Edition

It's Yummy Monday! Today we're talking about the best things we ate on our Alaska/Washington/Oregon/Canada road trip and cruise.

With our health and mobility issues it is imperative that we make the most of each day we have. So each time we go away we adhere to my tattoo, a quote from Henry David Thoreau.

"Live deep and suck out all the marrow of life."

Between May 5 and June 4 of this year we:

• Took three cruises
• Rented two cars
• Stayed in 12 different hotels
• Visited four National Parks
• Spent time in two countries
• Traveled to four states
• Traveled by plane, ship, converted school bus and converted prison bus, double decker bus, coach, train, taxi, car, and shuttle.
• Went to two Major League Baseball games
• Won $1279.07 on a penny slot machine

Yeah, we sucked the marrow. But when we take these kinds of trips the same question comes up, a question that is hard to answer. 

What was your favorite part?

Instead of favorites, today I'm going with the best foods we had.

Best Breakfast - Razzy Cinnamon Rolls at the Talkeetna Roadhouse in Talkeetna, Alaska.

Best Dinner - Tacos from Carniceria Los Compadres (a butcher shop/market) in Mt. Vernon, Washington

Best Dessert - Marionberry Cobbler from the Halfway House restaurant in Brinnon, Washington.

Best Car Picnic - On the trunk of the car in a parking lot in Olympic National Park, Washington.

Best Cruise Ship Food - a mini lamb chop from the Most Traveled Passenger Party on the Island Princess.

Best Ballpark Food - Philly Cheesesteak at Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington.

Best Snack Box Provided on a Tour - The snack box we received as part of our Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali National Park.

Best Drink - Hey Ya'll, a hard iced tea we had in Vancouver, Canada.

Sewing & Crafting Templates

Sorry, free templates no longer available. 

5 Things to do in Vancouver, Canada

Today we're talking about 5 different activities you can do when you're visiting the cruise ship port of Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada.

I can't even count the number of times we've been to Vancouver, Canada. It has been a lot. Here are the top five of things we've done.

1. Spend the day in Stanley Park. Lots of places to walk and lots of pretty views.

2. Head up to Grouse Mountain. Ski resort in winter and other outdoor adventures - hiking, biking, ziplining - in summer. Heck, they even have a Grizzly Bear Refuge.

And the views from high up are spectacular.

3. Visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge. It's high, it's long, and it moves when you walk on it. A bit scary but you'll get a certificate of completion when you're done!

Or try the Cliffwalk when you're there. Also a bit scary.

4. For something less scary, head down to Canada Place. You'll find the cruise port, convention center, and plenty of restaurants. And great views.

5. Eat, drink and be merry. You'll find restaurant, bars, and specialty venues all over the city.

Cupcakes?

Prefer a frozen Bellini?

Maybe a vodka iced tea?

Look at the horseradish and pepper rim
on this Bloody Mary.

Spicy shrimp and popcorn?

Or a peach Melba Pannekoeken (Dutch pancake)? 

No matter where you are in the city, you can find plenty to keep your body busy and your belly full.

Make an Embroidery Hoop Car Trash Bag - Tutorial Tuesday

When I make these tutorials, I go through a lot of trial and error before I put them on camera. Sometimes, despite how many times I've made something, I still make a mistake. And sometimes long after filming (and sometimes immediately after I turn off the camera) I come up with a more efficient way to make whatever craft it is I'm working on. But after battling some kind of flu bug for the last few weeks my mind is not at its best and my crafting skills are not top notch. So I'm hoping today's project will be a starting place and my mind will think of a better way to make a trash holder for the car.

But that day isn't today. While I'm waiting for a clear mind, here is what I have so far. A car trash bag made with a five inch embroidery hoop.

For this project you will need:

• 11 ½” x 16 ½” main fabric
• 11 ½” x 16 ½” lining fabric
• 2” x 16” fabric for handle – measure where it will be placed – may need it to be shorter
• 5” embroidery hoop 
• Iron
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting ruler
• Cutting mat
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you sewing and crafting content.

Looking for more craft ideas? Check out these projects!

You can find the step-by-step how to directions for the embroidery hoop car trash bag project right here: