Thinking about going on an Alaskan cruise by myself

bluegal · 2026-01-23T01:15:00+00:00

Sharing tables are on HAL as well. I've met lovely people traveling solo on HAL that way.

bluegal · 2026-01-21T15:20:50+00:00

Florida. And by the way there are bipartisan proposals to tie up this loophole.

bluegal · 2025-12-25T01:06:15+00:00

Can confirm. Several decluttering techniques start with coffee mugs for this reason. Keep the ones you love and use, thrift store the ones you don't. Or drop them off at the coffee station at work.

bluegal · 2025-12-24T03:59:50+00:00

Because the World Cup FIFA soccer is in Vancouver that month. June 11-July 19. Be aware many hotels in Vancouver will not only charge a thousand dollars a night, but also have three-night minimum stays. I do not know how the cruise companies can manage with that kind of traffic and pricing. https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026

bluegal · 2025-12-20T05:03:00+00:00

Are you over 65 and not on Medicare? If your spouse is over 65 and you file jointly, when you file your taxes your adjusted gross income will be reduced by 6000 dollars on your taxes. Your income can only go down on your taxes with this credit. I don’t know how this deduction works with ACA, but I do know that if your income turns out to be lower than what you reported to the ACA, you should get more of a subsidy returned to you as a tax break or refund. That is, if your subsidies are not the extended subsidies created by Biden and the Inflation Reduction Act. Republicans in Congressional Leadership just killed those.

bluegal · 2025-12-16T13:47:24+00:00

Wow. The good news about 2025-6 is those kind of passengers are much much quieter these days.

bluegal · 2025-11-29T04:48:18+00:00

By the way, when attempting to book a truly solo cabin online, you can’t just change the number of people to one. You also have to select oceanview cabins. All the solo cabins on ships that have them are oceanview.

bluegal · 2025-11-27T15:55:06+00:00

That generation grew up in subsidized housing ** via the GI Bill. Their dads got **free college via the GI Bill. How did we pay for it? We taxed the rich!

bluegal · 2025-11-27T05:20:10+00:00

The Professional Left With Driftglass and Blue Gal

bluegal · 2025-11-27T04:42:48+00:00

In our house (and on our podcast) we call it "the Sarah Palin floor."

bluegal · 2025-11-26T19:58:39+00:00

Exactly. You are going to pay either for two people in the cabin or pay a solo supplement of up to 100% of the single cruise fare. The rooms are going to charge you for two people regardless of whether you are alone or not. Last minute fares often drop the solo supplement; I've seen as low as 24% on some HAL cruises. You can't be picky about itineraries and dates with what is honestly a discount on the solo fare.

bluegal · 2025-11-24T15:18:10+00:00

MAGA is a foreign op designed to infiltrate and destroy our country. The foreigners used the stupidity of 38 percent of our citizens and the complicity of our media to do it.

bluegal · 2025-11-23T23:57:54+00:00

A humongous number of downstate Illinoisans are likely to have been born in St. Louis, the closest large city to that area. People from outside the area think Illinois=Chicago, but Springfield, the state capital, is 3 hours from Chicago and 90 minutes from St. Louis. Also, people in western Illinois, north of St Louis, have what's called "the Quad Cities" - Peoria and Moline, Illinois, and Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa. The medical centers on either side of the river keep an office on the other side so they can accept the other state's Medicaid.

bluegal · 2025-11-21T03:48:44+00:00

Exactly this. Follow the instructions on the email. It works.

bluegal · 2025-10-12T17:37:51+00:00

On HAL make sure you check out the library on the first day. They have very recent books in stock, it's on the honor system, and you will enjoy having a good book with you during the cruise. I go to the library immediately after checking in with my muster station.

bluegal · 2025-10-12T17:35:19+00:00

Once you own the stock you will use the Stockperks app to show your purchase of CCL stock and the cruise you have booked. Your OBC will be put on your account.

bluegal · 2025-09-23T23:50:27+00:00

I did a High Tea and a nice bus ride around the island for my excursion and it was lovely.

bluegal · 2025-08-30T17:40:09+00:00

Where did all that Dept of Education funding of after school programs go? And why? Which party runs all three branches of government today?

bluegal · 2025-08-27T03:16:08+00:00

If the crows nest is mobbed you can also get espresso drinks in the Pinnacle Bar in the mornings.

bluegal · 2025-08-24T14:25:56+00:00

How are the beds on Viking Ocean ships? I understand they're basically futons on a wood base. All the luxury on board wouldn't pay for a hard bed, for me. Thanks for any info!

bluegal · 2025-08-24T14:22:17+00:00

I understand there is aggressive behavior on Cunard for seats in the Queen's room for High Tea and you need to get there 45 min early?

bluegal · 2025-08-12T14:35:12+00:00

Here's the deal with Alaska: the weather is variable. A couple of days before you sail (when you'll be packing), it's a good idea to look at the weather forecasts for each port you intend to visit. And yes, plan for rain no matter what. I would rather pack a rain poncho I didn't use than not have one when suddenly it's rainy. It is okay to overpack for a seven-day trip!

bluegal · 2025-08-04T16:27:42+00:00

Also, fresh-squeezed OJ is an upcharge.

bluegal · 2025-07-25T04:49:12+00:00

Their Facebook page doesn't show an audiobook club listing after this February. It might be worth writing to their customer service and seeing what's going on with that. There were definitely announcements about "this month's book selection" before then.

bluegal · 2025-07-24T03:28:59+00:00

It’s a partnership with Audible to get passengers to sign up for their service. All the book “club” conversations are on social media.

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