Hello all,
I know it’s been a while, I just realized the MUSH is getting closer which means that I start to get excited and post more. I have been real busy making the big switch from a PC to Apple. All my computer time is usually spent trying to figure out the different nuances.

I would like to solicit suggestions on door sign designs. Due to the number of people on this cruise it will take me a while.

I have also just started with photography and bought a digital SLR. I would like some advice on equipment to bring.

John a.k.a. Mr. Kimmi

How about an Alaskan Husky? I love the idea that you put names and cabin #s on the back. It becomes a keepsake and I've saved them all..... you're the BEST!

Good idea, Marcie! Gee, it just dawned on me that MUSH is only 4 months away!

Marcie - love the Husky idea. It's very appropriate to MUSH! Maybe a team of them?

John, I too love those door signs. They are great keepsakes! I found a perfect photo to use...

What kind of camera and lenses did you get? I was thinking that the photographer types could have some kind of gathering to talk about our photos and exchange ideas. You might want to check out the forums at www.dpreview.com - just like any boards there are the regular posters and some "silliness" going on.

John, I'm a 100% devoted Mac fan, never had anything else. You are FAR more technically savvy than I am, but nothing is easier than Macintosh.

Ummmmmm.....JUST a thought....but I have a FEW pictures of a husky!!!!!! :D :D :D

Kathy I do like your picture. I will do a couple and then put up a vote.

I got a Canon Rebel XT 8.0 MP. It came with the 18-55 lens and I bought the 28-135 USM IS. Someone gave me a Tameron 70-300. I was thinking of getting the Canon 70-300 with the Image Stabilizer.

Pam you are right. I have been a PC person for a while. This board was written on a PC. I am getting into Video/ Photo editing and had to switch.

I was thinking of getting together on MUSH to share experience and photos. I have really been spending a lot of time on photo restoration and would like to share some Photoshop and Aperture techniques. I will be bringing my new Powerbook this trip so we can do many cool things with photos. I am also betting that once people see how the Mac integrates with photography there will be some converts.
John

Nice photo of Niko!

John,
I have the 70-300 IS, which is going on MUSH with my Canon 20D. My favorite two lenses are the 24-70L and my 50mm Macro (All Canon). I also have a 16-35, which I used on PIP frequently with the 50 Macro. I have a Tamron new lens specifically made for the digital (18-200), but, I don't think it creates photos that are as crisp. I was actually disappointed in the photos. Frank has a 18-55. Our film cameras came with the 28-85 but I never use those older lenses. I like the lower apeture lenses which allow for more light. 3.5 just isn't wide enough for most things I tend to shoot.

I use the PC for my photos, although I have a Mac laptop I use for business for the clients with Quickbooks for the Mac. I guess I should upload some photos and play with them. I do have iphoto. And I have a really hard time using the MAC for business applications. But I've been a PC fan since before there were hard drives.

I am loving the picture of Niko!

OH me too - what a gorgeous baby!!!!

John - Maybe you could use Kathy's group doggie photo as part of the principal graphic and then put the adorable face of Niko inside a graphic of a ship's wheel. (I did a sample in PrintShop but discovered that I cannot post it here or send it to you. I guess the recipient has to have the same Broderbund program to see the attachment. Lordie, this graphic stuff is exhausting, no?) If I ever learn how to use the Adobe PhotoShop software I installed, maybe that will work for sending designs to other people. I will just stick to Christmas cards and leave the door signs to you, since you are clearly quite adept at graphics, as witnessed by the wonderful PIP door signs. Cheers, Fred

PS - One thing we should all consider is a different way of mounting the signs. The poor cabin attendants on the PG had a devil of a time removing the adhesive backing which was left on the doors. I simply told our cabin attendant that I had no idea who put up the signs and sympathized with her as she carefully scraped off the adhesive residue. Maybe rubber cement (which rolls off in cool little balls) might work. Any ideas, folks??

I vote to use Niko somewhere....he is beautiful. I had a husky myself named Sambo when I was young. Great dogs!

For the record, I googled that dog mush pack, it isn't one of my photos. I just thought it fit the theme, but, Niko is one of us and he is quite beautiful. Maybe we can clone him for our door signs and make a mush pack out of him!!

Fred, could you see a pack of cairns pulling a sled for Iditerod?

John, Anne had a great idea - she did signs for Party. She had two holes punched in the top and just thread a ribbon through so they could "hang" on the door instead of "sticking". That was very effective and they never fell off.

Ngaire,
Excellent idea by Anne, Thats what I will do. I am away this week and will work on some ideas for my return.


Freddie,
I will teach you a few simple things about Photoshop that will make all the difference. Unfortunately my best graphics work is putting my coworker's heads in compromising photos and then posting them in the department for all to enjoy. If only I could parlay that to a career.
John

John - you spent the money on Apeture! :eek:

I haven't even spent the money for Photoshop CS2 - I'm using Photoshop Elements. :)

I'm a Nikon person (D70), unlike the majority of people here. I'm bringing a 70-300 mm lens, a 18-200 mm VR lens, and a flash (probably) - all Nikon.

I like Anne's idea. I'm going to have to remember to grab my door sign this time - last time for MINT, by the time I thought about taking it, somebody had already removed it from my door ... :(

Masaki

Masaki, I SWEAR it wasn't me!!! :D <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" />

OH, I wish I could be going with you all! It is going to be a great picture-taking experience. As much as I LOVE to take pictures, and take a LOT, my knowledge is confined to an automatic, point-and-shoot camera. I would really love to hear the tips from all the experts who are going. John, I think it is a great idea to have a little photography seminar. You will have a lot of knowledgeable brains to pick there!

Kathy, that is an adorable husky picture! :)

When we wento to Alaksa in 2001, the scenery was so magnificent, I borrowed Frank's new 35 mm film camera and realized how much I'd missed photography, which goes so well with travel as a passion!

Masaki,
I'm with you on the software, Elements 3.0 (time to upgrade), Sometimes I use Picasa, and I use Microsoft's Digital Image Suite, which when I approached a pro at the photo store for Photoshop CS lessons, suggested.

John,
You may want to look into my favorite place for professional photo classes - The Santa Fe Workshops. They actually have a class for Apeture.

Sheri- I am glad to teach a basic class on MUSH. Even with a point and shoot camera there are things you can do with composition. I sold a photo taken with my Nikon Nuvis Point and Shoot camera.

I use Photoshop Elements 3.0...mostly for photos that I edit for our families at the funeral home. I find it works quite well for what I need for the most part. Kathy, were you saying that there is an upgrade that I should get?

Photoshop Elements 4.0 is out.

Here is info about it:

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/main.html

I think that Photoshop Elements 4.0 was a nice upgrade. Though they moved some of my tools around and it took me a while to adjust ...

Sheri - I will need to search your bags next time before you get off for misplaced door signs and shoes! :D

Masaki

Just had this delivered to my inbox and the Mariner was deemed in the top places to stay in Alaska!!!


http://www.fodors.com/wire/archives/001706.cfm

Cool Kathy! I get to stay at two places on the list, the Mariner and the Alyeska!

I tried to download the 4.0 upgrade yesterday from the Adobe website, and for some reason it wouldn't let me! :rolleyes:

Masaki...it's all just vicious rumors...it wasn't ME or anyone else I know who ....re-located a pair of shoes on the Voyager! Honest injun! :D :D I have heard that Dr. Lee (is that his name?) from Court Tv has been called in to look at the forensic evidence though!!

Us too, since we are with Karen on the post trip.

I just got Photo Elements 4.0, after talking to the computer class instructors on Oceania, and its driving me nuts!!! I wish now I had taken the course they offered on the ship. I think I'm just not very computer literate, and don't deal well will these programs, but I plan to keep trying. So far nothing I've done comes out right, but I know how to load the pictures into the program!!! :D :D Its using the Editor thats driving me crazy!

Photoshop Elements 4.0 is a great upgrade. I just didn't like the fact that there is no color profiles. (That is where you download a profile of the printer that you will be using to print your picture) When you darken or lighten a picture you are only relying on how it looks on the monitor that you are using not how it will print out.

Karen, this might just turn out to be a "LCT Geek Cruise"

As some of you know I am bringing some friends on Mush - some of "their" other friends who have been to Alaska (HAL etc) tell them "oh no you don't have to book early (specifically talking about float plane trips) you just book when you get off" -I know the advantages of booking float planes early and independently $$$ what % do you save?? BUT is it true you can book float planes right off the ship and not through Regent????? I have zero booked except whale watching - I feel like a lousy TA!!!! Joanna

Joanna - you have done a great job bringing your friends onboard. If they think they can book float planes when they get off the ship, let them do it/or try. I don't know the answer - but you should not worry what your friends want to do. Book what you and Tony want, and let them know what you have booked and hopefully, you and your friends don't have to be joined at the hip for the entire cruise - you know, different excursions for different folks, etc.

I'm sure that you feel responsible for your friends and I understand that, since we also have two friend couples joining us, but as a TA, this is what I do. Invite them for dinner the first night and ask everyone to join you for cocktails before. Then during dinner, just say, "look, since we may not all agree on the same things everyday, lets all feel free to book our own excursions, and if you meet someone you want to have dinner with, or if you want to have a romantic dinner for just two of you, please feel free to do so" you can also add, "we will be in dada bar at say 7:00 every night, and you are free to meet us there and then join us/and or some of our friends for dinner".

You shouldn't feel like a lousy TA, you aren't a TA! You just happen to have some friends who want to come on this and everyone should feel free to do whatever they want, whenever they want!

I know these are close friends, but I bet after a day or two, when they get comfortable, they will be fine with doing whatever they each want to do and you won't have to worry.

OK went on way too long - sorry.

Joanna,

It may be possible, but last year I contacted Island Wings (Michelle) for Misty Fjords flight at the beginning of March for late July cruise. Only available time made it a bit of a tight connection for ship's departure and all worked out well but I did have to remind her of time constraints. I can dig up the details re: booking time and $$ if you'd like - be happy to! It was our favorite excursion - good weather, beautiful scenery and she's very impressive.

Sorry Joanna -

I actually wasn't much help here. Hopefully others will have more recent experience, since we haven't bee to Alaska in 20 years.

Kathy: I would love your info - I don't understand how "easy" it is to just book last moment - maybe it is - JoAnn your info always welcome!!!!

Actually, JoAnne, you said it perfectly. Maybe that's why we like cruising with you. When we do, we each go our way and if we want to do something together, we do and we don't have any obligations so we never have any of the stress of "oh, we have to do what they want". We can say we want to go do "X" and no one feels bad. Hey, when you are spending $5,000 or more for a week's vacation, it's still your vacation and you can still share the experience. Same goes for spouses, while we love them dearly, do you ALWAYS want to spend 24/7 with them? We can sday lets have lunch today or not, let's have cocktails before dinner or not today. No pressure.

As for booking things, I agree with JoAnne again. Maybe you want to fly (Which is now about $300 per person) and maybe they don't want to spend that kind of money or have that experience.
It's always fun to compare at cocktails or over dinner when you've all done different things too!

Editing to add that there are things you do have to book ahead, but, you can give everyone their own choices. Tell them what you are doing, tell them you would love the company and give them the freedom to check out the things they want to do without obligation.

OK I know very well how to to deal with this group of friends but goes back to my original ??? can you book last minute for float planes???

You might be able to book off the dock at Juneau. There is a kiosk right off the dock for the Taku Glacier Lodge. They have planes constantly flying in and out. It was a little less costly that booking through RSSC - which we did. It was the highlight of our trip.

Putting my two cents in, if you don't mind my doing so.

I think booking specialized quality tours/guides needs to be done as far ahead as possible. We all share information pertaining to guides and services. Other boards and individuals, do, as well. Imagine if everyone waited until they got off the ship and expected to tour with highly sought after guides at a moments notice. You simply couldn't.

The tours you get at the dock are usually the group bus deals that, quite frankly, can be pretty schlocky! Any private guides waiting at a dock I'd be leery of. Just my opinion.

We booked Island Wings, Coastal Helicopter and Capt. Larry back in 2002, after I endlessly researched private excursions for our Alaska cruise. Outstanding experiences that we would have never had, had we not have booked months ahead. Same holds true with every guide/touring company we've booked with since, whether it be Alaska or Europe.

Joanna - Here is a list of 15 (count 'em, 15!!) flightseeing outfits in Ketchikan:
http://www.visit-ketchikan.com/TravelersDirectory/tabid/71/Default.aspx
Oops, editing to point out that to get the list of floatplane operators, you have to click on the "Flightseeing" item in the "Tours/Sightseeing" item on the left side of the screen.
And here is the website for a flightseeing outfit in Juneau:
http://www.wingsairways.com/

It might be useful for your friends to telephone or email these little companies to get an idea of availability. Bear in mind that the day we are in Ketchikan, there will be four (aarruugghh!!) large ships there - RCCL Serenade of the Seas (2,100+ passengers), NCL Norwegian Star (2,200+), HAL Veendam (1,300+), and HAL Westerdam (1,850+). Thus, there will be a lot of competition for the services of these small flightseeing operations.

On our day in Juneau, the only other large ship is the Carnivore Spirit (2,100+ wet-T-shirt-contest-loving passengers).

All things considered, your friends may want to do a bit of advance planning. Otherwise, they may be spending the days in Ketchikan and Juneau visiting the local Starbucks.

Cheers, Fred

I am booked for some of those excursions with the ones Denise mentioned. However, I don't think you will go wrong with anything Regent books, as they are a class act. There won't be a big difference in price. Anything involving an airplane or helicopter is going to be small, and expensive. First time I went to Alaska, I booked off the ship for a helicopter glacier landing thing, but it was cancelled because of fog/rain.

I look at the list of excursions on the Regent site and I just get baffled as there are sooo many choices! I suppose I should start looking more seriously before the book online feature opens.

Joanna, I agree with the others that you shouldn't feel like you have to be the TA for the group. You'll drive yourself crazy. I think you should let everyone book their own excursions with their own credit cards etc.
Here is the website for http://www.islandwings.com/ I agree with Denise, these excursions fill up fast so they should get on it right away. This is your vacation too....don't drive yourself nuts trying to coordinate everything for everybody. You and Tony make your own plans, let them know what you plan to do and they can decide to join you or not.

Holy smokes, MUSH excursions are open for booking already? I just went to look at them and there they were!