I have been viewing this board for many, many months now and have finally decided to post my first question after reading the friendly replies to HugsNkisses. You people really are nice and seem to have so many answeres to questions I wanted to ask. I posted this question on the CC board earlier. Hear goes. My husband and I will be going on our first cruise in June to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary on the Mariner We are cruising to Alaska. Can we pay towards our shipboard credit for excursions, spa treatments, etc. I guess it would be like a payment plan so we won't have to come up with the total investment 30 days before the cruise.

Hi, loulani,

Welcome to the board. I don't know the answer to your question, but I love the Mariner and I'm excited for you! What a great way to celebrate an anniversary.

loulani, Welcome! Ngaire will know best how to answer your question but I do know that you can purchase shipboard credit as a gift so I don't see why you couldn't buy it for yourself.
Lawrence, another poster on this board, purchased a shipboard credit for his honeymooning sister.

I don't know the answer to your question, but we are so glad you are joining the best chat board ever created.
So many of our members have done the Alaska cruise, but it might take a travel agent or a call to RSSC to answer your question. But what a super idea. I had never thought of that. It would make that bill they have on your door as you leave the ship a little less painful.
I am sure Ngaire would know how this works.
Keep your posts coming. We have a lot of fun and we also help each other with useful and wonderful information.

Loulani, I hear ya -- I'm trying to save up for the same reason. For me, I'd rather just pop the money in a savings account for now, so I've got possession of it (and earning that tiny bit of interest). I've actually opened a separate savings account at my bank, so I'll be sure not to touch it! LOL!

Once on board, I'm just going to charge things like that to my cabin and pay with my credit card, and then when I get the bill I can pay it off all at once from the money I saved. This way I also get all the points on my card, w/o having to pay any finance charges. I suppose you could also bring your saved funds with you and put them towards a shipboard credit, but I don't know how that works.

Hi Loulani: Congrats on your first post! Someone will know the answer to your question but it is not me - keep good notes for the rest of us about your cruise - Joanna

You just ask your TA to call in a shipboard credit on your credit card. One phone call is all it takes. It is like giving a gift to yourself. So you still get the points for using your card. This is done a lot as parents give gifts to kids things of that nature. It is a very common practice.

Also be sure to tell the Dining Room Manager it is your anniversary and special order whatever it is that you and your husband love to eat that night. It is a real treat to pre-order for a special dinner. Just be sure to give him 24 hours notice. Also make sure your TA or you fill in that it is your anniversary on your Guest Information forms.

Welcome Loulani! Please report on your Alaska anniversary cruise...we are all anxious to know!
Only 5 more months!

Welcome, Loulani! My husband and I celebrated our 25th anniversary with our first (except for with a tour group) Radisson cruise, so I can tell you first-hand that you have picked a spectacular way to celebrate your anniversary. As Ngaire says, make sure Radisson knows about the special occasion and the staff will make it really special. Oh, you are in for a treat!

Adding to Ngaire's thought -- I never had thought of giving shipboard credit as a gift. What a great idea!

Welcome, Loulani!

What a fantastic way to celebrate your anniversary. You will love the cruise to Alaska and I wish you a memorable time!

We cruised to Alaska three years ago and did several excursions on our own. Just ask if you'd like some suggestions/information.

Hope to read many more posts from you!

Loulani - welcome! And I like LeeAnne's idea - setting up a savings account for the cruise itself and then charging the shipboard account and then paying it off from the savings account. All the frequent flier miles and the you pay it all off. :)

Masaki

Welcome Loulani -

Thank you for posting here. The Mariner is a wonderful ship and the Alaska itinerary is very memorable. A great way to spend your anniversary.

Welcome Loulani! Yes - you should find all the answers to your questions on this board. The Mariner was our first RSSC cruise. You will definitely be wowed! Prepare to enjoy yourself!

Welcome, Loulani!

You are going to love Alaska. What a terrific choice for your special occasion. We cruised the Inside Passage several years ago. It was the most amazing experience. Everywhere I looked, the scenery was sooooo gorgeous. I came back telling everyone that Alaska was a trip everyone needed to take at least once in their life. To this day, nothing in our travels has matched it for the sheer grandeur of mother nature.

And to do it on the Mariner would be extraordinary. Alaskan scenery.... the luxury of the Mariner.... you absolutely cannot lose!

If you get a chance, check out Anne Vipond's book on Alaska by Cruise Ship. Not only will it give you great information, it'll make you anticipate the trip all the more.

Enjoy every moment, and again, welcome to LCT.

Kathy

Loulani:

Glad you decided to post...we're so glad to have you here and to have the chance to say welcome.

I think you've already received lots of good advice, but if you have more questions, I hope you'll ask.

Again, WELCOME!

Welcome Loulani - sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate your anniversary. We love the Mariner and I can't think of any reason why you won't as well. I think the above posts are a good idea, either put money into a savings account that you can then use to pay off the credit card, or even better call in a shipboard credit for yourself. As Ngaire said, be sure to have your TA inform the ship that its your anniversary and special order a dinner, maybe ask for a quiet table to 2 that night, order some champagne or special wine and really celebrate. Congratulations by the way on your upcoming 35th - that is definitely a milestone. We have actually made it to 38, so we are only a slight bit ahead of you, unfortunately ours is the week before Christmas so we never get to plan a cruise around it. Oh well!!

Welcome, Loulani...ahhh....what a treat, to celebrate your anniversary on the Mariner!! Congrats!!

Welcome, Loulani.

Welcome, loulani. And don't worry if you neglect to pre order a special dinner. THEY ARE ALL SPECIAL. Honestly, everything you eat on Radisson will knock your socks off. Do tell them you are celebrating and you'll get champagne and a cake one day before dinner.

loulani,

Welcome to LCT. You are going to love the Mariner. What a great way to celebrated your anniversary. Enjoy!!!!

Betty

loulani,

A big warm welcome to LCT. Glad Ngaire had the answer for you (she always does!). Congratulations on your upcoming 35th. A wonderful way to celebrate it - in beautiful Alaska on a fantastic ship. I've never been to Alaska and I envy you so much. We celebrated our 30th anniversary on the Navigator and Radisson really made it a special night for us. Besides your TA telling them about it, there is also a spot to mention it on the information form Radisson has you fill out.

We'll be looking forward to hearing all about your cruise - before & after!!!! We love to help with questions so keep them coming :)

loulani,

Congrats on your 35th anniversary AND planning an Alaskan cruise on the Mariner!! As everyone is saying, you will love Alaska and the Mariner.

Please ask whatever questions you want about Alaska as you can see, there are many of us that have been there.

Ginny

Colleen, if you read this, where in Texas are you?

From my standpoint, don't do Spa treatments, etc., as all the salon prices are out of this world. I just would not consider it. Use your money for excursions since Alaska is a chance of a liftime.

Welcome to a great board. Thank you for your question. After months on this board and CC, I learned something new.

However, if you use your platinum AMEX card, you get $300 credit. Since so much is included, we often have trouble using it up.

Loulani, congratulations on your 35th! and welcome to LCT..have a great cruise..and pls report back, MUSHers will appreciate it..r/wes

Priscilla,
I LOVE your picture! VERY pretty!! :)
Sheri

Loulani,
Welcome! You will love Alaska. We went last summer and it was wonderful! What a nice way to celebrate your 35th anniversary. Actually, our Alaska cruise was the only cruise I've taken where I didn't visit the spa - too many activities. Congratulations on your anniversary and welcome!