Alaska & Photo CD - did you take enough photos with Shutters?

[IWannaBeAMousketeer]

We are debating whether or not to purchase the full photo CD, but are wondering if we will be onboard enough to take enough pictures with Shutters. We are planning to do a family portrait style picture, so we will buy the 10 photo package for sure. On our last cruise, 10 photos wasn't enough because we ended up with all sorts of good pics on Castaway Cay. Are there photographers on the docks? Are there unique photo ops onboard (like on deck with the scenery)? Did you find the photo CD worth it on an Alaskan?

 

[xlxo]

Thoughts...

• to get best value... you need to look at the daily newsletter and "stalk" your characters for photos when they make appearances. Don't forget the bonus character at the embarkation terminal.
• At times, looking for characters is like a treasure hunt..... who can get the most pictures by the end of the cruise.
• for formal night... look for ALL the photographers and get a picture at each of them.
• kids grow up so quickly.... there can never be enough pictures.
• if you get the photo package early.... there's a discount. It's been mentioned you can get a refund at the end of the cruise if you don't like the pictures.
• when in Tracy Arm.... don't forget to also look for photographers on Deck 4.... especially if it's raining outside.
• I was shocked to not see photographers at the sailaway party. They appear to focus on the character appearances.

 

[Keyser]

We went on the Alaska cruise, and we felt we got the value out of the full CD. The Alaska cruise felt like it had a lot more on-board time, and we found lots of chances to take pictures on the cruise. You'll find you can get pictures any time you are passing someone (we found several times when there were no lines for the formal pictures), try all the different backdrops, etc. And, best of all, we didn't feel we needed to spend an hour of our cruise time figuring out exactly which pictures we wanted.

I will say that the photographers vary significantly in quality. I really think that some of the photographers are just random cast members given a camera one day and told to go take pictures, while others actually know what they are doing in terms of composition, posing, and lighting. After a couple of days, we found one photographer that we realized was good, and tried to get a few more taken by her at later points in the cruise.

 

[anricat]

If in doubt, always pre-pay. You get a 15% discount and if you don't feel like you got enough photos, just cancel by the last evening of the cruise (night before disembarkation) for a full refund. If you do end up with enough photos and you want the CD, you'll be kicking yourself for not pre-paying.