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You are also very much at risk on the way to and from a cruise. Especially standing in lines at airports and customs, as well as boarding and leaving planes with unmasked passengers sniffling and coughing their way past your seat. At least two friends came down with the latest muy infective strain shortly after flying to noncruise vacations. I wear masks in airports if there are a lot of people around (sometimes there are uncrowded spots with good ventilation), on buses, and when the plane isn't moving. If there is someone hacking or sneezing near me on the plane, I wear a KN-95 mask during the flight. Otherwise, no. Re COVID protection when cruising, you cannot depend on anyone else to protect you. A few crew members do mask as do very few passengers. On a recent early season Alaska cruise (repo San Diego to Vancouver, fly home Anchorage mid May) I would keep a mask on hand and use it selectively (such as in elevators) or while waiting for dinner service or in crowded buffet areas (the Grand is especially bad). I tried to find outside tables or uncrowded areas for buffet meals. I allowed the crew to make up my room. The steward I had wore a mask. As far as Noro I follow the rule of not touching food with my own hands and hand washing before and then again after I put my plates down. Usually you can tell when Noro is spreading, they start the extra cleaning.

So you don't get off the cruise ship in port at all? Because all of those "6000" which is a made up number BTW have the option to disembark in any port and those who do will be doing something, no matter how big the horse you came in on. Some will be on smaller/whale watch boats, or walking around on their own two feet, or taking the bus up to one of the National or State Parks, or driving their own rental vehicle. While you will be crammed in a zodiac for an hour and then sitting on a cruise ship?. No thanks.

Of course this is ridiculous. All the ship does is get you to the port. What you do there depends on how much time you have and your interests. Especially in Alaska, there are so many local companies that can take you on a small fishing or whale watching boat, or on a photography tour, or you can use your feet or public transportation (bus lines) to State Parks such as Totem Bight. In most ports, you can also rent a car ( for example from Skagway you can drive yourself as far up into the Yukon as time allows). The main problem is when the itineraries don't allow enough time in port.

I use VTG (if that won't be deleted) to sort by "single supplement". Now that Princess has moved most of the fleet out of Los Angeles you aren't going to see the low single supplements for the Mexican Riviera this fall. NCL is a lot more single-friendly. There were a few low single supplement Alaska cruises in early season, though.

I agree that the cruise line reps are beyond awful and they have no authority to do anything. Better to just take a guarantee cabin booked online!

Haha, your post is already entertaining and the trip hasn't started yet. I was on a Majestic cruise to the Mexican Riviera. It's an interesting ship, I wonder how the enclosed Conservatory area in the front will work in Alaska. I was told that their International Cafe is bigger than normal.

I think the biggest question is whether you really can find any lodging in Whittier. There are still a few cruise lines which use Seward. I think that might work out better for side by side.

I boarded the Grand Princess in Vancouver on that same date (May 6) (I have priority with them but there didn't seem to be a separate holding area). The holdup was with immigration/customs with all three ships all funneling through the same queue which was Disneylandesque. I checked in at about the same time (10:30-ish or about as soon as it was allowed) and it also took an hour to make it on board with almost all of the time in the immigration queue. I believe those who waited another hour to check in were not on board for nearly 3 hours. The rooms were also not ready on Princess, but it was possible to drop my bags in the room and go to lunch.

That Lychee Rose Raspberry thing was an awful flavorless foam rubber puck with a frozen medallion of what probably was supposed to be lychee gellee in the center over a refrigerated and not crisp cookie. Most of the MDR desserts have not been very good. On sea days I try to have lunch in the MDR so I can have the different flavored ice creams/gelatos/sorbets without paying. Add a half piece of the James Beard French toast. Most of the waiters seemed incapable of bringing both at the same time no matter how clearly I asked. There seems to be some kind of general communication issue in the MDRs as I often had to say "no bread" three times.

On Grand they looked at my quizzically the first night and I flashed my medallion. It's nothing to write home about.

Me Too!! Happy upcoming birthday. Next time you take a cruise from LA let me know. I live in Long Beach near the airport. I sent you a DM on Instagram.

For those non-drinkers in need of a free smoothie, do grab a glass to enjoy the chilled soups up in the Observation Lounge! You don't have to use a soup cup!

Looking forward to your next trip report. So entertaining plus a trip down memory lane for me. I am going on HAL San Diego to YVR and then side by side on Grand Princess to Anchorage (May 6 is my 3 free hours in YVR between cruises). Are you a Taurus or an Aries?

In addition see the above-linked Live Report, they did visit Lima with a free transfer to Miraflores (looks like to LarcoMar Mall). From photos, they went to Barranco with a free lance guide and also went downtown.

If you read through the "Live From" report for Sapphire Princess it appears that the pre-tour including Machu Picchu went off okay, as did a port stop in Paracas/Pisco.

I sailed on Bliss for 3 weeks prepandemic with lots of specialty dining. My rankings (we ate at Le Bistro and Cagneys twice). Le Bistro Ocean Blue (but I like seafood) Los Lobos Cagneys (sides and service not very good) Food Republic

An even better free smoothie! My answer: "First I was lucky, then I got smart."

Looks like free smoothie to me!!

We also liked Los Lobos. For some reason it doesn't get much love.

Did I read that the chilled fruit soups aren't served anymore? I used to get some up there and pour it into a glass as a smoothie.

Are they still serving snacks up in the Observation Lounge? I used to also go up there to avoid crowds in the buffet at off hours. It's such a nice space for those with inside cabins. It was tricky to figure out when there might be food up there tho.

Pre-pandemic nearly all of my MDR wait staff experiences on Bliss were bad. After I complained to the head of that department about an especially awful service at lunch, they must have put an asterisk by my name. From then on I was seated at a table with an experienced waiter. It seemed that the better waiters were assigned to the specialty restaurants. We didn't have a great experience in the steak restaurant the first time we went and had to gulp down the desserts so as not to miss the show that night. The second time we told them we had a show and the pacing was better but we still had some cold side dishes. Cold truffle fries! Yum! I had a solo 5 day cruise early in 2022 that was nearly empty and I still wouldn't eat in the MDR! Indian buffet please.

" Me - May I please book Ocean Blue for Saturday March 18? NCL person: Yes, that will be Wednesday at 6:45pm Me-blink blink" LOLOLOLOL If you are vegetarian do check out the Indian station in the buffet.

Love the train to YVR! So easy.

There is a little bit of sun now here near the LA/LB ports!