WLV

If you buy a drinks package that includes water there's no need to also buy a water package. Many of the bartenders will give you two bottles at once. It's easy to stock up in your room; just keep on getting them throughout the day. Each bottle probably costs RC 20 cents at worst.

 

Case in point: a bottle of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc on board goes for $68 (inc. gratuity) without a drinks package. With a package, it's about $37, including gratuity. That same bottle in Von's: $18.

I meant to say the Von's price is $12, vs. RC's price of $37.

Recently sailed on the Explorer Alaska cruise, from July 21st-28th. Went with 6 grandchildren and their parents. My impressions:

The positives:

Great for families. The kids had lots to do. Many activities available for adults and/families.

Staff uniformly excellent. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. Our two waiters in the MDR made sure that we were accommodated at a table for 12--we couldn't reserve that large a table on line, but once on the ship, the MDR manager helped us and we got the same table every night.

Chops restaurant was outstanding. WIthout exaggeration, one of the best steak meals we've ever had (and my wife and I have eaten at very high end restaurants over the years). Service was also impeccable. And while Chops says they won't seat more than eight people at one table, they gave us a table for 12.

Alaska itself is gorgeous. We had expected to see more snow, but that's not RC's fault. The captain got us within a mile of the glacier and we spent several hours there.

The shows were very professional, in the sense that the performers were highly talented. The musical night, however, reminded me of watching Lawrence Welk: great performers but very corny.

The negatives:

Constant upselling and attempts to get you to buy, buy, buy. As soon as you get on the ship they push the drinks packages very aggressively; the crew are wearing t-shirts emblazoned with "Did you get your drink package?" messages. Once inside, you're approached by a crew member pushing the upgraded restaurant package.

Zoom internet pretty poor. Outages, plus slow speeds and spotty room coverage. If you don't want to spend the money, just wait until you're on the ground in Juneau and Skagway and you can use your normal cell coverage. Also, both ATT and Verizon now have a $10 per day plan for use in many countries, including Canada, which you can use for the day you're in Victoria.

RC tries to get you to buy their excursions, and their ground transport, scaring you by saying that if you don't, you can't be guaranteed you'll get on the ship if you're late or a flight is delayed. If you plan properly, that's not likely to happen.

There are few bargains on the ship, despite what RC tries to tell you. If you get the drinks package you get 40% off bottles of wine bought in the restaurant. Which means that brings the price of a bottle of wine down from the completely absurd to the merely ridiculous.

Case in point: a bottle of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc on board goes for $68 (inc. gratuity) without a drinks package. With a package, it's about $37, including gratuity. That same bottle in Von's: $18.

We did the wine tasting session one afternoon. Participants could buy a bottle for that same 40% off with a drinks package, or 25% without. We liked one bottle of wine that was priced at $60, or $36 with discount. Glad we didn't buy it, as I just got the same bottle today in Costco for $19.

My advice: you're allowed to bring two bottles of wine per stateroom, which you can bring to dinner. They may or may not charge you a $15 corkage, but you'll still save money and have better wine.

The ship, with its large shopping street lined with expensive stores, has a Las Vegas feel to it. If you like Las Vegas, you'll like this; but if you don't, you might find it not so attractive.

Windjammer buffet food very plentiful, huge variety, but rather mediocre in taste. The place is mobbed at most hours, so getting a table can be frustrating. MDR food also no big deal, although you can have as much as you want.

The bottom line:

Terrific vacation for families and groups; staff truly excellent. But the heavy commercialism is not for us and makes it unlikely my wife and I would sail on RC again if it was just the two of us.