Aquahound

I wouldn't say this if I hadn't heard of it happening. 😉 Don't forget to take your passports. Otherwise, enjoy! IMO, this is the absolute best thing to do in Skagway.

I can't remember how long it took because we took it slow and made a lot of stops. We actually made it all the way to Whitehorse (which I don't recommend). What I can do, is assure you that you have plenty of time. Robinson Roadhouse is a great turnaround point.

I've only been on one NYE cruise, and it was on a RCI Voyager Class ship. There were a few parties across the ship, but the main one was in the Royal Promenade. It was a blast. There was a live band, free champagne, confetti, and all the usual NYE trinkets. RCI does a great job with the sound and lighting.

The couple times I've been to ICP since they built the gondola, buying the tickets on site was the better option, and that appears to still be the case. I'm almost certain they gave a military discount at the counter as well....if that applies to anyone here.

I've cruised Quantum and Ovation 4 times out of Seattle in the past couple years. 10-10:30 is about when boarding begins. Look at your reservation. It'll tell you on what day your online check-in opens. To snag an early boarding time, you need to jump on it right away when it opens. I'm cruising Quantum again in a few weeks. I wasn't able to get online until the afternoon of the day mine opened and the earliest I could snag was 11. I'm struggling to remember if JSs were included in priority check-in. Either way, I think the app SeaPass says "suite", so it can't hurt to try. 🙂

Sincere apologies. I am just now seeing this. That's a tough one. I love Kodiak by land but a bus isn't going to get you to most of the most beautiful locations. Yes, a boat tour could be chilly and it is most likely to be overcast. I'm not sure where the tour goes, so it's hard to judge. Sorry, this might not have been the most help.

Embassy Suites is my go-to hotel in Anchorage. Not sure if anyone in your party qualifies for a military rate but despite their pricing online, I have always been able to get the rate by calling.

You two...for heaven's sake..."tropics" and "tropical" have 2 different meanings. No, Bermuda is not in the tropics due to its location. Yes, Bermuda is tropical due to its climate.

Not sure about your cigarettes question. I'd say...probably. But as for the ships, I'd rank them in this order.... Norwegian Escape, Caribbean Princess, Norwegian Jewel.

If by west coast you are including Alaska, several lines are running their newer ships.

New and monstrous. Give me a brand-new mega-ship full of activities and great entertainment. If I decide to indulge in what others consider to be "upscale," I'll book a high-end suite on the brand new mega-ship. 🙂

Nuf said...

I dumped Facebook 4 years ago for reasons just like this. There is too much power to control narratives. Altering opinions, regardless of how true they are, quickly get erased. Yes, I totally appreciate Cruise Critic. 🙂

And that, right there, is what is important. 🙂

I agree, but that wasn't the OP's question.

I did this excursion and we loved it. Don't worry about it being too fast. They are good at keeping the group together. You will stop at several points to take in the scenery and learn about historic spots. Crossing the border on the bicycles was kinda cool too.

For Alaska, it would be Royal Caribbean Quantum Class ships. Broadway style shows are put on in the main theater and in the aft show lounge called Two70. This is one of the Two70 shows, which isn't even the ship's primary show lounge...

I've seen endless pools on a couple Princess ships.

Blown away? Easy answer for me. Royal Caribbean Oasis and Quantum Class ships have amazed me more than any other ships. They are simply spectacular, and I always debark feeling like I had an amazing experience.

You got it made then. Just drive there and park. Parking is free and all the trails and views are free. Enjoy! 🙂

Do your cruise first, then worry about what you might want to do next. Ovation is an amazing ship and you're going to have a great time.

Great example. Here in western WA, I'll pass people in the middle of the forest on a hiking trail and even when stepping aside to let them pass, they say absolutely nothing. At first, I was really bothered by it, but I've started to become used to it now.

Regarding Seattle freeze, I agree that it is a very real phenomenon. I have lived all over this country and have now lived in the Seattle area for 5 years. The social atmosphere here is unlike anything I have ever experienced in any other part of the country. Simple niceties like saying excuse me and thank you, or even looking eye-to-eye at strangers and giving a gentle head nod or saying hi are faaaaar less common here than in other places. I know that happens everywhere, but I have never seen it on this scale. People from here are aware of the freeze but don't really understand its impact as much as people who have moved here and know how it is elsewhere. Occasionally, I'll meet a born-and-bread local who blames the freeze on the Californian flight to WA. Perhaps that's it, but who knows? That said, Alaskan cruises departing out of Seattle attract people from all over, so I don't think the freeze really impacts the cruises.....at least not from what I've seen on my several cruises out of Seattle.

The mainstream cruise lines all seem to be following a trend of larger ships and more passengers. While a lot of amenities and great entertainment are getting added to these spectacular ships, the basic 101 services like housekeeping, waitstaff, and food quality seem to be taking a big hit. Everything is feeling rushed, and cuts are noticed everywhere. How do we find a balance before the scales get tipped too far away from the basic great service of yesteryear?

...and don't forget, buy those "souvenirs" in the manufactured port area that oddly is only open and populated when cruise ships are present and from a shop owner who lives in California during the winter.