Aquahound

If you're into breweries, check out Forbidden Peaks in Auk Bay. If the restaurant is open, the cheeseburger is excellent. The views are wonderful, overlooking a large marina that often has large yachts docked.

I prefer quality but I agree with everyone else. Those 3 options are excellent excursions. In this case, I'd stick with the 3.

Do you actually go on Sentinel Island and tour the lighthouse? If so, it might be worth it, but something tells me you only cruise by it. Jayleen's has an excellent reputation and going on a 6-person boat is the way to go.

So, what you're saying is, there is nowhere else on a cruise ship to sit down and play table games? Hogging a dining table, preventing other people from being able to sit down and eat, is their best and only option? And because there are other dining options, diners are supposed to acquiesce to game players in the dining area? Uh, no. That is backwards logic.

Thank you for the heads up. For flights into and out of Alaska, I always recommend trying to book Alaska Airlines first.

Ah, yes. Good point. Avoid the big red building close to the ships. Follow the sidewalk into town on Egan Dr, past the Hangar restaurant and just past the Coast Guard station. The second location is waterfront with a large empty gravel parking lot in front of it. Google Street View is a little old in Juneau but it's located in this empty lot.

You must have one of those conditions where you feel no pain because 30 years in the USCG and having entered the water a fair share amount of times from pretty good heights has taught me much different. Unless you are a skilled cliff diver, it is very unlikely to hit water, still or choppy, from 100 feet without feeling pain. Heck, 100 feet is even out of the range of most cliff divers.

Tracy’s in Juneau is probably the most popular, and it’s an easy walk.

You're good to go. Enjoy your cruise.

I used Affordable last year in Skagway and will never use them again. It was nice that they left the car at the dock but it was not in great shape. The car had a coolant leak and several other problems that made the car feel very uncomfortable. Do yourself a favor and stick with Avis. I would also recommend Klondike Electric. Some friends of ours rented a Mustang Mach-E from them and were very happy. FWIW, Skagway and Sitka are 2 places I learned the hard way not to rent from the little guys.

Alaska Shirt Company stays open pretty late and has all kinds of souvenirs for sale. They say 8pm but I'm sure I saw them open a little later. It's the larger building all the way to the right on the strip, across from the Mt Roberts tramway building.

I hiked both West and East Glacier last week. Mendenhall has receded from the unimproved trail from West Glacier and is not so easy anymore to walk on. Plus, the trail is not in great shape. I do not recommend trying. East Glacier is still a beautiful loop through the woods with a nice glacier viewpoint. But for the op, I'm not sure if you're asking about these longer hikes, or the easier walk from the visitor's center to Nugget Falls that most people hike. Either way, they are easily done on your own. You just gotta get there, which will require a taxi, bus, public bus, etc.

I agree. I think it's best for the OP to research travel sites that categorize cruise lines and speak to their individual qualities. With 25 cruises under their belt, the amenities shouldn't be foreign to them. Moreso, I think it's great they are willing to spread their wings and try something different.

So, trying to steer the thread back on topic.... My favorite overnight was in Venice.

It's a good question. USCG lawyers are risk averse, at best, so I would be surprised if you get anything other than a generic answer.

I can't believe I missed this post last time I read trough. Yes!!!! While the USCG is heavily involved in the creation of safety regulations pertaining to U.S. law, which includes all vessels operating in U.S. jurisdiction, their job in most matters, such as muster regulations, is to enforce the regulations as written by SOLAS and other pertinent agencies. A cruise line can pretty much come up with any method it wants and as long as it meets the law, USCG cannot disapprove it. "Approving" and "supporting" are very different things.

Playing games at a restaurant table, prohibiting people from being able to sit down and eat, is pretty rude. If it’s not busy, fine, but I totally understand the frustration if it’s during busy times.

Correct. Plus, NCL went back to regular muster several months ago but then gave in to customer complaints and reinstated e-muster in April. 30 years with the USCG and I’ll admit I’m stumped on the “type 2 emergency” thing. JRGs version of reality is quite bizarre.

Never noticed this in the mdr and I don’t think I would unless they’re being obnoxious about it. My problem is people who do it at the shows and have zero concept or care about how their device screens are impacting all the people behind them.

Two issues are being conflated here (shocking, right?). Generally, disembarking early is not a problem. On the other hand, disembarking early when the port is in the same country as the embarkation port, can and most likely will come with repercussions. Anyone who paints them with the same brush and says the second is simple because so many have done the first, is providing false and totally foolish advice. Opinion does not exempt one from the law. Period.

Thank you. Unfortunately, I have a feeling facts still will not change the flawed opinions of a certain few. Oh well. You can only do so much.

It is incredibly foolish to be nonchalant about it. Canada's Coasting Trade Act (like US PVSA) specifically prohibits transport between two places in Canada on a non-Canadian flagged vessel. I'm certainly not saying it's not possible, but it very well could come with repercussions, which is why cruisers should always do the right thing and research & ask permission. Hey!Jude's example looks legal for the very simple reason the cruise did not embark in another Canadian port. Talltimbers' example does not look legal.

That's good to hear but I am somewhat surprised Canada's cabotage laws allow that.

That's a good description. It's not a bad cruise line at all. I just don't think there's anything unique about the line that sets them apart in any category. For Alaska, I tend to recommend Holland America over Princess. Despite HAL being somewhat lacking in entertainment, their ships are much better suited for Alaska.....and they, too, go to Glacier Bay.

Yes, a couple times. During my USCG days in the Keys, cruise ships diverted frequently to assist us in search and rescue missions, mostly regarding migrants from Cuba. A couple weeks ago, Sapphire Princess had to rescue all occupants of a Uncruise ship in Glacier Bay due to an engine room fire.