Sigyn

It's terrible etiquette. We just experienced this on the Millennium and, even worse, they were doing it in a lounge while musicians were playing. So rude!

Interesting - we just got off the Millennium, and gave a tip to Fernando, the maitre d', to share with his team. We specifically mentioned how much we'd enjoyed the sommelier, Liudmyla, in Luminae. Fernando said that she's not part of his team. We found that really interesting. We later tipped her separately to make sure she knew how much we appreciated her outstanding service. But did anyone else know that the sommelier in Luminae was not part of the restaurant staff? I had no idea.

There's a Retreat phone number? What is it? I need it!

I've authored many travel articles in my career, and I've been on staff as an editor and/or reporter at publications with tens of millions of readers that compete with Condé Nast. I don't see this as an article that would get the attention of the editors. It's far too common of a tale, and the fact that you're trying to get yourself banned makes it less interesting than if you were simply banned without reason. So your efforts will probably result in nothing but frustration for you.

Poor planning!

Good idea. I'll call the hotel to ask. We're staying there for three nights pre cruise.

North Face. I bought it 3-1/2 years ago, but this looks like it. It's completely waterproof and I love it: https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/womens/womens-jackets-and-vests/womens-rainwear-c299273/womens-antora-jacket-pNF0A7QEU?color=6R4

I can probably go to the local library here in Culver City and print them out. Not a bad idea.

Do I need my actual vaccine card for Covid to get into Vancouver? I left it at home. I have a picture of it on my phone. I could have my husband FedEx it to me. I'm currently in Los Angeles and was going to meet him there for our cruise next week. Edited to say maybe it's not needed. The Delta website said it is, but the Canadian govt site says it's not, if I'm on the right page: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid

Thanks, everybody!

I'm flying out tomorrow to stay with a friend in California until I head to Vancouver next week for our Celebrity cruise. My printer broke tonight as I was trying to print my luggage tags. Isn't that the way it always works? My friend doesn't have a printer. Will Celebrity have options at the port for printing luggage tags? We're staying in a suite, if that makes any difference in the assistance level. Thanks!

Oh, I didn't see that separate room in the Prima casino. My mistake. I did discover what you did. @prmssk about the Metropolitan bar. The smoke from the cigar lounge leaks out every time someone opens the door and you can smell it in the Metropolitan bar, so we didn't spend any time there. It was a really strong smell.

no smoking anywhere in the casino.

Here are all of the options available on my upcoming Celebrity cruise, which disembarks in Seward. Celebrity does note that if you are opting for the direct train or coach airport transfer to Anchorage, your flight should leave after 3 pm. If you opt for the Kenai Fjords excursion post cruise before heading to the airport, your flight should leave at 11 pm or later. For the scenic byway, which is also by coach, the recommendation is a flight leaving at 3 pm or later.

We were on the Prima with the premium package and you have to always ask for the exact liquor you want, even with the same bartender. And this was with tipping. And at dinner, you have to ask for the premium wine options, you won't always be given the drink menu where those are visible.

This info is super helpful. I'm reviewing each model discussed to see the pros and cons. I plan to print out some of the best photos and blow them up for prints on our wall. I have done that with iPhone photos and had success, but I am always at risk of missing a good shot if it's a long range photo.

There was a separate casino on Harmony of the Seas that was non-smoking, but it was quite small. They had converted their former jazz club into a non-smoking casino. The main casino was still a smoking casino. I much preferred NCL on the Prima and how no smoking was allowed at all. I didn't smell smoke there, and I'm very sensitive to it.

Damn Them! They're so mean!

Yeah, we'll still have to deal with the water on the Millennium. But we will have all that extra space, so that's a nice plus! Edited to say, at least I knew about the water before I booked it, knowing I was very likely to get an accessible cabin. And know how to deal with it - towel barrier. It would be super annoying to have it happen and not be aware of it beforehand. It seems like such a simple thing to avoid in shower design.

My husband and I have great lightweight waterproof rain jackets we bought on the fly for a music festival a few years ago. At the time we hated spending $100 each on them at the sporting goods store. But they've come in handy ever since!

Our Celebrity cruise leaves Vancouver on July 7, so I'm just starting to see the weather forecast for that day, but everything leading up to it is rainy and chilly. A definite weather pattern is taking shape. I'm fine with that, it's Alaska after all and I understand anything is possible. But what clothes should I take to make sure I'm prepared? A waterproof rain jacket, a long sleeve shirt underneath? Is that enough? Or do I need another layer? I saw some people mentioning gloves and scarfs for the glaciers. Is that needed for July? We live where it's usually in the 80's in the summer, down to the 30's and even 20's in winter, but rain and high 50's, low 60's is definitely chilly to us for this time of year. Thanks in advance for any advice! Here's what I'm seeing on weather.com for upcoming weather for Juneau and Skagway, for instance:

I researched the Millennium quite a bit before booking it and it sounded wonderful. I think you'll love it. I am looking so forward to our upcoming cruise in a Sky Suite. We board two weeks from today. If there are any specific pictures you want, please let me know and I will try to grab them for you. We are in an accessible suite, #8127, so not a regular suite, but still...can get pics around the Retreat for you. We are doing Alaska tho, not the same route as what you'll be on. Congrats on making your decision!

Come on, folks. It is a DOUBLE cheeseburger. It's not like they're trying to pass off a mere single patty burger at dinner time. 😎

I need proof that the hamburger is on the dinner menu. Someone please hold up a copy of the paper dinner menu next to their face with the date clearly visible and the word DINNER visible. In lieu of the word DINNER, please have a waiter at the MDR hold a handmade sign that says DINNER or have him spell it out in spaghetti noodles on the table. Thank you.

Thanks for the input! I ended up booking the forward facing HG category Haven suite on the Joy - it has two rooms, which essentially serves as two bedrooms since there's a door for the main bedroom for my husband and I, and then our son will sleep on the couch that converts to a bed in the living room area. It gives us our privacy that my husband likes, and we get the Haven perks. My son didn't really care for the race track on the Prima, so the size of the one on the Joy won't matter to him. He'll probably do it once or twice at most. It'll be a great cruise and I won't have to stress as much about some of the things that bugged me on Harmony of the Seas - it was really TOO big and he made SO many friends that I had to corral him and get him to the room every night at 1 am. I want him to have fun but I don't want it to be a madhouse of people and teenagers. This will be a teensy bit more low-key but that's fine. He'll still have fun and if the worse thing he can complain about as an adult is that "my parents made me stay in the Haven on a smaller ship at spring break instead of taking me on the Icon" well, I think he'll be okay. 🙂