If it is not necesssary to be on the internet on sea days, you will have access to make use of your internet once you are off the ship at a port. The gratuities are usually just added to your bill each day and is paid at the end of the cruise with any other charges in shops, restaurants, etc. You are allowed to bring a bottle of wine each on board. You can bring your wine opener in your luggage if you are flying in to SF. Your cabin steward can supply you with wine glasses. If you bring your bottle to the restaurant for them to open it there will be a charge. I don't remember what that was.
You are probably better off taking 2 rooms. It is usually cheaper and more comfortable. The prices were cheaper 2 weeks ago when they had an increase in the inside cabins only. Otherwise, the prices have been the same for about 3 months.
In the past, the shows have been very good. I don't know what has happened in the past year because I have been on cruise in that time. There are usually good singers or bands in the bar areas as well. As far as the excursions, I usually go with Viator or Trip Advisor as they usually charge a lower price for the same tour. However, I always check the Princess tours to see if there is something exceptional that I might want and then I would go with Princess. Also, sometimes there are people on the thread who know a private tour company that does a really nice tour for a lot less money. If you do one of those, there is ually a minimum amount of people that is required to go and so that all has to be arranged by the person organizing the tour with the outside company. I have been to Alaska before, but many years ago. At that time, we didn't have any tours planned and if I remember correctly there were Kiosks on the sidewalk in town offering small tours and I know that we did do one of those and it was very good.
As far as the specialty restaurants, I find that the regular restaurants do a really good job. I guess if you want to celebrate a special occasion, you might want to try it, but I don't think it is worth the extra money you would have to spend.
Hope that helps you make some decisions.
If it is not necesssary to be on the internet on sea days, you will have access to make use of your internet once you are off the ship at a port. The gratuities are usually just added to your bill each day and is paid at the end of the cruise with any other charges in shops, restaurants, etc. You are allowed to bring a bottle of wine each on board. You can bring your wine opener in your luggage if you are flying in to SF. Your cabin steward can supply you with wine glasses. If you bring your bottle to the restaurant for them to open it there will be a charge. I don't remember what that was. You are probably better off taking 2 rooms. It is usually cheaper and more comfortable. The prices were cheaper 2 weeks ago when they had an increase in the inside cabins only. Otherwise, the prices have been the same for about 3 months. In the past, the shows have been very good. I don't know what has happened in the past year because I have been on cruise in that time. There are usually good singers or bands in the bar areas as well. As far as the excursions, I usually go with Viator or Trip Advisor as they usually charge a lower price for the same tour. However, I always check the Princess tours to see if there is something exceptional that I might want and then I would go with Princess. Also, sometimes there are people on the thread who know a private tour company that does a really nice tour for a lot less money. If you do one of those, there is ually a minimum amount of people that is required to go and so that all has to be arranged by the person organizing the tour with the outside company. I have been to Alaska before, but many years ago. At that time, we didn't have any tours planned and if I remember correctly there were Kiosks on the sidewalk in town offering small tours and I know that we did do one of those and it was very good. As far as the specialty restaurants, I find that the regular restaurants do a really good job. I guess if you want to celebrate a special occasion, you might want to try it, but I don't think it is worth the extra money you would have to spend. Hope that helps you make some decisions.