Northern Aurora

Did you book a refundable deposit rate or a non-refundable deposit? If you are allowed to transfer the cruise payment don't be surprised to be charged $100 per person as a change fee. And hopefully you have cruise insurance, so check the terms and details of the insurance policy. Best of wishes to you.

Given the description as described by our OP I would tend to go with an accessible Sky Suite. While we loved the bathroom in our Sunset Sky Suite on the Edge last fall there is a square tub/shower combination which is a serious issue for anyone with mobility issues. A suite would also provide access to the Retreat Concierges, which can be a great help. Dedicated butlers are scheduled to return, but even when we were on the Edge for 40 nights last fall (Sunset Sky Suite) and then on the Millennium (Aqua Sky Suite) for 28 nights this spring we always had ice delivered twice a day. And expect the ship to sail full.

If no one in your party of ten has mobility issues and you don't pack too much luggage walking from the Alaska Railroad Seward train station to the Seward cruise terminal is walkable. Did you book directly with the Alaska Railroad? If so your train will end at the ARR Seward rail station. If you booked this transfer directly with Celebrity (hence it is Celebrity chartered train service) the train takes a very small rail line spur and ends at the Seward cruise terminal.

There are numerous nice places to dine near the Captain Cook. You have many options. But if you haven't used Uber or Lyft you could just ask the hotel to call a taxi. Easy peasy.

Anchorage certainly has taxi companies (why would Anchorage not have taxis?). For a number of years Uber/Lyft was not legal in Alaska due to our wage and hour laws. Under former governor Bill Walker legislation was introduced and ride share services are now legal. And of course, Anchorage has their municipal bus service.

Consider the Museum of Northern British Columbia. Well curated, and, at least where we were docked, is easily walkable from the ship.

We have now done B2B Japan cruises in the fall (2018) and in April (we boarded on March 28th this year). My husband and I discussed your question last night, and we don't have a preference. Last month we did luck out with cherry blossoms, and the fact that we were B2B helped the cherry blossom viewing as we saw more on the first leg which focused more on southern Japan. On the second leg (starting April 9) some of the blossoms at the northern ports were just starting to bud. The cruise before ours in March 2024 lost a port due to high winds (which prevented them from docking). While we hit all of our ports we did have absolutely miserable weather on the March 28th cruise at Shimizu. We actually stayed on the ship since we were there in 2018 and were going to repeat that port on the second leg. Winds were so bad that a Retreat bartender told us that an aft mooring line snapped. While that was never confirmed by the captain we certainly did have a tug pushing us against the pier for over an hour and the gangway was closed for about 50 minutes. In the fall of 2018 we dealt with two typhoons which impacted our itinerary. My attitude always is that I am just going where the ship goes but this caused a significant amount of consternation among some of the passengers. We did spend five full days in Tokyo after leaving the ship in 2018 and we had absolutely spectacular weather.

The last two times we dined at Skagway Brewing Company we both thought the quality of our meals had markedly slipped. Hopefully quality has improved.

The MDR will be open for breakfast on both sea and port days. On sea days it also will be open for lunch, but will be closed on port days.

Have you considered Salmon Berry Travel and Tours?

We received our e-mail regarding Zeniths being able to book cruise fare only for Retreat bookings on March 27th. I have called about having several Retreat bookings re-priced to cruise fare only. I have been told by two different people (on the same day) that the re-pricing would be based on the current prevailing rate (not the original amount when we booked). Also were told that we would lose OBC and also the gratuity perk. Since we generally book when an itinerary is first released and had significant OBC and the gratuity perk it has not been to our advantage to re-price.

At least twice we have done PC cruises B2B, and, if my memory is correct, Bill Fall was the PC featured speaker on one of those pairs. The other really interesting PC speaker was a gentleman named Marty Harrington (again, if my memory is correct). My husband certainly did not participate in any re-tracing of the El Camino Real trail. My MIL would have not allowed it!

When you mention the "immigration ticket" is that a ticket to go through Japanese immigration procedures once on the ship? Somewhat akin to a tender ticket at tender ports? Priority has always been given to not only Suite passengers but also Zeniths. Priority is not only a Suite benefit but also a stated Zenith benefit. Priority for not only boarding but leaving the ship whether it be at the first embarkation port, the final disembarkation port and all ports in between. And as someone who is a Zenith Captain's Club member who also travels in Suites we certainly have paid through the years for that perk.

I don't quite understand your reference to "the status quo," but Celebrity definitely gives preference to embarkation or disembarkation at any port (not just initial boarding the ship on embarkation day) for Suite passengers and also those Zenith members of the Captain's Club. We hit Zenith level of the Captain's Club in 2016, and this process has been in place as long as we have been Zenith. We also primarily travel in Suites (the last time we were not in a Suite was 2018). Not only in Japan do Suite passengers and Zenith level folks get priority but in all other ports as well. In the Retreat Lounge the concierges announce that they were ready to escort those ready to leave the ship to the head (front) of the line for immigration. Those lines were composed of Retreat (Suite passengers) and also Zenith level Captain's Club. Folks who have purchased Celebrity shore excursions also have priority.

Celebrity definitely provides preference to Suite (Retreat) passengers and Zenith members of their loyalty program. We just returned home last week from B2B on the Millennium, and didn't have any issues going through Japan immigration procedures. But we were booked in Suites for both legs, and are also Zenith members. They also gave preference to folks booked on Celebrity shore excursions. When we were B2B in Japan in 2018 we experienced some lines, but nothing excessive as I would definitely remember.

It appears that our OP is considering booking this October 2025 cruise with their "eyes wide open" as we would say in the US. Could have wonderful weather but be prepared for miserable conditions. It will be an experience no matter what, but just remember that there is a reason why these very late season cruises are so cheap.

While @Eileen G doesn't state that all Celebrity ships use the AJ dock I hope that no one makes the assumption that all Celebrity ships will be at AJ since specific Celebrity ships deployed in Alaska are not mentioned. Prior and post pandemic Celebrity ships have also used the Alaska Steam dock. In 2024 Celebrity will have three different sized ships deployed in Alaska. Only the Edge is scheduled for the AJ dock. Both the Summit and Solstice are docked at AS. Folks can check the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska website for docking locations at all Alaska ports.

I also will following. We were just on the Millennium for B2B cruises. We boarded on March 28th and left the ship on April 21st. While there were some port overlaps, the itineraries were not identical. And yes -- we did experience the cherry blossoms! We did B2B Japan itineraries in the fall of 2018, so now have seen the fall and spring colors. Japan is one of my favorite countries. We had planned on returning in 2021 but that was one of our Covid-19 cancellations.

We spent 40 nights on the Edge last fall. We rarely had a drink there as we had the bad luck of always experiencing very slow service. And I mean verrrrryyyyy ssslllooowww service.

It has been a number of years since we used Flights by Celebrity, but my memory is that you did not need to schedule the flights immediately before embarking or immediately after disembarking the cruise. There is (or at least was) leeway in the booking. Again, it has been some time since dealing with FbC but I found it easier to just call versus trying to navigate the website.

We have done six full Panama Canal transits, and enjoyed each one. We recently booked the seventh for September 2025. My husband spent four years in the Canal Zone as a child. His father was an officer in the US Air Force and was stationed at Albrook AFB. Charles has fond memories of going camping with his Boy Scout troop in the jungle. In contrast my late mother-in-law had memories of some of the poisonous snakes and other critters. While we thoroughly enjoy sea days the PC itineraries are a nice balance of sea and port days. And there is enough to see and do in these ports that it is easy to revisit them. Thanks so much for posting your photos and descriptions. The Millennium is the other M-class ship which has been revolutionized (or what ever it is called). Also has hand washing stations in the Ocean View and Retreat Lounge.

Stating that SEATAC is super busy during the summer months is correct. Living in Alaska we know that airport well, and it clearly is confusing for those who do not understand the layout of the airport. When we were there last week (we overnighted in Seattle to break a long flight from Japan) it was a mess with some check-in counters being remodeled and lack of operational elevators. But just another comment -- if our OP visits Pike Place Market consider taking the light rail out to SEATAC. Easy peasy.

A number of the gift stores likely will be open. For example, the Sealaska Heritage Institute gift store closes at 7 PM (if my memory is correct). And we have actually been to Nanaimo -- love those famous bar cookies!

The Retreat Lounge and Michael's Club have the same offerings. When a ship is "revoluntionized" the name changes from Michael's Club to the Retreat Lounge. And if you mention your need for still water to the butler/retreat host they most likely will replenish your supply daily.

We left the Millennium on April 21st following a B2B. Decoy was available in Luminae and the Retreat Lounge.