Northern Aurora

It has been years since we did a single cruise leg. We generally do B2B2B with an occasional B2B or B2B2B2B. We have had to move cabins a number of times through the years and it is easy. Just don't overthink the process. The cabins attendants have done this a number of times. But regarding moving safe contents -- I have found it handy to have the safe contents packed in a plastic bag so we can just place them in the new safe, punch in our new pass code and leave the new stateroom.

You seem to have started two threads regarding the same subject. Your answer is on the first thread you posted an hour ago. Just use goggle to find the port schedule. The port schedule will list the berth number.

And to add to @CruiserBruce's comment we are experiencing a severe labor shortage in Alaska. Not only businesses such as retail and the hospitality industry are having problems securing employees, any position which requires some sort of license (ie, Commercial Drivers License, commercial pilot, some sort of marine license to captain a boat) are having real problems. There may not be any additional slots available due to the labor shortage.

We have been to both Hubbard and Dawes. Both are impressive tidewater glaciers with massive calving. The cruise line we used offered a small boat excursion to Dawes; we essentially tendered off the cruise ship, and took a slightly different route to and from Dawes rejoining the ship after it reached Juneau. The small boat was able to get much closer to Dawes than the ship. Our OP asked if there is much to see at ISP. What is our OP interested in doing or seeing? ISP offers incredible whale watching. Beautiful scenery. Tlingit cultural shows. But no Diamonds International stores.

We have done both north and south bound itineraries. Once we did a B2B with the first leg being the southbound and the second the northbound. I have absolutely no preference regarding north or southbound. The deciding factor for me would be port times as periodically they differ depending on direction. Just don't overthink this issue.

I live in Alaska and have done some late season Alaska itineraries. Once we did the last Alaska itinerary of the season (which was in mid-September) because it was the first leg of a B2B. And in 2021, once the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act passed (allowing Alaska cruises to temporarily bypass a Canadian port call), we spent the last two weeks of September on a pair of Alaska cruises. While you might be very lucky and have excellent weather be prepared for rain and possible rough seas. That late in the season missing a port is a possibility due to storms. So have options for bad weather days. In Juneau check the days and hours of the State of Alaska Museum and also the Sealaska Heritage Center as they are great options on rainy days. When we were in September 2021 both the shuttle busses to Medenhall Glacier and the Mt. Roberts tram were operating. If the historical train is of interest then check the dates of operation in Skagway. Book either directly with the White Pass and Yukon Railway or with your ship. While I suspect that some of the buildings in Skagway which are operated as museums by the National Park Service may be closed, double check; some of those park ranger jobs are seasonal. Given the location of Ward Cove in comparison to downtown Ketchikan it probably is a good idea to book a shore excursion with the cruise line. And we have visited both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. We are particularly fond of three weeks driving around the Republic; it was one of our favorite trips.

Since the resumption of sailing we've been on seven cruises, all in Suites. Prior to the pandemic the Luminae burgers were lamb. Since the resumption of sailing the Luminae burgers have been beef. Thick hand-formed patties. Possibly it has been due to supply chain issues or the particular ships. My husband loved the lamb.

Less issues with the overnight homeless and closer to the ARR downtown rail station.

Hate that auto correct. This one seems to be particularly stubborn.

San Diego is compact and easy to navigate. The airport is on the edge of town. You will watch planes landing and departing while standing on your cruise ship upper decks. We have used mass transit to visit the Zoo. Other ideas to visit are the USS Midway (we generally spend most of a day there) and the Maritime Museum of San Diego. We also check the Padres' game schedule; their baseball field is also centrally located. Lots of interesting hotels in San Diego.

I have stayed at both the Westmark and the particular Marriott you are referencing. Anchorage has a surprising homeless population which has been an issue for a number of years. The current Anchorage Assembly and Mayor have been clashing regarding solutions. While there is a group which essentially moves out the overnight homeless from doorways in the mornings, I would suggest staying at the Comfort Inn at Ship Creek.

I never save them but in the boarding day Celebrity Today, under the itinerary list, not only are tender ports marked, evening chick nights designated, but the time zone changes are also noted.

We were on the September 24th Mexican itinerary, and yes -- there are time zone changes.

The US 954 area code is for Broward County, Florida, which includes Miami.

Depending on the size of the items, and if you roll tightly, we can generally get about 30 items in a laundry bag. These items are underwear, shirts, blouses and so forth. If a pair of jeans is included then less than 30 items.

The craters around Pretty Rocks are incredible. Our local newspaper published photos taken four days after the road maintenance ended in August 2021 and it was impressive. Stunning that the NPS was able to keep shuttles operating as long as they did. But Pretty Rocks is not the only area in which the road was built over ice rich land. There are multiple areas in which the road is on ice rich soils which are now melting.

The issues with the single road into Denali Park have been ongoing for a number of years. When the road was constructed (was it in the 1930s or 1940s?) the notion of climate change just didn't exist. The road was constructed over sections of ice rich land (not glaciers as some have posted on CruiseCritic). While stable for a number of years those sections of ice rich land have been melting in several areas, including a section of the road called "Pretty Rocks." This area has required daily maintenance as the road has been sloughing off the mountain side. In August 2021 the National Park Service determined that they could no longer maintain the road at Pretty Rocks. It is now totally impassible past Pretty Rocks (essentially mile 43). The NPS has issued RFPs for a bridge over the problematic area. According to the NPS website, at least the last time I checked, the road may be closed through the summer of 2024. But who knows. And who knows what the condition of the road will be past mile 43 since there has been no road service since August 2021. Folks who plan a trip to DNP need to understand the limited road access. In my opinion, from someone who lives in Fairbanks, is that the stop at mile 43 means that folks will miss some of the prime wildlife viewing areas such as Polychrome Pass (above tree line with expansive views down on a braided river). While tours into DNP are "feasible" they will stop at the Pretty Rocks area. You will have to decide whether that limit is an issue for you. The off road Jeep 4x4 is most likely a tour out of Healy. I hope my fellow Fairbanks-ian, @wolfie11 will chime in with her opinion.

I am trying to think of which or any Zenith we know who spends any time in the casino. Maybe avoiding the casino is why folks can cruise enough to reach Zenith. That and avoiding the bidding on the Park West "fine art."

Well -- my perception is that the growing number of new Zeniths are NOT Blue Chip members who reached the level on comped cruises.

When we were called in November 2020 by shoreside concierges to inform the Zeniths that the Zenith Loyalty Level would no longer allow access in to Michael's Club the person who called us told me the number of Zeniths at that time. I can account for at least 12 folks who became Zeniths since the resumption of cruising. The number may be approaching 500 folks who have over 3000 loyalty points. There has been at least one death that I am aware of. But more importantly, from Celebrity's point of view, is that the number of folks reaching Zenith seems to be accelerating.

Years past we spent time in Denali at least once a summer and periodically two times. With the closure at Pretty Rocks we didn't bother this past summer. And with no road maintenance past Pretty Rocks since August 2021 I really wonder what the DNP maintenance will find once Pretty Rocks is bridged. I have suggested to several folks that they consider visiting Wrangell -- St. Elias National Park and Preserve as another option.

Several years ago I was seated beside the current head of loyalty during a Zenith lunch. She told me this suggestion is mentioned frequently. Captain's Club hosts will say the same. Since past behavior can be a predictor of future behavior I don't realistically seen an additional loyalty tier between Elite+ and Zenith being created.

Just wanted to comment that the cruise line chartered ARR runs only happen on a day in which their ship is departing from Seward. So if someone wants to spend several days in Seward before boarding, if they opt for a ARR trip, they would need to book the early morning ARR train from the downtown Anchorage ARR station to the Seward station.

We have the Millennium March 28, 2024 (Best of Southern Japan) and April 9, 2024 (Best of Japan) cruises booked, so we are also following. and April 9, 2024 cruises booked, so am closely following.

This plan is "doable" ONLY if you booked the cruise ship special chartered train from the Anchorage Airport to Seward. It can only be purchased through the cruise line. This is early afternoon departure and is not offered daily. It runs only on the days which a cruise line has chartered the trip and is not available for sale to the general public. The daily "regular" Alaska railroad run is from the Alaska Railroad downtown (not airport) station to Seward. This is a early morning departure and does not use the spur for a stop at the Anchorage Airport. This is purchased through the Alaska Railroad.