Coral

There was an accident several years ago with Glacier Point Wilderness Safari where someone died. The information that came out of this was several employees came forth and indicated how the company had a lot of unsafe practices (or lack of safety practices) into place and really wasn't concerned abut safety of participants. I would like to think that things have changed but that put me off. It wasn't just one disgruntled employee, it was several who had worked there and many of them said the same thing (and they didn't seem to be disgruntled employees but individuals who care about people, the area and tourism). It is not a repeat of Tracy Arm, if you do choose to do it. I don't know about question 2 but 3, definitely not. I also recommend Chilkoot tours, though only their all day tours (their combination van/train, or all day van trip). I think it is too early for Bennett Lake, not sure.

I agree - they are entirely different train trips, entirely different scenery and the history of the Skagway train is worthy of knowing. I think the train ride in Skagway is good to do at least one way. I have done it 2x RT but only because the first time, it was too foggy to see anything.

This is great news. It would help if cruise lines didn't send their largest ship's to Alaska. The ports just can't handle them.

I prefer the Anchorage to Seward train ride over the Skagway one. I haven't done the Norway one. I have been there, just haven't done the train ride. I want to do the cog in Flam.

Honestly - any older ship is going to have rust. It has to do with age and water. I wouldn't worry about this. People complain about this with all older ships. I actually t think the smaller ships have an advantage in Alaska over the larger ships.

I would definitely do the Kanai Fjords trip! I think that is a good compromise.

Cunard is going to be more like Princess and HAL. Cunard has one of the most knowledgeable researcher about whales onboard - Rachel Cartwright. Make sure you go to her seminars. She is a great speaker and her talks are very entertaining.

Sounds like you have confirmed your answer. I would only be worried about this time if you were tendering and not docked. If you are docked, you are fine.

If at the end of the cruise. I couldn't tell if it was at the beginning or end of cruise. Sounds like both? At the end of the cruise, you can buy through shore excursion desk or a form they send to your cabin when asking disembarkment plans.

Who did you book with? If with a TA, you need to contact the TA. I have never booked directly with Princess so I don't know if you can do it via web or if you need to contact them.

I agree about spending several days in the area. Very nice museums and other cool places to see.

They mentioned no one in their group has been to NY before.

Do not stay near Brooklyn pier/Red Hook. Bad area, nothing there. I think there is a Marriott there but there is nothing there to see tourist wise. I would spend the night in Manhattan and see the city before your cruise. You can then arrange a car service to the pier.

I agree. It is difficult for one person to be a great web designer plus a great insurance person. I have been pleased when I spoke with Steve. He knows his stuff.

If a cruise is popular and sells out, Princess will pull the group space. So I doubt sold out notifications are related to TAs holding group space. My agent had group space on my Norway cruise.

I doubt it is related to travel agents. If a ship fills up, they pull travel agent space. They don't let agents sit on it for very long if they think they can sell the cabins. This itinerary is always pretty full as they only do a few Norwegian Fiord trips per year. I know when I went in 2018, I got a move over offer to September. They were doing the cruise I was on in June and September and that was it.

I think it is related to having fewer ships than before COVID. Plus, people are vacationing again. Just think if they hadn't sold off several of the ship's - there would be more ship's going to more places!

I had a huge inside cabin on the Oosterdam also! I agree - it was the nicest inside cabin on any ship I have had. I later had a balcony on that ship and it was probably 1/2 the size. The inside wasn't an accessible cabin - it was like a deluxe cabin or something. It was nice. Corner couch, etc...

Almost 3 months. I would be surprised if this is covered.

We took a tour of the island. It was super foggy so I can't rave about the tour. Apparently this is not uncommon.

NCL advertises Glacier Bay cruises that don't go to Glacier Bay. Stranger things exist. I think all the cruise lines use the term "inside passage" loosely. None of the large ships on any lines go inside.

Panning for gold seems to be popular amongst the kids age group. I think many adults find it hokey. I am sure other adults on this website will prove me wrong but that seems to be the consensus of those I have spoken to.

Actually - my box lunch was when we went to Tulum! I think we docked in Playa De Carmen. We were supposed to dock somewhere else and there was a military ship there so we had to change docking locations.

The only time I have been provided a boxed lunch from the cruise line was on a Mexican excursion with Celebrity way back when. That literally was the only time! @Senga If a vendor wants you to pack you a lunch, suggest that you have them pick up a lunch for you and offer to pay for it. This was really common on itineraries that went to St. Petersburg years ago - they expected people to bring food off of the ship.

Next year? I wonder if Princess selling several ships during COVID is interfering with covering the map. I have no real insight into itineraries. Just purely guessing. Doesn't look like Princess is doing Japan in April 2025 from what I can tell. Not a good sign. Such a pretty time to see Japan.