JT1962

I sailed on the Meraviglia in January and thought the food choices & quality were very good. They usually have a few less options on the menu than other lines, but you can order more than one item from each section. I had more trouble narrowing down what I wanted between 2 to 3 different items rather than finding something I was interested in.

I can’t speak to the excursions you listed, but highly recommend the Damajagua 27 Waterfalls excursion. It’s one of the best excursions we have done in 30+ years of cruising. If you are in average shape and have no mobility issues, it is a great experience. Here is a good video so you know what to expect:

As long as you have a passport, you can drive into the Yukon. You would probably need to complete a new ArriveCAN for the border crossing at Fraser, although they may not actually look at it.

You should be ok in Juneau. Skagway will probably depend on how quickly they get the dock repaired.

Juneau - Whale Watch & Mendenhall Glacier Combo with Juneau Whale Watch. They do the whale watch first before going to the Glacier and give you flexible time to stay at the Glacier as long as you choose, with buses returning every 30 minutes. This gives you time to do the hike to nugget Falls or other hikes at the glacier. Just make sure you know when the last bus leaves and allow at least an hour to catch the bus and get back to your ship prior to the all aboard time. Haines - Rent a car and go to the Kroschel Wildlife Center, have lunch at 33 Mile Road House on the Haines Hwy, go to Chilkoot Lake and Chilkat State Parks for a good chance to see bears, moose and eagles. Ketchikan - Either the Deadliest Catch tour or a kayak tour with Southeast Kayaks. Ketchikan is easily walkable. If you have additional time, pick up a walking tour map at the visitor center and see Creek Street, Married Man’s Trail, the Fish Ladder and more.

The pre-order lunch will save you some time. If you need a break / snack, stop in Carcross on your way back. There is a coffee shop with snacks, a few shops, visitor center with restrooms, etc.

I have taken 21 cruises in the last 30+ years, most with Carnival & Royal Caribbean, but also NCL, Princess, Holland America, MSC and others no longer in business. I have never been on what I would consider a “bad” cruise. I cruise primarily for itinerary and price and find that the age / size of the ship & time of year are more important than the specific cruise line. The nicest cruise line / ship I have been on was the MSC Meraviglia and am booked in October on the MSC Divina. If you don’t need an amusement park onboard, constant activities during the day and are open to a more European food menu and entertainment, MSC is a great value with beautiful ships.