KKB

We did this itinerary on Carnival in January. (our 1st Carnival; 10 Princess & 4 RCCL under our belts as well--have sailed both Grand & Ruby) There were VERY VERY few children/teens on that sailing. (14 days) We had a some of the worst seas I've sailed, but it was due to a storm in California; weather was sunny but windy & high waves. Had to wear a trans patch for the 1st time in many years...DH too. Once the patches were on we were fine. Fries--NO problem! Internet is now Starlink so you are GOOD. Our kids have sailed Celebrity, Princess, RCCL as teens/young adults as well as DCL as children. I have asked each of the separately what was their fav & each one said ALL OF THEM. They liked teen club but it didn't make or break their cruise. They liked the bells & whistles of RCCL but again...not essential. Luckily they like to hang with us (most of the time...), do trivia, watch game shows & production shows. They would love the cultural experiences on a Hawaiian cruise. They also like to watch videos on their phones... I never thought much about if our kids would enjoy it...just figure they would!!

Had a great cruise. AK cruises are more casual than Caribbean, or anywhere else I have cruised. Not a lot of dressing up even on formal night. Royal had a lot more activities than Princess (not surprising). BUT Princess had a different fresh salmon EVERY night, bought locally--sockeye, pink, king. Different preparations. It was FANTASTIC. Nothing like that on RCCL.

PORTS Sitka--we were going to walk thru the National Park, but it was raining pretty steadily so we opted to walk around town (same as we did last year). Popped into the churches, a new store with tea & tinctures (Element Body Systems), then ate at a food tent behind Ernies Saloon. We got seafood chowder & halibut ceviche--OMG AMAZING! We ate in Ernies & had a couple drinks & met some fun people from the ship. We stopped in last year too--BTW CASH ONLY at Ernies! Icy Strait Point/Hoonah--Rained pretty hard all day. This port was created by NCL during COVID shut down. This area is only reachable by boat or plane. We took the free gondola & then walked the trail back to the port. We then ate at the Crab House--had dungeness crab for the 1st time--HOLY COW. It is sweeter than king crab. YUM. Fun bartenders! We then did the Hoonah Whale Watching tour we got via Viator. LOVED this. Saw humpbacks, orcas, seals & otters. The guide was fantastic & told us a lot about living in Hoonah (pop 1250) The store near where we got on the boat was 40% everything (end of season) so prices were much better than at the port. HIGHLY recommend! Juneau--Rain, but lighter, more intermittent We had looked a the $250 food tour thru RCCL...but when I looked at the description, I realized I could recreate it for FAR less! 1--Deckhand Daves--Taco sampler 1 salmon, 1 halibut, 1 rockfish $15. FANTASTIC 2--Amalga distillery--$5 gin & tonic (homemade tonic too) BFF doesn't even like gin & she LOVED it; VERY cool place. HIGHLY recommend! 3--walked into Imperial Bar, Crystal Saloon, AK Hotel & Red Dog Saloon just to see them (figured if we had a drink at each place we might not make it back to the ship!!!) We were gonna have a drink in Red Dog but there was a wait when we went back. 4--Narrows Bar--Lavender blueberry mojito. $15. Very good. Bartender convinced me that the Denali gin was as good as Amalga. Uh, NOPE, NOT EVEN CLOSE. And double the price. (our friends did the "Fart Passport"--4 different "Fart" drinks, like the Duck Fart, at 4 different bars) 5--Tracy's Crab Shack--I TRIED to convince BFF to share a combo as I did last year. NO WAY. Last year had Red King combo--you get 2 legs. This year got Snow crab combo--you get WAY more. Looked like about 1/2 a crab. But NO tools to help (WHAT?). I cracked as much as I could w/ my hand (and injured it...couldn't write the next day). Several were too thick or prickly to manage; our neighbors got a cracker, and the guy basically made them offer their 1st born to use it, so they let us borrow. Guessing at the end of the season a lot got missing; but we didn't even get one of the fork-like tools, just a PLASTIC fork (unhelpful) $50 So as you can see, we had 2 large meals & 3 drinks for under $100 each. I spoke w/ a bartender at the food truck court & he said the food tour gets ONE taco & a 4 oz. beer. So even tho we had 3 drinks instead of 8, I'd say we got close to the same amount in ounces, plus way more food. We didn't try kelp salsa (did see it to buy...but we were carry on so opted not to; can order it online from the company) & didn't find smoked salmon spread anywhere. If you order kelp products from Barnacle foods you can get a jar of kelp salsa for $20 w/ shipping. Premier Catch has smoked salmon spread to order, but $125 min order.--tho u can add seafood. SO even if you order things to try at home...STILL less than $250 each!

Casino: UH, don't think I'll be getting any offers from Royal! I was very unhappy w/ the lack of communication regarding TX Hold Em poker tournament sign up. I tried to sign up for all 4 the 1st day--they said I couldn't (even though I found out someone had; you cannot allow 1 person to but not anyone else!) So signed up for one & was told I could sign up for the 2nd one "after" the 1st one. When I busted out of the tournament I went to sign up for the 2nd one...they say it is full. WWHHATT? OK, I'll sign up for the other 2. No...not until "later in the week" I went back the next day to ask when "later" was & THEY WERE FULL!! WHAT THE HECK??!! I played a bit of video poker...watched a lady playing $50/spin next to me🤪 (and not using correct strategy...that was killing me!) hit $8K! Had some small hits so came home about even. I was just soured on the casino & frankly there was plenty else to do. I like that smoking is only on one side (had to ask a lady smoking in non-smoking area not to...shouldn't be my job to do that). But you have to walk thru that smoke to get to Music Hall if you are on deck 3. Not great planning.

Activities & Shows: We are trivia nuts & this cruise the trivia offerings were VERY plentiful, comparable to our Carnival cruise in January. 8-10 offerings/day. Even won "American anthem" trivia, just the 2 of us. Schooner is a bit small for trivia, imo. One day there was 90s music trivia in Schooner Bar & 15 min later Friends trivia in Music Hall. Now we found this to be very poor scheduling--really the same demographic! Luckily 5/6 of 1st 90s songs we had never heard! (didn't look like anyone else had either--a techno theme) so we popped over to Friends trivia. Much better fit! Game shows--OMG the Perfect Couple & The Quest were a RIOT! (BFF also said Marriage Game was a hoot as well). Love us a crazy game show! Comedian--we only went to his late night show the last night. Thought he was great! (high praise; other than Carnival, we have found ship comedians to be more miss than hit) Escape room--DH & I did this w/ our YA kids on the Anthem in 2018 & loved it. This time there were only 5 that showed...we convinced 2 walking by to join us as they said we HAD to have 6 to do it. AND it took us 5 min to get those 2 so we only had 40 instead of 45 min. OK, I was a teacher & did Breakout Boxes w/ my students so I'm experienced. This was not great. No real theme to pull things together. I guess "Tangrams" was the theme (I sort of guessed that right away...didn't help!!) We were making progress when she stopped us...but w/ only 7, I think we would have needed 10-15 more minutes. Shows: BFF & went to StarWater & her opinion was pretty much same as everyone--WTH??!! She said it was weird & not well done.

Food We ate at MDR 5 nights, (one night at in Juneau) plus Chef's Table. Chef's Table was BRILLIANT. For $100pp it includes prosecco, 5 wine pairings plus a salted caramel espresso martini. 6 courses, all very good to excellent. Fantastic price for what you get. Sommelier ("call me Mr. Fluffy") had lots of personality & the chef was LOVELY. MDR--1st night food quality was VERY underwhelming & we were concerned. It improved after that & overall decent. Service was terrific; ate at same table 4/5 nights. At about 5:30, Anytime. BFF had pizza one night & wasn't impressed. We grabbed an occasional bite at the area next to the pizza place. Filled a void.

ROOM I had bid on a balcony. We usually say $500 total is a decent price for an upgrade. I had only bid $300 total on an obstructed but at the last minute upped it to $500. Uh, it was VERY obstructed. Probably won't do that again! Really wanted it for glacier viewing--which got cancelled due to low visibility. Oh, well, we did enjoy the larger space, did go out a little bit & the location was fantastic--deck 6 midship. SUPER easy to get to anything on decks 3-5 where most of the action is.

OH NUTS--WE WERE ON THE QUANTUM!!! Is there any way I can get that title changed??!!!

Embarkation: Our time was 10:30. This was BRILLIANT...never even stopped. Dropped luggage, checked in & was at the buffet by 11!! (our only buffet meal; it was fine, got very crowded by the time we left) Disembarkation: BFF walked off at 6:30 (might have been 6:40 before they actually did) as she was trying to snag an 8:30 flight to get home at a decent hour. She managed to do so! I left room at 8AM & went to MDR for breakfast (only time)--it was decent. I waited until they called that all tags had been called, about 9AM. BAD IDEA. I should have sat 20 more minutes on the ship. The port area had people checking passports, not the face recognition machines. So SLOW. TIP: Go to the FAR LEFT line. Thank me later. (I DIDN'T get in that line--about 30 min to get thru mine) Grabbed cab to SEA; couldn't check in as flight was at 3:40. Just sat & read a bit, checked in & since I have CLEAR/TSA PRE there was not wait. Still 4 hours early...and Centurian lounge won't let me in until 3 hrs early (TIP: Say you just got in & are connecting...they MIGHT let u in early). Again...sit & read. Centurian Lounge SEA: OMG, the most AMAZING brussel sprouts I have ever eaten! Carmelized perfectly with pomegranate seeds. I could have eaten the entire pan, but held myself to 2 servings. 2 glasses of wine & I got drowsy...put my head on the table & zonked out! TIP: ALWAYS SET AN ALARM OF WHEN TO GO TO YOUR GATE! (luckily I had!) Gate had changed from 8 to 7 to 11...I checked as I was leaving the lounge & it said Gate N11. I headed down & then ROOKIE MISTAKE (and I am NOT a rookie!) I didn't check the screen at the gate. A bit later I hear "final boarding call for OMA at Gate 8"--WWWHHHAATTT??!! TIP: ALWAYS CHECK THE SCREEN AT THE GATE IN CASE THEY CHANGED IT AGAIN! (ironically I was chastising some people who had done the same in LAS a couple weeks earlier...guess that's payback for being snarky!)

Travel/pre-cruise hotel & day in Seattle. I had SWA originally booked--it is our carrier of choice w/ companion pass for the last 12 years. Plus lots of points. But flying SWA from OMA-SEA is a cluster & not particularly well priced. I think it was about $550RT. A few weeks before I discovered I could get United for 18K points & AK Air back for $225 (actually used Chase points). I don't know that I saved much in the end, but the flights were more desirable--got into SEA early & enjoyed the day there; then a direct flight home. We stayed at the Kimpton Monaco Seattle on one my my free annual IHG nights (you get one with their credit card). WOW! LOVED this hotel & it's location. Evening happy hour w/ decent wine (NOT chardonnay as I expected...and HATE) & local brews plus a wonderful guitarist. Lobby is lovely; room was decent size if nothing special otherwise. We flew in the day before (Sun 18th); BFF was able to get on my flight (as a flight attendant she flies standby). Grabbed Lyft to the hotel & were allowed to check in when we got there about noon. We walked down STEEP road to the pier & Pikes Market...we weren't looking forward to the walk back--luckily this turns out well! Market was hopping. We loved it. Had lunch a the Athenian--mussels and shrimp & scallops. We bought flowers to take on the ship--needless to say carrying them on in a reusable shopping bag was rough on them! Stopped at Target near the market to grab some things...then wandered further north. LUCKILY that walk north, then east, then back south to the hotel avoided the steep hills back to the hotel, JUST in time for Happy Hour! HIGHLY recommend the Kimpton Monaco--a lovely hotel; and a grocery nearby.

Was offered a free interior on this cruise via UrComped--a 3rd party that connects gamblers & cruise line. DH had a big football/golf weekend scheduled last weekend so he couldn't go. So asked my flight attendant BFF to go--AK was on her bucket list. This was SEA RT; we ported at Sitka, Icy Straight Point/Hoonah & Juneau. I had done a nearly identical itinerary (swap ISP for Ketchikan) last year on the Discovery Princess w/ DH & his aunt & uncle. I will break things down by category in separate posts.

Been nice to sail solo in regular sized cabins! Our list is a bit different! Celebrity, Princess, Carnival, NCL, RCCL, DCL......MSC (never again) (Honestly after Celebrity, I'd put the next 4 on par with each other--each seems to have strengths & weaknesses; DCL only sailed 1x 17 yrs ago--price point doesn't interest us) Celebrity is the best overall product; we find Princess close (AI option is by far the best value too) Carnival--just 1x, in Jan, 14 days on Miracle. We LOVED it, tho others said we wouldn't. Honestly NCL & RCCL are similar in our eyes--MDR is "meh". Edge to NCL for entertainment (shows); RCCL is struggling with that one; just got off the Anthem & the shows were...odd. We choose cruises based on when/where we want to go & find the best value that fits. Or we may get an offer for a cruise & decide to go! We do love newer ships overall (Celebrity Eclass is my obsession!), but had a great time on the oddly decorated Carnival Miracle! There are those that love MSC...and I've heard Yacht Club is AMAZING. It's good we all have different lines to like!

That's what I figured but the Celebrity rep couldn't see to override it.

Was on Anthem last week & no missed ports

May I inquire what brand?? (DH is mostly a beer guy...) We are doing this same cruise (albeit reverse itinerary I believe) 2 weeks from Weds. I agree the ship is not as important when you do a port intensive cruise. We are cruising with friends as well, so we always have a wonderful time just chatting & drinking! Enjoying your TR!! THANKS! Have a wonderful time!

I booked a solo cruise for next summer. When I booked, it shows an insane rate for AI...basically appears to charge for 2 people. When I called the CS rep said that is what I would have to pay to add AI. This seems insane to me that I cannot add AI for just me since I am traveling solo. Anyone have experience with this? (seeing double AI for solo but being able to add it when calling?) Thanks

Huh. I sailed solo B2B on MSC in Feb & again in May, booked myself online. Now, have determined I'm no MSC fan at any price (one cruise was free!), so take that for what you will. I'm gonna say it's a message to NOT book MSC!

30 cruises over 20 years....10 Celebrity, 5 in the last 2 years. Have not done HAL; have done 1 Carnival last January. 4 MSC cruises this year. OK. CELEBRITY IS THE CLEAR WINNER, NO CONTEST. Did 4 B2B MSC cruises--Caribbean & Europe. Incredible price. Too many rude passengers in both locations! Won't cruise them again (tho I have heard Yacht Club is amazing) Carnival--we LOVED our 2 week cruise to Hawaii on Miracle this January even tho we were told we would hate it after Celebrity, Princess, NCL, DCL & RCCL. Crew said long Carnival cruises are awesome & we agree. I know Carnival's reputation for those shorter cruises... But those who cruise Celebrity the most/the longest have pretty high expectations. But NO, Celebrity is NOTHING like those short Carnival cruises. It is still a big step above.

Have done 10 cruises on each line; 5 each in the last 2 years. I agree & disagree w/ some of these. 1--Embarkation. No issues any line (Discovery great last year) except one right after start up due to COVID...situational, so I won't count it. 2--I am ADDICTED to EClass--I agree they are a step up from Celebrity's original fleet. 3--N/A 4--Celebrity ECLass has fantastic shows. Older ships are on par w/ Princess--usually underwhelming. 5--I have NEVER encountered ANY upselling on Celebrity, so to say it is very aggressive is odd to me. 6--The "class" system is all but invisible. Irrelevant to me. (and we did Retreat once in April) 7--Agree on casino smoke. So bad on Discovery last Sept I wore a mask. 8--Solo rates--have snagged a couple good ones on both lines, but slight edge to Princess. Celebrity is our FAV line...Princess a close 2nd. But Princess prices are often much better.

Would seem; but they have a better knowledge of inventory than me!

Says “Not available” on the site & has for some time, so I think not

Not what happened to me. Just paid taxes for 2nd person since I had already paid double

Hoping to catch our teams tomorrow!

Just saw it on our last day & wondering if it’s worth $40.

Thought it did but BFF is having issues