brockstout

This is all super useful info. Thank you all. 

I've never done Alaska but need to plan a cruise for 7 couples of varying economic situations.  Any recommendations on an affordable-ish, 5-day to Alaska that goes as far north as possible in June 2021?  So many options, I don't know where to start. 

I have the option of one or the other.   Any thoughts on which is better?

I normally book online, but this time I need five rooms, and it is getting confusing.  Are rates the same if I use the telephone to book?

Is there an atvantage to booking online?  I normally do, but booking 5 rooms and keep getting all the rooms confused.

We much prefer Carnival when taking kids.  We much prefer RC when we don't have kids.

Thank you!

In December we booked the teens into their own separate room (even though they are well-behaved kids:halo:). The cruise line wouldn’t let us, so we booked one parent in their room and booked a child to the parent room and swapped keys after registration). So every time I need to get something from my room, I have to track a kid down in the kids club and swap keys for a few minutes. Booking for this year and hope to avoid that hassle.

Any other options?

Are spa staff not covered? They automatically add in 15%.