Northern Aurora

Before turnaround day a succinct instruction letter regarding the turnaround day process will be delivered to your stateroom. It will outline the process for you. Also, a meeting for B2B passengers may be held where the procedures will also be discussed.

We have never had an issue with ordering from the MDR menu in Luminae when on a S-class ship. Have done so for years.

The Sitka National Historical Park (which the locals call the "totem pole" park) is easily walkable from the Harrigan Centennial Center. The HCC is where the shuttles from the port drop off folks. Nice visitor's center at the park, and the walk through the park is lovely. If you are interested in the park there really isn't any need to take a tour (unless someone in your party has mobility issues).

Our OP asked the same question on the Alaska CC board eight hours ago. My answer is the same as I posted on at board -- yes -- Solstice will have binoculars but they are terrible. Bring your own. Even if you are in a Suite they will be terrible. If you don't own a decent pair then immediately visit a sporting goods store. You will need to actually hold a pair to determine how they "fit" you. Reviews can be helpful, but you must actually hold the pair you are considering before buying.

The Solstice will have a small pair of binoculars in the stateroom. However, they are of poor quality. Definitely bring your own.

Curious -- "the museum is small but interesting." Is this a reference to the museum operated by Municipality of Skagway in a building dated from 1899? The first time I visited it the name was the Trail of '98 Museum. The National Park Service through the years as acquired a number of buildings which are also operated as museums. Lovely collection.

I had to check -- the first year the Yukon Quest was first run in 1984. The original format of the race was an international race between Fairbanks, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. The race has been changed significantly and no longer is the same as originally conceived. The first several times the race was run were the races which some mushers were denied border crossing between Alaska and Canada. These mushers had paid their UQ fees, had obtained financial sponsorship and so forth to find them selves denied entry. I always thought that their marijuana (and if my memory is correct there were also some DUI issues) convictions were caught on a shared law enforcement database, but have always wondered.

@Hev1128: My experience is that all of the major cruise lines frequently discussed on this forum will have multi-generational families on board. Alaska is a very popular destination for extended families to gather together and take a cruise. While the ports have family friendly options, consider an itinerary with a stop in Skagway. The US National Park Service (Skagway is part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park) through the years has acquired a number of the old historic buildings. A number are museums. The museums are focused on the "edu-tainment" museum theory -- the kids learn something while being entertained. This forum is rather interesting with several folks designating what attractions are a "must see." A "must see" is only a "must see" if you want to see it. Don't feel pushed into spending money on something which does not interest you or the kiddos.

I am curious -- did the bus driver in Skagway give any indication as to why the passengers were denied entry into Canada? Was it information picked up from the ship manifest? Denial of entry into Canada was an issue for years in the Alaska dog mushing community. When the Yukon Quest was being run (a long distance sled dog race between Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and Fairbanks, Alaska) several well known Alaskan mushers were denied entry into Canada due to marijuana or DUI arrests in their past. Marijuana is now legal in Alaska so I wonder how it would be handled now.

Our favorite vendor is Major Marine -- hands down favorite. Excellent audio through out their vessels.

Your research may be very interesting. Canadian law treats "youthful indiscretions" very seriously. Good luck and make sure you are confident in your results before boarding that Alaska cruise in 2025. Consider posting this on the Alaska CC forum as frequent poster on that forum works at Seattle's Smith Cove pier boarding passengers. @Ferry_Watcher works in Seattle but has insight regarding such issues.

Folks considering hotel choices in Anchorage need to be aware that Anchorage has a serious homeless population issue. Read reviews carefully.

I always find it interesting when posters are told that something is a "must do." The only attractions which are a "must do" are those which are of particular interest to that poster. I also have been to Glacier Bay and didn't find it to be a "must do" for me. Those glaciers are in full retreat -- they are melting. Yes -- it is a national park -- but would it be designated a national park now? I doubt it. Our OP on this thread is traveling with 3 and 5 year old kids. Wonder how "interesting" it would be for them to stand outside on a bow of a ship looking across the way at some rocks with snow on them. Just a thought.

No -- we have encountered self serve soft ice cream (with either cones or bowls) on both M- and S-class ships. We left the Edge on December 9th and they also had self serve soft ice cream.

On our last several cruises Celebrity did indeed have comedians onboard. One comedian, not two. We left the Edge on December 9th after a B2B2B and all three legs had comedians onboard. Shows suitable for all ages are in the theater at 7 and 9 PM. Shows suitable for adults are in another venue starting about 10PM. All three legs on the Edge also had magicians onboard.

The Mast Grill (think hamburgers and hotdogs) has a self serve soft ice cream machine. Scooped ice cream (and sorbet) is available in the Ocean View Cafe (think buffet).

Even though we live in Alaska we do Alaska itineraries periodically since they give us the excuse to visit a very different part of our huge state. I think you will be fine with either choice. Mid-June will provide longer days of daylight with late July possibly offering more chances for rain. But late July is very different than late August when southeast Alaska is approaching historically the start of the rainy season. And as soon as school is out for the summer multi-generational families will start to travel to Alaska, so I am not so confident that mid-June is less busy. The deciding factor may be the hours in port each itinerary offers.

We are preparing to leave on a B2B in a few weeks and were looking at our cruise history earlier today. Once we hit 3000 loyalty points we had stopped looking at our cruise history and accumulated loyalty points, but now that we will hit double Zenith shortly we are starting to pay attention again. According that history we have done 31 turnaround days. We have done them in Asia, South Pacific, South America, North America, and Europe. Our transit passes have always been distributed in the succinct instruction letter outlining the turnaround day process both for those wanting to depart the ship for the day, and those who want to stay either onboard or re-board very quickly. That letter and the transit passes have been either distributed at a B2B meeting or delivered to the stateroom mail slot prior to the turnaround day. When B2B passengers depart the ship on the turnaround day a special beep (when you scan the sea pass card) alerts the security personnel that you are on a B2B and that sea pass card is collected. The instruction letter informs you where you pick up the new sea pass card to re-board the ship. Even if folks are in the same stateroom for all legs there will be a new sea pass card.

We actually like deck 6 Sky Suites on the Millennium. Our favorites are 6132 and 6131. The 6132 and 6131 staterooms are wider and longer than most SSs. Some folks don't like the irregular shaped balcony, but we do.

We've been to Tahiti three times and we also more impressed with Mo'orea and Raiatea than the island Tahiti itself. We also have been to Bora Bora three times and much preferred it. However, Bora Bora is restricting some cruise ship traffic due to concerns regarding infrastructure.

Am I missing something? Why can't you just leave with the folks doing self-disembarkation? You will receive a transit pass and may have to pick up your new sea pass card (you will receive a new card even if you are staying in the same stateroom) from the pier coordinator.

Bring layers and don't forget a waterproof (not water resistant) outer layer.

The Zenith level includes the Premium Beverage Package. I agree with @cruisestitch. I also am not wasting any brain cells speculating on a new loyalty tier between Elite+ and Zenith. And those who are not Zenith may be surprised at the number of double Zeniths are out there. I also am not wasting brain cells speculating on a new double Zenith tier.

I am a Pfaff gal myself, but a quilting acquaintance traveled for years with a small Bernina which could fit in an overhead compartment on an airplane. She was an absolute quilting addict.

I would also suggest Temsco. They offer dog sledding glacier excursions in both Juneau and Skagway.