Northern Aurora

We were B2BB on the Edge. @jelayne and her husband overlapped with us on the first two legs. We were in a Sunset Sky Suite. Our "retreat hosts" were different as we were on different decks. Our "host" kept us well stocked with plastic and also some metal water bottles. We also had no problems with obtaining ice twice daily.

I realize that folks who have limited travel experience in Alaska rank cruise tourism as a more important segment of our economy than folks who either live in the state or actually have extensively traveled throughout the state. Or, indeed, Alaska residents who live outside of Juneau, Ketchikan or Skagway (actually, very few of folks working in stores in Skagway actually live in Alaska) have a very different perception of our economic drivers. While every segment of an economy is important folks need to understand that where I live, in the Interior of Alaska, cruise passengers visit but are not the "holy grail" of our economy. The economic drivers our our local economy are based an on a number of sectors, and cruise ship passengers are a minor segment. Cruise passengers seem to feel that cruises are the economic driver of the entire state. That is definitely not true. Just ask Alaska residents who live in locations such as Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue, Fort Yukon or Utqiagvik. Or even ask folks who Iive in Cordova, Petersburg, or Valdez how much they value cruise ship business. And southeast Alaska is much more than the standard "ports who welcome the ships.... " There are a number of SE Alaska communities who do not want to host cruise ships. I find that the term "ports" seems to mean anywhere a cruise ship passenger may find themselves on a cruise ship sponsored land tour. Such as Denali. Certainly there are a number of questions about Denali on this forum which is focused on cruise issues.

We left the Edge in December after a B2B2B. We were in a Sunset Sky Suite on deck 9 so no noise. But friends were on the same B2B2B in a SV on deck 7. It was the only remaining SV available for all three legs. They reported serious issues with the bass sounds which happened a number of nights. Enough vibration glasses on the desk were shaking until the bass ended around midnight.

Actually, southeast Alaska is "all about tourism from May to September." Other parts of the state are not. Our OP will have more responses if they specify which ports they will be visiting.

We were on the same B2B as were Jim_Iain, but stayed in Tokyo for five days after leaving the ship. From our Shinjuku hotel we used the Airport Limousine Bus company to transfer to Narita. Wonder if they pick up from the Yokohama cruise terminal? In any event, we were pleased.

You might consider the Skagway Brewing Company for lunch. With a party of 14 you may have a problem if all want to sit together but I suspect that will be true for all of the Skagway restaurants. Consider making a reservation at whatever restaurant you select as they will all be full.

Luminae is smart casual every night. That being said on some itineraries (just left the Edge in December after 40 nights in a suite) during evening chic nights some folks will be more dressed up. On the B2B2B series we just completed a number of folks in Luminae were more dressed up on the evening chic nights.

We have embarked at Buenos Aires twice -- once in 2015 at the actual cruise terminal and in 2019 at a convention center (near the cruise terminal). Both times our embarkation went rather smoothly. Hope the situation improves for future embarkations.

What is often referred to as the "Discovery Museum" in Ketchikan is actually the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center. They are located right downtown and easily walkable from the downtown piers. Check their website as they recognize a number of park passes for free entrance.

We have both boarded and disembarked in Vancouver. I also sense that boarding in Vancouver is more of a headache early in the season; my opinion is based on an experience when the ship we were boarding was the second of the season. But just pack your patience and be prepared for some lines.

Others have provided answers but just a few comments -- What was termed the "Maritime Museum" in Astoria is actually the Columbia River Maritime Museum, and it is well worth the visit. We generally walk to it and then stop at the Astoria Brewing Company on the return for a nice lunch and a flight of their beers. What is described as "an old Navy ship" in post #4 is actually the U.S.S. Midway. Since our first visit to the Midway in 2012 or so more and more of this fascinating aircraft carrier have been opened. Admission price includes an extremely well done audio tour. A number of interesting aircraft are on display as well. A simple cafe is also on board. We plan on arriving shortly after opening and spend a full day there. Also on the water front is the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Also worth a visit.

I've seen folks picking up Sushi on 5 take-out orders on several ships. On one ship Sushi on 5 take-out was even advertised in the Celebrity Today.

Also following -- any recent experiences?

When we hit Zenith in 2016 shoreside contacted us before we boarded a ship for a B2B2B; we reached 3000 points at the end of the first cruise and received our first black sea pass card on the second leg. During that phone call we were given the shoreside Zenith phone number. After a reasonable amount of time following the B2B2B I had to call to prompt the box (believe me -- we have never worn the "special pin") and information about how to secure the "free" cruise. And we don't bother with the FB page. Reaching Zenith was just something that happened and is not a milestone in my life.

We spent 40 nights on the Edge leaving on December 9th. We were in the Sunset Sky Suite 9305. Large real veranda. Two loungers, two chairs and a small round table.

We boarded the Edge on October 30th (first cruise after the dry dock) and left on December 9th. Very little was done to the interior during the dry dock. We were in suites for all three legs, and definitely no full service bar in the Retreat Lounge. During the time we were onboard (40 nights) we felt rather underwhelmed by some aspects of the ship. Slow service in some of the bars. Our particular wait staff in Luminae were excellent. But not the attention to detail as we generally expect. The ship felt understaffed.

While I tend to pack very easy care clothing on a cruise we have also had no charge for pressing multiple items.

@AKStafford has provided several locations along the George Parks highway which provide viewpoints of Denali if it is visible. And if you check the website for Denali National Park the park service is posting that the road will not be opened past Pretty Rocks through the year 2026. Our local newspaper here in Fairbanks has a reporter stationed full time in the Denali area; the last she reported was about delays in preparing the camp for the construction workers who will be making the repairs. Open past Pretty Rocks in 2026 may be suspect. Denali is not the only great national park in Alaska. Has your party investigated the Wrangell -- St. Elias National Park and Preserve?

Jim -- you actually do PUPs! We don't bother. We hit zenith in 2016, so before you and Iain, and are approaching double. My scientist husband likes to collect data, hence the spreadsheet. After consulting the spreadsheet we can tell folks exactly what port and on which cruise we have been to. Chopstick factories and stores are a "dime a dozen" in Japan. If you pass on one set you will find another set equally appealing at another store. When in one of these stores it is difficult to make a decision as there are simply SOOOO many options. Many more options than when selecting flatware in North America.

OOOOOhhhh -- Jim -- you are giving sooo much credit. While I am an organized person, since we are preparing some final details for our upcoming Japan B2B, Charles had our cruise history opened. So I just checked the history. Knew it was in fall 2018 but wouldn't have remembered the sailing dates without looking at our cruise history. I was trying to remember at which port in 2018 we visited where there was a lovely chopstick factory. While I bought several sets in 2018 that factory was one from which which I later regretted not purchasing. Alas -- we will not be at that port this spring. So will be looking at other ports for lovely sets of chopsticks. We use them at least weekly at our house. Love the crane ceramic chopstick holders. Have some red ones, but now want other colors. Gerry

The cruises Jim and I were on in 2018 was a 15 night Bering Sea and Japan cruise departing Vancouver on September 14th followed by a 13 night Japan Explorer departing on September 30th. It was indeed quite the pair of cruises. My mother had died several months before and I was the executor of her will. While the estate was well organized it was large. Very time consuming to deal with. So we booked a number of shore excursions through Celebrity which turned out really well for us as we didn't have to deal with private vendors. My attitude when on a cruise is that we are just going where the ship goes, and on those cruises that was the attitude to have. A number of people were rather upset with the constant changing of ports and plans. We will be returning to Japan this March for another B2B pair. Since we spent five full days in Tokyo after our 2018 cruises this time we will work out of Yokohama. We will spend four days there before boarding.

The August 21 through April 21 dates are the dates which we can potentially see an aurora in Fairbanks. Dates change depending on location.

We were actually on the same pair of B2B Japan cruises (the trans-pacific followed by a cruise around Japan) in 2018 and spent the night in the same hotel as Jim and Iain. We were on the 51st floor of a 70 floor hotel, and I just remember the shaking when Trami hit. Just a quick comment -- Yokohama is interesting in its own right. Some quirky museums (such as one dedicated to Cup of Noodles) and a lovely garden. The garden features a collection of historic buildings from around Japan. Just incredible.

Gosh -- I just hate auto correct. During the evening Le Grand Bistro becomes Le Petite Chef. For us LPC was a once and done, but we enjoy Le Grand Bistro for lunch. There is a $30 per person cover charge. For those who have been to France it really isn't a "French" restaurant but lovely none the less. Our experience has been that it can be quite full during lunch on port days.

We have sailed through the Drake Passage three times. Twice on a M-class ship and once on an S-class (actually -- the Eclipse). All times it was the "Drake Lake" -- smooth as could be.