Northern Aurora

Yes -- that was Mr. Al. We were with him a number of times. He always reminded me of my father. The most nights we were on a Celebrity ship during a single calendar year was 102 nights. It caused more paperwork for us when we applied the our Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (google what I am talking about) for that year. Had to submit additional paperwork to prove that we are residents of Alaska. We now have successfully limited out daily number of nights to 90 or less per calendar year. And the 102 nights was an aberration. We most likely will never do it again. Actually -- we will never do it again.

A comment from someone who lives in Alaska and who has been to SE Alaska a number of times (not just cruises) I hope that @jamminlion really meant to type water-PROOF outer layer in their point #2.. Water resistant is not going to be adequate. And be prepared -- if it is pouring rain you "may" not need a waterproof outer layer -- it will be necessary.

I wonder about that too, but suspect it was a reference to the Alaska Raptor Center. But to respond to our OP all of these communities have visitor's centers which can easily be found using google. Briefly, Ketchikan is known for totem poles and flight seeing to Misty Fjords. Sitka has lots of history, more totem poles and a strong Tlingit presence; there are also some lovely marine excursions. Popular attractions in Juneau include whale watching, Mendenhall glacier and the Goldbelt (Mt. Roberts) Tramway. In Victoria we like to walk to downtown and enjoy a meal at the Bard and Banker Scottish Pub.

I wonder if @CardowMD is thinking about Celebrity's Cafe al Bacio where baristas prepare the lattes and so forth, and also serve Tea Forte. And I also love the Tea Forte iced tea.

Interesting reading the post from @Jim_Iain. We have done eleven cruises since the resumption of passenger operations. All eleven were in suites. It seemed to me that the "normal" sequence we experienced in the past wasn't there. A much more random sequence. I have wondered if it is supply chain issues.

While late to this discussion we embarked on cruises twice in 2022 in Canada Place. Both times there were loooonnnggg lines. The first time the ship we were boarding was the second embarkation after Canada allowed for the resumption of cruises. The second time the Canada Place computer system went belly up and required a significant amount of time to re-boot. Since you need to board at least 90 minutes before departure, so that the final passenger manifest can be submitted to the proper authorities, I would suggest boarding early. Just enjoy that lunch onboard.

We have done a number of port calls in Victoria through the years (without looking at our cruise history I can remember eight) and don't recall ever being asked for any travel info such as a passport. We have been asked to see our ship card and a driver's license when re-boarding. There are several Alaska ports which, in my experience, ask adults to show their ship card and driver's license too.

Glad that you enjoyed your first visit to our special state. But just a quick comment regarding the embarkation sparkling wine. I was on the Eclipse on a B2B2B2B this spring, leaving the ship on April 19th. On all four of the turnaround days there was a tray with glasses of sparkling wine sitting on the Cafe al Bacio counter available to be picked up. Generally the Cafe al Bacio folks kept four or five glasses on that tray. People were free to just pick up a glass. This practice has happened on other Celebrity ships as well. Did you ask about the embarkation sparkling wine?

Celebrity does not use the new Ward Cove dock (which is several miles from downtown Ketchikan). The Millennium will dock downtown right near the Visitor's Bureau.

I am reporting from our home in Fairbanks. So far no wildfires in the Interior of the state.

Luminae also offers a smaller size filet mignon on some lunch menus.

We have stayed at the McKinley Chalets a number of times both when they were owned by Aramark and now owned by HAL. The complex is large with multiple dining options. Most of the hotel rooms are located in two story lodges distributed throughout the looping road through the grounds. There is a good chance you will be separated from the rest of your party.

In contrast to the post by @ldtr this is the cruise line chartered Alaska Railroad run from the Seward cruise terminal directly to the Anchorage airport. This chartered run can only be purchased from the cruise line and does not end at the ARR downtown station.

This is the "regular" Alaska Railroad scheduled run from Seward to Anchorage.

We book Sky Suites (and periodically Celebrity Suites) and generally are contacted by shoreside two to three weeks before boarding. But I suspect that our Zenith tier Captain's Club level is why we are contacted.

This woman has done six full transits and have thoroughly enjoyed each one. The history of the Panama Canal, both in terms of the engineering problems which had to be overcome and the impact on geopolitics, is fascinating. Also a nice combination of sea days and ports. PS: My husband also has throughly enjoyed the transits as well.

Hello Don: Don and I have actually met. Best wishes to Carol. There are snow dumps in a number of communities. The snow dumps in Fairbanks have membranes so that chemicals in anti-freeze can mot contaminate runoff into rivers. The snow cannot be dumped directly onto the ice of the Chena River. The membranes are comparable to those used in landfills.

Concierge Class offers an embarkation lunch in the MDR. It is a limited menu, but also nice to not have to deal with first day busy ness of the Ocean View Cafe. There should be information in your stateroom regarding the MDR location (which floor and which side of the ship). If for some reason there is not an info sheet in your stateroom then go to Guest Relations (or just check the MDR decks). Post covid Celebrity has really streamlined their boarding process. You will not receive your sea pass cards in the cruise terminal. They will be in the mail slot outside of your stateroom. After you board you can go directly to your stateroom, put valuables in your safe and drop off the carryon bags. If the stateroom is not totally ready there will be a sign on the door with wording something to the effect of "perfection in progress." But still leave the carryons and put valuables in the safe. I am a frequent Celebrity cruiser, and am not aware of comments that folks on Celebrity don't like kids.

Folks interested in the aurora may want to use google to find the University of Alaska's Geophysical Institute website regarding the aurora. Very informative and will predict probabilities/possibilities of viewing all over the world. Fairbanks is a winter destination for serious aurora viewers. Our aurora season (if my memory is correct) extends from August 21st to April 21st. Prime viewing is October through March. Otherwise we are just too light to see an existent aurora. We generally go to Chena Hot Springs Resort for Christmas. The resort is always sold out for the holidays and this past Christmas there were incredible displays from the resort grounds.

If docking downtown (not Ward Cove) there are large and clearly marked public facilities right at the dock in Ketchikan. Juneau has public facilities at the base of the Mt. Roberts (Goldbelt) Tramway. And Sitka has public facilities in the Harrigan Centennial Center. Both the Mendenhall Visitor's Center and the Sitka Raptor Center have facilities, but neither are downtown.

I was actually on the Solstice when a couple were married on the bridge! The couple (and their respective adult children) had staterooms on the same floor as ours and I remember speaking to the bride. I have no idea how large the wedding party actually was but it had to be 6 or 8 folks. The ship was rocking enough that the bride was laughing that she was concerned about falling down and her new husband was joking that their marriage was "off to a rocky start." But I also remember that the bride told me she was pleased with how Celebrity handled the event and thought that the captain did a very good job conducting the ceremony. If my memory is correct that happened in 2016 and it was Captain Zisis.

For years, despite repeatedly signing up for their e-mails, I didn't receive any e-mails at all. Absolutely nothing. I would only know about specials and so forth because I read about them on Cruise Critic. I called the Captain's Club a number of times, talked to Captain's Club host/hostess while on board, talked to Michael's Club concierges -- and still nothing. Nothing in the inbox and nothing in the junk folder either. Finally I started receiving them for a year or two. Suddenly stopped prior to Covid-19. Have no idea why they ceased, but quite frankly if any thing of any importance is announced then I read it on this forum. The only e-mails we receive from X deal with issues such a an itinerary change on a specific booked cruise. We also do receive any e-mails sent to Zeniths. Always was a mystery to me.

Well -- the Sapphire Princess has had quite the day. The Anchorage Daily News website is now reporting that someone had to be medi-evaced from the Sapphire Princess today -- totally unrelated to the UnCruise situation.

The Anchorage Daily News website posted an article less than an hour ago. The fire was reported about 7:30 AM. The 51 passengers and 16 crew were transferred to the Sapphire Princess, and the UnCruise vessel is being towed to Ketchikan.

Someone was hiding ducks on the Eclipse this past April. I enjoyed searching for them.