Anita Latte

I wouldn’t worry about bear spray on the wall to Nugget Falls. Like the PP said, they could be in the area but it’s highly unlikely you would have any encounter. We weren’t concerned there at all. Nor were we hiking in Skagway.

Melody…is your whole family doing the dining package? We got the big specialty dining package when we went and ate almost everyday in specialty dining. We didn’t eat at the Hibachi place but we ate twice at 150 Central Park. The atmosphere in that restaurant is quiet and lovely. If it’s just you and Les, it would feel like a major break from being around people, especially if you could snag one of the tables along the outer windows. The food was excellent and service top notch. I remember reading some negative things about it but we enjoyed our meal there, and I don’t have as much comparative dining experiences to be more disappointed, kwim? but the hard floor made for a noisier atmosphere. I’d still eat there again but it doesn’t feel like as much of a getaway dining experience.

Your post was comical but I feel the need to address your bear spray topic. Bear spray is not allowed on any commercial aircraft in either checked baggage or carry on. If required, it must be purchased or rented at your destination. I’m not even sure if you could take it on a cruise ship… That said, I heard a joke about bear pepper spray and something about how the bears like the seasoning on their meat…

It's like an oil. A little goes a long way but you do have to make sure that you get full coverage and cover all exposed skin. It is easily absorbed so it doesn't leave you feeling greasy or oily or sticky. I prefer to pair it with looser fitting clothing or thicker clothing, because I've been bitten through my clothes...and I don't put this repellent or any other on my clothing.

Another vote for the Sand Bar in Juneau. A local told me about it here before our 2018 cruise. We rented a car in Juneau to tour on our own. It’s very local dive bar hang out atmosphere and the food was excellent! Depending on your appetite, the portions are shareworthy. We were there at an off time and there were just a couple others there. Agree that the reviews are a mixed bag but we loved it. Our group also loved the fish and chips at the Fish House in Ketichan. They offered salmon fish and chips and they were loved by my family. I had the fish chowder and it ranks among the best soup/chowder/chili I’ve ever had. Absolutely wonderful.

Definitely not planning on Yellowstone. Way before all the recent flooding and damage, DH and I decided that there was plenty to see and do in and around Glacier. We’re already feeling pressed to narrow down what we want to see and do!

Trying to add new thoughts to the discussion…Alaska cruises feel more laid back than a Caribbean cruise where there can sometimes be an almost desperate party atmosphere. In contrast, on the Alaska cruise, the feeling is more of saving yourself to have energy for the more elaborate and sometimes strenuous port excursions. Nightlife can be almost nonexistent as the ship may retire earlier to be up bright and early for action packed port days. Additionally, many relax all around the ship to simply enjoy the scenery. Outside, those relaxing may have blankets and be more bundled up depending on weather and cold tolerance. Dress is definitely more casual though there will always be some that dress up. But by and large, the layers required to be prepared for the possible weather spectrum means that bulkier and larger clothing takes more space and leaves less space for more clothing choices. Unless you travel with an international cell plan, cell service is available in every port so it can be very easy to find your way around. The docks are generally RIGHT THERE and it’s not an instance of needing to travel far to get to city centers so it is entirely possible to have a very laid back port schedule and depending on time of year and ports to see a bunch of wildlife and beauty without having to do anything major, though most want to attempt a smaller boat excursion (whale watching, etc) to feel closer to the water and smaller in comparison to the mountains which are right to the shoreline with very little beach like flatter shorelines; or try to get into the air (helicopter, float plane) to get an aerial view, or a train (Skagway, or Seward if one way itinerary) to get more into the interior. But again, these aren’t necessary and if you react as many do to AK, you can space these expensive outings over subsequent cruises. The food is different. If you are into local eating, you can have amazingly fresh salmon, halibut, crab, reindeer sausage, etc There are EXCELLENT local craft brews if you are in to that. Generally speaking the weather is cooler and can be a very welcome change from typical summer temperatures in the lower 48. You may be more active if you enjoy hiking. You may have a larger port excursion bag because you will likely want to take more layers, cameras, etc on your excursions. Hot coffee drinks may be more enjoyable with cooler weather. Getting back on the ship is less complicated because you don’t have to deal with any customs, show your ID and there isn’t any central area all ships’ passengers must pass through to get reboard. Depending on where you travel from, the time difference is the opposite of what you deal with with Florida departures. You will also have to decide between a RT itinerary vs a Northbound/Southbound which can introduce all kinds of extra ways to spend money and make airfare possibly much more expensive.

The absolute best repellent that I have used is made in Alaska. As someone who is a feast for mosquitoes, I swear by Alpenglow. https://www.alpenglowskincare.com/collections/alaskas-best-insect-repellent?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9ZLm3K-y-AIVqWtvBB3smAy9EAAYASABEgJIQ_D_BwE We shore fished in Juneau near Fish Creek where the receding waters revealed the breeding grounds of all sorts of insects as they swarmed upon us like sesame seeds on bagels. Also hiked into the Kenai Wilderness to a public use cabin. The mosquitoes may hover but generally don’t land and if they do, they immediately take over. Such an effective essential oil based repellent. I use it here In Florida too.

Kat...we are super excited about Glacier. Our first choice was a good compromise between quality of lake fishing and darkness of skies for star gazing. Also, it's about an 8 mile hike to the campsite BUT there's less than 1000 ft elevation gain/loss...it's a relatively flat hike. BUT it passes through some fun landmarks including a ranger station and you get to cross a suspension bridge so...pretty well suited for us low landers who are in the beginning stages of getting our backpacking bodies back.

It’s a good thing we set that “just in case” alarm… Even when you are so tired, it can take a while to relax into sleep. It was like wired tired…feeling the excitement of finally getting to be in Fairbanks. We chilled out for a bit with our screens and were finally falling asleep. We set alarms for the unlikely event that we didn’t wake up to go our evening aurora borealis viewing activity. HA! That alarm woke me out of a deep sleep. I could barely remember where I was, let alone WHY I was waking up from such wonderful sleep in such a lovely dark room…until I remembered and it was like a jolt of energy jerked me fully awake and ready to go. There are a HUGE range of choices for aurora borealis chasing activities in Fairbanks. It is considered to be a prime location for viewing. There are photographers that will take you out on a private, or small enough to fit in a larger passenger vehicle, tour. They will drive you around ALL NIGHT going to locations that they are familiar with to try to see the Northern Lights. They will offer you instruction on the use of your own camera, or lend you a camera of their own. They will take and print a professional quality photograph of you/your group with the lights in the background. These often begin anywhere between 9-10 pm and last until 4 am, when they start to take you back to your hotel, so you may arrive between 5-6 am. And they can cost up to $300 pp. Others are location specific. I was very interested in one that left from a hot springs resort located about 60-90 minutes outside Fairbanks. Then they take you on further into the wilderness to a high point where there is a dry building in which you can keep warm and where pit facilities allow you to relieve yourself. That one lasted until 3 or 4 am with no exceptions to leave early…and you would still have a 60-90 minute drive to get back to your bed… I wasn’t so enamored of seeing the Northern Lights that I was willing to wipe myself out in order to do so. I had many activities lined up in Fairbanks and while seeing the aurora borealis was the impetus in deciding that this was the vacation that I wanted to celebrate my 50th birthday, I wasn’t so interested that I was willing to sacrifice my days for such nights. So I was very excited to find a very simple aurora borealis viewing opportunity. https://www.aurorapointe.net This is a metal-type community building located on a bluff just outside Fairbanks. It’s a type of event center equipped with long tables in a largely otherwise open room, where some people may have receptions and other similar gatherings and events. For a much more affordable cost than anything else I found, you could arrive at 10 pm, or AT LEAST by 11 pm (so your arriving headlights don’t disturb potential viewing) and stay until 2 am. But nothing would prevent you from leaving earlier, if you so desired. You could bring whatever you wanted with you to entertain yourself while waiting for the lights to appear. A video feed alerts the group to the aurora activity. Outside is a gas fueled fire where you can also hang out. Non-alcoholic refreshments and fresh baked cookies are provided. There would also be a bit of an informative talk to teach you about the science of the northern lights. Supposedly, there would also be some tips on photography offered. THIS was right up my alley. I figured that this would be a good introduction and having researched other places where there is good potential viewing around the area, if we so chose, we could just drive ourselves around later. I think we had set the alarm for 8:30 pm. We were speedy, but not harried, as we layered up and gathered our stuff. We were not alone. So many people heading out. Everyone layered up and so many tripod and cameras in evidence. The lobby was packed and we weren’t alone in the elevator. We needed food. Fast food. TACO BELL!!! Is that sad? DH and I love Taco Bell…we sing Ba-co, Ba-co Teeeeeeeeelll. I like to eat, some Bacoooh Tell to the tune of Macho Man. We managed to squeak inside right before the dining room shut down for drive thru service only, the line of which, had built up quickly. We were feeling grateful for our timing. And then we headed out to Aurora Pointe. I am not an expert photographer. I’m not even a skilled hobbyist, though I would like to be. I fancy myself more with an artistic eye and hope my camera can capture what I see, but I’m still learning how to get the camera to see what I see in the way I want the captured image to appear. I admit that life gets in the way of all my lofty goals for self-education. I need to take a class, but I’m not so gung ho that I’ve done that yet. I did watch some YouTube. LOL. And I consulted with Kim and Margaret from these boards when I was seeking out a camera that would be able to take some quality photos of the aurora borealis. I ended up purchasing a new to be Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ1000, which is a very fancy point and shoot (it kind of looks like it should have changeable lenses) with a 1” sensor that is touted as being EXCELLENT for low light photography. It has so many bells and whistles that it will take me dedicated study to figure out all of its capabilities. I also needed a tripod. OMG…have you ever tried shopping for a tripod? Which materials are best for cold weather? What travels well? On and on. And the expense! My parents knew I needed a tripod. And low and behold, on one of their neighborhood’s oversized trash pick-up days, someone had tossed a tripod that had one single flaw. The locking lever for raising the camera higher than the height of the tripod itself didn’t work. Not. A. Problem. So THANKS DAD for “dumpster diving” for his grateful daughter! They brought the tripod out when they visited for Christmas and New Year’s. It’s actually a nice tripod. I LOOKED like I knew what I was doing. LOL. Like everyone else, we settled in at a long table. Unlayered a bit. And I set up my camera. The lecture about the northern lights was basic. As near as I can remember, it has to do with the interaction of flares from the sun and our planet’s magnetic field. Solar flares travel on solar waves and when they hit our magnetic field they are directed towards our north or south poles. In the north, we have the northern lights, or the aurora borealis. In the south, they have the aurora australis. Depending on the chemical composition of the waves, different colors appear, most often, green. There are different tools out there that forecast the likelihood of the occurrence of the aurora borealis. We learned that the previous night, the night of our arrival, was spectacular. Oh well. There was still a good likelihood for this night. DH and I went outside. I took a few photos. Like I would know what sort of adjustments might need to be made… And headed back inside for a cookie, or two, which were excellent and continuously being baked. It wasn’t too long into the night when the video feed began to show that light activity was beginning. If you can imagine from your school days…the entire room stands up and starts to put on their layers and head out in a nice and orderly fashion to the area for viewing the lights. And then they petered out. And most people headed back inside. And DH and I looked at each other and were like…huh. It felt sort of ridiculous to go through all that rigmarole based on a video feed. So we decided to hang out. Because our layers were WORKING…and we weren’t too cold. There was one other couple that also stayed. And sure enough… One trick for taking your photo in front of the lights is to have a flashlight type light shining onto the people, so that you can see them better in the photo. It’s the difference between a photo like this: And a photo like this: Which, admittedly...still isn't all that great at this point. But I was grateful to the photographer from the other couple that shown the light on me while DH took the picture. It took a while for the group to emerge…and when they did, the organizer set up a camera and was taking photos of people with the northern lights in the background. I had set up in a prime location so I was booted from it and asked to move over. And unfortunately, some of my photos were then affected by their lights. I did manage to move around and get away from them eventually. I posted that first not so great photo to show that my photography improved rapidly. I did play around a bit with my ISO setting and managed to take these photos over the course of the evening. The lights were receding and so almost the entire group left for the relative comfort of the event center. There were 5 of us that stayed. So 5 of us were outside and in the prime viewing spot for when the lights DANCED across the sky in a beautiful arch. That was impossible for me to catch photographically but it is stored in my memory. Here’s the interesting thing about the aurora borealis. Unless they are exceeding active…they are WHITE. It takes a while for our eyes to adjust to the light to be able to perceive the light. The camera has no such issues and so even when the light is white to our eyes, when you take a photo of it…the camera captures the color. The dancing lights were amazing…and only 5 of us were able to see them. All too soon it was time to pack up and head back to the hotel for more much needed sleep. We were quite pleased with our aurora viewing. We were grateful to have seen what we saw and felt that we had had a good night.

It has been so long since I started writing and talking about Fairbanks…I hope everyone can forgive my lapse in posting about this. I’m going to pick up right where I left off, but first…a quick recap… Having flown from Florida on Tuesday…to arrive in Fairbanks after midnight, Wednesday…checking into our hotel, sleeping, eating a wonderful breakfast at The Crepery across the street…we found ourselves walking around the Fountainhead Antique Automobile Museum, where so many pre-World War 2 automobiles along with the fashion of the times were on display in an extremely bright and shiny high-ceilinged warehouse type building… Upcoming is one of my favorite fashion items in the museum…from the plaque in the museum: “Linen Duster with Hood c.1910. This ecru linen motoring coat with attached hood is the only duster in the collection that is hooded. At the back of the duster there is a self-belt with rope cord that allows it to be adjusted to fit. This rope cored is repeated around the hood to also permit its adjustment either over the bare head or a hat. The duster is unlined with wide cuffed sleeves and an accent button at the very top of its button closure. Not all dusters were as plain as this one. They were often made of silk with embroidery or a trimming of cord and braid. It is thought that the reason motoring coats were called “dusters” was because “dusters” were worn by cowboys to protect their clothing from trail dust. I’m kind of floored by how timeless I feel this duster is. I think that someone of today could wear this which is one reason why I like it so much. I’ve been thinking about having a coat of sorts that would be modeled after this one. I’ve been debating the idea of a shorter hem for a sort of beach cover up in a lighter weight linen. Perhaps a rain coat, especially for Florida. This is the vehicle displayed with the duster… “1914 Grant Model M Roadster “The Grant was one of the first “compact” cars made in the United States. “The Grand was advertised as the first high-grade motorcar to be sold under $500. It combined the light weight and low cost of cyclecars with the quality, durability, comfort and wide tread of standard automobiles. Very few Grants survive today. “The Grant was one of the first cars to have a transaxle. Its suspension was somewhat unusual, with full-elliptics at the front and a transverse semi-elliptic at the rear. The bull-nosed radiator was designed to provide additional cooling for the engine. The dash was notable for its complete absence of instruments, leading one passenger to note, “One could certainly enjoy the scenery, as there were no instruments to watch.” Other interesting to me info on the sign included a maximum speed of 50 mph with an average 30 mph. Only 3000 vehicles were manufactured. The factory price was $495. “The Standard Small Car.” I might share more from the museum but in the interest of continuing my story… We were approaching overload as made our way to the 1930s… Just as I thought that I might be ready to call it a day and start walking a little more purposefully through the field of vehicles, something would catch my eye and I would pause and at least look…but usually looking lead to reading or at least taking a picture of the sign…as we moved on to the exit… There was an absolutely FABULOUS display of period hats available for purchase. I think they were made locally, or at least in the state of Alaska? But I can’t be sure. They aren’t listed on the museum gift store website. I happen to love hats but these were all felted wool or whatever that stiffer, thicker hat material is, which felt very winter to me…and I already have one of those which I really don’t wear here in Florida so I only purchased a patch as a souvenir from the auto museum. Like all museums…or anything similar where there is SO MUCH to see and take in…there is only so much that you can actually see and take in before you just feel a bit dumb in the brain as you continue to tour. It makes me realize how nice museums are that have a café or something a garden or something where you can take a bit of a break and refresh to be able to continue looking. This museum is has nothing like that currently. We were told by a docent that pre pandemic, in the Alaska gallery, but one of the more classic older vehicles that they used to offer those old time photos. There’s a wardrobe with period costumes and people could dress up and have their photo taken with that one vehicle. That would have been a great break from just looking at cars and fashion, interacting with others, watching their photographs, having your own photograph, etc. The museum hours are limited in the winter. Only open two days a week for a half day. It was early afternoon when we left the museum. We were seriously ready for a nap. The effects of the late night/early morning arrival were catching up to us and so we headed back to the hotel to catch up on some much needed rest.

I’m so excited to cruise with you again (virtually, that is 😉)…I’ve so enjoyed your previous reviews. Like others have said, you inspire me to try solo cruising if my DH could stand being left behind. It sounds like we’re going to have a great time with all your plans…thank you so much for taking us all along. I personally am not ready to cruise again so I very much appreciate reviews like yours while I sort when and if I get on cruise ship again.

I haven't really been busy but I haven't really been able to post much. With DH working from home, it's difficult to get into the office and think. He's in meetings virtually all day long...and I can't concentrate with all that racket going on. And with my new mini computer, I can't pick it up and take it into the other room! When he isn't here, I take that time to do things that make my own noise... I've been reading but just not posting much if I need a keyboard and want a bigger screen! Laurie...beautiful photos. When you talk about not being ashamed of the aging process are you talking about your hair? You were letting it go natural, correct? I wanted to say earlier...I think you look fabulous. The aging process has given you some nice looking highlights IMO. I like how the lighter color in your hair is softer around your face. It's really lovely. It looks like you and your DD had a good time on your cruise. Melody...Harmony was the last cruise that I was on in February 2020. I've also been on Allure on the TA I took with my parents. It's not a ship that I would want to take for every cruise but I must admit that I think it's a really great ship and I thoroughly enjoy it. As with most things in life, it all depends on your attitude. You always strike me as more ready to have fun than complain so I think you'll have a great time, especially with your big group, even if it's a one and done. I will recommend that if anyone in your group has designs on riding the Flowrider that you get a lesson. You get one on one time with the instructors...one will be talking and one will be with you on the Flowrider. They meet you where you are, so if a total newbie, then a big help...and if more experienced, then they help you take your riding to the next level. I knew it would be a good idea when several people on the Royal boards talk about how they take a lesson EVERY TIME, because every time they get something out of it. These guys LOVE the Flowrider and will ride it a lot throughout the cruise, even renting private time. Really look into all the dining options. Things may have changed a lot since COVID, but pre pandemic, for instance, for breakfast, you can eat complementary meals in the MDR and the buffet (of course), Johnny Rockets, the diner on the Sports Deck (made to order omelets), the Solarium (even kids can eat there), and maybe the Park Cafe too. There's a full on Starbucks on the Boardwalk too, if you love your lattes, etc. It's a huge ship but it's very easy to navigate and toward that end, there are many many nooks and crannies to get away from people...or be with people...and I very rarely ever felt crowded anywhere. Your itinerary does sound nice. And of course, you'll be right in my backyard if Harmony is still sailing out of PC. Next up, we have a trip to the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountain area on our actual 25th wedding anniversary. My FIL/MIL have gifted us with a few nights in a time share there with their points. We'll be hiking around Grandfather Mountain and also attending the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, which should be a great time. Also, we got our first pick for backcountry permits for Glacier National Park in September, which is the big vacation we have planned in celebration of our anniversary.

I have an ACL deficient knee so most heels are out for me. I’m also fighting off certain foot ailments related to having a long second toe. I struggled trying to find a happy enough shoe that I could dress up for formal nights and the MDR. Ultimately I went with a black pair of Vibram V-soul shoes. When wearing them, they look like like ballet flats with angle straps across the foot. When we went to Wonderland, when the host warned me about the stairs and then saw my shoes, he was highly complementary. People see what they want to see unless they look hard. Not me:

@peanuthead @Lovincruisin1321 Just jumping in here to ask if you have heard of or researched Evushield? I recently came across it and it doesn’t seem to be talked about too much. Immunocomprised are eligible for this COVID preventative shot. You maybe better informed than I, but just in case you aren’t…

Kat…check out Kohl’s for the shorts. I took a look over there because they carry Chaps brand clothing and I saw a few Bermuda length options.

According to this news article, they celebrated in 2021 with a parade and fireworks: https://www.juneauempire.com/news/photos-juneau-celebrates-the-fourth-of-july/ We were in Seward near Independence Day and asked about it because the nights were practically nonexistent. There they said they did the same, big fireworks on New Years Eve. They talked about a race up a particular mountain that overlooks the town on Independence Day.

How late are you leaving? Sunsets after 10pm...

I think there is a way to do this relatively easily once on board. My most relatable example is booking two staterooms for 3 people, my parents and myself. I ultimately ended up alone in my cabin but for the booking we gave the single to my dad for him to benefit from more points and booked my mom with me to give me the benefit of her balcony discount. Onboard, mom officially re-keyed to Dad’s stateroom. If your goal is just a cabin swap, I feel confident saying that you should be able to do this onboard without additional hassles. Prior to boarding, I think it’s more complicated and treated differently. Be aware that “for the record”, the way it’s booked is how it would be for loyalty credits. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can answer too though with this bump as I am interested in knowing too.

It seems redundant to add my own appreciation to your thread, but I will anyway knowing all the effort it can take to continue to post and share. What makes reading about your adventures so wonderful is the obvious enjoyment you are experiencing even through challenging circumstances that could easily steal joy. It’s such an enjoyable read and has been an engaging mental and emotional break in my day for a while. I agree with PPs in the missing this part of my day. I hope you have a fabulous visit with your family and safe travels home.

I see these in the stores and I always think that someone should make a steel straw self defense pamphlet…they always look like a great weapon to me, especially if you add a finger stop similar to folding knives.

I’ve been making scones for years following “America’s Test Kitchen” recipe and procedure. I can’t recall having a scone in England so not sure how authentic the recipe is but they always come out tasty, melt in your mouth. The recipe is similar to the PP link. The egg is considered optional and makes the scone more cake like. I prefer not to add the egg. Definitely not sweet, more like short bread. The key is cold, cold butter and not to overwork the dough. https://www.americastestkitchen.com/kids/recipes/simple-cream-scones

Jim, I so appreciate you continuing to post about your trip. I am absolutely LOVING to see your perspective both on England and life in general. My DS is at "uni" in London and COVID has definitely changed so many things that I thought were going to be able to happen over the time he has been there. My thoughts and mind are often across the pond and I'm really enjoying the visual now too. Your lens is a joy to view through. You are inspiring with your attitude. I spent several days reading your TR when it was around 67 pages, only to catch up to discover the news. How happy I am for you that your COVID was short lived and seemingly mild, virtually non-existent symptoms. What great weather you are having!

I can only imagine what a horrible decision you have to make here. My DS is in his third college year and I have started thinking about graduation 2023 and what we might do. Having something that you've looked forward to for so long being changed so drastically at such a late time...it may be hard to switch gears...to get over all the negative feelings that want to rush in...and to worry about whether or not you can still enjoy your cruise. That's the real question...will your cruise be worth the money given the new times in port? Will you still be able to enjoy the cruise? We did a NB Vancouver to Seward in 2018 on Millennium pre-Revolution. I wrote an extension TR. My major takeaway from that cruise was that I should have spent more time just enjoying the scenery from the ship because there was so much to see from the ship. The ports are easy and you don't have to do major excursions to enjoy them. The beauty of Alaska in undeniable and even if all you do is stay close to the ship in the port, depending on the type of person you are...you could get off the ship, grab a coffee or whatever, and literally look at the how the water meets the shore and simply breathe the fresh air and marvel at the beauty of nature, because the beauty of nature is front and center, even right in the ports. My thoughts were literally that AK from Vancouver ranks high on a potential last minute for me. I wouldn't care if I didn't have a single excursion planned because it was so lovely and the ports were so easy. Unlike other places where we have cruised where there can be "not much" going on too close to the ship, you don't have to venture far to get somewhere nice in AK. Is it nicer to get away from the ship and see other places, could be, maybe, but you just don't HAVE to. JMO. (And I realize that having been to AK before, it may be easier for me to say this.) I took a look at your sailing path and a major difference between your sailing path and mine is that the Eclipse, if it follows what is on the Celebrity website, will be outside what I think of the inside passage for part of the sailing to Juneau. Once you get past Vancouver Island, the ship heads to the west and then does go back into the passage for approach to Juneau. So Day 2 scenery will depend on how far west the ship sails and how far away from the islands it sails. If it were inside, I would say there is good scenery for sure. Being further out, I will say that you might see more sea life... So on that note, the approach to ISP and then onto Ketchikan and the rest of the inside passage back to Vancouver will have a lot of scenery viewable from the ship. Going to Hubbard, you are out in the gulf of Mexico and there isn't much variety in your ocean view. I'm thinking the float plan in Ketchikan is out...but here's the deal. Flight excursions are among the most canceled excursions in Alaska due to conditions, so that could have happened anyway. For our Ketchikan port, the local for my Tours by Locals didn't show, so we were on our own and the town is exceedingly walkable. We had a fine time wandering the boardwalk area downtown, climbing the stairs to the resort at the top (great view) and enjoying the short totems there. I think you may still have time to have a car on your own in Juneau. Depending on the docking situation and the distance to the car rental, you may want to plan on a taxi instead of a walk to the rental agency, but again, Juneau is easy to get around in. We drove all over Juneau and over to Douglas island...we fished, we ate, we walked the trail down to see the glacier. IDK how long we were at Hubbard. What I recall more than anything are the donuts we spun in front of it and how gleeful the captain was afterwards. And how bitingly COLD it was on approach. ISP is simply gorgeous. So undeveloped. So "unspoiled". I read prior to our sailing in June about cruisers on the May sailings that year seeing whales, etc., from the ship and the shore. We took a whale watching excursion and did manage to see some whales but it was more whale looking than whale watching. Still a great time. If you and your DS love cruising, and it's your "thing", then I feel confident that IF you can get over the whole port situation, you will still enjoy your time. You have to let go of what might have been, go with what you can do, be together, enjoy the ship! Spend time together as you have planned and do not let the disappointment of changed plans completely derail this precious time that you could be spending with your DS. Use it as fuel for a future AK get together with him to do what you weren't able to do. If cruising is your thing...then you know all the wonderful, less stressed time you have on board the ship. OMG...speaking as a mom now...I would be working hard to figure out a new plan...but I would NOT let go of this time with my DS. I realize you could make other plans and still get time with your DS, but when would those plans happen? Would you still be getting together with him for this week? Would you make alternate plans for what was the cruise time? IDK what your pre and post cruise plans are for Vancouver but what a great city!! IF you have plans, those are unaffected. It's all a mindset. Who knows?...maybe there will be a huge falling out because of this and you will end up with a drastically reduced passenger count, which would make being on the ship that much better. And on a final note...memories are funny things. You can remember something because it was so wonderful. But you can also remember something because it was so less than perfect and thus unique. One of the stories my family talks about all the time is when we ate fine dining outside in the rain. It was around Branson, MO; the restaurant had a large over the water deck that was covered with a canvas like tent above and around. We were the first to decide to still eat outside and what a story we have...and others too, who bravely joined us, as we were the first. This cruise may not be seeming to be as good as you thought it could be, but it can be unique, which is usually more memorable anyway. One point of any travel, including cruising, is to make lasting memories. I'll bet that you can still make lasting memories on this cruise.