Tom47

We have only done one Celebrity cruise from Southampton in 2014 . There were more British than American passengers.

I have never been on AQV. Didn't it recently go out of business?

We were just on an ACL cruise this spring. The 2 busses used to transport us were owned by ACL. Drivers were ACL employees with ACL uniforms. Premium excursions are free if you reach a certain level in Eagle Society.

Pearl Seas sometimes has a hotel pre cruise package. We booked a package hotel stay prior to our Quebec City to Portland, Me cruise through PS

Celebrity does not allow smoking in any indoors area, including the casino.

I have never cruised on HAL. Evidently vaping was allowed at some point inside cabins as per contract language.

Thanks, that is where I found smoking policy.

We book mid ship cabins on deck 6 or 7. There is an Azamara era thread for newbies

I am pleased to hear that. Policy has changed. Thanks.

We have never cruised on MSC. From everything that I have read, there are some drawbacks to cruising with MSC. However, my sister and her spouse have cruised with them several times and like them. They started cruising with them after several cruises with Costa. Then Costa ran out of toilet paper. No more Costa for them

I agree. HAL currently allows vaping inside cabins. Celebrity. our preferred cruise line, does not. However we have booked a HAL cruise for an Alaska itinerary not offered by Celebrity.

New study results on vaping https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/sep/08/vaping-damages-young-peoples-lungs-as-much-as-smoking-study-suggests?CMP=share_btn_url

We have also cruised on Azamara, previously a subsidiary of Royal, but sold during Covid. Only kids were a child belonging to a crew member. Drinks and gratuities included, but showers are much smaller than Celebrity(unless you book a suite), a drawback for a cruise line with luxury prices. Ships are about 700 pax. Service was outsatnding.

We have cruised on Celebrity, Royal, American Cruise Lines, Pearl Seas and Hurtigruten. ACL ships cruise only in US and are about 100 pax. Only 1 Pearl Seas ship, 200 pax, and it cruises Canada and US. ACL and PS might fit your style, but are more Expensive, due to smaller pax count. PS is owned by ACL and they recently merged loyalty programs. They also offer a substantial referral discount. We never saw any kids on their cruises.

I would also pick the first. I recommend a balcony. We always book a mid ship balcony. I like to take pictures of the sunset and the moon from our balcony. DH likes to sit and read in her bathrobe.

Thank You

I have just learned that HAL has an orange night on most cruises. Our cruisetour has 8 land days and 4 cruise days with 1 port. Will there be an orange night?.

Thanks for a great review. We are on this cruise next May.

10 day cruise

I agree with you about experiencing Alaska. we have been 2 times--1995, Alaska Wildlands 10 day land tour, and Alaska Cruise West(now defunct) 120 day cruise and 2015, Alaska RR, Anchorage to Whittier, r/t, Seward r/t and to Fairbanks 1 way. This cruise tour includes Yukon(1st time for us).

We were on the Apex in Jan., 24 in an infinite balcony and did not like the balcony. We prefer the traditional balcony. There are 4 main dining rooms and some were more popular and had long lines. We will avoid it and Edge class ships in the future. Food and service was very good.

We always used the provided soap. I don't remember if it was required. It could be because of the washers.

DIY laundry Yes, soap provided Magnetic Hooks --walls are metal

American Cruise Lines does an Alaska cruise--ships average about 100 pax. They just introduced a referral program--$500 discount for referrer and referree

We sailed to Cuba on Pearl Seas, 212 pax, in 2019, and last year Quebec City to Portland, Me. We recommend them. Only 1 ship, Pearl Mist. It is owned by American Cruise Lines, ships average 100 pax.