well, when you cruise / have cruised that much - maybe missing a port is not that important - especially if you have previously been to that port. but in the case of 1st ( and maybe only ) time cruisers to Alaska - it is seriously disappointing, especially when the goalposts keep moving and it was known pre-cruise. And for some, its not so easy to say - hey, let's just jump to Discovery, at that late date - work, life, kids, planes, trains, hotels ...