CTSandy

Thank you so much for your wonderful daily reports and amazing pictures - I am going to miss reading these. I loved the remarkable pictures of Greenland - would love to visit. I wish you a successful eye surgery and hope you have a rapid recovery. Again, much appreciate your generosity in spending time to share this adventure!

My friend brought a Swiss Army knife with corkscrew on an NCL cruise we took 6 or 7 years ago, in her checked bag. Got called to the naughty room and she had to leave it with them - had a small blade - she always took it on vacation for opening wine bottles. They did give it back to her at the end of the cruise and we have an ongoing joke about smuggling pointy weapons on board.

Three cruises to Alaska - two of them the second week in August, one the second week in September. Nice weather for both in August, temps in the low to mid 60s, overcast a couple of days but only rained st night. The September cruise rained almost every day and chilly - temps in upper 40s to low 50s. We enjoyed all of the cruises and found interesting excursions in spite of weather. This year we rented a car, took the ferry and spent three days in Victoria, BC - had a wonderful visit there and beautiful weather! Kicking around the idea of going again next year - I think we would try the last week of August or first week of September - a lot of kids on board during August.

That would be the same Donovan I mentioned above! He was a server in the MDR on one of my Summit cruises years ago - the next year he was working in Blu, used to great us each time saying “welcome to my people”, the following cruise he was doing the coffee service in Oceanview. He told me he preferred Oceanview because he met more passengers there. He was amazing and I’m glad to hear that he’s back on Summit. I didn’t see him on our July sailing.

Perhaps it was Donovan from Jamaica. He used to be on Summit for several contracts but I haven’t seen him since they restarted. He was always singing and so welcoming!

We sailed Quantum on August 8 and there was no video poker. I was not happy about that, but spent a lot less time and $$ in the casino.

Just off Explorer Sunday - Jr. Suite interior was fine, balcony had mega rust and peeling paint. I do try not to get excited about that because I realize they had a couple of tough years, but it was pretty ugly.

We were in a Jr. Suite on Quantum for the August 8 sailing. We also received the invitation for the Solarium dinner and we chose not to go. The Coastal Kitchen was not that crowded during our sailing so we were able to dine there each night. Service and food was very good. Just came back from Explorer this week and dined in the MDR - you can really appreciate Coastal Kitchen after dining in the MDR!

I just wanted to thank everyone who assured me I would be able to make a noon flight out of FLL when disembarking in Miami. Got into port this Sunday on Explorer of the Seas, did walk off (fastest one ever) and we were on our way at 7:45 AM. Very little traffic and got to FLL at 8:30 - so early that the window for my airline wasn’t even open yet! I appreciate all the feedback!

Just back from Explorer and used my Diamond vouchers for dinner each night - cruising with niece, her son and his wife. Worked out great as I am not really much of a drinker - we had a cocktail each night using my vouchers for the four of us. I really like this system !

We did Alaska mid September 2021 in an aft balcony. It rained every day but one, but we still enjoyed the balcony. Our room steward brought us blankets and we sat out there under the overhang and enjoyed every minute of it. We were on Millenium - this year we did Alaska again, this time in August, also a balcony on Quantum. Weather was better and we had a great balcony that we enjoyed a lot, but our itinerary was not as good - primarily because of mechanical problems Quantum had, so the balcony was important to us. Spent more time sailing then port time.

Solarium sounds like a fail on Royal’s part. We were on Quantum the week before - I bid (and won) a junior suite from a balcony. I was willing to pay the extra to be able to dine at Coastal Kitchen. Service there was excellent, but the servers were definitely hustling. Breakfast in the MDR was slow and the windjammer was a zoo - I feel sorry for the staff, you can tell they are not adequately staffed. I was not happy about our way too brief stop at Ketchikan - you’re right - the lines were crazy long getting back on board. You both look like you’re having fun in spite of the issues and love the Buffalo dress! I am enjoying your report - thanks for sharing!

Alaskanativetour.com Also on social media as Ketchikan Native Tours

Celebrity is my comfort level - doesn’t feel as crowded or rushed as Royal, and big difference in the amount of kids. Jus got back from Alaska on Quantum, which reminded me of all the things I hate about mega ships - long, long lines for tendering and getting off ship. Celebrity offers little things like live flowers and plants, fabric towels in restrooms, lots of places to just sit comfortably and read. I also think food in MDR is a little better on Celebrity - also love that it’s smoke free. We did Quantum because my niece and her husband are both teachers and this worked out better for them, but it was packed with kids, strollers, and screaming in the dining room. Shows better on Royal, though. I think both lines are still under staffed and it’s reflected in longer times for dinner. Staff is professional and polite on both. Staterooms are comfortable and well cared for on both.

Can’t recommend this tour highly enough! Three of us booked a private tour last week on a beautiful, sunny day in Ketchikan (been there a couple of times, first time to enjoy sun); Quantum had a short stay so we wanted to enjoy as much as we could in less than three hours. Kevin picked us up right on the dock with a new, very comfortable van and managed to cram in as much as he could in a limited period. Went to a creek where Salmon were running, sadly no bears around, but we did see an eagle. Enjoyed the sight of kids playing at a local beach - playing in 45 degree water. Kevin is Tlingit and gave us a history of his tribe on the way to Totem Bight, where he provided background on legends associated with the totems. Just an amazing couple of hours! Sad that we had to go back to the ship that quickly, got there at 12:30 for boarding time - Kevin does guarantee that he’ll get you back in time; if not, he will get you to the next port. He said he’s never had to do that. Wish we could have spent more time with him, so interesting to discuss his life on Ketchikan.

On Quantum right now - they used tenders, a very long process! Anyone in a wheelchair who could not walk a few steps in and out of the tender had to skip this port.

On the August 8 sailing and received an email from Royal today saying they’re adding 4 hours on to our Skagway day. I kind of snickered about that as other lines are skipping Skagway because of the rockslide issues. Really disappointed about missing Icy Strait Point as we had a whale watching tour booked. Wound up booking a personal tour in Ketchikan through Viator because just about all the excursions were sold out.

i can’t remember his wife’s name, but he is Brent Nixon. They were speakers on Millenium when we cruised Alaska September 2021 - both wonderful and interesting speakers. I have enjoyed many “Beyond the Podium” speakers, but they were the best!

My offer was an email. I gave a passing thought to combining a cruise with a Vegas trip I’m taking early in December but decided it would be too close to the holidays.

I received the West Coast sailing offer today, too, with beverage package etc. I’m in CT so not as desirable to me because of air but it’s a very nice offer. I also noticed they had a click on for call back times - apparently you can now book an appointment to talk to a rep - with the long hold times hope they continue doing this.

Received an email today from Blue Chip Club with several offers for summer sailings on Summit and Equinox. If my calendar wasn’t as filled for this summer, I would definitely jump on one of these.

I’m Diamond, my niece sharing cabin with me is not, can we both go to Diamond lounge together for coffee? On Celebrity, where the classification is elite, I can bring her to events. Thanks for any information!

Thanks all!

I usually tip room steward, dining room staff, etc. in addition to the daily charge at the end of a cruise. I am assuming on a b2b this will happen at the end of each sailing, Just looking for confirmation.

Very helpful information- I am doing my first b2b in February 2023 on Equinox and this answered some of my questions. I will be having a different friend on each leg of the cruise, so I’m assuming I will have to join the person meeting me to board together for the second cruise.