IntrepidFromDC

As others have said, there is nothing wrong with an inside cabin, just don't spend time there except sleeping, showering, etc. There is so much to see at all times beginning day two on an Inside Passage Alaskan cruise - it's not like a Caribbean or Atlantic cruise where you have lots of sailing in just open water, there's always things to be awed by as the ship sails the Inside Passage. In addition, there's a scientist or naturalist who will board and explain things that you are seeing in an entirely different, "educated" way that makes an Alaskan cruise SOOOO much more interesting than any Caribbean cruise. I never thought I'd cruise Alaska, but we got a casino offer for a free cabin in 2014 so I sorted the available free cruises by most expensive first and it came up Alaska. My daughter agreed to try it, although we both were wondering if we were making a mistake... four Alaska cruises later TRUST ME Alaska cruises are amazing in a different way! I hope you have lots of fun and stay out of the cabin or I'll have ye keel-hauled from bow to stern! 😁 🏴‍☠️

Eyepatch! Eyepatch! Eyepatch! ...

The only hurricane ye encounterin' be filled with four shots of rum at least! Arrrrr!

Jeff, You're gonna LOVE sailaway from NOLA! Thanks for the fun and interesting review!

I've stayed at the Choice (can't remember if it's branded Quality or Comfort Suites?) and the Holiday Inn Express. Both are right on 48th Street, it's a straight walk less than five minutes to the pier (Carnival sails from 48th & 12th Ave, I think it's pier 88). I haven't stayed at the 56, but I did have a couple drinks at their rooftop bar (pics in my review, on the Manhattan night) and it was not good - hardly any view and distored bass-heavy latino music. The distortion ruined it, and people were either talking really loud or yelling to be heard. I like the Choice hotel the best of them, for the service, it's always no hassle to store your luggage in a locked room, and the free coffee and bagels. And I like their rewards program, seems I get a free night for every third or fourth night I pay for. And the price is amazing for clean, comfortable bed and good shower in Manhattan, walking distance to Times Square.

I forgot to mention - on the wide-angle, panoramic pic above, you can see Statue of Liberty off to the left. It's tiny, but that little vertical light you see is it.

Home sweet home.

Sorry, should say "Guruwalk." They're the free tours where you tip extra well instead of paying a set fee. I guess this time I truly got my money's worth.

One thing I really like about Union Station is the 1-minute walk from your Amtrak train to the subway (Metro).

On 2205 now.

I have to stop cutting my Manhattan visits short, but I miss daughter, dog, ferrets. The walk back to the train station.

Lower Manhattan from under the Brooklyn Bridge

After 12 days of Carnival food I found myself in FOODIE heaven. These are the four dishes I spoke of earlier. Last 3 were 10/10. Crudo was 9/10.

Gueuwalk guide was a no-show and 3 of us were at the meeting point messaging him frantically until we realized he wasn't showing or replying. Fortunately the meeting point was a comedy Club with no cover so I made the best of it after spending $34 one-way for the uber from Manhattan to deep Brooklyn. Dinner was a much better experience...

Soon the word would spread all around Rome, then quickly to all the brothels all around Europe .

All the ladies would be exclaiming "come on in!"

Got a craving for an Italian Sub so I caught a taxi back to Hell's Kitchen to a deli rated 4.9. It was yummy but not as good as our regular place back home, although it was $5 cheaper.

A recreation of a French artist home from 1800s

Stippling or dabbling, showcasing impressionism with the apparent creation of light. I love this style of art because up close it looks like blobs of paint but as you move back your imagination fills some of the painting in, so it can appear slightly different to different eyes.