This trip was a bucket-list item for us. It was an expensive venture, but worth every penny spent. I cannot wait to do it again! Our balcony was nice, but you can have a great time with an interior room and save your money for excursions. Get a seat early for Glacier Bay in the covered dome room and you will be plenty warm.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Easy breezy... It was quick and efficient. We usually sail out of Port Canaveral, they are not as friendly nor as customer-service minded.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The food was great. I had read mixed reviews and was uncertain. However, it was great! We tried Nouveau (the steak house). We had never done this before. I will probably not do it again. The food was good, but so was the dining room. The presentation was much better and it was quiet. If you want a good steak, pay the $20.00 upcharge in the dining room then you can still order another entrée if you want one.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We did mostly trivia games as we had seen all the shows before. It really is time for Carnival to re-do those shows.... The trivia location moves around a lot so pay attention to your guide.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Carnival - new shows please!! The musicians were good. There were several guitarists and duets that were very talented. The first two comedians were so funny our stomachs hurt from laughing. The last two were okay.
Children's Programs
No children
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Our room steward Samosir was great and very friendly. He took time to engage us and share his Alaska adventures with us. Our dining room servers: Swatra, Anna, and William did their jobs very well. We do not choose "Any Time Dining" because we like to get to know our wait staff. Although friendly and professional, this staff was not interested in building a relationship with us and we wished that were different.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Ship: It needs repairs. There is rust and broken tiles in the bathrooms. I would call the design "tastefully gaudy" and I loved it! It was fun and bright. I loved the Firebird lounge! The ship is a perfect size.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
This was our first splurge for a balcony. It was Alaska after all... I did not like the slamming of doors on the balconies (this seemed to be happening by the cleaning staff during service not guests). The Riviera deck was actually quieter (go figure). We loved our cabin though! I might be a little spoiled having a balcony. The cleaning staff does not provide "turn-down service" so prepare for that. The room gets cleaned in the morning only and your towel animal is placed at that time. Your Fun Times is put in the mailbox at night. Your dirty towels will still be there when you go to bed if you shower later.
Ship tip
I did not realize that our itinerary was actually like having four days at sea. That was a little hard for me. If you love to relax then you will love this cruise! We stayed on the Port side. In Glacier Bay, the captain faced that side for the entire time at the Marjorie Glacier. He briefly turned around so the others could see it, but not watch for calving. We felt so grateful for our cabin choice! The down side was, we did not see as much wildlife as Starboard side. The aft balconies along the back of the ship reported whale sightings constantly.
We rented a car from Juneau Car Rental (60.00). It was a bit of a walk from the cruise ship and uphill. We drove to Mendenhall Glacier and ate at Tracy's Crab Shack. It began raining and we did the Mount Roberts tram anyway. Everything was wonderful except for the tram in the rain. It was too expensive for a rainy day.
My favorite port!!! We rode the train and it was amazing! We bought the $5.00 pass for the transit. They gave us a ride to the edge of town for a half mile walk to the cemetery and then we went to Lower Reid Falls. Do this! They also gave us a ride to the other side of town to Taiya Inlet and Yakutania Point. We had a short hike. So beautiful! Then, we shopped and got some awesome popcorn!
My husband did a fishing excursion and he had a great time. The salmon were not running yet, but he caught a Yellow-eye Rockfish. I walked around Ketchikan. I saw Creek Street, Married Man's Trail, and some waterfalls. I did some great shopping. Visit the Visitor's Center for coupon books. We got some great deals from those.
Victoria is amazing. We booked a carriage tour excursion through a private company. You will better off if you book directly through Carnival for this. Do not go to Beacon Hill park at night, you can't see anything. The walk from the cruise port into town was a little long, but not strenuous and it was beautiful. You walk along the bay or through some old neighborhoods.
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