Alaska Wonderful-Carnival Terrible

The Eagle viewing trip from rafts was the highlight of the trip, there were times when multiple juvenile Bald Eagles were in sight in addition to adults and a couple who were late nesters still on the nests. The guild handling our raft was a spectacular personality, full of really interesting information and entertaining. The Eagle trip is a do not miss. The company (a local Skagway firm)handling the Eagle trip is to be commended for their staff which is far superior to the staff handling trips from the other ports in all aspects, knowledge, customer service and entertainment value.

The Sea Otter trip was good, but the naturalist on our trip was not as communicative as many and contradicted items mentioned by the naturalist on the whale watching trip in Juneau. After arriving home and checking the Juneau naturalist had the correct information, the Sitka one was wrong on several points regarding Humpback whales and Sea Otters. Sitka is probably the most interesting Alaska port visited, but suffers from the same chain stores as the rest of the ports. Much of the retail activity (and those advertised aboard the ship ad nauseum) are the same in all these ports and the same ones found in Caribbean ports-initial retail appearance is the same in Sitka and St. Thomas. These retailers must either be owned by rhe cruise lines or follow them around. The cruise lines advertise them excessively and their prices are terrible-although that should be expected from retail insititutions in a cruise port. They advertise duty free prices and offer very high prices.

Did not try resturants, went on a Halibut fishing expedition which I would not reccomend as the boats are very small and guides less than professional (in particular when concidering the price).

Juneau, Alaska

Pros: Waiter in Empire Room and Room Steward

Cons: Food, served overcooked and cold in Empire room

Recommends Carnival Spirit? No.

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