This was a very enjoyable cruise. I almost wish we hadn't booked Lido deck cabanas so I would've wandered around on the ship and enjoyed different entertainment more. However, it was an amazing amenity that we enjoyed very much. Great to have dedicated deck space for the cruising days and a nice private space for the 5 of us to hang out (our verandahs were ok but it's cold in Alaska in open sea air!). Would definitely do it again with more hiking in port and maybe even to try the White Pass Rail trip. A little rough seas on day 4 (after leaving Glacier Bay) and we all ran out of the second formal dinner early to lie in bed.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
There were 2 ships on embarkation (princess and HAL) and it felt like an endless cycle of "sit in chairs > line up > show paper > move to new room > repeat". It wasn't chaotic or anything, just a lot of waiting around. Everyone in port was informative and helpful. Other passengers were kindof dickish about waiting.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We ate almost exclusively in the MDR. Food choice, quality, and presentation were fantastic. I liked the portion size as we were all able to try a lot of different things. If you like only ordering one item, you could definitely leave hungry.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
There were too many things to do. Our favorites were using the spa pass and the ATK classes.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Everyone was friendly. My husband mentioned on the first day that the staff seemed "not as happy" as our staff on Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas. However, I think some of that melted away after the first day. Staff was definitely friendly and professional, but I could kind of see what he meant by "less happy".
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Loved the public spaces, it was a shame I didn't enjoy them more (we spent most of our time in our Lido deck cabanas, which we'd rented for the week). I loved the artwork, definitely a step up from RC and wish I'd done the Art scavenger hunt. I loved finding myself in random places taking different stairways (than the one closest to our rooms) to see the new/different artwork.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Ship tip
Find out how to get on the outside decks on the front of the ship. We couldn't figure it out and totally regret not spending time there on sea days. The Exploration Cafe is peaceful and gorgeous and full of books and games with a great panoramic view. The Tamarind lounge is also a beautiful and quiet place to spend a morning/afternoon.
Beautiful walkable city. We did not do an excursion but visited the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden and Park in Chinatown. We also took the free shuttle from Canada Place to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Pricey but really pretty for what it is. I think after having gone, I would do it with/for kids, but otherwise just hang out in Stanley Park instead.
We rented a car (15 min walk south of port, or $8-10 cab ride) for $120 which was cheaper than 5 shuttle tickets to Mendenhall Glacier. Hiked out to Nugget Falls and back. Had a late lunch at Tracy's Crab Shack. Then drove over to Douglas Island to do a Rainforest Hike (nice and easy, definitely not wheelchair accessible though) and saw some whales from far off. Our whale-watching trip had been canceled due to rough seas so the car was useful for us.
Temsco helicopter ride and 40 min walkabout on the ice (Mead Glacier). Team was friendly and efficient. You don't need to be any kind of active for this. If you can walk from your car to the supermarket you're fit enough for this. We snuck in a quick lunch on the ship and then back out for a "hike and float" on the Chilkoot River. This was really great. The beginning of the hike is a bit steep uphill and then back down but really flat/easy for the last half hour. The float was totally peaceful (no rapids) and I could see how they've never lost someone overboard. Was a great end to the hike/afternoon. "Town" was super touristy and trinkety. We bought a magnet and walked back to our ship.
Probably our favorite port. Was the cutest and felt like real people lived there - not just storefronts for show. We snorkeled in the morning. Yes, the water was cold but bearable as long as you kept swimming. We had a strong current and were all nicely tired out at the end of our 40 minutes or so (this is not like in a cozy little lake, which I'd assumed for some reason). Never felt unsafe. My mom had a bit of a panic attack when she got in and Fred took care of her, bringing her to shore and she chatted with some friendly fishermen who brought her sea creatures to look at haha. Dropped our wet items off on the ship and then skedaddled to our shuttle for the AYCE Dungeness crab feast. The girls were friendly but they talk too much when they should be bringing out/around more crab! Felt a little cutoff and rushed towards the end but still a good meal/deal.
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