All in all, a nice cruise -- had decent weather, and enjoyed the beautiful sights. The onboard staff was amazing ... and they made a suitable big fuss over my spouse's birthday.
Do be prepared for the 18% "gratuity" that is automatically added to your bill ... since the staff was so good, we did not dispute it, but plan on it adding about $30/day to your cost of the cruise (for 2 sharing a cabin).
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Rather than use the cruise line's transfer system, we obtained our own transportation ... and therefore arrived at the terminal for check-in much earlier than the hordes. Took about 5 min to check in and another 5 min to board.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
As usual, food was very good, and waitstaff was excellent. Also as usual, lotsa $$ charged for add-ons ("oh, you want a soda or a latte? that'll be more ... "). One of the most annoying things about cruises ...
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Didn't participate much in the onboard activities, as they were largely relentlessly oriented to extracting more $$ ... Too cold for the pool ... again, offerings seemed to be OK if you like that sort of thing.
Entertainment
Didn't attend any of the shows, etc. Others said they were good. However, we were there to relax, see the sights, and maybe learn something ... not to party until all hours.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Can't say enough about the quality of the staff (waitstaff, room steward, front desk). Very competent, good, and timely with services.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The cabin itself was good. Bed was comfortable. Steward kept things ship-shape. Only complaint ... not enough plug-in points for the electronics we all carry these days ...
Ship tip
If you're mobility limited, you may have some problems ... step-up into bathroom, shower is extremely small, no grab bars, etc. We have some minor limitations (ex: can't do stairs ... ), but it would be difficult for anyone with more severe limitations.
Not exactly right next door to the nearest commercial airport ... Did transportation to the port on our own, but didn't walk around town when we got there (too much hassle, no immediate transportation access).
Arranged for our own "excursion" -- great trip into the Yukon. Shuttle buses were available (at $2/pp) to take us into the town to catch our excursion. Great restoration of a gold-rush town, and real people still live there.
Been there before; used the time to relax onboard while everyone else went ashore. Did "whale watching" for free right on board the ship (as we left port)!!
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