This is a cruise I would take again in a heartbeat! Wonderful ship, wonderful itinerary (more ports and more time in each port than some other week-long cruises), and even the weather cooperated! It's a must-do trip, for sure!
Embarkation
4 out of 5
At check-in, we were at the front of the line when the computers shut down. Stood for 20 minutes waiting and watching more and more priority passengers arrive who would be queued up to go ahead of us. Once computers were up and running, the process went smoothly and we were soon on the ship.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Dining room food was hit or miss (even the lobster disappointed, as it was over-cooked), but we truly enjoyed the variety and taste of the food at the buffet.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Plenty of activities to choose from, but our very favorite was listening to the lectures from the naturalist on board. He was so interesting to listen to, and we learned so much each day.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Enjoyed every show we attended! Certainly not Broadway, but entertaining.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Would have given this 5 stars if we didn't feel rushed out of the dining room after dinner.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Layout was so easy to navigate!! I've been on ships that seemed like a maze, and no easy way to get to certain places, but Radiance was excellent!
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Large window, but had to climb onto the bed to look out. From people who normally get an inside cabin, that window was such a bonus! Had to be careful about who can see in while docked, but not a big deal.
Ship tip
Utilize the bow for sailing in and out, and if you're in Alaska, stand there with the crowd for glacier viewing.
one of the most amazing experiences of the entire trip. From the bow (got there early), we had a wonderful view as we sailed closer and closer. Saw otters and sea lions on and near icebergs. Hubbard Glacier did not disappoint! Lots of calving that day, and a very memorable experience.
Good weather prompted us to ride Mt. Roberts tram right away, before it could cloud over. We had great views of the ships in port, and the town. Fun little area and trails at the top. We also took a shuttle to Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls. Don't forget an empty refillable water bottle to scoop up some glacier water from the lake. We drank that on the walk back. Refreshing! Saw bears in the trees near the parking lot before taking the shuttle back to town. Visited Red Dog Saloon (fun!) and did some shopping for souvenirs.
Skagway was fun also! We booked a tour through Chilkoot Charters (8 months in advance) for bus tour/Summit Rail ride. Great experience, and a must-do! Walked around the town a bit after the tour, ate lunch and drank a local beer, and did more shopping. Cute little town!
You will want to do a tour here. There's really not much to see at the port. We did a combo tour that included whale watching and brown bear search. Saw whales, but no brown bears. Still a good day.
I wish we had stayed here even longer! Even with the construction going on, it was a neat town! We first had an excursion where we rode Tomcats through a mountain trail (muddy and fun!), then walked around in Ketchikan. Creek Street area is the BEST, and we chose to eat lunch there. Also shopped there. Fabulous town!
Stayed at the Lonsdale Quay Hotel, and loved it! We only spent one extra day in Vancouver, but took advantage of it by taking the hop on/hop off bus tour. Didn't spend the money for the suspension bridge (expensive!!), but might do that if we ever go back. Homeless, drug using people ALL OVER a couple of the streets surrounding China Town. I could not believe what I was seeing, and was surprised the city did not have a handle on that. Very very sad, and a bit scary.
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