My extended family visited Alaska this summer. We had three generations ranging from age 13 to 73. All told we had four cabins...three on Deck 8 and one on Deck 7.

Our flights were arranged through the travel agency and we flew from Louisville to Atlanta and then had a long (5-hour) flight to Seattle. Atlanta's airport was hot and crowded, but a necessary evil. When we arrived in Seattle things went very smoothly. We met the Royal Caribbean representative near the baggage claim, checked our bags, and waited perhaps ten minutes for a bus. We were at the terminal within 1/2 hour and went through checkin without any major problems (slowed a bit because one member of our party was in a wheelchair.

We were on board by 2:00 and had time to explore a bit (and have a cocktail or two). The mandatory muster drill was almost fun. Some of us changed for dinner and hit the happy hour at the Schooner Bar before our first dinner. Read more