Over all the cruise was excellent. Here are some high and low points (mostly high):

Embarkation/Disembarkation: It has never been easier. Since this cruise was in celebration of Gene's 30th anniversary working for the same company (that's unusual these days and well worth celebrating) I ordered a limo to take us to the cruise terminal from our home. When we arrived at 1pm, we noticed a long line of people with luggage. Immediately I was worried. The line didn't appear to be moving. I signaled a porter to come help us with our luggage. He loaded up his cart and took us into the terminal, bypassing the long line. Apparently, all the people in line wanted to bring their own luggage onboard - without help. Therefore they had to be screened through a metal detector which slowed down the process. Why they chose to stay in that line instead of turning their luggage over to a porter is beyond me. After only 15 minutes we had turned in our luggage, checked in, and passed through security. Our feet touched the Promenade deck at 1:15 and the cruise began.

On the way home the situation was just as good, but in reverse. Immigration passed everyone with a US passport through with only a cursory glance. Non-US citizens were screened more closely. I suspect immigration was quick because the vast majority of the cruise took place in the state of Alaska with only a short stop in Victoria, Canada. Read more