Drink package -- Offered at $60 per person per day -- We did not buy the package and found buying wine and drinks on an a la carte basis was more economical. We also had a wider selection of wines by the bottle than that offered by the glass under the package plan. If you purchased a bottle of wine and didn't finish it, the restaurant would store for the next night and bring to whichever restaurant you were at the next night. There are also daily drink specials ($5.50) and 2 for 1 happy hour in the bars. If you want, you can also purchase a bottle in the ports and bring it on board for consumption in your room.

Excursions -- If you have time before leaving Seattle, you should walk the short distance to Pike Place Market. The excursion to see the Bears of Annan out of Wrangell booked up quickly as there are a limited number of permits available each day (all allocated to Oceania as inducement for the ship to dock in Wrangell). Those paying the $659 per person "unlimited passport collection" had an opportunity ahead of the rest to book the excursion ($209 per person). I found a outfitter (Family Air -- Dave Roche pilot and owner) in Ketchikan who had a permit for the prior day when the boat would be in Ketchikan. So, I flew by float plane for about 40 minutes (great views) each way and enjoyed seeing the bears (only black ones that day) fishing for salmon, lots of bald eagles, some otters and harbor seals. Cost was $973 for the 2 of us. In Skagway we took the train ride along the Klondike gold trail ($229 per person by Oceania). We sat by someone who had bought tickets that day at the train office for $100 less. In Sitka, my wife and I took a $7 cab ride to the Raptor Center, paid the $12 per person admission and afterwards walked the short coastal road back to the port. I don't recall what Oceania was charging, but quite a bit more. In Victoria, 4 of us took a cab roundtrip to Butchart Gardens ($80 US with tip) and paid the $33 Canadian admission. Again, don't recall what Oceania was charging, but doing it on own was much cheaper.

Dining -- The Polo Grilled seemed to be the hardest reservation to get and was my favorite, so you might focus your efforts on that one. However, Toscana (the other one requiring reservations) and the Grand Café were both very good. The Grand Café, I think, was the best option for breakfast and lunch. The other was the buffet at the Terrace which I found crowded and not much quicker than the Grand Café. The Horizon had a very good afternoon tea, better (I thought) than the Terrace. Read more