We flew on United Air from Cleveland to Vancouver. The airport terminal was very clean, and processing thru customs and security was efficient. Finding a cab was very easy. The ride to our hotel cost between $30-#35. We stayed at the St. Regis Hotel, 3 blocks from the cruise terminal and gastown. It was completely remodeled earlier this year. We arrived 3 days before the cruise and stayed 1 night after the cruise. Our rooms were very comfortable. There were 2 computers with free internet access in the lobby. A continental breakfast was served with eggs and breakfast meats cooked to order. The staff was very courteous and helpful. We loved the hotel and would recommend it.

We purchased a two day pass for $33 on the Big Bus in gastown and used it to explore the city. The Big Bus is an open air bus and we had great weather. We rode the circuit thru the city(90 minutes)and then rode again to visit the sites that interested us. We lucked out, our first driver was very informative and entertaining. Subsequent drivers were silent. Vancouver is a very diverse and interesting city. I highly recommend spending several days there before or after your cruise. We took a cab from our hotel to the cruise terminal($5). Signs directed us to the proper area and we boarded the ship within 30 minutes. We later overheard other passengers complain that they stood in long lines. I guess it pays to arrive early. Our boarding pass was not for the cabin that we originally booked and when we checked in, it was changed again. We thought our luggage would get sidetracked but it arrived shortly. Then the luggage for the people previously assigned to our cabin arrived. The cabin steward quickly redirected their luggage. Our cabin was always clean, quiet and comfortable.

We ate the majority of our meals in the Rotterdam dining room. We did occasionaly eat breakfast in the Lido. I enjoyed the 6 variations of eggs benedict. We ate our 2 formal dinners in the Pinnacle Room (a $20/pp upcharge)and it was outstanding!! The food quality overall was good. We only had 2 disappointments. My wife ordered a mushroom strudel that she did not like. One night I ordered a medium-rare steak and another man ordered his well done. They served them to the wrong person. We both had cut into the steaks, so they took them and brought two more. They mixed them up again. He sent his back to cook some more but I just ignored it as I wasn't really that hungry. Entertainment quality on the ship varied, some good, some not so good. There was a sufficient number of choices that we could always find things we enjoyed. The real entertainment on the cruise is Alaska, not the ports or the stores promoted by the cruise lines, but the land itself. Sailing up the Tracey Arm was awesome! We were fortunate and sailed all the way up the arm. The onboard naturalist had been on 21 of the cruises and had only reached the point we reached 3 other times. Juneau was a 30 minute city. Not much for us to see. We rode the White Pass Railroad in Skagway. I highly recommend it, very scenic and full of history. Cruising in Glacier Bay National Park was great. The ship comes very close to the glaciers. I went salmon fishing in Ketchikan with Captain Tony Azure on Fish n Fun. It poured rain but he issued high quality rain suits and the we (4 anglers) caught 18 salmon on the 4 hour charter. I had the salmon filets smoked and Fedex'd to my home for under $8/pound.