I've only been on 6 cruises in my life (age 63), dating back to the 1980's, including a previous Alaska cruise on the NCL Jewel in 2013 and two almost back-to-back western Caribbean trips on the NCL Jade in 2016. I picked this cruise for the following reasons: 1) left from Vancouver and returned to Seattle, 2) the extra day, and 3) great price. I highly recommend the Hampton Inn and Suites in Vancouver - free breakfast and free bike rental (rode 10+ miles around town Sunday morning). Embarkation was a mess, as others have stated, but once on board I immediately started enjoying the great food. The food and service was excellent. Our balcony cabin (7228) was great, especially for my wife, who didn't want to go out on deck like I did to see the sites (I liked being able to quickly move from side to side as wildlife and other sightings were announced by the onboard naturalist). The highlights for me were 1) seeing 3 bear cubs at Mendenhall, 2) going to 2+ fjords and 3+ glaciers, 3) White Pass train ride in Skagway, 4) numerous eagle, otter, sea lion, and whale sightings - including one whale that slapped its tail over ten times, and 5) the FOOD. I gained 8 pounds, and enjoyed every bite (have since lost 6). The weather was predicted to be much worse than it actually was, so that was a blessing, too. The shows were good, and Merl Hobbs is a great comedian. Cruise director Jen and her staff did an excellent job throughout the week. Debarkation was a breeze, except for the long line waiting for a taxi (not Carival's fault). Still, having to stand around for an extra 30 minutes or so before and/or after a fun-packed 8 day cruise is no big deal. I recommend this cruise to anyone looking for a good deal.