If anyone has any questions about my comments in this long review, I can be reached at pgauker@bellsouth.net. And I mean it! Travel experiences are to be shared! I still get an occasional question from my Summit review from '04 Ft Lauderdale to Panama and back.

PRECRUISE PREPARATIONS -- I received an email ad thru Cruise Critic with an offer I couldn't refuse: Air included to Alaska! I hadn't even been planning a cruise this summer but I snatched it up. And as it turned out, flying on Northwest Airlines to Anchorage at 8:10 a.m. I was able to receive Delta Sky Miles, so that was a pleasant surprise. I love free tickets on Delta! And the free transfers by bus with cruise/air arrangements.

I chose the Southbound Gulf of Alaska trip because there were more hours in port than on the Northbound trip. We also scheduled late dinner seating to afford us more time on excursions on land, without having the chance of missing the ship or dinner. Read more