Since school got out early this year, my husband and I had the opportunity to go on the 7 day Alaska cruise on June 8. We live in a cold climate, so once it got warm going to Alaska just wasn't my choice of things to do. We did have great weather with lots of sun though. We booked a guaranteed cabin late. Got there to check in - sure enough they'd moved us. I spent the first 6 hours worried about our luggage arriving to our correct room. We asked to have our refrigerator emptied - never happened. Enjoyed meeting lots of different people with the anytime dining. Food was pretty good in the dining room - one night I had lobster thermador - that was NOT good. Our best meal was in the Pinnacle. GREAT! We did not book an excursion in Juneau - took the tram to the top and planned to hike. Ha! You could NOT hike - sign said CLOSED. Saw an eagle in a cage for everyone to look at. That poor eagle did not have room to move. What a tourist trap. We went back to Juneau and found a pub with locals way down the road from the Red Dog Saloon. After Juneau was Glacier Bay where everyone stays on the ship all day. Smokers were not allowed to smoke at all anywhere on the ship - even on their balconies. I heard many say they'd NEVER return. They were apparently trying to impress the rangers that came on the ship to speak. They did offer hot chocolate on the balcony if you bought the cup. Sitka and Ketchikan were very nice towns. We did not have very many hours there though. We especially enjoyed Stika where we went to the historical place with a great hike through a rainforest. Birds of Rapture was within walking distance also. We saw many eagles who were taken care of and released when well again. We took a trolley around Ketchikan and saw a few eagles, no salmon, no bear. Enjoyed the town though. Enjoyed the tech classes and the singer Michael in the Crow's Nest.

The shows were okay. Food in the LIDO was so crowded and frustrating at lunch time. I could not believe how long you had to stand in line. I have never seen that before on a cruise. I usually just ate salad because that is what I could get to without standing in line. The last night we arrived in Victoria around 7:00 p.m. They did not have dinner in the dining room. It seemed like they served all the left over salmon and chicken by the Lido Pool. What a zoo. That would have been the best night to book the Pinnacle. We went to Buchart Gardens through the cruise line. It was rushed but very pretty. I also booked a massage/ facial special in the spa. After she tried to tell me I needed to spend $177 plus $77 for cream for my face. She then called my room the next day to inquire about me purchasing this. When our final bill came they forgot to charge me for the spa. With tip my bill was $169 for a massage I have gotten in Mexico for $17. I went down the last day and told her they didn't charge me. So now I won't feel guilty, but it was way overpriced. Our cabin crew was the hardest working and did a great job. I think next time I'll just fly to where I want to go. I can at least get a massage for a fraction of the price, have a cigerette if I want to, and have my drinks paid for at an AI in Mexico.