We chose this cruise because we wanted a small ship that could get in to the smaller areas of Alaska as well as not wanting a ship that we would need to share with 1,000 plus vacationers. With the exception of the excursions, everything else was included. A personal butler, all meals (including room service), drinks (and the wine flowed freely at dinner), self-serve laundry, and entertainment. While the singers and a trio of instrumentalists were good, more variety could have been offered. And most of the entertainment started at 10PM - long after we had turned in from a very busy day. Mostly, though, the ship had everything you could want to feel like you really mattered and received top-notch service. A luxury for sure, but how many times do you get to go to Alaska?

We began our vacation with a two-day stay in Anchorage and boarded the train (all arranged in advance) from there for a 4.5 hour train ride to take us to Steward where we would board the ship. Long ride, but beautiful views along the way.

Having to make reservations at the dining rooms did make it difficult to always eat where one wanted - especially since dining reservations opened up online before the cruise even began. The dress code is very strict - "informal" means that men must have a suit coat or jacket - not just a shirt and tie. Relaxing the dress code would be nice since we're on vacation. La Terrazza served the best buffet breakfast, and by far the best dinner of the two indoor restaurants (assuming you could get a reservation). The outdoor restaurant, The Grill, is a fantastic experience. Unfortunately, it wasn't until the last night that the weather was warm enough to sit outside and enjoy the food without wearing a jacket or using a blanket. Read more