We booked the May 30th Alaska cruise first, then added the May 23rd Coastal afterward. We occupied Caribe 510 for the Alaska leg, then added the forward leg when cabin E632 became available at a favorable price.

Preparation: Six new items had to be addresses by us, having never cruised on a Medallion equip ship. The new software was kludgy with more than a few redo's on our schedule weeks before the cruise. Eventually, the errors disappeared, and persistent attempts paid off. Finally, spouse connected in software; daily dinner times set; specialty dining set; Green line, Group A set; ArriveCan QR ready; PCR test, negative; and, online, pre-cruise, health questionnaire complete.

Boarding: We dropped off two large suitcases upon arrival at 11AM before parking at the 80 Francisco parking structure. Observed a busy time with line formed down the front of the port structure. We returned 15 to 20 later to find the line stretched along the fence toward The Embarcadero. Group A, Green Line, Elite/Platinum loyalty status....all meaningless throughout the boarding process. Two hours and 25 minutes later.....Luggage down....ahhhh. I'll have a Blue Hawai'i. 3PM...the line still stretched down the fence line; thereafter, line disappeared. Read more