If you've ever booked a cruise during the pandemic, you know how frustrating it can be. In 2019, we booked our Alaska cruise for May 2021. Well, May 2022 was our make-up cruise for the cancelled 2021 sailing. Better late than never, right?
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| Dawes Glacier - Endicott Arm |
Pre-cruise
First, I’ll hit our pre-cruise stay in Seattle. We hailed a Lyft from the airport ($50 + tip). You need to cross the sky bridge and go down one level until you see the green barriers. The signage was actually great, but several escalators to get there were on the fritz. Our Lyft dropped us at the Fairfield Inn & Suites near the Space Needle. The hotel seems newly updated and the front desk staff were very friendly and helpful.
For dinner, we took the advice of the front desk staff and visited Thomas Street Warehouse. The prices are actually really great for downtown, and they have a cool cocktail menu. In the morning, we grabbed breakfast tacos at Jack’s BBQ on 9th. The brisket was the best, but the sausage and the bacon tacos were good, too.
For Alaska, we knew a couple things up front and made sure to align our planning appropriately:
- Spring for a balcony room
- Pack layered clothing and some waterproof outerwear
- Shore excursions will be expensive
OK, so now that those three bullets are behind me, I'm going to dive right into the details.
We used Lyft to get to the port. The rideshare location is quite a walk from the check-in point so be prepared to walk - maybe a quarter of a mile? The luggage collection and check-in was truly chaotic. Have ALL of your documents ready to show about 3 times along the way. There were many people who failed to set up ArriveCan app before they left, and it created a bit of a clogged and tense mess. So, if you are sailing this year, do the following well before your cruise:
- Download and log into the Celebrity app
- Download and log into ArriveCan, if required
- Schedule your COVID tests, if required
- Have your original vaccination card (if required), passport, ArriveCan QR code, negative COVID test report, and boarding pass at the ready - SO much paperwork!
Cabin
We had originally booked an unobstructed view veranda, but we were able to upgrade during a Black Friday sale in 2021 for a Aqua Class (1641) - and saved $130. Bam! Upgrading was a no-brainer, and we didn't lose any of our original perks. Our cabin included 2 umbrellas, 2 bathrobes, 2 pairs of slippers, upgraded bath products, and a pair of binoculars to use. These were very nice perks to have at our disposal.
Aqua Class includes unlimited access to the Persian Garden (steam room, sauna, and heated loungers). Persian Garden was great, and we did use it several times. I’m not sure it’s worth buying a pass or choosing Aqua Class just to gain access, though.
Shore Excursions (all booked through Celebrity)
Ketchikan, Alaska - Adventure Kart Expedition - Beautiful views and fun excursion, but COLD! The description said we’d get gloves along with the helmet and coveralls, but unfortunately, no gloves. Our hands were all about frozen. You will get dirty, so plan ahead for clothes that you can wipe off, and dress warmly. One and done for us.
Juneau, Alaska - Mendenhall Glacier, Whale Watching, & Wildlife Quest - We caught the bus off the pier and were taken to the Mendenhall Glacier park area where we could walk around the lake and take photos of the glacier. Another couple in our group did a kayaking tour and got right up on the glacier and very close to the waterfall. Ours was much easier than that.
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| Mendenhall Glacier |
Skagway, Alaska - Due to a passenger overboard, we arrived late into port, and they cancelled our Kroschel Wildlife Refuge tour. Instead, we walked around Skagway, which is a cute but very small town. We had drinks at the brewery and then stopped off for fresh salmon pate and king crab bisque at the Skagway Fish Company restaurant. Convenient for cruise ship passengers.
Victoria, BC - Zodiak Whale Watching & Wildlife Tour - I had high hopes for this tour. The zodiak boats picked us up right off the pier, and they handed us heavy suits that provided warmth, wind protection, and flotation for safety. Thank goodness for these suits! You will still want to dress very warmly with water proof shoes and gloves if you have them. I also recommend wearing a good scarf and a hat. The tides created unbelievably rough waters - we were all very sore from bouncing around. Although we saw seals, a bald eagle, and deer, the whales were silent. Our three boats scouted the water for almost two hours, and we didn’t see a single spout. Neither the water nor the lack of whales is the fault of the tour operator, but it was a very disappointing experience. If you have any neck or back problems or are prone to motion sickness or headaches, do not choose this excursion. Trust me!
Food
The buffet food was decent, and we ate in our dedicated dining room (Blu) several times. Blu is OK. It’s a small main dining restaurant dedicated to Aqua Class guests, but it’s not that much better than regular dining.
We made reservations at Tuscan Grille, and oh my goodness, it was better than we remembered it! We had an absolutely amazing dining experience with Pamela as our server. She really went out of her way to try to accommodate our vegan friend who dined with us. The food was excellent!
We lunched at Sushi on 5. It’s OK, nothing to write home about.
Packing
We bought waterproof hiking boots, hiking socks, under-layer long sleeve tops, and snowboarding pants before our trip. All of these items are worth it if you don’t have them. I also recommend a waterproof winter coat with hood. Ideally, choose one that has a zip out fleece liner so you can use it a couple ways.
For the ladies, I found these leggings on Amazon (size up!) and my word, I’d recommend them to everyone!
Waterproof: STRETCHUP Women's Fleece Lined Leggings with Pocket Waterproof High Waisted Thermal Winter Yoga Pant
Regular: YEZII 2 Pack Fleece Lined Leggings with Pockets for Women,High Waisted Winter Yoga Pants
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