SJSULIBRARIAN

The Volendam is doing the Pole to Pole Grand Voyage in 2025 and the Grand World Voyage in 2026. Perhaps, that is why they are doing such a large investment in an older ship.

Have not seen or heard what you propose. I agree with others, a person such as you describe should not cruise or fly. I suspect a person in such a condition would be put off a ship somewhere and the family would have to figure out how to get the person home. Not a situation I care to handle.

I love Hangar on the Wharf. I eat there every time I am in Juneau. Last month I was there on my birthday with friends and was wearing a "Birthday Girl" badge and our waitress brought me two birthday balloons. And the fresh salmon or halibut are always so delicious.

I was recently on an RCCL Alaskan cruise with friends who are frequent RCCL passengers. We had the napkin waving parade two nights in a row and we found it to be very annoying. The friends had never seen in done before on any of their previous RCCL cruises. Maybe it's a "new thing" in cruising.

How long did you have to wait for the crab shack. Love Alaska fudge co. Been there twice this summer.

The timing of the event if medals are being presented does seem a bit odd.

Two weeks ago, I took an RCCL bus transfer from Canada Place to the airport. They would not sell it unless your flight was noon or after. Our flight was 12:20PM but delayed until 12:50PM. We boarded the bus around 9:30; at the airport we waited in holding area about 10 minutes as there was no place at the terminal to unload. Then check in, tossing your checked bag on the conveyor belt, security, followed by US Immigration. We were at the gate at 11:15. Making your flight could be done but there are a lot of things that could go wrong. I recommend taking a taxi in your situation.

I was at Icy Straight Point a week ago. Docks for 2 ships. Where are the other 4 the OP mentions? 4 ships tendering?

The Concierges can make change for you and if they don't have the denominations you want, they will get them for you.

The "no fixed table rule" must vary by ship. On the Legendary Alaska cruise in June, after a couple of days 3 of us had a fixed table at 7PM for the rest of the cruise. Since it was near the check in stand, we could walk in, check the table to see if available, and either waited a few minutes for it to be reset or walked directly to it

Definitely book the Hubbard Glacier Catamaran as soon as you can. It has been the only excursion available there for years as you are in open waters. I did it in June and it was fabulous. Of course, we were very lucky to have a beautiful sunny day. The views from the ship are good too but with the catamaran you get a lot closer to the glacier which is one of very few in the world that is advancing and not receding.

Thanks for explaining why the couple of margaritas I had, tasted like there was no tequilla in them. Because there wasn’t,

I have been sailing to Alaska out of Seattle for over 20 years and the airport has been in terrible shape the whole time. If the remodeling is ever finished, it will be a miracle and not in my lifetime, I am sure. As Table Girl describes, getting from baggage claim to local transportation is really a mess. Having to take the elevator up and then walk over to the parking garage is totally beyond the pale. On June 8th. I did get myself a cart for my luggage, took the elevator up, and discovered a huge line of people. It turns out they were in the TSA line; one very nice person opened the barrier for me and I walked through these people to get to the bridge to the parking garage. For those on the 2025 Solstice Cruise, be prepared because I doubt it will be better in a year. I always take a taxi to the airport after the cruise. My driver this time dropped me off at arrivals since the departure line of cars was extremely long and not moving. He advised me to go in, take the elevator up, and I would be where I needed to be. I was so glad I had just hand luggage. Port valet should be at every cruise port. Congrats to Seattle for having this service. I was early enough that I easily went through TSA PreCheck without any problem.

If you have any interest at all in classical music, the Trio (Ashlye, Alex, and Alice) on the just completed Westerdam Alaska Solstice cruise indicated they would be playing on the Voyage of the Vikings. They were outstanding. They do not play what is programmed as was for the Lincoln Center groups but develop their own repertoire which was outstanding. All 3 are excellent musicians.

When the cruise director on the current 28 day Legendary cruise interviewed the trio, she indicated classical trios or duos would be on the world cruise, grand and legendary voyages, but as everything else seems to be with the current HAL, subject to change.