Northern Aurora

Not in my experience. We have always received the B2B discount when booking legs at different times. We rarely book a single leg and often add an additional leg at a later time. Have always received the discount.

The limited Concierge Class lunch is nice since folks do not have to battle the buffet crowd. But I doubt you can order off the limited menu.

Did you book this excursion through NCL? We have never been on NCL but my experience is that ship sponsored shore excursions leave from the ship. Have you contacted Fortress of the Bears directly? The Sitka port shuttle delivers folks to the Harrigan Centennial Center in downtown Sitka. Private tours to F of the B leave from that location.

I am mystified when other posters recommend Tracey’s Crab Shack in Juneau for king crab. It is not fresh but freshly frozen. We have been to Unalaska/aDutch Harbor, which is where the TV series Deadliest Catch is filmed, and even there the king crab is frozen. I also like Dungeness crab. There is a fishery for dungeness in Ketchikan. So truly fresh dungeness is available in Ketchikan. We have dined at the George Inlet Lodge but also check Annabelles which is located right downtown. At Annabelles it seems to be a frequent special.

Two nights ago we stayed at the Royal Park Hotel which is literally attached to Haneda Airport Terminal 3. It is located off the departure level. They have a nice restaurant in house but there are a number of dining options located before passing through security. We stayed one night before flying back to the US. We’re very impressed with the Haneda airport. Very well organized.

We have done Vancouver to Yokohama leaving in mid-September. We hit the remnants of a typhoon near the Aleutian Islands. The ship went into Yokohama a day early (we missed one Japan port) due to Typhoon Trami. We were B2B and all B2B passengers were evacuated off the ship to Yokohama hotels. On the second leg our itinerary was impacted by Typhoon Kong-Rei. But incredible fall colors. I am actually posting from a hotel at the Haneda airport as we have just completed another Japan B2B set. This time we enjoyed the cherry blossoms. On all of our Japan legs we have experienced some pretty rough seas. But the country is so wonderful all is well worth it.

Used room service utensils and plates left in hallways is also a pet peeve of mine. And when my husband was in quarantine with Covid on the Eclipse he and the others with Covid were moved into ocean view staterooms on deck 3. They were all provided with little tables outside their doors where they left their trays.

So much of Japan is so easy to DIY as long as you are willing to use the highly efficient public transportation system. For example we visited the deer of Nara from Osaka on our own. But in Shimizu google the Shimizu Volunteer Guides. These volunteer guides will be close to the port entrance handing out maps which take you to the Port Museum (Verkehr Museum), Suehiro Museum, Myokeiji Museum, Jirocho Birth House and Minowa Imari Shrine. Several of these attractions are totally free with several others charging minimal admission. Additional blue jacketed volunteer guides greet visitors at each stop.

I have no experience with a Princess land tour but am posting from Japan as we have just ended B2B Celebrity cruises, and have also spent three weeks in Japan previously. At the ancient shrines and temples expect many uneven steps and limited stair railings. We were talking to a woman onboard who uses a cane, and she said at times she struggled. In the US we are so accustomed to ADA standards and I really wondered if she had assumed the rest of the world is the same.

Check the website for the Klondike Historical National Park. The NPS has films in their headquarters, there are ranger led walks and so forth.

Certainly since the resumption of cruising following the Covid pause we have been provided with a list of Retreat special activities such a guest performer or special martini night and so forth. Also lists the hours for the concierges. Lookin the grey folder for a long narrow piece of paper.

We left the Millennium this morning after B2B cruises. When we arrived at Haneda several weeks ago we took a taxi to our Yokohama hotel. We really did not find it to be unreasonable in cost. This morning our taxi from the cruise terminal to our Haneda hotel was 10,000 yen. Celebrity did indeed offer shuttles, but we realized that the shuttle costs (given current exchange rates) for two were more than a taxi. I do not remember the actual cost, but think it was around $50per person. And my husband hates those bus transfers. The Celebrity transfers were to Narita Terminal 1 for flights after 1:00 pm, to Narita Terminal 2 for flights after 1 pm, and to Haneda for flights after noon. On the March 28 cruise we docked at Yokohama at 6 am. We were a little later this morning as we had Medical emergency at 7 pm the day we left Aomori. We started to return to Aomori and were met by a Japan Coast Guard vessel. Seas were rough (the seasickness bags were out in abundance) and it’s took over an hour with heavy swells and in the dark to transfer the person.

Dang it — we are on a ship in Japan with rather high seas. A great situation for typos. The little white bags are in multiple places. Dinner was rather sparsely attended. We have driven the route in a rental CAR.

We have driven the route both in our own vehicles and in rental card. There is no need to be experienced in mountainous driving.

We spent 40 nights on the Edge last fall and enjoyed lunch at Le Grand Bistro 6 or 7 times. Absolutely loved the lobster bisque which was “caged” with puff pastry. And on the Edge series one of the MDRs was used for the Elite and higher breakfast.