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Taxi/Uber to the port is pretty easy and quick. I think at least a day’s visit at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is quite worthwhile. The area is walkable with benches for relaxing and snacking. Restaurants and accommodations are plentiful. Taxi or water taxi to Ft McHenry for a great American history lesson at an excellent, beautiful, well maintained national park. Cost is minimal. The aquarium at the inner harbor is also a good take . The LightRail is an inexpensive and easy way to get from BWI to the InnerHarbor and Camden Yards area!

So if something is prohibited, why do some folks think they are above the law and try to get away with doing it? If not caught, is it a proud moment?!

If you have a hotel booked, ask there if they might provide transportation for you. We did and found it both convenient and comparable $$ to most sites. Research of the train didn’t appeal to us considering luggage and possible transfer to Rome’s public transportation system which we were not familiar with. Time in Rome post cruise was wonderful!! (tip: purchase “skip the line” tickets for the Collusium, Vatican, etc asap. )

Looking for opinions….with no standard balcony available, we have the option for an accessible stateroom with a window or a stateroom with a sliding door opening to the promenade. We don’t need an accessible room, but a little extra space might be nice, tho not a priority. Might the outside access mean no privacy/be noisy/busy with the sliding door open?

You might want to double check the excursion itinerary. I have done the scenic railway round trip from N. Conway to Crawford Notch. My choice of ticket included a box lunch ON THE TRAIN. So that might very well be your excursion… not a bus ride from Crawford Notch which seems somewhat unlikely… just saying..

Considering a beach day during a Freeport stop, so wondering if it’s worth it to purchase an excursion to Resorts World during the port day on Bimini…with or without lunch… in order to do both the beach and pool? Better to spend a couple of hours at a beach near the port? A good day to enjoy a “quiet” pool day on board?

Ooops… jumping from one cruise line to another….Viking Crown Lounge on Royal, but you get the idea. 😉🤣

We love to get something to eat and drink from the windjammer… hopefully without fighting a crowd… and taking it to a quiet lounge… preferably the Viking Crown Lounge for the view . It is so relaxing after the boarding process. If our stateroom is open, then it is also nice to hang out there til the chaos outside subsides.

Do consider the Kenai Fjords!

Southbound to Vancouver! If your budget allows, do some sort of land tour first…. either thru the cruiseline or on your own. We did a cruisetour several years ago that included Denali before a cruise with Princess … wonderful and well organized ! We also rented a car first and explored Anchorage to Seward to Anchorage. Recently we cruised to Vancouver on the Radiance after self driving for a few days Anchorage to Homer to Seward. Both trips were great...although the recent one was hampered by bad weather ( the luck of the draw on any trip). It can be an expensive trip, so budget carefully and get the most you can…cruise/land or cruise only… if a trip to Alaska is a once in a lifetime adventure.

….and with a youngster, you can probably get away without spending extra for specialty dining. Maybe not even extra for a drink package since milk,juice,and water are “free” and plentiful. Economize where you can if you’d rather budget for shore excursions.

A good doable plan suggested by EileenG. assuming a quick/easy car pick-up and drop-off at the Whittier port. Sightseeing usually takes longer than we think, so don’t rush. Enjoy a leisurely, interesting day! Ditto…. the tunnel timing!

Princess✔️ May-August (May might be less $$ )✔️ Vancouver one way✔️ If time and a budget allows, do a “one way” and try to include some time before or after your cruise to see more of Alaska since you’re “in the area”. If not, then take advantage of as much time as possible at each port . You can do the ship’s excursions or book your own without much difficulty. The ports are generally easy to explore on your own as they are small, interesting towns. Your little guy might get the most out of any stop in Alaska if he learns a little about them ahead of time!

I booked directly and bought the VIP “package” which included a snack of crab legs with butter and a water. (VIP isn’t offered on a ship excursion.) It wasn’t a lot to eat , but I don’t know the price outside of the vip pkg. The crab was cold/ previously frozen. It may not be worth it to go VIP just to have a snack of crab. The excursion was interesting/entertaining tho perhaps a bit scripted since I am sure they do this repeatedly. The crew is experienced and knowledgeable . They will keep you entertained for sure with their life stories. They know where the bald eagles are, so you will surely see them and watch them soar and catch fish! Surprisingly, we saw a whale doing a “bubble” feeding! Pretty exciting! Photo ops✔️, souvenirs✔️, snacks✔️, restrooms ✔️

… but yes, a small ship for Alaska may be a better choice for an itinerary that visits smaller ports/glacier etc.

Do your homework/inquiries. In my opinion, smaller doesn’t necessarily mean more accessible than a larger ship. In most, if not all, cruise ships there are accessible staterooms and seating in venues, ramps, elevators, handrails, wide doors, helpful staff. I have even watched staff assist guests to get in and out of a pool with a specially designed lift/safety equipment! There are threads on CC that describe experiences of successful “challenging “ experiences. Hope you will get out there and enjoy!

Taku flight/salmon bake 👍! Southbound cruise return…R&R ! 👍!

What options for a beach/activities besides Resort World at Bimini? If I want a pool day, I will likely stay on board.

No need for a mega theme park type ship in Alaska! Yes, there will be a pool/solarium/hot tubs, casinos, and entertainment. Consider doing some sort of land tour in Alaska before or after a one way cruise ( Vancouver to Seward or reverse). You’ll be glad to see even more of Alaska !!!

The Sea Life center in Seward is a great place to visit! It’s an aquarium as well as an excellent research center with much info/displays/live presentations. The layout is well planned. You might walk along the easy, 1-mile path beside the shore to or from the center from “down town”. The view is nice, and you’ll very likely see campers/fishermen catching lots of salmon right from the shore!

Might see fresh salmon on the menu more than once . 😉 I’ll even appreciate a limited menu since I won’t have to cook!

We have NEVER bought a beverage or dining package in 20+ years of cruising, and we have never felt hungry or thirsty! Of course you should monitor your account balance should you choose alcoholic or gourmet beverages as that can add up easily. A drink or two a day will definitely be cheaper and than a “package”.There are plenty of “ free” options available despite the marketing for “extras”.

So what about air fare, hotel accommodations, and car rentals I have booked around the September 15 departure from Seward?! 😬

Rental car warning/advise…. Be sure to check availability of a Seward DROP OFF for a rental car if you decide on a rental from Anchorage. I could be wrong, but to my knowledge, only HERTZ has a drop off in Seward. Yes, pricey and limited car availability so book/reserve well ahead of time. I also reconfirm regularly.

Looking for Experience/opinions of the Gold Creek Salmon bake and Salmon Waterfall viewing access. Looks like a relaxing experience in a scenic setting in the port of Juneau.