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A couple more thing about Seattle 's Pier 91 for cruises to Alaska: First check in times are being ignored. You can arrive anytime. I arrived at 10:30am and I was on board at 11:45am. The process is as follow: - Walk just outside the entrance of the building and drop the bags. - Walk back outside to the end of the long line to enter the building. The line is mostly in the shade. - Just before entering the building, they will check you have a printed boarding pass and the ArriveCan QR code. If you don't have a boarding pass, one is printed for you. If you don't have ArriveCan you are pulled out of the line so you can download the app, fill all the info, and get the QR code (WiFi is available in the building). - After you enter the building you got to the security/covid check. If you did Verifly, it takes just a few seconds. If not, they check all the paperwork, vaccine, tests, etc. I was very glad I did Verifly. - Then you go upstairs. Platinum/Diamonds/Suites go to the left to a shorter line, the rest go to a long check in line to the right. At the end of the line, they check you in, your picture is taken, and you will be sent either to a waiting area or allowed to board (by 11:45am all groups were allowed to board). - Welcome on board. Enjoy your cruise! - Rooms were available at 1:30pm. A sealed envelope in the mailbox will have your sail&sign cards.

I just got off the Carnival Splendor (Alaska cruise). Masks were only mandatory at the port of Seattle. On board, masks were not mandatory. There were 2 surgical masks left in the cabin and there were signs at the theater, the comedy club, and at the debarkation area warning that they were "crowded areas" and that "mask were strongly recommended". In reality, very few people wore masks despite people on this ship being in the older side. Crew wore masks all the time except during performances. Interestingly enough, when there was passenger participation on stage, they would put masks on. In the Alaska ports, masks were not mandatory anywhere. Occasionally there would be a store that would have signs saying that masks were mandatory but this was ignored and not enforced. Masks were not mandatory for passengers during excursions either, but guides and drivers would wear masks when in buses and indoors. No experience with Canada (Victoria) as we were late out of Ketchikan so our boat just did a touch and go to comply with the Jones act (passengers were not allowed to disembark). Cabins in the bow area of Level 1 were the Covid quarantine area. The doors in the corridor leading to those cabins were closed and occasionally you would see crew bringing food in paper plates and medical personnel with thermometers. Sorry for the people that got sick. I hope it's not serious and that they recover fast. Personally, I have a rule of never taking elevators in cruises (need to burn those ice cream calories) and I trusted my instincts on when to use masks. I'm feeling healthy and tested negative even though my tracing app gave me a "close encounter" with a person that tested positive for Covid in the last two days of the cruise.

Does Carnival still offers a free bottle of the house wine when booking at the steakhouse for the first two nights? What is you are dining solo? Do you still get the free bottle? What happens if you don't finish the bottle? Can you transfer it to the main dining hall or do you take it to the cabin? I found a blog in the carnival website but it's old and it says "you _may_ get a free bottle of wine." So I'm looking for current info. Thanks!

I got this in an email for my upcoming cruise in 11 days. The "Gold" beverage is redeemable from any bar on the last sea day after 5pm.

Thanks for the trip report and safe flight home! I'm going on June 21st on this very same cruise so it has been super helpful to read your reports. One question, you mentioned that in Icy Strait Point people were complaining about the bear excursion. What were the complains? (I signed up for that excursion). One comment, the catamaran you took a picture of in Victoria doesn't go to Vancouver, it's the Victoria Clipper that goes to Seattle. Thanks again and looking forward to follow your steps in the Splendor!

I applied by email on May 16 and received an answer approving my shareholder OBC today (so it took 9 days). I'm travelling on a 7 day Alaska cruise with a VIFP fare (a rock bottom one, I'm paying $319 for a solo porthole cabin before taxes/fees). As somebody else pointed out, the timestamp was weird, 3:22am (Pacific Time). Somebody was burning the midnight oil or they have a serious email backlog at Carnival. Good luck to all that have applied.

Cool. Thanks for the info!

Interesting, my OBC (obtained thru the shareholder benefit) says: "This benefit is not transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash and, cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities charged to your onboard account." I guess there are different kind of OBC.