Northern Aurora

Thanks for catching my typo.

As I understand your question you are asking about the area labeled "Constellation Lounge." Yes, it is available to all. Years ago it was used as the Elite and higher Captain's Club cocktail gathering from 5 to 7 PM, but now those complimentary beverages are offered in a number of bars throughout the ship. The Captain's Club celebration is held there and occasionally there will be a special event there but it is generally open to all. On the Infinity Michael's Club is the Retreat Lounge and is limited to those booked in Suites. Michael's Club is on deck 5.

It is a huge change. Once you board you go directly to your stateroom, pick up the sea pass cards in the mail slot and drop off your carry on items. If the room isn't totally ready there will be a sign with verbiage along the lines of "perfection in progress." But you still leave your carryon items and put valuables in the safe. Without folks lugging their carry on items elevators are less full, Cafe al Bacio seems less crowded with no luggage on the floor around seating and no piles of carryon items in the buffet.

I don't know how OP get into this predicament, but I would suggest purchasing the cruise line transfer from Whittier to the Anchorage airport. The Alaska Airlines flight from Anchorage to Fairbanks is about 55 minutes in length. There are a number of flights, but our OP will need reservations. The drive from Fairbanks to the entrance of Denali National Park is about two hours and fifteen minutes in duration assuming no delays for road construction. I hope our OP realizes that access into the park is limited due to the road closure at Pretty Rocks. I have always felt that folks who don't go into the park as far as Eielson Visitor's Center cheat themselves and so we have not visited the park since the road closure (prior to the closure at Pretty Rocks we went down at least once a summer). It is unclear to me if our OP is visiting this summer or next. But we are having a very busy tourist summer season in the Interior, so if our OP doesn't have reservations for accommodations they may have a problem. @AKJonesy mentioned a trip north of Fairbanks. If that is of interest consider booking one of the tours offered by Northern Alaska Tour Company. A very reputable company with different options.

I live in Fairbanks, Alaska which is located in the interior of the state. Our weather in the interior is different than in southeast Alaska with the interior being warmer and drier. June 21st is the summer solstice, so the maximum hours of daylight occur on that date. May tends to be the driest month with rains in southeast Alaska beginning in mid to late August. I should note that our weather patterns are becoming more unpredictable. The cruise lines are expanding the Alaska cruise season and now are scheduling cruises in September and even into late October. While these sailings will be relatively inexpensive there is a reason why -- folks booking these late season cruises should be prepared for heavy rain and winds. Packing recommendations for Alaska are for layers with the outer layer being waterproof (not water resistant). Mountains in the major mountains ranges are snow capped all summer. So the mountains in the Alaska range will be snow capped all summer.

@Fietsen1: Another poster recently asked the same question. I will post essentially the same information I posted on that thread. I've been in SE Alaska on business in mid-October. Anyone cruising at that time frame should be prepared for heavy, pelting rain, wind and cold temperatures. Seas can be on the rough side. Those who have reported good weather during that time period should consider themselves lucky indeed.

If there is a "statement" section on the X app I have never used it. We check our account on the TV every few days. The account on the TV is updated incredibly quickly -- essentially in real time.

I also don't think that you need any additional jackets. Your description sounds sufficient.

The tote bags are a silverey grey color, and I am not aware of any difference between suite categories.

Yes.

I also hope for the best for our OP and spouse -- hope the procedure is successful, and they are able to either move the cruise date or obtain some restitution.

You were very lucky indeed. Have you considered plowing your retirement funds into purchasing lottery tickets? Just teasing. But seriously, I remember attending a Museums Alaska/Alaska Historical Society joint meeting one time in Juneau where we didn't leave the hotel where the conference was being held; the rain was torrential. And don't get me started about one of those same conferences in Sitka. The state holiday Alaska Day is October 18th and the joint conferences (so many folks attend both so they are back to back over a five day period) usually include that date.

What airport and which cruise port? For example, in Seattle there are two cruise terminals.

Might be helpful if you listed your ports and interests. But every community on your itinerary has a visitor's bureau. Just use google to locate them. May find it helpful.

A number of the vendors will be closed. Folks who take a Alaska cruise in October need to consider themselves very lucky indeed if they don't experience pelting rain for hours, incredible fog and high winds. There is a reason why those cruises are so cheap.

I have been in SE Alaska in October on business. I can't imagine a cruise during that time frame. Regarding binoculars, a pair which is great for me most likely will not be great for our OP. Consider going into a sporting goods store and trying several pairs. Birdwatching magazines often have binocular reviews so consider checking the magazine offerings in your local library.

Check their Facebook page for their hours. They are closed on Sundays.

One more quick comment regarding Fairbanks restaurants -- the Alaska Salmon Bake may be tempting since they provide shuttle transportation (for a fee) but don't bother. Very over-priced for what they offer. Only open during the summer so their prime clientele are tourists. And in the past they offered a "special local discount" to try to lure locals. Only restaurant that I am aware of in Alaska which offered a discount to Alaska residents.

Sophie's Station in-house restaurant is Zach's. Zach's in the past was where ladies of a certain age met for lunch, and folks also had business lunches there too. Since the pandemic Alaska has been experiencing a severe labor shortage which has hit the hospitality industry particularly hard. So the last time I dined at Zach's it was just before the pandemic. Pike's Landing is a short taxi/uber away but they lost (he retired) their executive chef and reviews have been mixed. They do have a nice deck overlooking the Chena River. Brewster is a casual place within easy walking distance, but I wouldn't bother, If you like Thai then taxi/uber to the Lemon Grass. Fairbanks is the "Thai food capital of Alaska" and this is my favorite. This family owned restaurant actually has a second location in Thailand which has a white board for Fairbankans to sign. I would suggest the Pump House. The building itself has a great history as it was a pumping station moving water from the Chena River over Chena Ridge to mining camps on the over side. We live on Chena Ridge and this is our "go to" restaurant. Not really fancy but funky. They recently changed ownership and have a new executive chef. So are we have been pleased. A nice deck over looks the Chena. All of these restaurants have menus posted on their websites. You will need reservations at the Lemon Grass, Pike's and Pump House. I don't know when you will be visiting, but Fairbanks will be 88F today with higher later in the week.

What hotel will you be at?

Despite the fact that we live in Alaska we have done at least 6 Alaska cruises on Celebrity. On the Alaska itineraries dress is definitely more casual than on other Celebrity itineraries, with the exception of Antarctica. On evening chic nights I don't bother with a cocktail dress -- just black slacks and a sparkly top.

I wonder if we have different interpretations of the OP's question? Non-Alaskans can refer to the Alcan Hwy as the "Alaska Highway." I interpreted the question as a question about driving the Alcan, not driving an RV within Alaska.

That certainly has been our experience too, but we also have stood in line waiting for our eggs special order and folks have asked what the line was for. And that happened on a M-class ship.

We also have been able to have freshly prepared omelets and eggs prepared to order during the late OVC time period. But on the M-class ships at times it hasn't been clear where the station is located.

While on a cruise we encountered a couple who had contacted the Anchorage RV company and were considering driving one of the RVs from the factory or dealership to Anchorage. They were very interested in us because they wanted to know how long a time period would be needed. The RV company had a specific number of days to make the drive, which I can't remember now, but it seemed to us that there wasn't a whole lot of time to make some deviations off of the Alcan Hwy. For example, this couple wanted to divert down to Skagway and up to Dawson City, YT. We don't drive the Alcan (can't imagine wanting to do this, but we have a surprising number of RV caravans who end up in Fairbanks before going on their individual ways so apparently folks want to do this). We are the typical Alaskans -- when folks ask us the distance between Fairbanks and Anchorage our response is about 50 minutes if there is no need to de-ice. We tell them how long it takes to fly.