I sailed on a Mediterranean cruise last year on Princess and they had gelato. But on the list of dining options on the Ruby, it looks like only soft serve? Is that correct? Is it serve yourself, or do they have a manned station?
We’re on the Island princess next week on a 10 day Alaska cruise sailing from Vancouver to Anchorage.
Can anybody please tell me how the weather has been this week and what next week’s forecast is?
Has it been cold in the 40s and has it been also raining a lot? We’re packing for both scenarios. Thanks,
I have one day and night in Anchorage before my cruise. Is all this possible?
Arrive at ANC 11 am. Pick up rental car. Grab a bite. Visit Alaska Native Heritage Center. Drive out to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Check in to downtown hotel. Walk downtown. Souvenir shop. Eat dinner (seafood).
Next day, leave Anchorage 8:30 am. Drive to Whittier and drop off rental at 11 am. Board ship.
Any tips, suggestions or advice is appreciated.
Have you ever been all the way up to Whittier on a cruise?! That’s as far north as I think I’ll ever be!
My wife and I just booked the Island Princess’s Grand Mediterranean Odyssey trip for later this year that will be going to these ports. Our question is about how to pack for the weather in these countries for October through November, having not been to them at that time of year before.
We will be packing layers of clothing that will generally serve a wider range of temperatures (we normally cruise to the Caribbean), but we are looking for any tips for particular countries.
For those of you who have cruised to any of these locations in Fall, do you have any tips for packing for the weather? Thank you!🙏🏼
Star Princess Alaska Cruise 5/10-5/17/2026
Boarding was easy and I was on the ship by 10:30am. The gangway had multiple lips on it, which made it hard for the wheelchair pusher to get me up and into the ship.
I met my cabin Stewart at noon and Dennis was fantastic,  very friendly and kept my cabin spotless.
Reviewing my food, allergies with the sanctuary restaurant manager was very easy we went over lunch and dinner and he told me what I can have that wouldn’t have the specific food. I’m allergic to in it.
 Each night he would write down my orders for the next evening, so then I would be able to just walk in and they bring my food out to me. I wouldn’t have to discuss my allergies with the staff.
One night, I ordered the vanilla soufflé  and the Manager saw it and asked the server what was in the sauce and it had hazelnuts in it which I am allergic to. I’m grateful that he caught that.
The menu did not state what type of sauce came with the soufflé.
The welcome lunch in the  the sanctuary restaurant should not be missed.  I had a really good salad and then the beef tenderloin was so tender. You can cut it with your fork. Mostly empty room

The Welcome dinner in the sanctuary restaurant I had prime rib from the carving trolley. It was very tender and well seasoned. The cesear salad with balsamic dressing was very good. The salad and balsamic dressing was garlic free.
Ate 1 time at Sabatini’s and while the service was excellent I found the food to be about the same quality as a good Olive Garden.
The Chicken Parm did not have a lot of sauce so it was dry but I was able to swap the potatoes that came with the dish to the spaghetti with meatballs at no additional charge.
The spaghetti meatballs dish was definitely better than the chicken Parm, but it was very heavy on the garlic which my stomach does not like. I asked for bread without garlic, and they gave me the best tasting and most tender focaccia bread I’ve ever had.
I ate at Crown Grill one night and in my opinion, the waiter had problems with women.
He clearly did not listen to when I placed my order- I asked for my beautiful Porter house to be cooked a medium rare and he said “oh you wanted medium well” I corrected him immediately and he said he understood.
There was two types of bread with the dinner. They had what they called garlic bread and then they had what they called a cheese bread.
 The garlic bread had no garlic in it and the cheese bread had so much garlic that when you cut into it, that’s all you smelled. I didn’t even eat the cheese bread but the focaccia one was fantastic.
Well my steak came out medium to almost well but I was too tired to send it back. I did let them know as feedback that it was not medium rare and was told by the same waiter that “I’m sorry I didn’t like way the steak was cooked.”
I ordered the pecan pie for dessert and they came out and gave me Keylime pie for dessert and by that point I was just over everything.
 The same waiter when waiting on the table next to me, ask the man what he wanted to eat before he even addressed the man’s wife.  What’s correct me if I’m wrong in fine dining, the woman in the party are usually addressed first.
First sea day went to Alfredo’s  and was told because I’m eating by myself that the wait was gonna be an hour and was rudely asked if I wanted to wait for the table.  I asked if I could eat outside and they said the outside was closed for dining. So I waited an hour and went back and inquired when the table would be ready and she told me she did not know that there was no table ready for me.  This is after I watched her seat a party of two who just woke, walked up without waiting. So she ends up sitting me outside, and there was no other customers in the restaurant being sat outside. Had the pepperoni calzone well good I thought it could’ve used a little bit more sauce inside the calzone .
Had a calzone as lunch on another day and the pepperoni pizza on another port day since the Sanctuary Restaurant was closed for lunch on port days.
Ate at O’Malleys 2 times, the salad app was very good and the fish and chips were much better with lemon, malt vinegar and Tabasco sauce. 
O’Malleys did not have consistent times for when they’re open for lunch on port days.  Even on the TV it did not say what time O’Malley’s is open for food service.
Both casual dining venues get all of their drinks, alcohol alcoholic, and non-alcoholic from the bar, which leads to you getting your appetizers before you even get your beverages. At one point at O’Malley‘s even though I showed up before they opened and was some of the first customer’s served it took me 20 minutes to get a bottle of water. The servers at both restaurants were very nice but they need more servers.
The Sanctuary Club:  the sanctuary club was very nice and the Service by everybody there was friendly, fast and professional.
Michelle the bartender in the Sanctuary club was so friendly and a great mixologist. She was my favorite bartender on this ship.
Bellini’s bar was the bar I drank at when inside the ship. The traditional tiramisu martini was so good and was too easy to drink too many of.
All the bartenders and servers there were very friendly and fast.
The bar on the promenade and in the sanctuary club had canned carbonated 0 proof beverages.
There was one which tasted like a mescal margarita and was really good.
Ports: Ketchikan we were docked the furthest away from town, I had a tour that transportation was included to Saxman Village. The guide talked about the different totem poles and then we shopped in the gift shop. I was too tired to walk thru the shops at the former red light area.
We talked in Juneau and the red dog saloon was right across the street.  it was raining so I just ducked into their gift shop and got my daughter a T-shirt.  I got her a T-shirt from Saxman village and Red Dog salon and from a huge gift shop in Skagway.
 Skagway:
the ship shuttle takes you from the ship gangway to the end of the dock that we were docked at.  it’s a very short distance because we’re not allowed to walk where the construction is .
They let you off the shuttle at the Skagway Fish House.
At that point you are told you can either walk into town 1/4 mile or you can wait for a paid shuttle service. $3 per person each way or $5 per person for all day. Cash only.
You catch the shuttle where the ship shuttle dumps you. In town there are clear posted shuttle stop signs.
The walk from the railroad pier in Skagway to town was a quarter of a mile and I wish I didn’t make that walk because it was hard and in my opinion, the town was too touristy for me. If you didn’t have a tour in that city not getting off the ship would be a fine option.
 I had a trolley tour in Skagway that the cruise canceled without letting me know the only way I figured it out was that I didn’t have a ticket for the tour in my cabin.
The only show I saw on this ship was in the Piazza and it was CeCe Tennille. She sings Motown songs and was fabulous.  I would love to see her again.
The ship was a challenge to walk if you have mobility issues. I’m not quite sure why the sanctuary mini suites on each floor were midship when the restaurant and the sanctuary was in the aft of the ship.  I feel like I would’ve spent more time at the club if it wasn’t such a long walk.
The clientele on the ship for the most part was fine, but I ran into a couple very rude people.
 Normally if you see somebody walking with a cane, you give them plenty of room but some of the clients on this ship I swear we’re aiming for me.  a couple of people bumped into me and some mom told their seven-year-old child “ Just a zoom around me”  why can’t you teach your child to look out for people who are disabled and have some type of compassion for others? 
Food wise, the best meals I had was in the sanctuary restaurant the food there was even better than in Sabatini’s and the Crown Grill.
While the food in The sanctuary was fantastic, I found the tacos on the pool deck to be poor. I had a great grilled chicken breast sandwich at the promenade grill.
On Sea days the Sanctuary restaurant was open from 8am-12:30 for brunch then closed till dinner at 5:30pm.
I did not have a bad dinner in the sanctuary restaurant on any night.  The food came hot to the table and service was excellent.
 If I go on another cruise, It will be in The Sanctuary collection on The Star.  I have never sailed Princess before.
The sanctuary restaurant handled my many food, allergies with ease and  all of the servers were fantastic and the restaurant hostess she always had a smile on her face and always greeted you by name when you walked up to her.
Any questions about anything I may have missed please let me know.
What time does the embarkation start and end generally?
We are on the Royal Princess Jun 13-20 Alaska cruise.
We had booked the Gold Rush Cemetery excursion in Skagway, but it got cancelled. We were looking at the S.M.A.R.T. Bus to the Cemetery/Falls. Is this the recommended route? I’m also seeing they offer a “DIY Skagway” which includes an all day pass on the downtown shuttle. The DIY Skagway seems like the better deal.
Any thoughts/experiences would be appreciated.
So I’m on the regal princess and I’ve been having a good time. It’s a pretty good experience but just a couple observations. the freshly squeezed orange juice that they serve in the morning looks taste like water that you might have poured a little bit of juice into and the pineapple every single day is just unripe or poorly grown. The pineapple is white. One other thing the iced tea, which taste OK I guess the first day it looked like apple cider. I just thought that was weird.
We’ve recently returned from a (spoiler) fantastic trip aboard the Royal Princess sailing from Vancouver to Seattle via the Alaska inside passage route.
Dates: May 2-9, 2026
Fast Facts: two 30s adults who enjoy a mix of relaxation, activities, and adventure. We booked all excursions third party, with no issues.
Disclaimer - you will be on sacred native land. I highly suggest going to the talks given by indigenous members the ships bring onboard to learn about their history and ancestral ties to the land we are guests on.
Stateroom
We booked a Reserve class mini-suite and, oh boy, was this a good choice for us. We took cabin M107 which is quite a unique one. Situated on deck 15, this forward cabin sits directly on top of the bridge. This means the room itself is quite spacious with a separate sitting area, bedroom, and bathroom with a tub - but the real star is the balcony. It is HUGE. It wraps around so you have roughly 270 degrees of visibility including directly ahead of the ship, as well as the entire starboard side.
Pros: large room, very very comfy bed, unbeatable views from the balcony, felt fancy.
Cons: The (gigantic) balcony is “obstructed view” due to the walls being metal versus glass on others. This did not really bother us at all.
When the ship was really cruising, the balcony was nearly unusable due to the wind. The room has huge windows though, so we were not bothered. For scenic cruising in Glacier Bay the ship moves slowly enough that wind was a non-issue, and we were able to enjoy the views privately and comfortably.
Deck 15 forward is not kind when it comes to motion. One sea day we had rough seas and it was really rocking up there. Nothing Bonine couldn’t fix for us.
Rating: 9/10 would absolutely book this room again.
Reserve Class
Overall we were really pleased with our experience. We did not use the priority embarkation/debarkation so I can’t speak to that, but we did use many other perks.
Our favorite was the flexibility with dining. Reserve Class passengers have a dedicated section of the main dining room with no reservations needed. We loved this so much. Being able to go to dinner whenever we wanted and skip to the front of the line made our trip feel so much more relaxed. Reserve Class is also able to eat in the main dining rooms for breakfast and lunch (sea days only), which was great. We only went to the buffet once on our trip.
Other perks included a bottle of wine in our room when we boarded, canapés nightly, and reserved seating for the shows.
Rating: 8.5/10 we loved it but don’t stress if you don’t do it
Ports/Excursions:
Juneau - pretty underwhelming to be honest. Overrun with the same tourist shops you see in the Caribbean and everywhere. Get away from the main drag to see the good stuff.
We wandered to the capitol building, then to a cool hippy grocery store before meeting our excursion.
Excursion: helicopter ride to Mendenhall Glacier and hike
WOW talk about amazing. This was the highlight of our trip. We were outfitted with gear before a teenager (okay, 24 yo) took us on a breathtaking ~20 minute helicopter ride through mountains, over ice fields, eventually landing on the Mendenhall Glacier where three guides were waiting to take us around. The operation was professional and informative. We felt super safe.
The hike was relaxed and more of a walkabout but the guides were friendly and fun, and took us to some cool photo spots. They also found a stream for us to drink the water from. Yummy. I found out I could FaceTime up there, which was a silly treat for my parents back home. (Sweetie, the kids are on a glacier!)
We booped around the glacier for about an hour before being picked back up for our ride back. It felt like being in an IMAX movie. I will relive this excursion forever I think.
Rating: 10/10 expensive, but a must-do for us
Skagway - cuter town, super tiny. Very beautiful scenery. Friendly folks and good coffee shops! Make sure you go see the giant snow plow train. It’s impressive.
Excursion: we did the railway and for us, it was just okay. Snow had obstructed part of the track so our ride was cute 30 minutes short. They refunded each of us $30, so that was nice.
Being so early in the season, I think the forest was lacking the vibrancy it has later in the year. It was pretty, but if you’ve been in woods before, this won’t blow you away. We did really like the tour guide and the info bits she shared along the way. Fascinating history, slightly boring train ride.
Rating: 6.5/10 it’s kinda the only thing to do there but I found it pricy for what it was
Ketchikan - my favorite port. Yes, the immediate area is very touristy but the town is colorful and inviting and really neat once you move past the shopping by the docks.
Excursion: snorkeling! Yes, for real!
It was amazing. We booked with Snorkel Alaska, a mom and pop run by Scuba Fred who has been doing this for 26 years. Fred was extremely personable and made the whole thing so fun. (It was actually my second time doing this. So fun that I came back!)
You get all set up with a very thick wetsuit, fins, and a mask before walking down a rocky beach and into a bay (inlet? Who knows). From there you stick your face in to discover an aquatic world you had no idea was there. Colorful starfish, sea urchins, huge sea cucumbers, rockfish, crab, and kelp forests galore. Plus bald eagles all around.
No, it’s not tropical but it is COOL. Fred and the other guides would dive down to retrieve specimens for us to see/hold before responsibly returning them where they were found. They shared lots of local history and let us know what we *might* see (otters, seals, whales). We had a blast and were the last ones out.
The wetsuit keeps you super warm so even though we were very early in the season (we were the first day of tours actually), we were comfortable the whole time. Plus once you get out Fred provides you with the Alaska Hot Tub aka a cooler of hot water to pour into your wetsuit. Feels amazing.
Rating: 11/10 reasonably priced, super unique, and you get to hang out with Fred
Glacier Bay - speaks for itself really. We had a pretty bad weather day with rain and chilly temps and still it was stunning. Our balcony came in handy because we could pop in and out to stay comfy while taking in the landscapes. I highly recommend seeking out the park rangers they bring onboard. Those folks are so knowledgeable and eager to share their passion for Glacier Bay. We loved hearing from them, as well as the indigenous speakers. I would describe this day as reverent. It was peaceful and powerful all at once. A highlight for sure. We saw tons of otters, seals, porpoises, and whales, which was so cool.
The Ship/Service
We had no complaints here! We got exactly what we expected: a traditional cruise ship with traditional entertainment and amenities. The Royal Princess is classic, perhaps a bit past her prime but I hear she’s getting a refresh soon. We didn’t notice any major wear and tear, and our room/public spaces were very clean and well maintained. The staff were wonderful and kind. They are just people though, so remember that when interacting with them. No one is perfect 100% of the time.
The food was better than I expected. It’s not Michelin star but you wouldn’t expect it to be. I didn’t have anything bad, and there was always something that appealed to me.
The entertainment was pretty good. Very traditional musical reviews mostly, so that may or may not be your thing. We enjoyed them well enough. Besides that you had game shows, trivia, the normal things. The best thing we saw was the magic show from Sterling, followed by his masterclass. He was truly impressive and we loved getting a tiny glimpse into how the magic works during his class. He’s so personable and charming.
One day they brought sled dog puppies on board and THAT was a hit. We couldn’t pet them (would you want 3000 people petting you?) but it still such a neat thing to experience.
WiFi was great and the one add on we did was get 7 day passes to the thermal spa. It was fine but not amazing. I’m glad we only paid the $104/person pre-cruise rate. It would be much better if there were windows. I felt like I was in a luxury dungeon, but the heated beds were great. We went most days and after wearing too-small hiking boots for our glacier excursion, I was extremely happy to have a hot tub and steam room to relax in.
Ship Rating: 8/10 above average food, good service, needs little facelift
Overall this trip was faaaaantastic. We took a chance cruising so early in the season, but that meant we got a great deal and were able to splash out on things we may not have at peak season. We had great weather overall, and will probably be blabbing about this trip to people for the next 20 years.
Recently took a family trip in April 2026, and stayed in the Mini suites on Crown Princess. Here’s a little tour plus a few recommendations to make the most of the cruise itinerary!
Just got back from a 7-day Alaska cruise from Seattle on the Norwegian Encore with 3 friends who are all pretty experienced cruisers, and I wanted to get some opinions from people here because our group had very different takes on the experience.
For context, this was my very first cruise ever, while my friends have cruised multiple times before, mostly with Princess.
Overall, as a first-timer, I honestly loved the trip. Alaska was incredible, the excursions were amazing, the staff was great, and I genuinely had a really good time. We also had the Premium Drink Package (not Premium Plus), which basically covered cheaper liquor/wine, but honestly that was perfectly fine for us.
What really surprised us, though, was how many extra/convenience fees there were for things that already felt included. For example:
Individually, none of these charges were huge, but together it started to feel a bit “nickel-and-dimey.”
My friends kept comparing it to their experiences on Princess and said they had never really experienced this level of constant add-on charges there. They also said Princess food quality was significantly better overall than what we had on Norwegian.
That’s where I wanted some honest feedback from more experienced cruisers here:
For ratings:
I’m mainly asking because I want to show my friends the responses and see if other cruisers noticed the same differences we did.
Last 3-4 cruises I go to theater show pretty much every night, plus I go to the comedy shows in the Vista Lounge. Wife says they are not good shows and I go alone to all the shows. Anyone have this experience?
Hello! We'll be coming into Vancouver at the end of our cruise and will go directly to the airport. In Miami port, there are many taxis right there. Will that be the same in Vancouver? We waited a while for the Lyft to make it to us in Miami and a waiting taxi would've been faster.
Thanks!
If I decide to sleep in one morning and take my time getting ready. Do I have to be out of my State room by a certain time for service to make up my room? Can I deny the service? What about turn down service? What time is room cleaning and turndown service and are these mandatory? Someone told me before you cannot deny the service?
Going on a Princess cruise tour in July. Partly as a celebration for birthday milestone. Is there anything special Princess will do if I contact them ?
When you book a reservation onboard and transfer it to a TA, do they give you an OBC in addition to the one from Princess? Is there anything I need to know about the process other than the 30-day window?