Baked Alaska

We buy the annual Allianz Premier, so I don't have to insure each travel transaction. We also do a lot of float plane fishing excursions, both on cruises and land vacations, so the annual policy makes sense for us. Besides Port Rupert, the other port excursions will be plentiful, but make sure you buy early and don't cancel and rebook during BF since those can go in the blink of an eye, and then you're SOL. (If there are others in your party, first reserve in their name and then cancel your original booking. If there are not enough open slots to book the excursion with their name, don't cancel the other as someone can grab that right out from under you. . . especially on BF. Royal fishing excursions always sell out so if that's your thing, buy it now.) In Alaska, we now only use private guides, as Royal fishing is group fishing, even on the streams, and that's too many people for us to enjoy the area. Nothing against the company, but fishing shoulder-to-shoulder with 20 other people isn't exactly my idea of a relaxing experience. Plus, we've met some truly wonderful folks through private guides – it's part of the reason we keep going back! Bear Creek Outfitters in Juneau is top-notch if you want a great fly-out fly fishing experience. I confirmed with them last night that they can take us out even though we are in port from 2 to 7:30 PM. We flew out with them last month on a De Havilland Beaver, and the scenery was just... wow. Words don't do it justice. We caught Rainbows and Cutthroats - too early to fish the salmon run. It's not cheap, but nothing is in Alaska. Side note: we "fished" the run in Cooper Landing for 8 days in late July 2022 on the Kenai and the Kasillof. While we were there, I did the grocery shopping. Kid you not: 2 1/2 pounds of 80/20 ground beef was $33 (and change) at Safeway in Seward. Insane!

You know me! I'm already in contact with a guide, so we shall see. My cursory research shows it's pretty much open-water fishing rather than streams. I much prefer streams for fly fishing, but we shall see. I'll report back. I love fishing on cruise trips. I get to vacay too! When we go to Alaska and fish the run on a land vacay, I don't always get to go because I'm the camp "cookie." I don't have to do the work on a cruise! I started my search here: https://fishingbc.com/ This site also has info for fishing outside of Vancouver. We will fish the area for several days before embarkation. At least, that's the plan. . . until it's changed.

Agreed. When I went to Viator to see what the port offered this summer, it had ONE excursion. Have you found anything outside of Royal excursions?

I'm not a happy camper. At least not yet. My excellent TA, @Sharla, forwarded me a letter from Royal saying that the August 3, 2025, itinerary was changing and that we would visit Prince Rupert, BC, instead of Haines, AK. We love Haines and couldn't wait to go back. I'm okay with this, just disappointed. However, this is how to try new things, so I will stay positive. Has Royal or Celebrity sailed to this port in the past? Have any of you visited this port? I'll do my own research, but I'd like to hear cruise veteran experiences.

My son received his Emerald pin last month on Ovation.

I'm pretty sure this is done upon check-in on the app or check-in using the web.

This is one reason why we have never eaten in the MDR. We thought it was cute on Disney ships, but We've moved on. Easy to avoid on Royal. Not so much on DCL.

I would love to try SilverSea. We cruise in Grand and above suites on Royal, mostly Oasis and Quantum class. One thing we enjoy about Royal is that we can, and choose to dress casual the entire cruise. Is this a possibility on Silver Seas or is it expected/required to dress up for dinner?

@Matt there are extraneous spaces in the URL in the article. This is why people can't use the link.

And, FWIW, if you call them back and ask again, there's a fair chance you'll get a different answer.

We've closed on several properties. . . All virtually. Is that an option? Buy the ship's wifi package.

Sadly, that's true.

But! It's the US. That's what burns me.

I would still arrive a day early at stay in the Dania Point area

And, the driver we had changed the price after we were outside of the gate. About a half mile outside of the port, he pulls over the truck and announces the new price. There were probably 20 of us and we all paid it. We took a regular taxi back from the pirate museum (great museum for history buffs). It was a Toyota sienna with air conditioning and a much MUCH nicer driver. We will not get off the ship going forward in St. Thomas because of the literal highway robbery. I was on crutches at the time, so I don't know if that influenced the very VERY nice people working the tram next to the museum (no, we didn't take the team due to the steps). They were the ones who called us the regular taxi. Oh, and it was $6 for my husband and I to ride back to the pier. We tipped him another $20.