We are going on a similar Princess cruise in July. I'll be reading this thread with great interest!

Congrats to you & DH on 40 years of marriage. I am so envious of your cruise to Alaska. Maybe some day. Have a great time.

We are also going on a 7 day cruise for our 50th the end of this month. Thanks to all for all the suggestions.

We just returned from 7 day cruise. We had great weather, but the week before rained the entire trip. We were fortunate from what I understand. I needed a coat topside, but ended up carrying it in the different ports. I had a few long sleeve shirts, a couple of sweat shirts a light jacket and a wind breaker jacket. I wore the shirts, never wore the sweatshirts, wore the light jacket and the windbreaker over the light jacket when topside on the ship. I had a problem with sea sickness (3 out of 7 days). The next cruise I intend to start taking meds before getting on the ship and take them until off of it for good. I've had sea sickness problems in the Caribbean also, so it wasn't just this trip.

We went to quilt shops at every port. The quilt shop in Skagway has a good Internet site. I can order some of the material I didn't get that I wanted. DH was concerned about being able to get everything back into our luggage. i kept telling him not to worry about it. I would find a way to get it all in the suitcases. I had some things we bought mailed home. I'm still waiting for a doll I bought.

We took the train rides in Skagway, and tram in Juneau. I had to recharge my camera several times and used all of an 8g card. Between DH and myself we have over 1000 pics. I got an Alaskan themed scrapbook on the ship with a couple of accessory packs.

Our ship was the Carnival Miracle. We used their transfer service to and from the airport. It made it easy dealing with luggage and used their luggage express leaving the ship. They provided airline tags for luggage and picked it up the night before. We got our boarding passes on the ship and went straight through security to our gate. We didn't have to deal with our luggage until we got back to Mobile, AL. The only bad part of our trip was the flight from Mobile to Seattle. It was long and the seats got hard.

This trip was for our 40th anniversary. Mom wants to go to go on an Alaskan cruise now. I told her I'd go with her.

On our 25th anniversary, we rode on Holland America's Veendam for a 10 night land tour/cruise in Alaska. It was a smaller ship, maybe 1000 guests? and I have to say, it was the best trip of my life.
I had never cruised before so that was wonderful, but now that I have, the land tour is what I would do again.It's me, I'm just not a cruising gal

As mentioned, in Juneau there was a great quilt shop, I ended up with a lot of Alaska themed fat quarters

I advise doing a lot of trips that take you on land, to really get a feel for the state.

We purchased their 'wedding vows renewal' package that they held on the ship. It was supposed to be with any other couple that was repeating their, but we were the only ones. It included a dinner at the restaurant on the ship, and an hour long chat with the captain. Nice guy

You're going to have a wonderful time!

Ok, just remembered more:

We rode a helicopter and landed on a glacier, and then whatever they call those planes that land in water, we took a trip on one of those.

Oh, I got a ring with a diamond in the center, and 2 rubies on the side (I got an extremely cheap wedding ring, and no engagement ring - my choice- and this was to replace that)

Remembered again:

Warning - Don't Step on the Pipeline!

Story-
My husband works at BP, so naturally, we needed to see the pipeline. There was some exhibit set up so that one could see it, but you had to step on it before you could see the sign that said "Please do not stand on the Pipeline"

He wore his BP hat almost the entire time, and there were a few people we came across on land that commented.
He took my picture as I stood under a part of it that was above ground

We rode a train for a day, and it was funny, there was actually a bear, standing on his hind legs, waving to us as we went by. We thought maybe they train the bears up there to be welcoming to the tourists

We rode some small plane (that I noticed as we were in the air had a piece of duct tape holing it together) and landed in a small town (village?) over the Arctic circle. For some reason, I wanted to cross the Arctic Circle

I better stop now, I could go on for hours.

Holland is a great cruise line. I have gone on 2 of theirs with my Mom (one to Alaska and one Asia and Australia). I agree with taking warm clothes depending on when you're going. It was still pretty cool and we went the end of June for the Alaska cruise. Enjoy yourself. Check what side trips they are offering. There is a quilt shop in Sitka and I believe there are ones in Juneau. I found one in Ketchican.

We saw the Mendenhall Glacier and Glacier Bay. I went thru the Mystic Falls area on a tour.

I agree with the above advice-especially the layering technique! I've been to AK 17 times and can't get enough! Hatcher Pass between Willow and Palmer is a great place to "get away from it all" if you have your own vehicle. Drive Skyline Dr. in Homer. Take a water taxi to Halibut Cove from Homer. Check out the view of Mt. McKinley from Talkeetna Lodge in Talkeetna; also the view of The Mt. from Denali State park is terrific if you hit it on a clear day! The drive to Valdez thru Thompson Pass is amazing. I could go on and on! You will love it!

My advice is to relax and enjoy it all. And drink bottled water

Our neighbors said the mosquitos are the size of birds - take bug repellent!