Ok I'll try to answer all your questions as best I can. But first to Neviboy, I'm sorry you didn't like what I wrote, I never wrote it with the intention of "saving pennies" as I certainly didn't but figured some people might like prices as I would appreciate knowing what to expect not to save but I think most people like to know what to expect cost wise.
And yes, I prefered to be alone with my hubby and saw nothing wrong with that, I was tired from shore excursions as was hubby and I didn't want to wear myself out and get sick either. Yes, to each his own taste but that doesn't mean I'm anti-social, I was more than happy to chat with people over a cocktail pre-dinner. And I always thought the concept of open seating meant that a table for 2 was perfectly acceptable, never did it state in my cruise docs or when I booked that I had to be part of "groups".
I will answer the questions asked and I hope none will upset Neviboy.
To answer your question about Lindsey and John, yes it must have been them. I don't know what her husband's job title was but they were a beautiful looking couple, very attractive and she said they had been newly married. Lindsey's title was social hostess if I recall.
Yes, the caviar bar was from 6 - 7:30 in the observation lounge. They served it by the ounce or by the spoon so you could try different varietes. Also canapes were served with drinks.
I never felt the service to be substandard or below par. Qute the contrary, we thought the service was above and beyond excellent. I just didn't realize that the norm of cruisng was long dinners.
As for the climate, it rained a bit in Ketchikan when we arrived, not a downpour but a little bit, and then it stopped for the rest of the day. It did rain a bit on the floatplane to Misty Fijords but not in Ketchikan itself after the bit first thin in the am. Average temp was about 57 F
In Juneau it didn't rain at all and was partly cloudly to partly sunny with temps also around 55 F
In Skagway it was very windy, maybe a drizzle but no real rain nor in Haines, cloudly, temps around 50 - 55F
In Sitka there was some heavy donwpours but not constant and the temps also was around 50 - 55F
At night on the ship there was some heavy winds and rain and rough seas as many felt quite ill from what I heard. For the Tracy Arm on saturday it was a beautiful sunny morning but windy and on the chilly side, maybe about 45 - 50F but it warmed up and turned beautiful when the wind died down.
As for rude people, ok, hubby was walking on the stairs and apparently he was not walking fast enough, a man came up behind him, shoved him aside and said, if I knew it would be this slow, I'd have taken the elevators. One husband short of being a caveman and grabbing his wife by her hair (which he didn't do), was quite rude and just insisted she stop chatting with us (she came over to us to join us in a smoke in the smokeing lounge) and basically ordered her to leave that instant. I don't blame her for getting drunk the next evening. I would have too, I felt so bad and embarrassed for her.
Hubby got an a few elbows to the ribs (he is 6'4) and a few sore toes from trying to take his turn at the chocolate high tea table. I assumed it would be more orderly line but it wasn't.
People just pushing by and not saying excuse me if they wanted to pass, that sort of thing.
But for all of that, there were nice people like the lovely couple who we had dinner with the last night. And a few others.
I was also surprised at some of the whiners and the ones fighting with the Maitre d' to get extra reservatons at Signatures and Lattitudes and held up the line to get into the Compass Rose and be seated. One woman was insiting that if she can't eat in those two restos more than once, then she was demanding they serve her the menu from those restaurants in Compass Rose.
It's hard to judge the average age since the ship was full, but I can say that I would guess the majority to be somewhere between 40 and 60. I know a large spread with 20 years, but one woman who told me it was her 60th birthday looked fabulous and I would never given her a day more than around 50. There were maybe a few younger than 40, I saw very few children and there were of course seniors. The couple we dined with the last night told me she was 75 and he was 76.
What I think Neviboy might not understand is that for me, I wanted to spend quality time with my husband, he works hard all year, he has to socialize with clients a lot and very often I'm along for those dinners as well. We don't feel we "missed the boat at all". While we have quality time together at home, it's not the same as being on a vacation and not having to deal with everyday life and things so to be alone not something I see as a bad thing or anything wrong with it. Personally I don't think we "missed the boat". I was happy and have no complaints at all with Radisson or the staff or service we received. If I didn't care for all the food, well not everyone enjoys gourmet food everynight, nor can everyones digestive system handle it. I was not complaining merely giving an honest review from my perspective of the cruise. As for the sales in the shops, well I've yet to meet a lady who doesn't enjoy a good sale in a shop. I was not ment offensively to anyone in anyway.
