As a Canadian, we chose to cruise to experience what the new procedures would be and what the experience would be like. We were blown away. Every safety protocol was followed and adhered to, the food, the crew, the feeling of "normal" again were worth all the testing, and procedures to get on the ship. The live theatre performances were broadway calibre and it was so nice to sit and watch people perform again. The best of the best were brought back.

When you hear stories from the crew about how grateful they are to us for returning to cruising and how grateful they are to be working again so they can feed their families back home you are reminded that travel has a purpose.

Of course the purpose is to provide employment for so many people around the world, as well as the tour guides in the ports of call. As well as to keep the shops open in the ports of call and sadly many of them have permanately closed due to the fact that Alaska cruise season was shut down in October of 2019 (regular season) and did not return to July of 2021.