Alaska Cruise 22nd to 29th May 2013
We left our hotel room at 10.30 and got a taxi to Canada Place where we were to board the cruise at 1.00pm to 3.30pm. We thought we would have to wait around until then with the bags. However we were met at the taxi stand by a porter who took our bags and we didn’t see them again until we were on the ship. We then went and had some breakfast or early lunch and wandered back to the embankment lounge. We had to clear customs, have our finger prints and iris’s photographed then it was straight onto the ship by 12.35am. What a huge ship. We were taken to our cabin straight away and my bag was waiting for us. We met Jimmy our Steward for the cruise duration. Our cabin is lovely, a king bed, sofa and large balcony right on the corner so get wider range of views than most. We are on the starboard side so get great views or at least we hope we will. We then went exploring and had to get a stamp at each shop or activity room we went to. It helped us see where everything was. So many stories, one could easily get lost. We then found the dining room that was open for lunch. So we had an early afternoon tea. (the eating has started already) We had walked for ages around the ship so you get plenty of exercise. At 3.45pm we were called for a safety procedure. When you get on they give you a card, much like a credit card, and you keep this with you at all time. You can buy things with it, play the pokies, etc with it, and you have to swipe it as you get off at the ports and when you get back on the ship. When we went to the safety presentation we all had to take our lifejackets and then swipe our cards. This lasted 25 minutes 10 minutes of presentation and 15 mins of waiting for it to start. We then went on deck for the sailing party, the band was playing and people dancing, including us. We left the dock at 4.50pm we left Vancouver.
We had a lovely dinner in the Horizon lounge right up the front of the ship. We went to another restaurant first but the line was too long, so will try that another night. We are on the anytime meal not the traditional one where you have to go at a certain time and sit at a certain table with the same people.
Went to the pictures, then to the show, which wasn’t that great because of all the advertising at the beginning. Great comedian and dancing though.
Back to room at 11.00pm and then to bed where it was so quiet and dark compared to the hotel in Vancouver.
Up early as daylight comes here at 4.30am. Overcast but not too bad. Getting better each day. A day at sea so we just strode around had a good look at the ship, went to lunch and dinner at the Bouduerax restaurant. Sat with two other couples very nice,one from Aussie and one from America. Another show, MAGICIAN this time, he was great. Not a lot of activity today but went to the Casino and lost or donated $10.00. Still tired with lack of sleep in Vancouver and the plane. Bed not the best has a big hump in the middle. Much quieter than the hotel. A lot of the crew are from Philippines, Romania, Russia, etc. Not very many of them are American. Even the Captain is Italian. A bit darker tonight as it is overcast but still we haven’t seen the dark because there is only 4 hours of it.
Well we woke up this morning to a overcast day. It was la little cold but not wet. Had a buffet breakfast then off to Ketchikan to see the sights. Went to Creek Street the old part of town where all the brothels and pubs were. Most of the rest of the town has been rebuilt and the Princess liner owns most of the Jeweler shops and gift shops. Not that we bought anything except a nice warm coat for me. The cruise ship is great and we love it, being waited on hand and foot. No bed making, food preparation, dishes, even entertainment is supplied. Whatever your desire whether it is, pictures, library, gambling, shows, food or just sitting and relaxing watching the snowcapped mountains, having a massage, pedicure. Bed at 11.30 though it seems like 7pm still it is so light. Watching the ship pull out from the dock was great. It is so smooth and effortless.
Well we cruised all night and reach Juneau (juno) at 6.30 am we were awake a usual and watched her dock and what a day out of the bag. No clouds and warm. Had a great breakfast then we went exploring the little town. Up on the tramway, we call a gondola, to the mountain top, what great views. There was a bore eagle on display. We walking the snow track, watched a video about the native people. Then down the mountain to town. Only a small place but quaint. Walked around for about 2 hours then back on the ship for lunch and relax. Sunbathing took place this afternoon by some people on board but not us. Some people drink all day and night. It costs you if you want to drink alcohol or orange juice etc after 11am when breakfast finishes. A massage could cost you anything over $179 for 75mins.
Eating again and then a show, I know boring. But theres a different show every night.
Magnificent day one out of the bag again. Can’t believe our luck with the weather, not usually like this in May. The mountains go on for miles. We reached SKAGWAY this morning and we went for a coach and train ride up the White Pass mountain were a lot of pioneers tried to get through to the gold. A lot of them died, 3000 horses died trying to haul up all the gear needed. The police made each person take up 1 ton of supplies. The views were nothing less than spectacular. You have to see with your own eyes to believe the beauty. I know we have the same in NZ but not on this scale. Within 2-3 weeks all the snow or most of it from as low as it is now, will be gone and the beauty will go with it. I am so glad we came at this time of the year not in the heat of the summer. We went to a gold dredging place and did some panning, then the coach took us up to the top of the mountain across the border into Canada turned around and came back into USA to catch the train. The only ones questioned where us and another couple of Aussies. Got on the train for the downward journey which took about 1. 1/2 hours. Then we went to gourmet lunch, well if you can call, lettuce salad storks, and then chicken stew with a little blob of pastry on the top followed by rhubarb pudding, gourmet then that is what we had. Skagway is quaint town a little smaller than Juneau, and bigger than Ketchikan. Went to the famous Red Dog hotel. We were entertained by an older gentleman singing with a variation of the words to well-known songs. He was really good. Back to the ship for dinner and nap then another show, etc.
WOW this is what we were waiting for. The glaciers. Well it didn’t disappoint. We were up at 6.30 on the front of the ship wrapped up in hoods, beanies, and blankets, it was cold. But a clear sky. The views as we went towards the glaciers where nothing short of spectacular. It made you feel alive. The white snow that came down from the tips of the high mountains to the sea. Kaikoura 10 no 100 times over. It started to warm up after we had reached the Margorie Glacier and then the John Hopkin Glacier then heaps of others. The ship just went round and round in circles so we could all get a good view from no matter where on the ship you were. We spent 5 hours cruising the Glaciers and I didn’t get bored once. In between this we had breakfast, lunch and then went out and sunbathed and had a spa. One minute you are freezing and the next you’re sunbathing. Weird but wonderful. We had a nice dinner with two American couples, BO and Dan and their wives. Yes another show and bed. Show finished at approx. 10.30 then we went and listened to another band. So got to bed in the daylight about 12am. Getting really tired. Having to be up early most morning is taking its toll.
Well thank goodness not so much to see today we are having a sea day. Which means we cruise all day in the ocean. For the first time we slept in until 7.30am. We really needed it. A slow day just resting looking out at the, yes, snow-capped mountains. We ate, walked and talked and just sat and looked. At 4pm we bumped into Diane and Graham Drew, a couple we had dinner with a few nights earlier, and had a drink with them. They are from Australia, near the Ponella castle near Inisfall. We ended up having dinner and then left them at 10.30pm. It was a lovely quiet day. Tomorrow is full on again.
The day dawned and to yet another cloudless day. Hardly a cloud since our second day aboard. It’s another lot of glaciers today then on into Whittler were we get off. Well these glaciers were not as spectacular as the other ones but there were heaps of small and not so small ice bergs around. The ship couldn’t get to close to the glaciers because of the size of the icebergs. We got some great shots of carving from the other icebergs that is when pieces fall off and make a tremendous noise. The ship turned around again about three times so everyone could get a great view and photos. I have seen enough glaciers, avalanches and snow mountains to last me a little while, but I guess when we go inside and around Alaska we will be seeing so many more, the snow will have melted from a lot of the mountains in about 2 weeks or at least from the bottom of the mountains, so I guess we are lucky to see it like this.
Well the cruise all over. The cruise has finished and we were just settling into it. Would I do it again, a cruise, well YES of course we would, now we know what to expect and know how things work.