The Walker's are off on another adventure. We leave Seattle via train to Vancouver BC, spend the night with friends, and then board the Princess ship on Monday. The ship spends one week getting up to Whittier, and then spends another week getting back down to Vancouver. We will then take the train to Seattle and return home.
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Day 1 -- Vancouver
It was a dark and stormy night – OK it wasn’t. But it was dark when we left the house at 5:15 am to catch a ferry to Edmonds to catch a train to Vancouver. My good friend, Alana, volunteered to drive us to Kingston to catch a 6:25 am ferry. We packed the car with lots of luggage as we don’t know how to travel lightly. I am very proud of myself as I only had 2 suitcases, plus my purse plus a small bag with breakfast and other miscellaneous junk. Michael had 2 suitcases, a brief case, his bridge case and a backpack. Thank goodness for wheeled luggage. We looked like we were moving in instead of going on a 2 week cruise. It must have looked amusing watching me lug my suitcases up the ramp to the ferry as I woke up with muscle spasms in my back and could barely walk.
We arrived at the train station and had to wait ½ hour before it opened. Our train was scheduled for 8:05 am. When we went to check our large suitcases, we were surprised to find out that they weighed the suitcases just like at the airport. My suitcase was 56 pounds and I asked how much it would cost to let it go. They have a weight limit of 50 pounds – period. Michael’s was 53 pounds. So there we were, in the train station moving all our clothes around trying to stuff the overage into our smaller suitcases which were already packed. We managed to get them down to 51 pounds and the station manager let them go. The train was late out of Seattle due to brake problems; we finally got on the train at 9:20 am.
The ride was surprisingly smooth and the coach was very comfortable. Too bad airplanes aren’t as roomy and comfortable. It was overcast, but warm outside. The scenery was very nice as we rode along the water most of the way. When we arrived in Vancouver, it was raining. It took about ¾ hour to get through customs. Our friends, Leonard and Mary, met us there. We went out to lunch and then back to their house where we spent a relaxing afternoon. Michael hooked up a VCR and did some computer maintenance. We had a lovely home cooked meal and after dinner, took a walk along the waterfront on Coal Harbor. Turned in early and had a good night’s sleep.
We arrived at the train station and had to wait ½ hour before it opened. Our train was scheduled for 8:05 am. When we went to check our large suitcases, we were surprised to find out that they weighed the suitcases just like at the airport. My suitcase was 56 pounds and I asked how much it would cost to let it go. They have a weight limit of 50 pounds – period. Michael’s was 53 pounds. So there we were, in the train station moving all our clothes around trying to stuff the overage into our smaller suitcases which were already packed. We managed to get them down to 51 pounds and the station manager let them go. The train was late out of Seattle due to brake problems; we finally got on the train at 9:20 am.
The ride was surprisingly smooth and the coach was very comfortable. Too bad airplanes aren’t as roomy and comfortable. It was overcast, but warm outside. The scenery was very nice as we rode along the water most of the way. When we arrived in Vancouver, it was raining. It took about ¾ hour to get through customs. Our friends, Leonard and Mary, met us there. We went out to lunch and then back to their house where we spent a relaxing afternoon. Michael hooked up a VCR and did some computer maintenance. We had a lovely home cooked meal and after dinner, took a walk along the waterfront on Coal Harbor. Turned in early and had a good night’s sleep.
Day 2 -- Embarkation
Bad muscle spasms continued. I could barely walk and taking a shower was an ordeal, especially since it is hard to reach certain places when you can barely stand up; thank goodness for Flexeril and painkillers. Mary made an outstanding breakfast casserole and by then I was somewhat mobile. Leonard and Mary drove us to the ship terminal.
We had a pretty easy boarding as Princess actually had us on the passenger manifest with a room number. We checked bags and did the registration thing. When they gave us our room assignment, I thought great, we have a passenger room. Well, we went to deck 5 and looked for the room and there were no such numbers. Found a crew member and told us to head down the corridor toward the stern and keep going until we reach the crew only door. Go through that door and you will find your room.
Yep, we got a crew room. Only good thing I can say about it is that we have 2 portholes. It is noisy, spartan and the pillows and bed need help. The bed is against the wall so one of us has to crawl in from the end (you guessed right – Michael). We get a cruise news with no letterhead and really crummy hangers. There were no drinking glasses, but we did get soap and shampoo. Michael went to one of the bars and snagged a couple of martini glasses for his Manhattans.
THIS IS NOT REGENT SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER. We are spoiled forever.
We had a pretty easy boarding as Princess actually had us on the passenger manifest with a room number. We checked bags and did the registration thing. When they gave us our room assignment, I thought great, we have a passenger room. Well, we went to deck 5 and looked for the room and there were no such numbers. Found a crew member and told us to head down the corridor toward the stern and keep going until we reach the crew only door. Go through that door and you will find your room.
Yep, we got a crew room. Only good thing I can say about it is that we have 2 portholes. It is noisy, spartan and the pillows and bed need help. The bed is against the wall so one of us has to crawl in from the end (you guessed right – Michael). We get a cruise news with no letterhead and really crummy hangers. There were no drinking glasses, but we did get soap and shampoo. Michael went to one of the bars and snagged a couple of martini glasses for his Manhattans.THIS IS NOT REGENT SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER. We are spoiled forever.
Day 3 -- Sea Day
Today was a sea day. Michael gave bridge lessons and directed a game. He had a decent turnout for both. I spent the day reading in various locations on the ship. I found a place I like on the 8th floor library, so that is where I will spend most of my time as our cabin is not a place to linger in. The weather was overcast, and was too cold to sit outside.
Still having muscle spasms, but they are gradually getting less severe.
Tonight was formal night. We noticed that very few men wore tuxedos. They have photographers stationed all around the common areas and we thought we would have a formal picture taken. We then looked at the backgrounds they were using and realized we already had pictures with those backgrounds! Oh, Regent, how I miss you -- no photographers everywhere, no bingo announcements, no drink of the day, etc.
Tomorrow is Ketchikan.
Still having muscle spasms, but they are gradually getting less severe.
Tonight was formal night. We noticed that very few men wore tuxedos. They have photographers stationed all around the common areas and we thought we would have a formal picture taken. We then looked at the backgrounds they were using and realized we already had pictures with those backgrounds! Oh, Regent, how I miss you -- no photographers everywhere, no bingo announcements, no drink of the day, etc.
Tomorrow is Ketchikan.
Day 4 -- Ketchikan
Princess Cruise Lines is on my sh*t list. I forgot to mention that, once again, we had problems getting our luggage after boarding the ship. They managed to get one of the three bags to our assigned room. We had to track down the other two bags at the crew office. There were tags on the bags with the room number. Simple – deliver the bags to the room indicated on the tag. Don’t understand……..
Last night was the night from hell. It seems as though our cabin is over the loud speakers in the crew recreation/disco room. They had a BIG HUGE party last night and the music shook and vibrated the entire room, and including every organ in my body. It was so bad that I called down to the front desk and complained. When nothing happened, I got dressed and went to the front desk in person and complained. They said there was nothing they could do about it. Michael had fallen asleep before the music got going at 10,000 decibels; it eventually woke him up; and I always thought he could sleep through a nuclear blast. I met some of the singers out in the hallway and we had a nice conversation about the noise/music and their life at sea. Since they work at night and take part in the party, the music didn’t really bother them. The music finally stopped around 2 am. We talked to our contact with the cruise staff and said they would try to find us another room. Who knows what they are going to do – probably give us a worse room. Tonight as I write this (at 11 pm), it is pretty quiet. But fear not, they plan on another BIG HUGE disco party night after next!
Once again, I got a surprise shore excursion. Michael got up around 7:30am and found two envelopes under our door. Escort duty for both of us ---- except mine was scheduled to leave at 8:30am and his LEFT at 6:30am. When exactly did they slip it under our door???? I know it wasn’t before 2am! So I hurried up and got dressed and went on my tour. I really didn’t have any duties, just got to enjoy it. For those of you who haven’t seen “The Deadliest Catch” on the Discovery Channel, it is about the crab fishermen in the Bering Sea, one of the most dangerous jobs on earth. The tour was on one of the boats, Aleutian Ballad, which was in the series. It has been
converted into a tour boat because it is no longer seaworthy for crab fishing because of all the hits it has taken from rogue waves, rough water, and crashing on the rocks. They demonstrated how they catch the crab, including launching and the retrieving the pots, told us about life on the boat during crab season, and took us on a wildlife tour where we saw lots of eagles, an octopus, and an Orca. The guys who ran the boat tour were the original skipper and two of the deckhands. They also would throw bait fish out into the water and the eagles would swoop down and pick the fish up. The adult eagles would then bring the food up to the juveniles that were still in the nest. It was a magnificent sight.
Michael went to Wal-Mart.
We came back to the ship, had lunch, and Michael ran a bridge game. Had dinner and watched a comedy show and a musical. I hope we can sleep tonight.
Tomorrow is Juneau.
Last night was the night from hell. It seems as though our cabin is over the loud speakers in the crew recreation/disco room. They had a BIG HUGE party last night and the music shook and vibrated the entire room, and including every organ in my body. It was so bad that I called down to the front desk and complained. When nothing happened, I got dressed and went to the front desk in person and complained. They said there was nothing they could do about it. Michael had fallen asleep before the music got going at 10,000 decibels; it eventually woke him up; and I always thought he could sleep through a nuclear blast. I met some of the singers out in the hallway and we had a nice conversation about the noise/music and their life at sea. Since they work at night and take part in the party, the music didn’t really bother them. The music finally stopped around 2 am. We talked to our contact with the cruise staff and said they would try to find us another room. Who knows what they are going to do – probably give us a worse room. Tonight as I write this (at 11 pm), it is pretty quiet. But fear not, they plan on another BIG HUGE disco party night after next!
Once again, I got a surprise shore excursion. Michael got up around 7:30am and found two envelopes under our door. Escort duty for both of us ---- except mine was scheduled to leave at 8:30am and his LEFT at 6:30am. When exactly did they slip it under our door???? I know it wasn’t before 2am! So I hurried up and got dressed and went on my tour. I really didn’t have any duties, just got to enjoy it. For those of you who haven’t seen “The Deadliest Catch” on the Discovery Channel, it is about the crab fishermen in the Bering Sea, one of the most dangerous jobs on earth. The tour was on one of the boats, Aleutian Ballad, which was in the series. It has been
converted into a tour boat because it is no longer seaworthy for crab fishing because of all the hits it has taken from rogue waves, rough water, and crashing on the rocks. They demonstrated how they catch the crab, including launching and the retrieving the pots, told us about life on the boat during crab season, and took us on a wildlife tour where we saw lots of eagles, an octopus, and an Orca. The guys who ran the boat tour were the original skipper and two of the deckhands. They also would throw bait fish out into the water and the eagles would swoop down and pick the fish up. The adult eagles would then bring the food up to the juveniles that were still in the nest. It was a magnificent sight.Michael went to Wal-Mart.
We came back to the ship, had lunch, and Michael ran a bridge game. Had dinner and watched a comedy show and a musical. I hope we can sleep tonight.
Tomorrow is Juneau.
Day 5 -- Juneau
We survived the night. Actually, it was pretty calm and we were able to get some solid sleep. No excursions today. It was a very low key day in Juneau.
We walked into town in a light drizzle. There were four ships in port and the town was very crowded and it was impossible to walk on the sidewalks. There were a lot of Japanese and they are not very courteous; if they want to walk in a certain direction and you are in the way, they just bump or push you. The rest of the tourists must leave their brains at home because they wander about without looking where they are going. They stand in the street gazing up, around and everywhere except to look out for cars.
We wound up at the library to do our internet stuff. Free 30 minutes – what a bargain! I was not able to upload my Word file to do a cut and paste into email because the library’s Word was an old version. The librarian was very helpful; I suggested she open the file on her computer, cut and paste into email, and then email it to me. It worked like a charm and hopefully you were able to receive it OK.
After the library, we wandered around the
town. There were a few nice shops, but mostly jewelry stores and trinket and T-shirt shops. The stores were advertising end of season sales and there were some pretty good prices on souvenir sweatshirts and jackets. We came back empty handed since this snowbird doesn’t need any more sweatshirts (plus I already have a very nice Alaska shirt).
We had lunch and then spent the afternoon wandering around the ship and then settled into my favorite place to read. Made a few phone calls; it was so nice to reach out and touch someone you love. Michael followed up with our cruise contact person to see about changing our room. We were informed that it would happen today and that we were going to get a passenger room.
After waiting all day, it finally happened!! We were informed at 9 pm that we would get a new room. We packed and at 10 pm we made the move. A room steward came with a trolley to transport all our stuff. We had miscellaneous bags for books (which have mysteriously multiplied) and snacks and martini glasses and other assorted oddities. We left our hanging clothes on hangers. I felt like a gypsy. We finally settled into our new room at 11 pm. It is an inside room and has less storage, but a better bed. I have figured out how to live with an inside room so I am less stressed without the window. We are going to have to move again when the turnaround comes on Monday. We have absolutely no idea where we will go next.
Tomorrow is Skagway.
We walked into town in a light drizzle. There were four ships in port and the town was very crowded and it was impossible to walk on the sidewalks. There were a lot of Japanese and they are not very courteous; if they want to walk in a certain direction and you are in the way, they just bump or push you. The rest of the tourists must leave their brains at home because they wander about without looking where they are going. They stand in the street gazing up, around and everywhere except to look out for cars.
We wound up at the library to do our internet stuff. Free 30 minutes – what a bargain! I was not able to upload my Word file to do a cut and paste into email because the library’s Word was an old version. The librarian was very helpful; I suggested she open the file on her computer, cut and paste into email, and then email it to me. It worked like a charm and hopefully you were able to receive it OK.
After the library, we wandered around the
town. There were a few nice shops, but mostly jewelry stores and trinket and T-shirt shops. The stores were advertising end of season sales and there were some pretty good prices on souvenir sweatshirts and jackets. We came back empty handed since this snowbird doesn’t need any more sweatshirts (plus I already have a very nice Alaska shirt).We had lunch and then spent the afternoon wandering around the ship and then settled into my favorite place to read. Made a few phone calls; it was so nice to reach out and touch someone you love. Michael followed up with our cruise contact person to see about changing our room. We were informed that it would happen today and that we were going to get a passenger room.
After waiting all day, it finally happened!! We were informed at 9 pm that we would get a new room. We packed and at 10 pm we made the move. A room steward came with a trolley to transport all our stuff. We had miscellaneous bags for books (which have mysteriously multiplied) and snacks and martini glasses and other assorted oddities. We left our hanging clothes on hangers. I felt like a gypsy. We finally settled into our new room at 11 pm. It is an inside room and has less storage, but a better bed. I have figured out how to live with an inside room so I am less stressed without the window. We are going to have to move again when the turnaround comes on Monday. We have absolutely no idea where we will go next.
Tomorrow is Skagway.
Day 6 -- Skagway
How did our new room work out? Let’s just say it was a different kind of noise. No intense bass beating the walls and body at night when you are trying to sleep; instead, we have a service area behind and over the room and it sounds like they are roller skating and sometimes it sounds like they are bowling. It occurs at all hours both day and night. There is no noise-free zone for us. Ain’t gonna happen! Did I mention I will never do a Princess cruise again?
There isn’t a whole lot to report on the locations we have visited on this cruise as we have been to them many times before and there just isn’t a whole lot to describe. We were in Skagway, which has a permanent population of fewer than 1,000. There was just our ship in town so it wasn’t overrun with people. It was overcast and very windy. We walked abo
ut ½ mile into town along a very nice boardwalk that runs along the water. We passed over a stream where an enormous number of salmon were coming upstream to spawn. Wherever there was a bare patch of ground, there were lovely flowers; there weren’t any hanging baskets as it is just too windy all the time (the name Skagway means winds from the north). The sidewalks were raised wooden boardwalks. Again, there were a lot of jewelry and trinket shops. I bought a large, shocking pink tote bag with “Alaska” embroidered on one side for $5 – what a bargain. After our move last night, we really needed an extra bag to tote all the miscellaneous stuff so now we are prepared for the next move which should be on Monday.
We came back to the ship and had lunch. I looked like I stuck my finger in a light socket because my hair was standing straight out from all the wind. It’s a kind of wind that goes straight through you. After lunch, I started teaching our dinner companion, Shirley, how to knit. She went to town and bought needles and yarn, and was very excited to start the lessons. She seems very eager to learn and I really enjoy teaching. We then saw the new Star Trek movie (Michael loved it, and I thought it was a pleasant way to kill a few hours). Went back to our room for a little R&R before dinner (like we haven’t had any R&R, right….!).
After dinner, we went to the show and saw a very funny and talented ventriloquist, Dan Horn. Normally I would yawn at something like this, but this guy was really, really good. If you ever get a chance to see him, you will be very pleased (he has been on the late night shows).
There isn’t a whole lot to report on the locations we have visited on this cruise as we have been to them many times before and there just isn’t a whole lot to describe. We were in Skagway, which has a permanent population of fewer than 1,000. There was just our ship in town so it wasn’t overrun with people. It was overcast and very windy. We walked abo
ut ½ mile into town along a very nice boardwalk that runs along the water. We passed over a stream where an enormous number of salmon were coming upstream to spawn. Wherever there was a bare patch of ground, there were lovely flowers; there weren’t any hanging baskets as it is just too windy all the time (the name Skagway means winds from the north). The sidewalks were raised wooden boardwalks. Again, there were a lot of jewelry and trinket shops. I bought a large, shocking pink tote bag with “Alaska” embroidered on one side for $5 – what a bargain. After our move last night, we really needed an extra bag to tote all the miscellaneous stuff so now we are prepared for the next move which should be on Monday.We came back to the ship and had lunch. I looked like I stuck my finger in a light socket because my hair was standing straight out from all the wind. It’s a kind of wind that goes straight through you. After lunch, I started teaching our dinner companion, Shirley, how to knit. She went to town and bought needles and yarn, and was very excited to start the lessons. She seems very eager to learn and I really enjoy teaching. We then saw the new Star Trek movie (Michael loved it, and I thought it was a pleasant way to kill a few hours). Went back to our room for a little R&R before dinner (like we haven’t had any R&R, right….!).
After dinner, we went to the show and saw a very funny and talented ventriloquist, Dan Horn. Normally I would yawn at something like this, but this guy was really, really good. If you ever get a chance to see him, you will be very pleased (he has been on the late night shows).
Day 7 -- Glacier Bay
Today was scenic cruising in Glacier Bay. There were no scheduled activies during this time. It was very chilly outside rainy and foggy. By the time we reached Tarr Inlet, the fog lifted enough to see the glacier faces. These are ice rivers that are thousands of years old. They vary in color from white to all shades of blue. You could see where some of them have receded, and where others have increased in width. It is 
difficult to estimate how big these things are, but I am guessing that some of them are at least a mile wide and 20 stories tall. We did not see any whales, seals, bears or any other wildlife except a few birds.
I spent most of the day in a very comfy chair in the library, reading and watching the scenery. I spent some time with my new knitting pupil going over the basics of casting on and the knit stitch. Later in the afternoon, there was a bridge game and I was needed to play. My partner, who I had never met, and I played brilliantly (if I say so myself). We came in first with a 62% game! We then had dinner and then saw another musical production show. I must say that the food on this ship is so-so, but the production shows are wonderful. We thoroughly enjoyed the new singers and dancers.
Later in the evening, the Captain announced that we would be going into some weather, with high winds and seas. By the time we got ready for bed, it was starting to get a little rocky. Being in an inside cabin is not fun when you don’t have the horizon to look at or some fresh air, so the only thing you can do is go to sleep.
difficult to estimate how big these things are, but I am guessing that some of them are at least a mile wide and 20 stories tall. We did not see any whales, seals, bears or any other wildlife except a few birds.I spent most of the day in a very comfy chair in the library, reading and watching the scenery. I spent some time with my new knitting pupil going over the basics of casting on and the knit stitch. Later in the afternoon, there was a bridge game and I was needed to play. My partner, who I had never met, and I played brilliantly (if I say so myself). We came in first with a 62% game! We then had dinner and then saw another musical production show. I must say that the food on this ship is so-so, but the production shows are wonderful. We thoroughly enjoyed the new singers and dancers.
Later in the evening, the Captain announced that we would be going into some weather, with high winds and seas. By the time we got ready for bed, it was starting to get a little rocky. Being in an inside cabin is not fun when you don’t have the horizon to look at or some fresh air, so the only thing you can do is go to sleep.
Day 8 -- College Fjord
Woke up this morning and quickly got dressed and out of the room. We were rocking enough that you have to hold on to something while brushing your teeth. It was not a good day for a shower in something that is smaller than a telephone booth. Up to the outside decks to get some air.
I met my knitting student, Shirley, for more instruction and after about 15 minutes, she was sick with mal de mer. She went topside to get air and came back and tried again, but we had to quit as she looked like she was going to get sick and pass out. I went in search of a place to sit that would minimize the rolling and wound up in the library again. By noon, things started to calm down a bit and Shirley came back to continue our lessons. Again, she got sick and she had to go lay down.
The bridge club championship was today and prized were awarded. I have to say this Princess ship gave out some good prizes – tote bags, hats, and passport holders. Unfortunately, not too many people showed up and I was not needed. By this time, Shirley was feeling much better and we continued the lessons. I taught her two week’s worth of information in one day. I got her started on a simple scarf and hope she enjoys knitting as much as I do.
We went back to our cabin and found a notice that we were to use our old room (the one with all the bass noise) to store our bags during the transition day tomorrow. Michael and I decided to move as much of our stuff as possible by ourselves. You do not realize how long a ship is until you have had to haul suitcases from the bow to the stern, not once but three times. I am sure we walked at least 2 miles doing this. Now all we have left to move is the stuff we need for the night.
We had a pleasant farewell dinner with
Ralph and Shirley. We really enjoyed their company. Ralph played bridge and Shirley now knits, so we had a lot in common! While dining, we did scenic cruising through College Fjord. According to the naturalist on board, there are over 100,000 glaciers in the area, but only 600 are named. The sights are awesome, with glaciers spilling down the valleys and the snow covered mountains shrouded in fog. There are thousands of small icebergs floating by the ship. It is grey and gloomy.
Michael started feeling sick with a sore throat and since we saw the show last night, we went back to our cabin and found another room assignment. This one is on deck 4, which is where the regular crew (not the guest crew on deck 5) lives. They gave us official Princess name badges so we can enter deck 4. We need to check it out before we commit, so if this room is unacceptable, then we will go back to the noisy bass room or else they might give us a passenger room if the ship is not full. So, we still don’t know where we are going to stay. Did I mention, no more Princess cruises!?
As I write this (I am in the noisy bass room because that’s where all our stuff is), Michael is in bed trying not to get too sick. Please let his illness be brief and pass soon.
I met my knitting student, Shirley, for more instruction and after about 15 minutes, she was sick with mal de mer. She went topside to get air and came back and tried again, but we had to quit as she looked like she was going to get sick and pass out. I went in search of a place to sit that would minimize the rolling and wound up in the library again. By noon, things started to calm down a bit and Shirley came back to continue our lessons. Again, she got sick and she had to go lay down.
The bridge club championship was today and prized were awarded. I have to say this Princess ship gave out some good prizes – tote bags, hats, and passport holders. Unfortunately, not too many people showed up and I was not needed. By this time, Shirley was feeling much better and we continued the lessons. I taught her two week’s worth of information in one day. I got her started on a simple scarf and hope she enjoys knitting as much as I do.
We went back to our cabin and found a notice that we were to use our old room (the one with all the bass noise) to store our bags during the transition day tomorrow. Michael and I decided to move as much of our stuff as possible by ourselves. You do not realize how long a ship is until you have had to haul suitcases from the bow to the stern, not once but three times. I am sure we walked at least 2 miles doing this. Now all we have left to move is the stuff we need for the night.
We had a pleasant farewell dinner with
Ralph and Shirley. We really enjoyed their company. Ralph played bridge and Shirley now knits, so we had a lot in common! While dining, we did scenic cruising through College Fjord. According to the naturalist on board, there are over 100,000 glaciers in the area, but only 600 are named. The sights are awesome, with glaciers spilling down the valleys and the snow covered mountains shrouded in fog. There are thousands of small icebergs floating by the ship. It is grey and gloomy.Michael started feeling sick with a sore throat and since we saw the show last night, we went back to our cabin and found another room assignment. This one is on deck 4, which is where the regular crew (not the guest crew on deck 5) lives. They gave us official Princess name badges so we can enter deck 4. We need to check it out before we commit, so if this room is unacceptable, then we will go back to the noisy bass room or else they might give us a passenger room if the ship is not full. So, we still don’t know where we are going to stay. Did I mention, no more Princess cruises!?
As I write this (I am in the noisy bass room because that’s where all our stuff is), Michael is in bed trying not to get too sick. Please let his illness be brief and pass soon.
Day 9 -- Whittier
We arrived in Whittier early in the morning and the fog was so thick you could barely see the pier. Disembarkation began early and we needed to leave our cabin by 8 am (we actually left at 9 am). We thought we could get a head start on moving and unpacking again, doing laundry, etc. but none of that happened. The ship is not geared up to process any incoming issues until the disembarkation has been completed, so we just had breakfast and hung around until noon. I was able to do a load of laundry and had the laundry room to myself. At 12:15 pm we finally got the keys to our new room.
This has officially become the worst cruise experience we have had in regard to accommodations. We moved into our new room on the crew deck – it has bunk beds!! Michael volunteered to be on the upper bunk. I am on the lower one and
cannot sit up without bumping my head. We do have portholes and that is the only nice thing I can say about the room. It has a lingering smoke odor that Febreze has not been able to fix, and the carpet has cigarette burns all over. It is dirty, shabby and very small and cramped. This is such a surprise as the passenger rooms and the previous noisy bass room (which is an officer/lecturer room) were clean and didn’t stink. We cannot ask to be moved again as the assistant cruise director worked really hard to get us out of the noisy room; so we are stuck.
It is really weird walking down below the passenger decks to see the inner workings of how the ship functions – to see the stuff that makes the passenger experience so seamless and enjoyable. We feel like aliens in a strange land as we really don’t belong there. Deck 4 is like a highway that runs the entire length of the ship. There is the crew mess, recreation hall, extra food and drink stores, mattresses piled up against the walls, wheelchairs, a pingpong table, glass recycling, cardboard recycling, and on and on. It’s like a little city that lives underground.
We unpacked and then had lunch. I was very tired since I didn’t sleep the night before and Michael still wasn’t feeling well, so we took a nap. I spent the rest of the day reading in the library. After dinner, there wasn’t much for us to do as we had seen the shows and movies, so back to the library I went. Michael stayed for a brief time, but then he decided to go to bed. I was pouting about the room, so I decided I would not go back to the room until I was ready to go to bed as I just didn’t want to be there. I read in the library until 11 pm, and then decided to go to bed. Unfortunately, my plan backfired as I wasn’t tired enough to go to sleep so I wound up reading until 2 am. I made up my mind that I would not bitch about the room for the rest of the trip.
This has officially become the worst cruise experience we have had in regard to accommodations. We moved into our new room on the crew deck – it has bunk beds!! Michael volunteered to be on the upper bunk. I am on the lower one and
cannot sit up without bumping my head. We do have portholes and that is the only nice thing I can say about the room. It has a lingering smoke odor that Febreze has not been able to fix, and the carpet has cigarette burns all over. It is dirty, shabby and very small and cramped. This is such a surprise as the passenger rooms and the previous noisy bass room (which is an officer/lecturer room) were clean and didn’t stink. We cannot ask to be moved again as the assistant cruise director worked really hard to get us out of the noisy room; so we are stuck.It is really weird walking down below the passenger decks to see the inner workings of how the ship functions – to see the stuff that makes the passenger experience so seamless and enjoyable. We feel like aliens in a strange land as we really don’t belong there. Deck 4 is like a highway that runs the entire length of the ship. There is the crew mess, recreation hall, extra food and drink stores, mattresses piled up against the walls, wheelchairs, a pingpong table, glass recycling, cardboard recycling, and on and on. It’s like a little city that lives underground.
We unpacked and then had lunch. I was very tired since I didn’t sleep the night before and Michael still wasn’t feeling well, so we took a nap. I spent the rest of the day reading in the library. After dinner, there wasn’t much for us to do as we had seen the shows and movies, so back to the library I went. Michael stayed for a brief time, but then he decided to go to bed. I was pouting about the room, so I decided I would not go back to the room until I was ready to go to bed as I just didn’t want to be there. I read in the library until 11 pm, and then decided to go to bed. Unfortunately, my plan backfired as I wasn’t tired enough to go to sleep so I wound up reading until 2 am. I made up my mind that I would not bitch about the room for the rest of the trip.
Day 10 -- College Fjord
Today is a sea day. We entered College Fjord at 5:30 am! I don’t know how many people are up for sightseeing at that hour! It is 55 degrees and overcast today. Most of the day was sailing in the Gulf of Alaska and the seas were smooth. Michael gave a bridge lesson in the morning and had a very good turnout. Had bridge in the afternoon and I didn’t have to play. I spent most of the day in the library and managed to read an entire novel in one day.
Day 11 -- Glacier Bay
We spent the day cruising Glacier Bay and since we were just there, I couldn’t get too excited about it so I spent most of the day, again, in the library. I managed to read another book in one day. My eyeballs are going to fall out.
We attended a lecture by the park ranger and learned about the history and geology of tidewater glaciers and Glacier Bay. The white ice is white because the ice crystals are loosely compacted and reflect all light wave colors. The blue color of the ice is due to the compression and density of the ice crystals and thus reflects only the blue light waves. Glacier Bay is part of the second largest wilderness preserve in the world. The presentation left a very warm feeling in my heart for nature and all that it involves.
We attended a lecture by the park ranger and learned about the history and geology of tidewater glaciers and Glacier Bay. The white ice is white because the ice crystals are loosely compacted and reflect all light wave colors. The blue color of the ice is due to the compression and density of the ice crystals and thus reflects only the blue light waves. Glacier Bay is part of the second largest wilderness preserve in the world. The presentation left a very warm feeling in my heart for nature and all that it involves.
After lunch, Michael and I played a game of Scrabble (and he won – I think he cheats and makes up words). While waiting for my turn, we were passing by one of the big glaciers and I started to reflect on what I was seeing. It is so difficult to descr
ibe the majesty of these ice rivers. It is surreal and ethereal. There are deep vertical crevasses, craggy peaks and jagged ice spires – blue monoliths reaching up to the heavens. The water at the face of the glacier is still and dotted with ice floes and teaming with flocks of birds. Another glacier had a waterfall coming out of the middle of the face, a rare occurrence. I also saw “calving,” a phenomenon that occurs when salt water melts the glacier’s snout and huge pieces of ice crack off the face, creating an iceberg.We arrived back at our room and found an excursion waiting for us! Michael and I are going together on a whale watching, salmon bake and Mendenhall Glacier tour in Juneau. We were hoping to get something in Skagway, but we will find our own tour in town.
Day 12 -- Skagway
What other lousy thing can happen on this cruise? Well, yesterday we got an excursion for Juneau but not for Skagway. We thought that was kinda weird because they give the tickets to you the night before, not two nights before. I was in the shower when I heard a loud banging on the door or wall. Michael was in bed asleep when I got in the shower so I thought the steward was at the door. Well, there wasn’t anything I could do about it so I finished my shower. As I got out, Michael informed me that he was banging on the wall for me to answer the phone (which I did not hear) because he was asleep and it was a pain to get off the top bunk. He answered the phone and the person on the other end asked why we weren’t on the train excursion to White Pass. He told them we didn’t know about it and never received tickets; they told him that someone had forgotten to deliver them to our room the night before and that we shouldn’t have received the Juneau tickets until tonight. He was then told that we should call the excursion desk the night before to see if there is a tour for us – like it was our fault for not knowing. This really pissed me off. We could easily have made the excursion, which was the one thing I wanted to do on this trip. Urggggghhhhh
We waited until the rain stopped and walked into town and went to the internet café. There were four ships in port and the town was crawling with loads of people. It was so crowded, that we wound up walking in the street because there was no room on
the sidewalk. It started to rain again so we just went back to the ship for the rest of the day. We played board games and read. There was a storyteller/folksinger from Skagway who put on an excellent show about the history of Skagway in story and song, telling tales about the gold miners, whalers, White Pass railroad, Alaska statehood and the AlCan Highway. Had dinner, saw a movie, played Yachtzee (sp), and went to another show that we walked out of because the music was too loud and the singer was oh so old school and boring.
The highlight of the day for me was making phone calls to family and friends. Best one was when Isabelle asked if she could come to my house. Anytime, sweet child, anytime!!!! Grammy misses you so much.
Tomorrow is Juneau and we have tickets for an excursion!
We waited until the rain stopped and walked into town and went to the internet café. There were four ships in port and the town was crawling with loads of people. It was so crowded, that we wound up walking in the street because there was no room on
the sidewalk. It started to rain again so we just went back to the ship for the rest of the day. We played board games and read. There was a storyteller/folksinger from Skagway who put on an excellent show about the history of Skagway in story and song, telling tales about the gold miners, whalers, White Pass railroad, Alaska statehood and the AlCan Highway. Had dinner, saw a movie, played Yachtzee (sp), and went to another show that we walked out of because the music was too loud and the singer was oh so old school and boring.The highlight of the day for me was making phone calls to family and friends. Best one was when Isabelle asked if she could come to my house. Anytime, sweet child, anytime!!!! Grammy misses you so much.
Tomorrow is Juneau and we have tickets for an excursion!
Day 13 -- Juneau
This is summer in Alaska!! Cold and windy.I know that my previous posts have been nothing but complaining and not much to do with the towns we have visited and the sights we have seen. Today was a reprieve from dealing with the ship stuff, and I actually have some stuff to report that is, hopefully, interesting. Michael and I both had a tour – together!! We have some great pictures, which I will post on the blog when I return home.
Our tour started with a bus ride through town to Auke Bay where we boarded a whale watching tour boat. The day was grey and about 57 degrees with a light drizzle. We had a naturalist aboard who gave us gobs of information about the sea life and wildlife, and the geology of the area. Southeast Alaska is in the heart of a temperate rain forest (the Tongass National Forest, which is the largest rainforest in North America) and that means wet, cloudy weather year round. In fact, Juneau receives only about 44 days of sunshine per year, and gets about 93 inches of rain each year, while 11 miles away, the Juneau airport receives only about 53 inches. There are two low tides and two high tides daily, with tidal fluctuations from 16 to 25 feet. In terms of size, Juneau is the second largest city in the U.S. and is the capital of Alaska. There are only 98 miles of road in the area and it is said that the only way to get to Juneau is by air, sea, or birth canal.
During our 2 ½ hour boat tour, we saw many humpback whales. It was raining most of the time, but the boat was very comfortable and dry. What an exciting sight to see these huge creatures blowing, breaching and diving with their tail in the air.
Humpbacks are baleen whales; that is, they have no teeth and strain water through comb-like plates of baleen, which trap krill and small schooling fish like herring. The esophagus of a humpback is no larger than a grapefruit! We also were able to see many eagles, harbor seals and Steller sea lions laying about on the beach or frolicking in the water. The seals looked like sausages just scattered along the beach, laying there doing nothing. The sea lions were huge (the large males weigh about 1,200 pounds) and were fighting for territory.
We then went to a salmon bake at the Orcas Point Lodge. I was very impressed with the organization of feeding so many people so fast. We walked up the dock and as you entered the dining room, there was a buffet line set up so people went down both sides to get a wonderful salmon and corn on the cob meal with all the fixings. There was a tidal basin exhibit, and the naturalist gave us a wonderful “tour” of all the creatures that live there. One of the most interesting tidbits of information is about how starfish eat. The starfish encircles a muscle and pries open the shell just enough to stick its inverted stomach into the muscle and eat the contents.
We also saw many bald eagles and learned that they can spot a fish from over a mile away and can fly at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. The number one killer of bald eagles is – I would never have guessed this – is drowning. If an eagle grabs a fish with its talons and the fish pulls the eagle down into the water or the fish is too heavy, the eagle will drown as it will not be able to fly or release the fish from its talons. The eagle can only release its victim when it sets it down, like on a tree branch.
After returning to Auke Bay, we boarded the bus for the ride to Mendenhall Glacier. We walked on a boardwalk that ran along a stream choked with spawning salmon. We could only go part of the way as it was too dangerous to go any further due to bears in the area. We also saw a porcupine up in a tree. Then we went to the visitor center and saw a movie about the glacier. Michael and I had been to Mendenhall Glacier about 20 years ago and were surprised to see how much it had retreated from then.
We then returned to the ship for the usual nighttime ritual. Only three more night to go.
Tomorrow is Ketchikan.
Our tour started with a bus ride through town to Auke Bay where we boarded a whale watching tour boat. The day was grey and about 57 degrees with a light drizzle. We had a naturalist aboard who gave us gobs of information about the sea life and wildlife, and the geology of the area. Southeast Alaska is in the heart of a temperate rain forest (the Tongass National Forest, which is the largest rainforest in North America) and that means wet, cloudy weather year round. In fact, Juneau receives only about 44 days of sunshine per year, and gets about 93 inches of rain each year, while 11 miles away, the Juneau airport receives only about 53 inches. There are two low tides and two high tides daily, with tidal fluctuations from 16 to 25 feet. In terms of size, Juneau is the second largest city in the U.S. and is the capital of Alaska. There are only 98 miles of road in the area and it is said that the only way to get to Juneau is by air, sea, or birth canal.
During our 2 ½ hour boat tour, we saw many humpback whales. It was raining most of the time, but the boat was very comfortable and dry. What an exciting sight to see these huge creatures blowing, breaching and diving with their tail in the air.
Humpbacks are baleen whales; that is, they have no teeth and strain water through comb-like plates of baleen, which trap krill and small schooling fish like herring. The esophagus of a humpback is no larger than a grapefruit! We also were able to see many eagles, harbor seals and Steller sea lions laying about on the beach or frolicking in the water. The seals looked like sausages just scattered along the beach, laying there doing nothing. The sea lions were huge (the large males weigh about 1,200 pounds) and were fighting for territory.We then went to a salmon bake at the Orcas Point Lodge. I was very impressed with the organization of feeding so many people so fast. We walked up the dock and as you entered the dining room, there was a buffet line set up so people went down both sides to get a wonderful salmon and corn on the cob meal with all the fixings. There was a tidal basin exhibit, and the naturalist gave us a wonderful “tour” of all the creatures that live there. One of the most interesting tidbits of information is about how starfish eat. The starfish encircles a muscle and pries open the shell just enough to stick its inverted stomach into the muscle and eat the contents.
We also saw many bald eagles and learned that they can spot a fish from over a mile away and can fly at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. The number one killer of bald eagles is – I would never have guessed this – is drowning. If an eagle grabs a fish with its talons and the fish pulls the eagle down into the water or the fish is too heavy, the eagle will drown as it will not be able to fly or release the fish from its talons. The eagle can only release its victim when it sets it down, like on a tree branch.
After returning to Auke Bay, we boarded the bus for the ride to Mendenhall Glacier. We walked on a boardwalk that ran along a stream choked with spawning salmon. We could only go part of the way as it was too dangerous to go any further due to bears in the area. We also saw a porcupine up in a tree. Then we went to the visitor center and saw a movie about the glacier. Michael and I had been to Mendenhall Glacier about 20 years ago and were surprised to see how much it had retreated from then.We then returned to the ship for the usual nighttime ritual. Only three more night to go.
Tomorrow is Ketchikan.
Day 14 -- Ketchikan
The day started out cloudy and cool. Last night we received our tour tickets for a horse drawn trolley tour of town and needed to be on the dock at 10:30am. We 
arrived at the midship gangplank at 10:20 am and the line to get off the ship was clear to the stern! In all the cruising I have done, I have never seen such a lineup to get off the ship. I think everyone on board was trying to get off at the same time. Fortunately, we made our tour in plenty of time.
The trolley was pulled by two very large draft horses. We had a tour of the entire old town and west end of town and saw all the sights that there is to see. We did not stop and visit, just paused long enough for a few photo opportunities. Our guide gave us lots of miscellaneous information, which I will share here: there are 35 miles of paved roads in Ketchikan; Ketchikan, which is one mile wide and nine miles long is on an island; the
re are 3 million named lakes in Alaska; the name Ketchikan means thundering bird or eagle spreading its wings; Ketchikan receives 15 FEET of rain per year; the horses are only here for five months and are shipped to Bellingham WA because it is too expensive to feed them here (they have to import hay, which is $22 per bale and each horse eats 1 ½ bales per day).
After the trolley tour, we walked around town and went to the library to use the free internet. Next, we walked along Creek Street, where the infamous bawdy houses of ill repute were located and are now gift shops. There were thousands of salmon swimming upstream. The fertilized salmon eggs hatch after about three days and feed on the dead carcasses of their parents. The seagulls also eat the dead salmon and gorge themselves so much that they can hardly fly. Nothing in nature is wasted.
After lunch on the ship, we ventured out again to town and a wonderful miracle occurred: THE SUN WAS SHINING! By the end of our trek around town, both of us were down to sunglasses and T-shirts and I was actually sweating!
This evening, we had marvelous entertainment. A comedian, by the name of Sarge, had the audience in stitches. I don’t remember when I have laughed so much. He is
performing again tomorrow night and I am really looking forward to the show. We also saw a singer who performed Elvis’ hit songs; he was quite good as he did not impersonate Elvis, but sang the songs to honor him.
Tomorrow is a sea day and the bridge championship game.
arrived at the midship gangplank at 10:20 am and the line to get off the ship was clear to the stern! In all the cruising I have done, I have never seen such a lineup to get off the ship. I think everyone on board was trying to get off at the same time. Fortunately, we made our tour in plenty of time.The trolley was pulled by two very large draft horses. We had a tour of the entire old town and west end of town and saw all the sights that there is to see. We did not stop and visit, just paused long enough for a few photo opportunities. Our guide gave us lots of miscellaneous information, which I will share here: there are 35 miles of paved roads in Ketchikan; Ketchikan, which is one mile wide and nine miles long is on an island; the
re are 3 million named lakes in Alaska; the name Ketchikan means thundering bird or eagle spreading its wings; Ketchikan receives 15 FEET of rain per year; the horses are only here for five months and are shipped to Bellingham WA because it is too expensive to feed them here (they have to import hay, which is $22 per bale and each horse eats 1 ½ bales per day).After the trolley tour, we walked around town and went to the library to use the free internet. Next, we walked along Creek Street, where the infamous bawdy houses of ill repute were located and are now gift shops. There were thousands of salmon swimming upstream. The fertilized salmon eggs hatch after about three days and feed on the dead carcasses of their parents. The seagulls also eat the dead salmon and gorge themselves so much that they can hardly fly. Nothing in nature is wasted.
After lunch on the ship, we ventured out again to town and a wonderful miracle occurred: THE SUN WAS SHINING! By the end of our trek around town, both of us were down to sunglasses and T-shirts and I was actually sweating!
This evening, we had marvelous entertainment. A comedian, by the name of Sarge, had the audience in stitches. I don’t remember when I have laughed so much. He is
performing again tomorrow night and I am really looking forward to the show. We also saw a singer who performed Elvis’ hit songs; he was quite good as he did not impersonate Elvis, but sang the songs to honor him.Tomorrow is a sea day and the bridge championship game.
Day 15 -- Day at Sea
Today was warm, by Alaska standards. Spent most of a very restful day in the library reading. Michael conducted a bridge lecture in the morning. We then went back to our room to pack 
and get it over with. What a pain in the back and the butt. We had to lay the suitcases on the floor because there was no room to put them anywhere else. In order to fold the clothes for packing, I had to use the lower bunk, which was a challenge because I had to fold my body over and basically crawl under the top bunk to reach the clothes. Michael held the bridge game in the afternoon, and once again, I did not have to play. Did the usual nighttime stuff. Only one more night in this crappy room!
NMP – NMP – NMP !!!!!!!@!!!!!! (no more Princess)
and get it over with. What a pain in the back and the butt. We had to lay the suitcases on the floor because there was no room to put them anywhere else. In order to fold the clothes for packing, I had to use the lower bunk, which was a challenge because I had to fold my body over and basically crawl under the top bunk to reach the clothes. Michael held the bridge game in the afternoon, and once again, I did not have to play. Did the usual nighttime stuff. Only one more night in this crappy room!NMP – NMP – NMP !!!!!!!@!!!!!! (no more Princess)
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