Alaska!! May 2016 Sea

22 May Sunday
Day at sea as we cruise from Whittier to Glacier Bay to see the Hubbard glacier.  Weather overcast but no rain.  Roy and Tony happily birding and I read for a while in the Library.

Hubbard glacier - 76miles long

That night we ate dinner in the upscale Bayou Cafe - had to dress in Sunday best. This was one of our perks for booking early.  We both had steak; my Porterhouse was tasty, Roy's filet mignon melted in your mouth.








23 May Monday
Another restful day at sea cruising though beautiful Glacier Bay seeing more glaciers.  I wonder if there is a speed limit as the boat didn't seem to be going very fast.
Weather is overcast with maybe a few raindrops here and there.  It's cold if you stand outside birding with Roy in the open air.  He and Tony have found several places on the ship without glass in front.

More yummy food - my first veal - very tasty.  (You just cannot think where it came from).
The Park Rangers we picked up say that Glacier Bay National Park is larger than Yellowstone.

24 May Tuesday
Skagway, our first port.

apparently a tradition for a ship's crew to honor a favorite captain

Up early to catch our excursion.  We thought we were riding the White Pass RR up to the summit - somewhat near where the Chilkoot Trail trail was.  My Grandpa came here to mine gold around 1900 so I was excited to see the area.  Apparently the trial is still there and hikable, 3-4 days up to Lake Bennett where the gold miners built boats to get down the Yukon River to the gold fields.  We were surprised to find out we were on a bus tour for most of the day then rode the train back to the boat.  Another talk-too-much bus driver which drove me crazy once again!  Not a happy camper.
We crossed over into the Yukon in Canada and a Customs agent comes through checking passports.
Lunch and then we finally board the train in Carcross!  We both enjoyed the ride very much.  Roy was outside taking pictures most of the way.
There were two ways up to Lake Bennett: the Chilkoot trail and the White Pass RR.  Judy tells me my grandpa took the RR.

an old famous picture of a packed Chilkoot trail

where we ate lunch

 

the old bridge

picked up some day hikers 

Back in Skagway we had a few hours before the boat left and I found a great quilt shop!  Happy girl.

25 May Wednesday
Juneau- interesting state capital city (albeit small)  that is only accessible by plane or boat.
Overcast but not raining!
Up early for a whale watching adventure.  Yes, on a boat so I was a little nervous but since we were in the Inland passage, I didn't think the water could be too rough.  Thankfully I was right.
The tour company said they would refund our money if we didn't see any whales.  Boy, did we get our money's worth today!   There were only about 6 people abroad, so no problem getting good views.
A mom and baby humpback put on quite a show for us.  It was so great!! Maybe she was teaching him how to breech?

Afterwards, a short bus ride up to see the Mendenhall lake and glacier.  The locals call it "THE" glacier.  It is only (haha) 13 miles long, and is actually shrinking.  We enjoyed a short hike to the lake through a beautiful rain forest.  Thank you Bree (tour guide) and Capt. Lee, you restored my faith in excursions.

by the way, I touched the water - it was COLD!  

rhotodentrodons in town - WOW!  

Our last adventure in Juneau was an expensive gondola ride up the Mt. Roberts Tramway.  ($33/person!) 3800' in six minutes.  Lunch up on top. Rain caught up with us coming down, and of course our ship is the one furthest away.  Three cheers for the shuttle!

Juneau is at the bottom left of this picture

26 May Thursday

Ketchikan.  We had a relaxing day here, no excursions.  The ships dock right next to the small downtown - 2 or 3 streets lined with shops for the tourists.  OK, there was one church and a fire department.  We continue to be baffled by all the jewelry shops in every town, and even on the ship - who buys jewelry on a cruise?
Yummy fish and chips for lunch and then a walk through the City Creek, which was the old Red Light district in the old days, now filled with tourist shops.

reminded us of Noyo harbor

Back on board the ship we watched The Martian on the big screen outside under the stars.  It was downright chilly but with a couple of fleece blankets, my coat, gloves and hat, I was toasty warm.

27 May Friday

Last day.  We slept in and relaxed.  Last minute birding for Roy.  Enjoyed time on our balcony as we cruised south through beautiful wooded islands.  More overcast and rain off and on.

tug pulling a log raft 

I made a new friend 

In the afternoon we had a last get together with our tour group from the land portion.  Very nice to see each other again. There were three couples we hung-out with quite a bit and it's great to know you'll always find someone to relate with.

from Pittsburgh 

Not mother and son.  opps!  They were married. 

super nice truck driver and his sweet wife

sisters 

Steph and Tony (Aussies) and UK 

Last room service for dinner.  Yummy flan and chocolate cake for dessert.  Yes, the food is incredible!
We will dock in Vancouver about 8am tomorrow morning.

Will we cruise again?  Maybe.  We would love to go through the Panama Canal someday, but I don't see us doing it on a regular basis.  Several of our tour members had already booked cruises in the fall and out into 2017.
It is a pretty sweet deal though - all the delicious food you can eat, almost all the time.  Bed made every day and fresh towels. Entertainment every evening - we did not attend any stage shows.  Sorry, not my thing.   I do not like the whole gratuity game - we were supposed to "tip" our room steward ~$12/day for each of us!  I'm sorry, I think that is ridiculous! (and that was going up to ~$14 in June!!)  Luckily that was included in our "deal" since we booked so early.
We've been truly blessed to have taken not one but two great trips of a lifetime in the past year - Israel and now Alaska.