Welcome To Alaska

As Host of the Alaska portion of your Lifecruiser Cyber Cruise around the world, may I say a hearty welcome to you all! This is where we board the ship for the Alaska leg of our cruise.

Our Itinerary

Our trip

1 Seattle
2 At Sea
3 Juneau
4 Skagway
5 Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska (Scenic Cruising)
6 Ketchikan
7 Victoria
8 Seattle

*********************************************

Part 1

A limousine will dropped us off at the terminal with all the baggage.
Once our passports are validated we zip through and we are on board the ship by noon, and checked into our rooms. They are lovely with fairly good views, a big bed and a bar. Once we are settled then we are off to explore.
This ship is huge! And I am still not sure where everything is, or how to get there. But there is time for all of that. Since we are all hungry, we stop in at the buffet for lunch, where we will meet up with friends from around the world. We eat our lunches, toasting the meal with champagne and then set off to unpack our cases back at our rooms.
Once that is done it is time for the fire drills, and then we set sail. What a pretty sight that is, as we pull out of the docking area and sail along the harbor in Seattle.

LeavingSeattle

We have a Coast Guard escort all the way out of the Harbor, and then he waves and turns and is gone. We stay out watching a while longer before hunger strikes us once again.

We explore the restaurants on board and decide to eat at the Savoy. It is a very posh restaurant and you can get almost any sort of meal that you might want. We get a very nice table near a window. Our servers are Adriana from Mexico and then Mia from Thailand. They were young and sweet and take incredibly good care of us!
We also have a wine steward. He is hysterical. He is from Romania, and reminds us all of Agadore in the movie, “The Bird Cage”. We all laugh and enjoy the food and wines and dear Agadore.
After we eat, we head to the disco for a night of dancing under the stars!


Part 2

So, what does one do when they get to their first Alaskan port of call? Why I called home! I wanted to share that moment with my sister and cousin and daughter! I also called to check on my beloved pets at home. What a great place for a call! I was so excited I felt like a little kid!

Sept  12 Juneau001

We go ashore to Juneau to take a tour over to the Mendenhall Glacier. I think the first thing you realize when you see a glacier is how enormous they are! This was huge, and even more impressive then I can ever say. Some people took a helicopter to the top of the glacier, but I was happy to view the glacier from below.

Sept  12 mend048

It was at Mendenhall that we saw the Bald Eagles and the Mama Brown Bear with her two baby cubs. Believe it or not while standing talking to a Park Service Ranger about the glacier, the subject came up about dachshunds. And well, you guessed it. The next thing I knew we were talking about dachshunds and how wonderful they are. Hubby was a bit annoyed with me because we go all the way to Alaska and what do I speak of? Dachshunds!

Sept  12 bears043

In the very center of this picture you can see the Mama bear. This was as close as I was going to get to her. Sorry, but she just didn’t look too friendly to me.

Juneau is the capital of the State of Alaska. The area of Juneau is larger than that of Rhode Island, Delaware, or Connecticut, and almost as large as Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. Juneau is nestled at the base of Mount Juneau and across the channel from Douglas Island. Juneau was named after gold prospector Joe Juneau, though the place was for a time called Rockwell and then Harrisburg (after Juneau’s co-prospector, Richard Harris)

Part 3

The next day we headed into Ketchikan. Ketchikan’s economy is based upon tourism and fishing, and the city is known as the “Salmon Capital of the World.” The Misty Fjords National Monument is one of the area’s major attractions. Ketchikan is named after Ketchikan Creek, which flows through the town. Ketchikan also has the world’s largest collection of standing totem poles located at three major locations: Saxman Village, Totem Bight, and the Totem Heritage Center.

It’s formal night, and we all get dressed up and go to dinner down at our favorite restaurants. Since we speak to all the wait-staff and managers we get the best tables in the place for our meals, and we get the best waitresses too! Adrianna and Mala. The meal was a bit more diverse, but they offered Ketchikan Sockeye Salmon and almost everyone had that. There is nothing like fresh salmon!

After dinner we go to a musical show and it is very fun. The singers are good, the songs all 1970’s and pop, familiar in type, and then we head to the casino’s to play the slots. Some move on to dance floor, while others head off to bed so they are ready for the day in Skagway.

Part 4

We were up with the dawn so we could go on shore to the town of Skagway to travel on the narrow guage railroad and go to White Pass. We all meet in the cafe to have breakfast and watch the sun rises.

Sept  10 030

Skagway is a small town on the Alaska Panhandle. The port of Skagway is a popular stop for cruise ships, and the tourist trade is a big part of the city’s business. The White Pass and Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad, part of the area’s mining past, is now in operation purely for the tourist trade and runs throughout the summer months.

Skagway (originally spelled Skaguay) is from the Tlingit name for the area, “Skagua.” The name has several meanings, “the place where the north wind blows,”.

Part 5

We cruise Tracy Arm Fjord. To say it is beautiful would be a real understatement of fact. It was beyond anything I could have imagined. Certainly the best part of the cruise! At first it seems pretty much like any inlet, then as we go further and further in, small chunks of ice turned into larger ones until I could hear the theme from “Titanic” in my ears! LOL The mountains are enormous and tower above the shore and then seem to drop into the fjord below at a sharp angle.
Glacial Ice is incredibly blue and white. I couldn’t get enough of it! We toured this inlet 4 hours and it was all breath taking.

Alaska 118

Sept  14 027

Sept  14 041

Sept  14 066

The glacier at the end of Tracy Arm.

That night we went for an all you could eat Alaskan King Crab dinner. Oh my, what a meal! I love Alaskan King Crab, and this was just so delicious and so wonderful! I am afraid I ate far too much, but I have learned that a cruise is often a good place to eat a lot of good foods from around the world!

Sept  12 052


Part 6

Victoria, BC. Victoria is the capital of the western Canadian province of British Columbia. It is a beautiful city and the last stop before we go back to Seattle and head off to our next port of call Chesapeake Beach.

Victoria is a city full of gardens. It is a charming, beautiful place that I hope to return to one day. I was sorry that we got in so late that we did not have a chance to see more.

Our last night on board the Cruise Ship there is a chocolate Buffet, where they offered every sort of wonderful confection.

Sept  14

I’m afraid I will never want to leave. Alaska was so wonderful, so vast, I think we all must return when we have more time to spend there.

Pass the chocolate and another glass of champagne!

The Cyber Cruise Scheduled ports

More Alaska

So, what does one do when they get to their first Alaskan port of call? Why I called home! I wanted to share that moment with my sister and cousin and daughter! I also called to check on Shubi, Fritz and Greta. What a great place for a call! I was so excited I felt like a little kid!
Sept  12 Juneau001.jpg
We took a tour over to the Mendenhall Glacier. I think the first thing you realize when you see a glacier is how enormous they are! This was huge, and even more impressive then I can ever say.
Sept  12 mend048.jpg
It was at Mendenhall that we saw the Bald Eagles and the Mama Brown Bear with her two baby cubs. Believe it or not while standing talking to a Park Service Ranger about the glacier, the subject came up about dachshunds. And well, you guessed it. The next thing I knew we were talking about dachshunds and how wonderful they are.
Sept  12 bears043.jpg
In the very center of this picture you can see the Mama bear. This was as close as I was going to get to her. Sorry, but she just didn’t look too friendly to me.

We’re back!
We actually got back very late on Saturday night, but I admit that I do not change time zones well, and most of yesterday was spent in a fog. Hubby and I did make a trip out to the store to fill the cupboards with food, but I just didn’t do much else.
Oh, well, yes, I guess I did. I cooked and cleaned up. And I had to really talk to myself the entire way through that!
You see, I really loved having all my meals cooked for me and cleaned up for me on the ship. All I had to do was show up. The biggest concern I had was finding a table near a window so we had a good view during our meal. I would circle the dining room over and over until I got a spot near the window and it was truly worth it.
The food was fabulous! I loved it all. But I have to say that starting the day with cream cheese, smoked salmon and toasted bagels was just about heaven on earth.
Sept  12 052.jpg
I ate a lot of fish. Salmon, Alaskan King Crab, Shrimp and Sword fish. I also ate a lot of salads. And then too, I ate a ton of desserts!
And I weighed in yesterday and found I hadn’t gained an ounce! Well thank the good Lord for that! It wasn’t because I didn’t try! In fact, besides enjoying the great views, I made sure I didn’t miss a meal!
Over the next few days I’ll try to take the trip day by day and break it down and write it about it.

Tracy Arm

Yesterday we cruised Tracy Arm. To say it was beautiful would be a real understatement of fact. It was beyond anything I could have imagined. At first it seemed pretty much like any inlet, then as we got further and further in small chunks of ice turned into larger ones until I could hear the theme from Titanic in my ears! LOL
Glacial Ice is incredibly blue and white. I couldn’t get enough of it! We toured this inlet 4 hours and it was all breath taking.
Last night we went for an all you could eat Alaskan King Crab dinner. OMG What a meal! I love Alaskan King Crab, but it’s expensive to order at home. This was just so delicious and so wonderful!

Sept  14 027.jpg
In Tracy Arm
Sept  14 041.jpg
With the Cruise Director
Sept  14 066.jpg
The glacier at the end of Tracy Arm

Random Thoughts from Sea

Quick Notes

Sunday night was formal night. We all got dressed up and went to dinner down at our favorite restaurant. Since we speak to all the wait staff and managers we got the best table in the place for our meal, and we got the best waitresses too! Adrianna and Mala. The meal was a bit more diverse. But they offered Ketchikan Sockeye Salmon and almost everyone had that.

After dinner we went to a musical show and it was fun. The singers were good, the songs all 70’s and pop familiar in type, and once we were done we headed off to bed.

I admit I do not change time zones easily!

We were up early today (again) and headed to breakfast. I could easily become accustom to living aboard ship, but I would weigh 700 pounds!

A now understand that a cruise is just an orgy of food. You talk about what time to meet for breakfast, ponder what you will eat and then say, oh and what time and where do you want to eat lunch. And of course dinner. If anyone starves on this ship it is entirely their own fault! I have never seen so much food offered anytime, day or night, and all for free!!

I do have a confession to make. Even with the patch for sea sickness on, yesterday when we hit rough seas and the ship began to rock and roll, I got distinctly green!! I tried napping. No luck. I ate small bits of crackers and drank ginger ale. But nothing worked. Finally about 3 AM we entered the inland passage, with quiet waters, and I felt so much better.

We went ashore to Juneau on Monday. We took the whole day taking two tours (The Mendenhall Glacier, and the Salmon Fish Hatchery) and then we walked around and did a little shopping and sight seeing on our own before reboarding the ship.

Aside from the green feeling of on Sunday/Monday, I am doing better. But I have to say, rough waters make me just plain sick!, I am having a wonderful time. And with the word Princess written boldly all over the ship, I feel very much at home!

But I miss everyone so much and look forward to getting back home too.

Sept  10 030.jpg

Sept  10 031.jpg

We have since toured Skagway and Tracy Arm. I haven’t written because it is so expensive to hook up my laptop and then pay for time $10.00 for 30 minutes! And as their satellite is VERY slow. It’s almost impossible to write as much as I’d hoped. So please forgive me and I promise to write more when I can.

On Board

Last night we spent a wonderful calm night just outside Seattle in a town called Monroe. This way we were able to get in to the cruise ship loading area without getting up early in the morning.
Of course, all four of us are on east coast time, and so we were up at the crack of dawn and we got to the docks about 10:30. Hubby and George dropped us girls off at the terminal with all the baggage. Then they went to return the car.
Carol and I zipped through out paperwork, and we were on board by 11:55. And checked out our rooms. They are lovely with fairly good views and then we went off to explore.
This ship is huge! And I am still not sure where everything is, or how to get there. I think more signs are needed or maybe a better ships guide. I figure I will know my way around by the end of the cruise.

Then, since we were hungry we stopped in at the buffet for lunch. There we met up our husbands and then Keith and Jill, more of our friends. We all ate our lunches, and then set off to unpack our cases back at our rooms.
Once that was done it was time for the fire drills, and then we set sail. What a pretty sight that was, as we pulled out of the docking area and sailed along the harbor in Seattle.
We had a Coast Guard escort all the way out of the Harbor, and then he waved and turned and was gone. We stayed out watching a while longer before hunger struck once again.
We explored the restaurants on board and decided to eat at the Savoy. We got a very nice table near a window. Our servers were Adriana from Mexico and then Mia from Thailand. They were young and seet and took incredibly good care of us!
We also had a wine stweard. He was hysterical. He was from Romania, and reminded me of Agadore in the movie, “The Bird Cage”. It was so funny! Still he was so nice and we enjoyed him a lot.
After we ate, we returned to our rooms and fell instantly asleep!
Sept  10 009.jpg
Me, George and Carole

Cell Phones and Seattle

Have you ever watched people in airports? During our trip yesterday I did and I have some observations for you the next time you intend to travel.

Shoes.
Now I have never seen people wear the sorts of odd foot attire that I saw yesterday. Everything from the rather acceptable, (though impractical) flip-flops to the highest of heels for women to sandals to cowboy boots for the men.
Okay let’s start with the ladies.
Girls, I know you all love your flip flops, but they are just plain dangerous! One unsuspecting girl nearly lost a toe when a granny ran over her feet with a 400 pound carry-on wheelie!
There were also the high, high, heels, which, if these had been worn in Louisiana by rescue teams, no one would have gotten wet! The trouble with those is that one little bump and the woman in the shoes is on her proverbial butt!
Stick to comfortable, but practical shoes, please!
Boys, you didn’t escape my notice either. The sandals I could actually live with, had you washed your feet, but the number of men in shoes with no socks, was amazing! What’s with that?
And then, of course there were cowboy boots. I saw scores of them. Now where in Seattle do these guys think they’re going to find a Rodeo?

Cell Phones
.
This is my next big thing. Everyone has a cell phone now. And it’s easy to see this in an airport, because, everyone is on the darn thing. Everyone except the little Nun I saw, and let’s face it, her conversations are of a more “divine” nature!
There was one girl who was extremely attractive. I noticed her right away. She looked a lot like Jennifer Aniston. Anyway she was walking towards our gate on her cell phone. Talking, talking, talking. She went up to the agent, passed her ticket to him, all the while talking. He passed her ticket and boarding pass back and she continued to talk. This continued right up, onto the plane, until the flight attendant asked her to please shut off her cell phone. No sooner had we touched down and the flight attendant welcomed us to Seattle and announced we could once again use our cell phone’s this young woman is back to talking. All the way to baggage claim and then the last I saw her she was still talking in the rental car line.
What is it with some people and cell phones?

Seattle
is beautiful and today we head off to Mount Rainier for a day and night. I’ve been here once before, but I had forgotten just how nice it is up here in the Northwest!