Cruising Alaska

Atlanta was fun but I would have preferred to have seen more of the city than I did - something I have done all too often. The weather was warm around 32 but with very high humidity which at times made it a little unpleasant.

 

So I wake up at 04:30 Monday morning to make my 7:05 flight to Vancouver via Dallas Fort Worth. Everything works well all connections luggage etc and I board the ship at 12:30. Not having eaten much I head for the Hakoah Club (family joke) for lunch and mooch around the ship until we sail at 16:00. Vancouver is such a beautiful city and even more so by water sailing away. I really should make an effort to visit the city again some time.

Dinner and an early night was order of the day as I had woken up at 01:30 local time.

 

Up early next morning and I head to the rear of the ship for breakfast. I then head for a cocktail and cooking demonstration which was a lot of fun. They explained the history of the word cocktail although I am not sure I believe them and cook Sushi, crab cakes and lobster all of which looked great and I did learn that with sushi the rough side of the Nori should be the rice side – live and learn.

 

A brief look at the art auction (all overpriced) and ice carving before lunch. After lunch I enter the Blackjack tournament and after the early lead I miss out on having enough chips to make the finals.

 

An hour in the spa – outside temperature 15 degrees spa 38 degrees – where I meet a guy that lives in Cherrybrook and works for the ATO, two American women and an American guy and we talk for an hour which was nice.

 

Just as I leave the spa there is a whale alongside the boat. Wasn’t performing but merely showing a little of its body and lots of its tail.

 

Back to the cabin for a late afternoon relax before dinner at Le Bistro inspired by the fact that the lobster dish which we saw cooked at the demonstration being available there.

 

A nice evening and an awesome moon:

I have spent most of day really relaxing watching the wilderness on both sides of the ship just float by.

 

Tomorrow's excursion is a float plane tour followed by a crab feast. I'm looking forward to the feast for sure not sure about the float plane.

7:00 next morning we dock in Ketchikan, a city of 8,000 permanent inhabitants and 5,500 seasonals who look after the two main industries, salmon and tourism. The population was 27,000 when there was 22 canneries (only 2 now) and a thriving timber and saw milling industry (now a park so  no timber harvesting)

There can often be 5 cruise ships in port on a day. A breakfast of bagel and lox - shouldn't have - and off for my tour.

Ketchikan the only international airport in the world without a road leading to it - can only be reached by a ferry - go figure.

 

Around 20 minutes on a De Havilland Beaver float plane. Built in 1958 this is one of 1630 such planes built of which 1000 are still in service.

It was a beautiful flight through the mountainous wilderness:

 

We landed at George's Inlet lodge where we learned about how to crack lobster claws and were treated to a great salad/lobster/cheesecake well second breakfast being only 10:30.

 

A bus ride back to Ketchikan and a walk around the town before heading back to the ship. The weather is amazing must be 22 degrees sunny and not a cloud in the sky.

 

That evening I have dinner and go to a show with acrobats who were previously with Cirque du Soleil. I went expecting little and it was amazingly good - really enjoyed it.

 

All in all a wonderful first port. 

 

Next morning we arrived at Juneau and I head up the Roberts Cable car 1800 feet above Juneau. Bald Eagle and short video about the history of the Native Americans in Alaska - very interesting. A walk around the town, capital of Alaska and 17,000 inhabitants.

 

I get back to the ship for lunch and head out for my whale watching and glacier tour. The weather is 23 degrees and sunny and everybody says this is amazing about 10 above normal. Luckily we see some whales:

All rather awesome. That night sushi/sashimi dinner and a relatively early night. We saw some Orca whales which only happens twice a month or thereabouts so that was special.

Next morning Skagway and I walk through town. Unfortunately the weather is inclement and despite one delay the helicopter and dog sledding tour is cancelled. I sign up for the zip lining tour over the rain forest. What a great choice:

Flying over the rain forest was such good. I've had the opportunity to Zipline before but never done it and am now kind of regretting that as it is such good fun. Basically flying fox from station to station each with different aspects speed, height etc. Over the waterfalls, creeks, trees - recommended!

Back to the ship for what will be two days at sea and Anchorage which I have booked a helicopter and sledding tour and hopefully the weather will be better.

Tonight going to Shabbat services - see who I meet.

More Soon
Regards to All
XD