Juneau, Alaska

Sunday, 26 Aug 2018 – At breakfast, the buffet was rather empty because most people were already off the ship.  Our “Whale Watching & Wildlife Quest” excursion didn’t meet until 11:15 AM – and this time we left our cabin earlier so that we would ready for whatever might happen.  Although on many of our cruises, numerous passengers reported seeing whales, we never had.  (Yes, we had seen the water spout from a long distance away, but it might also have been our imagination.)  This time, there was a money-back guarantee that we would see a whale!

We started with a 25-minute bus ride.  For a change, it was a sunny day – and we were still in Alaska.  We were told that Juneau receives 200 inches of snow, but a lot of it soon melts.  However, tides in Alaska are more drastic, with two low tides and two high tides every day.  From the bus, we had a good view of the Mendenhall Glacier.  The water around an island off the coast is being filled with sediment from Mendenhall Glacier; therefore, in 20 years the island will be connected to Juneau.

We boarded a very large trimaran (Allen Marine Tour) with the name “St. Juvenali” on the side, where we chose to sit downstairs, thinking it might be more comfortable.  Although Jesse had commented early-on that we had forgotten to bring binoculars, it turned out that they were available on seats for people to use.  Soon we heard that free coffee/cocoa and donut holes were provided, which we enjoyed.

Soon after we left the dock, the captain announced that a whale had been sighted earlier and might be up again for air soon.  About 12:45 PM we saw a humpback whale coasting along with part of its back mostly above water.  Then he dove, and we saw his tail go up!  The boat went through North Pass, a narrowing between Lincoln Island and Shelter Island, where the captain said whales like to frequent.  At 1:00 PM again we saw a whale, possibly the same one.  Then we saw another one or two.  We went as far as Little Island, where hundreds of sea lions congregated there and frolicked in the water.  At this point, our boat turned around.  We saw at least one more whale before pulling in to port.

At 2:50 PM we re-boarded the bus, which then headed back to the ship.  With our friends, we went to the Provence Dining Room again for dinner.  At 6:45 PM we left there and went to the Captain’s Circle (for returning passengers).  Jesse had asked if friends could come with us, so Val and Ed came, too.   Before the awards started, we danced to the Argentine band.  (It was the best dance music that band had played up to now!)  We enjoyed Sally’s favorite drink there: rum punch.  Then (at 8:00 PM) we went to the Wheelhouse Bar, where we danced until the band stopped for a break.

Skagway, Alaska

Saturday, 25 Aug 2018 – While eating breakfast at the Horizon Court, we talked a little with a nearby couple.  They love Alaska so much that this is their 11th Alaskan cruise!  Hmmm.

Our “Musher’s Camp & Sled Dog Experience” excursion wasn’t scheduled to meet until 12:15 PM.  Val and Ed taken the same excursion early this morning. 

As we left the ship at Skagway, we soon wished we had left earlier because we were meeting at the end of the pier – and it was a long way from where our ship was docked.  By the time we found our tour bus, we were almost the last ones to board. 

It was a small bus, with 14 passengers.  Our driver, Ben, was a joker, who entertained us with “Ben’s bad jokes,” which he said could be another name for our tour.  The bus passed through Skagway and then over a fiord, which was white-colored from glacier melt.  Ben said that the water was 600 feet deep there, and over 3,000 feet deep at its deepest point.

Dog Sled Ride

Finally, Ben stopped our bus at the entrance to the Musher’s Camp and our group boarded a 4x4 Unimog all-terrain vehicle, which took us up the hill to the dog park.  Ben told us that these vehicles had originally been built as military personnel carriers.  Upon arriving at the dog park, we were led to three vehicles (wagons, with wheels, in lieu of sleds) with a team of powerful Alaskan Huskies attached.  The wagons could each seat 6 people: 3 rows of 2 people in each row, with the driver in back.  The dogs were so eager to go that they were rearing up on their hind legs and barking.  We soon settled into one of the wagons, sitting in the middle row.  As the dogs pulled us, they often seemed to be running sideways as they put their strength into the reins, which is apparently normal.  What fun!  Sled dogs are smaller than people normally think.  We were told that size is less important than speed, intelligence, and good joints.  We stopped to give the dogs a break and the guides and Ben took photos of us with the dogs.  After finishing our “sled ride,” we were given the opportunity to pet the dogs.  Sally petted a few of them; Jesse did not.  Since it was raining lightly on and off, Sally ended up with wet dog hair on her hands!  (Jesse found it difficult not to say, “I told you so!”)

Scenic Overlook

Partway back down the hill, the all-terrain vehicle stopped at a dramatic look-out point over the Dyea tidal flats for photos, where we could see the valley many miles below us.  After a few minutes there, we rode the rest of the way down the hill.

Puppy Cuddling

After unloading, we were led to a small outdoor theater where we listened to an informative “Kennel Talk” given by one of the staff, and were given a tour of the training area where puppies would begin their sled dog training.  Next, we visited the area where litters of newborn puppies were kept in separate small pens with their mothers.  The smallest were only a few weeks old.  When Sally held one of those, he was obviously frightened and was shaking.  She felt so sorry for him, but others wanted to hold him, too, before he was put back down in the pen with his mother.  We enjoyed the whole experience!

          When we got back to the port, we took a closer look at the pier.  A Holland America cruise ship was taking up space at the end of the pier, closest to the city.  Therefore, we had to walk the length of that ship and then some to reach our ship, which took 10 or 15 minutes.  After boarding, we went directly to the buffet, where we enjoyed a little hot soup.  A little later, Jesse called Val and Ed and the four of us soon went to dinner.  They had taken a plane trip over glaciers this afternoon, which they also enjoyed.  Instead of dancing, they chose to see a movie in the theater.  Although Jesse wanted to dance, Sally was dead tired.  Before going to sleep, we watched some the news about Senator John McCain’s death on our stateroom TV.

At Sea

Thursday, 23 Aug 2018 – Today, we were scheduled for Hubbard Glacier, Scenic Cruising.  For breakfast we went to the Horizon Court.  This was our first time on Coral Princess.  They have three sinks for washing hands before entering the buffet area (as some of the other ships now have).  We had “the works” without having to think about how much it would cost, for a change.  Then we walked about the ship, to shops and the library.  We checked out books, knowing full well that we wouldn’t have time to read them.  Back in the room, Jesse called to have some of our complimentary beverages, provided to elite passengers, exchanged for water and vodka.

          After lunch, we crossed the central open area to get some ice cream and discovered a pool back in the covered area and resolved to try it sometime, thinking it might be warmer.

          In the late afternoon we were approaching Hubbard Glacier, while we were also dressing for formal dining night.  Shortly before we left for dinner, the glacier came into view.  It was huge!  Numerous chunks of ice that had broken off the glacier were floating in the water around the ship.  However, it was very foggy so any photos taken wouldn’t be very good.  At this point, the ship turned around.

          Afterwards, we met Val and Ed in front of the Provence Dining Room and asked Maitre D if he could change our seating arrangements, since we had been assigned to different tables!  (So far, the only thing on this trip that remained the way it was intended was our cabins, which were only two doors apart.)  Anyway, the Maitre D reassigned us to a table for four.  Actually the table seated 6 people, so we had extra room!  An alternative was to share a table with one or two other couples, which Sally rejected because she doesn’t hear conversations very well at large tables.  We enjoyed French onion soup, oyster Rockefeller, fish (Jesse) and shrimp (Sally), which we shared, with fruit cobbler for dessert.  We were hungry for good menu selections.

Formal Night

          After dinner, free champagne was served, which Jesse enjoyed.  We four then moved on to the Explorers’ Lounge for dancing to the Party Band Project 5, from St. Lucia.  They played mostly 1960’s popular music, not really ballroom dance music, which was mostly too slow for anything but rumbas.  When that group went on break, we moved on to the Wheelhouse Bar to the Blue Jade Quartet, who played more suitable ballroom dance music.  Anyway, it was fun.

Lamplugh Glacier

Friday, 24 Aug 2018 – For our second “at sea” day, we were scheduled for Glacier Bay, Scenic Cruising.  For breakfast we went to the Horizon Court again, where we sat near a couple from Adelaide, Australia.  Although we had considered swimming, Sally felt tired so we decided against it.  Soon after lunch, we saw Margerie Glacier from our balcony – we had been seeing ice fragments in the water around the ship while at our table in the Horizon Court.  Again, it was too foggy for good photos.  After an hour or so, we sailed pass the Lamplugh Glacier.  The fog had cleared somewhat, so we got better photos of that glacier.  A little later, we noticed that the indoor pool had netting over it; it was a good thing we hadn’t put on our swimsuits and walked more than halfway through the ship only to find it closed!

After dinner the four of us danced again.  All of the music that the Party Band Project 5 played seemed to have the same beat, usually a little too slow, though twice we danced the Cha Cha.  The Blue Jade Quartet was from Argentina and played lots of Latin ballroom music.  The two bands took their breaks at different times, so we would move to the other location for more dancing.  However, Sally started wearing out long before the bands finished for the night.  After a while, Val and Ed also tired.  Only Jesse could have danced the night away!

Whittier, Alaska

Wednesday, 22 Aug 2018 – Today, we were scheduled to take a 9-hour rail ride from Denali to Whittier and board the Coral Princess cruise ship.  Our alarm woke us at 5:30 AM, so that we could set out our small suitcases by the door by 6:00.  We ate our two cookies plus a few nuts for an early breakfast.  We planned to purchase a more substantial breakfast on the train.  By 7:20 AM, we were in the main lobby of the lodge, standing in line to board one of the buses to take us to the train depot. 

Once at the depot, we were pointed in the direction of St. Elias car toward the back of the train, where we had been assigned seats.  We settled into seats 5C and 5D.  Our guide on this car was Daryn.  Although the seats were very comfy, the air was a little cold; Sally kept her sweatshirt hood over her head and her neck cushion across her legs.  Besides Daryn, a second young man (Grant) was taking orders for drinks, snacks, and reservations for the dining car.  Daryn was originally from Naperville, IL, but was extremely knowledgeable about Alaska and the sights we were passing.

At 10:45 AM we went downstairs to the dining car, where Jesse ordered blueberry pancakes and Sally ordered tacos with egg & bacon.  We shared the meals, with Jesse getting a little more than his half.  The breakfast was very good.  At about 1:30 PM, our train stopped for another group to board.  We assumed that Val and Ed were among them.  We texted them and eventually we heard from Val, who responded, ”See you on the ship.”  By 1:15 PM or so, the sun came out.  Being away from the mountains, the temperature inside our railroad car became warmer.

Jesse asked Daryn if he remembered our granddaughter, Mary Kate, who had worked on this train last summer.  He said that he remembered her and that she was very nice and did a good job there.

At one point an hour or two before Anchorage, the train stopped and several Princess employees boarded.  They would be completing our boarding process in advance to facilitate our embarkation. 

Although, we would soon be meeting with one of the Princess reps, Grant said it would be okay for us to go ahead to the dining car for a late lunch.  We sat with another couple from Boston, MA, one of the five states Jesse has yet to visit.  Jesse ordered chili and Sally, clam chowder.  During lunch, one of the Princess reps stopped by our dining table to start our cruise ship boarding process; however, we had left our boarding passes at our coach seats, so she completed our boarding process after we returned to the coach.

Later, we rode beside the ocean, where some of the passengers saw a beluga whale near the coast, though we didn’t actually see it.  We rode by lovely mountains and glaciers.  For a while, the sun shone directly on us and the sunlight was blinding, but that passed.  Eventually, the train went through two long tunnels.  (We had been bussed through them previously in September, 2013 before boarding a cruise ship to Asia.)  At 5:30 PM, the Coral Princess came into view at port in Whittier, and the train came to a stop.  It had been a great ride, with a glass dome overhead and an excellent narrator. 

Since the Princess rep had already checked us in and issued our cabin keys, we were allowed to go directly through security to board the ship.  Being elite Princess passengers, we were steered to the short security line.  Soon we were in our cabin, D212 on Deck 9, the Dolphin deck.  Our luggage was already in our room, which normally never happens.  Although we were exhausted, Sally was also very tired of sitting; therefore, she unpacked.

We met our cabin steward, Hedy; her friendly smiles made us think that she should be working on an Oceania cruise ship.  At 7:45 PM, we went to the inevitable safety drill, where we saw Val and Ed from a distance.  Soon we talked with them and went to Horizon Court to eat dinner together.  No dancing or shows for tonight – we went right to sleep!