An Alaskan Cruise.
Many acquaintances of ours prefer to travel by going on cruises. We have little recent understanding of what a cruise is like, so we signed up for a cruise from Seward, Alaska, to Vancouver, B.C. We needed some advice from our friends to understand what options to sign up for. We learned that lacking a "drink package" doesn't mean that you are restricted to tap water, and that lacking a "meal package" doesn't mean you will be restricted to hot dogs or spam. We signed up for neither and enjoyed a wide range of eating choices. Many choices also exist for accommodations. We signed up for one of the few remaining exterior view cabins on level 3 (out of 10 levels) and found it completely satisfactory.
Main dining room on board.
We had enough frequent flier miles on AA to get us a free flight from Denver to Anchorage, AK; however it required us to fly by way of Dallas (!). I have discovered that American Airlines does this to you whenever you want to use your free miles; thus, I will be canceling my AA credit card. Anchorage is surrounded by beautiful scenery, but the city itself is rather flat and plain. Thus, after arriving late, we only stayed overnight and left in the morning for Seward on a scenic bus. Seward has a bustling harbor for fishermen and cruise ships; it also includes very extensive camp grounds, almost completely occupied. Being a boat guy, I arranged our room on the harbor and walked the docks to admire the wide range of boat types tied up there. We also found a short scenic hiking trail through thick forest just a few blocks off main street.
Our Seward hotel (brown) in the background; yacht harbor in foreground.
Looking across the bay from Seward.
Close approach to a coastal glacier. We had a local pilot on board and the ship moved very slow among the floating ice.
Main street Skagway. No traffic; no traffic lights. This town would not exist if not for tourists. A gateway for the gold rush of the 1890's; now a gateway for tours of the Yukon.
Alaska and the Canadian Yukon are vast territories with very few people (very hearty people to endure the climate).
Two cruise ships docked at and towering over Skagway. While in Skagway we took a tour into Canada requiring passports. We had forgotten ours, and I had to run a mile back to the ship and return in time for our tour.
Visitors kayaking near Hoonah. We sea kayaked at Juneau and Ketchikan. Wearing rain gear and maneuvering in the narrow kayaks made it hard to take photos.
Instead, at Hoonah we went for a long walk to the nearby town and followed a forest trail.
A pretty city park we found in Ketchikan. It was good to stretch our legs and get away from the tourist shops.
Downtown Ketchikan. Located further south, the climate here is milder than much of Alaska, but still subject to severe storms.
When our cruise ship (or almost any cruise ship) pulled into harbor, we were impressed with how huge they are; almost a thousand feet long and standing high above their surroundings. Being first-timers, we were initially intimidated upon boarding, but a diagram of the ships layout, deck by deck, quickly made it all familiar. I had served in the US Navy, but the ships I served on held only about 200 persons compared to the approximately 3000 on this vessel (2100 passengers & 950 crew).
The luxury and efficiency of the ship service was amazing. Our cabin was cleaned and organized twice daily. Cleaning went on constantly throughout the ship. Sterility was emphasized: hand sanitizer provided before entering eating areas. Many activities were provided all day every day: movies, live shows, fitness machines, games, library, walking track, archery, bars & lounges, lectures, tours of ship departments, and .... all day eating options.
When in port, excursions (at extra cost) were available. We went kayaking in Juneau and Ketchikan and went on a bus tour into the Canadian Yukon out of Skagway. The bus tour was a disappointment, too much sitting and too many tourist attractions. We like to stay active and see the scenery and how people in these areas live. Shops and attractions focused specifically on tourists are a distraction/ eye sore. The ship stopped at Icy Point/Hoonah where the landing is over a mile from the town, giving us a nice walking opportunity.
Jellyfish at the aquarium in Stanley Park; the place was mobbed on a weekday. Vancouver is very popular with tourists.
Vancouver as seen from the Maritime Museum across False Creek. A Canadian metropolis with many skyscrapers and a bustling downtown.
Granville Island has an amazing number of shops, dining, and entertainment options. Please don't try to drive to the island; public transportation is readily available.
Vancouver is a beautiful city. How many cities are there where you can be looking at a yacht harbor in the foreground, skyscrapers in the mid-distance, and snow-capped mountains as a backdrop? Our hotel was a short walk from the cruise ship landing in downtown. To get to the airport we only had to walk two blocks to the commuter train. A good way to get an initial feel for a city is to catch the hop-on hop-off bus. Being a boat guy, I also sought out the Maritime Museum and a ride on a small ferry to get there. Our bus driver listed Granville Island, Stanley Park and Gastown as the most interesting neighborhoods. He may be right. The city is surrounded by yacht harbors; float planes are frequently taking off and landing on nearby channels. Great views are available almost everywhere. If you stay in Vancouver long enough, there are many other attractions nearby including skiing.
We had enough frequent flier miles on AA to get us a free flight from Denver to Anchorage, AK; however it required us to fly by way of Dallas (!). I have discovered that American Airlines does this to you whenever you want to use your free miles; thus, I will be canceling my AA credit card. Anchorage is surrounded by beautiful scenery, but the city itself is rather flat and plain. Thus, after arriving late, we only stayed overnight and left in the morning for Seward on a scenic bus. Seward has a bustling harbor for fishermen and cruise ships; it also includes very extensive camp grounds, almost completely occupied. Being a boat guy, I arranged our room on the harbor and walked the docks to admire the wide range of boat types tied up there. We also found a short scenic hiking trail through thick forest just a few blocks off main street.
When our cruise ship (or almost any cruise ship) pulled into harbor, we were impressed with how huge they are; almost a thousand feet long and standing high above their surroundings. Being first-timers, we were initially intimidated upon boarding, but a diagram of the ships layout, deck by deck, quickly made it all familiar. I had served in the US Navy, but the ships I served on held only about 200 persons compared to the approximately 3000 on this vessel (2100 passengers & 950 crew).
The luxury and efficiency of the ship service was amazing. Our cabin was cleaned and organized twice daily. Cleaning went on constantly throughout the ship. Sterility was emphasized: hand sanitizer provided before entering eating areas. Many activities were provided all day every day: movies, live shows, fitness machines, games, library, walking track, archery, bars & lounges, lectures, tours of ship departments, and .... all day eating options.
When in port, excursions (at extra cost) were available. We went kayaking in Juneau and Ketchikan and went on a bus tour into the Canadian Yukon out of Skagway. The bus tour was a disappointment, too much sitting and too many tourist attractions. We like to stay active and see the scenery and how people in these areas live. Shops and attractions focused specifically on tourists are a distraction/ eye sore. The ship stopped at Icy Point/Hoonah where the landing is over a mile from the town, giving us a nice walking opportunity.
Vancouver is a beautiful city. How many cities are there where you can be looking at a yacht harbor in the foreground, skyscrapers in the mid-distance, and snow-capped mountains as a backdrop? Our hotel was a short walk from the cruise ship landing in downtown. To get to the airport we only had to walk two blocks to the commuter train. A good way to get an initial feel for a city is to catch the hop-on hop-off bus. Being a boat guy, I also sought out the Maritime Museum and a ride on a small ferry to get there. Our bus driver listed Granville Island, Stanley Park and Gastown as the most interesting neighborhoods. He may be right. The city is surrounded by yacht harbors; float planes are frequently taking off and landing on nearby channels. Great views are available almost everywhere. If you stay in Vancouver long enough, there are many other attractions nearby including skiing.
posted by Wayne | 2:33 PM
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