SPIRIT to ALASKA May 8 - 15 Review ... LOVED IT!!!

silverfoxcruiser · May 23, 2012

I am enjoying your review, Lambie.

I am, too, Lambie!! Can't wait for the glaciers and Tracy Arms. Incredible, amazing, overwhelming sights, too beautiful for words -- Not a word I use very often, but AWESOME to behold and experience! Silver

And, by the way, you can keep going. I'm sure no one is bored!!:rolleyes::p

belkin · May 23, 2012

Thanks for the great review, it is driving me crazy to have to wait until August to go :D :D

Glad to hear they have blankets and hot chocolate...this just sounds so cool !!!!

Looks like you had a great time. Hope I can get up early and stay up late, maybe I will need an energy drink instead of hot chocolate!! lol

jetsfan · May 23, 2012

Loving this! So excited for 7/31!

camperhawk · May 23, 2012

Terrific review! Whe are we gonna see HOST Lambie..think it's inevitable and appropriate!

KDilly · May 23, 2012

Believe it or not, that is the exact table (the round one) my wife and I sat at on our previous Alaskan cruise!!! Awesome! (Hey, I'm excited by the upcoming cruise... so sue me. :p )

That room is beautiful!

-KD

rtw68 · May 23, 2012

Great review! :D

This cruise is on my bucket list! Can't wait to see more.

JaniceB · May 23, 2012

Do you know when the Napolean room used? I wondered what it was when we were on the cruise. I think it would be better for the meet and greets than the casino where the hold the pay for meet and greet.

MilliesMom · May 23, 2012

Do you know when the Napolean room used? I wondered what it was when we were on the cruise. I think it would be better for the meet and greets than the casino where the hold the pay for meet and greet.

http://www.zydecocruiser.net/CarnivalSpirit/Hawaii/Sea3/index1.htm

(lots of photos of the Spirit on this site including two of the Napolean room).

The Napolean room is a small dining room just off the main dining room. We were seated in there at dinner each night for one of the cruises were on. Not my favorite spot in the dining room as you miss out on seeing the activities going on (singing waiters etc). Our TA requested this part of the dining room for his group. The main dining room was packed too, so I don't think they use this area just for overflow.

MilliesMom · May 23, 2012

http://www.zydecocruiser.net/CarnivalSpirit/Hawaii/Sea3/index1.htm
(lots of photos of the Spirit on this site including two of the Napolean room).

The Napolean room is a small dining room just off the main dining room. We were seated in there at dinner each night for one of the cruises were on. Not my favorite spot in the dining room as you miss out on seeing the activities going on (singing waiters etc). Our TA requested this part of the dining room for his group. The main dining room was packed too, so I don't think they use this area just for overflow.

Just realized there are numerous photos of the inside of the Napolean room on the link. It does have a door that goes into the lounge area and entry to main dining room. The door is normally kept closed so that diners enter the dining room thru the main doors. If you come in thru the main dining room, there are a few steps down to the Napolean Room. If you come in thru the room's door ... it is a flat surface to walk in.

LambKnuckles · May 23, 2012

Thanks for the review!

I cant wait to get on deck with my bubbakeg full of hot chocolate and just take in the scenary.

You're welcome... I have a BubbaKeg too!!! I love the capacity!!!

I am, too, Lambie!! Can't wait for the glaciers and Tracy Arms. Incredible, amazing, overwhelming sights, too beautiful for words -- Not a word I use very often, but AWESOME to behold and experience! Silver
And, by the way, you can keep going. I'm sure no one is bored!!:rolleyes::p

I'm getting in this... The rest of the photos for that day are uploaded and ready... I doubt I'll write much, but I'll post many!

THANKS, I hope the photos don't bore many!!!

Thanks for the great review, it is driving me crazy to have to wait until August to go :D :D

Glad to hear they have blankets and hot chocolate...this just sounds so cool !!!!

Looks like you had a great time. Hope I can get up early and stay up late, maybe I will need an energy drink instead of hot chocolate!! lol

An energy drink is PERFECT... but the hot cocoa is WONDERFUL and toasty!!!

LambKnuckles · May 23, 2012

Your review is so much fun! I'm really enjoying it and all your marvelous photos. Can't wait for the next chapter!

I'll be getting into the Tracy Arm day, soon!!! PROMISE!!

Loving this! So excited for 7/31!

THANKS!!! Your day is coming along!!! I booked this cruise over 20 months before... I thought it would never get here!!!

Terrific review! Whe are we gonna see HOST Lambie..think it's inevitable and appropriate!

Hee hee hee... Glad you like the Review!!! I'm trying to remember everything...

Host Lambie... Hummmmmm... hummmmm... ;)

sarahc78 · May 23, 2012

Great photos!

pbmsmile · May 23, 2012

Can not wait for Tracy Arms photos!! I keep trying to decide if THIS is the trip to surprise my husband with for his 50th July 17th, 2013.....:)

LambKnuckles · May 23, 2012

That room is beautiful!

-KD

It really is... and it's just a curtain or door apart from the MDR. I really loved looking in there, but never did see it in use...

Great review! :D

This cruise is on my bucket list! Can't wait to see more.

I hope you do it!!! It is worth it!!! Just that it's cold weather and you have to plan a bit more. And pack a bit more, not knowing how weather can change...

Do you know when the Napolean room used? I wondered what it was when we were on the cruise. I think it would be better for the meet and greets than the casino where the hold the pay for meet and greet.

I think they use it for the Chef's dinner... and when they need it for overflow in the MDR. It would be a great gathering room!

LambKnuckles · May 23, 2012

http://www.zydecocruiser.net/CarnivalSpirit/Hawaii/Sea3/index1.htm
(lots of photos of the Spirit on this site including two of the Napolean room).

The Napolean room is a small dining room just off the main dining room. We were seated in there at dinner each night for one of the cruises were on. Not my favorite spot in the dining room as you miss out on seeing the activities going on (singing waiters etc). Our TA requested this part of the dining room for his group. The main dining room was packed too, so I don't think they use this area just for overflow.

I always LOVE Zydie's photos and reviews!!! He remembers LOTS and captures LOTS!!!

Just realized there are numerous photos of the inside of the Napolean room on the link. It does have a door that goes into the lounge area and entry to main dining room. The door is normally kept closed so that diners enter the dining room thru the main doors. If you come in thru the main dining room, there are a few steps down to the Napolean Room. If you come in thru the room's door ... it is a flat surface to walk in.

Here's the door from the Lounge...

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and you can see the curtains in the back of the room that lead to the MDR, starboard side.

Great photos!

Thank you!!!

LambKnuckles · May 23, 2012

Can not wait for Tracy Arms photos!! I keep trying to decide if THIS is the trip to surprise my husband with for his 50th July 17th, 2013.....:)

I did it for my 59th... and LOVED it!!! If he has a great camera, he'll love taking photos. if he doesn't, have the rest of the family pitch in and get him a great camera for his birthday and give him the trip and they can give him the camera to use!!! Also, binoculars are helpful and wonderful to have!!! So, if he has the camera, binocs are a nice accompanying gift... or Long jongs, or a hat with ear covers...

my3boysmom · May 23, 2012

just making sure I don't miss a thing!

LambKnuckles · May 23, 2012

Before I start... Now that I'm thinking about it... the medical evacuation took place after the Tracy Arms day... I must have had a Senior moment there... so it happened on "this" day:

Thursday... Tracy Arm...

This morning, I woke and dressed and left the cabin before 7AM. We all agreed to meet at 7:30 for breakfast, so I wandered a bit before then. I wore long johns under my jeans today, knowing that it would be an outside day of photography. Whether I am on the Lido Deck or on Deck 3 or on the balcony, I'd be outside... And a long john camisole under a tshirt and a fleece pullover on top, is perfect!!

At breakfast, and inside, I can tie the fleece around my waist, since the temps are very comfortable, but not too warm.

As I walk along the Lido Deck, in the restaurant areas, the chairs are lined up by the crew at the windows. The glass isn't truly clean, but for those who can't tolerate cold, or those without cabin windows or balconies... this is their front row seating!!! nothing it full this early in the morning, but I know they will be!

We're scheduled to reach the opening to Tracy Arm around noon. I remembered to charge my camera batteries last night. I'm all ready for a GRAND DAY!!!

The weather is a bit overcast, and we have land on both sides of the ship.

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As we cruise in, the scenery is BEAUTIFUL. The high clouds are dusting the mountain tops with fresh snow... the islands are majestic...

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like tress growing out of no where and small and large and amazing!!

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LambKnuckles · May 23, 2012

We spot some kayakers paddling and we assume they are checking their traps. We can't see any cabins or homesteads, but I don't think these are just paddling for fun!!!

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The waterfalls and trees and landscape is just wonderful!!!

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LambKnuckles · May 23, 2012

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We do make the opening the Tracy Arm right on time. Sawyer Island is at the mouth of the Arm... THERE it is off the Starboard side... This is when the Captain and the Pilot from the wilderness area decide which arm we take. The south Sawyer Glacier is the one we choose -- which is the "better" of the two, from what we're told... Since we're the first ship up, they haven't charted how think the ice will be or how close we can go, but we're turning in and heading forward.

The speed SLOWS!!! We hardly make a wake. I'm sure this is for preservation, as well as the pleasure of the photographers on board! Also the naturalist can only speak via the outside loud speakers in certain areas. There are rules here in the Wilderness area... But there for the wildlife and keeping it all beautiful for us and future cruise to see!!!

OK... now just skim through or fast forward... here goes a BUNCH of photos....

The naturalist explains and you can see the chatter on the cliff / walls. This is where a glacier moves down the river, and cuts into the sides with rocks caught up in the ice. The chatter is the carvings caused by this. Also, she talks about the tetonic plates and earth movement and how U shaped valleys are formed by glaciers and V shaped are from rushing rivers.

She further explains that the Tracy Arms is also called Fords Terror, because a man named Ford, when this was originally discovered, went up a small inlet when the tide was low... but the tide came in and it formed a RUSH and his terror trip of getting back onto the ship... Or something like that...

The Endicott Arm is the north side -- it's the alternative depending on weather and ice. We did not do this, although both are 30 miles long and end at a glacier. Endicott's glacier is a receeding glacier and not as magnificent.

OK... take all that in stride, as I can completely have it all wrong... But that's what I remember two weeks after hearing it once! There's truth in there somewhere... ...and I remeber Holkam Bay, too. I think that's the first body of water we're in before we decide to turn into the Arm... (Remember my name, LambKnuckles... Daddy said, since I was cuddly and sweet as a Lamb, but silly and goofy as a KnuckleHead!!!)