2012 July 6-20 Alaska Land and Cruise Adventure Review with LOTS of photos!

[WalleyeLJ]

We had a few minutes before we went into Chops, so I grabbed a few shots of the Schooner Bar. In addition to being one of the biggest bars on the ship, it's usually very popular at night & after hours thanks to the piano player set up in the middle of the bar. Most nights they can be found singing a variety of tunes as piano men/women are apt to do, along with some (often quite amusing) help from the audience or even better an unexpected duet!

 

 

 

The main Schooner Bar as you approach from the atrium

 

 

 

 

 

 

This cruise's Piano Man, and a string accompanist with some soothing pre dinner music

 

 

 

 

 

 

A broader view of the room, including the bar top and the fantastic windows offer wonderful views - be it in Alaska, the Caribbean, or Australia!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The entrance to Chops, which is located on the right just before the bar top. Giovanni's is located on the same side, but after the bar top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, let's take a closer look at the menu for this evenings feast!

 

 

 

L.J.

[WalleyeLJ]

While the menu for Chops is fixed, there is a good variety of selections to choose from that would allow you to try it more than a couple times during the week if you wanted. While there is an additional fee to eat here, it's more than worth it our opinion. You select you your main dish (beef, chicken, seafood, etc.) The sides are served family style, with no limit on how many you can order, so it's a nice time to try new things!

 

 

 

The Menu Display Board

 

 

 

 

 

 

A closer look...

 

 

 

The Appetizers (LOVE the Cheese & Onion (aka French Onion) soup. I usually have two bowls)!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entrees & Sides (Filet all the way!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Desserts (WAY better than the regular RCI choices) & Specialty Coffees

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally...it's time to eat!

 

 

 

L.J.

[WalleyeLJ]

For appetizers we had Shrimp Cocktail, the Dungeness Crab & shrimp cake, the Cheese & Onion soup and the Chops signature salad. Bev, my Mom & I had the Filet, and Dad had the Porterhouse. Our sides included - the giant baked potato, whipped mashed potatoes, asparagus, green beans & onion rings. The photos aren't terrific, but I was using my point & shoot in low light and starved, but here are a few looks at the food...

 

 

 

Mmmm... Filet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big Baked Potato

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mighty Porterhouse...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the sides

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were fortunate with an early seating to be able to sit window side (unlike Giovanni's Table), which is a wonderful experience, especially in Alaska. While Chops won't take table location requests in advance, going early (6-6:60pm) helps increase the odds of getting one of the window seats!

 

 

 

L.J.

[WalleyeLJ]

Dinner at Chops usually runs around 2-2.5 hours or so, depending on how much food you eat, and how much talking you do. It's very relaxing and much more intimate than the MDR, although if you have a large group (10+), they can easily accommodate that as well. The dinner times probably fluctuate based on the cruise, but seating times generally seem to run 6p-9:30pm, with seating in half hour increments. It's one of the items you can pre-book before you ever board the ship on most if not all RCI ships that have a Chops on them, which if what I did for this trip.

 

 

 

So how was the food? This is the only picture I was able to get of both my parents smiling on the whole trip, if that tells you something...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Desserts! First up - Chocolate Mud Pie...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crème Brulee - lit up tableside!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passionberry Duo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuffed to the gills and feeling a fantastic food buzz, we headed out to check out the evening show in the Aurora Theater. Before we left, however, I grabbed a couple of shots of the kitchen area, which is open to the dining room and is located on the far right as you first enter Chops...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sigh...I'm SO hungry right now...lol!!!

[DizzyDallasDi]

Loved reading the offering on the menu in Chops. As I fantacized over each course, I imagined what I would have ordered:

• Asian Inspired Ahi Tuna
  
• 
  

[DizzyDallasDi]

Sorry....editing timed out before I could finish...

 

Loved reading the offerings on the menu in Chops. As I drooled over each course, I fantasized :D about what I would have ordered:

Appetizer:

· Asian Inspired Ahi Tuna

Main Course:

· 7 oz. petite filet mignon cooked rare

Sides:

· Steamed Asparagus

· Crimini Mushrooms and Leek

· Classic Bernaise (to pour on the steak)

Dessert:

· Passionberry Duo

Specialty Coffee:

· Kioki Coffee

[mycruise2000]

Aex next led us into the river for a short while, then moved ahead just a bit to scout around the bend.

 

 

 

 

He came back with a smile and had us cross the river and move up on the far bank. Down around the bend in the river, a large male was laid out, sleeping in the middle of the riverbed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We moved a bit closer, but the big bear never stirred...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here was where we were able to pause a moment to get some good photos ops, including photos of each group with the bear in the background.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One more close-up shot, and we headed off again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we had already seen a lot of bears, they had all been spread out so far. Now we were going to start to see several bears together in fairly close proximity...to each other, and us...

 

 

L.J.

Hello L.J,

 

Awesome review so far and I never thought one could get so close to bears. Its should be an experience.

 

BTW, what camera Gear did you Carry. I see you are a cannonian and I am a Nikonian. Do you have all Canon lenses?

[WalleyeLJ]

Sorry....editing timed out before I could finish...

 

 

Loved reading the offerings on the menu in Chops. As I drooled over each course, I fantasized :D about what I would have ordered:

 

 

 

Appetizer:

 

 

· Asian Inspired Ahi Tuna

 

 

 

Main Course:

 

 

· 7 oz. petite filet mignon cooked rare

 

 

 

Sides:

 

 

· Steamed Asparagus

 

 

· Crimini Mushrooms and Leek

 

 

· Classic Bernaise (to pour on the steak)

 

 

Dessert:

 

 

· Passionberry Duo

 

 

 

Specialty Coffee:

 

 

· Kioki Coffee

 

 

We could LIVE in Chops:D! Bev had never had Bernaise sauce or lobster before we started cruising, and now she loves both! I know a lot of folks say the food on cruise ships is not as good as it use to be, but for me it's still a great adventure that pays off more often than not. We're not nearly as willing to try new foods in the real world as we are on a cruise!

 

L.J.

[WalleyeLJ]

Hello L.J,

 

Awesome review so far and I never thought one could get so close to bears. Its should be an experience.

 

BTW, what camera Gear did you Carry. I see you are a cannonian and I am a Nikonian. Do you have all Canon lenses?

 

mycruise,

 

I haven't heard it put that way before, but I guess I am a Canonian:D. I have three Canon DSLRs, and a Canon digicam/P&S. I've got a 7D, 50D, and Rebel XTi, and a Canon SX40HS. Most of my lenses are Canon (I primarily use my Canon 18-200mm IS and 70-200mm IS f/2.8 lenses), but I do have a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, a Sigma 105mm Macro f/2.8, and my big baby - a Sigma 150-500mm OS.

 

L.J.

[WalleyeLJ]

Our fantastic dinner at Chops complete, we made our way to the Aurora Theater to check the evening's entertainment. Along the way I grabbed a couple of shots of the activity in the always busy main atrium and bar.

 

 

 

Party crowd!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Atrium Bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

On our way to the theater, we cut through the Casino Royale (pics later) as we decided we'd sit in the upper balcony of the theater this time around. After leaving the Casino, we passed by the new Quill & Compass English Pub. At least before we embarked, it seemed like a lot of people felt it was too hard to find, to the point some folks said they never even saw it. While we didn't really go there during the trip, it looked cool and was packed with some sort of cruise director staff led event.

 

 

 

Quill & Compass

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brew Pub Party crowd

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting floor...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our brief tour over - we head for the Aurora Theater balcony!

 

 

 

L.J.

[WalleyeLJ]

While the location and layout of most cruise ship theaters seems to be pretty standard, they do all have their own charms, and the Aurora Theater is no exception. Thanks to my parents, and my Dad in particular, we saw pretty much every main event evening show on the trip.

 

 

 

A fairly wide shot of the main floor seating and stage

 

 

 

 

 

 

A close up of the stage & piano

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shimmering, shiny, colorful curtain close up...

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main performer for the night, who's name I forgot, apparently is fairly we'll known in entertainment circles, given all the pre performance photos of him with people I did know (like Jessica Simpson). He was sort of a jack of all trades/genres musically, and a pretty good pianist. Mom & Bev thought he was kind of skeezy...I think it was the tan & silver fox mullet...

 

 

 

Some show shots...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, entertained but exhausted, we made our way back to the room to get some rest and get ready for our last port of call - Ketchikan!!!

 

 

 

L.J.

[sue402001]

What??? Your last port of call already? :eek:

 

Can't wait to hear what you did in Ketchikan LJ.

[Jdfireman]

Hello to the OP awsome review and pics.. I would like a chance to ask you some questions on some of your land trips, the cruise and what cameras you guys used. I am taking the RCL plundge and going to Alaska Let me know if you would like me to post questions on here or send you a e mail

thank you

Justin

[WalleyeLJ]

What??? Your last port of call already? :eek:

 

Can't wait to hear what you did in Ketchikan LJ.

 

Sue,

 

You know, when this one is done, I could always go back and recap our first 11 day Alaska trip in 2009...;)

 

L.J.

[WalleyeLJ]

Hello to the OP awsome review and pics.. I would like a chance to ask you some questions on some of your land trips, the cruise and what cameras you guys used. I am taking the RCL plundge and going to Alaska Let me know if you would like me to post questions on here or send you a e mail

thank you

Justin

 

Hey Justin,

 

Please feel free to ask away all the questions you'd like on here. I'll also be glad to put out my email for folks as well, but if we keep them here, other folks may get answers to questions they hadn't gotten around to asking or didn't know to ask.

 

L.J.

[WalleyeLJ]

Hey All,

 

FYI to folks following this thread, we did Float plane into Misty Fjords, rented a car and drove up into the Yukon in Skagway, went out with Harv & Marv and went to the Red Dog Saloon, fished/whale watched ISP, kayaked Aialik Bay in Kenai Fjords, took the Alaskan RR from Seward to Anchorage, and rented a car and drove up to Talkeetna and Denali for three days in 2009. So...if you have any questions about those things/areas, I can give you at least some info if you're interested.

 

 

L.J.

[WalleyeLJ]

So, Day 6 of our cruise, and our last port of call (I don't count debarkation in Vancouver), the charming city of Ketchikan. Last time here we spent the morning with Island Wings flying into Misty Fjords National Monument, but today... we are here to catch salmon in the Salmon Capital of the WORLD!!! So, as Bev said in her travel blog...Think Pink(s)!!!

 

 

 

A couple of views of the mountains heading into Ketchikan. Being a still active logging community, you can clearly see the evidence of clear cutting on large portions of some of the mountains surrounding Ketchikan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the many logging or shipping cranes and businesses located along the waterfront all around Ketchikan

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ketchikan Airport is located right along the water's edge. It's cool watching the planes take off and land from the deck of the ship. Here's an Air Alaska flight taxing in right after landing...

 

 

 

 

 

 

For our final Alaskan fishing adventure, we had a 4 hour charter set up with Captain Jim and the "Miss Parker" for Ketchikan Salmon Fishing. The great thing about this particular trip was that Capt Jim literally meet us where we got off the boat. While Radiance was tied up on the outside of the pier, inside was part of the small boat harbor, and the Miss Parker was tied up in one of the slips. So within 3 or so minutes of getting off Radiance, we were stepping aboard and heading out to the fishing grounds! Below is a view of some of the homes and buildings we passed on our way from the Ketchikan waterfront out to the fishing grounds, a run of about 15 minutes or so...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time to go fishing!!!

 

 

 

L.J.

[DizzyDallasDi]

So, Day 6 of our cruise, and our last port of call (I don't count debarkation in Vancouver), the charming city of Ketchikan. Last time here we spent the morning with Island Wings flying into Misty Fjords National Monument . . .

 

In 2009 I also took Island Wings to Misty Fjords. I was there in late May -- when were you there? Wouldn't it be crazy if we were on the same excursion?

[WalleyeLJ]

In 2009 I also took Island Wings to Misty Fjords. I was there in late May -- when were you there? Wouldn't it be crazy if we were on the same excursion?

 

Di,

 

We WERE there the last week in May in 2009...on Radiance! May 24th to be exact. We took the first trip of the day into the Fjords. When did you all go? All I remember was that there was a woman and three teenage girls that flew out with us on our trip...

 

L.J.

[WalleyeLJ]

So, after the 15 minute or so run out the fishing grounds, Capt Jim found an area with a few boats he recognized and fish finder readout he liked, and quickly set up. When I asked him what our chances were of catching a few fish, he just smiled and said that wouldn't be a problem...

 

 

 

A close up look at some of our gear for the folks into such things (aka my Dad!)...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bevy ready!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dad ready!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A some of our neighbors (aka The Competition!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So...the stage was set for the final winner take all in the Weslowski Family Fishing Challenge/Olympics! Totally flat water, a bit of warm sun, air so warm I could get down to a t-shirts again today with no problem. Scoreboard is as follows:

 

Day 1 - Fishing the Kenai

 

Results: Tie (L.J. 5 fish, biggest Dolly Varden, Dad 5 fish, biggest Rainbow trout)

 

Day 2 - Fishing Skagway

 

Result - Winner = Bev (biggest King!, plus most fish hooked)

 

Day 3 - Icy Straight Point

 

Result - Winner - Dad (biggest and most halibut!)

 

Day - Ketchikan - TBD...

 

 

So...the anticipation builds...

 

 

and builds...

 

 

and builds...

 

 

 

NO fish...

 

 

Two hours into our 4 hour trip (mind you the only fishing trip on the cruise that wasn't all day), and we haven't even had a hit, or for that matter seen anyone else catch but one or two in other boats. Capt Jim has been working hard - watching the finder, changing depths, changing lures, running speeds. Eventually he gives up on the first spot, runs a few minutes back towards town, and sets up again.

 

Not a blessed thing is working...

 

Capt Jim is beginning to look a little concerned, my Dad is getting antsy. Bev...she's just relaxing...

 

 

 

 

 

So, what happens next? Who will win Day 4, and likely the Gold Medal in the Weslowski Fishing Olympics? Or will Alaska throw a shutout and deny the Weslowski's even one little salmon, in the Salmon Capital of the World?

 

Stay tuned...

 

 

 

L.J.

[Assateague Island Princes]

Aw, c'mon, LJ! You've dropped the line, set the hook and we're all just waiting to be reeled in;).....drum roll please - and the winner is.........?????

[DizzyDallasDi]

Di,

 

We WERE there the last week in May in 2009...on Radiance! May 24th to be exact. We took the first trip of the day into the Fjords. When did you all go? All I remember was that there was a woman and three teenage girls that flew out with us on our trip...

 

L.J.

 

Missed y'all by 2 days....I was there on May 26th on Zuiderdam.

Edited January 13, 2013 by DizzyDallasDi

[WalleyeLJ]

Aw, c'mon, LJ! You've dropped the line, set the hook and we're all just waiting to be reeled in;).....drum roll please - and the winner is.........?????

 

 

Then, out of no where - BAM!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, ok. Not exactly the prize catch we were looking for, BUT we had finally made the transition from "fishing" to "catching"!!! Captain Jim seemed to visibly relax, as though he knew the skunk was finally off the boat (it was probably the banana that Bev brought for a snack - notoriously bad luck on a fishing vessel!!!).

 

As though they knew the game was afoot (or talon as it were), the true locals that dotted the shoreline, Bald Eagles, appeared to want in on the fun too. Here's a shot of one of these locals trying to get in on our fishing tournament. Mind you I wasn't really prepared for what happened, so the photos aren't as good as I had hoped, since I figured this would be a once in a lifetime kind of photo op...

 

 

 

Hit...

 

 

 

 

 

 

and...

 

 

 

 

 

 

...run!!! Or smash and grab - whichever you prefer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, first fish of the day caught, eagles swooping around getting theirs, surely we were about to get into some salmon any minute, right?!?!!?

 

 

 

L.J.

[WalleyeLJ]

Missed y'all by 2 days....I was there on May 26th on Zuiderdam.

 

Di,

Hopefully you had as great a trip as we did! We enjoyed Michelle and her team so much that the first trip I had lined up last summer was to fly out to Anan Creek to see the bears. But then my parents didn't want to go on the excursion, I found a much cheaper trip in Soldotna, then gout the 2 for 1 Groupon for KBay Air to Katmai...so something had to go...:eek::(...

On the other hand, something to look forward to seeing NEXT time we visit Ketchikan!

L.J.

[DizzyDallasDi]

Di,

 

Hopefully you had as great a trip as we did! We enjoyed Michelle and her team so much that the first trip I had lined up last summer was to fly out to Anan Creek to see the bears. But then my parents didn't want to go on the excursion, I found a much cheaper trip in Soldotna, then gout the 2 for 1 Groupon for KBay Air to Katmai...so something had to go...:eek::(...

 

On the other hand, something to look forward to seeing NEXT time we visit Ketchikan!

 

 

L.J.

 

Are you ready for some irony? Michelle gave us such a fantastic trip to the fjords in 2009, I booked her for the Anan Creek excursion in July 2011. It was more than I could have dreamed of! Bears galore! Of course, the gorgeous warm weather with picture perfect blue skies only made it better. :)

 

I posted a picture I took there way back at the beginning of your thread....it had a black bear eating a salmon (watched him catch it!) with an eagle near by. I highly recommend this excusion....one I'll never forget.