day 3 Zuiderdam - June 2, 2014 -- A day in juneau

[bumperoo]

We wanted to try the Lido for breakfast since we ate in the MDR the day before. Lou had pancakes, bacon and sausage and I had scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage. Breakfast was just okay. The food was lukewarm and the atmosphere was much more hectic with people scrambling for tables and long lines to get juice or coffee. We had brought insulated mugs with us, so we grabbed a coffee to go.

 

Our first stop was the excursion desk where we purchased tickets for the Mount Robert's tram. We came back and packed our gear bag for Juneau. We had a back pack that always had an umbrella, small hand towel for drying and plastic bags for keeping cameras dry in case of a storm. We were going to follow advice and dress in layers. The backpack also was an easy place to store peeled away layers.

 

We attended On Location Guide Alana's lecture entitled "Feathers, Fins and Furs". The slide presentation was informative and got us excited visualizing all the creatures native to Alaska. Alana answered any questions and was always on the gangway handing out maps or giving directions. She was always interested in hearing what you did and what you saw.

 

It was exciting being outside and watching the sail into Juneau. We had a Coast Guard escort. We were docked at AJ dock which is about a mile outside of town.

 

We grabbed a quick lunch in the Lido. Lou made a hoagie and I had an Asian noodle bowl with chicken. It was a quick bite before going ashore. We were in the first wave of people getting off and it took about ten minutes to disembark. Every time you get off the ship they scan your cabin key so it's important to carry it with you. it took about ten minutes to disembark with the crowd.

 

Although we could have walked to town, it was easier to purchase a $3 per person pass that was good for riding the shuttle bus all day. You just pay at the shuttle kiosk and away you go. The bus drops you outside the visitor center right next to the tram. We wandered over and were happy to find we had paid $1.00 less each for our tickets to the tram on the ship. The cost was $31.00 per person. It was super cloudy so we decided to wait and ride later with the hope for clearer skies.

 

There are booths set up selling tickets for the shuttle to Mendenhall Glacier. They run about every 30 minutes. Our wait was only ten minutes. The tickets cost $20 roundtrip per person. Your driver will point out things during the twenty minute ride. He gave history facts and was a genuinely nice person. I was happy we had the same driver on the way back. When he was done answering questions, he shared some stories about local life in a humorous manner. Joe dropped us off right across from the park entrance and showed us where to get the bus back.

 

We paid $3 each to visit the National Park Service center. there was a beautiful 15 minute movie, "Landscape of Change". Ranger talks, a chunk of ice you could touch, interactive exhibits and bear and goat furs helped us learn a lot about the glacier. It had started raining really hard so we appreciated the indoor viewing and photography areas.

 

We put on our rain gear and hiked the photo point trail. We did not walk to Nugget Falls but still had good views of it. It is important to have rain gear. There are lots of people and it is hard to navigate with umbrellas. I just put on my rain coat and pulled up the hood. I was dry and out enjoying authentic rainforest weather. We enjoyed the glacier for a little over two hours and then headed back to town. On the way back, the sun came out, we saw a rainbow and the day got warm enough to peel a few layers.

 

At Mount Roberts, we looked up and could see the top so we headed up. The views were spectacular. The trails were easy to navigate and offered some beautiful photo ops. Lady Bsltimore, the resident eagle is amazing. There was a nest that you can climb in. The movie, "Seeing

Daylight" chronicles the Tlingit way of life. The Alaskan string band, a family group played a variety of music for our enjoyment. I was glad that we were able to have sunshine while we were at the top.

 

We still had plenty of port time to follow a walking tour and stop at the Red Dog Saloon. We shopped for our grandchildren along Franklin Street. We were getting tired and hungry so we decided to head back to the ship. The shuttle bus back was easy to board. We had to show photo ID and our cabin key to get back on the ship. All our bags went through an x-ray scanner.

 

We showered and dressed in our smart casual outfits and headed to the MDR. Tonight, I fell in love -- Not just with the food but our wonderful servers Heru and Sumerta. We had a nice table and Heru and Sumerta were so welcoming and enjoyable. They guided our menu choices and gave us service with a smile. We feasted on crab fritters and smoked salmon and mackerel. We tried Potato soup. We shared Seafood salad with shrimp and scallops and Scallops and Manilla clams with pasta. The meal was outstanding. We finished with the celebrated bread pudding and Spanish coffee. On the way out, we reserved our same table for the rest of the cruise with our new friends.

 

We were just in time for sail away in the Crow's Nest. Mary greeted us by name and played some sailing themed songs. It had been a fantastic day in Juneau.

 

Ash was hosting request night in the Northern Lights Disco. We dusted off some of our old moves and danced til the magic hour. We were back in our cabin saying goodnight to the moon by midnight. I had to pinch myself to make sure this was not a dream!

[PathfinderEss]

Nice 3rd day report. Thanks, sounds like you are having a great cruise.:)

[Crew News]

Another great report.

[I_r_a]

Thanks for sharing, bump.

 

Looking forward to more.

 

Ira

[PattyCruiser2013]

Enjoying your review!

 

 

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[erewhon]

Enjoying reading your review.

Thank you.

[Krazy Kruizers]

What a marvelous time you had in Juneau.

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the report! Glad you enjoyed Juneau.

[Keith1010]

Enjoyed the report.

 

Keith

[CowPrincess]

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this travelogue. I'm enjoying it immensely! Also, anxiously awaiting the next installment.... hint, hint :D

[Susie51]

Excellent review. Glad you were able to do so much in Juneau. I've been to Juneau 3x, but it's been very cloudy or rainy each time. Hopefully next time I go back, it will be sunny so I can do the Mt. Roberts Tram.