Live from the Shadow- new SS traveler posting from Alaska

[RachelG]

Have to agree about the tramway in Juneau. Been there, done that. Not worth the fee, IMO.

 

Loving your reports as we have to all these places, most multiple times.n brings back good memories.

[zqvol]

This was a quick stop in Ketchikan, only 5 hours. We docked at noon local time and all aboard is 5:00 p.m. Tonight we begin our sail down the lower portion of the inside straight. It was an easy day for us, we had no excursions so we spent the day in town. We rented fishing poles at Dolly’s and spent two hours standing on a bridge with a lot of locals trying to add to FT’s salmon total, unfortunately the result of two plus hours fishing was no fish caught but a number of nibbles. We then headed to Annabelle’s for some lovely clam chowder, and crab dishes. Unfortunately they had run out of oysters just before we arrived. The food was excellent. I also grabbed a tour of the famous Madame’s house (Dolly), but other than that it was a quiet day.

 

 

Plans for tonight include a late dinner, a trip to the show and shops and maybe the casino. Tomorrow is a sea day, though IMO sailing the inside passage is like no other sea day in the world. We anticipate lots of marine traffic, plus lots of wildlife.

 

 

More later

 

 

BTW in response to a question about Tarheels we live in the Triad, but don’t consider ourselves Heels

Edited August 6, 2014 by zqvol

[frequent traveler]

We also made a stop at Jim's favorite bar but since his tab was closed, didn't stay long :)

 

Annabelle's crab cakes and macaroni with crab could have fed 6. I hate leaving food but no take out permitted in US waters I guess. Truly one of the best places to eat off ship and coupled with two Porter beers, another nap is calling.

 

ZQVOL also reminded me of my typo. 2 days internet is $50.00 not the 30 I mentioned earlier

 

I actually had 4 bites while fishing but could not manage to reel them in. Didn't feel as bad when none of the locals were successful either. These salmon had little interest in eating, only in getting further upstream.

 

Have completed disembarkation and Canadian customs form. Guess packing will begin tomorrow:)

[frequent traveler]

Well, it's an interesting place around 8 pm as ALL the bars except the small one on deck 5 outside the bottom level of the theater shut down for dinner. IMHO this ship could use a tapas bar staying open during the dinner hour. It was a real push on the "system" to arrive at 8:30 and get out with only 2 courses in time for a 10 pm show. And we had a waiter who hustled his you know what off and apologized for the kitchen.

 

First, we had a great bartender who knew how to make a Cosmo with only a splash of cranberry. His successor didn't and poured it into my old glass. that's an absolute NO in the bartender bible.

 

When we went to dinner in the MDR, I didn't like the red - too Oakey and too much tannin, so I was offered a much lighter bottle of Italian red. Wonderful!

 

King crab legs were the appetizer and mine were served cold as described. Unfortunately ZQVOL's were still frozen. Even the warm butter didn't thaw out. Lime sorbet did wonders to clear the crab taste and I had carrot/cumin soup which was very good. Management was concerned about soup as an entree and I explained the whole Annabelle's late late lunch.

 

I have to say ZQVOL's prime rib did not resemble a cut we are used to here in the US. When the executive chef made her rounds we inquired as to the source- apparently the beef does from the US. IMO, it was mislabeled - it was not a prime cut, certainly not like a Flemings, Ruth Chris, McCormick or Capitol Grill, not even a choice cut(as someone whose family has raised cattle I know USDA categories). While tasty, it was tough.

 

We regretted not having the time/appetite for dessert. We had great wait staff who hustled to meet every need. You can't ask for more - a 10 in my book.

[frequent traveler]

Sorry, duplicate post due to on board internet problems

Edited August 6, 2014 by frequent traveler

[DisneyJen]

So appreciate the reports!

[Jim Avery]

We also made a stop at Jim's favorite bar but since his tab was closed, didn't stay long :)

 

Annabelle's crab cakes and macaroni with crab could have fed 6. I hate leaving food but no take out permitted in US waters I guess. Truly one of the best places to eat off ship and coupled with two Porter beers, another nap is calling.

 

ZQVOL also reminded me of my typo. 2 days internet is $50.00 not the 30 I mentioned earlier

 

I actually had 4 bites while fishing but could not manage to reel them in. Didn't feel as bad when none of the locals were successful either. These salmon had little interest in eating, only in getting further upstream.

 

Have completed disembarkation and Canadian customs form. Guess packing will begin tomorrow:)

 

Well, I did say up front that it was a Sailor's Dive Bar. It is authentic. No mistaking the Sourdough for Margaritaville.:eek::D

[zqvol]

Well, I did say up front that it was a Sailor's Dive Bar. It is authentic. No mistaking the Sourdough for Margaritaville.:eek::D

 

But it was fun. Enjoyed the pictures on the wall glad we didn't find you :D:D:D

[frequent traveler]

Came out to the back of deck 8 to watch the ocean from the outdoor of the Panorama bar. An empty couch- the only unoccupied one in the non- smoking section has two large books, one at each corner. First time I've seen the reservation system at work on deck. Didn't feel like breakfast this morning but none of the coffee spots on deck 8 or deck 10 have any pastries or cheese/breads. That would be nice, but I guess that is what 24 hr room service is in lieu of,

[CanadianKate]

On one of our cruises the two best loungers were taken each day. We started to check in the morning (by looking at the webcam of the pool deck) and realized they were 'taken' by 6:30 a.m. when books and a towel would appear, yet bodies weren't there until hours later.) This behaviour was the topic of dinner conversation on a few nights and it was tempting to join in the mischief of moving the bookmarks in the books!

 

On another cruise, a 'taken' lounger was cleared by staff and the woman who then used it was verbally abused to the point of it seeming very threatening by the passenger who's things had been touched. All around were quite disturbed and unsettled by the incident.

 

Neither are behaviours one would expect from Silversea passengers.

[zqvol]

We are spending the morning crossing the gap in the inside passage. This is advertised as an inside passage cruise so I am assuming that within a couple of hours we will be back inside, as for now we are sailing on calm seas with a few whitecaps due to the wind. The sky is once again crystal clear and Carolina blue.

 

Last night we ate late, in spite of what both the maître'd and the executive chef told me there was no way that the piece of meat that I had was prime rib. If it actually was, it was unlike any piece of prime rib that I have ever had.

 

I went to the show last night, it was good, but this group shouldn't try to cover Motown without a band. The sound track was off, and there is no way that three men and three women without a real bass can cover the four tops

 

I downloaded Amanda Bridgette's CD from iTunes last night. This woman has a great voice and based on the three times I have spoken with her a wonderful personality. (She is one of the singers, whose group name slips my memory)

 

Today is just a lazy sea day, though we have to pack to get ready for our two and a half days in Vancouver.

 

More later

Edited August 6, 2014 by zqvol

[frequent traveler]

 

Neither are behaviours one would expect from Silversea passengers.

 

I think I read on another thread that only 20% on this voyage are repeat SS guests. We've encountered a number who are first time ever cruisers. We are first time on SS but hopefully have enough manners most of the time to pass as socialized.

 

We are dining are the Grill again tonight and I have a highly anticipated massage just before dinner. Dress is casual. So there was much to do about nothing when it came to formal. For those that like to dress for dinner, we saw a number of snazzy looking people every night. Me, I am in a business setting with dinners except when on holiday so I appreciate not having a mandatory all formal night in Alaska. After all, nothing stops us from dressing up if we feel like it even on a casual night.

 

Just made a turn. Hopefully towards the insides passage as everyone had their books out. Couch is still open. I'm thinking about turning in the "lost books" ;)

[Jim Avery]

We missed the BC Inside Passage on our May trip. Spent the day in Hecate Strait. Mostly out of sight of land or land very distant. Not "Inside Passage" imho. Hope Yall do the real IP. The "break" between Ketchikan and Prince Rupert is not all that far so you should be real up close and personal soon. Looking forward to the pictures.:D

[zqvol]

We missed the BC Inside Passage on our May trip. Spent the day in Hecate Strait. Mostly out of sight of land or land very distant. Not "Inside Passage" imho. Hope Yall do the real IP. The "break" between Ketchikan and Prince Rupert is not all that far so you should be real up close and personal soon. Looking forward to the pictures.:D

 

This is FT, we are picking up the pilot at Pine Island in about an hour. Does that help?

[DisneyJen]

Looking forward to the reports and photos of cruising the Inside Passage!

[oregon50]

I have to say ZQVOL's prime rib did not resemble a cut we are used to here in the US. When the executive chef made her rounds we inquired as to the source- apparently the beef does from the US. IMO, it was mislabeled - it was not a prime cut, certainly not like a Flemings, Ruth Chris, McCormick or Capitol Grill, not even a choice cut(as someone whose family has raised cattle I know USDA categories). While tasty, it was tough.

 

Did Anne-Marie specify the beef grade purchased? She certainly did not say USDA prime.

[zqvol]

Did Anne-Marie specify the beef grade purchased? She certainly did not say USDA prime.

 

I travel extensively for work and eat a lot of beef in Brazil where the cuts are very different (this is FT thanks to internet limitations). So I just thought it was a different cut. Flavorful, more like a rib eye and very shallow in depth. Texture WAS NOT prime rib as we are used to in the US. Certainly not slow roasted. She assured us it was "prime" brought from a US supplier. So when I hear prime rib from a US supplier, I have a certain understanding about quality. If that means something else on a ship, it's very different from Sea Dream, and according to ZQVOL, even Carnival.

[frequent traveler]

We have our pilot and land has appeared. Get ready for some great photos. We bought the map with all the mile markers so Instagram will be busy.

[Jim Avery]

See you on Vessel AIS. Appear to be making 16.2 knots heading between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Should have a great trip. When you get to Vancouver, are you going to have a meal at Joe Fortes? Great halibut steaks there in May. You just might be seafooded out by now though.:eek: Loved Yall's reports. J & L

[ssawjo]

On one of our cruises the two best loungers were taken each day. We started to check in the morning (by looking at the webcam of the pool deck) and realized they were 'taken' by 6:30 a.m. when books and a towel would appear, yet bodies weren't there until hours later.) This behaviour was the topic of dinner conversation on a few nights and it was tempting to join in the mischief of moving the bookmarks in the books!

 

On another cruise, a 'taken' lounger was cleared by staff and the woman who then used it was verbally abused to the point of it seeming very threatening by the passenger who's things had been touched. All around were quite disturbed and unsettled by the incident.

 

Neither are behaviours one would expect from Silversea passengers.

 

They're called "chair hogs" and exist on all ships, especially Caribbean sailings. The crew should remove the items after a set time, usually 30-45 minutes, if no one arrives. I have seen some loungers by the pools "occupied" all day without a human ever touching the chair. I would speak with someone about this. If it was by the pool, then the Pool Deck supervisor.

[frequent traveler]

They're called "chair hogs" and exist on all ships, especially Caribbean sailings. The crew should remove the items after a set time, usually 30-45 minutes, if no one arrives. I have seen some loungers by the pools "occupied" all day without a human ever touching the chair. I would speak with someone about this. If it was by the pool, then the Pool Deck supervisor.

 

I just about cracked up laughing out loud but the woman came out right before lunch as a couple were debating what to do. She had been sitting indoors and "saving" the seats just in case they wanted to move outside!

 

When she saw all of us agreeing to move the books she decided to rescue them. I won't comment on nationality but it WAS NOT an American.

[duct tape]

Sometimes that gets ugly. I have witnessed Security needing to be called!

[frequent traveler]

Well, no wildlife sighted yet so hopefully we won't need security. Everyone wants to see orcas. I truly don't remember from last trip. grey and minkes were the big surprise on Tracy Arm. I am getting sunburned on back deck in Alaska. AMAZING. Can't wait to do my summary review. PaNorama bar team is another nice, not great, but good service team -and sunny day is another best in Alaska

[Silver Spectre]

Came out to the back of deck 8 to watch the ocean from the outdoor of the Panorama bar. An empty couch- the only unoccupied one in the non- smoking section has two large books, one at each corner. First time I've seen the reservation system at work on deck. Didn't feel like breakfast this morning but none of the coffee spots on deck 8 or deck 10 have any pastries or cheese/breads. That would be nice, but I guess that is what 24 hr room service is in lieu of,

 

Suggest you get a member of staff to have the books sent to reception to await their owners reclaiming them as 'lost or misplaced'.

 

Apologies, should have finished the thread before posting.

 

Enjoy the 'passage'

Edited August 6, 2014 by Silver Spectre
update

[frequent traveler]

Passage was beautiful. Can't imagine going the ouside way. Had a great stone massage at 6 pm. Actually fell asleep. I scheduled this way in advance and didn't realize it conflicted with the last show - an early show featuring Burt Bacharach. ZQVOL attended and enjoyed. Went to the Grill for dinner and it was so warm we did not need heaters or blankets. Truly amazing weather this trip. The red wine was a lovely Italian and I actually had only a nice rib eye which came off the stone as soon as it arrived at the table. It was a very good cut of meat.

 

We scrambled to pack as bags had to be outside the doors at 11 pm. That's a bit early in our experience and I accidentally packed my jacket with room key - but they still made me get off the ship. Since we are staying in Vancouver, we were in the purple group and disembarked at 9 am. The process was very organized. Luggage was organized in small groups by color and with baggage carts, no porter was needed though plenty were available. A short 6 CND cab ride and we are at the Marriott Pinnacle where a movie is being filmed a street away.

 

More later.