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North to Alaska - South to Hawaii & Tahiti with Bill & Mary Ann - 42 days - Statendam

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WCB "Live from...." Rare

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Report # 3 Sailing Towards Alaska September 22, 2014 Monday Chance of rain & 44 degrees

 

Well today was a good one. With everything finding a place in our stateroom, we were free to enjoy a day to relax or stay as busy as we chose. We did a bit of both. One of the best ways to begin a day is going to a proper breakfast in the dining room. Seemed like a lot of folks had the same idea, because, just like last year, there was a line waiting outside the room to be seated. It's just a guess, but we think that most of the wait staff is up in the Lido, and that is the reason for the wait. Because we know that has been the case here, we try to arrive later, like 8:30am instead of the opening time at 8am. Did not matter today, there was still a line.

 

Finally we were seated at a nice table for two. More waiters showed up, and we were served rather quickly. The coffee sure tasted good, and went well with the fresh cinnamon rolls they passed around. They presented such a nice array of pastries, that we may be forced to try a different one every morning. Anyway, the food was hot, even though the portions seem to have gotten smaller since our last trip in May. They are really doing us a favor, we guess. If you really like something, then we have learned to order doubles. Not a problem here.

 

Boy, did the weather take a big change since leaving the protected harbor in Vancouver. There may have been some drizzles in the wee hours of the morning, but no rain like what was predicted. There was a chill factor in the wind however. Went right through all the layers of clothing we had on. We could have brought our arctic jackets, but since we are in the area for only one week, we chose not to overload the luggage with the weight. It simply limits the time you want to stay outside. The Captain has taken us up the coast, weaving in between islands and the mainland all day. There were some spottings of whales, but they were in the far distance.

 

We ducked into the ship from the promenade deck to hunt for the Hotel Director, Bart, to say hello and thank him for the wine. Knowing that this ship will be going to P&O next year, we inquired if there will be a special final sailing on her. Bart said yes, they are working on some special events and perhaps collectable cups or plates of Delft tile for the occassion.

 

The rest of our morning was spent going online and creating an account. It took some time to get it going, and took even more time to update our computer with the Norton antivirus software. This ship has also switched to the new system, and even though the librarian said it may be slow, it will be way better than what we have at home.....dial-up. It took a half hour here, where it would take days at home. So we are not complaining.

 

There was a flyer from the ship's mail folks advertising a special Signature Beverage Package, only available yesterday and today. For $44.95 per day per person, you can get any beverage at a $7. or lower menu price drink. You are allowed up to 15 beverages a day. A 15% gratuity is added on too. This is a similar offer we had on the Explore4 deal when we booked the cruise. If one drinks a lot, then perhaps this deal is worth it. As for us, we are not interested. Wonder how many folks took this package? Only time will tell.

 

The one and only meeting of the Cruise Critic group met in the Crows Nest at 10:30am. There was a whopping grand total of eight of us, and, you know what? It was nice. This has to be the first time that the entire group connected with each other, probably because of the size. Gail, our tablemate, was the only one we knew, but within a few moments, we all shared info. The most interesting piece of info was one couple who had an outside guarantee on this sailing, and were able to upgrade to a Navigation verandah suite for a grand total of $199. each. Now that is a deal. Bet they wish the cruise lasted longer than 7 days.........

Lunchtime came quickly, and we went back to the dining room once again. We ordered sandwiches.....a pulled pork and a cheeseburger. Both were very good.

 

At 2pm, we had been invited to a complimentary Navigator wine tasting in the dining room. Usually we do not drink wine, but we are always willing to learn more about the popular passtime. Ron, the Cellar Master, was really more of a showman, which was great. With the six samples of wine right after lunch, it would have been difficult to stay awake if Ron were not vivacious and funny. Of course, the main object of the tasting, we believe, is that we were sampling some of the wines they make available in their packages to purchase while onboard. Ron suggested that two 7 bottle packages would be about right for a couple........one bottle for your room, and one for dinnertime. That could run from $199. to $239 for a 7 bottle package. Unless you are a 2-3-4 or 5 star Mariner, which you get an increasing discount up to 50%. After all that, we still don't have the taste for it that much. We did enjoy the cheese and dried fruit plate however. Interesting how they combined with the different varieties of wine. See, we did learn something.

 

This was a good time to download some photos on the computer, and a great time to sneak a nap for one of us. Must have been the wine.......Forgot to mention that a camera cable was missing from our stash, therefore making impossible to download from the little camera. With a little clever thinking, we were able to figure out another way to accomplish this. It worked, or else we would be shopping for that cable, probably obsolete, tomorrow in Juneau.

 

We always take time for an afternoon walk, but failed to bundle up properly. Gosh, it had gotten cold outside, even though the sun was out, there was little heat in it. Freezing our butts off was not in vain. We sighted some dolphins and one fast whale, who dove quickly in the distance. We hung out until the chilly wind got the better of us.

 

Good time to check out the ship's shops to see what they were giving away. Now that the Alaska season is coming to an end, there are closeout sales with much of the merchandise going for at least half price. Knowing that there will be a shopper's paradise in the upcoming ports, the ship people know they can make a few bucks. And they did, since many ladies were packing around the shopping bags. At least they give you a paper bag here, and don't charge 10 cents for it.

 

Tonight was the first formal evening. With all the chatter going on about dropping the formal nights, we can say that it is not happening here. Yes, many folks went to the Lido where it remained casual, but those that chose to dress up, all looked nice. Perhaps the passengers don't mind wearing the warm suits, ties, and jackets, and formal dresses in cooler weather areas such as Alaska. Now going to the hot and humid South Pacific is another story.........

 

We had a guest for dinner, the ship's doctor. We did not catch his name, but he announced that he has been invited to be the ship's doctor on next year's world cruise. How convenient for us to meet him now. After spending a nice evening with him, he said it will be nice to know he will have at least two friends on the Amsterdam next year. That is fine with us, just as long as we don't need to see him professionally. That would mean one or both of us was ill. Don't want that.

 

When the Cellar Master appeared, he said we were being treated to wine, compliments of the doctor, but for medicinal purposes only. That got a laugh from everyone, especially the doctor who fully agreed. For dinner, we had jumbo shrimp cocktails, lemongrass soup, beef Wellington, and roast lamb. All of it was delicious. Dessert was a double chocolate souffle and a pineapple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. So much for laying off of desserts. Maybe tomorrow...... Service was even quicker this evening because there was a show at 10pm, and most all of us wanted to attend. The theme was Northern Lights starring the singers and dancers. Will give our tablemate's opinions tomorrow.

 

Speaking of tomorrow, we should be docked in Juneau around 2pm. Sure hope the predicted weather forecast of chance of rain is not true. We seem to remember there is some pretty nice scenic sailing on the way to Juneau, the state's capital.

 

To be continued......

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

PS Some good news..........the clocks went back one hour this evening. Yes!!

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WCB "Live from...." Rare

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Report # 4 Juneau, Alaska September 23, 2014 Tuesday Overcast & 49 degrees

 

So far, the forecast has been incorrect everyday on this trip. We are almost afraid to say this, because it may jinx the rest of the Alaskan voyage. We do know that the weather up this way has been dreadful with heavy rain and fog. That was the case up to yesterday, when it rained in Juneau all day. Well, when we got up this morning, the sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly. How about that?

 

A strange thing happened while waiting in line to go into the dining room for breakfast this morning. The line thing is just the way it is here, so we don't complain. It's not like we are in a rush anyway. Well, we gave them our room number, and were told that there were no tables for two. We could have a long wait. OK, we said, we'll wait. We simply don't like the Lido, and the coffee is way better here anyway. So we drifted over to the dinner menu to check out the entrees, when one of the head dining room waiters came over to us, apologizing profusely for the delay. With that, he led us immediately to a table for two on the starboard side of the lower dining room. There were empty tables everywhere, so what was that all about? The only conclusion we came to was that someone had spotted that we were long-time HAL cruisers, and quickly re-thought that denial. Whatever the reason, we bet that will not happen again. As we ate our breakfast, we realized that this section was being closed down, and that was why we were told there were no tables for two. From there on, the service was excellent and rapid.

 

Sailing towards Juneau was a delight. We spent all morning up on deck 12 out in the open air and sun, even though it was cold. This time we layered up with double jackets, and it was perfect. The channel narrowed to the point where we were surrounded by high mountains, Sitka spruce trees, and one heck of a beautiful glacier with numerous waterfalls. We kept our eyes peeled for whales, and got lucky a few times by spotting the plumes of air and spray. Diving deep, they seldomed re-appeared. Bird life was abundant. Seagulls, ducks, comorants, and even one eagle could be seen flying over the smooth waters of the shoreline. The bald eagle sighting came with a show. It dove through a flock of gulls to hook a very large fish. It was almost as large as the eagle itself. As the bird ascended, it lost the fish to the gulls below. What a lucky sighting for us, but not for the bird, we guess.

 

Our original plan was to have a chicken Caesar salad for lunch in the dining room, but we were so close to Juneau, we hated to leave our spot on deck. We had been following the Oosterdam, and tailed by another ship, which turned out to be the NCL Pearl. Made for great photos. So lunch was delayed until closer to 2pm, after the ship was docked in Juneau by 1:30pm. A small sandwich would do, with a side of cheese pizza. Did we mention that the size of the sandwich rolls have shrunk? If you order ham and cheese, they put on 2 thin slices of each, unless you ask for more. It turns out more like a bread sandwich. This could be part of portion control, which ultimately saves money for the cruise line. Or it could be they are doing us that favor again by not over-feeding us.

 

By 2:30pm, we were ready to leave the ship. Most all of the tours had gone off, and the gangway was clear. Everything you want to see in town is right off of the ship. We have been here perhaps four times, and have visited Mendenhall Glacier, a fish hatchery, Mt. Roberts, and boat rides to see whales. Today we stayed in town to enjoy the local scenery and do some shopping.

 

Speaking of shopping, today was a paradise for thepassengers and crew of the three cruise ships in town. Everything was at least half off or more. We have been here in early September, but never this late in the season. So when they said there were sales before, they could not compare to what we saw today. Especially at the Alaska T-shirt Store. We saw folks carrying more red bags from there than anywhere else. Checking it out, we found it near impossible to walk through the store for there were scores of people in here. We decided to come back later.

 

Before starting our hike, we had visited the information desk across from the ship. A very nice lady gave us a map, and pointed out the grocery and hardware stores we were looking for. She did say there was a Walmart, but it was 8 miles away, and we could take their free shuttle there, but she did not know how late they ran the shuttles back. We opted not to take the chance, because there are not a whole lot of taxis here. In fact, we saw none.

 

We ducked into the Red Dog Saloon, finding it full of customers sitting at the small tables that were set up on sawdust-covered floors, drinking Alaskan beers. There was not one empty spot in the whole place. We navigated our way to the local grocery store, and made the huge purchase of a case of diet soda, the type they do not sell on the ship that we prefer. It came to $8.65. We did try to order a case of soda through room service to get the half off price. However, they never responded back to us nor did they deliver it after two phone calls over two days.. Now we are glad they did not, because the final total would have been $ 30.42. And that was with the half off discount. Way too much, unless you have shipboard credit that needs to be spent or lose it.

 

The only item we failed to find was the small battery-operated wall clock. True Value Hardware usually carries them, but they were sold out. We will try again tomorrow while in Skagway. There is also a small hardware store there. Wonder if they will have super closeout sales as well? We did go out later and make a pass through the t-shirt store. Came across a deal we could not resist. It was a water-resistant rainjacket with a fleece lining and full hood for a grand total of $15. That was about 75% of the original price, so we had to buy it. Just have to wear it home on the plane, because it does weigh a few pounds. But it will be nice to be warm and dry for the rest of the trip. Searching for the men's version of the jacket only came up with extra smalls. Maybe they will have these in Skagway.

 

While boarding the ship, we spotted someone walking a cute small white dog down the hallway. Now that is strange. We could not figure that out, until we got tomorrow's newsletter advertising the show with Jeff Peterson and his dog "Indy". Not that is different and perhaps will be very entertaining.

 

Dinner came quickly. One couple failed to show up, but we know why. They had booked a ride up Mt. Roberts and the zipline tour in the afternoon. Bet that did them in for the day. With only five of us, the conversation worked better. We could hear each other talk much better. We ordered a spring roll, Caesar salads, grandma's chicken noodle soup (the best), and braised short ribs with homemade mashed potatoes. Sure tasted good. This cool weather sure peaks the appetite. Did save room for dessert.....bread pudding and mint chip ice cream. With that we called it a night and headed to bed. The Statendam left the pier somewhere between 10 and 10:30pm.

 

By the way, the show last night was reported to us as OK, but not the best they have seen. One couple at our table said the dancer girls seemed to be tired of the same routine, and were glad it was coming to an end for the Alaskan season.

 

"See" you all tomorrow,

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Lizzie68

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Jeff Peterson and his dog were onboard our last year's Alaska cruise. We ran into them on the promenade deck after dinner, and tried to engage Jeff in conversation but he evidently does not enjoy interacting with passengers outside of his act.:rolleyes: The dog was nice, however.:)

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Report # 4 Juneau, Alaska September 23, 2014 Tuesday Overcast & 49 degrees

 

So far, the forecast has been incorrect everyday on this trip. We are almost afraid to say this, because it may jinx the rest of the Alaskan voyage. We do know that the weather up this way has been dreadful with heavy rain and fog. That was the case up to yesterday, when it rained in Juneau all day. Well, when we got up this morning, the sky was clear and the sun was shining brightly. How about that?

 

A strange thing happened while waiting in line to go into the dining room for breakfast this morning. The line thing is just the way it is here, so we don't complain. It's not like we are in a rush anyway. Well, we gave them our room number, and were told that there were no tables for two. We could have a long wait. OK, we said, we'll wait. We simply don't like the Lido, and the coffee is way better here anyway. So we drifted over to the dinner menu to check out the entrees, when one of the head dining room waiters came over to us, apologizing profusely for the delay. With that, he led us immediately to a table for two on the starboard side of the lower dining room. There were empty tables everywhere, so what was that all about? The only conclusion we came to was that someone had spotted that we were long-time HAL cruisers, and quickly re-thought that denial. Whatever the reason, we bet that will not happen again. As we ate our breakfast, we realized that this section was being closed down, and that was why we were told there were no tables for two. From there on, the service was excellent and rapid.

 

Sailing towards Juneau was a delight. We spent all morning up on deck 12 out in the open air and sun, even though it was cold. This time we layered up with double jackets, and it was perfect. The channel narrowed to the point where we were surrounded by high mountains, Sitka spruce trees, and one heck of a beautiful glacier with numerous waterfalls. We kept our eyes peeled for whales, and got lucky a few times by spotting the plumes of air and spray. Diving deep, they seldomed re-appeared. Bird life was abundant. Seagulls, ducks, comorants, and even one eagle could be seen flying over the smooth waters of the shoreline. The bald eagle sighting came with a show. It dove through a flock of gulls to hook a very large fish. It was almost as large as the eagle itself. As the bird ascended, it lost the fish to the gulls below. What a lucky sighting for us, but not for the bird, we guess.

 

Our original plan was to have a chicken Caesar salad for lunch in the dining room, but we were so close to Juneau, we hated to leave our spot on deck. We had been following the Oosterdam, and tailed by another ship, which turned out to be the NCL Pearl. Made for great photos. So lunch was delayed until closer to 2pm, after the ship was docked in Juneau by 1:30pm. A small sandwich would do, with a side of cheese pizza. Did we mention that the size of the sandwich rolls have shrunk? If you order ham and cheese, they put on 2 thin slices of each, unless you ask for more. It turns out more like a bread sandwich. This could be part of portion control, which ultimately saves money for the cruise line. Or it could be they are doing us that favor again by not over-feeding us.

 

By 2:30pm, we were ready to leave the ship. Most all of the tours had gone off, and the gangway was clear. Everything you want to see in town is right off of the ship. We have been here perhaps four times, and have visited Mendenhall Glacier, a fish hatchery, Mt. Roberts, and boat rides to see whales. Today we stayed in town to enjoy the local scenery and do some shopping.

 

Speaking of shopping, today was a paradise for thepassengers and crew of the three cruise ships in town. Everything was at least half off or more. We have been here in early September, but never this late in the season. So when they said there were sales before, they could not compare to what we saw today. Especially at the Alaska T-shirt Store. We saw folks carrying more red bags from there than anywhere else. Checking it out, we found it near impossible to walk through the store for there were scores of people in here. We decided to come back later.

 

Before starting our hike, we had visited the information desk across from the ship. A very nice lady gave us a map, and pointed out the grocery and hardware stores we were looking for. She did say there was a Walmart, but it was 8 miles away, and we could take their free shuttle there, but she did not know how late they ran the shuttles back. We opted not to take the chance, because there are not a whole lot of taxis here. In fact, we saw none.

 

We ducked into the Red Dog Saloon, finding it full of customers sitting at the small tables that were set up on sawdust-covered floors, drinking Alaskan beers. There was not one empty spot in the whole place. We navigated our way to the local grocery store, and made the huge purchase of a case of diet soda, the type they do not sell on the ship that we prefer. It came to $8.65. We did try to order a case of soda through room service to get the half off price. However, they never responded back to us nor did they deliver it after two phone calls over two days.. Now we are glad they did not, because the final total would have been $ 30.42. And that was with the half off discount. Way too much, unless you have shipboard credit that needs to be spent or lose it.

 

The only item we failed to find was the small battery-operated wall clock. True Value Hardware usually carries them, but they were sold out. We will try again tomorrow while in Skagway. There is also a small hardware store there. Wonder if they will have super closeout sales as well? We did go out later and make a pass through the t-shirt store. Came across a deal we could not resist. It was a water-resistant rainjacket with a fleece lining and full hood for a grand total of $15. That was about 75% of the original price, so we had to buy it. Just have to wear it home on the plane, because it does weigh a few pounds. But it will be nice to be warm and dry for the rest of the trip. Searching for the men's version of the jacket only came up with extra smalls. Maybe they will have these in Skagway.

 

While boarding the ship, we spotted someone walking a cute small white dog down the hallway. Now that is strange. We could not figure that out, until we got tomorrow's newsletter advertising the show with Jeff Peterson and his dog "Indy". Not that is different and perhaps will be very entertaining.

 

Dinner came quickly. One couple failed to show up, but we know why. They had booked a ride up Mt. Roberts and the zipline tour in the afternoon. Bet that did them in for the day. With only five of us, the conversation worked better. We could hear each other talk much better. We ordered a spring roll, Caesar salads, grandma's chicken noodle soup (the best), and braised short ribs with homemade mashed potatoes. Sure tasted good. This cool weather sure peaks the appetite. Did save room for dessert.....bread pudding and mint chip ice cream. With that we called it a night and headed to bed. The Statendam left the pier somewhere between 10 and 10:30pm.

 

By the way, the show last night was reported to us as OK, but not the best they have seen. One couple at our table said the dancer girls seemed to be tired of the same routine, and were glad it was coming to an end for the Alaskan season.

 

"See" you all tomorrow,

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

We had friends that sailed the SP this early summer (May) on Statendam, they had a port call in Port Angeles, Wa, and being as we live only about an hour away, we went to meet them for the day.... We took along our little dog, a Bichon Frise', and while waiting for them to disembark many of the passengers that had come off the ship, came up and asked if this was the dog from the show!! ( it was not), but Indy must've been a beautiful dog, cause our is!! my friend bought me one of the stuffed dogs that were being sold on the ship!! I always enjoy your cruises with you, thanks for sharing!!

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We had friends that sailed the SP this early summer (May) on Statendam, they had a port call in Port Angeles, Wa, and being as we live only about an hour away, we went to meet them for the day.... We took along our little dog, a Bichon Frise', and while waiting for them to disembark many of the passengers that had come off the ship, came up and asked if this was the dog from the show!! ( it was not), but Indy must've been a beautiful dog, cause our is!! my friend bought me one of the stuffed dogs that were being sold on the ship!! I always enjoy your cruises with you, thanks for sharing!!

 

Indy is a Coton du Tulear. We met her a few years back on the Zuiderdam. Jeff does a great show but Indy is the real star, IMHO. :D

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Report # 5 Skagway, Alaska Spetember 24, 2014 Wednesday Partly sunny & 50 degrees Part One

 

Our port of call for today was Skagway, Alaska . It is small and quaint with a population of 920 people. It was made famous way back in 1897-98 when folks flocked here to make their fortunes in the gold fields in the Klondike region. Much history remains today, telling the grueling stories of the prospectors attempts to get rich. Some did, but many lost their lives in the process. As pretty as this area appears, winter can be deadly.

 

A great way to see this countryside out of Skagway is by taking the White Pass and Yukon Route on their vintage train. This scenic ride takes folks to elevations over 3000 feet to Lake Bennett and Fraser, and Carcross in the Yukon. On the way, they pass by meadows, alpine lakes, granite gulches, waterfalls, and rugged terrain. We have done this all day excursion and found it a delight. Especially this time of year when the trees begin to get their autumn colors. Yes, it is pricy, as are all the tours in Alaska, but it is worth it to see it at least one time.

 

Today we decided to stay in town, and enjoy walking through the city. If we get lucky, perhaps we might find a great place for pizza. If you remember, margherita pizza is our passion, and boy, we were not disappointed today, as we will tell you later. Because of where we were docked, it was a long walk to reach the town. This was a good thing,since we really needed to get some exercise. It was cold, but we knew when we reached the sunny side, it would be OK.

 

There are two main streets and several side streets comprised the bulk of the town. Homes surround the rest of the area, with the Skagway River and airport on one side below the mountains. The main street was full of highend jewelry stores, souvenier shops and boutiques, and some cafes and restaurants. Spotted in between are museums and a few saloons, such as the Red Onion Saloon. We ducked in and out of the stores mainly window shopping, but our main objective was to locate the hardware store. They had everything we were looking for........a small battery-operated wall clock and a replacement for our missing TSA suitcase lock. Perfect.

 

The next big find was the local grocery store, where we bought a soda and a can of roasted peanuts. Passing an ice cream shop, we noticed that everything was selling for 50% off. So we had to try their caramel-coated pecans and cashews. Can't beat 2 for 1. Then we went in search of a pizza cafe, of which we could not remember the name. Not on the main street, we located this small cafe by one of the tiny hotels in town. It was fairly crowded (a good sign), but there was one booth left. Yes, they had several varieties of pizza, but the one we prefer is the tomato and cheese or margherita pizza. Expecting an average size, we found the pizza to rival the size of those we have had in Naples, Italy. It had to be 18 inches, with a nice fairly bready crust, piled with cheese and lots of tomato sauce. Yep, we lucked out. We had Alaskan Amber beers, which went well with the tasty pizza. It was so comfortable relaxing in there, that it was hard to leave.

 

We headed back to the ship, and decided to take a walk back later if we had the time and energy. It was a good opportunity to download photos, and catch a few winks. Must have been the beer once again. It is relaxing. The town was already becoming empty, since it was approaching early dinnertime on the ships. And except for maybe one or two stores, there were way fewer for sale signs on the leftover souveniers. From what we read in the Station cafe, tomorrow will be the last day a big cruise ship was visiting. Many of these establishments close for the season, which was already evident with some businesses locked up.

 

We got back to the ship by 6pm, so we had some down time before dinner. Our complimentary laundry was already waiting for us....the same batch we turned in this morning. We are used to a longer wait, but we have to realize this is only a seven day trip, and most everyone will not bother with laundry services, unless they are 4 star Mariners. Nice perk.

 

The ship left the pier around 8:30pm, just as we were starting dinner. It was fun listening to everyone's experiences for the day in Skagway, since we all did something different. Even heard some stories about the zipline tour in Juneau, where someone fell off of a platform that had no railing. It was only a 4 foot drop, but sometimes, that is just as dangerous as up higher. Not for us. We were also told that it might be possible that it could be a night to see the Northern Lights. Problem is that it might occur during the wee hours, so don't know if that is worth it.

 

Dinner was good once again. We ordered a lighter entree of Pacific Rim salads with grilled chicken. Dessert had something unique......a chocolate/banana soup? What? Had to try it, since that is the only way we would know what that was all about. Turned out to be a delicious combination of sliced bananas with a syrup of chocolately cinnamon-flavored rum soup in a glass.

 

Took a quick walk on the promenade deck after dinner, but it lasted only once around. It was darn cold. Heading for Tracy Arm and scenic cruising tomorrow. Hope the weather will be good, or maybe that might be too much to wish for?

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report # 6 Scenic Cruising Endicott Arm September 25, 2014 Thursday Chance of rain & 45 degrees Part One

 

Well, today's forecast was right on the money.......darn. There was not a "chance of rain". It was really raining most all of the day, but it was light. In our area of California, we have had such little rain this year, we almost forgot what it looks and feels like. Along with the rain, there was also fog and a chilly breeze as we sailed into what we believed to be Tracy Arm. Sometime around 8am, Captain Smit announced that due to ice blocking the channel to Tracy Arm, we would be going to Endicott Arm instead. This would be fine, since the scenery is about the same, and we would still be able to view Dawes Glacier instead of Sawyer Glacier.

 

The surrounding mountains going into the fjord were covered with western hemlocks and Sitka spruce trees. The further in we traveled, the trees thinnned out, and the mountainsides were more exposed granite. You could see the striations or cuts from the melting ice from the glacier. A low type of brush grew in the horizontal crevises as we neared the face of the Dawes Glacier.

 

There were some animal and bird spottings. The first large animals we saw were Stellar sea lions, actually barking at the ship as we slowly sailed by them on an ice flow. Birdlife was mainly gulls and ducks, although they were too far in the distance to identify. We took in these sights mainly from the promenade deck, since it was raining and darned cold. It wasn't until we got closer to the end of the arm, that we spotted the face of the Dawes Glacier. Not as massive as say perhaps Hubbard Glacier, Dawes is still respectable and quite photographic. The best part was searching for the seals, which tended to lay like lazy logs on several ice flows. The most they moved were their large heads as we went by. Guess we are not considered a threat to them.

 

As the Captain turned the ship for all to see the occasional calving of the glacier, we stayed for about an hour for viewing. That was a good time to take a break and go search out the traditional serving of the Dutch green pea soup. We found it in the Crows Nest, and it was delicious with pieces of ham and smoked sausage in it. When one of the waiters came by with more bowls and asked if we wanted seconds, we said don't mind if we do. We had skipped our regular breakfast in the dining room, grabbing a few small pastries in the Lido early on. Boy, did that soup hit the spot and warm us up.

 

Somewhere around noon, we began our sail out of Endicott Arm. One good thing was that while we were at the glacier, the fog lifted, leaving only high clouds. The colors of the water and cliffs, not to mention the glacial ice was spectacular. As we exited, the fog re-appeared and it became rather dismal once again. That was pretty much how the weather stayed for the rest of the day.

 

It was a perfect time to go to the dining room for lunch. Pea soup was on the menu, so one of us had another bowl. On a seven day trip, we doubt it will be repeated. We ordered sweet and sour ribs and a tuna melt sandwich.......both very good. We have been impressed with the food on this trip. It has been very tasty, including the beef entrees. After lunch, we headed back outside until we were out of the arm. By then, we were chilled to the bone.

 

Time to download photos and watch a movie in our room. The afternoon slipped on by, and before we knew it, it was time for the cocktail party in the Crows Nest. A couple of days ago, we received an invite to a before or after dinner drinks with the Captain and Hotel Director and his staff at 7:30pm. We no sooner sat down, and ordered our drinks, when the Cruise Director annnounced our names for having the most Mariner days of all the guests on the ship. With this back to back trip, our days number 1506. We sure did not expect this. With that, he invited us up to have our photo taken with Captain Smit and Bart, the Hotel Director. That was pretty nice we thought. The party was fun, since Bart came to join us and chat for awhile. We also visited with Gary, the Guest Relations Manager. We have known him since 2010 while sailing on the Prinsendam.. He saw and heard from us quite often on that cruise. Anyway, before we knew it, it was time for dinner.

 

There were five of us, since one couple went to Le Cirque in the Pinnacle Grill for a birthday dinner. We had one BBQ chicken salad and the alternate sirloin strip steak dinner. Both entrees were excellent. Cannot believe that most of this trip is over. Must be an indication that we are having a great time.

 

Tomorrow's port is Ketchikan, and we sure hope it won't be raining. The Captain mentioned that he thinks the weather will be better than today. OK with us.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report # 7 Ketchikan, Alaska September 26, 2014 Friday Chance of rain & 62 degrees

 

Once again, we overcame the threat of rain, and experienced one beautiful sunny day in Ketchikan. Just as the Captain promised last night, the thin, low fog cleared up and the warm sun gave us the temps of 62 degrees or better. Very lucky, we think.

 

Located in the southernmost part of the state, Ketchikan has a population of 8050 people. It's located in the Tongass National Forest, a 17 million acre reserve created by Teddy Roosevelt in 1907. Native tribes included the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. They are responsible for all of the totem poles made from cedars that you see in the parks and museums of the area.

 

Creek Street is a sample of what the rough and ready days looked like back in the gold rush days. As well as the red light district, alcohol flowed freely even during the prohibition times. Located up the Ketchikan Creek, it is also the best place to see the salmon when they are running up the rapids to spawn.

 

Because of the salmon, halibut, trout, and rockfish, canneries were numerous in the old days. Another huge industry was logging. You can get a glimpse of what that was like with the local Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, where the woodsmen compete in log rolling and pole climbing. It's a hoot for the little kids as well as us older folks.

 

Other things to do and see include the Totem Bight State Park, Saxman Village, museums, fish hatcheries, and Misty Fjords National Monument. We have been to each and every one of these venues over the years, so today we decided to stay in town and take a long walk.

 

We didn't leave the ship until after 11am. By then, most all of the tours had gone off, and the gangway was clear. Yesterday, we were told that we would be among the last of the ships to visit for the season. With us today, were the NCL Pearl and also the Oosterdam. Wonder if the store sales will be as good as in Juneau? We would soon find out.

 

Wanting to check out the salmon run, we headed directly towards Ketchikan Creek across the bridge. Creek Street is the way to follow the water up the hillside. Much to our delight, the creek was full of fish.....the most we have ever seen. Circling under them, were two harbor seals, having fun just messing with them. They did not seem to be eating them while we were watching. Lining the sides on the banks were dozens of dead and battered fish. Not battered as in fish and chips, but beaten up by the current and rocks.

 

The further we got up the wooden walkway, we got to the rapids, where the strongest of the fish could jump over the jagged rocks. Beyond the rapids was a shallow pond, where the fish could rest before going further up the creek. There was a spot in the creek where it widen out. The fish were so thick that they filled the water from bank to bank. Of course with those numbers, many more were dead and decaying. The smell was powerful, repelling most of the avid photographers that had hiked up there like us. It was a true display of the cycle of life. These fish are at the end of their life, and are coming back here to spawn. When their eggs eventually hatch, the dead bodies of the adults became food for them.

 

Despite the booklet we had picked up in the information center, it did not give enough info about the types of salmon. Lucky for us, we ran into a local fellow walking his dog in the park near the old hatchery. He mentioned that the salmon we were watching were the pink salmon, the smaller of the five species in Alaska. He also added that a bear was seen as recently as yesterday right in town, during the day, feeding on the dead and dying salmon. Hope there is safety in numbers, because we were not in the mood to run for our lives today.

 

With the all aboard time at 4:30pm, we noticed it was approaching 2pm, and we wanted to find a place for lunch. Some of that local beer was starting to sound good about now. Locating a place recommended to us by Gail, we found that it was crowded with a long wait to get in. Another option was nearby at a place called Fish Pirate's Saloon. The street level is a store with gads of souveniers, and the restaurant is upstairs on the third level. A convenient elevator took us up there to check out the menu. Lucky for us, there was one table left by the window, so we took it.

 

The three waitresses were overwhelmed with the crowd. Our young but stressed waitress said she might be tempted to start drinking, at which we asked if she could hold off until we got our food. She laughed when we told her we were not in a hurry. After all, the ship was literally parked right across the road, a 5 minute walk. We ordered crispy chicken tenders and a 10 inch 5 cheese pizza. She brought our food within minutes after bringing our Alaskan Amber beers. All was excellent. While we were enjoying our pizza, a fellow dressed in period clothing and a tall western hat began singing, while playing his guitar with taped backround music. Sounded a lot like Johnny Cash. Going by the name of Sitka Tex, he entertained the folks, while promoting his CD for $10.

 

After lunch, we ducked into the store below to pick up the free shotglass using a coupon in the Alaskan ports of call magazine. There were sale items galore, but nothing compared to what we saw in Juneau. The fleece-lined jackets were no lower than $20, which is still a good price. The tourists were stocking up big time anyway. We were happy with our complimentary shotglass. It's easy to forget that you have to fly home with the extras, and it's hard to avoid overweight charges.

 

Of course, there is always room for a little ice cream and kettle corn. We bought some of each, and snacked as we window-shopped on the way back to the ship.

 

Got back by 4pm, and headed for the aft pool to watch the sail out of the harbor. Two people were missing, so we left a tad late. There was no sailaway party today. Come to think of it, there has been only one of those and that was way back when we left Vancouver. Perhaps there may have been some activities held in the Lido pool area, a much more sheltered spot.

 

We hung out until almost sunset in hopes of spotting some whales, especially the orcas. At dinner, Gail mentioned that there had been sightings the day before in the late afternoon. That is something we wish would be announced, or else you miss it. There were sightings of many birds, but most were seagulls that were circling over the creek where the dead fish were. We searched for an eagle sighting, but saw none.

 

Dinnertime found all seven of us there. The final formal night, we looked around to see how "formally-dressed" people were. We can say for a fact that most everyone dressed for the occassion. Even the handful of kids on board were formally clad. So much for the rumor that the formal nights are gone. Not so on the Statendam.

 

Entrees we ordered were surf and turf and honey mustard chicken. For dessert, TC and Woody had brought her birthday cake from Le Cirque last night. With a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it was perfect. This evening we had to put the clocks ahead, losing an hour. We hate that, but that's the way it is heading back to Vancouver.

 

One more day at sea, and the week will be coming to an end. The good thing is that we will not have to pack our luggage yet...........

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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Report # 8 Sailing Towards Vancouver September 27, 2014 Saturday Overcast & 60 degrees

 

This cruise is coming to a rapid end. Seven days is just way too short, especially when you are having such a good time. Every day has presented something different and today was no exception.

 

Losing an hour of sleep was not on the top of our list, but since today was a sea day, it was OK. We went to breakfast early and tried to keep it light, because at 11am, we were invited to the Mariner Society Brunch in the Rotterdam Dining Room. Greeted by Bart, the hotel manager, Rick, the cruise director, and the future cruise consultant, Sheryll, we entered the room and were seated randomly. Gone are the days where an officer or staff member joined certain tables. At least on the shorter voyages. In our opinion, this works fine, because there are no hurt feelings. Only three medallions were handed out to passengers receiving 100 day awards.

 

The menu had a few choices. Starters were a shrimp salad or cheddar cheese soup in a french bread bowl. Both were delicious. The choice of entrees were fish, beef, and a vegetarian dish. Dessert followed with servings of a berry cobbler. The meal was served with flutes of champagne. Each place setting had a commemorative Delft tile as a gift. The affair was well done, and the attendance was excellent. Glad we went after all.

 

The weather was dismal and cool all day. But that always make for a good walk on the promenade deck. We sure have not done that much walking on this cruise like we usually do. Most of our spare time has been used downloading photos. While doing this job, we watched the movie, Draft, in our room. It certainly held our interest, showing a side of the football industry that we never think about. Good flic.

 

We spent some time on deck 12, watching for last minute whales or porpoise. Bart (hotel director) happened to be doing the same thing, as this is his last Alaskan run for the year. He and wife Daphne will be leaving the ship when we reach San Diego in a few days. He suggested some things we can do and see on our own when we stop in Seattle and Astoria, since he has made several stops there over the summer months.

 

The sun would be setting by 7pm, and we did want to watch it. As we sailed south today towards our final port, Vancouver once again, the scenery had gotten better and so had the weather. Still cloudy, the skies were breaking up and the blue sky showing through. Perhaps we will have another nice day on our stop tomorrow.

 

We came back to our room for awhile, and happened to look out the window. We could see porpoises, probably the black and white dall porpoise, jumping right outside our window. With that, we grabbed the good camera and headed back to deck 12. What a show these mammals put on as they kept up with the ship for miles. They stayed in the ship's wake, occassionally jumping and diving in unison. We heard some guests remark that they had also seen some whales earlier. These sightings are never announced, so it is simply luck if you do get the pleasure of the sightings. By the time the sun slipped below the islands, the porpoise were gone.

 

There was a lot more ship traffic, as well as the Oosterdam in front of us. Bart (hotel director) told us that there will be 3 ships in port tomorrow.....the Statendam, Oosterdam, and also the Westerdam. That going to be a whole lot of passengers and crew to check through customs and immigrations. We received our instructions which have directed us to debark the ship by 10am. The inspection will be in the cruise terminal for those of us who wish to continue to go into town for the day. They gave us an "in transit" card to show the officials. This way we will not have to go through the long line to get back on the ship. That was torture. Hope it works.

 

Dinnertime found only 6 of us at our table. Gail had chosen to go to the Pinnacle Grill, because she did not like the final international menu choices, nor did she like the farewell activities. She said her goodbyes to us last night. We will miss our tablemates. You know, sometimes you get lucky and meet compatable people, and this cruise was definitely one of them. Hate to see them go home. Since they are curious about the rest of the ongoing cruise, we promised to send them the link to Cruise Critic so they can follow along. Always glad to share info.

 

Around 9pm, the cruise director did announce, rather loudly, that some of the kitchen staff would parade through the dining room, then sing a farewell song. They got a huge round of applause from the guests, as we all seemed to have enjoyed the cuisine and the excellent service. This brief performance has replaced the old tradition of the Baked Alaska parade. We could order Baked Alaska for dessert, but it was an individual serving and way better. It was not melted either.

 

Showtime this evening was the finale of the Dancing with the Stars at Sea. Hope it is on TV tomorrow, because that will be the only way we will ever see it. Most everyone was headed back to their rooms to finish or begin packing in order to have their luggage outside the hallway by 1am.

 

Looking forward to touring Vancouver tomorrow. Looks like it will be another nice day.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

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