Sea Trek II - The Wrath of Alaska

[andy.capitan]

Just an observation....

 

Right now this thread has over 5000 views yet only 72 posts, including both my own, comments, and replies that only comes to 1.42% of posts to views.

 

It just seems odd.....:confused:

 

Some theories...

 

Not enough controversy - if fact, none.

 

It was the last cruise of the season, the last time Miracle will be doing Alaska cruises, and winter is around the corner. Most Carnival cruises don't go to Glacier Bay.

[Captain Carnival]

Some of us are just lurking and enjoying!

We're planning for Alaska in 2015 and some of our ports will be the same so I'm soaking up all the information I can get from your review.

Did the same thing last year with your Med cruise. We followed a similar path on the Sunshine in Sept 2013.

 

By the way, I cried through those first few post with you telling about how you surprised your wife. My hubby would look at me like I'd lost my mind so I'd read it to him and he'd continue to look at me like I'd lost my mind. HA HA. I recognized you both as soon as I saw the photos on this thread. I've been enjoying following along. Thanks for sharing!

Denise

 

Hi Denise - and thanks for coming out of the "lurking shadows" I was beginning to think that I was the only one writing, posting, and reading this one. Admittedly I can lurk a bit to and will only add something to a thread that will be helpful without over asserting any type of opinion.

 

Thanks for your comment about our Mediterranean Adventure and I'm sorry about the tears and temporary insanity looks!

 

I will be adding more and more onto Sea Trek II in the coming days that hopefully give you some ideas as to what you guys can expect on your upcoming Alaska adventure!

[Captain Carnival]

So-Long-Skagway

 

 

After enjoying salmon bake, we left Liarsville and headed back towards Skagway itself. I forget that exact number of residents who inhabit the town during the cruise season, just a few thousand, but I was shocked to hear that for the most part the town nearly folds up just after the last cruise ship visit of the season sets sail and the vast majority pack their bags and head south too leaving only a few hundred hearty souls behind.

 

 

 

The Port of Skagway

 

 

This was evidenced in the downtown area that basically consisted on one main drag that only extended for several blocks housing an abundance of souvenir shops and jewelry stores including of course those regular Caribbean port favorites Diamonds International and Tanzanite International that came complete with snowbird salesman all the way from....you guessed it....Cozumel.

 

 

 

DI and TI of Skagway, Mexico...err I mean Alaska!

 

 

We looked around for a bit and then headed back for home aboard Our Carnival Miracle walking down towards the harbor following the train tracks until we arrived at the "Small Boat Harbor."

 

 

 

Railroad Dock Straight Ahead

 

 

All Aboard!!

 

 

This Is Where They Keep The Small Boats!

 

 

 

If this Is A Small Boat I would Love To See A Large Boat...How About The Carnival Vista!

 

 

 

Up Next: A Visit To The State Capitol Of Alaska - Juneau

 

 

But First...Riddle Me This:There are only FOUR ways to transit into Juneau and one of them is NOT by driving - can you name those four ways???

[wegiekat]

Lurking and loving your review. Thanks for taking your time to share your trip with us.

[Luckysll]

Getting to Juneau:

 

Cruise ship

Alaska State ferries

Airplane

Sea plane

 

I have a stepsister who lives in Juneau and on my first cruise to Alaska, she met my Aunt and me at the pier and gave us a great tour. :)

 

Enjoying your review.

Edited October 10, 2014 by Luckysll

[andy.capitan]

I know. I know. BC.

[Captain Carnival]

Lurking and loving your review. Thanks for taking your time to share your trip with us.

 

Thanks Mindy from one Tuxedo Cat to another too!

 

[KroozFoolz]

Getting to Juneau:

 

Cruise ship

Alaska State ferries

Airplane

Sea plane

 

 

Another way to get there - be born there. :D

[RuthlessBoss]

Just an observation....

 

Right now this thread has over 5000 views yet only 72 posts, including both my own, comments, and replies that only comes to 1.42% of posts to views.

 

It just seems odd.....:confused:

 

It may seem odd, but it's very nice to see a review with pictures without going through 98 pages of a review with half the posts just saying "thank you" to every comment;)

I don't usually comment on reviews, but this one was nice and concise.

[Captain Carnival]

Getting to Juneau:

 

Cruise ship

Alaska State ferries

Airplane

Sea plane

 

I have a stepsister who lives in Juneau and on my first cruise to Alaska, she met my Aunt and me at the pier and gave us a great tour. :)

 

Enjoying your review.

 

Thanks and you got two of four 1. By Sea and 2. By air.

[Captain Carnival]

Another way to get there - be born there. :D

 

I know. I know. BC.

 

Yes, both are correct as "BC" stands for Birth Canal.

 

One more way to go!

[andy.capitan]

Yes, both are correct as "BC" stands for Birth Canal.

 

One more way to go!

 

The same way we did. Oh, I guess that is by sea.

Edited October 10, 2014 by andy.capitan

[Captain Carnival]

OK, we have determined 3 of the 4 ways to arrive into Juneau - 1. by air, 2. by sea, and 3. by birth (canal).

 

As for the fourth way, one could, if they were really determined could actually walk in - thus 4. by foot.

 

However this is another alternative method that would require one to be a bit more energetic...or is that...energized? :rolleyes:

 

[YOUTUBE]mK2AmaJjSmk[/YOUTUBE]

[andy.capitan]

Pogo Stick!

 

Kangaroo!

 

Swim!

 

Parachute!

[SenatorsFan]

Thanks Mindy from one Tuxedo Cat to another too!

 

 

Aha, now that I've seen a cat I can chime in!:D:):eek: I didn't think there would be any cats in this wonderful Alaska review. Congratulations on your retirement, too.

Heather

[purplemusik]

Some More Yukon Bridge Photos

 

 

 

 

Our Tablemates and Friends - Angie and Greg Crossing The Bridge.

 

 

 

This cracked me up because I immediately thought, I wonder which ones they are- I bet they are the ones in pink and orange and then I realized what you did here! HA!

[Captain Carnival]

Welcome To Juneau

 



 

My Italian/Irish - Eskimo!

 

Although it would have been incredible to have arrived in Juneau utilizing option 4 - a matter/energy scrambler (transporter beam service) we actually arrived by sea, travelled on land, and explored on foot. Of our 17 cruises (to date) this was the first time that the tender service was provided by the lifeboats right off the ship; I wanted a "Carnival Lifeboat" pin for my hat!

 



 

Home Sweet Home – Our Carnival Miracle (And me Photo Bombing)

 



 

Tender - Lifeboats

 

All-in-all Juneau was our favorite port of call and we booked a Carnival sponsored excursion that took us to a salmon hatchery, the Mendenhall Glacier, as well as a (superior) salmon bake. We boarded another big coach style bus and were fortunate to have Anatoly as our driver/guide who was a retired history teacher with a very robust personality.

 

Our first stop was to the salmon hatchery where we toured the facility and shown the process where millions of new salmon are "produced" and grow moving from one holding tank to another eventually leading to a man-made ascending (water filled) staircase simulating a salmons upstream journey giving them some practice skills to spawn later on once they are eventually released. This was an interesting and informational stop that only took around 30 minutes that to me seemed to be the perfect amount of time.

 



 

The Salmon Hatchery Outdoor Nursery & Release Station.

 

After re-boarding the bus once again Anatoly drove us up to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center providing us with a mini-history lesson along the 10 mile journey. I enjoyed the little tidbits of information as well as Anatoly's strong yet personable mobile classroom teaching style where he emphasized and insisted that we comprehended the information with a hearty "are we clear?" confirmation question before moving along or even letting us off the bus.

 



 

The Mendenhall Glacier Straight Ahead!

 

We arrived at the visitor center where we watched a short 11 minute film about the area and the history of the glacier itself learning that it is and has been retreating now for many years losing around 2 miles of mass in the last 50 years with no signs of stopping. In fact where the visitor center is today was covered in glacial ice when I was born (54 years ago).

 



 

Standing Now Where 50+ Years Ago Was Covered In Glacial Ice... Brrr!

 

Time To PP - Photographic Phootnote: Each submission only has room for a total of 6 photo’s so I will be posting many more of this port soon including more from the hatchery, the glacier itself and the salmon bake itself so stay tuned!

[Captain Carnival]

Aha, now that I've seen a cat I can chime in!:D:):eek: I didn't think there would be any cats in this wonderful Alaska review. Congratulations on your retirement, too.

Heather

 

Hi Heather,

 

Thanks and I didn't think I would see any cats in Alaska either but who know...maybe a couple may show up sooner or later - stay tuned!

[michelle1836]

loving the review and pictures! just booked Alaska for next July. cant wait. better break out my boots and winter jacket!

[hbrote]

Thanks for another great review! I have enjoyed reading it very it very much.

We have yet to go to Alaska on a cruise but will in the near future. Again, Thanks for sharing.

 

PS

That cat looks like a "Norwegian Forest Cat". She is the spitting image of ours.

[Captain Carnival]

Some More Yukon Bridge Photos

 

 

 

 

Our Tablemates and Friends - Angie and Greg Crossing The Bridge.

 

 

 

This cracked me up because I immediately thought, I wonder which ones they are- I bet they are the ones in pink and orange and then I realized what you did here! HA!

 

When I write (illustratively) I try to think outside of the box except when the box is filled with Crayola Crayons and I jump inside of the box! :D

[BenjiRodney]

Enjoying the review. We booked the Legend's first Alaskan cruise next year departing from Vancouver.

[Captain Carnival]

loving the review and pictures! just booked Alaska for next July. cant wait. better break out my boots and winter jacket!

 

Thanks Michelle - I will be posting more Juneau pictures today before moving on to Ketchikan!:)

 

Thanks for another great review! I have enjoyed reading it very it very much.

We have yet to go to Alaska on a cruise but will in the near future. Again, Thanks for sharing.

 

PS: That cat looks like a "Norwegian Forest Cat". She is the spitting image of ours.

 

 

Thanks Hank & Trish - I'm glad that you're enjoying this review too and hope that you too will cruise to Alaska sooner than later. I'm also happy to see that your cat is also a KISS fan too!:D

 

 

Enjoying the review. We booked the Legend's first Alaskan cruise next year departing from Vancouver.

 

Glad you're enjoying Sea Trek II! You will not only enjoy Alaska but the Carnival Legend as well - she just had some major upgrades and was also our home 3-times now most recently during our Mediterranean adventure (review link below). ;)

[Captain Carnival]

It may seem odd, but it's very nice to see a review with pictures without going through 98 pages of a review with half the posts just saying "thank you" to every comment;)

I don't usually comment on reviews, but this one was nice and concise.

 

Thanks Ruthless for being so kind! There's more on the way!

[Captain Carnival]

Back To the Salmon Hatchery

 

 



 

An American Bald Eagle Zipping By.

 

 



 

 

All These Salmon Species - Who Knew!

 

 



 

 

Test Time: What Species Of Salmon Just Swam By?

 

 



 

 

Other Than Man - Here Is Salmon's Natural Predator!

 

 



 

 

I'll Fight You For It Smokey!

 

 



 

 

With Teeth Like These Smokey Wins Every Time!

 

More Mendenhall Glacier Coming

Edited October 12, 2014 by Captain Carnival