Review: Radiance Alaska Northbound - August 2015 plus DIY land

[EMED2010]

Wednesday, August 12, 2015 – Skagway

For Skagway I debated whether or not to do the train or not. I really wanted to do the train to have that experience but I also wanted to be able to stop where I wanted to take pictures and spend some time at Emerald Lake. We decided to do a car rental and I booked through Avis. It was about $136 and we split the cost between the couples so it was a really cheap excursion day. I was planning to purchase Murray’s guide for the trip but I waited until the week before and wouldn’t you know, Murray was on vacation the entire month of August and would only be checking in when he could get signal. So, I just downloaded the free version which worked out well for us.

The weather in Skagway was very overcast and it drizzled off and on throughout the day but it was nothing like the rain of Juneau. We got off the ship and walked into town around 8:15. We had to wait behind two groups but it did not take long and soon we were off in our four door car. We stopped at the gas station to check out where it was for the return when we had to fill up and got some drinks for the ride. I guess we didn’t get going early enough because we got behind a bunch of buses, vans towing lots of bicycles and one really SLOW truck.

I thought the scenery along this highway was one of the prettiest that we saw in Alaska. There were so many different colored mountains, streams and lakes that it was amazing.

[EMED2010]

Wednesday, August 12, 2015 – Skagway

My idea for lunch was to stop at Chilkoot Bakery for sandwiches and to eat them at Emerald Lake. I thought there would be more to the overlook where we could sit outside but we ended up eating in the car.

[EMED2010]

Wednesday, August 12, 2015 – Skagway

 

 

 

Marmot.

William Moore Bridge

Edited August 31, 2015 by EMED2010
added a picture

[EMED2010]

Wednesday, August 12, 2015 – Skagway

Seeing the train pictures makes me wish I could have done it. I love the one where you can see a guy standing between the cars taking a picture. I wonder if I am in his picture.

Once we got back into town and returned the car, we walked around downtown Skagway.

The requisite picture.

We took a different route back to the ship past a campground and along a stream. The stream was loaded with salmon and we watched them for a while before heading to the ship. The scenery sailing out of Skagway was so pretty too. We sat at the tables in Schooners watching it pass by. Coming up next is Hubbard Glacier.

[DKNYC]

Definitely rain gear!

You can order Tracys crab soup online and have it shipped to you. It was really good.

Yes since Google is my friend , I have been to Tracy's website. I now remember reading about the mail order soup.

Denise

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[micruiser12]

Hi Linda! You are doing a great review with your pictures! Nice shot of the back of my head in the floatplane too! Wasn't that a great bear trip and plane ride?! We had that same pouring down rain in Juneau, but took a whale watch and once we got out of town and on the Bay no rain! Then we returned to Juneau and pouring again. We had a fun dinner at the Red Dog too.

 

Glad to hear you did get to do the dog sled and glacier helicopter. We did that two years ago and loved our experience (in the rain, also).

 

You and my husband were the big photographers on the bear trip. A photographer's dream having all of those bears "pose" for you guys! You have some great shots! Thanks for posting the pictures.

 

Ann

[mimmy52]

You said you checked in and boarded the ship, but then got off and went into Gastown. Did you have to go through all the same lines again when you got back on the ship? I mean, customs and security, etc.?

[HappyGirl1959]

Loving your review! Thanks for sharing :)

[dawnmarie386]

I'm enjoying your review! Thanks so much for sharing your pictures and experience.

[Budget Queen]

You said you checked in and boarded the ship, but then got off and went into Gastown. Did you have to go through all the same lines again when you got back on the ship? I mean, customs and security, etc.?

 

yes, you then bypass the cruiseline check in.

[EMED2010]

Hi Linda! You are doing a great review with your pictures! Nice shot of the back of my head in the floatplane too! Wasn't that a great bear trip and plane ride?! We had that same pouring down rain in Juneau, but took a whale watch and once we got out of town and on the Bay no rain! Then we returned to Juneau and pouring again. We had a fun dinner at the Red Dog too.

 

Glad to hear you did get to do the dog sled and glacier helicopter. We did that two years ago and loved our experience (in the rain, also).

 

You and my husband were the big photographers on the bear trip. A photographer's dream having all of those bears "pose" for you guys! You have some great shots! Thanks for posting the pictures.

 

Ann

 

Hi Ann!

 

Thank you! I loved our trip. I can't regret not going to Anan since we weren't guaranteed brown bears anyway. I wanted to see bears catch salmon in person and we sure did!

I bet your husband got some good shots. I'm still learning this camera and I wish I could do the manual settings more. Oh well, I will just have to practice.

SPOILER: There may be a pic or two of brown bears in Denali during our second week! :D

 

Linda

[EMED2010]

yes, you then bypass the cruiseline check in.

 

Yes, unfortunately. When we first boarded around 11:30 we whizzed through. When we came back around 2:30, they sent us through the crew line but then we had to wait with everyone else and scan our passports into a kiosk. After that we bypassed the check in itself (and the ship photos).

[EMED2010]

Loving your review! Thanks for sharing :)

 

Thank you!

[EMED2010]

I'm enjoying your review! Thanks so much for sharing your pictures and experience.

 

Thank you!

[Krazy Kruizers]

I am loving your review and pictures.

[EMED2010]

I am loving your review and pictures.

 

Thank you!

[EMED2010]

Thursday, August 13, 2015 – Hubbard Glacier/Sea Day

I wanted to be up early to see Hubbard Glacier so as soon as I woke up, I hopped in the shower and off we went to Park Café to grab breakfast. Most mornings Doug would go to either Windjammer or Park Café to eat while I got ready and then I would meet him and he would sit with me while I ate. I usually picked up a Starbucks and then got oatmeal or a breakfast burrito at Park Café. This morning I just grabbed a coffee from Park Café and some dry cereal so I didn’t waste time. I wanted to have all the time for the glacier. We had one of our few sunny days so it wasn’t as cold as I was anticipating so we spent the entire time going up and down from the very top, to the pool level instead of using our balcony. We also went back and forth from side to side to look at the different views.

[EMED2010]

Thursday, August 13, 2015 – Hubbard Glacier/Sea Day

Because the sun was shining, there was a lot of calving going on. I could not believe just how loud it was, like a giant crack of thunder. I witness a huge piece calve off but missed the photo but I have several of the splash. The splash actually grew in size.

After wandering around for a couple hours outside, we grabbed some food from Windjammers and sat outside in the aft area as we left the glacier so we could continue to watch it.

We spent the remainder of the ship doing fun stuff. The guys played pool and golfed. Jennifer and I went to get pick out our ship pictures and then started getting our suitcases ready because we would be leaving tomorrow. We also picked up our WOW cards. We wanted to give them to our two favorite bartenders in Schooners, Hoonie and Putra. We had so many fun times with them with their jokes and puzzles. They always wanted to hear about our excursions and see the pictures.

We went to dinner then to the casino. Doug and I went to Schooner for one last drink and to say our final goodbyes to the guys. And then we sadly went to bed.

BUT…We have a whole other week in Alaska, so stay tuned! Upcoming, Sea Life Center, halibut fishing, Kenai Fjords, Salmon fishing, Alaska Wildlife Center, Independence Mine, Talkeetna and Denali.

[DKNYC]

OH MY GOSH

Those calving glaciers is what I have waited almost 13 years to witness. My last Alaska cruise was in September of 2003. We couldn't see the glaciers because the channel had begun to freeze already and there were too many large icebergs. So my friend and I have booked 2 cruises with a tour in between. They are in may so I hope we don't have the same situation. I will probably cry when I see it.

Denise

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[EMED2010]

OH MY GOSH

Those calving glaciers is what I have waited almost 13 years to witness. My last Alaska cruise was in September of 2003. We couldn't see the glaciers because the channel had begun to freeze already and there were too many large icebergs. So my friend and I have booked 2 cruises with a tour in between. They are in may so I hope we don't have the same situation. I will probably cry when I see it.

Denise

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

It was amazing! I hope you get to see it!

[newdestination]

Truly great review and photos! We just booked a southbound cruise for next June so reading this just adds to my excitement. Thanks for taking the time to do the review.

[chengkgoingalaska]

Thank you very much for posting such an interesting review of your wonderful cruise. The Ketchikan bear watching looks great. I am planning to take my family to cruise Alaska in 2016 and will seriously consider to make Island Wings tour my choice at Ketchikan. Look forward to your future updates on your land DIY trip. Many THANKS from Kang, a reader from China!

[bluebeard39]

Hello my Wife and I are enjoying your review. We cant wait to go next year.

[EMED2010]

Friday, August 14, 2015 – Seward

We woke up to a bright and sunny day! I was excited to see Seward from the balcony. I fell in love with this town right away. It was so beautiful with the aqua colored water and mountains all around. I could see our hotel, The Breeze Inn, across the water.

We showered and packed our carryon and backpacks because we had put the two big suitcases out the night before. We went to Windjammers which was of course mobbed. Then we went to the theatre where we had to wait to leave. After leaving and grabbing our luggage, I found the Hertz counter. They shuttled us to the office where we had reserved a minivan for the week. I was worried about the luggage but we were able to fit four large suitcases and three wheeled carryon’s plus assorted backpacks with no problem.

We drove over to the Breeze Inn. We knew we couldn’t check in yet but we wanted to do our laundry since this was the only opportunity we had. We sat around the lobby while the washer and dryers did their thing. By then, everyone was hungry so we drove a few blocks into the main part of town and had lunch at the Seward Brewing Company which is near the Sea Life Center. It was a nice brew pub type place. Afterwards we over to Puffin Charters, where Doug, Jennifer and Kenny were leaving to go halibut fishing at 6:00AM, to see where they had to meet. After that we went to Safeway and picked up two Styrofoam coolers and some lunch items and a case of water. We had two days in a row of fishing and we needed to pack our own lunch.

By now the rooms were ready and we checked in. I had a perfect view of our ship.

I wanted to explore the area but Jennifer and Kenny wanted to rest. So Doug and I took off and drove over to Exit Glacier. I wanted to do the hike but we I felt we didn’t really have enough time and Doug is not a hiker so we took some pictures and left.

[EMED2010]

Friday, August 14, 2015 – Seward

Doug asked me if I would like to go to the Sea Life Center and of course I said yes. What a cute place. We had a good time watching the harbor seals. They were really friendly and one hopped over to me on its belly.

We were amazed by the Puffins. They looked like they are flying through the water when swimming. They also have the most amazing eyelashes.

They have a nice viewpoint for Resurrection Bay. It was really windy and it looked a little rough that day.