Alaska Sojourn: Coral Princess cruisetour, Alaska Railroad, Radiance of the Seas

[EmpressofPurple]

 

Pub lunch decor in the Bayou Cafe

 

 

Menu -- yes, we got one of each and shared them all!

 

 

Mmm... bangers and mash... steak & kidney pie... and fish & chips (we had that a lot of this trip)

 

 

Virgin Mary for me, Pear Cider for DKNYC

 

 

Beautiful sailaway sights

 

 

Fishing boat in the mist

[EmpressofPurple]

 

Terrine with fruit aspic

 

 

king crab legs

 

 

Seafood cioppino with mussels, squid, scallops and shrimp

 

 

Pappardelle with wild boar ragout

 

 

Ice cream sundae with chocolate chips and sprinkles

 

 

Rock'n'roll party

[denatravels]

I LOVE your reviews!! And unlike last time when I had been on the Liberty before you (a B2B last summer), this time I'm reading in ANTICIPATION of my cruise on the Coral in six days! Keep it coming!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[DKNYC]

Oh man, pictures not showing up at all now (for me anyway ). Do you remember what you did to fix this when it happened before? Was it a check box somewhere?

Loving the review!!!

Coffee card still has 7 specialty coffee punches left. Says we can use them on next voyage but not the unlimited brewed coffee/tea. Also wanted to add that the Stanley Park Brew was very good ( Alcoholic beverage review ). 🍺

 

DENISE-DKNYC

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[CMM]

Much of the photos are not showing for me, but I am enjoying the text though!

 

How was the pear cider DKYNC?

[DKNYC]

Much of the photos are not showing for me, but I am enjoying the text though!

 

How was the pear cider DKYNC?

As a Cider- lover, I enjoyed the pear cider as well. Forgot about that, must read back. [emoji481]

 

Denise

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Woobstr112G]

Much of the photos are not showing for me, but I am enjoying the text though!

 

How was the pear cider DKYNC?

 

Ditto.....:(:(:(

 

Bob

[Chitownsailor]

I have been enjoying the review also but no photos showing up anymore, but thank you so much for the review, still enjoying it.

[EmpressofPurple]

I'm concerned that people can't see the photos... I'm posting through Google photos, all are in albums that are shared (that's what solved the problem the first time)... they're showing up for me, of course (except for one or two that for some unknown reason don't post)... grrr...

 

Let's try an experiment: do any of these pictures of the whale tale bench show up? Which one(s)? (For me, only option 2 works, which is the method I've been using)

 

Note to self: "copy link address" from main page

 

Note to self: click on photo, "copy image address"

 

Note to self: click on photo, share, get link, copy

[kaytamar]

Loving your review!!! Only the bench, copy image address, showed for me.

[CMM]

I see one bench picture and it looks like it is in the middle with an image before and after not showing.

 

If you used different photos, I could tell you which one appears.

[vavasmom]

Only the 2nd picture shows

[Davistx1]

Agree...I see 2nd image.

[DKNYC]

Me too , seeing the" copy image address" photo only. (Middle )

 

DKNYC

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[EmpressofPurple]

Well alrighty then! That's the format I've been using, here's hoping it starts working for others again. Onto the next day!!

 

 

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TUESDAY, MAY 17 – DAY #5 – JUNEAU

 

Morning Routine: Treadmill 20 mins., stretch, shower, dress for rainy boat trip, pack net Discovery Cove backpack (carry handle rips first time I pick it up, I spend time to sew it back on) with water, candy to share with entire boat, backup battery and charger for cell phone/camera, wallet (all in plastic bags).

 

Dining room breakfast: we sit with a couple who are going kayaking. Food: diced salmon omelet, potato croquette, toast and butter, cherry Danish, 1 blueberry pancake with syrup & whipped cream… grapefruit juice… papaya and prunes… coffee with cream

 

Walk down to floating dock, meet Ashlee of Harv & Marv, wait on dock for two other couples. Water is rough so we’re going on a 12-man boat, but still with just 6 guests – double outboard motors, heated cabin, open rear deck. Roomy and comfortable!

 

Captain Steve (replacing Captain Liz) will drive the boat and seek out whales for us. He demonstrates with a small plastic model of a humpback whale and provides information about their feeding and breeding patterns, why they are in these waters, etc. He is very welcoming and personal, works as some kind of faith leader in the off-season, and tells us about raising his big family (8 kids? 9?) in Alaska.

 

We see a whale almost right away, get a few quick views of fin and tail, and when it dives we sail off since it might not surface for another 10 minutes. We hear of another doing lunge feeding near shore, where it goes back and forth rather than diving deep. We have many views of the large open mouth filling with water to be filtered through baleen and extract the nutrients needed to it to regain 30-50% of its body weight lost during the trip up from Hawaii (and in the case of females, during the birth and nursing process). Like cruisers, these whales feed up to 22 hours a day.

 

Besides these whale sightings, we also spotted several eagles, both in the towering trees on the mountains, and flying in the sky… a large sea otter floating on its back… and several sea lions playing on a large red buoy. Weather was grey, rainy and overcast the entire day. I’m glad I wore many layers: my running base layer socks, pants and shirt, covered with wool socks, waterproof nylon pants, a Sugoi running shirt with a zip neck and thumbies, plus a two-layer jacket with a fleece lining and waterproof windbreaker, plus a neck buff, fleece gloves, fleece earband, and a large rain hat. (Just sneakers on my feet but I do manage to avoid puddles.)

 

 

Cruising into cloudy, chilly, rainy Juneau

 

 

Art in the gym

 

 

Sweaty post-workout selfie on deck by gym... still in t-shirt. I'm told the snow on the hillsides will be gone in just a few weeks. I'm so happy to see Alaska like this, I'm glad to be here on the first cruise of the season!

 

 

We have some neighbors in port

 

 

Daily special breakfast menu

 

 

Papaya and Prunes

[EmpressofPurple]

 

Ashlee of Harv and Marv greets us with a smile (and "Alaskan sneakers" or the ubiquitos brown rubber boots we see everywhere we go)

 

 

Yep, we're really in Alaska. If you don't already know, the only way into or out of Juneau is by land or sea -- there are no roads into or out of this state Capital city. (We will see why on our next stop here, when we learn about the glaciers all around.) I have only visited one other place like this, nearly 30 years ago: Iquitos, Peru... although I hear in recent years they have actually carved a road there through the Amazon jungle.

 

 

Heading to our van to go to the boat dock

 

 

Are we there yet?

 

 

Yes, we are!!

[EmpressofPurple]

 

Captain Steve welcomes us onboard, explains we are taking a larger boat because the water is a bit rough today... I'm sure glad we're in this boat, we each get our own seat rather than having to share... and it's still a pretty bumpy ride even with the larger craft!!

 

 

All aboard!

 

 

Heading out of the harbor

 

 

Captain Steve uses a small model to demonstrate whale feeding behaviors

 

 

Rockin' and rollin'

 

 

Lots of whale watching boats... and see that black dot out on the water there? I think that's a whale, folks...

[Woobstr112G]

Pictures are now visible and amazing. Looks like you had a great time in Juneau.....:):):)

 

Bob

[EmpressofPurple]

 

We see houses nestled in the wilderness as we head off to search for the lunge feeding whale (the first one dived and may not come back up for 10 minutes)

 

 

Thar she blows!

 

 

Flipper

 

 

Fin

 

 

Kayak in whale territory

 

 

View of Mendenhall glacier from the water... pictures don't do it justice, it is simply breathtaking to see a boiling lake of ice, frozen so it does not pour into the sea as perspective makes it appear it should do at any moment

[EmpressofPurple]

 

Seals on a buoy (and such a backdrop!)

 

 

More views of the magnificent Mendenhall glacier.

 

 

The Alaska ferry. Yes, you can book passage on this and visit all the ports on the cheap.

 

 

Selfie with Captain Steve

 

 

And our great bus driver, who told us she had come here from (Florida?) by searching for "senior jobs in Alaska"... got her bus driver's license before leaving home... her husband also drives a van... and they are paying for their summer in Alaska by working! Such a cool idea for those in retirement.

 

 

We stopped for one more view of Mendenhall on our way back to the ship. I'm very excited to visit it up close and personal on our return trip to Juneau in two weeks.

[EmpressofPurple]

Oh gosh... my notetaking SERIOUSLY fell off this evening!! Here's all I have:

 

-Came home to warm up in hot tub on deck. Swam in pool, free sauna not working, slipped into thermal suite

-North to Alaska video in Universe Lounge

-Libby Riddles presentation, movie in Princess Theatre

-Dress for dinner

-Motor City production show

-Steve Jobs movie in cabin

 

Here's hoping I can add a bit more detail by writing some captions for the photos!! Sorry, folks... now you see what I mean, if I don't take daily notes, I remember NOTHING from my travels!!!

 

 

Hmm... looks like I went for afternoon tea again...

 

 

Ooh... cream swan, fruit tart, scone with jam and clotted cream...

 

 

Chillin' in the hot tub (with my waterproof cell phone camera case)

 

 

Awaiting sailaway from the Solarium

 

 

I was excited to meet Libby Riddles in person, a Princess exclusive... she was outside the Wheelhouse Bar with her dog, signing books.

 

 

Her presentation in the Princess Theatre was interesting, inspiring and engaging -- and very well attended.

[EmpressofPurple]

Ooh, dinner looks good! Italian night.

 

 

Seafood antipasto with shrimp, squid and mussels

 

 

Prosciutto and melon

 

 

Mmmmahi mahi

 

 

Fettucine Alfredo (guess I was hungry after all that whale watching...)

 

 

Oops! Forgot to take a picture before diving into the zabaglione ice cream.

 

 

Fun pix with our terrific waiter and assistant waiter... in their Italian garb

[EmpressofPurple]

 

Goofing around...

 

 

Motor City show... sorry, no notes, don't know if I liked it, hated it, if music and performers were good, bad or indifferent... I do know I was sitting behind some tall spiky-haired dude...

 

 

 

 

 

One last shot from the aft deck... notice that we're getting far enough north that even this late at night it's not quite dark... wait until we're in Fairbanks and truly experience the midnight sun!!

[DKNYC]

Just got home from my uncle's place in New Jersey. Avatar dog is eating and I am hungry again after seeing all that yummy cruise food. I gave relatives the link to this review. We spoke of our memories of our trip to Ak on NCL Sky back in 2003. Finally got to see those glaciers! Woohoo!

 

Denise - DKNYC

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[EmpressofPurple]

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 – DAY #6 – SKAGWAY

 

7am stretch (almost alone!) – shower, dress for day in car, pack bag

 

Breakfast in dining room: bran muffin, butter & apricot jam, V-8, lumberjack breakfast with steak & sunnyside up eggs, plus bacon and rye toast; melon parfait (actually served in bowl rather than martini glass). Eggs arrived raw, I sent them back and they were returned perfectly cooked!

 

Dined with couple from Australia (part of tour group of 26), touring for several weeks: bus and train tour of Whistler, Banff, etc., afterwards on long cruisetour, all with included meals and tours. This is their first cruise however!

 

After breakfast, headed to gangway (photos with raven and polar bear), Smart bus ($2) downtown, to Avis rental car, pick up white corolla (no line!), on the road by 10:30. Skagway has a very welcoming, funky feel; it's the first place I've visited where I felt I would like to come back here on a land trip and use it as a base for travel into the interior. When I came back on our second cruise, the feeling only deepened -- I think I will return to Skagway!

 

Shortly after we left Skagway, driving into the mountains towards the Yukon, we saw a small black bear feeding by the roadside at one of our first pulloffs… and were shocked to see other people trying to feed or entice the bear to come closer for photographs (I rolled up our windows and took pictures through the glass for safety). Finally, someone with an official-looking emblem on their truck door drove off the bear, rather than let the IDIOTS in the other car engage with them improperly. Do not feed the wild animals! Other sightings on the drive included birds, a baby caribou (no photos as this creature got a bit too close for comfort while we were driving up to Emerald Lake, but fortunately without injury to animal or car), and large brown bear at another pullout on our way back south.

 

We used the free version of the online Murray’s Guide, which was more than sufficient for our tour – I just wish I’d paid more attention to the recommendation to eat at the Chilkoot Bakery, rather than at the somewhat inferior Spirit Lake lodge near Emerald Lake, where we had poutine made with melted sliced cheese rather than cheese curds! Sigh. Perhaps we should have tried their Chinese food instead. We did stop on the way back south in Carcross to get some coffee at Caribou Crossing, which was fine.

 

Here’s the link for the free travel guide (you can also purchase a more detailed guide for $5.00): http://www.explorenorth.com/library/roads/south_klondike_hwy.html

 

We did our best to pull off the road whenever we saw interpretive signs, to take pictures, read about history and enjoy the views. Some of our stops included the scenic view of Skagway from Dyea road… the Deadhorse trail lookout, with views of the White Pass & Yukon railroad across the gulch… White Pass summit and “Welcome to Alaska”… Outhouse pullout, with facilities for hikers (and drivers)… “Welcome to the Yukon”… Bove Island viewpoint… Carcross… “World’s smallest desert”… stunning Emerald Lake… and much more along the way.

 

Shortly after we crossed into Canada (showing our passports at the border) we ran into road construction, and had to wait about 20 minutes, chatting with the workmen until they were able to guide us through the single-file line to the other side of the construction zone. Even with that delay, we had no problem doing the entire drive to Emerald Lake and back with time to spare during our port stop.

 

 

Lovely views as well pull into port... notice the clouds at the base of the mountain just over the water...

 

 

Twin Norwegian ships in port with us... yes, I'm on deck in my workout tank top to take these photos, it's not that cold for some reason...

 

 

As I said, almost alone in stretch class (my one companion kindly took this photo)

 

 

Painted signs on the rocks of all the ships that have docked at Skagway... you can also see the railroad pulls right up to the Princess docks if you want to take the White Pass & Yukon route trip.

 

 

A better shot of the Norwegian twins, docked at another area (no train dock for them)

 

 

More beautiful scenes from the dock in Skagway. Hard to believe all this snow will be gone soon.