Mostly Live From August 21-28 Alaska Sailing

[boze9999]

1 hour ago, roxybear135 said:

Last night we stopped in Hoonah and were at port for 3 1/2 hours. There was basically nothing there and felt that it would be hard to spend that much time in port there unless you do an excursion. There’s a gondola that takes you on a short ride up and down a hill, a few stores, and one restaurant. So don’t feel like you have to get off the ship here if you want to just have a relaxing night because there’s nothing you need to see here. 
 

We then got back on the ship for dinner which I was excited about because it was the culinary council dinner (I’m a huge Top Chef fan and Kristen Kish from Top Chef is on the council). Dinner was fantastic and we both thoroughly enjoyed everything we got. I highly recommend the chocolate puff pastry dessert on this night. 
 

Service at lunch had been horrible and extremely slow so we were given complimentary glasses of champagne at dinner to make up for it which was nice. 
 

We then went to watch BB Kings which was good but again crowded. 
 

Today we’re in Sitka and did the otters and wildlife quest excursion which was fun. We saw bald eagles, humpback whales, seals, and otters. We then explored Sitka for a bit before coming back to the ship for lunch. We ordered room service for the first time and it was excellent. 

Please tell me about Culinary Council Dinner. We have all our nights booked in specialty restaurants on our Sept 25th Alaska cruise and no mention of a Culinary Council Dinner - although on one night we do have "Rudi's Sel de Mer" Pop-Up in the Pinnacle for one night booked....

[Sharon in AZ]

2 hours ago, boze9999 said:

Please tell me about Culinary Council Dinner. We have all our nights booked in specialty restaurants on our Sept 25th Alaska cruise and no mention of a Culinary Council Dinner - although on one night we do have "Rudi's Sel de Mer" Pop-Up in the Pinnacle for one night booked....

It will be on Tuesday  in the MDR and look like this:

 

 

 

 

[boze9999]

3 minutes ago, Sharon in AZ said:

It will be on Tuesday  in the MDR and look like this:

 

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing!  What a wonderful array of specialties!

 

[Sharon in AZ]

38 minutes ago, boze9999 said:

Thanks for sharing!  What a wonderful array of specialties!

 

Keep an eye out on the Navigator app. When it is close to your sailing you will be able to see each nights offerings. A few weeks before ours I started taking screenshots of each evening so I could go back and reference each evening meal and plan our specialty dining. 

[boze9999]

9 minutes ago, Sharon in AZ said:

Keep an eye out on the Navigator app. When it is close to your sailing you will be able to see each nights offerings. A few weeks before ours I started taking screenshots of each evening so I could go back and reference each evening meal and plan our specialty dining. 

Smart idea and tip! 

[atexsix]

22 hours ago, zgscl said:

I can confirm from the August 14th sailing yes there is a buffet nightly from 1030-1130. On icy strait point day it was open from 830 all the way through. 
 

The selection is limited. Desert, NY pizza and a few options at Homestead with a large focus on breaded and fried things (one night even the broccoli was breaded and deep fried). 

Southern night? When I lived in Georgia they even fried pickles and potato salad.

[atexsix]

4 hours ago, DuffyMcfluffy said:

We were in ISP three years ago and walking along the promenade towards the shops.

All of a sudden a humpback whale surfaced no more than ten feet from the shore.

A resident of one of the homes we were passing told us that it was “Fernando” a seasonal resident. He usually cruised by during cocktail hour so if you are in the area keep an eye out for him, assuming he is still alive.

It was better than a shore excursion!

Why would he not be alive? Were Ahab and Ishmael nearby?

 

Whales are protected.

[Woofbite]

9 hours ago, atexsix said:

Why would he not be alive? Were Ahab and Ishmael nearby?

 

Whales are protected.

Covid lockdown?
 

[roxybear135]

Here’s some photos from the culinary council night. It’s during the night you’re stopped in Hoonah and I highly recommend making it back on the ship in time for it. I especially recommend the chocolate cream puff dessert 

[roxybear135]

Last night we watched the magician who was very good and pretty funny. We enjoyed the show and recommend going to see him. We then had dinner at Tamarind which was excellent. The highlight of the dinner was the crispy duck with drunken udon noodles. My fiancé ordered this but I kept stealing bites because it was so good. 
 

My fiancé told them that we were celebrating our anniversary when we got to the restaurant and they surprised us with a cake at the end which was so nice. We were too full to eat it so they wrapped it up for us so we could bring it back to our room. We then spent most of the night in the casino which was fairly empty. 
 

Today we’re in Ketchikan and will just explore the town and do some shopping. It’s gray and drizzling but luckily not too cold. 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

2 hours ago, roxybear135 said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

How was the Crispy Duck and Udon Noodles? I have been wanting to try this, think of trying it on September 4th. Also I see  Nieuw Amsterdam is docked right downtown instead of at 4 which will be nice for a change for us.

[roxybear135]

34 minutes ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

How was the Crispy Duck and Udon Noodles? I have been wanting to try this, think of trying it on September 4th. Also I see  Nieuw Amsterdam is docked right downtown instead of at 4 which will be nice for a change for us.

It was phenomenal. I highly recommend it. My fiancé ordered it but I kept stealing bites because it was so good. It was by far the best dish of the night. 
 

We are docked right next to downtown Ketchikan today which is great. We’ve been walking around the shops this morning and noticed the prices and selection here are better than any of the other ports so I recommend holding off on souvenirs until this stop unless you see something that really catches your eye in one of the others. 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

6 minutes ago, roxybear135 said:

It was phenomenal. I highly recommend it. My fiancé ordered it but I kept stealing bites because it was so good. It was by far the best dish of the night. 
 

We are docked right next to downtown Ketchikan today which is great. We’ve been walking around the shops this morning and noticed the prices and selection here are better than any of the other ports so I recommend holding off on souvenirs until this stop unless you see something that really catches your eye in one of the others. 

Thanks so much!! I know now what I am ordering our first night on board 😉

[Cruise Suzy]

22 hours ago, roxybear135 said:

Today we’re in Sitka and did the otters and wildlife quest excursion which was fun. We saw bald eagles, humpback whales, seals, and otters.

 

Did you get close enough to Saint Lazaria to see puffins and other sea birds? I know the route varies based on where wildlife are.

[roxybear135]

8 minutes ago, Cruise Suzy said:

 

Did you get close enough to Saint Lazaria to see puffins and other sea birds? I know the route varies based on where wildlife are.

No we didn’t see any puffins unfortunately. We saw lots of seagulls and some black birds. And tons of bald eagles plus one of their nests. 

[Boytjie]

3 hours ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

Also I see  Nieuw Amsterdam is docked right downtown instead of at 4 which will be nice for a change for us.

 

Yes, we were docked there last week too.

[stickey_mouse]

Is the Culinary Council dinner on a Gala night? Seems like it should be. 

[roxybear135]

Just now, stickey_mouse said:

Is the Culinary Council dinner on a Gala night? Seems like it should be. 

No it’s not. It’s on Tuesday when you’re in Hoonah. Gala nights are Sunday (sea day) and Thursday (the night you’re in Ketchikan). We have the second gala night tonight and aren’t expecting much given that the first one was pretty lackluster 

[stickey_mouse]

9 minutes ago, roxybear135 said:

No it’s not. It’s on Tuesday when you’re in Hoonah. Gala nights are Sunday (sea day) and Thursday (the night you’re in Ketchikan). We have the second gala night tonight and aren’t expecting much given that the first one was pretty lackluster 

 

Interesting. You'd think they would take advantage of the nicer Cul. Council menu on "fancy" night. 🙂 

[Cruise Suzy]

2 hours ago, roxybear135 said:

2 hours ago, Cruise Suzy said:

Did you get close enough to Saint Lazaria to see puffins and other sea birds? I know the route varies based on where wildlife are.

No we didn’t see any puffins unfortunately. We saw lots of seagulls and some black birds. And tons of bald eagles plus one of their nests. 

Thanks. Sometimes the excursion goes that direction and participants get to see puffins. 

[zodiac1]

Could you let me know what cable news channels are available on the NA? Even though we are on vacation, we like to stay current with news events.  Thanks!

 

[Boytjie]

19 minutes ago, zodiac1 said:

Could you let me know what cable news channels are available on the NA? Even though we are on vacation, we like to stay current with news events.  Thanks!

 

BBC, MSNBC, FOX and I think CNN. 
Unlike you, I like to disconnect for a while!

[zgscl]

55 minutes ago, zodiac1 said:

Could you let me know what cable news channels are available on the NA? Even though we are on vacation, we like to stay current with news events.  Thanks!

 

I recall the 4 Boytjie mentioned however they are hit or miss as far as connectivity. 

[syesmar]

On 8/25/2021 at 7:48 PM, DuffyMcfluffy said:

We were in ISP three years ago and...All of a sudden a humpback whale surfaced no more than ten feet from the shore.

A resident of one of the homes we were passing told us that it was “Fernando” a seasonal resident....It was better than a shore excursion!

I was there in 2018, as well, and remember him putting on quite the show! Very entertaining, indeed! 

[cal56girl]

13 hours ago, Boytjie said:

BBC, MSNBC, FOX and I think CNN. 
Unlike you, I like to disconnect for a while!

I am hoping that my husband can give up his news a little bit when we cruise! Of the ones you listed, he only watches BBC (America). I can only handle so much of the same news!