A Journey to the Last Frontier: Serenade of the Seas Alaskan Itinerary Review

[Travel R]

“You can call me anything, so long as you don’t call me late for dinner.”

[Unknown; early 19^th c.]

[Travel R]

A. Color Commentary

 

The following is short story about one unforgettable night after a long-day’s excursion. It may have been after arriving on the ship after our outdoor adventure into the Alaskan wild. Although the day’s journey had come to its conclusion, we still had the enough stamina and energy to manage a meal in the Reflections dining room.

 

*    *    *    *

 

Worn from the day’s adventures I wonder into the first inn that we happened upon after walking for what seemed like weeks.  Famished and thirsty from the leagues of sunbaked dusty roads and unseasonably warm weather, we took comfort at the first table empty table we set our eyes upon.  As we sat I sensed an almost unnatural quiet in the room with all eyes staring at my dirt-worn party.

 

A nervous looking mole that reminded with a face that reminded me of a weasel approached our table with a visible apprehension. When he came to our side, he very quietly mumbled something from his whiskered face.  “Speak up man” I bellowed. He then stated, just barely louder than before “The, the, this is the Captain’s table. You cannot sit here.”   

 

I then very conspicuously turned my head to look at the table, then about the room, and exclaimed loudly “well I do not see no such captain, nor is their name set upon this table. Now be a good man and fetch us some ale and whatever this place calls a meal.”  The patrons of the inn were still watching our table, listening to our exchange, all anticipating the next move of our attendant, who may have even been the proprietor of this road-side establishment.

 

After a moment, the little weasel of a man without looking anyone in the eye, muttered “But, but [undecipherable].” I got up, towering two or three heads upon this little shopkeep and in my coarsest voice bellowed out “I said, fetch us something to eat and drink, and do it with the utmost of haste” and threw a few pieces of silver upon the table.  This got the frightened little man to move. He quickly scooped up the coin in his paw-like hands and quickly made his way to the kitchen, but not before telling a barmaid to deliver some drink to my parched host of adventurers.

 

The libations came quickly, although it took a few minutes before our admirers turned their attention away from us and onto their own matters. In the time that followed, a few continued turned a quick eye in our direction from time to time, but that was to be expected. We can’t help it that even after three days on the road without a shower, we were still so attractive to receive such attentions. 

 

Bowls of stew appeared in a due time. Of what animal became the meat, I dared not ask, but it did well to fill our empty stomachs. After devouring every last drop of our repast, we each enjoyed another mug of ale or two (or maybe it was a mead, who can remember from so long ago). I also negotiated with the skittish man for a room for the four of us to spend the night. We had spent so many nights out on the road, my back was ready for a bed, or even a pile of straw to soften the unforgivingly cold dirt at the sides of the road.  He again seemed hesitant to allow us to lodge, but after a few more pieces of silver made it into his sweaty palm, and he secured us a small room that would hardly accommodate the lot of us. But there were two beds large enough for us to share, and a water well out the back for us to wash; what else can one ask for?

 

My party was discussing our course for the following day when a colorfully clad gentleman along with a duo of oversized goons crashed into the room. I say crashed, since upon looking at us, he blindly walked directly into the barmaid, toppling all of the drinks she was balancing on her way to satisfy the thirsts of her customs.

 

His face grew red as he glared at us and with an unnatural exasperation in his voice shouted  . . . . . .

 

To be continued.

 

Maybe.

 

*    *    *    *

 

Based on the above description, some of you might be questioning my memory of the events of that evening. It is possible that things did not exactly occur that way, but that is how I remember it.

If you look at the movies being filmed, released, and viewed in droves over the past decade or two, it is apparent that imagination is becoming an archaic notion. 

 

As you set off on your own cruise adventure, try to imagine it as being more than just a vacation afloat a travelling hotel. Imagine yourself setting off on a grand adventure for which legendary tales shall be written. It won’t hurt you to do so . . . . as long as you can distinguish between what is fictional and what is reality. As Lee Atwater, the maestro spin-doctor, had famously observed, “perception is reality.”

 

Enough of this foolishness, off to dinner with the lot of ya . . . .

[Travel R]

B. Dinner in the MDR

 

Our dining experiences in the MDR were, for the mot part, superb.  The wait staff, and we were served by more than one team, were all excellent. I can throw them nothing at them but praise.  The venue was nicely decorated – a mix of 1950’s elegance with a touch of throw back sophistication to the long-past days of luxury cruising. Our surroundings were possibly over-the-top aesthetics for a mid-level mass passenger cruise line, but I liked it; and the white linen cloths on the tables added to its appeal. 

 

The venue has seen its share of wear and tear over the years, and it can be noticed, if one takes the time to look (so don’t look), with the most noticeable being the loss of translucence of the windows (which I have mentioned earlier) in addition to stains on the rugs.  But overall, the venue was to our liking and had no complaints.

 

[Tip: The dining room occupies both Decks 4 and 5, but MyTime Dining was being seated on Deck 4. There were two lines, one for advanced reservations, one another for those that had not prearranged their seating.]

 

And now time to discuss the food.

 

[I take a deep breath. I take another. I then reach for the Gatorade I had set out next to me and take a slow sip as I contemplate what I am about to write. I am then ready to begin.]

 

I have already provided my whole shtick about being a critic, and how it is easy to tear apart an item that is as subjective as the perfect color to paint one’s living room.  No need to repeat that, but I will again restate that I did not go hungry, although some in my family may over-exaggerate on that matter.

 

Point blank, the meals overall were average, especially when compared to food served in the MDR during past cruises on RCI or their competitors. From day one, my expectations were left hanging off a cliff, waiting upon each subsequent night to be rescued from obscurity and swept off to a culinary paradise. The cavalry never arrived, but from time to time a brave soldier did provide respite to our culinary isolation.

 

With all that being said, and to overuse an already overused quip on CC, “food is subjective.” I do not have the time or the patience to assess every appetizer, entrée, or dessert we had ordered during the entirety of the seven days. I am also not in the mood to malign the items I abhorred (one diner’s chopped liver and peanut butter sandwich could be another person’s pate). There were things to eat. I cannot say I found anything inedible – some items were too cold, too tough, too salty, too bland, etc.

 

All in all, I was able to shove every last morsel into my mouth and lived to tell the tale. [Yes, I could go down the list one-by-one and provide suggestions on how they could be made better, most of you do not care, and if I do, it will be because a cruise line is paying me to do so; I am taking offers, so who wants to lay out the cash?] In the following paragraph are the highlights.

 

I may be of interest to note that for the sake of all of all my readers, in order to provide a more informed review, I had suffered the ordered of two entrees on 5 of the 7 nights, and did not repeat any dishes, so I did have an opportunity to attempt the consumption of 12 different entrees during the cruise. This is in addition to tasting dishes that my DW and DDs had ordered for themselves.

Offered each evening is a “Classic Menu” providing the same four items:

• Herb-Crusted Salmon,
• Roasted Chicken Breast,
• New York Strip Steak, and
• Spaghetti Bolognese.

I did not take my chances with the Spaghetti, but none of my family members cared for it.  My DD17 ordered the Roasted Chicken, which I tried, and found it favorable. I had the opportunity to personally test out two items on the Classic Menu, and my critique is as follows:

 

Herb Crusted Salmon – I am in Alaska, so I wanted to ensure I had salmon at least once.  This dish was a huge surprise. Although I am biased towards breaded anything, when poorly executed, the results could be a disaster.  It was cooked almost to perfection and the breading was unexpectedly enjoyable; not over-spiced, and the flavors came through, even after cooking it en masse. I was truly expecting something very bland where I would need to save it with some type of sauce or condiment. Not the best fish I ever had in my life, but I would recommend.

 

[Food for Thought: There are seven species of salmon in Alaska.  Most of the salmon you put on your table most likely came from the 49^th state.]

 

Steak (complimentary) – When I see steak on the menu outside of a steakhouse, I always think a very tough slab of meat that has little to no flavor and was expecting as much. I ordered their New York strip figuring that a steak, regardless of quality, would be a nice compliment to the lobster tail for a make-shift surf and turf. Contrary to my prior preconceptions, this was a dish I had very much enjoyed. The meat was cooked exactly the way I wanted it (medium-well); very tender to the bite, and well flavored to the taste. I was delighted by the dish, and if had discovered this earlier in the cruise, the steak would have been my go-to (every other night). On our cruise next year, no need to upcharge at Chops, I’ll order two steaks and leave the dining room a very happy man.

 

The following items appeared on the non-classic menu:

 

Beef Tenderloin – This was the best dish served in the MDR during the entire cruise. I was expecting something tasteless smothered in some type of horrible sauce that is usually served at an affair like a wedding. This dish was the unexpectedly the opposite.  It was tasty and so tender it practically melted in your mouth. My DD17, who is a picky eater absolutely enjoyed the dish as well – which is saying a lot. She kept on the lookout for this dish during every subsequent meal to no avail [you can look on the app at future menus, but sometimes the menu does change]. Yes, I know that it is possible to ask for a particular dish to be made again, but know how much the chefs already have to do (not to mention staff shortages), but since there is no medical/allergy reason, didn’t want to be that person. Interestingly, the Prime Rib was served twice, and was exactly how you would have expected it at an affair – cold, bland, and tough.

 

Escargot – Escargot is not a dish I have very often at home, and although I may order snails in China Town (NYC), it has been a long while since I have been there (and it is a cooked and served in a completely different sauce). Escargot is a treat I traditionally order while cruising and was upset that our past Baltic cruise had none (they had something, maybe scallops, in a garlic and butter sauce, but just not the same).  This appetizer was just as good as I remembered – especially after the snails are all gone and sopping up the remaining butter sauce with a piece of bread. It is also a dish that is a usual hit for me:  garlic + butter, a wonderfully tasty combination how can you go wrong.

 

Just as an aside – Escargot, Shrimp Cocktail (which was “okay,” but not many in the serving), and Caesar Salad (also nothing to write home about) were on the menu for dinner every evening.

 

[Food for Thought: Escargot may have originated in France. The best snail for this dish is supposedly the wild-snail that slithers in the mountains of the Eastern Alps.]

 

Fried Chicken – My DD17 ordered this dish, not I.  However, once she began to take some in, she began to exclaim how good it was.  She could not finish it all, so being the wonderful father that I am, I “helped her” to clean her plate.  I have to say it was very tasty with a very crisp outer layer, and a lot better quality that what you may get at a KFC (if you were wondering). The best fried chicken I ever ate is in a little place in New Market, Virginia, and this was only a notch below.

 

Caribbean Jerk Pork Chop – This was not a highlight, it was good, but not great. But I am adding this to illustrate a point.  Many dishes did not make it to this list because they were too bland or not cooked properly.  One instance where the blandness stood out was the Caribbean Jerk Pork Chop.  When I hear Jerk, I think of spicy Jerk sauces [there are variations].  This dish was seasoned, but it had absolutely no spike or kick. My waiter must have been watching me while I took a bite and asked me if I was enjoying it – I said, it tasted okay, but was missing any real spice. 

 

The waiter went back to the wait station and brought me back some hot sauce (tabasco). I appreciated the thought, but does anyone see what’s wrong here? If not, let me tell ya . . . .although the tabasco would have spiced up the dish, it is not the same taste as I would have received with a proper jerk sauce. I know that they are making the dish “American Spicy,” but would have enjoyed if they prepared it at half the traditional heat. It was served with Rice and Beans and Plantains to make it look authentic, but it was all window dressing.

 

 

[Food for thought: The etymology of the name “jerk” may have derived from the Spanish word charqui, which was a term used to describe “jerked” or dry meat.  The term has come to refer to a spicy rub added to meats.  The art of jerk cooking came from the Arawak and Taino People. The most common ingredients used for jerk rubs include allspice and chilis (most traditionally Scotch Bonnet), and I have seen a lot of recipes that also include cinnamon, thyme, and sometimes cumin.]

 

Broiled Lobster Tail – No this was not the best lobster tail I have ever had – far from it. Not due to how it was cooked, it is not (nor has ever been) tails from the highest-quality lobsters. However, they are served on Lobster Night! Whereas there is no parade of the wait-staff dancing around the room with bake Alaska (even in Alaska, although it was on the menu) and missing some of the past fanfare, there is still a feeling, a special vibe I feel on that night (which usually coincides with formal night). Maybe my mind is conjuring the ghosts of the past, or maybe some of that spirit still resides on cruise ships even to this day.  One thing is for sure, I am slowing down. I only consumed three lobster tails (along with my steak) on that evening. Before I forget, a shout-out to the butter sauce, which makes it complete.

 

[Food for Thought: There are many arguments on CC about lobsters and how good or bad it is.  One argument I find interesting is that the lobsters being served are lower quality. Let’s take a look at this.  There are two main types of lobsters being roasted or boiled-up in most kitchens, red lobster and rock lobster (also known as spiny lobster). Red lobsters (in most people’s estimation) is better than rock lobsters. They are usually more succulent, not as dry, and more flavorful. The rock lobster does have a great taste, but not a true replacement. 

 

You will also usually see red lobsters served whole, since rock lobsters have much smaller claws and the meat no as edible – which makes them more beneficial to be served for their tails only.  Rock lobsters also freeze a lot better, which makes them also ideal for cruise ships or chain restaurants. All that being said, I am sure only 1 out of 100 of the people enjoying this dish on lobster night could even tell the difference. I know, but I still do not care because of two words . . .  butter sauce.]

 

Desserts – If I listed each one that could be a highlight, the list would almost be all-inclusive.  I do not think any of us had a dessert that any of us disliked – from the simple to the elegant they were all scrumptious, and even some of the no-sugar-added, were not bad.

 

If you look to execute a the menu strategically based on my recommendations, I have included four entrees to definitely enjoy on four of the nights, leaving you only three evenings to either re-order those items that are on the specialty menu, be adventurous with other menu selections or chose an alternate venue such as the Windjammer or a specialty restaurant. But be adventurous and try some of the menu options - you will not know what you like unless you try.

[Travel R]

C. Dinner in the Windjammer

 

We did not have the occasion to dine in the Windjammer this cruise. As noted (in the section on lunch) that my family did not enjoy either breakfast or lunch at the venue, so we opted to go to the MDR for our evening meals.

 

One thing I had forgotten to mention is that (at least during the lunches we were there) they did not serve a simple dish of rice and beans (it was on the MDR menu as an accompaniment) or even Arroz con Pollo (chicken and rice). I have also been very, very busy at work, so last week I made a quick dish of chicken tikka masala with the sauce out of a jar (I am so ashamed), but even this dish was a lot better than what they served in the MDR (and their Indian food was one of the better offerings at the buffet).

 

D. Dinner in Specialty Restaurants

 

We did not frequent any of the specialty restaurants during this sailing. I am not sure if the food in these venues would have been more palatable during this cruise, but our experiences in the past at the up-charging venues have been less than stellar.  Besides experiencing some mishaps in the food ordered, we never found it to be so much better to warrant paying extra for food when we are already paying for a meal in the MDR or buffet.

 

Although the dishes are much better plated and you are dining a nicer atmosphere (presentation makes up 50% of how food tastes), I do not think it would have made much of a difference – especially if those venues were experiencing staffing and supply chain issues.

 

[Food for Thought: According to an article in Scientific American, the appearance of food can dramatically affect how it tastes to us.]

 

E. MyTime Dining

 

I was apprehensive about dining on this cruise.  I had chosen MyTime (or whatever it is called on other ships, e.g., Any Time Dining) since there were some long days where we would not return to the ship until later in the evening.  Due to the time differential between the east and west coast, I thought that an earlier seating time would be better for our internal clocks to process.  So, I took the earliest MyTime slot I could find (6:45, although MyTime seating began at 6:30, which were unavailable) and scheduled us fo 8 PM reservations for the days we had late excursion.

 

Not long afterwards, I was reading horror stories (on other ships) via CCC on how there were 30 to 45+ minute waiting times for MyTime tables even for advanced reservations.

 

My fears were unfounded on the Serenade. We did not experience any waiting longer than 5-10 minutes (maybe 12 max).  On the second formal night, there was a long line, but 2 minutes after we arrived the maître de asked if any parties of 4 wanted to share a table, we said yes, and were seated almost instantly. [A very good choice for a few reasons, as you will read in the next subsection.]

MyTime dining worked out very well for us.  We were able to eat at the earlier hour when desired, yet were able to switch it up to a later time for other evenings where needed.

 

The only one glitch was when I tried to reserve my DD’s cabin along with ours.  Their reservation #/cabin was associated with ours.  However, when I made the reservations online theirs did not appear in their planner.  I tried contacting RCI through their online form, but did not get an answer, so I called. [PS: They still have not responded to that inquiry or a later email another I had sent.]  When I called, the agent said that since their reservation was already associated with mine not to worry and they will be seated with us.  After arriving online at the MDR on the first evening, when we were asked for our cabin #s by the maître de my DDs were not on the list. However, that was very quickly resolved (by making a few notations into his computer) and we did not experience any seating issues going forward.

 

[Tip: Although most cruise line agents you speak to are usually knowledgeable and always very nice, there is usually a gap in their knowledge. This is not the firs time I had received incorrect information from an agent, and have read many other stories on Cruise Critic.  So, please beware the info received, and if possible, try to confirm its veracity; a good place to double check information is the members of Cruise Critic.]

 

F. Mystery Dinner

 

Unfortunately, the Mystery Dinner has not yet been re-activated for this itinerary (most likely due to shortage of staff).  It would have been an activity my family would have enjoyed partaking. If you have never attended one – if run correctly they can be loads of fun.

 

G. Formal Night

 

G1. Formal Night Guidelines

 

I will not use this space to discuss whether there is or is not a formal night according to RCI’s guidelines. There is, and formal night is not “suggested” (they suggest the types of attire to wear because they need to spell out what is considered formal since many people may not know) and I really despise the dissemination of misinformation to the contrary. Nor am I going to argue whether the guidelines include wearing shorts for dinner in the MDR – there is, but there are exceptions.

 

However, I will provide a related experience from this cruise.  I had the opportunity to speak to one of the waiters about dress attire.  I did not ask specifically about formal night, but my inquiry was directed to the wearing shorts during dinner in the MDR. He responded that waiters will not say anything to a passenger about what they are wearing unless it is extremely inappropriate (e.g., very, very revealing, which rarely happens) or dangerous (e.g., wet bathing suit that can cause puddles and people can slip) – UNLESS another passenger complains.

 

If another customer complains the waiter is to notify the maître de, who will investigate further. The reason why most people wearing shorts are not asked to leave is because no one looking, no one is complaining, and no one really cares. If you were asked to put on big-boy pants, it was because one of your fellow passengers complained.

 

The waiter was also funny, stating that most waiters (and maître des’) will compliment passengers on what they wear, no matter how ugly – and sometimes the uglier the outfit, the more compliments the passenger will be given.

 

I will note that the overwhelming amount of people on my sailing did not wear shorts on any given evening in the MDR (and the few that did, many likely had their luggage lost by the airlines).

 

As for shirts on formal night, or any night – I really did not care or bother to look (on the other hand, shorts were a topic of discussion on CC before I left, so it weighed on my mind). As for me, I wore a suit, button down shirt, and tie for both of the formal nights (a polo shirt was worn for each of the other evenings).  My DW and DDs wore dresses each of the nights, with the dressier being on the formal nights – and all three looked amazing!

 

Myself and my family enjoyed dressing up – which is what matters most.  To me, it is just part of the cruise experience, and except for taking up extra room in the suitcase, I do not find it to be a burden to dress up or much of an inconvenience.

 

G2. That Night We Shared A Table

 

One of the formal nights was our best meal of the cruise, and it had nothing to do with the food.  As mentioned above, it was crowded (formal nights were the two most crowded nights in the MDR) and while we were on line waiting to enter the maître de asked if any parties of 4 would like to sit together.  I looked at my DW and she nodded, so I quickly raised my hand, as did the group behind us.  [I know that some prefer to dine privately, but I miss the days when they would sit you with other passengers. The conversation is sometimes the best part of the dinner.]  We were directed to sit down at a top-8 and quickly realize that there was a language barrier.  The other party was from Mexico and predominantly spoke Spanish, and we spoke English. So, what do you do when you a barrier gets in your way?  You break it down.

 

Most meals in the MDR were no longer than an hour and 15 minutes, with one or two being an hour and a half.  This was the one exception. We communicated in broken Spanish and broken English for over two hours and had a great time doing so.  It was an exceptional example of how people from two parts of the world, two cultures, and two different languages could sit down to a meal and partake in good conversation.  I cannot remember what I had to eat that night, but I will remember for years to come the good times spend with this family during this cruise.

 

The one exception was a single item on the menu.  They listed some type of taco as an appetizer (PS: on the Royal App, they were able to view the menu in Spanish) and the look on the father’s face was priceless when he took the first bite to eat it. He looked at me, I nodded, and we both laughed. 

Although I do miss the days we all sat together, the tables were set within very close proximity to each other, which many times allowed for the opportunity to converse with the diners next to us. We did so on many occasions when the other diners seemed willing, although with others, after a few words we could get the hint that they were not as willing to be sociable (which is okay; not everyone wants an annoying (former) New Yorka chatting your ear off while you are trying to enjoy your dinner).

 

G3. Graduation Cake

 

I would be remiss to not mention the evening that our waiter served us a Graduation Cake to recognize my daughters. It was a chocolate cake and they decorated it with “Congratulations Graduates.”  Yes, I know, desserts are complimentary, but it was a very nice touch. The night we shared the table with the other family, they also brought out a birthday cake for their daughter and we all sang her “Happy Birthday” / “Feliz Cumpleanos.” [It’s the little things.]

 

[Did You Know: According to many experts, the “Happy Birthday” song had it’s start in 1893 when two teachers (and sisters) wrote a song titled “Good Morning to All.” The happy birthday lyrics we combined in 1912 and the first known publication of the song was in a songbook in 1924.]

 

G4. In Memory of Mom and Dad

 

On the day prior to departure, I thought I had an entire afternoon to sit back and reflect on what I wanted to say or read in memory of my mom and dad.  She loved cruising; it was one of her happy places.  My father would have loved Alaska.  But the mousetrap did not work as promised, and as you had previously read, I was provided with absolutely none of that time. 

 

Without much preparation, during the first formal night I recited a few nice words about my parents and simply asked my family for a minute of silence.  Although it was very simplistic, it brought a tear to my eye, and I almost lost it and teared up completely, but I held it together.  It was short and without any pomp and circumstance, but it was just right.  There were many times during the cruise that I thought of them – there were many times I saw something that reminded me of them, or I would say to myself “I can’t wait to tell my mom/dad about this,” but then sadly remembered I could no longer. ☹

 

Up Next . . . . The Sunset and Beyond

[Travel R]

Dinnertime Photos:

 

And might as well begin with the best part, the desserts . . . .

 

• My DW enjoyed the Crème Brulee (not as good as NCL's, but good enough)
• Chocolate Cale
• Fruit platter (where are the bananas?)
• Cannot remember if this was the steak???
• Tiger Shrimp
• Me in my Tigger and Winnie the Pooh tie after getting back to the cabin after dinner (I had already lost the jacket)

 

I do have a number of great photos of my family, but made a promise not to show any of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 6, 2022 by Travel R

[Travel R]

More dinner time photos . . . .

 

• Prime Rib
• Lobster tail
• A few more desserts, including the Happy Graduates cake. If I remember correctly, the chocolaty-looking dessert in the ramekin was a no sugar added mouse (if so, that was excellent).

 

Because I am in training and had tons and tons and tons of sugars and carbs during the day and the meal (e.g., full baked potatoes), I usually went with the No Sugar Added deserts or fruit to balance out the meal, while still satisfying my sweet tooth.

 

Why so many photos of the desserts?  Well, that was the best part of most meals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 6, 2022 by Travel R

[Travel R]

8 PM till ???

After the Sunset

[Travel R]

“Never go too long without watching a sunset.”

[Atticus]

[Travel R]

A. Colorful Commentary

 

A young boy was sitting on the lap of his grandfather looking out at the beach and seaside before him from their little fishing hut.  The hut was put together with a frame of whale bone and a blanket of skins.  The hour was getting late and they were waiting for the men to return from their hunt. Although the village was currently well supplied with food, a good hunt would provide for the lean cold winter ahead. It would also be nice to have something other than dried salmon.

 

No boats had yet appeared. Did this mean that they were successful and would be coming home with whale to help supply the village with meat, fat, skins, and a great deal more or are they down on their luck, rowing further and further away since they have found no prey.

 

The late evenings sun began to descend from the heavens and back into the Raven’s sack until it was time to release it again the following day.  The young boy always enjoyed this time of day, since the skies were adorned with a myriad of colors, many he cannot find anywhere else in the waking world.

 

He pointed out towards the direction of the sun and asked his grandfather “who paints the sky before the dark?” 

 

The grandfather closes his eyes and thinks back to a time long ago when he had asked the same question, receiving the same answer. He was simply told that it was a gift of the Raven so that we may remember the warmth and nourishment of the sun when it is stored away, especially during the long nightfall.  He was never satisfied with that answer and wanted to see for himself how the sky is so beautifully colored.

 

After he had been initiated as a man, he took to the rituals of his elders, but was always looking over the horizon instead of the work at hand. One day his youthful restlessness got the best of him. He took a few stores of food and supplies, got into his small kayak and paddled away in the direction of the settling sun.

 

Many days later he had come to the last of his supplies and fresh fish was not to be found.  Hungry and almost ready to join his ancestors he came upon a small village upon the shore of an island.  Once he came ashore, he collapsed from malnutrition and hunger. The inhabitants that numbered a dozen and called for the young man giving him medicines, drink, food, and a warm bed to sleep.

 

When the man awoke, he was welcomed as though he were a member of their tribe.  When asked, how he could repay them for their kindness, they refused any compensation. 

 

When he was almost well the patriarch of the clan asked him where he was going next. He told her the story of the sunset and his grandfather’s answer, and that he was going to discover how the sunsets were made.

 

She laughed at his answer, and asked the man “did you enjoy our hospitality?”  He replied, yes, greatly so. 

 

She asked another question, “Did you ever ask us why we helped such a stranger? We could have easily let you die.” He looked up puzzled and stated, “I never thought of it, I thought you are being nice and accepted it.”

 

The old woman smirked, paused a few seconds, looked him straight in the eyes, and said, why then will you not just accept the answer of your grandfather?  Enjoy the gifts of people and the gifts of the great spirit, without wondering about the why.  The colors of the sunset, the dancing lights of the north, the graceful soaring of the great eagles, the simple beauty of a flower. These are all wonderous gifts for us to enjoy.

 

A few days later the villagers had re-supplied the young man’s provisions and now being fit to travel he was going to set off.  The patriarch asked him, “where are you going.” With a big smile on his face, he responded “Home to enjoy the gifts that life has shared with me.”

 

[Travel R]

B. Sunset

 

There are sunsets, and then there are Sunsets. Vancouver welcomed us with a day of beautiful weather and wonderful temperatures. The evening met us with darkened clouds.  The evening skies furnished us varied sights as the sun kissed the sea or hid itself behind the Alaskan mountains.  Beautiful, yes, but nothing memorable. Nothing memorable until the final evening of our ocean adventure.

 

I cannot remember from where we were coming from, nor our destination, but my DD and I were stopped in our tracks at the most wonderous colors emanating from the skies beyond. The vividness of the palate of colors painting the sky were a spectacle to behold. At a loss of words, all I can say is . . . breathtaking.

 

As dusk faded into dawn on that final evening in this land of unsurmountable beauty, it was a fitting gift of Mother Nature to bid myself and my family a final farewell.

 

[Note: I will be uploading photographs of the sunset, and they do no justice to the solar exhibition we had witnessed.]

 

C. Evening Entertainment

 

“The program for this evening is not new. You’ve seen this entertainment through and through.” [Jim Morrison]

 

Although I may have complained in earlier posts about a lack of live performances or any decent big shows, the ship did provide a list of activities. Seemingly, I felt as though there was less to do compared to past cruises (on this or other lines). Could this be the because we are on an Alaska cruise? There was an absence of Lido Deck activities due to the “cold”?; a lack of staff or entertainers due to employment shortages, or was this merely a symptom of COVID?  Regardless, I found at least something to do each night and did not spend my evenings twiddling my thumbs with nothing to do.

 

If you were wondering about what entertainment was provided for us, below is a list of the various activities and entertainment available in the evenings . . .

 

D. Comedy Show

 

I will begin with the comedy show first, since it was the best of the live performances in the main theater.  The comedian’s name was Aaron Edwards Hall. Although we missed his first family/PG rated show, we happened to catch his show later in the evening (after 10), which was deigned “for adults only.” The comic was funny and entertaining (maybe not Robin Williams, Seinfeld or Murphy funny, but he got a few laughs out of me) – although the material was more on the PG side than even close to XXX (especially if compared to the likes of Carlin, Pryor or Foxx); it is a cruise ship, so he has to keep it tamer than not, even for mature audiences.

 

E. Welcome Show

 

We missed the Welcome Show. After seeing the performances later in this cruise [spoiler alert] I did not miss very much.

 

F. Imitators: Whitney Houston & Neil Diamond

 

There were two live-performance shows. One hired performer that sang Whitney Houston, and the Cruise Director that performed the songs of Neil Diamond.  We were too tired to see the Whitney show and had no desire to see the Diamond show after previously hearing the cruise director sing.

The entertainer that belted out the Whitney tunes appeared during the Farewell show, which we did attend. Although she could hit some high notes, had a pretty good range, and could carry a tune, I did not care much for her.  I felt that the arrangement of her songs were “off” for her voice and musical style. Sometimes the tempo was too fast or too slow, sometimes the pitch she sought was elusive, and the vocals did not reach the proper climax.

 

Musical taste, like food is subjective. For a number of years I had written music / CD reviews for an entertainment website. Although I may not like the music (and I received albums for all genres of music) the artists and their songs were accessed on their own merit in comparison to other pieces within the genre or similar musicians. I would not compare the vocalist we saw to Whitney (not many can compare, but did so to other impersonators and vocalists of this type of music).

 

For this cruise review I am refraining from the use of much more flowery verbiage where I would also labor on each and every word. For me (and it is subjective) she did not seem to exude any on-stage charisma.  She has some talent (even plays a few instruments), and in the long run, I wish her luck,. I think she needs someone like a George Martin, Rick Rubin, or Dr. Dre to mold and focus her talents.

 

[PS: Having grown up in Brooklyn, and spending much of my younger days in Manhattan/Brighton Beach, I do have a few side-stories about Neil Diamond, but since I did not see the show, and I write for way too long as it is, I will save these tales for another time.]

 

G. Big Movies

 

Since there was a shortage of performance talent, the cruise director/activities director tried to make up for it (replace it) with onboard non-live entertainment.

 

[Did you know: The current Cruise Director and the Activities Director aboard the Serenade are married?]

 

One way was to show movies in the Tropical Theater (the main multi-level theater).  One late afternoon I did take up the opportunity with my DD17 and took in a showing saw Spider-Man: No Way Home.  It was nice watching a movie with my DD, and it was on the big screen. The plot line was not very intriguing, and the acting was so-so (that Zendaya girl from Dune was also in this movie, but I also remember her as a young kid in a show my daughters used to watch, and her acting has not much improved). There were some cool effects (although probably better in a real movie theater with high-tech speakers and surround sound).

 

As an old-time comic reader/collector, I have never really been very happy with superhero movies; most are entertaining, but does provide the viewers with the same feeling of reading the actual comic where you need to envision all of the special effects in your own mind and the actors in my head are a lot better than the ones on screen.

 

Interestingly, because RCI hired/acquired additional performers as the cruise got underway, some of the movie viewings originally scheduled on the Royal App were cancelled in lieu of the live shows. I am sure it will continue to get better as the season pushes on (both the number of performers, as well as the quality).  As mentioned before, Carnival is one-up on RCI with their movies since they offered popcorn and RCI did not.

 

H. Hush Party

 

What is a Hush Party, you may ask?  It is a dance activity in which the participants wear headphones playing music. The shtick is that the headphones play different music so that people on the dancefloor are dancing to different songs/rhythms. There are two different types of music playing (which can be switched back and forth by the participant), and the color or the headphone changes to coincide to the specific music.  We did participate, but after about 15-20 minutes we had enough of this new experience and left the girls to boogie (although we never did dance with them).  I think that it would have been even more enjoyable if three or even four different types of music channels were playing, but it is what it is.

 

[Tip: they set up the stand/table to distribute the headsets at the entrance to the Safari Club.  If you want to get on the line early, wait there about 10 minutes beforehand, and position yourself on line as soon as they bring out these two large black containers.]

 

I. Karaoke

 

This was a fun activity to watch.  There were a few passengers that could sing, although most souls could not hit a tune. There was also an adorable 6-year-old that got up there and sang Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” that got the entire room rooting for her. This activity was held in the Safari Club, which as I had mentioned earlier, has very comfortable seats.  There are also two bars conveniently located for drinks or sodas (although every now and then a waiter may come around to take your order, but the bartenders seemed overworked – with rarely more than one at each of the stations).

 

To sing you need to pick your song and place your name on a list by the DJ. There is a sizable list of songs that are included in a book for you to choose. I was barred from singing by my family, and not because of my voice (which is admirably just a notch above a cacophony). Besides the Beatles, I also love the Stones and many times emulate Mick’s moves, even when singing non-Stones songs (Yes, I move like Jagger).  They get embarrassed when I do, so I was banned. I almost convinced them to allow me to sing “Imagine” by John Lennon, but they had replaced Karaoke with the Hush Party on the evening I would have crooned that tune.

 

Kudos for everyone that got up on stage to belt out a tune or two. Double kudos for those that were not drunk when they performed.

 

J. Disco

 

One of the things I had on my list of things to do on this cruise was to go to the disco. While I did make it to the Hush Party with my DW, we never did make it to the discotheque during the cruise. My DD22 tried to visit a few times, but either the venue did not have many people dancing, and when they did, they were not of her age groups, so she quickly made an exit. At least she tried. [As mentioned before, if they would have played music from the last decade or two, more younger adults would have probably come to dance or at least hang out.]

 

K. Casino

 

The thing I enjoy the most about gambling are the thrills and excitement. The excitement of wondering what card you will get next, which suit, and rank will be dealt to the dealer and your fellow players, and what the outcome will be – it can get intense. Love it! The greater the amount ante’d up, the higher the intensity.  I enjoy the intensity, and a great way to get my mind off other things. However, I do not find it relaxing. I am guessing that I decided (subconsciously) to not even pass by the casino – there was a lot of running around and I wanted to spend my time in a relaxing state of mind. 

 

My DD22 and DW tried their luck with the slots, but nothing significant. Because of where our stateroom was located and most of the venues I visited, I rarely passed through the casino throughout the entire cruise. Maybe there was some force that wanted me to stay away?  I’ve got major casino’s within a car ride away (and even went out to Vegas last year), so do not really think I missed anything by foregoing the giving my money to the black jack dealer and the coffers of RCI.

 

L. Captain’s Talk

 

We did not attend the talk due to a conflict with another activity. I did speak to another passenger later in the day that said it was interesting, but did not have much more to say about it. I believe that this is something that should be taped an put on the RCI channel at a later time for those of us that missed it.

 

M. Production Shows: Stage to Screen and Vibeology

 

The premise of the Stage to Screen show looked interesting.  Snippets of Broadway musicals that were re-made into movies. I enjoy Broadway, I enjoy cinematic musicals, what can go wrong?  The orchestra was very good as was the costume and stage design.  Some of the dancers were excellent, and one of the singers was entertaining, but that is where the compliments end. As I have already stated, living so near Broadway, I am jaded.  Many of the entertainers would not have made it off-off Broadway.  They had some talent, but not enough to pull off such a production with numbers that hinged upon the strength of the vocals. 

 

Whoever produced these songs tried to incorporate their own angle on the stage direction, tempo, and feelings – all I can say is that they should not have messed with the original – their ideas and concepts did not come through (IMHO) with great success, or maybe the talent could not provide the punch that it needed. [But then again, to some a shovel with etchings of flowers is art.] The singers and dancers, as mentioned, have talent and tons of energy, but the result was a mediocre production at best.  Had I had known, I would have much rather spent the evening sitting at one of the smaller venues mulling over a half-full glass of diet coke (being an optimist) listening to the entertaining melodies of a solo pianists.

 

We had previously attended the Vibeology Show a day or two prior. It was the same caliber of song and dance.  It barely entertained for the 45 minutes and would not have been upset if we missed it.

The ship also provided a duet show that included two of the singers from the production crew.  Although the female was the highlight of the quartet of vocals for the prior show, I did not enjoy either of the male singers.  My DW agreed, so we decided avoid the Tropical Theater when the duet was performing.

 

[Tip: This duet production was not on the Royal App until the day of sailing. If you have not yet sailed, keep checking, since things can and will change.]

 

N. Farewell Show

 

The Farewell Show, like all other Farewell Shows on every other cruise I have ever been on was a mish-mash of different act that performed during the week.  The cruise director and activities director did their thing and did not care for it. The comedian did a short routine and was funny. The musicians played some instrumentals, and they were very good. The Whitney Houston impersonator (Stephani Parker) appeared, and we left towards the end of her set (we did not enjoy her – see my comments above).  While we were leaving, members of the staff were lining up to walk in to be honored after the Whitney singer (if we had remembered that they usually do that, we would not have left).

 

In sum, we were not impressed with most of the performances on this cruise (this should be of no surprise) – maybe the activities director should have stuck to showing the movies.

 

In the long run, it really did not matter or affect the enjoyment of our cruise. Great entertainment would have been a cherry on the top of a Jahn’s “Kitchen Sink,” but I still have all that great ice cream and other toppings to remember.

 

Up Next . . . Exploring the City of Steam

[Travel R]

Photos of an Alaskan Sunset:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 7, 2022 by Travel R

[Travel R]

Photos from some of the evening's entertainment:

 

• Picture of the Tropical Theater stage, awaiting a show to begin, and a photo of the balcony seats
• Here's Johnny . . . John Blair, our Cruise Director for the sailing
• A few photos from the production numbers
• Waiting for the Hush Party to begin (notice all of the lighted headsets on the table)
• The House Band (they were very good)
• One of our cruise friends singing Karaoke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 7, 2022 by Travel R

[Travel R]

Post Cruise

[Travel R]

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”

[Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter]

[Travel R]

A. Colorful Comment

 

The illustrious English poet Chaucer once wrote “All good things must come to an end.” This includes a good book, a good relationship, and also unfortunately a good vacation.

 

[Did you Know: Technically, Geoffrey Chaucer wrote “But at the laste, as every thing hath ende, She took hir leve, and nedes wolde wende.” However, that would not have sounded as intriguing as an opening sentence. Anyway, most of us know this idiom in the way I have written it originally.]

 

In my youth, the idea of travel, or anything other than travel the roads east of Mississippi in my dad’s station wagon was no more than fantasy.  From Florida to Canada, we travelled each summer, staking out our baker’s tent at every campsite, seeing the back road and big cities of this side of America, and meeting people of all walks of life from every corner of the globe. Travel by airplane, lodging in a hotel, or sailing on a cruise ship were things I read about or saw on TV. They were not things we did – we just could not afford it.

 

I was in my twenties before I had stepped on foreign soil besides Canada, although it was just an afternoon foray into Tajuana, Mexico with some friends during my first time west of the Mississippi River. At 30 I had not visited more than two countries, yet at 22, my DD has visited two dozen.  We feel so, so fortunate that myself and my DW have been able to provide the gift of travel to my children.

 

Maybe it is the reason I enjoy writing about these adventures – I want the enjoyment of the travel with my family to live on long after we have disembarked from the ship, airplane, or auto. In fact, for me, the vacation kind of begins the day I begin to perform research and does not end until the final period is place at the end of my reviews.

 

But this review is not over yet. After this penultimate segment where I discuss leaving the ship and our time in Vancouver, there will be a final post where I provide some concluding thoughts. Then the review will be over but allowing for questions in the days or weeks that follow.

 

B. Departure / Disembark

 

The past few cruises we have made use of the self-disembarked option, and this cruise was no exception. Myself and my family are still physically fit enough to carry (really roll) our luggage off of the ship ourselves. I do not enjoy the idea of having to give up control of my belongings many hours prior to docking (the evening beforehand), and then being required to wait for permission to disembark. This is followed by making our way downstairs crowded together with a few hundred other “friends,” then subsequently trying to identify our luggage in a crowded pen amongst hundreds of other similar bags).

 

Although the whole process may sound very authoritarian, I have gone that route in the past, and never enjoyed it. Therefore, we find it less hassle to just get the heck off the ship ourselves.

The only long wait for an elevator was on this last morning when trying to go down to the deck for disembarking (which was Deck 2).  A tip is to take an empty lift going up, then once it has reached its apogee ride it back down.

 

We required a taxi to take us to our hotel in the downtown area, and there was a line for taxis as soon as you get to the outer doors of the port building.  It was all very convenient – we provided the logistics manager at the front of the line with the number of people in our party and where we were headed; they directed us which lane and spot # for us to walk to. A cab came within moments and whisked us off to our final leg of our journey. [It was a fairly quick and direct ride to our hotel. More on the hotel below.]

 

C. Tipping

 

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – tipping is a personal thing.  If you have paid for your appreciation prior to your cruise, you are not obliged to pay more.  However, if you think a member of the went above and beyond, then give them a little more.

 

What do they want? Cash, money, moolah, clams, dinero, etc. However, sometimes if you are going to a port that has places for shopping, ask them if they need any personal items – they work hard and if you can pick it up for them, it would greatly help them out from spending their limited free time from having to shop (and better if you pay for the item). I have heard stories of the wait or dining staff sometimes asking for a favorite cake or candy, which is also nice to bring them. For those that do not know, their living quarters is very, very small, so anything but the bare necessities takes up space – personal items will be used and discarded and food/drink will be consumed.

 

If it is the last day of the cruise and I am in a foreign port, I will leave them with all (or most) of the foreign money I have with me (they will be able to use it, and you do not need to convert it). I once took two bottles of wine aboard, but only drank one, so the other was left to the steward (in addition to the cash).

 

D. Hotel

 

The hotels (comparatively to many other cities) in the downtown area are expensive.  I wanted to stay downtown, since it was centrally located to all of the sites we were considering visiting (Gastown/Chinatown; Granville Island; and Stanley Park); literally in the center of all three locations. While staying in this area was more expensive, I did go with my pocketbook in our decision and chose the Holiday Inn Downtown Vancouver, which was at the lower end of the available options.

Having stayed in many Holiday Inns over the years, I was very impressed with this one. 

 

First off, we checked in at a little after 9 AM, and they were able to provide us with a room (as you know, many hotels do not have anything until after 3 PM; 1 PM if you are lucky). I reserved one room for the four of us (double beds) and the room was very spacious (for a Holiday Inn), and included a large and well-designed bathroom, and it was overall aesthetically pleasing. The only negative was the view from the window which looked down upon a dreary back street of the city – the intensity of the sun, or lack thereof, was also impeded by the rain clouds that were persistent in the sky until we said farewell to the city on the following day.

 

Although, at first glance the area did not look too bad, once we got outside to explore, it became evident how depressed the city was. A fact that the tourist brochures do not mention.

 

 

[Travel R]

Photos of our arrival into Canada Place, Vancouver and views from our hotel window...

 

As you can  see the clouds were thick and remained so during the day. It was raining/drizzling when I took a few of the photos out the MDR and hotel windows. [And we finally sat at a window table for breakfast!]

 

Note: the street art pictured is actually on the roof of a building across the street from our room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 7, 2022 by Travel R

[Travel R]

E. Vancouver

 

E1. Downtown and Dishonest Coffee

 

Our plan was not to leave to see the views from beyond the city. We decided to remain within the downtown area and get about by walking and taking cabs to the three main areas I had outlined above.  After checking in and unloading our bags in the hotel room we were hungry, and my DW wanted coffee, so we walked to the nearby Starbucks for a sip to drink and a small bite to eat.

Although it was a normal Starbucks no different than anywhere else, there was one incident that caused me to become upset. 

 

I wanted (needed) to use the restroom, but there was a sign that read “out of order.”  After seeing several homeless people on the street in the one and a half block walk, I figured that they put up the sign (and locked the door) to deter non-customers from using it. 

 

When I walked up to the counter pick up my food, I asked the barista if I could us it. They responded that the person with the key was not there yet.  However, moments later, someone from behind the counter opened the door with their key and entered. From that point on, I began referring to Starbucks as the “dishonest coffee” (and have kept it up). We had to then walk back to the hotel for use of the restroom before taking off again on our journey.

 

E2. Steam Clock

 

The first stop on our journey was to see the famous Vancouver Steam Clock.  Although the streets were fairly populated, and we passed by some high-end stores, some of the people out and about seemed a bit unsavory. Otherwise, it was a decent walk, which also gave us a view of Canada Place and their version of the Space Needle (we did not go up).

 

It is not a very large clock, but it was cool to look at.  The exterior is glass, allowing spectators to view its inner workings.  There was a large crowd about, which was to be expected, and the first thing I thought of was to tell my family to watch out for pickpockets. Although the clocks looks like it is from the 1800s and would make use of the system provided in this area to heat homes, it was built in 1977.

 

[Did you know: This is the second steam clock ever built (the first was built in 1859 in Birmingham, England).  The reason for this clock being erected?  The sad reason was to cover up a grate covering steam pipes on that corner so that the homeless could not camp out there for warmth.]

 

E3. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens

 

The walk to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens was a short distance from the Steam Clock, so we figured it would not a long walk, and decided to continue walking.  The area between the Clock and the Gardens was even more depressed than the earlier streets we had traversed.  There were many homeless on the street, and a few makeshift shanti towns areas along abandoned stores.

 

Although I was not afraid (I’ve unfortunately seen worse), my daughters and wife did not feel safe – and we crisscrossed the streets multiple times in order to avoid certain areas. It was enlightening for my daughters to see this – for most of their lives they have grown up with a view of the pretty side of suburbia, and although they are well travelled for their age, it is usually visits to the more touristy areas. To be fair, there were not only homeless in the area, the second largest demographic of the area were students (or at least individuals of, or around, that age group).

 

I had (still have) a friend from work that I spoke to regularly but was stationed at an office on the west coast. They that told me that they had once “experienced New York.” I asked them where they went, and they rattled off all of the usual tourist spots – Broadway, Times Square, Statue of Liberty, etc.  I then stated that they did not really experience New York, they just saw the tourist side of town.

Until you really live in a place and do what the locals do, you really cannot truly experience it (and this includes a few people I have known that have lived in Manhattan and only know it from the aspect of $ - never setting foot in any of the outer boroughs, only seeing these foreign lands via a cab to the airport). 

 

I was most surprised that this apparent depression was so close to the city’s downtown area. It is never a good sign of the times when the underbelly of a city is so noticeably exposed, but I digress . . . . .

 

From out of the storm comes a ray of light. The Gardens are like an oasis in a barren dessert. Although the small alleyway to the entrance is very unassuming, after you pay and walk through a little wooden door you are transported almost instantaneously into an area surrounded by tranquility and serenity.  There are several small courtyards, each containing beauty of their own. The architecture, stones, plants, and trees are placed and constructed precisely to create an amazing effect that transcends both the body and the mind.

 

We walked around slowly and enjoyed all of the views, sitting in some of the benches strategically placed throughout.  [Note: there are two major parts to the garden, and you need to go out into the alleyway to reach the second area, which includes a nice little gazebo.] There is a little guide booklet that provides information on each area, as well as information on what each element of the garden represents. There is also a little (meditation) room with complimentary soothing hot tea for visitors.

Can you tell, we enjoyed our visit there.

 

E4. Vancouver Police Museum

 

The next stop of our journey was to the Vancouver Police Museum.  Not too far of a walk, a few blocks further west.  Yes, the mood of the surroundings became bleaker as we continued to add distance between us and the city’s center. The weather was much the same. Fortunately, although the sky was overcast the entire day, it only drizzled once or twice in the morning and only hinted at additional rain the remainder of the day.

 

The museum was a very interesting place to visit. It is not usually listed as one of the must-visit places in Vancouver, and we found it on a website I found on “unique places to visit in Vancouver.” But it is what we, as a family, decided would be of most interest to us.

 

The museum is not very large. All of the exhibits are contained in a half dozen rooms on the second floor of the old police coroner’s building. Displayed upon some of its walls were guns and other strange and interesting weapons confiscated by the department over the years. There is a room dedicated to the history of the Vancouver police force, another with some exhibits used during crimes (e.g., an axe used to murder a family, which still includes a piece of hair of one of the victims), and a room focusing on investigation and fingerprinting. 

 

he most interesting room (for us) was the one that concentrated on autopsies, and included exhibits of several samples from autopsies that had been performed. I was told that there was one thing that I could not photograph – of course it was a restriction on these samples.

 

The museum was very interesting and glad we took the time to visit. As mentioned, it is not one of the “must see” attractions, but it is what was best for my family.

 

By the time we headed out of the museum the afternoon was getting late (where had the day gone?).  We were all tired and getting hungry.  There were still two hours until our restaurant of choice was to open, so we decided to walk back to the hotel, chill for a little while, and then head off to dinner.  Which is exactly what we did.  

 

Our hopes of strolling along Stanley Park or having a snack at the market on Granville Island were defeated by exhaustion. Those were both on the “must see” lists, and although they seemed nice, we are glad we chose the options we did. [Reflection: I had once performed a virtual run of Stanley Park and was looking forward to seeing it in person; a lot prettier than the slice of Vancouver we had experienced.]

 

[Note: Please do not let any of my comments above bring you to believing I have ill feelings towards the homeless, that could be furthest from the truth. Because someone is homeless does not make them bad people, evil, or dangerous. As mentioned, (I think above), I had regularly volunteered at a homeless shelter, so I was able to interact with many of these individuals – they are mostly good people that are down on their luck.  However, the reality of the situation is that I would not have wanted my DW and/or DDs to walk around that area of Vancouver themselves.]

 

E5. Dinner

 

After a quick nap at the hotel (I was tired) we walked the few blocks to the venue for our evening meal. It was at a restaurant named Shabusen Yakiniku House, which served both an all-you-can eat sushi and Korean BBQ.   My family is no stranger to either (and really enjoy both), and because this combined the two (and served fish, which Vancouver is known for), we believed it would be perfect for our last evening of our journey.

 

A quick review of our dining experience could be summarized as “just okay.”  We have been to much better sushi houses and Korean BBQ establishments, eve back home in New Jersey (and New York).  The restaurant portion is located upstairs, and its aesthetics were okay – providing a semi-Asian motif.  One fun thing we experienced was being seated into a booth where we squatted on a low bench surrounding the table and barbeque (and we had to remove our shoes) – although simple, this provided more of an “authentic” feeling. Most of the other tables were more normal/traditional.

 

The portions served were very small (although it was AYCE, so we could order more), and the quality was not as high as other similar restaurants we have frequented, in addition, and the menu was limited – especially for what they charged. For instance, some of the staple items I was looking for on a Korean BBQ / Sushi-Ya menu were not present (e.g., bulgogi, galbi or a wide variety of sushi).

 

Interestingly, customers were limited to an hour and a half (we were told this upon entering, and it was noticeably posted all around the restaurant), which technically means it is not an AYCE restaurant. [One excellent Korean BBQ near our house also includes a salad/side bar buffet, an option not included in this venue.] However, the timing did not affect us. Because we were extremely tired, it affected our appetites, and were probably out of the restaurant within 45-50 minutes (one of my DD’s was literally beginning to fall asleep in the restaurant).

 

Overall, it was a nice dinner with the family, but not a great bang for the buck for quality, variety, or taste. If we ever travel again to Vancouver, we would look for somewhere else to dine.

 

After the completion of the meal, we sluggishly strolled back to the hotel and as expected we all fell asleep (after setting the alarm to awaken only a few short hours later).

 

[Interesting observation: I do not remember any of us ever turning on the Television in either of the hotel rooms we stayed in during this past week.]

 

[Travel R]

Random photos from Vancouver, including:

 

Walking - A scene from beside the court buildings

Mural over a parking lot

Protest over the US abortion ruling

A concert honoring Japanese Canadians

Dr. Seuss Exhibit

Memorial (maybe to Mariners?)

The Steam Clock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 7, 2022 by Travel R

[Travel R]

Photos from the Chinese Gardens . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 7, 2022 by Travel R

[Travel R]

More photos from our walk around Vancouver and the Vancouver Police Museum . . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 7, 2022 by Travel R

[Travel R]

Photos from our Korean BBQ dinner, our hotel room, and a few more shots from Vancouver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 7, 2022 by Travel R

[Travel R]

F. Return Flight(s) Home – “the Sprint”

 

We woke up early, got dressed, and headed down to the hotel lobby.  I inquired the concierge about transportation to the airport, and he happily called a cab, which arrived within a few minutes.  We placed our baggage into the car and enjoyed a nice ride to the airport (who had taken an Alaskan cruise with his family two weeks prior). Although this time we noticed the obvious contrast of the inner city with it’s much lusher outside with its immense expensive homes. Our cab arrived to our terminal in good time (luckily, once again, we experienced very short lines for check-in (which we did electronically) and customs).

 

We arrived at the gate, dropped our stuff, and my DD and I solicited multiple vendors to put together breakfasts (and lunches) for each of us, which was not easy since we have our own likes and dislikes and many of the venues at the airport have limited menus and they cannot be altered (even for a place that made the sandwiches themselves). [Unfortunately, locating breakfast or lunch sandwiches without cheese (due to my allergy) was one of the toughest challenges.] But once we returned, we sat back, ate, relaxed. That is, until we received word that our flight was going to be delayed.

 

[The flight cancellations of the week prior was still ongoing. As early as two hours prior to when the flight was originally going to be delayed there were multiple people waiting at the desk. All trying to get onto our flight after cancellations of their previous flights.]

 

When we saw the new flight time, we became worried.

 

The delay provided us with only 59 minutes to get from our first flight to the second.

 

My wife asked the agent at the counter if this would be an issue, the agent responded that an attendant on the flight will let us know.  We did not receive notification from any attendants on our flight. Our initial odyssey to Vancouver was hectic, why shouldn’t the way back be any easier? It makes for a better story.

 

Besides the delay, we arrived at the gate in Calgary even later than expected. Time was short and we hit yet another roadblock. We had to unexpectedly pass-through customs yet again.  No, I did not realize that we would be going through another customs station (we were flying domestically one Canadian City to another Canadian city; and we remained within the “Gate” areas). I was PO’d that I had to throw away the two bottles of drinks I had purchased just prior to the first flight, but that was to be a minor point of aggravation.

 

My DD17 was flagged by the border agents and was “asked” to undergo a super-duper security check.  The agents rummaged through every inch of her carry-on (including dusting for explosives), her entire body was rescanned with manual detectors, and was questioned (interrogated) about where she had been, who she was with, and where she was going.  Separately, they had also flagged my backpack, although luckily it was a quick search. When they finished with my search, there were only 15 minutes before the flight was going to be taking off (leaving us behind watching it fly away through the large airport windows without us) – and my DD was still in the clutches of the border patrol.

 

We decided that myself and my DD22 would run ahead while my DW remained with my DD17. There was one additional checkpoint where they scanned our tickets to track the whereabouts of our luggage (i.e., if it will be on the flight). We were cleared and told that the luggage would be on our desired aircraft – with or without us).

 

We ran. 

 

I am not talking figuratively – we literally sprinted from one side of the Calgary Airport (YYC) to the next and got onto the end of the waning line of passengers. I did not expect the airport to be that long – we ran from the end of Terminal B to the far end of Terminal D (fortunately, we were not in A). 

 

[Memories: The last time something like this happened to me, myself and some companions had a connecting flight in Cincinnati; the flight attendants had already talked to the gate (and notified us while we were still on the airplane), and one of those little passenger cars was ready and waiting for us, which whisked our way to the next gate. The driver sped through the airport honking his horn the entire time to warn everyone to get out of the way. Yes, it was fun. We were so late that they had to re-open the hatch to let us in. Our luggage arrived to our destination a day later.]  

 

A few moments later, just as we got to the gate to present our tickets, my DW and DD also appeared running down the terminal.  We waited for them to arrive (we told the ticket agent why). We all boarded together as a family and were the last to enter the airplane before the hatch closed behind us. Luckily, there was enough space to place our carry-ons in the overheads (which was a worry since some passenger’s carry-ons can be larger than my checked-in luggage and tend to take up a lot of room).

 

I almost never fall asleep on an airplane, but this almost became an exception.  Although tired, I could not find any sleep. Instead, I turned on my TV monitor, plugged in my headphones and watched a Disney movie (Encanto). I know I am a 50+ year old man, but I like Disney and will watch their releases when I can.  Since my DDs are older, I do not get a chance to see as many (and none in the movies), so I figured this was my chance. 

 

Unfortunately, I really did not care much for this animation.  The plot was paper thin and did not find many of the songs to my liking. Although we all are made to feel sorry for the main character (which we did), her character was very vanilla and had very little depth. [Yes, it’s a movie for kids, but think about all the other Disney characters that have interesting back stories.] In fact, I would have rather heard more about some of the more interesting side-characters in the story. But it kept me entertained enough to pass the time.

 

Boringly, there were no further incidents. We landed on time, our bags were the first to come down the chute (probably because they were thrown on last), hailed a cab very quickly (there is a booth at EWR to do so), and made it home without any traffic.

 

I did not unpack. I did not even shower (although I did change). Once my head hit the pillow, the sandman paid a visit and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

*    *    *    *

 

Brave adventurers our story has come to an end.  We arrived safely to our home, and this is where we must part (although feel free to stay around for the summary / wrap up).

 

Thank you all for coming along on this adventure with the Travel R family.  Hopefully, you learned a few things that you were able to use on your own journey, or maybe just stuck around for the enjoyment.

 

What began as my DW coming down to my office with a mailer telling me to “book it,” has gone its course. Planning for our next adventures is already underway with a trip over the Niagara Falls, a walk in Memphis, and multiple visits New England in the near future, in addition to sailings to the Yucatán Peninsula and upon the rivers of Europe in the next two years. Will there be reviews (of the cruises)? Of course. I hope you can all accompany us again on these adventures.

 

Up Next . . . . A Summary

[Ferry_Watcher]

Thanks, Travel R for such a great and thoughtful review!

 

Could you repost your Sitka walking tour link?

 

What do you think were the best zero/low cost activities that your family did?  Would you recommend the $2 public bus to Mendenhall Glacier, or the $10 or $13 shuttle?

Was sailing out of Vancouver worth the travel hassle that you encountered trying to get there in time? (I know Vancouver is a beautiful city, which I love to visit, but I wondered about it from  your east coast perceptive)

[Travel R]

Photos from the airport in Vancouver (Calgary was a blur and no time for photos)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 7, 2022 by Travel R

[Travel R]

8 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

Thanks, Travel R for such a great and thoughtful review!

 

My pleasure!

 

8 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

Could you repost your Sitka walking tour link?

 

Details and map are attached . . . .

 

My review of our walk through Sitka (Post #137) . .  

 

 

9 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

What do you think were the best zero/low cost activities that your family did?  Would you recommend the $2 public bus to Mendenhall Glacier, or the $10 or $13 shuttle?

 

Walk through Sitka was amazing (even without paying for the museums).

 

Depending on time, the $2 public bus may be your best low-cost option. I have taken many busses/trains in non-English speaking countries, so this should be a cinch.  The Mendenhall Glacier looked amazing from our view out in the Bay, so it must be even more amazing up-close.  From what I read the visitor center is nice, and the walking trail is not too tough.

 

9 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

Was sailing out of Vancouver worth the travel hassle that you encountered trying to get there in time? (I know Vancouver is a beautiful city, which I love to visit, but I wondered about it from  your east coast perceptive)

 

I've seen some pretty poor parts of this world.  However, I was taken back at Vancouver.  Whatever I read (except for a few random comments on CC), it was a beautiful city.  I had taken a virtual run through Stanley Park and it was amazing. I grew up in NYC with homeless on the streets (before Bloomberg swept them under the rug), and walking around Times Square on a late Saturday night in the early 1980s was something out of the movies with Pimps dressed to the max sitting in their Bentley convertibles as street walkers did their business (with the occasional cat fight when one thought another was taking their John).  [One of the best video-game/pinball places was a block off of Times Square.] Harlem (before its revitalization), or even parts of Brooklyn showed its darker side.

 

I am not sure it it is an East coast perspective more than being confronted with the contradictions of what expected from my readings (or maybe I did not research enough). If my family wanted to experience the more touristy parts of Vancouver by turning left (west), we would have experienced a different city.

 

In hindsight, even knowing what it is like, I am glad we took the course we did. The Vancouver Police Museum, and the Chinese Gardens were gems in that part of the city.

SitkaWalkingTourDetails.pdf Sitka Walking Map.pdf