From King Crab to Poi-almost live from Koningsdam Alaska to Hawaii and back

[LuAnn]

21 hours ago, Hygge! said:

WOW!!!

[Hygge!]

On 10/4/2022 at 6:16 PM, Clay Clayton said:

Wow! What time did you take that?  Guest Services called as requested about 12:15 and I could see something atmospheric but it was not nearly that green-more smoke like. I decided there was no need to take a photo as everyone would think I was lying and trying to share a picture of emissions from Koningsdam’s stack as the Northern Lights 😂 

I just thought it was wispy clouds but then took a pic and it was like WOW. Also I could see the movement which seemed different then clouds. Took about 12:00 ish

[Clay Clayton]

On 10/4/2022 at 9:04 PM, Vic The Parrot said:

Wait, what?? ...

A bright sunny day in Alaska? .. In OCTOBER??? 😵

 

Sorry. After reading and hearing about Alaska in the late season, it was refreshing to see a beautiful day up there.

You know, all we ever hear is rain, fog, snow, etc.

 

Good to see you're enjoying the trip. 😎

We have had three of them! Today in Ketchikan is 55° and beautiful! 

[Clay Clayton]

Wednesday-Glacier Bay

Woke up as we were entering Icy Strait on our to Glacier Bay National Park. It was a cold 48°, breezy, sprinkly day. We ate our breakfast on the stern enjoying the view but went inside as soon as we finished. We spent the rest of our 65 mile sail up the bay sitting at the window by by pool.  After approaching John Hopkins Glacier we went downstairs to Scott and Robert’s angled balcony.  The view from the lower deck (5 vs.9) was much better albeit colder. From Hopkins, we then went down the other arm of the bay to Grand Pacific and Margerie Glaciers. 

 

The captain had the port side facing Margerie Glacier forst so we moved upstairs to our balcony. While there it calfed three times and the last one was described by the Park Service Ranger as being the largest he had seen all season. It was loud and amazing but even wilder were the waves that it created as it hit the mini icebergs floating in the water. 

 

After the ship turned so that those starboard could see the glacier face, we returned to S&R’a stateroom and while we enjoyed seeing the glacier, there was no more calfing. 

 

After we left Margerie, we joined the hoards ready for lunch in the lido and the other casual venues near the pool. We started with sweet potato soup from the buffet and half & halfing a Ruben and a Pastrami Sandwich.  Being still hungry we then split a Caesar salad and a small pizza. 

 

It had been hoped that we might see whales as we returned down Glacier Bay but unfortunately fog had descended so no such luck. But if we had to have rain and yucky weather, better today than a port day. We feel very lucky to have had the two beautiful days of sunshine/partly cloudy rather than the rain that had been predicted and is much more typical for this time of year. 

 

Edited October 6, 2022 by Clay Clayton

[Clay Clayton]

We had a birthday dinner for Scott and Robert in Rudi’s Sel de Mare last night.  Absolutely delicious and way too much food.  They presented us with a champagne and armagnac cocktail and an amuse bouche that is normally salmon based but for us, they substituted a delicious oyster on the half shell. Robert and I had foie Gras for appetizers, Mike had a citrus marinated lobster tail (cold), and Scott had escargots. All were delicious. Scott, Mike, and I each had a bowl of crab bisque which I thought was great-Mike was less enthused.  Scott and I had sole meniure for our main, Mike had what was billed as a 12oz lobster tail but was actually two smaller ones served hot. Robert had a filet with more foie gras. We all enjoyed our mains very much. For dessert I had tarte tatin, Scott profiteroles, Mike a cheese board (large enough for all of us) and Robert a berry soufflé that was for “two or more” but could have served the entire restaurant. Before dessert they delivered artistic chandeliers to the table that held little sweets-strawberries, truffles, jellies, etc.   It was a beautiful and delicious meal with great friends but all of us ate entirely too much.  Mike and I will be dieting on our way to Hawaii!

 

Writing this sitting in the sun in Ketchikan, our last port. Absolutely beautiful day-wearing short sleeves and after yesterday’s chilly weather enjoying being warm. 

[Clay Clayton]

We sent our first bag of dirty clothes to be laundered last night. HAL offers three choices on laundry, by the piece, by the bag ($20), or an all you can wash version that costs $7.99 per cabin per day. When I was preparing the packing list I se tit up with is doing the bag three times while we are gone but not knowing how big the bag was we thought we might have to splurge for the all you can wash plan.  When we unpacked our luggage but before unrolling our clothes, we test fit the bag and believed the bag plan would work. It turns out we were able to fit 24 pieces of clothing in the bag! 2 slacks, 4 polo shirts, 3 dress shirts, 5 pairs of socks, and 10 underwear. We left it last night before dinner and it was returned this morning while we were at breakfast. 

[Blackduck59]

Hey Clay did you ever get that King Crab? You had lots of pictures of Tracy's in Juneau but never mentioned eating there or if you liked it. We had King crab at Annabelle's in Ketchikan, we enjoyed it but ironically we can get King Crab here fresh in season and frozen year round. It's expensive but I think no more than in Alaska.

[SandyIsRetired]

Wow.  A real laundry bag!  Being on NCL with those horrible paper laundry bags that tear half-way filled, I'm very impressed!!!!  Love your food porn and other pics.  Thanks for sharing them!!!!!

[LuAnn]

2 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

We sent our first bag of dirty clothes to be laundered last night. HAL offers three choices on laundry, by the piece, by the bag ($20), or an all you can wash version that costs $7.99 per cabin per day. When I was preparing the packing list I se tit up with is doing the bag three times while we are gone but not knowing how big the bag was we thought we might have to splurge for the all you can wash plan.  When we unpacked our luggage but before unrolling our clothes, we test fit the bag and believed the bag plan would work. It turns out we were able to fit 24 pieces of clothing in the bag! 2 slacks, 4 polo shirts, 3 dress shirts, 5 pairs of socks, and 10 underwear. We left it last night before dinner and it was returned this morning while we were at breakfast. 

You can really get a lot in there that's for sure...and as mentioned so much better than the plastic bags other lines offer!!

[Clay Clayton]

2 hours ago, Blackduck59 said:

Hey Clay did you ever get that King Crab? You had lots of pictures of Tracy's in Juneau but never mentioned eating there or if you liked it. We had King crab at Annabelle's in Ketchikan, we enjoyed it but ironically we can get King Crab here fresh in season and frozen year round. It's expensive but I think no more than in Alaska.

We did not-at $75 a pound Mike decided he would rather just wait and pay $35 at Costco at home. 😂

[Clay Clayton]

1 hour ago, SandyIsRetired said:

Wow.  A real laundry bag!  Being on NCL with those horrible paper laundry bags that tear half-way filled, I'm very impressed!!!!  Love your food porn and other pics.  Thanks for sharing them!!!!!

 

1 hour ago, LuAnn said:

You can really get a lot in there that's for sure...and as mentioned so much better than the plastic bags other lines offer!!

Yes! I can do alot in the paper and plastic ones (without using duct tape like some

folks do) but the cloth one is GREAT!

[Clay Clayton]

We had a nice day in Ketchikan-the beautiful weather made it so nice to be out and about-especially after the rain and cold yesterday.  But if we had to have yucky weather, Glacier Bay was the place to have it. Made it seem like the real Alaska. 
 

After a stop at the drugstore for things to address my blisters, we wandered for a bit and then went to the Lumberjack Show.  It was VERY touristy but still lots of fun. 
 

Back aboard now, trivia was a bust-we only got 9, the three winning teams got 10😳. 
 

We leave about 6:30 and head towards Vancouver and disembarkations for most on Saturday morning.  We got our in-transit cards and information last night and a note asking (telling?) us to report to the medical center tomorrow morning for a mandatory COVID test for all those going to Hawaii.  Wonder if folks boarding will be subjected to one before coming aboard?

 

 

[SilvertoGold]

I am very surprised that you have to be tested.  We have an email from HAL and a comfirmation by phone with HAL that to board this cruise to Hawaii on Saturday no testing is needed if you are fully vaccinated.  I wonder what is going on?

Edited October 7, 2022 by SilvertoGold

[Clay Clayton]

2 minutes ago, SilvertoGold said:

I am very surprised that you have to be tested.  We have an email form HAL and a conformation by phone with HAL that to board this cruise to Hawaii on Saturday no testing is needed if you are fully vaccinated.  I wonder what is going on?

Maybe we have an increase in cases onboard but if so I haven’t seen or heard anything about it. 

[stretchcruz]

Very interesting, Clay, about the Covid test. Are they anticipating that you will have contracted it? I know a lot of people don't realize that they have it until they fly home. Hmmmmm

[CruiserBruce]

33 minutes ago, stretchcruz said:

Very interesting, Clay, about the Covid test. Are they anticipating that you will have contracted it? I know a lot of people don't realize that they have it until they fly home. Hmmmmm

No one has had to test to fly home in months...

[stretchcruz]

3 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

No ne has had to test to fly home in months...

That's not what I said (meant) I said that they didn't realize that they had it until they got home and then tested. I apologize that I didn't make myself clear.

[CruiserBruce]

1 minute ago, stretchcruz said:

That's not what I said (meant) I said that they didn't realize that they had it until they got home and then tested. I apologize that I didn't make myself clear.

OK, yes, I misunderstood you. But if you test positive when you get home, what is to say you didn't get it on the way home?

 

But I am also confused by the need for @Clay Claytonto test. Doesn't seem to meet any of the policies. 

[stretchcruz]

1 minute ago, CruiserBruce said:

OK, yes, I misunderstood you. But if you test positive when you get home, what is to say you didn't get it on the way home?

 

But I am also confused by the need for @Clay Claytonto test. Doesn't seem to meet any of the policies. 

Could be you get it on the way home. But if you test positive as soon as you get home, most likely you got it before the airplane. Who knows? And who knows why Clay has to test? Maybe they will tell him when he asks (and he WILL!)😁😁😁

[Blackduck59]

3 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

We did not-at $75 a pound Mike decided he would rather just wait and pay $35 at Costco at home. 😂

 

That is over the top. We can get it fresh never frozen "in season" for about $60.00 Canadian here. Frozen is even less. Of course we can get dungeness crab live at several locations. I can understand skipping the crab at $75.00 per pound.

[XBGuy]

14 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

We did not-at $75 a pound Mike decided he would rather just wait and pay $35 at Costco at home. 😂

 

I am really enjoying your reports Clay.  Thank you very much.

 

With all due respect, the King Crab the we occasionally buy at our local Costco is nowhere near as good as what we have had at Tracy's.  Also, I am pretty sure that the price per pound these days is way more than $30.  I am very envious of @Blackduck59's access to fresh King Crab.

 

Also, I don't know if you have plans to return to Juneau, but we have now made it a point to stop by Deckhand Dave's on every visit.  Absolutely terrific fish tacos and fries makes for a much less expensive lunch,  I do not normally eat lunch--regardless of whether or not we are on a cruise--but I eat lunch in Juneau every visit.  And, yes on one or two occasions we have had lunch at Dave's and dinner at Tracy's.  

 

Poi?  Nope, I've never tried it, but I do look forward to your report.  😁 

 

[SilvertoGold]

12 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

 

 

But I am also confused by the need for @Clay Claytonto test. Doesn't seem to meet any of the policies. 

 

[SilvertoGold]

Just now, SilvertoGold said:

Yes, this testing on board makes no sense.  Hope Clay will report if he asks and what HAL says!

 

[durangoscots]

1 hour ago, SilvertoGold said:

 

It sounds like cruises headed to Hawaii are doing more testing.

[CruisingGrandmaW]

Hi Clay - so enjoying your Live Report.

Re:  Covid Tests & Face Masks.

Yes there are 2 other HAL ships sailing towards Hawaii right now.

The Zuiderdam & the Westerdam.

All boarding passengers had to have a COVID test.

Passengers In-Transit had to have another Covid test like you.

All ships are having passengers wear face masks until they reach Honolulu.

(This is off their Cruise critic blogs)

I'm going to make a POSITIVE assumption:

  HAL is taking extra precaution to minimize COVID on these longer cruises.

  Wanting to ensure everyone is Covid free as they depart from final port prior to Honolulu.

Then wearing masks until Honolulu which is normally minimum 3-4 day transit --- giving time for COVID to surface for passengers who may have flown etc.

 

May the Force Continue to be With you --- Enjoy your Cruise