Live from the Jewel April 29-May 13, 2024: will definitely contain sarcasm and grumpiness

[YVRteacher]

Hubbard sea day

 

 

My cold is fully entrenched and it’s the kind of sniffly cold where it feels like a dragon has taken up residence in each eyeball.

 

I made it to breakfast for some fruit and lemon tea with honey then my dad and I went to towel folding. Towel folding was much more fun than cupcake decorating, although no free samples were provided. In all our years with NCL this was our first towel folding class. A woman had dragged her husband to the terry cloth extravaganza and he pulled out his phone. She nipped that in the bud with a curt, “pay attention!”

 

After towel folding I felt so crummy I just needed to sleep. Our room steward had provided a cozy blanket for me in the back bedroom so I curled up and fell asleep. My dad woke me up when he was hungry for lunch but I couldn’t even lift my head off the pillow let alone navigate lunch.  Dad went to lunch and the casino then I reminded him it was Wines Around the World.  He came back from that event swearing about pushy people.  By this time the cold medicine had worked a little and I could breathe so we went to the Garden Cafe.

 

Never in my cruising life have I  seen a Garden Cafe so packed! This was at 2:00pm and people were eating like there was  a cruising apocalypse. Plates were piled high as Mount Roberts with beefy stuff, gnocchi, hot dogs, mac and cheese and cookies.  Many serving trays were emptying faster than they could be replenished (not the steamed cauliflower; no one wanted that) and the buffet staff were hustling to keep pace with the demand.

 

 

Dad forgot he had already eaten lunch so he had second lunch, which from the sound of things was the same as first lunch (soup.) 

 

He looked at his dessert plate and asked, “what am I doing eating Jell-O?”

 

I took a square of frittata from the charcuterie section. 

I like eggs. 

I like vegetables. 

I like frittata on the Bliss in the afternoons in the Observation Lounge.

 

This was not the same. This was a square of cold eggy disappointment in my mouth.

 

There are gale force winds out on deck and people are rounding corners as they walk then getting hit with a wall of wind that stops them in their tracks.

 

In contrast to last week’s blue-sky-viewing of Hubbard, this week we have torrential rain that makes you shiver on contact. We headed to the spa for the afternoon glacier viewing and there were a lot of talky talky people in the spa interrupting my peace. Mostly I watched the glacier through a row of butts lined up against the spa window.  Good thing I’ve seen it before.

 

When the loud talkers left the spa was great. I love the striated ice formations near Hubbard and the black mountains still covered in snow are stunning. I’m very into mountains on this cruise.

 

Just when I was really settling into the warmth I realized my ceramic heated lounger wasn’t heated any more. I told my dad my chair wasn’t hot so he felt his chair and said his wasn’t hot either. Then he said “they must have turned them off. Cheapskates.”

 

I didn’t start drinking today until 5:45pm.  What a slacker. 

I Ketut at Maltings makes me the best drinks! 

You bet he is getting a Vacation Hero card (I took a photo of his name tag today so I knew his last name.) The three bars in bar city are very popular on Alaskan cruises and the bartenders and bar servers are amazing.

 

We had the Captain’s VIP party tonight from 6:15-7:00 and I had a nice talk with the captain about the glacier today and his sense of humour. As we were walking to the party in Bliss I went to stand in line at Chin Chin to get a buzzer. Armando walked by me and pulled me out of line and said “you never need to stand in line.” He secured a window seat in Chin Chin for us when it was an hour long wait. 

 

Dinner

 

For dinner drinks I ordered a hot sake for me and an Asahi beer for dad. He had already had two beers at Maltings and one at the Captain’s party. He took a sip of his beer and told me, “You’re going to get me drunk. But that’s ok.”

 

Our appetizers were great but the rest of the meal was disappointing. I asked dad, “what kind of sauce do you have with your calamari?”

 

Dad:

“Yellow”

 

Whatever it was he liked it.

 

 

I can’t repeat what my dad said about his dinner. Neither of us liked our entrees or our desserts. Nothing had flavour except for salt in the rice and that was over the top. At one point my dad spit out the chicken from his Peking Style Chicken.

 

 

 

 

 

For the next two hours I heard about how he didn’t like his dinner.

 

When dad was all settled and cozy in his ceramic thermal lounger for after dinner spa time he asked me if we were going to take the train in Skagway this week. I said no, I had booked the streetcar but I booked the train for August.

 

Dad said, “I might be dead by August!”

 

I told him we had paid in full so he needed to stick around.

 

We have treats!

 

[YVRteacher]

 

Spotted in Seward

 

So do you think one spouse just got sick of the other person’s junk and put up this sign in their living room?

 

I can not believe I forgot to post my wildlife encounter yesterday. There was an option for an octopus encounter at the Alaska Sea Life Center for $300. We got the chipmunk version for free!

 

Stocking provisions in Seward

 

dad with our waiter last night in Cagney’s. I love these moments where there’s a glimmer of happiness

 

 

 

[ceilidh1]

36 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

 

He looked at his dessert plate and asked, “what am I doing eating Jell-O?”

Hands down the best line of the cruise. I can relate. Been there. Done that. 

[jrt.mom]

Life's too short to waste it on eating Jell-O.

[cricket200]

10 hours ago, Girr said:

Sorry, about the two-part post - computer challenged at times. 

 

Check out Skechers men's Slip Ons for dad.  They have a large selection, and even offer wide or comfort fit.  Yes, stretchy pants are also available for men.  I'm not sure which web site DH uses, but he has a wide selection, and just looking at them you'd never know they were pull on.

I second the Sketchers men's slip on my DH has them in a couple of different colours. 

[Faulkh]

11 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

Also, can anyone recommend a good brand of slip on shoes without laces for my dad, please? He needs wide shoes. Outside shoes, not slippers. He keeps complaining that his feet are too far away and the last time I suggested slip on shoes he didn’t say no.

My husband got a couple of pairs of sketchers (Amazon) that look like more dressy than sneakers that are slip ons. He has wide feet also and really likes them. Also check out Hey Dudes. My sons swear by them. Comfortable slips that look more dressy than sneakers. 

[Tyskie]

@YVRteacher

Agreed, Skechers slip on/slip in are great.  Best part, they have a large selection of wide widths.  DH has multiple pairs. 

[cruiseny4life]

10 hours ago, Girr said:

Sorry, about the two-part post - computer challenged at times. 

 

Check out Skechers men's Slip Ons for dad.  They have a large selection, and even offer wide or comfort fit.  Yes, stretchy pants are also available for men.  I'm not sure which web site DH uses, but he has a wide selection, and just looking at them you'd never know they were pull on.

Ooooo! I see some Skecher's in my future. I haven't worn them since I was 15. Now that I'm fat and don't want to bend over, I just might be getting those slip-ins. Who wants to touch shoes? Not I, said the fatty!! Many, many thanks!!

 

11 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

Perhaps it’s time to go shopping for man pants with a stretchy waist. Are those a thing?

Our chief rat is always talking about this! I haven't seen him lately, which means he's probably scurrying around a ship somewhere...likely Alaska, knowing him. I believe these are the stretchy waist pants he recommends from LL Bean:

 

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/126320?page=mens-athletic-sweats-zip-fly-sweatpants-drawstring-28in-mens&bc=12-26-502921&feat=502921-GN3&csp=f&attrValue_0=32588&gnrefine=1*COLLECT*Athletic Sweats&pos=2&imgt=41

 

Paging @ChiefMateJRK to the conversation. Did I get the right link for our intrepid traveler?

[NikiPinkston]

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

Our chief rat is always talking about this! I haven't seen him lately, which means he's probably scurrying around a ship somewhere...likely Alaska, knowing him. I believe these are the stretchy waist pants he recommends from LL Bean:

 

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/126320?page=mens-athletic-sweats-zip-fly-sweatpants-drawstring-28in-mens&bc=12-26-502921&feat=502921-GN3&csp=f&attrValue_0=32588&gnrefine=1*COLLECT*Athletic Sweats&pos=2&imgt=41

 

Paging @ChiefMateJRK to the conversation. Did I get the right link for our intrepid traveler?

Yes, it was @ChiefMateJRK who wears sweats that look like regular pants, and I bought some of these for DH on the Chief's recommendation: 

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/126004?page=mens-llbean-1912-sweatpant-32in-mens&bc=&feat=MEN'S SWEATPANTS-SR0&csp=a&attrValue_0=37948&searchTerm=MEN'S SWEATPANTS&pos=5

 

These don't have the elastic on the bottom of the legs so they look more like regular pants. DH loves his and calls them his "formal sweats."😁

[Disney Deb]

Your dad is adorable! He needs to be around for your August trip so that I can read your live reports after I'm home and in mourning after our Alaska Jewel adventure!

[brookie848]

2 hours ago, Faulkh said:

My husband got a couple of pairs of sketchers (Amazon) that look like more dressy than sneakers that are slip ons. He has wide feet also and really likes them. Also check out Hey Dudes. My sons swear by them. Comfortable slips that look more dressy than sneakers. 

According to my brother (in his 40s), Hey Dudes are awesome, but aren't meant for a day of serious walking (amusement parks or excursions). Everyone has their preferences, but that is something to take into consideration.

[schmoopie17]

So nice to see a picture of your dad and to be able to put a face to a name. 

Well, I guess "Dad" is a name.

How about one of the two of you together?

[AmyJA]

@YVRteacher My father always wore Redwing Romeos. Sturdy, nice looking, easy to wear (for older folks), and they last forever.

 

OK, ready for the second "b".

Edited May 8 by AmyJA

[ceilidh1]

All this talk of Skechers and hey dudes…I think dad would look awesome in a pair of crocs! With socks of course…

[NikiPinkston]

I love my women's ECCO Soft 7 slip-ons as they are extremely comfortable, look great and last forever. I haven't quite convinced DH to try a pair, but am working on it. (He's only a few years behind your  dad.) They're great for all-day walking!

https://us.ecco.com/men/collections/soft-7/

 

They don't come in wide widths but are made to accommodate feet of all widths. Perhaps if Dad could try them on first.

"ECCO shoes are designed in a unique way so that they fit from the heel forward to the instep, unlike conventional shoes which fit across the toes, thereby restricting the natural spreading of your toes whilst walking. ECCO's “Freedom Fit” means that ECCO shoes are able to fit a very wide variety of feet."

[Muckyduckway]

To cut down on the disrobing at airport security DH got a couple of non-metal belts for travel - he likes wearing belts but these don't have to be removed as there's nothing to set off the metal detector. 

Just search "Airport security belts" - Amazon has a decent selection.

 

PS loving your photos and trip talk as usual. You are truly blessed to have such a wonderful relationship with your dad. And we are all the better for reading about it.

[cruiseny4life]

1 hour ago, NikiPinkston said:

Yes, it was @ChiefMateJRK who wears sweats that look like regular pants, and I bought some of these for DH on the Chief's recommendation: 

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/126004?page=mens-llbean-1912-sweatpant-32in-mens&bc=&feat=MEN'S SWEATPANTS-SR0&csp=a&attrValue_0=37948&searchTerm=MEN'S SWEATPANTS&pos=5

 

These don't have the elastic on the bottom of the legs so they look more like regular pants. DH loves his and calls them his "formal sweats."😁

Thank you!! I thiought the elastic looked a little odd, but couldn't find what you posted. I'm really digging those "sale" colors of blue and green. They're really on fleek for my tastes! 

[YVRteacher]

Seward late

 

I stand corrected on this missing strawberry situation. They were delivered sometime in the evening while I was at the spa.

 

We now have two trays of chocolate covered strawberries that will spoil if left overnight.

 

If anyone wants to know how to MacGyver the room fridge so as to fit two trays of late night chocolate covered strawberries hit me up.

 

Update on the security incident from last week:

 

It took security until 2:00am to find the couple who threw the drink on our friends.  Security knocked on the offending couple’s cabin door to explain the following:

-they had reviewed the security camera footage

-the glass and the drink were used as a weapon

-their actions put others in danger and these actions violate the terms and conditions in the cruise contract

-if there was an upcoming port the two guests would have been removed from the ship at their own expense

-since we didn’t have any ports before the cruise ended (Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier days) they would be allowed to stay on board

-their beverage package was terminated and they were not allowed any alcohol for the remainder of the cruise

[www3traveler]

11 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

Seward late

 

I stand corrected on this missing strawberry situation. They were delivered sometime in the evening while I was at the spa.

 

We now have two trays of chocolate covered strawberries that will spoil if left overnight.

 

If anyone wants to know how to MacGyver the room fridge so as to fit two trays of late night chocolate covered strawberries hit me up.

 

Update on the security incident from last week:

 

It took security until 2:00am to find the couple who threw the drink on our friends.  Security knocked on the offending couple’s cabin door to explain the following:

-they had reviewed the security camera footage

-the glass and the drink were used as a weapon

-their actions put others in danger and these actions violate the terms and conditions in the cruise contract

-if there was an upcoming port the two guests would have been removed from the ship at their own expense

-since we didn’t have any ports before the cruise ended (Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier days) they would be allowed to stay on board

-their beverage package was terminated and they were not allowed any alcohol for the remainder of the cruise

YEAH!!  Good for Security.  

[YVRteacher]

Icy Strait Point

 

Last night was ROUGH. My cold turned into a splitting headache and achy muscles then the sea was tossing us about so I was nauseous as all get out. I turned the nightlight on for a little comfort and couldn’t even process what to do to feel better. At one point we were rocking so hard I actually lifted up off the bed. I love the song Defying Gravity but that doesn’t mean I wanted to live it.

 

The Jewel anchored quite far out so we had a long tender to Wilderness Landing. The line for the transporter gondola to Adventure Landing was about 30 minutes and we were crammed in 8 people to a gondola. 

 

I had a very important person to meet at the cannery shops today! @MamaToMany your son is a charmer! We stood in line and he was so kind and friendly to everyone. I didn’t ask for a hug but I had some treats for him and told him his mom sent me to him. He made heart hands then put his hand over his heart in thank you.  I hope this amazing young man is enjoying his summer in Icy Strait Point!

 

Lil’ Gen’s Mini Doughnuts were popular!

 

 

My dad got all grumpy while waiting in line and said he didn’t want any. I told him to go wait inside. I also told him we are not missing these doughnuts and reminded him how much he enjoyed them last summer.

 

We found an indoor seating area and he (and I) devoured those warm rings of doughnutty goodness in moments! 

 

We selected 4 flavours

 

Birthday cake

 

Huckleberry

 

 

Blueberry

 

Peach Mango

 

 

My favourites were tied between birthday cake and peach mango and my dad said “they’re all so good!”  We both had to go outside to brush the powdered sugar off our jackets and pants. Apparently I make a powdered sugar exception for Lil’ Gen’s.

 

My first forget-me-not sighting in Alaska. Did you know this is the state flower of Alaska? 

 

 

 

 

We walked along the beach until dad became way too cold

 

 

then took the transporter gondola

 

back to Wilderness Landing where we boarded the Skyglider to go up, up, up. 

 

Tip: if you go to Icy Strait Point you can avoid the line to exchange your shore excursion tickets for Skyglider wristbands at the back of the queue for the gondola at Adventure Landing. This will save you about 45 minutes if there’s a long line. 

 

 

Last year my dad forgot he hates heights. This year he remembered. That wasn’t a fun gondola ride for either of us.

 

When we got to the top dad wanted to stay on but I had a mission so I made him step off and walk around.

 

Mission complete!

 

My fingers are still numb.

 

Coming down on the Skyglider

Me: wheeeee

Dad: indecipherable swearing and grunting and holding on tightly

 

We were both hungry after 4 hours of exploring and being cold so we went to the Garden Cafe. The theme was German and I had one of these:

 

Dad had more food than I’ve ever seen him eat and he enjoyed it all.  Neither of us enjoyed the family sitting behind us with their kids coming and taking food off our plates. I had to whisk my dad away before he started swearing at them. He did utter “twerps” under his breath when the mom picked up the middle child and hit my dad in the head with her feet.  

 

We went out the Great Outdoors where dad finished his beer and I had a double amaretto (neat) to warm me up from the inside out.

 

We then headed to the thermal suite to get warm from the outside in. I had to tell the loud talkers to please respect the quiet area. The noise in the spa has been ridiculous on this cruise and I wish they would post “quiet please” signs.

[YVRteacher]

9 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

So nice to see a picture of your dad and to be able to put a face to a name. 

Well, I guess "Dad" is a name.

How about one of the two of you together?

I have one with us but the captain snuck in!

[YVRteacher]

I always love taking photos inside looking out from the shops at the Cannery

 

 

 

 

[YVRteacher]

Someone truly put the ice in Icy Strait Point today! It was freezing! I loved our time ashore today but my dad didn’t listen to me this morning and wouldn’t wear his fleece jacket under his other jacket or his toque or his gloves so he was cold.

[YVRteacher]

The Canucks play the Oilers tonight in game 1 round 2!

[YVRteacher]

So I got so fed up with the 

noisy family yakity yakking in the spa tonight I went to the spa front desk to ask them to help. Lola came in, surveyed the situation (neither my dad nor I can remember which musical that is from. Is it Oliver?) and asked them to stop talking. The big old guy in the group turned to me after she left and said “the sound police are here.” I chose to ignore that comment.

 

When we left the spa Lola gave me a gift of bath salts.

 

@natefish95  did you know she is 18? Also, I said hi to the spa manager from you. She remembers you and says hi!

 

In the cabin after the spa this was our conversation:

 

Dad: Do you want a drink before dinner, during dinner or after dinner?

 

Me: sure

 

We ended up at Maltings. 

 

Heads up

Next week NCL’s drink menu is going to change. There will be no more Budweiser (just Bud Light) and no more Grey Goose. There are other changes but I couldn’t extract them from the bartenders.

 

Two women were downing $20 tequila shots and that reminded me how much I love Duck Farts! How could I forget?

 

Siegefreid came to say hi! He loves my dad so much and we love him!

 

When I showed this photo to dad later he laughed and said, “he put the squeeze on me.”

 

I said to dad we should do the martini tasting with Aan on this trip. At that moment Aan walked by and I asked him about the martini tasting. He said we missed it but on the last sea day (Inside Passage) there would be mojito tasting and whiskey tasting.

 

I said sign me up!

 

My dad turned to me and said his body is used to beer and he knows what he can handle and it doesn’t include hard alcohol.  I said I would have to take over as the drinker in the family.

 

Dad told me not to get a reputation!!

 

Our Canadian friends from PEI joined us at Maltings. You know when you make friends for just the cruise and when you make friends for long after the cruise? These are the latter.  One of our friends received some sad news tonight and if you are the praying type please put forth your prayers. 

 

My dad found the conversation and the noise overwhelming and opted to return to the cabin while I stayed to chat with friends. Years ago he would have been able to converse as well but those times have passed. I wanted to be in two places tonight: with my dad and with new friends.

 

New friends and I shared a round of Duck Farts. That was fun!!

 

I went to get dad in the cabin about 7:45pm and he was standing in the hallway waiting for me.  We went to the Palace for dinner.

 

I got a paper cut on the wine menu tonight. Do you think I can get a free cruise?

 

 

 

Between ordering and appetizers I asked my dad if he knew what day it was tomorrow.  He counted on his fingers and remembered it was my birthday.  I asked him if he remembered when I was born.

 

My dad told me the doctor (Dr. Paul Watson) invited him into the room. The doctor told my dad to put on exactly what he (the doctor) was wearing.  My mom and dad didn’t know if I was a boy or a girl. My dad told me tonight the moment I was born my mom asked, “is that okay?”

 

My mom told me I was  the loudest baby in the hospital. I am still proud of this today.

 

During appetizers I asked my dad what he liked most about Icy Strait point today.  He said he liked the gondola up the mountain.

 

I laughed and said, “you hated it!l

 

Dad said, “I don’t know who you were sitting next to!”

 

We had an absolutely excellent dinner in the Palace tonight. Great table, great food, great drinks, great service.

 

We began with the Italian Merlot (dad) and a Mai Tai (me)

 

then thoroughly enjoyed  ravioli with lobster (dad) and bruschetta (me) and Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp (dad) and without shrimp (me). These are half portions per usual.

 

for dessert dad gobbled up his bananas foster but I thought it should have been on fire. My s’mores brownie was delightfully rich and decadent.

 

For evening entertainment we went back to Maltings for more drinks. I think the bartender may have done the thing they do with drunk passengers and made mine without alcohols. It didn’t taste boozy.

 

Daniel, the fabulous bartender in Maltings, is on his 36th contract! He deserves a free watch!

 

We were chatting with Daniel tonight.  He has been everywhere in the world except Africa. His youngest son followed in his footsteps and is now a 2nd officer at age 25. His eldest son is in IT in the 

Philippines and likes to stay home.

 

I said to dad at 9:24pm,  “look at you staying up all late.”

He said,  “it’s past my bedtime.”

 

I Ketut and I have established a new rule: whenever he makes a Duck Fart I get one too.  

 

 

I Ketut is having his first baby in September! The name is going to be I Wayan which is first born child. I Ketut is 4th born child.

 

 

Someone ordered a Duck Fart so I got one too. The layers are:

Kahlua

Irish cream

Crown Royal 

 

Me: tomorrow we should have chocolate martinis

 

Dad: chocolate martinis?

 

Me: it’s my birthday

 

Dad : ok! 

 

We went to the casino to play $20. That did not go well.

Here are some casino consolation brownies and cookies.

 

 

 

 

I don’t go back and read my own reviews so I don’t know if I’ve said this already: the crew on the Jewel are amazing. We are being treated so kindly and with so much love. My dad has been smiling and laughing throughout each day. Sure, he was cold and grumpy today but our hearts were warmed through the cheerfulness and love from the bartenders, bar managers, spa staff, maître d’s, concierge, butler (she saw us at the elevator and walked us to dinner and secured a lovely window seat), bar waiters, security team etc. I said this before: there is no other ship like the Jewel. Say hi to a crew member and they will remember you and greet you with a smile or a hug. I’m going to need to start filling out Vacation Hero cards tomorrow!

 

10:34pm

Me: I’m drunk.

 

Dad: ha ha ha ha

 

 

Edited May 9 by YVRteacher