Alaska Part 2 The Cruise

As I said in Part One, the cruise was not my idea. I had not been on one and the concept did not appeal. It turned out I was right and wrong!
The check in was a disaster. We were not on the list of people joining the cruise in Skagway - and there were only a few of us. We had joined forces with Chris and Steve who turned out to be the only other couple doing the same tour. Despite Steve downloading a Boarding Pass on the 'net, there was no trace of our reservations - great! we thought. The bouncers at the gangway finally contacted the office and found some trace of us so they handed the problem onto the front office. We got there and found ......... absolutely no problem. We were processed in a blink of an eye and it was down to our cabin.

   
 To find a gorilla hanging in a cabin!











There was a new towel sculpture every day:
















The cabin, despite being the on the lowest (cheapest) deck, was very spacious and very comfortable. We stowed all our clothes and five bags in the four large wardrobes and had space left over.

Feeling pretty chipper, we decided to explore the ship - to find we had booked on a floating retirement home! Everyone was so old. Several were pushing zimmer frames and few looked capable of even doing one lap of the Promenade Deck. Those willing to brave the outside were hunkered down in the deck chairs, wrapped up in heavy blankets.




 Sue wrapped up and ready
 for the Promenade Deck







The weather was stunning but cold outside - there were about 20 glaciers which just might explain the cold! We were thankful we had bought our North Face parkas. Soldiering on we did 11 laps of the Promenade Deck, equating to 3 miles.
Feeling smug, we headed for the casual dining area and ruined all that good work. Too much fried food which we didn't need. Oh, well, we'll walk it off tomorrow.

Next day we woke up to the knock on the door delivering our cooked breakfast - oh, well, we'll walk it off.............

Having demolished that, we went up to do our penance on the Promenade Deck. What a sight did we behold...........




Glacier Bay!












And more was to come..........




 

 Glaciers for Africa!









And they kept coming..........













































All too soon, we had to leave this amazing place.
So, back in the cabin, we had a look at the ship Events Calendar. Wow! Basket weaving at 3pm; cooking salmon at 3:30pm; and would you believe Bingo at 4pm!!! With a $250 jackpot! We managed to restrain ourselves and took our bloated bodies to the gym.
Shock! Horror! Probe! We found young people! That was where they were all hiding out. Well, all 20 of them. Greatest gym view ever - the whole front of the gym was ceiling to floor windows, just below the bridge with a ever-changing view of the Inside Passage. Magic! But pity most of the passengers would never find it.

By the time we had broken open our illegal (smuggled-in) duty free gin and passed the tonic bottle over a good measure, it was time for dinner. We fronted up to the flash restaurant at 7pm. Our Events Calendar had informed us that we were due to dine with twelve of the other cheap cabin-dwellers at 8pm. Having seen that the average age of our fellow travellers was nudging 95, we were not relishing the prospect of their dissection of Sarah Palin and their fervent desire for the ressurection of Ronald Reagan (I joke not, we had experienced that already).

So I fronted up to the Penguin Suit and gave my cabin number on his request. A barely-controlled snear was the result.
''Oh, Mr Giles, you are booked in at 8pm with all the other cheap cabin wrinklies" - or words to that effect. 
"Well," I said, 'we would like to eat now - you have plenty of free tables.''
"But they are reserved'', said PS. Yes, for anyone in cabins above Deck Four, I was about to rejoinder, but managed to behave myself.
At this point the Chief PS came over. The Asst PS explained the situation. A resigned wave of the hand and we were ushered to a gorgeous linen cloth-bedecked table for two. A swish of the wrist and we were presented with the scrumptious menu. I settled on Surf and Turf - New England lobster tail resting on fillet steak. That wonderful repast was washed down by one of our favourite Sonoma Chardonnays. (If you are ever unsure about the USA Chardonnay list - pick one from Sonoma or Napa). 
Fan-bloody-tastic! I just hope my fellow wrinklies at the big table got the same choice.

Next morning we were greeted by a view of Ketchikan as we tucked into our (unneeded) bacon & eggs. As soon as the ship docked, we were off looking for our tour group - all five of us! We were about to take a float plane to the ''Misty Fiords''. After reading heaps of Canadian fishing adventures, I had always wanted to fly in a floatplane into a remote lake. Well, a fiord would have to suffice. But it was great.


 
 Our trusty steed











Ketchikan from the air














 Land of million lakes












Make that 1,000,001












Coming into land










Back on dry land, we found some interesting places in Ketchikan:




Shops on a salmon creek!










Back on the boat, we left a cluster of cruise ships and headed for the Inside Passage. Unfortunately the weather packed up overnight and we had our only day of rain in the whole month away. But more time in the gym and more laps of the Prom Deck saw us feeling a few endorphins surging through the system - enough to persuade us to cough up the 20 bucks a head surcharge for the silver service Pinnacle Restaurant. Wow!
Easily worth the cover charge. I had broiled lobster tail (yes, I know, boring!). It was delicious. One of the best meals I have had in the States outside of New Orleans (well, technically, we may have been in Canadian waters by then).

The next morning we pulled into the wharf at Vancouver (why is it always raining when you visit Vancouver?). Our Alaskan adventure was over. Although we found that cruising was not really for us, you could not criticise the boat or friendly, helpful staff. We are a bit too free-spirited for cruising - just not ready yet to be organised to that extent. Maybe in 20 years ............???
But if you like everything being done for you and heaps of organised activities - you'll love a cruise.

Our trip was booked through Alaskan Travel Adventures (just ask for Pam - she is brill!).
We travelled on the Volendam, a Holland America Line cruise ship.
Hello to our fellow travellers, Chris and Steve. Also to Roland the wine waiter and the croupier from Whakatane that made sure we broke even in the casino!