Tag: #alaska

Ketchikan

21 July 2018

23C 80F!! This is my last day in Alaska!! What a breathtaking place!! So glad I did the 2 cruises northbound and southbound. I saw everything differently the second time. The weather was different and everything is so fresh crisp and clean the photos look photoshopped.

A bald headed eagle above.

I took the local bus to the Totem Bite State Park which was the best way to enjoy this glorious weather, walking around this historical site.

One of the cruise families have been Geocache hunting and found this.

I returned to Ketchikan by local bus and was dropped off in the historical red light district of Creek Street.

Went to see if there were Salmon running but the video of the water was a beautiful consolation.

Can you see the golden eagle.

Juneau

19 July 2018

A short port day in Juneau. I walked around the harbour to catch some bald headed eagles sitting by the shore.

Had some killer whales swim by but decided to enjoy watching rather than photographing for a change.

In the afternoon we sailed to the Sawyer glacier and inside passage.

This video is spectacular

Norwegian Jewel Southbound

17 July 2018

After several annoying incidents including moving me out of my cabin 9525 to 9151 for the second part of my cruise due to a booking mix up I was invited to the VIP glacier viewing on deck 15, The Haven.

This is an elite area which provided complimentary drtinks including hot chocolates with triple Bailey’s shots. But the best was the view of the Hubbard glacier.

The weather this time was so much clearer which produced very different photos to 2 days prior.

I have been enjoying ship events solo as I normally do but I have been missing the fun team from the northbound Alaska trip.

Luckily the entertainment and crew have been filling some of that void.

The solo travellers this cruise include young ones aged between 18 and 20. I call them my babies and they also accompany me on the dance floor.

Glaciers

14 and 15 July 2018

These were sea days but in particular we floated around Hubbard and Sawyer Glaciers.

The scenery is breathtaking. We sailed through ice which crackled, spectacular blue and white of islands of ice and heard explosive sounds when pieces of the glacier fell away (caving) were entrancing.

Of course I danced away each night.

Skagway

13 July 2018
The gang Abe, Bob, Rick, Valentine and I had a 3 hour experience on the train at Skagway along the White Pass and Yukon Trail.

This rail excursion is a must do as it takes you through breathtaking landscape up high mountains, scary wooden bridges and gets close to the oldest cantilever bridge (once again I am fascinated by bridges).

Trying to get photos through the trees there are cries of “can someone cut down some of these trees!! Throughout the train.

The town looks like something out of a movie.

Juneau

12 July 2018

The capital of alaska is another pretty place. I went to Nugget Falls and Mendenhall Lake with a fellow solo traveller, Abe.

A return bus ticket was $45USD and the trails are an easy walk. We got quite close to the glacier and waterfall.

I still haven’t seen a bear but back on the ship we did see about 100 dolphins playing in the ships waves.

Ketchikan

11 July 2018

Ketchikan the first city of Alaska has a busy harbour. Today there were 4 cruise ships in port. Several seaplanes (float planes) helicopters and fishing boats buzz around most of the day.

My first stop was to buy my souvenir fridge magnet. I discovered Alaska is the 49th USA state and this is my 49th state I have visited.

I then went to take a local bus to the Totem Bite Park. The cost was $2USD one way with a $5USD all day pass whereas the cruise ship was $40. It was only a 25 minute ride each way so as I had a long port day decided it would be a good easy trip and I might finally see bears! Well 5 minutes into the trip the bus broke down so I took that as an omen to not do the bus trip today. I walked back into town, not concerned about doing any tour as I would be back next week on the Southbound cruise back to Vancouver. I did find various tours I might take next week.

I walked around town and enjoyed this cute town although there are far too many tourists.

Norwegian Jewel sea day

10 July 2018

I love sea days because everyone parties the night before as they don’t have to get up early. Tonight everyone will party again because we don’t dock at Ketchikan until 11am so Another sleep in for everyone.

A deck game called ladder toss we decided should be called testicle throwing. Lots of fun.

Lots of fun in Battle of the Sexes.

Does anyone recognise the shawl and shoes?

We celebrated Abe’s birthday on Tsar’s Palace on the ship.

Yesterday I mentioned I would provide more information on Danny.

Danny (30 years old) whom we met on night 1 was actually married and on the prowl with me being his first invitation. It became clear later on the cruise that he and his 40 year old wife were swingers. My friends who know me know that I abhor infidelity and as open minded as I am in many things, swinging is not something I am into. I am very selfish. I won’t share my man and I refuse to be shared. The antics of Danny and his wife became entertainment for many on board but it bordered on stalking and harassment at times. You never know what you will meet on holiday.

Norwegian Jewel Northbound Alaska

9 July 2018

This morning I boarded my first seaplane. Harbour Air from Vancouver Island to Vancouver.

I have been so spoilt living in Sydney. Whenever I need to get a plane, Sydney airport is 10 minutes drive from my home. Taking a cruise, whether from White Bay or Circular Quay it is no more than half an hour and $3.00 for a train or $20 for a taxi or Uber. From beautiful Vancouver Island the ferry is $19 but takes 2 hours. Then you need to take an uber or bus to the cruise terminal. The most efficient transport is a seaplane which takes 15 minutes to Vancouver and then a 10 minute walk to the cruise terminal although at a price of $129.

Regardless this was a wonderful trip with a great view of Vancouver Harbour.

T

Once checked onto the Norwegian Jewel I completed the tedious muster and then with my first cocktail in hand I got onto the dance floor at the sailaway dance party.

At the muster I sat next to Valentine from France who is a big rig driver in the USA. We hit it off straightaway and found out we were cabin neighbours. We went to the “solo travellers meet and greet” and made quick friends with Abe, another big rig driver in the USA and Rick a school teacher.

We all had dinner together and found another solo traveller Danny who joined us. More about Danny later in the cruise but I won’t include his photo as the reason will become apparent later.

A fun night of eating dancing and making new friends. And yes, I shut down the dance floor, although I wasn’t the only dancer to start off the night as usual. There was a family of 50 onboard holding a family reunion and they were great party people.