Ovation Goes North, Way North to Alaska! 11 Nights, May 13, 2019

[twangster]

36 minutes ago, jce2 said:

Might i ask...How big is it?

 

Roughly 3 1/2" in diameter.  

[JohnK6404]

19 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Thanks.  He's right, I was wrong (although I still don't see it, but I'll take your word for it).  I'm actually glad that I don't see it because that sounds really ugly, lol.

It's so funny that your brought up the baby/powder blue hull color! When we were in the souvenir shop on Allure, I was looking at the ship model and I was complaining to my wife that it was not accurate because the hull was blue on the model.

When we docked in Labadee and we were walking down the pier I first realized the hull is baby/powder blue on Allure! When we boarded the ship on embarkation day, I had never looked at the hull to notice it!  It is harder to see the color in bright sunlight and from a distance. I like a nice bright white hull too!

 

[twangster]

Found a video that got lost for a bit.

Day 4 before our arrival into Icy Strait Point.  Having breakfast on my balcony when this happens...

Dall's Porpoises.  

[perfect match]

Awesome blog and pictures, twangster!  Thank you very much for doing it. I have most definitely been taking notes.

Due to other obligations, it will be a year or so before we get to Alaska, but I’m convinced that for us, Ovation will be the way to go. I know it’s going to be amazing! 

[Sweety]

@twangster, it is official. We are cruising back to Alaska in 2021. Come on deployment schedule.

[hayley_bopp]

Just had chance to catch up with your blog. Thanks as always for sharing your experience and incredible photos @twangster. Alaska is definitely on my bucket list.

I eagerly await your next live blog...

 

[jce2]

On 5/31/2019 at 10:01 PM, twangster said:

Found a video that got lost for a bit.

Day 4 before our arrival into Icy Strait Point.  Having breakfast on my balcony when this happens...

Dall's Porpoises.  

Watching your videos I am beginning to think I might have made a mistake....Alaska is #1 on my bucket list, so when it came time to finally book my own Alaska cruise I pulled out all the stops and splurged, spending the extra bucks to get the corner aft balcony room.....now perhaps I am overthinking this but it seems to me there would be a greater chance of seeing aquatic activity from a normal "side" balcony than from the aft as off to the sides is seas relatively undisturbed by the ship while to the aft is water being actively disturbed by the ship and therefore may be lacking in aquatic activity....hopefully I am wrong as everything else about the aft balcony seems to be a plus (room for 4 chairs!!)

 

[twangster]

6 minutes ago, jce2 said:

Watching your videos I am beginning to think I might have made a mistake....Alaska is #1 on my bucket list, so when it came time to finally book my own Alaska cruise I pulled out all the stops and splurged, spending the extra bucks to get the corner aft balcony room.....now perhaps I am overthinking this but it seems to me there would be a greater chance of seeing aquatic activity from a normal "side" balcony than from the aft as off to the sides is seas relatively undisturbed by the ship while to the aft is water being actively disturbed by the ship and therefore may be lacking in aquatic activity....hopefully I am wrong as everything else about the aft balcony seems to be a plus (room for 4 chairs!!)

 

There is marine life all over.  Who knows what someone on the other side or on the aft was able to see that I missed.  

This is one of the reasons why on an Alaskan cruise I often spend time on the top decks or down low on outer decks like deck 4 or 5 (depending on ship) moving around the ship.  Even then some of these sightings require luck and for you to be in the right place at the right time.

[ScooterScott22]

23 hours ago, jce2 said:

Watching your videos I am beginning to think I might have made a mistake....Alaska is #1 on my bucket list, so when it came time to finally book my own Alaska cruise I pulled out all the stops and splurged, spending the extra bucks to get the corner aft balcony room.....now perhaps I am overthinking this but it seems to me there would be a greater chance of seeing aquatic activity from a normal "side" balcony than from the aft as off to the sides is seas relatively undisturbed by the ship while to the aft is water being actively disturbed by the ship and therefore may be lacking in aquatic activity....hopefully I am wrong as everything else about the aft balcony seems to be a plus (room for 4 chairs!!)

 

Not sure which ship or room you are referring to but as Twangster mentions there is no bad view.  Wanted to share  that we sailed with him but had the starboard/aft.  There were opportunities to see whales, seals, eagles, etc.  It doesn’t seem to be as specific to location but more being in the right place at the right time.  As for the landscape views it is pretty constant so you just have to be looking.  

Based on our room and everting we were able to see I think you will be fine.  Just take the time to enjoy.  

[FL Lake Gal]

@twangster

I just wanted to send you a big "thank you!!" for this thread.  Seriously - comments and photos are AMAZING!

After traveling extensively elsewhere, we finally said - why have we never done a cruise??  LOL.  We will be taking the plunge on Ovation later in July for our maiden voyage.

Your blog here (and others' comments) answered tons of our silly "first timer" questions.   We feel like there are many little unknowns about cruising (how long until our bags get to our room on day 1, what's the MDR like, should we grab a North Star slot during Endicott Arms/Dawes, etc etc etc...) - so we feel a bit more prepared.

I know this took a lot of your time - so thank you again - you got us very excited about cruising.  

[J_Keeble]

strange the pictures before you boarded the cruise work for me at work but all the ones on the cruise don't, would there be a reason for this @twangster

[twangster]

3 hours ago, J_Keeble said:

strange the pictures before you boarded the cruise work for me at work but all the ones on the cruise don't, would there be a reason for this @twangster

You must be blocked from IMGUR where pictures after boarding are stored.  

[pezgirl]

Thank you so much for linking to this report for me.  I am sold now just need to sell my husband on the idea.

[The Cruise Junkie]

So I was just looking on royal Caribbean's main webpage and @twangster photo from Dawes Glacier made it on to the website under the ovation of the seas page. Congrats on the spot on the webpage @twangster!!