Quantum of Solace…. but make it Alaska!: Quantum 09/16/24-09/23/24

[Ampurp85]

Sitka, the Best of Sitka.

The first stop was the raptor clinic. The vintages kept asking when we were going to see raptors. Despite the guide telling us there was 6 kinds of raptors there.

It was informational and fun. Lots of owls, falcons and eagles spotted. I thought they were cute and Robin thought I was weird for thinking so.

[asquared17]

i do not tangle with birds and their talons

i love the pic of you and your brother before dinner last night (actually unsure if it’s before dinner???)

 

stray observations:

- what in the world is with the diapers???

- my lord the motion is A LOT 

- i forgot to mention this earlier, but i loved seeing all the evian water bottles. 

- the vintages continue to vintage

- i am team cheese roll, so i am glad to see you at least are getting your roll of choice. 

- i echo @SweetPea - that shirt is hilarious

[Ampurp85]

Best of Sitka continues...

OMG I SAW BEARS!!!!

Okay I'm regular now. We brought a few gifts because the money supports the raptors.....our justification for spending .

Anyway we got about an hour to spend there meeting all the Injured birds. I mean I don't fool with birds but I love the cute owls from a distance.

We got back on the bus, Mike our driver was funny and friendly. He took us to the bear fortress. It was the shortest tour, about 30min. The had brown and black bears. One was trying to dig a hole out. One was shaking and a girl was making a TikTok about the bear "twerking" it was funny. The vintages were a smidge scared of the bears .

It was a very short tour and with 8min to spare the vintages sent us to the little food truck for $9 popcorn that they throughly enjoyed.

We then took our bus back to the national park/Totem place. We saw zombie salmon which was disgusting and then did the Totem trail. We had an hour here. With our photo ops and such it took us about 30min to do the trail and then we spent 15min in the Visitors center. It was pouring rain when we left. Even our driver was shocked by the heaviness of it.

It was around 2 and our driver offered us the option of getting off downtown and catching a shuttle back. The vintages vetoed that and we stayed on back to the ship.

 

[Ampurp85]

We were starving and the plan was to get lunch in port. I tried to explain it would be only one restaurant at the port by the ship but they said we can eat there.

We get there and it is $15 for a cup of chowder and $17 for just a burger and no fries. MB is not having this......as she shouldn't. But it's 10min before the WJ closes, so we book it. I try a few desserts but end up getting chicken satay from Splash Away Cafe. It was delicious .

We went back to the room to put up our stuff and get dry. We then filled out our Canadian customs forms. We took ours to guest services and got 2 for the vintages because they messed them up.

It was close to 5,so we lleft the room to go to the library but went to the CL instead. We have Starwater at 7. My brother needed to answer some emails, and I needed to do this. It hasn't been full in here no evening. I plan to go in the morning and see if that's when it pops.

Tonight is taste of Italy and that lemon tart is what I'm looking forward to most.

[Cactus527]

20 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

The vintages were a smidge scared of the bears

But did they enjoy feeding the bears?

Also, that bear all splayed out on a log resembles me after a full dinner in the MDR. Truth.

[WAAAYTOOO]

1 hour ago, Cactus527 said:

But did they enjoy feeding the bears?

Also, that bear all splayed out on a log resembles me after a full dinner in the MDR. Truth.

He was my favorite, too !

[Ampurp85]

The vintages tried feeding the bears because of course they almost fell in .

But yes she was my favorite, laid out like my fur baby does. The vintages distracted me and I missed when her sister and brother came and was messing with the logs.

[Ampurp85]

Sitka....

We went to Starwater......

It was pure tomfoolery. Like cats and the book were partying together and somehow committed a murder. I didn't dislike it but I definitely didn't love it. My brother said the story was about a powerful goddess who was discovering emotions from her worshippers......it seem to make sense. The goddess was beautiful and probably had the best voice I have ever heard on any Royal ship.

Robin didn't make the show or dinner. She was wore out from the excursion. So much that her and MB have decided they want to cancel the other excursions they have. They have one goal, to get an Alaskan charm for their Pandora bracelets.

So there are shenanigans and I will get around to mentioning when I am not so tired. Alaskan is less leisurely than expected .

Anyway tonight was a taste of Asia and I wasn't impressed.

[OCSC Mike]

6 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

tonight was a taste of Asia and I wasn't impressed.

Never tried this menu (obviously not to be found on my generic Caribbean itineraries) but I’m not too surprised.

I had my bday dinner 2 weeks ago at a local Asian buffet that we hadn’t been to in years b/c I wanted unlimited sushi (it’s freshly made & kept cold) & they also have cook-to-order hibachi for my wife. It was really good, including the hot items sitting out. I think I’d sooner just try Chinese food from WJ like I do Indian. Of course, it might not be great there either.

[asquared17]

BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i showed my dad and he was so sad because all he wanted to see was bears on their trip too but they didn’t. 

i love the one sprawled out and then the shot with you and it was in the background I love the bears!!!!!!

[Mrs. Regular]

What a great day in Sitka! We were too early for bears but saw lots of birds and plants and the totems. My vintages-in-law ate at the port restaurant and they felt the food was fine but not worth it so you didn't miss much by going to the WJ. We skipped Asian night. Alaska is definitely different vibes from Caribbean/hot weather cruises. Reminded us much more like Mediterranean than Caribbean. You also are on a much larger ship with more bells and whistles and more to do than our Vision/Radiance class ships. I was a bit bored on Brilliance but the scenery makes up for it!

[Ampurp85]

Happy belated birthday @OCSC Mike. We have good Asian food in Chicago and I think Izumi does a good job with Japanese food but the taste of Asia night was really lackluster. Even my brother was disappointed. He said the best thing was the vegan spring rolls......which is saying a lot.

[Ampurp85]

Day 4 Skagway.

It was beautiful when we docked and now it is raining. My excursion is at 10:30, so hopefully it won't be raining then. This weather is truly a mixed bag.

Stray observations as I wait for my digital diary to load.

The crew is really new. I haven't seen much cleaning around the ship. Also, room stewards seem to be MIA. The vintages say they have yet to meet theirs.................despite napping in the room a lot. I have seen ours twice. TV was stuck on the shopping channel since the first night and we saw him yesterday and he fixed it. 

Crew members all have different ideas about everything. Nobody knows anything apparently. We asked about the Canadian customs forms and got 6 different answers from 3 crew members. Guest service for the win. 

The bathrooms seem to be the source of shenanigans. Twice I have gone in to naked women changing, and countless times of women not closing the bathroom door and using it. 

Specialty dining must not be popping. We have had a crew member pestering us at all the lunches we have attended. Best deal was 50% and BOGO at Jamie's yesterday.  This morning in the WJ it was 40% and BOGO for Chops.

More children than expected on board. Seeing tiny little Sorel boot struggle over rocks is a sight......especially since they probably just learned to walk. We saw several little boots left behind, until the parents realized they were barefooted. 

Communication and reading seems to be nonexistent. An excursion was cancelled. They called the rooms and was telling people when they met up. But people weren't looking at messages or meeting in the appropriate area. Then proceeded to curse out the shore excursion team.

[Ampurp85]

That bear reminded me so much of my fur baby.

[Ampurp85]

I'm still waiting on that digital diary to upload .

I'm dressed and waiting to head down to my meeting spot.

We went to the WJ as soon as it opened today and the line was to the deck. I love how people were rushing to eat before their 7am excursion. I let two groups in front of me because I had time but man it was a mess. I only got fruit. I took a photo of ONE of the five plates my brother ate.

A lady fell, rushing, in the WJ. She hurt herself really bad. Thankfully we are in port do she can go to the hospital. I hope she ends up okay.

The coastline of Skagway is gorgeous. I saw several helicopter excursions take off from my balcony.

I should mention I am solo. My brother's excursion starts at noon and we plan to meet up for lunch. I will check in with the vintages but they might still be down for the count.

[OCSC Mike]

31 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I saw several helicopter excursions take off from my balcony.

Yep, that's where we wound up dog sledding up on a mountain glacier after the one we originally booked for Girdwood was cancelled during our pre-cruise land portion due to bad weather.

I have nothing to compare it to and we had to go through Royal due to the last minute booking (which cost us some extra $ of course) but the company they used was great and we weren't going to skip it since it was a special trip and we didn't know if we'd ever do it again so we were channeling Sabrina's YOLO attitude and my frugality was temporarily suspended.

[Cactus527]

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

my frugality was temporarily suspended.

[Cactus527]

@Ampurp85 I SEE A BEACH! Time to break out the sunscreen and swimwear - ready for an Alaskan tan! 

[OCSC Mike]

5 minutes ago, Cactus527 said:

You have no idea. Airfare, 10 days on land, hotels/lodges, taking the train from Fairbanks to Seward, small plane excursions, helicopter excursions, then the 7N cruise...

Do you know how many 7N Caribbean cruises in an interior that could have paid for (especially in 2018 when prices were so much lower and I actually got good last minute deals)?

[asquared17]

2 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

That bear reminded me so much of my fur baby.

panther kitty!!!

2 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

lady fell, rushing, in the WJ. She hurt herself really bad. Thankfully we are in port do she can go to the hospital. I hope she ends up okay.

ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA 

2 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

will check in with the vintages but they might still be down for the count.

the bear excitement probably did them in

30 minutes ago, Cactus527 said:

@Ampurp85 I SEE A BEACH! Time to break out the sunscreen and swimwear - ready for an Alaskan tan! 

i think you meant @asquared17  

alicia is not so much the sun and beach person although judging from this pic….  

22 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

Do you know how many 7N Caribbean cruises in an interior that could have paid for

[Mrs. Regular]

Go get the fried bread in Skagway for a snack! It's so good. It's at a place called Klondike Doughboy.  There's a nice coffee shop next door, too. 

[Ampurp85]

First let me say all my plans were ruined today.

My brother and I planned to eat lunch on port. We got an email lat week that his tour time had been changed. It didn't occur to me until I boarded mine that his got done at 4:15 and all aboard is 4:30. It was originally scheduled for 8:30. Since mine was a little over 2hrs and his was close to 4. I chose 10:30, so we would meet up within 20min of each other.

Okay so I'm an early person but man the people on this tour were early. I got there at 10:19 for a tour that left at 10:45. The bus was already full and the only seat was next to the lavatory......on a coach bus. This was the first indication this was not going to be a good tour.

I knew it was just a scenic bus ride but after yesterday it made me very restless. The scenery was breathtaking but I was also bored out of my mind. Which I could handle.  What I couldn't was the smell.

Everyone and their mom needed to use the bathroom. It was about 52 people on the tour and over half used the bathroom during the first hour. I'm sensitive to smells and I wanted to plug my nose but then I would be opening my mouth to tomfoolery......no. I don't know how but it got worse as we got close to the end. I was close to throwing up.

I was so nauseous I didn't bother getting off downtown. I went to my room and had to shower and take medicine to get my appetite back. It took almost an hour, so I walked through the WJ and saw @WAYNO. I got dessert and fruit. I tried to eat a burger but it was a little too burnt. I'm going to head to cafe 270. The vintages said they will meet me there.

I have more to say and I will get it out after I get right with some nutrients.

[Cactus527]

@asquared17, would you lay on that beach in Alaska? I'm imagining I'd probably lay out more like the bear on the log versus a typical Caribbean sunbather. #beachorbust

@Ampurp85 I feel so bad for your bus tour. I hope you're feeling better now! 

[asquared17]

2 hours ago, Cactus527 said:

@asquared17, would you lay on that beach in Alaska? I'm imagining I'd probably lay out more like the bear on the log versus a typical Caribbean sunbather. #beachorbust

in fact i would just lay out WITH the bears and try to become one of them. i feel like my hair has gotten so long that maybe they'd accept me???? worth a shot, i think.

 

@Ampurp85 you just described my worst public transpo nightmare. i am so sorry, my friend. i hope things are better now!!

[WAYNO]

3 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

First let me say all my plans were ruined today.

My brother and I planned to eat lunch on port. We got an email lat week that his tour time had been changed. It didn't occur to me until I boarded mine that his got done at 4:15 and all aboard is 4:30. It was originally scheduled for 8:30. Since mine was a little over 2hrs and his was close to 4. I chose 10:30, so we would meet up within 20min of each other.

Okay so I'm an early person but man the people on this tour were early. I got there at 10:19 for a tour that left at 10:45. The bus was already full and the only seat was next to the lavatory......on a coach bus. This was the first indication this was not going to be a good tour.

I knew it was just a scenic bus ride but after yesterday it made me very restless. The scenery was breathtaking but I was also bored out of my mind. Which I could handle.  What I couldn't was the smell.

Everyone and their mom needed to use the bathroom. It was about 52 people on the tour and over half used the bathroom during the first hour. I'm sensitive to smells and I wanted to plug my nose but then I would be opening my mouth to tomfoolery......no. I don't know how but it got worse as we got close to the end. I was close to throwing up.

I was so nauseous I didn't bother getting off downtown. I went to my room and had to shower and take medicine to get my appetite back. It took almost an hour, so I walked through the WJ and saw @WAYNO. I got dessert and fruit. I tried to eat a burger but it was a little too burnt. I'm going to head to cafe 270. The vintages said they will meet me there.

I have more to say and I will get it out after I get right with some nutrients.

Thank you for taking and sharing some nice photos of our Skagway day.

[Ampurp85]

I got me a sandwich from 270. They were showing Singing in the Rain, yes the vintages wanted to watch it and had the time of their lives .

I sat in the library and ate it, then went back to the room to make some calls.

My brother returned around 3:50. He said only 3 people did the Klondike rock climbing. It was originally 7 for what was a $200 excursion on sale and people paid but didn't show!!!.

He came back with souvenirs.....aka scraps. But he had fun. Then he got some wraps and a salad from 270 since it was the only thing open.

[Cactus527]

I like the individual sushi in its own little bowl. It's so cute! 

And it's hard to believe that people would not go on a shore excursion after having paid so much for it! I wonder if they are the same people that will show up at guest services demanding a refund.

Singing in the Rain is the BOMB. I would totally have been there with the vintages.

[SweetPea]

9 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

That bear reminded me so much of my fur baby.

🩷

 

I'm going to come and steal her while you're gone. We had to say goodbye to our sweet Savvy last month and we miss her horribly. So you don't mind, do you?!

 

P.S. Send your dad here. We have bear sightings all the time!

[SweetPea]

Oh, take note how often the Pinapples have the "Sleeping of the Adventure" sign up

[Ampurp85]

I think if I wasn't also doing the digital diary on top of excursions I would have already mentioned the shenanigans . I promise I will. Including the pineapple neighbors.

But some coolness......Chris Wong is onboard for the crossing. Let me say that Anna the casino host is the friendliest host I have ever met on any ship. Then today I came in for a drink before dinner and Chris was sitting there as friendly as ever. He is so nice and they took photos with my brother.

I haven't spent nearly enough time in the casino this cruise. It's tiny, somehow it feels as small as or smaller tham Grandeur, not nearly as big as Freedom or Mariners. I'm still playing off my freeplay to cash money. I lose most then win a decent sum to stay even.

We have gone to the CL every day of this cruise and the most people I have seen in there at one time is 8. We usually go around 5pm and stay close to 6:30 because it's a great place to relax and work. Prime time and sometimes we are the only one's there.

Anyway I played while my brother chatted with Chris and Anna. Then we met the vintages for dinner. They had plans to see the Earth, Wind and Fire tribute at 8:15. So we went at 6:55 to eat early.......we got sat at 7. But it was slow going. Our dinner was over at 9. Don't get me wrong we had our wonderful waiters from night 2. But it was singing and dancing night .

Dinner was hottest but the taste......we all gave my brother our chicken parm. I was beyond dissatisfied with my lemon curd tart......no lemon curd to be had!!!! It was lemon pudding and gelatin garbage. The best part was the Caesar salad sans dressing. Why is a salad the best part?

We have been on two tours and on both tours then mentioned all the food comes from somewhere else. I decided this is the reason the food quality has been bad. I haven't had one great meal, this is usually covered by specialty and Jamie's didn't deliver. Tomorrow has a taste of USA and my favorite thing baked potato soup......I'm not holding my breath on it delivering.

Wayno gave me a duck. Also we have been dining in the Silk dinning room. Tonight's animal is a whale I think.

 

[SweetPea]

3 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I think if I wasn't also doing the digital diary on top of excursions I would have already mentioned the shenanigans . I promise I will. Including the pineapple neighbors.

I'm up. I'm always up. Please don't ask me how this scrolled into my Amazon feed. It just did. Don't press me further. We are not swingers. I swear. I hate being naked, much less in front of strangers. However ... would it be wrong to buy this and randomly stick it on a door on our next cruise? Or maybe not randomly. I'm thinking this would've been fair play for our Stage 5 Clingers on our last Symphony Cruise. 

Yes, i purposely included the part that said 100 were bought in the last month .... Either I'm not the only one with this idea or ......

 

P.S. Chris Wong

[ScottD]

So...WHAT is that towel animal, exactly? lol.   

Chris Wong!! That's cool, he seems like a nice dude, I need to meet him, Matt and Rover so I can complete my RC Royalty bingo card ( I already have Mario checked off) 

I always say if someone messes up chicken parm, then something is wrong! That's always my Jersey diner go to! 

[WAAAYTOOO]

1 hour ago, ScottD said:

So...WHAT is that towel animal, exactly? lol.   

That was going to be my next post but you beat me to it.  Very bizarre creature….

[OCSC Mike]

5 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

Dinner was hottest but the taste......we all gave my brother our chicken parm. I was beyond dissatisfied with my lemon curd tart......no lemon curd to be had!!!! It was lemon pudding and gelatin garbage. The best part was the Caesar salad sans dressing. Why is a salad the best part?

Sad. Italian night is one my wife likes for the chicken parm (which ofc varies from OK to bad, IMO) and the chocolate hazelnut cake. Sorry to hear about the lemon curd, especially after you turned me onto it and it was really good on Wonder!

My wife isn't happy Italian isn't one of the menus on the Utopia shorties but we'll come up with a new plan. 3/4 B2B's are obviously sub-optimal for MDR since you get repeats and will always have 2 Welcome Aboards and 2 Bon Voyages. Fortunately we both like Bon Voyage but it's missing her other acceptable menus.

5 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

We have gone to the CL every day of this cruise and the most people I have seen in there at one time is 8. We usually go around 5pm and stay close to 6:30 because it's a great place to relax and work. Prime time and sometimes we are the only one's there.

Love this. If I did that and had MTD or late MDR seating I'd likely happily fill up on snacks there depending on what they have. My opinion has improved (low bar) but you know I've never loved the MDR and don't care a ton b/c I spend all day eating off and on and can always get more food later.

[OCSC Mike]

3 hours ago, ScottD said:

I always say if someone messes up chicken parm, then something is wrong! That's always my Jersey diner go to!

Unsurprisingly, my wife is a bit picky with her chicken parm (one of her favorite foods), but I share her main complaint when it's bad... can't stand when it's soggy. She actually orders it with the red sauce on the side as a preemptive strike.

[Ampurp85]

@SweetPea those are on my neighbors door.....also across the ship apparently

[Ampurp85]

The problem with the chicken parm was it was dry and unflavored. They actually brought extra parm to the table without request....which told me something. I stand by the idea that the sourced ingredients are bad. So the food will be meh. However the chicken that was fried for the parm was crispier than the chicken for Jamie's sandwiches .

But I agree if Italian night is bad, I can't trust any night.

@ScottD So far Matt and Chris have been super nice. I will hopefully be meeting Rover next Jan on Icon.

[Ampurp85]

Day 5 Juneau

It waa around 6:30 when I awoke. My brother has ziplining and they meet at 7 something. I told the vintages we will get off around noon to meet him for lunch and maybe 2 tram rides if we can.

I plan to relax and get dressed at a leisurely pace, then head to the CL to get breakfast.

 

 

[Ampurp85]

Okay some shenanigans

Guest services put a large sign that told people the $99.75 is a hold for onboard purchases. Despite this sign and a crew member explaining it. They were standing in line to yell at guest services members. One lady was yelling and cursing, saying she paid all this money, how can they have the audacity to ask for more, it's a scam. Just wow.

Neighbors door was full of upside down pineapples day 2, they were gone after they found someone and the put back up on day three again. Apparently they were sharing the decorations with potential partners because I saw random lone upside down pineapples on the doors throughout our deck. We saw them day 2 and chatted, they saw me yesterday day 4 and ask where my brother was. They requested that he join them for cocktails. I relayed the message .

Speaking of swinger's I stopped in the Harp and Horn, possibly to get lunch yesterday and I'm chatting with a lady about my bus ride from hell and she goes "if you needed a shower after that, you would need two dealing with us." I laughed but she gave me her cabin number.

I did not take a photo because I was discombobulated and disgusted but I was on deck 6 trying to access the library and there was soiled mens underwear outside a cabin. I will just leave that.

Robin and MB keep attracting strays. These random vintages will appear all over and hold us hostage with their words. We had to listen to one tell us about how their bowel movements haven't been regular

There have been tussles at the sales. I saw a lady push another over $10 t-shirts. Then someone get into it because they got in front to get a jacket off the rack and the other person was looking for that size. Them sales bring out the animal in people.

[DDaley]

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

Ooh hopefully it clears up a bit for you and the Vintages to take the tram up. With that heavy fog you wouldn’t get to see a sweeping view from the top! 

Juneau was my favorite port. The Red Dog Saloon is worth a glimpse inside, if only to see the sawdust floor and dust-coated gold rush memorabilia on every surface.