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Radiance Sailing 6/22/18 Alaska Southbound


KJ1231

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We sail on our first cruise this Friday from Seward, AK to Vancouver aboard the Radiance of the Seas. I plan to bring the laptop and since I didn't see a live blog for Radiance I thought I'd give it a try.

We travel to Anchorage from Philadelphia on Wednesday. The flight gets in late so we traveled a day early to rest up before cruising. We're flying American through Phoenix. With two 5-hour flights we'll also have another first - flying 1st Class for at least one leg (Philly-Phoenix) and on standby for the upgrade from Phoenix to Anchorage. Flights were arranged using points on my AA account.  

We'll have all day Thursday and Friday morning in Anchorage before we head to the convention center to get a shuttle to the train depot where we'll meet my sister-in-law and her husband (they are doing Denali) to take the train from Anchorage to Seward. I was able to use points for 2 nights at the Crowne Plaza in Anchorage. Any "don't miss" attractions/restaurants in Anchorage?

Pre-purchased: Voom for 2 ($22.38/day); Refreshment package for 2 ($297.36 for 7 days).

We also got the RC credit card and used it to pay off the cruise and other purchases (excursions, refreshment package, etc.). Accumulated 30K+ points so converted it to $300 OBC!

Here's the itinerary with excursions we purchased. We go the best deals in March - 3 months before sailing - on the excursions.:

Day 1 (6/22)  - Leave Seward, AK 8 PM

Day 2 (6/23) - Cruising - Hubbard Glacier

Day 3 (6/24) - Juneau

juneau.jpg.6520f485b63c4309c65fdf584d1c6759.jpgDiscover Juneau’s natural splendors as you board a waterjet-powered catamaran in search of whales before exploring the massive Mendenhall Glacier. Enjoy complimentary binoculars and snacks and pass snow-capped peaks and islands dotting picturesque Stephen’s Passage. Look for humpback and orca whales, sea lions, and bald eagles while learning about their behaviors from your guide. Explore the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, where you can visit with Forest Service Rangers, enjoy interactive exhibits and roam nearby trails. JU40

 

 

Day 4 (6/25) - Skagway

skagway.jpg.860a0a1e5ce0e18766450da59475070d.jpgDiscover Skagway’s rich gold mining history along the scenic White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, viewing historic landmarks, panning for gold, and savoring a scrumptious buffet. Travel via vintage rail car, passing picturesque vestiges of the Klondike Gold Rush. Meet vivacious pioneer characters at Alaska 360 Dredge Town, where you’ll engage in gold panning. Relish a tasty menu of salmon and barbecue ribs while relaxing at Taiya Inlet’s Pure Gold Buffet. SK62

 

 

 

Day 5 (6/26) - Icy Strait Point/Hoonah. We're doing separate excursions: I'm going birdwatching while my wife is cooking....

hoonah.jpg.bd135e309686f5ea03b2e459d1128367.jpgExplore the avian diversity of Hoonah’s lush temperate rainforest and its surrounding tidal waters with a local expert — the only dedicated birding tour in Alaska offered to cruise guests. Your guide will show you the best places to scope for seabirds, ducks, gulls and bald eagles, then lead your small group down a trail through mixed forest and grasslands to find a wealth of passerines. Binoculars, rain jackets and the highest-quality spotting scopes will be provided. Whether you are an avid birder or a casual birdwatcher, your guide will help you get the most out of your Alaska experience. What’s more, a portion of the proceeds for this tour go to the Juneau Audubon Society for research and development of birding in the Hoonah area. IC44

 

 

honnah2.jpg.d77d2fd0e2a6cf1220aa80868cdf913c.jpgCapture the essence of real Alaskan flavor by experiencing a fresh seafood meal the local way. Participate in a festive tasting session in a rustic setting, hosted by an engaging, experienced Alaskan fisherwoman and wilderness chef. Discover what sets the region’s seafood apart, including local fishing, preserving and cooking techniques; watch an expert filleting demonstration, and grill your own catch-of-the-day sample over a custom-made wood grill. IC36 

 

 

 

Day 6 (6/27) : Ketchikan

ketchikan.jpg.6926a404a40e55f7959d20eb3cf75c02.jpgExplore Ketchikan's illustrious history while viewing historic landmarks and enjoying coastal scenery onboard a Coast Guard-certified vessel that doubles as a bus and a boat. Journey on land via bus, as you pass the antique clock in Whale Park and Ketchikan Creek's salmon ladder. Drive straight into Tongass Narrows channel for a dynamic boat ride, where you'll see fishing canneries and charming waterfront communities. You might even spot bald eagles, whales, and other native animals. KE29

 

 

 

Day 7 (6/28) - Cruising

Day 8 (6/29)- Arrive in Vancouver at 7AM

From Vancouver we are renting a car and heading to Seattle, WA for 2 nights (Holiday Inn using points) before heading back towards Vancouver. We still have a night to book between Seattle and Vancouver before taking a red-eye home (Vancouver-Chicago, Chicago-Philly).

Now to start packing!!

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If you have time, since you indicated you like bird watching, I have heard that when in Skagway you can take the walkway from the pier into town and wend your way to an old fishery that is absolutely packed with bald eagles. Not sure if you'll be able to work this around your train ride; maybe before it departs?

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22 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

If you have time, since you indicated you like bird watching, I have heard that when in Skagway you can take the walkway from the pier into town and wend your way to an old fishery that is absolutely packed with bald eagles. Not sure if you'll be able to work this around your train ride; maybe before it departs?

Thanks, JL! Read about that and will definitely try to get to the cannery. Also interesting article in the Anchorage newspaper about brown bears mixing it up with bald eagles!

https://www.adn.com/outdoors-adventure/2018/06/16/katmai-national-park-drama-bear-vs-eagles/

22 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

And welcome to the boards! Thanks for posting a live blog of your very first cruise, to Alaska no less!

Thanks - we've always been beach people so thought first cruise would be somewhere warm but decided to do Alaska! Should be awesome - even if I have to wear rain gear for 7 days!

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Following!  We board Explorer in Seattle on Friday for the Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!

I did your itinerary on Celebrity last year.  It was an incredible experience. 

Flying to ANC I had a window seat on the right side and had great view of many glaciers as we got close to ANC.  Have your camera ready.

My recap blog from last year is here:

This year on Explorer we get into Juneau on June 24th at noon until 9pm, then Skagway on June 25th from 7am to 8:30pm.  Am I mistaken or do these ports overlap with Radiance?

If so you'll need to keep an eye for the Royal Caribbean Blog team of eighty plus led by none other than @Matt!

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8 hours ago, twangster said:

This year on Explorer we get into Juneau on June 24th at noon until 9pm, then Skagway on June 25th from 7am to 8:30pm.  Am I mistaken or do these ports overlap with Radiance?

If so you'll need to keep an eye for the Royal Caribbean Blog team of eighty plus led by none other than @Matt!

Wow! We're in Juneau on 6/24 9am-9pm and the exact same times in Skagway on 6/25. Guess we'll be sailing side-by-side from Juneau-Skagway and then jockeying for position at the pier. Will definitely keep an eye out for the gang of 80+ 

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Love seeing another person live blogging from Alaska this coming weekend!

1 hour ago, KJ1231 said:

Wow! We're in Juneau on 6/24 9am-9pm and the exact same times in Skagway on 6/25. Guess we'll be sailing side-by-side from Juneau-Skagway and then jockeying for position at the pier. Will definitely keep an eye out for the gang of 80+ 

It's easy to spot me, here's a photo for reference

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Day 1 in Anchorage

Spent all day yesterday getting to Alaska. We flew 1st class on American from Philly to Phoenix and arrived a few minutes late but just in time for the PHX -> ANC flight. Flight was full so we didn't get the upgrade.Arrived in sunny Anchorage at 9:30 PM. When we got our bags we looked outside and the hotel shuttle just happened to be there (Crowne Plaza not far from the airport). Flights and Crown Plaza all paid for with points and a little $$. Grabbed a bite at the hotel and when we went up to the room at 11:00 PM still bright and sunny. We are here 2 nights before getting the RC train mid-day tomorrow to Seward.

I can't stress enough how important these blogs are. Already have to give credit to Twangster for seat selection on plane. We sat on the right side and my wife was complaining that I got her a window instead of an aisle seat. That is, until we started the descent into Anchorage and the views were amazing!   Some pictures from the plane blow.

We are heading to the Visitor Center first and then walk around downtown for a little while. Hoping to find a good, inexpensive place for seafood this evening.

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Just walked around downtown Anchorage today. Our last stop was the Anchorage Museum. We could have spent a couple days there. Great exhibits, especially the one from the Smithsonian on the native people of Alaska! If you are in Anchorage I think this is a must see. 

We took an uber from the hotel to the visitor center at F and 4th. Took the Trolley Tour ($20 pp) that was 50 minutes. Stryker, our guide, was great. One fact we learned is that 25% of all small aircraft in the USA is in Anchorage! We went up to the airport where they can takeoff and land on land or sea. It was pretty busy!

My wife got in 8,800 steps around town and we visited many shops and the museum. We got a picture with Balto, the sled dog and I added two "life" birds to my lifelist - the black-billed magpie and the mew gull which are pretty common around here but never make it to the east coast.

We finished the day with dinner at Sea Galley at the recommendation of our morning uber driver. Plenty of food with the meal but not worth the $$. Would not go back! 

Getting ready for our train ride to Seward tomorrow and excited to get our first cruise started!

Here are some pictures from today......

Oomingmak - The Qiviut Shop - the visitor center told us this was a must see. It was definitely the softest wool I've ever felt and I really wanted to help the natives that make the hats & scarves but nothing under $100!

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Balto the sled dog for whom the Disney movies was made

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A couple life-sized stuffed animals (not mounted by a taxidemtist). The moose can be had for just $7,999

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And then there was this bear on the corner

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Some of the biggest flowers we've ever seen - must be all the sun and rain!

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And lastly, the magpie and mew gull

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Cruising today! Had some time to kill at the Egan Center so wanted to provide information about trace l from Anchorage to Seward.

We purchased train tickets for the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Seward through Royal Caribbean for $125/pp. We we were told to report to the Egan Center in downtown Alaska by 11:30 AM and that they open at 8:00 AM.

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We decided to get here early because we thought we could get our train seats since they are 'first come, first serve". This was not accurate!

We arrived at the Egan Center around 8:30 and were one of the first one's there. Signs direct you to a large room where they take care of checking your luggage, check passports, Sail Pass and credit card. Since we were early we got through this pretty quick and was straightforward. We got train tickets #6 & 7, not sure if that's just so they know how many altogether OR if is used to prioritize seating...guess we'll see when we get to train depot.

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I was able to temporarily check my heavy backpack while we went around the corner to Kaladi Brothers for a latte and oatmeal cranberry cookie. It's two blocks away on the corner of G and 6th Ave.

After my latte we went around the corner to check out a huge mural behind city hall. From Kaladi's walk across 6th on G and make a left right after City Hall. When you get to the parking lot look back over your right shoulder you'll see the mural which outlines the history of Alaska. Thanks go to Howard, our Uber driver from the hotel to the center, for telling us about the mural!

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We were back at the center by 9:30 and typing this as we wait for our 11:15 shuttle to the train depot.

At the center they have stations to recharge devices, free wifi, water dispenser and tables and chairs where you can wait (and update your blog). The folks from RC and Alaska Railroad are here to answer questions and are really, really nice people!

Next update will be from the ship!!

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These blogs are a lifesaver! We had a Voom package for 2 devices. We connected 2 phones and then couldn't figure out how to delete a device so I could connect the laptop. I git a quick response here  - go to your web browser and enter "logoff.com". And tada! I'm online with the laptop. Note that I have difficulty uploading pictures from the camera. Suspect it's Voom. As a result I'm not posting as many pictures right now... will post more when the upload works better....

So, since the last update we got on the bus from the Egan Center in downtown Anchorage to the airport/train depot and had a great train ride to Seward. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking and the train slows down of some of the best ones. We saw 2 dall sheep, 3 moose but no bear.Waterfalls, lakes, rivers and glaciers abound! Here are some pictures I took from the train.   

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OK....resizing pictures with the upload....

Here's a few from our arrival at the Pier in Seward. The train drops you steps away. Because we took care of Sea Pass card and registration at the train depot we go right through the security building, only scanning our carry on bags after a quick check of Sea Pass cards and passports. We have a "spacious balcony", cabin 9064. Plenty of room for the 2 of us and we are spending a lot of time on the balcony. Ask for extra blankets as soon as you meet your cabin steward!

Pier1.thumb.jpg.8b18095267bfa9b5177e8850a43a6c78.jpg Pier2.thumb.jpg.6685a8dadabdc95192edfa7091b3a94b.jpg 

 

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We arrived and our bags were outside our cabin. We moved bags in and then it was time for muster and then went to dinner. We had a 6:15 PM reservation for My Time Dining. While there was quite a line we got to our table in the Cascades dining room in a timely manner. We had the calamari and shrimp cocktail appetizers. Both were good though shrimp was small and only 4. We followed up with prime rib which was delicious and I had the pistachio ice cream for dessert which was very good.

After dinner we roamed around the boat, unpacked, spent time on the balcony taking in the views as pulled out of Seward and then I made a donation at the casino at the blackjack table. We turned in pretty early with our 1st day of our 1st cruise under our belt.

Again - this blog is priceless. I was answering people's questions and felt like I knew my way around enough to find most of the places. My sister-in-law and her husband were on the ship a few hours before us so they showed us around, too!

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Day 2 - cruising and Hubbard Glacier

We slept great! Woke up early and had a latte from Cafe Latte-itudes before the 4 of us headed to the Windjammer for breakfast. Food was pretty good and then we headed back to the balcony to satisfy my need to see some birds. Saw some Surf Scoters and Tufted Puffins....

For lunch we went back to the Windjammer and then went to the front of the boat on Deck 12 to check out Hubbard Glacier. The captain does a great of explaining the glacier and the history of the area. Knowing that we would eventually see it again from our balcony we went back to our cabin and got some great views. The pictures just don't do it justice! As we started to pull out we got to watch a playful sea lion and got a so-so picture. Also caught a waterfall as we pulled away.....

Captain said the trip up 2 days ago had a lot of fog so didn't have nearly as good a view as we had today.

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On 6/18/2018 at 5:00 PM, KJ1231 said:

 

Thanks - we've always been beach people so thought first cruise would be somewhere warm but decided to do Alaska! Should be awesome - even if I have to wear rain gear for 7 days!

Enjoying your blog!!  You are on the same ship & itinerary as our 1st cruise in 2008.  Been cruising ever since! ?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Apologies to those that were following! I was struggling to upload pictures using Voom and, to be honest, the days we were in port I was wiped out by the time evening came around. I will update by this weekend with the daily activities and pictures. Bottom line - this was a great experience and we are already looking to book another Alaskan cruise!

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16 minutes ago, KJ1231 said:

Apologies to those that were following! I was struggling to upload pictures using Voom and, to be honest, the days we were in port I was wiped out by the time evening came around. I will update by this weekend with the daily activities and pictures. Bottom line - this was a great experience and we are already looking to book another Alaskan cruise!

No worries, and no rush! Having a good time was the important part! ?

 

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Day 3 - Juneau. Arrived in port on time. Weather weas overcast and a bit chilly. We dressed in layers for our excursion for got whale watching and Mendenhall glacier (see initial post for exact excursion). We boarded the bus at the pier for a short ride (15-20 mins) to the dock where the whale watching boat was. Driver provided lots of info about Juneau and had to throw in the Sarah Palin line when we went past the the governor's mansion. (Must have heard that one a dozen times). Many bald eagles in the area and seen from the bus. Once on the boat it was a bit chilly as we stayed outside on the deck. We saw 3 different whales as well as sea lions, a sea otter, the Herbert glacier (my father-in-law's name!). Over all the boat ride was good although we only saw 1 whale "tale" and none jumping. From the pier dock we took the same bus over to Mendenhall glacier. it's about a 10-15 minute walk from the bus to the the viewing point for the glacier. Got some nice pictures and then my wife went to the visitor center while I walked the trail over to a beautiful waterfall. We got back to downtown Juneau around 2:30 and met up with my sister-in-law and her husband for crab legs at Tracy's. I also had the chowder and the root beer on tap, all of which was delicious. After lunch my brother-in-law were going to take the tram up to the top but it wasn't running :-(. Se we walked around Juneau before heading back to the ship and watched all the planes coming in and out between the cruise ships. One in particular looked like he was playing "chicken" with the Explorer of the Seas as it was headed right for it at take off and banked right before reaching the ship. We had dinner at the Windjammer this night - not bad - and then went to the show with the Radiance of the Seas dancers which was good.

P1020017.thumb.JPG.a46055f93ad92ac6c9e89ad02e6e3ab1.JPG Whale watching boat from back of upper deck enclosed. There was a 3rd completely open deck. That's not me in the picture

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P1020035.thumb.JPG.ad1110315923fb263909fee69cd1b492.JPG Herbert Glacier

P1020048.thumb.JPG.a5aa9dddf10f7042e33a82f978a1702c.JPG P1020044.thumb.JPG.3765171039ff93a25b6b639cc26c3cfc.JPG Seal Lions on the bouy that wouldn't let the pup up.P1020065.thumb.JPG.f2dc811f0caf2d186e17aa6ebd09b31f.JPG P1020071.thumb.JPG.4f230e89fb2b0517dead72298c2c788f.JPG Mendhenhall glacier and waterfall

P1020094.thumb.JPG.edf90e9c2d5b57eb3d4b913d50dda2c2.JPG  P1020119.thumb.JPG.08fe76170f8a3923b6c0bec5be00295f.JPG Biggest crab legs we've ever seen at Tracy's

 

P1020107.thumb.JPG.52e54b9d0d0441c9f52c2956979ea7d6.JPG Explorer of the Seas next to us in Juneau!

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Day 4 - Skagway. Again arrived on time. Our "Alaska Highlights" excursion was supposed to be to Alaska 360 for Gold Panning, then the train ride to the Yukon and a Salmon Bake. Somehow or other the salmon bake was canceled and we had a BBQ buffet at Alaska 360. Food was just ok - good root beer for $5! and he gold panning was disappointing. They do an ok job of explaining/acting out the gold rush and then take you to an area where they hand you a pan of sand and stones (and gold) and then to a covered area with tubs of water where they teach you how to rinse off the sand and stones to get to the gold. I got about $9 worth and my wife $10. We weren't expecting to get rich but expected more than what our 3rd graders get when they go to the local cave and do the same thing for crystals.The highlight of the excursion was the train ride to the Yukon. We didn't realize you only ride one way and bussed the other. We rode the train from Skagway to the Yukon and the views were stunning. The pictures just don't do it justice. I would skip any excursion that goes to Alaska 360. Back in town we wandered around and eventually caught up with the inlaws. They walked around town and wen to the show in town which they enjoyed (and my sister-in-law got to dance in!) before heading over to the gold rush cemetery where they were told they would find (and did!) a beautiful waterfall. Back on the boat we did the Windjammer again and caught the show. Exhausted again - we were in bed pretty early.

P1020148.thumb.JPG.a9faa9fabe6a312817a7f2152ac26127.JPG $19 in gold between the 2 pans....

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 P1020163.thumb.JPG.497dbba1d99fc716736b54871e7a0d4d.JPG hikers getting off the train in Denver

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Day 5 - Icy Strait Point/Hoonah. There were a lot of mixed reviews of this stop. We really liked it because (a) our excursions were good and (b) it's a relatively new port and still pretty underdeveloped as far as towns go. No hospital, small population (K-12 school has 110 kids), quite a few Tlingit people there as they "own" the area (or something like that). I went birdwatching for 2 hours. Kassie took us off the beaten path to the only farm on the island where they have about 20 head of cattle. We saw lots of bald eagles and I ticked off a few birds that would never make it to the east coast. But birding in Alaska is hard with all the spruce/pine trees - they are really thick and small bird just get lost in them. Learned from Kassie that pregnant women usually leave for Juneau 3 weeks before their due date so they can deliver in a hospital. One reason why she and her husband have not started a family yet. My wife did the Wild Alaska Kitchne where she learned how to cook salmon and halibut and got a good deal on a case of canned sockeye salmon that happened to arrive today. She can't wait to make salmon burgers, dip, etc! It was an early departure for Ketchikan so we had dinner in the Cascades Dining Room which was delicious. We missed the Piano Man show......

P1020300.thumb.JPG.7729673f1701a4e70fc8f052416428d8.JPG  P1020307.thumb.JPG.1978f3f6946413abc38d56fd866a8129.JPG Belted Kingisher and a pair of bald eagles on/near a nest

P1020309.thumb.JPG.d7b192361e8a3eeef8b0aeca2f6569b5.JPG Timber Tiger aka red squirrel

P1020321.thumb.JPG.b1c8edce7c7bac68f597a4b261977883.JPG 3 sitka deer runnign ahead of the car....

 

 

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Day 6 - Ketchikan. We didn't have a lot of time in port so we took the duck boat ride around town and in the water in hopes of getting a good overview of Ketchikan. The duck boat was ok. I enjoyed it, my wife not so much. We had lunch at The Fish House before heading back to the ship. The halibut fish & ships were worth the wait. Back on board we caught the show which was really good - Chinese gent performing the act of face/mask changes followed by some magic and a balancing act which was really good. We had dinner at Cascades again that was really good.....

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Day 7 - Cruising Inside Passage. Scenery on this part of the voyage was incredible! Whales spotted; dall porpoises swimming towards the boat and riding the wake of the ship. Took time out to jump in the blackjack tournament and didn't make it past the first round BUT jumped on another table and won back the $100 I lost the first night plus a little more. The highlight was when the ship made a hard right turn and everyone looked at each other. We missed the captain's announcement that this was going to happen. If the boat rolled just a little more, all of the dealer's chips would have ended up in our laps!  We had our final dinner in the Cascades - again delicious after the final show in auditorium. This was the only night we had to wait for a table - about 20 minutes - but the whale appearing outside the window in the dining room was great! Always be on watch in Alaska!

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Post cruise - we rented a car which was very convenient at the pier. We rented with Alamo - slight glitch with how much they charged - make sure that they charge the rate you got when you put in for the car! They straightened it out when I called them when we returned the car. If you plan to rent a car, do it before the cruise - there were no cars available if you didn't reserve one. We drove from Vancouver to Seattle - about 4 hours with customs and a stop for lunch in Bellingham. We stayed on the north side of Seattle (Shoreline) because I got a room with points at Holiday Inn Express. We went to the Space Needle and Chihuly Gardens and then took the monorail over to check out the the Public Market at Pike's. I had the biggest halibut fish & chips at Lowell's! We had a 3rd night to figure out  where to go so we checked out Whidbey Island. We looked into Victoria but couldn't get reservations on the ferries so took a Ferry to Whidbey Island where we had a great breakfast in Langley before heading to the north end of the island - a beautiful drive! - where we stayed at the Wildwood Farm Bed & Breakfast. They have about 50 horses on the farm and offer horseback riding. I couldn't talk my wife into riding but I had a great time during my hour trail ride after a delicious breakfast. When I was finished we had time to get freshened up before getting in the car to head for the airport in Vancouver for our red-eye home. We stopped at the Granville Public Market in Vancouver for some shopping and lunch before heading to the airport. This was the best vacation we've ever had alone since it was the first vacation in 30 years without children!  We love our kids but it was nice to have just the two of us for an extended period. We enjoyed it so much that we were going to book another Alaska cruise next summer and take a couple of the kids (17 & 20) but they have zero interest. Instead we booked a couple staterooms on the Brilliance at Christmas going to Cozumel and Grand Cayman (12/29-1/3).

Thanks again to all those that provide such great information here so that it took away all the anxiety of a first cruise and helped us make the best of our time while on vacation. 

Happy Cruising! Ken 

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