You can get to ALASKA by driving there on the ALCAN Highway, (that the United States and Canada built during WW II), and on a small highway from Vancouver, British Columbia. You can fly there on Alaska Airlines from Seattle, Washington. I think the nicest way to see Alaska is on a Cruise Ship.
OUR CRUISE:
We flew from Edmonton to Vancouver and a Holland American Representative was at the Airport to meet us. She took us to the mini-van that took us to the Ship that was moored at Canada Place, (below the Pan Pacific Hotel).
We stood in line for about half an hour to go through the United States Customs check.
When we boarded the ship a Manger was there to greet us and a Steward escorted us to our Stateroom.
The Public Rooms:
You could eat breakfast and lunch at the buffet on the top deck or in the dinning room. Dinner was always in served in
the dinning room. Bring some larger cloths because you will
gain weight for the delicious food!
The Theatre is very large and showed the latest Broadway Shows. There was a different Musical every night.
The Veranda Pool has a retractable glass dome so if its cool they can close it.
I never go to the Library or Casino on a Ship. I bring the books I want to read and I think the Casino’s are rip-offs.
THE PLACES WE SAW:
We departed at night and after we had unpacked we went to the Lido Deck. We bought a drink and watched our Vancouver slip away as we went out of the Bay into the Straights.
We were at sea for the first day and a half. We saw pods of Killer Whales, Dolphins, Gulls, a Mystic White Bear, (a Black Bear that is White not a Polar Bear), Mountain Goats, Mountain sheep and a group of Black Bears.
The water was so clear we could see a lot of different type of fish, corals and sponges.
I wish we could have seen the Misty Islands because they are part of the archipelago where our First Nations crossed from Asia.
We saw tons of Totem Poles, Praying Rock Piles and First Nations Villages. After we left the Misty Islands we were in the United States.
By the time we were at Sea for a day I was black and blue from falling. I never remember to lift my feet when I and entering or exiting our Cabin a Bathroom!
Ketchikan, Alaska:
This town has a lot of the early 1900’s history. We walked through the rain forest up a mountain to see a spectacular waterfall. We took a Tour and saw the residential areas that are on both sides of the Tongass Narrows. Then we saw the log cabins that the gold miners, fishermen, canners, loggers and even Pirates used. Our last stop was at the Saxman Native Village. These First Nations People are part of the Beaver Clan. We saw their houses and a native carver carving a Totem Pole. The rest of the time we went for a walk on Creek Street to see the Shops. My Husband bought a narwhale carved horn and I bought a small carving of two bears making love!
Sitka, Alaska:
This is a wonderful port because Russian Dancers and Music welcome the Ship. Russia once owned this part of Alaska so you often feel you are in Russia and not the USA. We decided to go on a kayak tour to see the bays and inlets. The kayaks seat two people and a Guide leads you on an hour and a half tour to the most interesting palaces. We saw seals, cranes, eagles, brown bears and black tailed deers. Once we were back at the Kayak Base we had lunch that included clam chowder, smoked salmon, black bread and hot spiced cider. When we returned to Sitka we saw the St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church and the Raptor Rehabilitation Centre where we had a picture taken with a life bald eagle.
Juneau, Alaska:
Before you dock in a port there is a briefing about that port. I was amazed to learn that Juneau and Edmonton, Alberta were on the same latitude.
As we were approaching Juneau ice burgs were all around us. Every so often we could hear a crashing sound as some ice broke off from the glacier. The City is built on a mountain near the glaciers. There is a few blocks of Shops going up a steep sidewalk. When I was here the first time I saw an oil painting of an Inuit Princess. She had her ears and nose pearced and from each ear to a nostril was a beaded ribbon. The beads looked like the ones in Kenya. The painting wasn’t expensive but I didn’t buy it and I yearned to have it ever since. When we docked I dragged my Husband up the street to find the Art Gallery. It wasn’t there!
We made it back in time to go on our tour. We went up a Mountain to the 590 foot above sea level to see the Glacier Gardens. From that point on Thunder Mountain we could see Auke Bay, Admiralty Island, Stephens Passage and a variety of plants, flowers and trees.
That night after dinner we took a tour on a small plane to see the glacier. I had never seen blue ice before. The glacier had lines of blue ice, (blue is colder than white), and it looked like a drawing. I’ve seen glaciers before in Alberta, Canada but never one this large. It was so magnificat I can’t even described it to you. We were on our way back to the Air Port as the sun was setting, (10 p.m.), and we saw the dancing lights of the Aurora Borealis in the sky.
Skagway, Alaska:
Skagway became a Village during the Klondike Gold Rush Days. We didn’t take the Train Ride to the Yukon Territories in Canada.
We did go for a Dog Sled ride and then took a walking Tour to see the ’’Ghosts and Goodtime Girls’’! We visited the areas where Klondike Kate, the Oregon Mare, Pea Hull Annie, and Diamond Lil lived and worked at Red Onion Saloon and Brothel Museum. We didn’t see the Ghost called Lydia. We were given a garter and a glass of champagne.
Klondike Kate, Oregon Mare, Pea Hull Annie, and Diamond Lil. The Town has a few blocks of Bars, Shops and Cafes. we walked around for a while and had a drink at a Bar and then went back to the Ship.
Victoria, B.C.:
We didn’t take the Tour here because we visited with Friends and Family. The People who did saw the Old Town, China Town and went to see Butchard Gardens.
WHAT TO BRING:
You will need a Passport, (and Visa if it is required), and another picture I.D.
A Camera and or Binoculars. I always found the lens of my Camera worked as well as Binoculars. If you bring your Camera you will need a plastic bag to put them in because their is sand in the air and sand eats out the batteries in your Camera.
Most of your Cruise will be on the water between Vancouver Island and the Coast on the mainland of British Columbia. When you leave the top part of Vancouver Island until you reach Juneau you will be in the open Ocean and it can be quite choppy so bring something for sea sickness.
After the first day you will be in black fly and mosquito land. I always bring some Deet with me. You can bring what ever will keep them away from you.
British Columbia is one big Rain Forrest and it may rain. It also will get chilly at night before the sun sets, (between 9 and 11 pm). I suggest you bring a sweater or a wrap. The Ships are airconditioned and I find a stole or wrap is more useful than a sweater.
A bottle of Sun Lotion, (15-30 SPF), because of the Days are long and the glare of the snow will burn you.
Please leave all of your valuables on the Ship when you go ashore, (Airline Tickets, Jewellery and extra money).
MY CONCLUSION::
I’m not quoting prices because they can be different depending on where you are coming from, the season, the side tours and the number of days you will be cruising.
I loved both my Cruises to Alaska. If you haven’t been I hope you will soon.
©LL 2003