Alaska Cruise -- 06-13 May 2023

 05 May: 

We left Atlanta and flew to Seattle. From there we took Amtrak (train and bus) to Vancouver, BC and met up with the rest of the group, 14 in all.  They had a Air BnB and we slept there after and exhausting and convoluted day of travel.  The weather was rainy and overcast so there really was little to see in Seattle and our 5 hour trip to Vancouver!  

06 May:

The weather broke and we had no rain, but cloudy skies with the sun trying to break free at times.  We boarded the ship at 11-ish and started to become familiar with the Koningsdam.  This is a newer ship, built in 2016 and much different than the other Holland America ships that we have been on.  Really nice and a more spacious!

The Port of Vancouver 

We had lunch on the LIDO deck restaurant and a champagne for the Mariners Society get-together.  Mom rested a bit and then we had the Sail-Away on the aft section of the ship; drinks and appertizers and dance music.  We finally casted off and got underway around 4:45pm, as the port was very busy with 4 ships in port.

Stanley Island and Downton Vancouver

Sailing Away from Vancouver and Stanley Island

07 May:

A sea day and we had blue sky and sunshine as we headed north following the British Columbia coast.  We were invited to a wine tasting event and learned about 3 red wines, a white, and a rose.  Robbi partook and John cleansed his palate, eating cheese and fruit!  We also went to a talk from the Port Conceirge about the three ports that we will be visiting over the next few days.

Tonight, we met the Captain and his senior officer staff and afterward we were treated to a spectacular dance and coordinated light show on the ship's World Stage.  

Tomorrow, around 2:00am we return to US waters as we turn into the Alaskan Panhandle and head to Juneau, where we dock around noon. We are also hoping to see wildlife along the banks as the bears are coming out of hibernation and are foraging for grass and food.  Looking forward to our first port of call! 

08 May -- Juneau:

Morning Sun and Mountains

We are on Alaska Daylight Savings time now -- 4 hour difference from Atlanta,  We picked up the port captain around 7:00am as we entered Alexander Passage.  What spectacular views of snow-capped mountains, forests, islands, and clear, calm waters!!!  It's 39 deg. outside this morning but we  have  clear blue skies and SUN!  

Alexander Passageway to Juneau

                                              

Alexander Passageway

Just docking in Juneau and clearIng Customs 

We are headed to the tram that takes us to Mt. Roberts, approx. 1800 ft. elev.  

Some facts about Juneau.  

• Average cost of housing is $695,000
• Only 38 miles of paved roads in the area
• Everything comes in by container ships -- expensive
• Roughly 32,000 inhabitants and it is the largest US capital 

We took the Goldbelt Tram, owned and operated by the Tlingit Clan since 1996, to the top of Mt. Roberts.  Lots of snow still around the area!!  We heard about their heritage and saw a short documentary about the Clan's history and stories.  The views were spectacular as shown below:

View from the top of Mt. Roberts 1800ft Elev.

Looking towards Douglas Island from Mt. Roberts

Gastineau Channel exit to lowlands

Gastineau Channel and Juneau Entrance

09 May -- Skagway

Another gorgeous day!  We were blessed with sun and blue skies.  Skagway means "high winds" and in the winter months the winds howl throgh the mountain passes.  Only about 800 people are full-time residents.

We took the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad from Skagway to Summit Pass.  The railroad was originally completed in 1900 to support the Gold Rush miners on their journey to Lake Bennett and then onto Dawson Creek.  It now operates as a tourist attraction from May thru October.  The railroad for tourists is 20.4 miles long and winds through gorges and along side mountains and through 2 tunnels to Summit Pass at an elevation of 2888 feet above sea level, where we turned around and returned via the same route to Skagway.  The railroad continues on to service Bennett, British Columbia and Carcross, Yukon Territory at mile marker 67.5

We'll let the following pictiures and caption show some of what we experienced on this 3-hour journey.  

One of the RR cars on our train

 Our train entering the 2nd tunnel past the old trestle

Glacier Point Marker

              Our Train heading up to the Summit

Looking from the Summit down to Skagway and the Channel

                                        

Sawtooth Mountain, over 7,000 feet, that is usually cloud-covered and not often seen.  We were fortunate!!!

Summit Lake formed by a Glacier, 400 feet deep and 4 miles long, stays frozen for most of the year

Bridal Veil Falls

The old wooden and steel trestle replaced by the new one, entering the 2nd tunnel, in 1969

Leaving Skagway at 6:30pm AKDST as the cold winds have increased from the mountains!!  So glad we had nice warmer weather during our day ashore!!!

10 May -- Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

HAPPY GLACIER BAY DAY!!!

It was a phenominally gorgeous day -- blue skies and warm sun, enough though the temps were in the high 40s.  We saw sea lions, moose, wolves, mountain goats, sea otters and few spouts from orcas or porpoises.  Any of my commentary will not do justice to what we saw in our slow 65 mile journey through the waterway of Glacier Bay.  So have a look at just some of our pictures!!

Beartrack Mtns. 

Entering Glacier Bay

Lamplugh Glacier

Margerie Glacier

Jaw Point

Orville and Wilbur Mtns.

Robbi and John at Johns Hopkins Glacier

Johns Hopkins Glacier

Serrated Mountain

White Cap Mountain

Mountain Refection in the water

Grand Pacific Glacier that starting forming the Glacier Bay waterway in 1750 and has retreated to its present location on the Park Boundary with Canada some 65 miles from its starting point!!

11 May -- Ketchikan

Our last port!  A city built on a rock, literally, of 8200 inhabitants.  Famous for salmon and totems. Some of the named streets are just wooden stairways that take residents to their homes up the mountain, owned and maintained by the city! Called "stair streets"!!

The photo above is the central town square statue dedicated to the miners that established the city during the Gold Rush and literally built it on this island rock. Below is a little history of the city.

The city is world famous for its totem poles, that are designed, commissioned, and carved by master carvers from theTlingit clan.  Some can cost upwards of $250,000!  A descendant of Samuel Saxman continues the tradition today, using tools handed down generations.  They are usually carved from red cedar, due to its rot and insect tolerance, and can last about 70-100 years.  The oldest one still standing is 125years old!

Below are just some of the totems that we saw.

The picture below is a copy of a Tlingit clan house,which can house multiple families and has one fire to heat it and many fires for cooking.  Interestingly, it is portable and is moved to where the hunting and fishing are best. The space a family is alloted is dependent on your height -- the taller one is, the more space you have.The main door is very short so that one has to bend forward to enter, which make you humble, if you are a friend, and vulnerable if you are a foe. 

The harbor is very busy and is home to the second largest US Coast Guard station in Alaska. The mountain scenery is much different than what we've seen at the other ports of call!

                                                    

                                    

Well, we have a sea day tomorrow as we head south along the Inside Passage to Vancouver, where we dock Saturday morning, 13 May, and then back to Atlanta.  

We have had a wonderful time and saw so-o-o-o much in such a short time!  

We were truly blessed with beautiful sunny weather for the first 3 ports and even today was overcast, but no RAIN!!  However as we leave Ketchikan, it's windy, foggy, misting rain!!

We TRULY were blessed!!!

12 May -- At Sea

We have very windy conditions and sea swells of 4-6 feet as we sail down the Inside Passage on our way to Vancouver.  We can't complain as we've had great weather when we needed it the most!!

The weather and seas calmed in the afternoon and the Captain gave us an unexpected diversion to the Alert Bay and Islands for a slow sail through some gorgeous area.  See below!!  

                           

                           

That's a National Geographic ship docked

So, until next time!