On to Skagway

Following the departure of Radiance of the Seas it was time for us to eat. We always choose Anytime Dining where you can eat outside the normal 2 fixed seatings, the earliest of which begins at 5.30-much too early for us. Fixed seatings also usually mean you will dine with the same people each night at a table that seats more than two. We like two-tops so we can focus on eating rather than chatting.

The Diamond, like it's twin sister the Sapphire, has 4 small Anytime Dining rooms, each with a unique decor- New Mexican (Santa Fe dining room), Asian (Pacific Moon) and Italian (Vivaldi) but we liked the lack of geographic specifity of the Savoy with it's dark woods and Gentlemen's Club feel. We asked for a table by a window and were served by two young Thai waiters. We enjoyed their company and would ask for the same table from here on in, whether lunch or dinner. They liked to laugh as do we. They were Siwa (tall one) and Sadudee. (video)

While we are eating late, earlier diners are in the casino, once the ship gets far enough from land or are in the Princess Theater watching a singing-dancing show or catching a stand up comedian in Explorer's Lounge or enjoying a drink in anyone of the many bars on board. Crooners Martini Bar has a pianist and usually draws a crowd. So much to do and enjoy but no doubt we probably went to listen to karaoke in Club Fusion at the stern of the ship.

With our last port of the cruise arriving in the early morning I set an alarm to be up early so I could see the ship coming in to Skagway. We had an excursion planned of course but there would be time for my two breakfasts and a walk into town before we left for the town of Haines on a fast boat.

I was up on deck enjoying my coffee before 6 a.m with the camcorder in hand....(video)

Radiance video

 I thought I would show you some close-ups of the melon carvings in Skywalkers. They are for decoration only and covered in plastic film.

By all means DO try this at home and amaze your friends!

Here is the video of Radiance of the Seas leaving Juneau. It would be our turn soon. We were both heading North to Skagway. It was shot from our aft balcony.

Skywalkers and Radiance bids us adieu

Skywalkers lounge is the highest vantage point with a roof over it on the ship so a good spot for whale watching and people watching from on-high. Factor in that it has a full bar and savory snacks and comfy armchairs and it becomes one of my favorite things about Princess-it's another trademark like the stepped balconies and the undercover bow walk. Italian ship design and build in most cases although the Diamond and Sapphire were made in Japan and the Island and Coral were crafted in France. The last two ships lack a Skywalkers alas. They also lack aft cabins of any kind so we are unlikely to sail on them again, stellar as they are in their own right. Now we have seen the wake there is no going back!

Suite passengers and frequent cruisers- Platinum and Elite card holders have Skywalkers to themselves between 5 and 7 pm each evening. There's a half-price cocktail of the day and if it is a mojito I am having one. There are also snacks which vary night by night. Might be guacamole, salsa and tortilla chips or a selection of cheeses and crackers, crunchy fresh vegetables and so on. We'll take a nibble as we had afternoon tea a couple of hours before and will have dinner a couple of hours after.

There's never a crowd and that's what we like....restful calm with good bar waiters waiting for my raised glass or eyebrow.

(video)

Juneau photos on the water

Photos taken from the whale watching boat in Auke Bay, minus whales

Mendenhall Glacier appears through the mists

Later, Mendenhall is ready for his close-up

A whale of a time

Whales, alas, are not known to pose for photographs. They often surface too far away to make it worthwhile pressing the shutter button. Your captain sees some half a mile away and by the time you get over to them they are at the spot you just left, probably laughing, which they like to do.

Zoom lenses and tripods on a bobbing boat holding only 7 people and a lot of snacks aren't the answer either. Point your camera and hope for the best. Take lots of photos and video and trash what failed to make the cut. Fully-charged batteries are essential as you won't turn the camera off often as you may miss Willy the tap-dancing whale if he is in the neighborhood.

So here's a few minutes of video out in Auke Bay. Even if we saw no whales it would have been a nice couple of hours on the water in good weather....

I kept the camcorder on that last whale for a long time as I had never seen a whale behave that way before (certainly not in downtown Chicago).

The Harv 'n Marv minibus makes a stop at the local glacier-Mendenhall, on the way back to the ship.
You can stay there after the bus leaves or after a 20 minute break get a ride back to downtown Juneau and thence the ship you are on. We went back to the ship with Harv' Marv's driver.  Local buses or taxis can get you back too. Bears can be sighted at the viewpoint across from the glacier and there are bathrooms too (hopefully bear-free).

Another afternoon tea followed and that brought on a nap in the Sanctuary. Our next important engagement would be the nightly Suites, Elites and Platinum card holder cocktail hour from 5 to 7 pm in Skywalkers. The ship wouldn't leave until about 9 pm when darkness was falling and we'd have dinner as we sailed back down the channel we had sailed to get here.

Off to Skywalkers again.....

Ashore in Juneau

Once the gangway is down and the ship is cleared to begin disembarking passengers I set out for my early morning walk.

The camera comes along for the ride.

What a welcoming sight ! There are maybe ten red booths in the background which ae already drawing a small crowd. These belong to Independent Local Tour operators who will take you sightseeing or for helicopter trips to glaciers or whale watching cruises.

I pass by the Radiance of the Seas

My first bear sighting. 

The Red Dog saloon which is popular with visitors (with two exceptions). 

The streets are still deserted which is exactly what I want at this early hour. Sleep deprivation has it's rewards. We were actually woken at 2 a.m by the Captain's voice on the P.A , telling us that a helicopter was coming to the ship to take a sick passenger off the vessel.  Some folks near the pickup zone had to vacate their cabins for an hour or two. We managed to get back to sleep. There is no helipad on the ship so a basket had to be lowered. The ship has a medical center on deck 4 but this was a life-threatening emergency and time was of the essence.

Very familiar from our years of traveling to Germany and an eye-catching billboard vehicle- a Smart car.

Sea plane landing area

The Visitor's Center with a nice stand of white Astilbe

We had a few hours before we would be picked up by the Harv ' n Marv minivan which would take us to Auck Bay where many of the whale watching boats leave from as the Bay is rich in humpback whales.

Here's the video I shot during my walk......

Juneau approach photos

Here are some stills from the approach to Juneau.....

Juneau comes into view

Ships from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Royal Caribbean (RCI) are already berthed.

Norwegian Jewel

Radiance of the Seas

Juneau, as we prepare to make a turn to dock

Overcast but not raining. Hooray!