Anchorage

It's not Fort Lauderdale-it's Whittier so the hustle and bustle of 8 ships unloading 20,000 people isn't there. At 65 miles to Anchorage you won't see a lot of taxis coming. There is a train that pulls up to take those going on a Princess Land tour to Denali and their Wilderness Lodges and a fleet of coaches one of which had our name on it (not literally!)

The harbor is quiet and orderly.

There is an excursion boat visible as some like to take excursions in Prince William Sound if they are staying in Anchorage or have a late flight like us. Whittier is not a walking town as there is not much to see and it's not a tourist destination, just a practical port for Princess.

Early morning mists

One last walk on the wide promenade deck

The Industrial view from the coach which made a short circuit of the town . It's not a place that calls one back....

One last look at the great ship that had been our home for an incredible 7 days.

The coach had a 15 minute wait to enter the one way out of Whittier- a 2.5 mile tunnel blasted out of the mountain. Traffic is one way as the tunnel is only 8 feet wide.

It's a pleasant scenic ride up to Anchorage and it takes about 90 minutes. You have a view of the sea for most of the way.  Our young driver gave a rambling commentary as he drove.

I drifted in and out of a nap and if the driver hadn't been talking non-stop I would have slept most of the way.

As we had almost 10 hours until our 8pm flight we had decided to book a room at the Captain Cook hotel. This way we had a base with a nice bathroom and a place to nap if the need arose (and it did)
The room wasn't ready when we arrived there and we were told it would be an hour's wait. We gave the front desk my cell number and took a walk in the sunshine.  After 90 minutes the call still had not come through so I went back into the hotel and spoke to a different desk clerk and found that it had been ready 30 minutes ago. Not impressed by the front desk service.

Anyway we now had a room to freshen up in. We had already left our big luggage at the Princess drop-off in the vast Egan Center a few blocks away. It would be loaded on to our bus to the airport much later. We carried our hand luggage to the hotel.

The view

As it was now early afternoon it was time to eat and during my earlier walk I had come across a nearby restaurant with a sea view and I liked the look of it so I made a reservation for lunch.

As we were in Alaska we both had halibut on our plates, in different preparations. You could order frozen fish or fresh fish for an up charge so we chose the latter to savor the experience.

Fish and chips for me and both were delicious and were complimented by a nice cold Guinness.

Carol had a Thai curry preparation with hers.

After a fine lunch in pleasant surroundings with attentive service it was time for a walk and now and then I had to stop to take photos of the many beautiful flower beds that adorn this fine little city.

The damp climate and long summer days work wonders on the plants. Many are planted by the city each year. Walking in downtown Anchorage is a feast for the eyes as a result.

Although there are big hotels and high-rise office blocks much of the city is on a more human scale and views of mountains or sea are never far away.

We went back to the hotel for the much anticipated nap. A seven hour flight in the dark was waiting for us, up ahead, with a five a.m arrival in Chicago...

Last walk on the Diamond

We always opt for a late check-out on the ships as we are never rushing to an airport. On four of our 5 cruises to date we have arrived a day early and left a day late but on this voyage there were only direct flights to Chicago on the day we left the ship. We didn't have to fly until 8 pm so there was no urgency in disembarking.

So we could have a leisurely MDR breakfast and be served by crew we had never seen before, yet they were on the ship all week long, every step of the way. MDR favorites for me always include hot oatmeal with brown sugar, whole milk and raisins followed by a stack of pancakes drowned in maple syrup with a healthy (sic) mound of bacon or ham.

Suitably fortified I was ready to take a walk-one last walk-through the interior hallways that had been my thoroughfare from stem (Princess Theater) to stern (Club Fusion) for the past seven days of relaxation, fun and enjoyment on this beautiful ship.

For me it was the most enjoyable of the 5 cruises taken at the time of writing (3 more are in the works and one begins 16 days from now in Venice-Italy, not California!) due to the design and features of the ship, the stellar crew and the superb Captain, a great communicator and motivator.  Everything was "ship shape".

Being back in port after your cruise time has run out is not fun. Where did the time go? There were so many things I missed by my floating along through each day method (besides the busy excursions) but relaxing is a key part of cruising as much as trying to see it all and do it all. There will be other cruises (see above!) The Princess slogan then was "Escape Completely" and I was escaping from work and city life in Chicago and enjoying the company of 2600 similar souls with big grins on their faces, rather than scowls.

We slept well, even if briefly in my case (4 to 5 hours usually) and ate like Kings, when and where we chose to. The food was good and there was no dishwasher loading and grocery shopping.

So here is the video. The 2600 passengers are disembarked in stages according to their time of preference so many are gathered in public rooms to wait their turn. Our designated room would be Club Fusion a short elevator ride from our aft cabin. Most of the passengers are already off by the time I did my walk.

Last night on board

There follows a video which features a last-night tradition on the Princess cruises we have taken-the International Crew Talent Show. This was back in the day when I didn't record the performances in their entirety so it is just a taster. The balloons amuse the crowd as the theater fills up as many get there early to secure a good seat. We usually sit at the back for a quick getaway.

My getaway happened mid-way through the show as I had my packing to do and thought it best to have the cabin to myself. I missed some great comedy by the Cruise Director, Billy Highgate and so I hope to see him on another ship in the future. The Diamond Princess has since been moved to serve the Far East market and has had an interior re-model to suit the growing number of Japanese cruisers.

Carol was back by the time I placed my suitcase into the hallway for pickup. Hers had been taken hours before. When I went out onto the balcony at 12.30 a.m I was surprised to see we were in Whittier and the mooring crew were tying the ship up for the night.

Five hours of delicious sleep followed.

There would be no Sabatini breakfast in the morning-the waitstaff there are used to help people in wheelchairs off the ship, so we would be eating in one of the dining rooms.

In the morning I had planned to have time to take some last photographs and a video walk through the interior Promenade Deck.

For now, here is the video from the show and then the waking in Whittier which is Princess' own Alaskan port.

Last day stills

On the way to College Fjord Carol performed with the small Pop Choir in the Piazza. Afterwards she would change into clothing more suited to the drizzly weather.

The ship approaching Harvard Glacier seen from the comfort of Skywalker's where cocktails and munchies were being served to Suite, Elite and Platinum card holders.

The drizzle softened and we went out to the Skywalker's balcony

The expansive aft decks on the Diamond Princess, more spacious than the other Grand Class ships in the Princess Fleet

One last look before we had to go to dinner in the Savoy.

We walked through the indoor pool on our way to dinner. This is a great thing to have on an Alaskan cruise and something not found on later Grand Class ships like the Crown, Emerald and Ruby nor the new Princess ships-Royal and Regal. 

The ship has a large library and computers if you want to stay in touch with those on land. There are by-minute Internet packages so you'll pay (handsomely) for this access. At that time we, as suite passengers were getting  complimentary unlimited Internet access but that has since been removed from the list of suite "perks". Now with more cruises under our belts (odd saying) we are Platinum card holders and get 150 free minutes each. 

 This is the Captain's Circle desk off the Piazza where you can browse and reserve future cruises. If you want cheap deposits for future cruises (called FCCs) you can get them at $100 per person versus laying down a 20% deposit at the time of booking.

Sit and relax opposite Explorer's Lounge on deck 7

Excursions desk.

Patisserie on deck 5 with big viewing windows over the sea. Early morning coffee is found here.

Lobby art, Princess Theater

Stairwell art

Nearing the end

There comes a time when you have to add an odious task to your daily to-do list and that task is packing up all your clothes and souvenirs as, in the morning, you will be leaving your ship.
It's something I always do at the last minute.

Until the last minute there is a ship to be enjoyed and as one cruise is ending we always have an eye on the next one to take the sting out of parting: in this case it was a Caribbean cruise in January 2013 on the Ruby Princess.

Yes I was up early as I wanted to savor every minute of this day. I had an Ultimate Ship Tour scheduled at 10.30 after my Sabatini breakfast. That would be a three hour Behind-the-Scenes visit for 12 lucky passengers-the first 12 to sign up for it at a cost of $150.

First my quiet time, pretty much alone with the sea as most passengers are still fast asleep, Carol among them.  The ship wakes up one person at a time, minute by minute. Coffee and hot food is waiting for all in the buffet, the Patisserie and around 7 am the dining room opens for an elegant breakfast experience. We only go there on our last morning when Sabatini's is closed (sigh)

We are within sight of land as we continue on our 500 mile trek from Glacier Bay to College Fjord.

Other people with coffee cups in hand and maybe a plate of food emerge to join me on deck by the aft pool. A nod and a smile to a kindred spirit. Your food would stay hot longer indoors but you wouldn't be able to watch the wake as the ship eats up the miles and the clock.

Carol had a schedule today too. She had to attend a final rehearsal of the Princess Pop Choir to prepare for their show in the Piazza at 5.15 with hundreds of people looking on. On her first pop choir adventure aboard the Crown Princess in January 2012 she was in a choir of 40 people but on this trip only 7 brave souls participated. She never missed a rehearsal and that won my admiration. I coined a phrase "the Show MUST go on!" which has now entered the lexicon.

Bears, whales, eagles and glaciers flitted across my mind as I sat reflecting, staring out to sea.

We always have great vacations as we dream, then plan, then follow-through like a well-oiled machine but the cruise ones always seem to have a sprinkling of fairy-dust applied. I blame the sea, the comfortable surroundings, the constantly changing scenery, the friendliness of people we meet on board and the crew who make you feel welcome and attend to your every need. If I have a crumb of toast at the corner of my mouth at breakfast there is always a crew member, maybe even the captain, who will come dashing over with a napkin to dab the offending bread-speck from my lips. Now-that's service!

The crew, far far from home for most of the year and living three to four in a cabin without a 160 sq.ft balcony and with only one tiny bathroom, work up to 12 hours a day with never a day off. Yet they smile and work, work, work to a high standard. They can't slack-off: YOU would notice and complain and then their boss would not be happy with them. There are of course cruise lines where the management on board may not give a rat's ass....but if you do your homework as I do then you avoid those.

The crew on an American-owned cruise ship, flying the Bermudan Flag, are not Union workers from the USA. They may come from 50 or more countries and there are 1100 of them. Maybe two are from the USA. Some don't speak English but you won't mix with them as they are in the engine room or among the crew who wash the decks and paint the hull in port.  They are in blue overalls. They won't bring you a drink so don't bother clicking your fingers or raising an eyebrow.

Those that serve you food and drinks will speak English if that's your language of choice.

A Philippino gentleman brought me my breakfast in Sabatini's. I met the Captain half an hour later and he was Italian. The Chief Engineer was British as was the young woman who led Carol's choir practice. My Mexican waiter Juan whom you saw in the video brought me drinks on deck after my ship tour. My two waiters at dinner were from Thailand and the funny MC at the karaoke evenings was from India. It's a harmonious melting pot.

Here's a video of some of the happenings on our last day at sea. You'll notice we are having dinner while still in College Fjord as we don't get there until 6pm and by 8.30- glaciers or no glaciers- we had to eat dinner. The glaciers will still be there next time we cruise Alaska. Shrunken? Perhaps.

Other Entertainments

You don't HAVE to go to the show in the theater (which seats 700 of the 2600 on board the Diamond -all seats with good sight lines as there are no supporting columns in the way).

There may be a comedian in Explorer's, karaoke in Club Fusion, a juggler in the Piazza, a small dance band in the Wheelhouse Bar and always a pianist/singer in Crooner's Martini bar.

The Piazza, set up for a string quartet performance. Home also to live bands, jugglers, acrobats, group dance lessons, goofy games, Captain's Welcome Aboard party, Pop Choir Performances....a lively hub of the ship. Shops, cafes and Passenger Services Office/ Future Cruise booking/Excursion Offices are all located here spread over the three decks that are open.

Crooners Martini Bar is always busy at night.

Wheelhouse bar is a comfortable room to drink and chat or listen to a dance band. There's a polished wooden floor for dancing.

Classic Gentleman's Club look

Of course you can also spend your evening (and money) in the Casino...

There is smoking allowed in the Casino on most evenings with usually two non-smoking nights.

If you want to have a drink and smoke then there is Churchill's Bar close to the Princess Theater.

Yes, that's an inverted Pool Table stuck to the ceiling.

Unique to the Diamond and Sapphire is the Wake View Bar, a cosy nook reached by a spiral staircase from Club Fusion above and affording porthole views of the ship's wake.

Another entertainment option is a Movie under the Stars up on the pool deck, watching a movie or pop concert on the 30 foot screen. Princess provides blankets and popcorn. Movies also run during the day. In Alaskan waters they were mainly Nature movies.

The Movie screen in the daytime, showing the feed from the webcam above the bridge.

Or you could simply take a walk on the Promenade Deck and breathe that fresh sea air....

Even if you just spend the night in a bar, talking to some new friends you have just met or go to your cabin to read, you will hardly be bored and wishing you were still on land.