Ketchikan - Alaska's First City

When you think Alaska, most people think Snow  .  .  . Right?  Not in  Ketchikan (also known as Alaska’s First City)  holding records for the liquid snow called rain. They actually have a rain gauge near where the cruise ships dock so you can actually measure the rain. Of course our visit to Ketchikan would not be complete if it was not raining.

Arriving early on this wet summer morning we decided to conduct our own tour of town. According to the walking tour maps, Ketchikan seems to be very easy to navigate. Shortly after we disembarked,  two electric cars parked outside the cruise port caught our attention. What a perfect way to tour the town in the rain.

The cars made it easy for us to navigate up the hill to the Totem Pole Heritage Center.  A must see is the Cedar Creek Street lined up with shops and museums from Ketchikan’s colorful past. Eagles, salmon, bears and other wildlife are plentiful here. Our trip rewarded us with numerous eagles soaring along the waterfront.

Shopping is endless in Ketchikan. Every type of Alaska souvenir can be found here along with prized Wild Alaska salmon and seafood offerings.

You’ve heard people say that it was nice a place to visit but wouldn’t want to live there.  A person can only handle so much rain!

View of South Sawyer Glacier

Even in the rain, this has to be considered one of the highlights of a Alaska cruise. Cruising the Tracy Arm Fjord is an awesome adventure floating around ice bergs with rocky cliffs on both sides and viewing wildlife from the deck.

According to Wikipedia “The Tracy Arm area covers 653,179 acres and consists of two deep and narrow fjords: Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm. Both fjords are over 30 miles long and one-fifth of their area is covered in ice.During the summer, the fjord has considerable floating ice ranging from the size of a three-story building to hand-size pieces.”

It only takes approximately 4 hours to cruise in and out of the fjord and if you are lucky you may pass another cruise ship going the other direction. Photographing the passing ship can give you a better perspective on how narrow the waterway is. Along the way you will see harbor seals that make their playground on the many ice bergs.  According to Wikipedia there is an abundant amount of wildlife to view.

” The wildlife in the area includes black and brown bears, deer, wolves, harbor seals, and a variety of birds, such as arctic terns and pigeon guillemots. The mountain goats, which are usually found in the higher elevation areas, have been seen near the base of Sawyer Glacier.”

The ship makes a 180 degree turn once you reach the end of the fjord at South Sawyer Glacier. Make sure you stay alert as you enter or leave the fork to South Sawyer glacier and you can get a glimpse of the North Sawyer glacier.

Our day in the fjord was a cloudy raining day but that didn’t stop us from enjoying the beauty of Alaska in June.

Strolling the streets of Skagway

Next port of call took us to the historic town of Skagway, Alaska.  Skagway receives about a million tourists annually, most of whom come in off  the cruise ships.

You can easily spend several hours walking the streets of Skagway visiting shops, museums and historic sites. No trip is complete without a ride on the White Pass Railway and an extended trip to the Yukon.

On our excursion we hopped on a motor coach that took us up to Caribou Crossing in the Yukon where we enjoyed lunch and enjoyed time to visiting the area. Nearby were authentic Alaskan sled dogs in training. You could handle them and have your picture taken with them as well.  Of course no trip would be complete unless you were able to experience the mosquitoes of the far north and they are as big as everyone says they are.

On our return ride we stopped at Carcross (which originally was named Caribou Crossing), one of the larger towns in the Yukon with a population of 431 (June 2008).  Here you can get your passport stamped and visit shops and museums or walk along the Bennett or Nares Lakes. Onward we crossed back into BC to catch our train back to Skagway from Fraser. The ride is awesome with mountains, lakes and wildlife everywhere on both sides of the highway. Approximately 7 miles into the ride you go over White Pass and your downward trip begins back to sea level. You will observe the fantastic views of the mountains and scenery much the same as it was hundreds of years ago passing through tunnels and over trestles on your way down from the pass.

Spend a couple hours visiting the historic town before your walk back to the ship. This will be a full day and you will be ready to enjoy dinner on board and retire for the evening.

View of Mendenhall Glacier, outside of Juneau, AK

Our first port of call into Alaska is at Juneau. The largest city in the USA in terms of land size,  Juneau has no roads in or out of the city.  A cruise ship is one of two obvious ways to reach the capital of Alaska.

Juneau is a beautiful city surrounded by mountains and glaciers.  The main attraction here arguably is the Mendenhall Glacier.  Approximately 12 miles out of town the glacier is an awesome sight upon first entering the area.  The ice fields tower above the trees making it visible from the road coming in.  Just the view of the ice floating in the lake preceding the glacier is grand.

We were a little too early for the salmon spawning season which would have included viewing platforms by the river to observe the bear feeding.  Did get to view a porcupine eating in a bush right next to us so you need to be aware of wildlife all the time around you.

Juneau may be isolated from the rest of the world but there is still plenty to see driving the 200 miles of paved road (Wikipedia estimate) that is available.  There is a second glacier Lemon Creek, that is also visible from the road.  The city has a shopping area full of shops with “The Red Dog Saloon” as a major attraction.

You can take the bridge across to Douglas Island and walk or drive to the top of the residential area where you can get an awesome view of Juneau and the cruise ships which always seem to be in port during the warmer months.

Back on the Juneau downtown side you can take the Mt. Roberts Tramway to the top and receive another fantastic view from high above.  Near the downtown area is the fish hatchery which is a must see when the salmon are returning. Of course we were a little too early.

Our port of call in Juneau was 10 hours long and we only were able to get a sampling of what there is to do. That makes it easier for me to consider a second cruise to Alaska as all Alaska Cruise Ships lead to Juneau.

Quality Inn Seattle, WA

When looking for a place to stay the night before a cruise in Seattle.  There are a few things you may want to keep in mind and look for.

1. Does the hotel have breakfast? (one last meal before hitting the all you can eat foods on the ship is very important)

2. Does the hotel have transportation to the cruise?

3. Is there enough activities within walking distance to keep you occupied the night before?

4. Are there any stores nearby so that you can pick up the item you forgot to pack on the cruise.

5. Is the hotel affordable and clean?

The Seattle Quality Inn fits this description and more.  An excellent hot breakfast is served in the dining/kitchen room that will take care of you until you board the ship.  You can reserve a seat on a cruise shuttle for a small fee and the cruise port is nearby.  The Seattle Center is a couple blocks away and the downtown Seattle area is easy walking distance as well.  With a Walgreens almost next door anything you forgot can easily be picked up.  Yes if you book in advance you can receive a good rate and the hotel is clean and recently remodeled.

With all that said one item I did leave out was the service from the friendly staff. The staff made it a point to reach out to guests to assist them with directions and advice on activities in the area.  The hotel is not the fanciest hotel or biggest hotel but for a pre cruise night stay this is the perfect place to be.  I’m convinced as we’ll use the same facility again when in Seattle.

Luggage for a Cruise

Do you know what the most frequent question I am asked  by first time cruisers?  Need a hint?  I’m sure you’ve heard this after you are 500 miles away from home, “I can’t believe we forgot . . .”   The question “What do I pack for the trip?”  is a valid question.  I remember our  first cruise and trying to figure out if I needed formal wear,  soap & shampoo and all the other little things you need for a cruise. We did not know anyone that had cruised before and so went in blindfolded and learned some things about cruising.

With some help from research on the internet and some past experience as well as input from fellow cruisers we came up with this “Cruise Packing Guidelines”.  I do emphasis “Guidelines” as every person and destination is different.  You can visit our Cruise Packing Website and even download a packing list for your personal use.

A packing list eliminates the panic of last-second packing, serves as a handy guide for repacking at the end of the trip, and helps ensure that nothing important will be forgotten. The worst possible time to be considering what to take on a trip is while you are packing for that trip!

I invite your packing comments to share with others.

Catching the Cruise Shuttle from the Days Inn

Now that you have had a brief review of a Bahamas cruise, I would like to share a little on pre cruise lodging. Our stay in Miami was at the Days Inn Airport North. If you are looking for something clean, large rooms, and breakfast this would not be your place of choice. What we were looking for was an inexpensive place to sleep and complimentary shuttleservice from the airport. For those planning to cruise this hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to the cruise port. That alone made this location worth the stay.

The day before our cruise we received a voucher to board a motor coach that would take us to our cruise ship. Make sure you reserve as soon as possible as the first coach out was completely filled to capacity. The ride was on time and very comfortable. I need to also mention that the city bus runs outside the hotel for access to Miami Downtown, South Beach and other places of interest.

The Days Inn Miami Airport North does not offer breakfast but there are a number of restaurants within walking distance, which include but not limited to McDonalds, IHOP, Subway to name a few. The gas station next door also serves as a mini mart with a limited supply of food for purchase.

Again if you are looking for luxury, or anything above a 2 star hotel this is not your hotel. If you need something easy on the budget and offering easy transportation, then check out the Days Inn Miami Airport North.

Norwegian Sky visiting Great Stirrup Cay

Part of our cruise to the Bahamas, we were treated to a day at NCL’s private island Great Stirrup Cay. This is a treat for those that want the white sandy beaches and a safe swimming environment that you can snorkel or relax in the water.

Some tips for visiting the island on your next cruise.

1. Leave the ship early so you can get the best spots at the beach. The loungers are first come, first serve.

2. Don’t worry about food as the cruise line provides a fantastic lunch on the beach.

3. Bring lots of sun protection as you will see lots of sun.

4. You have to at least try snorkeling and see all the beautiful fish.

5. If you want to sit in your beach chair all day, bring along a book to read.

6. Shoes will not work on this part of the trip. You need something you can walk in and get wet or sandy. A hat is nice.

7. Bring a waterproof camera. The water is too beautiful to not take photos of up close.

The one thing I like about this over sized swimming pool is the number of fish you can see under water. It is truly like being inside of a large aquarium. I learned through past experience when using a waterproof camera to not get too close or too far for the best pictures. So 27 pictures may get you 14 clear shots.

Many of the cruise lines have their own private islands in the Bahamas. In fact, if you want,  you could probably purchase your own island as the Bahamas are made up of over 2,000 islands and cays.

View of Atlantis Resort from NCL Sky

Have you been following my recent travel blogs? If so you would know that we have arrived at the main attraction… the Atlantis Resort. The view of the resort coming into the port is breathtaking so make sure you have your cameras ready. The strip of land between the lighthouse and the resort has no roads and is home to many celebrities as your water taxi guide will point out.

So if you are not staying at the resort, what is it that you can expect to do?

First off, plan on spending some time exploring the area as there is something around every corner that doesn’t have to cost a penny. The view looking towards the Mayan Temple Slide makes it appear you are in the jungle and use that as your compass as you wander off. A trip to Dolphin Cay is well worth it. There is an observation area that you can view the dolphins jumping and playing with the guests. A stroll through the resorts will find beautifully landscaped ponds full of colorful local fish.

Walk along the beach and enjoy the colors of the water and the white sandy beaches. There are all types of water fountains with statues fitting the Atlantis theme.

The Mayan Temple Water Slide is an awesome site as you watch guests rush down a 60 foot vertical drop through a clear glass tubing surrounding by sharks. For those not in a hurry there is another slide adjacent for those you want a slow ride down in an inner tube.

Tour the Mythical Ruins Lagoon. Here you can view all types of sea life. For those who dare,  you can snorkel alongside with the manta rays, exotic tropical fish, and even sharks. (there is a fee for this)

With all there is to do you’ll need to return for a second trip to Atlantis. In my next travel blog we’ll take a look at one of the Cruise Lines Private islands, NCL’s Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.

Porthole view of Nassau Port

Nassau is set up to handle a number of cruise ships and we anchored next to the Norwegian Gem and Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Sea. Between the 3 cruise ships, Nassau’s tourist population increased by approximately 6,000. Disembarking at the port you will find a number of shopping areas , including an incredible straw market. Your US dollar is good everywhere. Just be prepared to bargain for the best price.

The port at Nassau has  a number of activities available for you to participate in. Activities may include diving, snorkeling, dolphin programs, forts, carriage tours and more. You can also purchase your water taxi tickets to Paradise Island here. Tickets are $3 one way or $6 roundtrip. A land taxi is also available and will take you right up to the front doors of the resort. The charge is a little more at about $9 roundtrip. The advantage is you are dropped off closer. The water taxi dock is a few blocks away. You may want to go one way on the water and return on land.

The water taxis will have a local tour guide to point out the many celebrity homes on the way to the Atlantis. Be prepared to offer a tip at their request.

The top decks of the cruise ships offer excellent views of Paradise Island. So if you are so inclined you can stay on board your cruise ship and enjoy the peace and quiet and view of the city and island.