ALASKA CRUISE-MAY 2018 - ON THE SHIP ALL DAY TODAY

I will add this on every post, just to let anyone who doesn't know, that we have been back home since May 31st.  I am now sharing my journal of our holiday from the beginning of last month.  If you want to see all the posts written so far, you can click on the label below this post entitled, Alaska Trip-May 2018.

FRIDAY, MAY 11TH, 2018 - ON THE SHIP ALL DAY, NO PORTS OF CALL

3.37 a.m.  I woke up rolling one way and then the other in my bed.  Not bad but it was enough to wake me up, and I am a light sleeper anyway. The captain had announced over the intercom yesterday evening, that the weather that night would be a little windy.  I found it oddly soothing, like being rocked ever so gently.

6.28 a.m.  I awoke again to find Gregg out on our balcony taking photos of that gorgeous scenery. (In our time away it never truly got dark, because we are so far north.  I remember waking up at midnight one night and thinking it was twilight, because I could still see light over the mountaintops.) The hills/mountain sides are covered with fir trees, and the sun is trying to peak out.  There is a mist on the mountaintop.  I opened the sliding glass door for a minute to breathe in this crisp morning air, and closed it soon after because I was still in my night clothes.  It was brisk but the chill in the air was lovely.  I am a cold weather person, and would rather have this than the high humidity and heat in the middle of the summer where I live, but once again I am thinking I should have brought more sweaters with me.  The scenery is amazing.

(picture found in the buffet seating area on Deck 10)

I am definitely loving this.  Gregg is in the shower now. I expect he will be going for a walk. I did not sleep as soundly as Gregg and woke up a few times, so am still waking up. I will take my walk later.  I don't want to waste a single moment on this ship, but even being in the cabin, going out on the balcony and looking at all that gorgeous scenery, is a special part of our holiday.

(Intriguing art sculpture found in display case in buffet area, also on Deck 10.  I will share more at a later date.)

9.25 a.m.  A little later than I wanted but I am showered and ready to go.  We spoke to our niece on the phone. Nephew is in the gym and we will join them when he gets back. (This photo was taken later that day.)

Watching the TV's ship channel as I got ready, there are various excursions being shown.  I am eager to get out now. The ship is sailing the Inside Passage, and we reach our first port tomorrow. The man on the TV said we should arrive in Ketchikan in the afternoon.  

Apart from the gentle roll that I woke up to, we don’t really feel much motion on the ship.  But every now and again I feel a sway.  It is an interesting sensation, one I have never felt before. 

The Queen Charlotte Sound is on our left, and the Pacific Ocean. We are also just moving beyond Vancouver Island. Some names on the map. 

Allison Harbor

Alert Bay 

Port Harbor

Port Alice

Cape Scott 

Bay Harbor

Quatsino

Beaver Cove 

And many more.

3.04 p.m. we are back in our room after a few hours topside.  Earlier niece and nephew knocked on the door and the four of us went up for breakfast on Level 10.  It is buffet style. There were different areas and we went to the English Breakfast. We all had sausage and egg, bacon and toast. I added black pudding to my plate (don't judge me non-believers).  It was the best I remember since leaving the UK. A total nostalgia addition, and one I am looking forward to repeating. 

We are not going to be losing any weight on this trip.  All food comes with the price of the cruise, and we have what they call alcohol packages every day.  Also you can use your room card/key anywhere on the ship.  Not only does it get you back on board, it acts like a credit card and you can buy purchases at the many shops, food at any of the restaurants or lounges, and also any kind of beverage, whether it be a cup of tea, coffee, soda, a glass of wine, beer or cocktail.  They just have to check your card every time, just to keep a tally on things.  Extra add-ons will be charged if there is anything special.  

We walked the length of the ship, passed the inside and.... 

the outside pools. 

A man saw us taking a selfie and offered to take our photo. Very nice of him.  It was a little windy, you think?

 Niece and nephew took the one from above.  They enjoyed taking photos as much as we did on this holiday.

We also walked by the gym (picture already shared in my post), the spa and a place where people could get acupuncture. 

We found a very quiet area and it was lovely.  My sister-and-brother-in-law walked in half an hour later. We chatted with them for a while. 

We walked through the casino and I played on one of the slot machines. It wasn’t as fun as I remembered years ago.  I look like I am enjoying myself and I did, but did not bother with those again.  

Further along in another lounge area, there were two very talented musicians playing classical music, a violinist and a cellist. 

We got to our cabin and sat outside on the balcony where we saw a pod of orcas swim buy. No photos, the ship was moving swiftly in one direction and they were moving swiftly in the other.  People were out on their balconies enjoying the sight as much as we were. 

At 7.30 p.m. we have arranged to go to the chef’s table for a sumptuous meal and a tour of the kitchen.  I will share that in another post though, as I think this has gone on long enough for now.  

More to come.