Tien and Paul's Travels: October 2013

On September 1st, we started our Alaska Cruise out of Seattle on the Norwegian Cruise Line ship, the Pearl . It was a seven day cruise that would take us to Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay (Inside Passage), Ketchikan, Victoria, and back to Seattle.

We were expecting cool, maybe rainy weather in Seattle and on the cruise. But to our pleasant surprise, the weather was sunny and reasonably warm the entire time.

The Pearl

Enjoying the jacuzzi.

First Semi-Formal Dinner

As we approached the port of Juneau, we were able to spot whales and dolphins from our breakfast table.
In Juneau, we took the bus to Mendenhall Glacier, one of a few glaciers that visitors can walk up to. Mendenhall Waterfall is another beautiful site to visit. The area has an abundance of Bald Eagles. We spotted some near the glacier.

Mendenhall Glacier

Mendenhall Waterfall

Bald Eagle

Our next stop was Skagway. Skagway in the native language means 'Windy Place', and the name was appropriate. We took a walking tour through downtown Skagway with a park ranger.

Arctic Brotherhood Hall from 1899 on Broadway in Skagway.

Broadway with our ship in the background.

Historic Mascot Saloon

Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage was the highlight of the trip. The day was bright and sunny but it was cold and windy at times. We had to bundle up since we spent most of the day outside on the open deck.

When we entered Glacier Bay, the ship picked up three Park Rangers. They narrated and pointed out the various tidewater glaciers as the ship smoothy sailed through the Inside Passage . This day brought back fond memories of our Antarctica cruise in 2008.

Reid Glacier

Margerie Glacier

Johns Hopkins Glacier

Chilly on deck.

Dinner while leaving the Inside Passage

Last stop in Alaska was Ketchikan. Ketchikan is suppose to be one of the rainiest places in Alaska. But not the day we were there. It was bright and sunny and fairly warm. We took the free city bus to The Totem Heritage Center.

Totem Heritage Center.

We did a lot of last minute shopping and enjoyed the area around Creek Street.

Creek Street

Shops on Creek Street

Ketchikan Harbor

The last afternoon and evening of the cruise was spent in Victoria, British Columbia. The last time we were here was thirty years ago. We recognized the Empress Hotel and the Parliament Building. We did a lot of walking, all the way to Chinatown.