You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............
Sep 23, 2013 04:00 PM Crossing the Date Line - I lost one day again!
Today we are crossing meridian 180 deg = the Date Line. I will loose again one day - for the
first time sailing on the ship. Yesterday when I was going to my bed it was already
next day morning in Europe.
But since tomorrow on each day I will wake up 12 hours earlier then you!
For some reason Neptune became very angry and Pacific Ocean is very rough again.
Our captain
just announced that were we experience 8-m high waves and strong wind from the north.
I am writing in the library on the deck 5 and from time to time the panoramic windows
here are gently washed up by the high waves. Thanks God the glass is strong enough :)
The highlight of today was Dixeland concert (you know that I prefere rather
dixieland than heavy matal :).
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Sep 22, 2013 04:00 PM The Pacific is little calmer today
I met an interesting couple from Texas: Kirk and Alessandra. Traveling with "Princess" many
times they achieved platinium membership level and this gives they 500 minutes of the free
internet connection from the ship. They were so kind let me use some of their credit to send
my "waiting" messages from the ship. And that's why you can read them now.
Thanks a lot, my new friends!
Foggy morning. We passed Aleutian Islands and the Pacific is a bit calmer today.
The outside decks are open again so I can take a walk on the open air.
If you manage to make 2,5 rounds around the ship it means that you walked 1 mile!
They change the ship's time every night - we sleep longer.
I hope that the weather will be better as we will be closer to the Date Line.
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Sep 21, 2013 04:00 PM Through the rough North Pacific
Our first day in the open ocean. Surprisely the sun is shinning, but the waves are 6 to 7 meters
high. All open decks are of course closed and only through the panoramic windows we can see
how the ship is rocking and rolling. The waves and sprays are very spectacular.
Last time I saw such a spectacle coming back from the Bouvet Island in the Antarctic.
They gave me a bow (forward) cabin - and as you know it is
not the best choice for the passenger if the ship is crossing the rough seas - I feel more rocking
then the others. Every few minutes extra big wave hits the bow - and I hear that!
I never suffer the seasick, but many fellow passengers do. They stay in their cabins.
Fewer people go to the restaurants for the meals. In the evening we are sailing along the
Aleutian Islands (they belong to the USA) known as "the islands of the hurricanes and mist".
No mist so far, sun only, but we experience very strong forward wind.
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Sep 20, 2013 04:00 PM Whittier - Bye=bye America!
Our last day in America... We sailed from Vancouver = Canada already more then 3000 kms.
Whittier is a little port with just few houses, located deep in the
bay and surrounded by the high mountains. The only land access to Whittier is
via the famous tunnel (they charge 12 USD tunnel toll fee per small car)
Unfortunately it is cloudy again today. Some passengers are disembarking here, the other parties
embark the ship for the 6-days long voyage through the North Pacific.
Apart from the little museum in the grocery building there is nothing to see in Whittier.
If you have a choice I suggest that you should plan to start your trip in Anchorage
rather then in Whittier!
For me the wi-fi network in the Whittier' port cafe was the last opportunity to send
something via internet from America. But today I managed to send only 3 e-mails
in the morning and then this communication channel was broken.
Since onboard internet connection on my ship is extremely expensive
(they offer today a "special rate": 9 USD per 15 minutes of the very weak connection)
the next message from this voyage will be probably send 6 days later from Japan.
I do hope that there will be no storm in the North Pacific.
Please keep your fingers crossed dear Friends!
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Sep 19, 2013 04:00 PM College Fjord in the sun!!
Weather is very changeable in Alaska. I was very surprised when in the morning I switched on
the monitor in my inside cabin and I recognized that there is strong sun outside!
And a strong wind - I recognized this soon walking on the deck.
We were sailing Prince William Sound to reach in the afternoon the College Fjord.
It is also accessible only from the sea.
It is not as long as Glacier Bay but even more picturesque. We were sailing in the full sun
and wonderful scenery passing hanging and tidewater glaciers - to the end of the fjord
where imposing Harward Glacier is sliding down to the water. Our captain was brave
enough to sail very close to Harward - it was possible to hear from the deck
the sounds of breaking ice.
Regarding the views this was (so far) the best day of my expedition. I hope to show you great
pictures.
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Sep 18, 2013 04:00 PM Glacier Bay - only from the sea!
It was 6 am when four rangers from the National Park boarded our ship from little boat in
Icy Strait - at the entrance to Glacier Bay.The only access to this National Park is
by boat from the sea and that's why I am on this ship...
Glacier Bay is about 65-miles long fjord with many islands, inlets and glaciers. I expected
not to see here much snow at the end of Alaskan summer, but the huge glaciers are here all year
around. When we passed Reid Gacier big clouds went out and we had a chance to enjoy
Lamplough Glacier in the better light. Then there is a fork - we turned left to Hopkins Inlet
and then right - to the highlite of Glacier Bay - the Margerie Glacier. Can you imagine the
face of this glacier: 1-mile wide and 250 feet high?
Glacier Bay is wide to accommodate more then one ship - we met there "Norwegian Pearl"
Great day!
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Sep 17, 2013 04:00 PM Skagway - beginning of the Gold Rush trail
When they found the gold in Alaska in 1896 thousands of people came here by ships heading to legendary Klondike. Demand for the transport up trough the White Pass was so big, that they built soon White Pass railway.
Skagway was blooming at this time with many shops, bars and broothels.
Now you can see them here - many restored buildings. One of them - Red Onion Saloon is still open and pretty ladies (see the picture) offer you a tour or a beer.
Twice a day White Pass train starts 3-hours journey up to the White Pass. Expect to pay 129 USD for the round trip (3 hours). 21 years ago I and my son Adam we disembarked here and started a journey to Klondike by bus... At this time I did not see here any cruiseships in the little harbour. Today I saw FOUR...
It is still coudy. I pray for the better weather for tomorrow - we are sailing to the fiords to see famous Alaskan Glaciers...
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Sep 16, 2013 04:00 PM Whales in the Snow Passage
Yesterday in the evening we were sailing through the narrow Snow Passage. Whales like these waters and we were lucky to see few of them. Unfortunately - for the short time only. Our naturalist Mark said: If you see the tail of the diving humpback you will see it again not earlier then after 4 to 8 minutes... That's right.
We saw also few dolphins and seals. Scenery was great - Alaska is very pristine...
Today we are docking in Juneau - the capital city of Alaska. It is much bigger then Ketchikan but the old town near the dock is quite compact. The main attraction of Juneau is for me nearby Mendenhall Glacier. Shuttle bus from the dock will take you there for 8 USD each way. Or you can take the city bus for exact 2 USD - have a change! And the you will walk 2kms to the glacier visitors center on the lake - that's for the backpackers... That's what I did!
Rain stoped there and I enjoyed the view of the imposing glacier - see enclosed picture.
Entry to the viewpoints is free but they charge 3 USD fer entrance to the visitors center' exhibitions.
So I visited the glacier an the nearby Nugget Fall for just 4 USD - the tour from the ship cost 80 USD! - that's the art of budget traveling!
Once again I use free internet in the public library which is just at the dock. But you have again only 30 minutes limit.
It is very cloudy and rainy today. No idea to use their tram to the top of Mt Roberts - for the obscured view (it cost 31 USD RT. Lets hope that tomorrow the sky will be blue!
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Sep 15, 2013 04:00 PM Ketchikan - the gateway to Alaska
Great, picturesque bay, forested Islands around, seaplanes and high Deer Mountain over the small settlement. 1500 people only live here. Old, painted timber houses in the Creek Street. During the Gold Rush there were mostly public houses... Now - museums (seniors pay 5 USD for the tour to the Dolly's Public House) and souvenir shops.
Nice, historic place. They offer free shuttle bus to the Totem Heritage Center on the hill (entry 5 $ again).
But the biggest attraction today are thousands of salmons jumping over the cascades in the Ketchikan Creek. Thousands of them mate up in the shallow river!
Public Library offers only 30 minutes of free internet. So I mus to finish. Greetings from Alaska!
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Sep 14, 2013 04:00 PM Foggy Great Inside Passage
Can you imagine? 21 years ago I came to Vancouver with my 11th years ols son Adam. We jumped on the Alaskan ferry "Columbia" in the Port of Bellingham. We were sleeping in our little tent on the aft open deck. And "Columbia" took us with a stopovers through the Great Inside Passage as far as Skagway. We had great time!
Now Adam is 32 and I am sailing this route again - in the opposite direction.
Our ship is big and I stay in the last expensive inside cabin. To go for the breakfast to the self-service restaurant takes me 10 minutes walk to the deck 14.
Unfortunately the weather now is not as nice as 21 years ago.
Foggy! I still try to adjust to the 10-hours time difference - hope that tomorrow will be better day!
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