Small moments on a big Alaska cruise
The glaciers were magnificent. So were the moments that would never make it onto an itinerary.
Photo from my travels.
Alaska has a way of making you watch the water. In Juneau we went whale watching aboard a heated vessel, which suited me far better than a Zodiac would have. We saw orcas in the morning, and I kept thinking about an earlier October trip to Glacier Bay, when a young humpback breached in front of us.
On this voyage, Johns Hopkins Glacier was one of the sights I’ll remember. In Ketchikan, near Ward Cove, even the small fish jumping beside the ship caught my attention. I like the grand views, but I don’t want to miss what’s happening right alongside us.
The best day may have been Skagway
We visited sled dogs and went gold panning. I got to hold puppies, including a twelve-week-old and a five-week-old, which may have been the highlight of the entire trip. We also stopped at the Red Onion Saloon for chili. That is the sort of day I want from travel: history, a little adventure, and something to smile about afterward.
A note about getting off the ship
The final disembarkation needed better wheelchair assistance. Priority passengers were leaving first, yet when we were already at the ship exit, we were told to go back to another deck and wait. Assistance needs to be available where passengers actually disembark, especially when they have already made their way to the exit.
There were bright spots aboard, too. Abdul in Maltings Bar and Jun, Cara, and the rest of the Starbucks crew greeted us with kindness and patience, even when we appeared again for the second or third coffee of the day. Those people made a difference.
And yes, I hunted ducks on board. This trip yielded three: a tiny acrylic duck, a small one, and a medium rubber duck. A little silliness belongs in a good vacation.
From my camera
Some of the views that made me pause and look a little longer.
