Embarking on an adventure: Cruising Alaska from Seattle. Going on an Alaskan Cruise has always been on our bucket list. We finally set sail on our first Alaska Cruise, now we have done four. Is it the same every time, of course not. This was our first cruise.
Looking forward to the amazing week ahead. We were on the Princess Grand. It was awesome. Cruising Alaska is a thing of beauty.
Explore Seattle, So Much To See and Do
We sailed out of Seattle, we always go there a couple of days before our cruise. We like Seattle and enjoy sightseeing and just wandering around the pier. Last time we were in Seattle for a cruise my nephew met us and spent the day together.
They picked us up at the airport, our plane arrived around 8 in the morning. They took us to this little hole-in-the-wall breakfast place. Then a whole day of walking the pier and Pikes Place. It was a very, very long day, so much fun. Even though we’ve been to Seattle several times, our daughter was in the Navy stationed at Bremerton. There is something about sightseeing with someone who lives there.
There are so many sights to see in Seattle like the Space Needle, the view is beautiful. The Seattle Aquarium is great, we took our granddaughter there when we went up for her first birthday. The Woodland Park Zoo has lots of animals and is a bigger zoo. You can go whale watching, and see the first Starbucks. The Flight Museum is awesome. Don’t forget the ferry rides. There are so many amazing things to do in Seattle. Of course, Pikes Place is watching them throw around the salmon.
Rest is an Amazing
I think that night after we finally returned to our hotel which wasn’t until 7 pm. We didn’t stir for 12 hours but it was a great day. We would do it again in a heartbeat. It was a beautiful day in Seattle. We ate at a place right on the water, gorgeous. The sourdough bowl clam chowder was on the menu for us. We went to a pub and tried different beers, if you like dark beers it was great. We even rode on the city bus to the motel, so happy that PatWayne knew his way around. We’ve never needed to ride the city bus in Seattle, it was an adventure.
Boarding the Grand Princess
We were so excited to be on our first cruise to Alaska. Cruising Alaska is checking off our bucket list, only to return again and again. The boarding process was easy and simple, we boarded right away and went off on our adventure, what do you do first? Get a refreshment enjoy all the views from our balcony and eat at the buffet. We loved sitting on the balcony and just watching everything going on. There was plenty of time to explore the ship, which we did. We had a room with a balcony, which I suggest for everyone, the views from the balcony are amazing.
Ship Entertainment
From Broadway shows, comedians, magic shows, and interesting informational talks. We were not disappointed by the variety of shows. In the small gathering places, they had different music shows. We watched a pair that the Eagles’ music was their thing, it was awesome. We even played Bingo and went to a few trivia shows. They were very entertaining, but more fun for people who knew trivia. There is also a casino we checked out but it wasn’t profitable so we didn’t go back, living in Las Vegas if you want to gamble there are casinos near everything. But we hardly ever go, our money can be spent on things like cruising.
For us, we were seeking a relaxing voyage. The ship provided swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, massage places, and a beauty parlor. If you forgot something no problem there are clothing stores and a selection of personal items.
Adjust Your Belt!
We saw ice sculptures being carved, and vegetable carvings. A navigation show, but I fell asleep, but at least I didn’t snore. Movies under the stars were nice, they brought you blankets and popcorn. There was also a casino. You had the opportunity to listen to a wide variety of music, there was something for everyone. You can study all you want but until you go on a cruise, you don’t know what to expect. My husband’s favorite eating venue was the International Cafe, coffee, doughnuts, breakfast sandwiches, and snack food.
I can not say enough about the food on the ship, amazing. The buffet has so many options. Different every night. From beef, chicken, and fish, to all kinds of vegetables. The salad bar was my favorite. They offered everything you would put on your salad and more. They had varieties of rice and potatoes along with different soups every night. Pasta dishes were very much present at the buffet. Including the variety of breads. A large spread of meats and cheeses. All kinds of desserts, bread pudding was our favorite, since that was the main dessert that night we did not see it again there. But there was Baked Alaska and pies galore.
Breakfast and lunch were just as good as the dinners. There were made-to-order omelets, along with all the breakfast staples.
More Places to Eat: Amazing
Since this was our first cruise we didn’t understand that some places we could eat at were like restaurants, that were included in our fare. We wish we would have known, but don’t worry we made up for it on other cruises. There is so much to absorb on your first cruise that even if you have studied the ship and food choices you sometimes still don’t get it right.
There was also a pizza place we went to, a wood stove. It was so good, we weren’t brave enough to try the fancy ones, so we had pepperoni. Now we would have the specialty pizzas, we are more willing to try different foods than we were on that first cruise.
There was a snack bar on the pool deck that offered a wide variety of food. Awesome chicken sandwiches, the chicken breast was cooked to order. Chilli dogs and hamburgers, fries with or without chili. They had a corn chowder that was so yummy. Also, the lobster chowder was so good.
Still More Amazing Food
Can’t forget the International Cafe the place to go for a quick grab and go. They offered desserts an overabundance of them. Yogurts in the morning, along with breakfast burritos, there were other specialties to try. For lunch there were different sandwiches and of course the desserts. They catered to everyone’s taste buds.
We were at the breakfast buffet one morning and my husband was talking to the waiter while I was getting food, about seeing whales. I returned to the table and he said what the waiter said then went to get his food. He no more than left the table and, there were three whales beside the ship in all their glory. I could get my camera up fast enough to get any pictures. When I told him he thought I was playing with him, everyone was telling him no you missed it.
First Port of Call: Ketchikan
Cruising to Alaska is special for us, especially Ketchikan. We had a personal guide, my sister, who lives in Ketchikan. She took us exploring the town. We saw totem poles, and she took us to the Tongass National Forest and showed us the campground. It reminded us of the great camping adventures we went on with our parents. She took us to the most beautiful lookout spot in Ketchikan which unfortunately is at the garbage dump. It was amazing overlooking the town and the inlet. She thought we might see some bears up there but no such luck.
We were there right before my birthday so she sent us on a float plane ride, let me tell you if it wasn’t for me that plane would have tipped over. It makes a sharp turn after taking off so I was leaning over hugging the door adding weight to the top. My husband and sister thought it was hilarious, me not so much. After we got up it was beautiful with all the waterfalls and forest scenery, it was worth being scared on take off. A different view of the area is awesome.
Glacier Bay: Beautiful
We cruised Glacier Bay and saw ice that had fallen off the glaciers. It was amazing, think how old the ice was. They were beautiful.
Stop 2 Skagway
Cruising Alaska allows you to see interesting ports and learn the history of the towns. Skagway is a unique place to visit, they say that Skagway only gets 27” of rain a year, whereas Ketikan over 150” a year. Every time we have been on a cruise to Alaska the weather at all the ports of call was great. Skagway was warm and we had a beautiful day. We chose to go on the White Pass and Yukon Pass railroad trip.
The train ride was comfortable and entertaining. We saw forests, creeks, and old railroad tracks. This train ride took us to the Canadian border, where the border patrol boarded and checked everyone’s passports, with just a quick look. We thought it was odd when we crossed the border into Canada everyone’s passport received a glance, but when we crossed the United States border only the bus driver’s passport was checked.
Bus Ride in Canada, Beautiful
Then we boarded a bus and went to Carcross where the dogs for the Iditarod are trained. You could go on a sled ride with them pulling, she said that is how the dogs train, the dogs were going crazy to go, they were so excited about every sled, and couldn’t wait to see if they were picked. They had puppies there waiting to be trained and other animals, it was like a zoo. There was a museum with several types of stuffed animals, clothing, and history. The animals were too big. It was a little bit overwhelming how big they were. We were treated to a barbeque chicken lunch there. It was so good.
Then back on the bus for the ride back to the ship. We stopped at the dunes, like the beach, hard to believe, sand everywhere. We saw a wide variety, from old houses to modern houses, old towns were abandoned to towns with very little population. It was a great day spent doing the train ride, the only bad thing was that people couldn’t get back to the bus in time so we were unable to tour Skagway the town. Which was disappointing. But, we love Cruising Alaska and have been four times, so we have gotten to enjoy the town.
Last Stop in Alaska: Juneau
As Alaska’s capital city, Juneau is different from Skagway or Ketchikan but we had a great time there. Juneau is a bigger town and has lots to offer. We visited the Mendenhall Glacier which is breathtaking. We went by the first McDonalds in Alaska, the driver told us that other towns near Juneau came to Juneau just to get McDonalds when it opened.
After leaving the glacier we went whale watching. We were so lucky to have seen several whales. The captain of the boat said we were so lucky to see so many, and he asked us if we wanted to go back to town to explore or watch the whales some more, of course, we chose the whales. There were people from a Holland America cruise on the excursion also. We saw seals and other wildlife, but still no bears. The whales are so graceful and majestic to watch, they were close enough that we were able to get great pictures. Beautiful day in Juneau, we didn’t even miss walking the town since the whales were such a welcome sight. You never know what you will see when cruising Alaska.
Last Stop: Victoria, Canada
We just walked around Victoria, we had been there before. It is a beautiful town, with flowers everywhere, Victoria is a city that is a mixture of old and new. When you go on an Alaskan cruise you must go to a port not in the United States, with Vancouver or Victoria.
When we were checking prices for the cruise I looked at several places for the best prices and the amenities. Check out the prices here for very comparable pricing.
In conclusion, the cruise did not disappoint. We had a very relaxing time. We couldn’t wait to go again. There is something about the Alaskan Cruise that captures you and wants you to return repeatedly, as we have. Every one of the cruises we have gone on to Alaska is different, even though we go to the same towns the view and experience are different every time.
I hope that I have made you want to go on that cruise, you will not be sorry. Cruising Alaska is a beautiful experience and something everyone should to at least once.