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Sunday - The weather breaks and it's a cool and rainy farewell to Seward (and to Bob and Diane - again!). We visit the Sealife Centre, board the cruise ship for lunch, then walk to the town a bit before we sail.
The ship is opulent, the cabin (sorry - stateroom) spacious and the dinner, after a comically chaotic emergency drill, excellent.
Monday - A lazy day follows at sea, still grey and cool. Lots of activities on offer and we do a few, but it's nice to slow down for a day.
Tuesday - Day 2 at sea we visit Glacier Bay. It's grey and misty but even so it's an exciting journey up the fjord towards Margerie Glacier at it's head, sailing through an increasing amount of floating ice. We get up surprisingly close for such a big ship, maybe only 200m or so. If only the sun had shone.....!
Wednesday - Today we reach Haines and are the only cruise ship there! It's a small town, with a fantastic feel, but very friendly. We visit their award-winning library (best small library in USA) for internet access - it costs a fortune on board) and after lunch take a delightful minibus trip 'Off the Beaten Track'. We visit a farmers market in a left-over film set village, now used by locals for community events, an amazing artists studio and a great eagle display overhead as we made our way along the Chilkat River. Oh, and not forgetting the Hammer Museum, a visit made really entertaining by the enthusiastic but definitely odd owner! People at certainly different here: at the art studio, amidst beautiful paintings and glassware, we are introduced to the idea of 'cremation beads': ever wondered what to do with Grandma's ashes? Make a necklace - really!! The ash sparkles in the glass beads.
Thursday - Overnight we sail to Juneau, capital of Alaska, and after the warm sunshine of yesterday afternoon it's back to rain and mist. We head out to explore the very hilly city in the morning, then after lunch we ride up the Mt Roberts Tramway - 1800ft up in a cablecar, through the low clouds which are thinning slowly so we get good views of the three cruise ships docked below. We walk a little on the trails up there but it's very wet and muddy and still with snow in places. We get a close-up view of a rescued Bald Eagle and hear some nice local music from a string band. Then drama as two passengers are late and miss the ship - seen running along the quayside soon after we set sail! Oh dear - that's an expensive flight down to Ketchikan to catch us up tomorrow. This evening we are invited to the Captain's Champagne Reception! Apparently a once only event per cruise. So we're lucky/honoured: lots of crew in full dress uniform, it's a bit like a wedding line-up greeting (but no kisses or handshakes for hygiene reasons - they're really obsessive about hand washing/sanitising on board). We meet a couple who are on their 56th cruise! It's good but definitely not that good!
Friday - Amazingly today is sunny in Ketchikan (rain capital of Alaska). We have a nice trip out to a Native America village with the largest collection of Totem Poles anywhere. Then an interesting walk along Creek Street, the famed red light district of years gone by, and then a walk to a tunnel which is in the Guiness Book of Records - you can drive through it, round it, over it and even under it by boat! We dress up for our second formal dinner as we leave Ketchikan.
Saturday - A day at sea and we journey into the Inside Passage with lovely scenery but no more whale sitings. It's a busy day with departure briefings, a great final concert, packing and enjoying the views.
Sunday - Up early to watch the ship creep under The Lions Gate Bridge into Vancouver. A wonderful cruise - and now onward to Victoria.
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