Barbara J. Hamby

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Alaska Cruise

On May 14, 2005, we drove to Seattle and parked at Pier 30 where we boarded the Diamond Princess, after standing in line for about an hour and a half. We learned later from other passengers that Princess Lines has just recently started using port facilities in Seattle. Obviously, the terminal arrangement has not been perfected.

Finally on board, we schlepped our luggage to our cabin, unpacked and partook of the buffet lunch offered on Lido Deck No. 14. Our cabin was one deck below on Aloha Deck No. 12. There is no Deck No. 13, lest superstitious passengers be spooked.

It was a gorgeous day in Seattle, about 70 degrees and clear. We watched the skyline disappear as we moved through Puget Sound.

The Diamond Princess is a beautiful new ship, slightly over a year old. It was built by Mitsubishi in Japan. It has every amenity you might imagine. The large theater has wonderful acoustics and comfortable seating. Our inside cabin was larger than we had seen previously on other ships, with a huge closet.

Most of the trip was so smooth that it was hard to remember we weren’t on land. Coming back, we had rough seas from Ketchikan to where we entered the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Even then, it didn’t seem as turbulent as some airplane trips. The gentle rocking at night put us right to sleep. I wondered if I’d be able to sleep when I got back on land. I needn’t have worried. I was exhausted.

We headed North through Puget Sound and Admiralty Inlet, then West through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and on to the Pacific Ocean bound for Juneau. Sunday evening I enjoyed a musical extravaganza in the Princess Theater.

The trip was smooth and we arrived in Juneau at 12:30 p.m. on Monday May 16th. In Juneau we rode the Mt. Roberts tramway to a high level where we could see the city below us. We watched a movie about Tlingit natives and wildlife in the area. After riding back down in the tram, Al walked around Juneau and I took my tired feet back to the ship. I saw the movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” I don’t get around to watching many movies, so took advantage of free time on the ship to see a few.

We left Juneau at l0:00 p.m. and arrived in Skagway at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday. After an early breakfast, we were bused to the White Pass & Yukon Railway depot where we boarded the train. We traveled up White Pass to Carcross in the Yukon Territory. All the way, the scenery was breathtaking. Al stood out on a platform and got pictures without the glass reflections that mine, taken from inside the railway car, had.

At Carcross, we had a barbecue lunch with a choice of either chicken or salmon. The salmon was delectable. A bus took us back to Skagway on a slow route with many picture stops. That excursion took most of the day, but was well worth it.

I omitted a couple of highlights of the trip. A fall on my face in Juneau, left me with a broken front tooth, a cut lip, and a scraped knee. The cut on my lip is nearly invisible now, the knee is mostly healed, and the dentist rebuilt the tooth today. I’m not as good as new, but may be better than when I left.

In Skagway, a local character presented a program on the ship that included a recitation of “Dangerous Dan McGrew,” and “The Cremation of Sam Mc Gee.” He claims students in Skagway cannot graduate from high school without memorizing those two classics. What a kick to hear them recited with great gusto in the area where they originated.

We left Skagway at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday and arrived at Tracy Arm about 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday. We cruised Tracy Arm for several hours before turning back because of icebergs and smaller ice in the water that made it dangerous to navigate. The temperature was an unseasonable 60 degrees F. and the sky was cloudless. We were told there are only about ten such days a year in that area.

We arrived in Ketchikan at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday. Since we would only have about six hours there, we had not booked any tours. Instead, we chose to take a walking tour of the city. A steep, winding trail along a scenic creek took us up to a fish ladder and the Totem Heritage Center, where I photographed a number of totem poles. My feet would not take me through the museum that adjoined the nearby library, so I rested them on a bench while Al toured the historical displays. Back on the ship shortly after Noon, we headed south to Victoria.

Once we were back in the Pacific Ocean, rough stormy weather accompanied us from Ketchikan to Victoria.  Having left Ketchikan at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, we were scheduled to arrive in Victoria at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Late Friday afternoon the captain announced that we were two hours behind schedule due to weather conditions and would probably arrive in Victoria around 9:00 p.m. Since we would be departing Victoria at Midnight, there was little time for sightseeing. All tours were canceled. We had not scheduled any because we have both been to Victoria before.

I took a look at the pier and decided not to go ashore. Al went ashore briefly to walk around a bit, then returned to the ship. We left Victoria just before Midnight and arrived in Seattle at 7:00 a.m. Disembarkation was much more expeditious than boarding had been. Those of us who carried our own luggage were allowed to leave ahead of the others.

We pack very lightly for cruises and avoid the dining rooms where casual attire is discouraged. That way we can handle our own bags. I have learned that it’s just as easy to overeat at the buffet, if not easier. I have also learned not to stuff myself continuously and actually lost a couple of pounds. The many varieties of fish and shellfish were well prepared and I enjoyed them thoroughly.

During the cruise we took advantage of many of the entertainment options, including lectures, films, videos, and extravagant live shows. Al saw a show with a juggler and one with a magician. I skipped those and opted for movies. We both heard several lectures by Michael Modzelewski, who is very knowledgeable about Alaska and other parts of the world. He lived on a wilderness island in Alaska in the early 1970’s and talked about his experiences there. There was also a talk by Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the Iditarod Race.

For many years I have looked forward to seeing some of Alaska and that wish was fulfilled. In spite of a cut lip, skinned knee and broken tooth, I had a really good time.