My sister and I were very sad to leave the ship. We met some great people, ate some fab food, saw amazing scenery, drank a few cocktails, sang our hearts out – and danced – in the piano bar and saw lots of wildlife.
This last day was spent relaxing in deck as we sailed back to Vancouver via the Inside Passage and the Strait of Georgia. The scenery was superb and I had an interview session with the Captain, Werner Timmers (a Dutchman who now lives in Florida, who has cruised Alaskan waters with HAL for 26 years).
Sailing into Ketchikan is a great sight. It’s a fair dinkum town, with wonderful timber houses lining the banks. Sure it’s touristy, with a whole row of cute brightly painted timber houses along the touristy Creek Street, but it’s fun.
Wow! What a day. I think this was my favourite. We cruised through Icy Strait and into Glacier Bay at around 7am for a full day of scenic cruising. Once again the captain opened forward Deck 4 for low-level outdoor viewing and within no time, the onboard ranger announced that two brown bears could be seen on the bank.
Skagway is one of those towns that would have been far more interesting 100 years ago if you like life rough and ready. It was known as the gateway to the Yukon and a town that sprang up after the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897.
About 7.30am, when our room service breakfast arrived, I stepped out onto my balcony and gasped with delight as a mini iceberg floated by. And then another, and another. We were in Alaska and cruising towards the entrance to Tracy Arm Fjord.
Everyone now and then the captain would yell “whale off the bow”, or “whale port side at 11 o’clock”. I saw the tail end of few whales, and my sister saw them while working on the treadmill at the gym.
It was a glorious late summer’s day as we cruise out of Vancouver. This harbour city is a gem, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and edged by modern glass and steel buildings and apartment blocks.
Cruises Australia