HaveDogWillTravel

@LauraSthank you for recognizing my thread. It is much appreciated.

Here are balcony photos. Every one above can see your deck so take that into account. I’ve met very nice folks!

You’re welcome. I’m always on the prowl for cabins (uncut diamonds) that are in a lower price category but have unique or extra features. I’m still on the fence about an entirely uncovered balcony so please consider your itinerary when choosing this cabin. For glacier bay today it was outstanding because we had beautiful (but cold) weather. In Hubbard glacier it was snowing and sleeting so while we used it for the views we got quite wet and cold (& happy as it was snowing and we are from an area with no snow ever). The 6 ft wide doors provide panoramic views even when you stay inside though! I’ve got this cabin booked for 32 days to the South Pacific in 2025 and am still deciding if the balcony is going to work for me on that itinerary. The cabin, hands down, awesome, awesome, awesome. There is a ramp both sides of the sliding door. I had the inner one removed (as it wasn’t nailed down lol) but your DH may find that feature helpful.

I flipped the couch so I can see out the doors more easily. I like it better even though it does create another choke point.

Good morning glacier bay! Absolutely stunning day ! That helicopter excursion looks awesome! In Skagway we did the bus up to Yukon and the white pass train back down. Our tour bus picked up at the ship and met us at the train when got back down and drove us back to the ship. Canada checked our passports when we got up there and when we got back to town US checked them again. Non US citizens were told to have their vaccine cards out too. When we went through the longest of the 2 tunnels the train passes thru we saw incredible frozen waterfalls. Huge ones! So many of them as well. It was truly magical. I am sad to say I didn’t get any pictures except for the memories in my head. I’ve never seen those before. This is about 8-9 days earlier than when I normally come and I’m amazed at the difference a week or 2 makes.

After the park we stopped at Juneau drug store (great! Store!) for sunblock. I can’t believe I made the rookery mistake of not bringing sunblock. Percys Liquors is just next door. They have a really nice selection of white wine (and presumably reds but I didn’t look at them specifically) at very reasonable prices. The proprietor is such lovely human being. We really enjoyed shopping there. Next was amalga distillery. I’ve been coming since they first opened in 2017. I fell in love with their gin. I was so happy in July 2021 on that first sailing back after the restart to find they had survived. It’s a great space with really great cocktails and zero proof cocktails. They will give tastings of their gin. There is a two drink limit at tasting rooms such as Amalga and Devils Club Brewing mandated by law. So piled up with 4 bottles of wine and a fifth of gin we texted James for a ride back to the ship. For the seventh time since 2017 there was no issue bringing it all on board and back to my cabin. I’ve done this on the Sapphire, Grand, Ruby and Island.

More pictures of Cope park from May 2019.

Cope park is less than a mile outside of town and one of my favorite places to go to in Juneau. If you take 4th st to Calhoun the elevation change (400 ft) is pretty easy. I call it the the wheelchair ramp way. Here’s a couple pictures from yesterday but I’ll try and add some from a few years ago. I didn’t take too many yesterday. Calhoun is under construction but we were able to get through and around it. At the back of the park by the dog park are stairs that take you back to the street. Not the wheel chair ramp way. IMG_3018.mov

After the glacier we went back to the ship to off load some stuff we didn’t need for the afternoon. When we came back out we met James Alaska Pedi Cab Juneau. He’s a retired coast guard captain (51 & crazy fit). We paid $20 for a ride from the ship to Deckhand Dave’s. Well worth it! James loves Juneau and was a wealth of information. And a real sweetheart of a man. We took his number so we could text him for a ride back later that afternoon. On our return trip he stopped to ask an elderly lady if she changed her mind about taking him up on his offer of a free ride. There were quite a few brand new totems along the waterfront. James said the plan was to put another 30 up. There weren’t here last May and I really liked them! There’s a picture of Patty Ann the town greeter. Text him for a ride and save your feet for hiking Cope park and the glacier.

The champagne and oysters food truck that the OP refers to is right next to Deckhand Dave’s, a Juneau must do. The halibut and chips were (yet again) spectacular. The champagne bar had a lovely selection of bubbly and white wine by the glass. I got a great white Pinot noir for $17 including tax. There were several to choose from that were less. There’s also another bar with beer and yet more wine. Great outdoor space, great friendly staff, quick service. We only had one other ship in port and I went around 1. I usually have to wait in line but yesterday there wasn’t one.

Here’s some pictures from the base of the waterfall and glacier and of the trail down to it. Nugget falls is about .75 of a mile on a paved path. It’s an easy walk with not too much of an elevation change. It’s also a very pretty walk. Once you get to the memorial plaque for Romeo you’re just about there.

Whether you are a birder or not I highly recommend the Birds of Hoonah excursion thru princess with Icy Strait Birding Tours owned and operated by Amy. She was born and raised here so we felt very comfortable with her driving skills on all the fire roads we took over tribal and federal land thru old growth forests. When we took a short hike to a viewing area she strapped on a 50 caliber hand gun in case we had an unpleasant bear experience. But even though the bears on this island are very large and it’s a very large population she said their demeanor is mild as they have lots of food and space. Amy is articulate & extremely knowledgeable about birds, all the wildlife in the area, the plants, the geology of the region….my goodness her expanse of information was truly outstanding. She can make the bird calls! And did so many times to get birds to respond! Most birds were easily viewable with my 10 by 42 Nikon Monarchs but for those too far she set up a powerful scope. She does lend out binoculars if need them. She was a master at quickly directing us exactly where to look to see a bird. She has a very quick eye and no bird escapes her! Amy also gives you a field guide she made which is excellent. Plus we learned a lot about what it was like to grow up here, the education system, the community, raising a family here (she has 3 children). She grew up and lives on the outskirts of town in a remote but gorgeous area. if you go whale watching you may or may not see whales…..same for bears. But birds? Hundreds upon hundreds! Guaranteed. There’s pictures of the list of birds we saw on our tour below. I will be posting a huge positive review on trip advisor for her company and with princess. IMG_2916.mov

Todays weather forecast so far. Looks like it’s warming up.

Good morning Juneau!

My favorite last night was that meatball and spaghetti. It really was delicious.

Their act is together. This cruise has been amazing. I haven’t had any problems at all that didn’t get quickly rectified. I’m sorry if there’s even one person who has felt overwhelmed or overly inconvenienced but that in no way reflects what the vast majority of passengers are experiencing. No cruise line does Alaska better. I had the MOST spectacular day. From the princess 4 hour Birds of Hoonah excursion to MDR dinner tonight. Just outstanding.

I met them both in the savoy dining room.

And the weather 27 min later

It was around 1 pm. We flew in the day of this sailing so couldn’t arrive at our normal 10 am. Historically the table isn’t set up for those who arrive early even since the restart. But as you know I’ve sailed most months on princess since the restart and I’ve noticed more and more that table is up and manned early. I don’t know if it was on this sailing but it has been on other sailings this year. Specifically Feb 25th out of SF

And here’s the weather 18 minutes later.

Good morning Icy Strait. 😘

I posted his picture on the Live From for this Sapphire Sailing I am on right now. There are 2 on the Sapphire Royal class have 4.

I was sent to the crew manned wine table by security in Vancouver 3 days ago when I boarded Sapphire.

MDR menus from the current sailing on Sapphire to Alaska.

Love that the captain arranged a way for us to be notified in the middle of the night about northern lights should they occur. And it won’t disturb those who don’t want to be. Thank you Captain Ravera! IMG_2838.mov