JosieRhodes

Awesome pictures! Way better than mine. I impressed, you started your review days after I started mine and you got to Anan before I did!

 

I think your guide is really a guard. As your group and others arrived with armed escorts, my DH asked me why I booked the one without a guard. I think had you encountered a bear on the trail you would have been extra glad to have him. The couple on our plane, this was their trip 3rd trip to Anan, never with a guide and said they had run into bears on the trail on a past trip.

 

After we got home DD admitted that she had kinda wished we would run into a bear on the path. She said it would have been really scary, but really cool too!

 

 

Laura

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He did have a pistol and bear spray, but also talked a lot about bear behavior at Anan and in general, how having to use those things would be a very rare and last resort. But, at the same time, I was kinda glad Island Wings offered it with guide. I will say since, believe name was Tim, had lived in Ketchikan since he was three, and his dad had been a logger, he really kept us entertained with stories, and we learned stuff too. All the bears just seemed so focused on the fish, and making sure other bears didn't take their fish :)

Funny thing, this was his first time actually being a guide at Anan for Michelle, and as we were his first group, got a group photo taken to give to Michelle :D

Ps. You are writing great details on everything, whereas I am mostly posting pics with some observations. I think it is very interesting to read your review after being on the same roll call together for over a year prior to the trip! You did some of the things I would have done if my kids were younger and gave me some ideas for nest time - wishful thinking on my part for now.

Pps. Plus writing this review keeps me from annoying my co-workers with too much gushing about the trip. :-) :-) :-)

and back to the ship...

close to platform

in photo blind

Entering Ketchikan

Plane ride to Anan

Trail to Anan platform

Photo blind from outside

Ketchikan

So, Day Six and in Ketchikan... I was very happy that going to Anan after planning for it for so so long, yet already a bit nostalgic as last port day of the cruise... However, I comforted myself by thinking that still had one more whole day at sea... Think Ketchikan was my favorite port of the trip...

A litte intro video as no idea when I will have time to splice all my video together, fix all the shaking, etc.

[YOUTUBE]GWTWRFxNfL0[/YOUTUBE]

My son and I went to Anan with Island Wings while my husband did some salmon fishing – and this was via Royal Caribbean too. Originally four of us were going to Anan, but when my parents had to cancel the cruise, my husband dropped out to keep an eye on my daughter as didn't want her all alone on the ship. And, because we gave up two permits/slots to Anan, a couple from Australia lucked out and got to come on the tour with us. On the float plane, there was us six tourists:) plus Tim our guide, and Michelle, the pilot/owner, at Island Wings.

While I don't think you really need a guide (now that I have been there) for getting to the platform as the trail is extremely obvious, Tim gave a great mini tour of Kechikan and was very informative and entertaining in general. He had a great, upbeat attitude and shared so much info with us that was really glad we went with Island Wings. Also, once on the platform, Tim was always on the lookout for new bears. This was helpful as you had to walk around to see all parts of the platform, and he always let us know when a new bear had arrived on other side, etc. I learned later that we had approximately thirty or so sightings of 11 different bears while we were there. I was able to check off seeing bear in tree, seeing cubs/young bears, seeing bear catching fish, and seeing a young brown bear.

Michelle was so incredible nice to my 13 year old son and let him sit in the co-pilot sea on way back. He had sat in middle of middle row on way to Anan. He was really thrilled by this. Michelle also shared a lot of interesting info with us.

While I have flown a lot, including helicopters and small planes, I am not overly keen on flying, so I have to be really motivated to fly - Anan was my motivation, plus being in a float plane for the first time. Michelle was very calm which is how I like my pilots:).

Thank you for the great review and fabulous pictures. We only have a little over a month to wait until our southbound Radiance cruise.

Thanks. You are going to have an amazing trip. :):):)

Last F.I.S.H.E.S pic

From Icy Strait Pier

Leaving Icy Strait

On Radiance

F.IS.H.E.S pics

Does anyone know if the family promenade room on FOS has enough room to complete an exercise video? I am in the middle of a challenge and would like to try to keep up with my program but I am not sure if there will be room.

 

Thanks.

 

 

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my guess would be yes, pic of family PR room on FOS that we stayed in - the TV was over the table on right in this pic, and you can see the floor space, even with sofa bed made up

Icy Strait Point

In Icy Strait, my husband and son did the ziprider excursion via Royal Caribbean, and then the whole family went out with F.I.S.H.E.S. Another couple was also with us on this excursion. This was our one truly rainy day. Besides whales, we saw two different bears and lots of sea lions. We saw one or two breaches from a distance, but no bubble net feeding. I always love hearing whales “breathe.” I’ve been out to see whales on four trips to Maui, but the whales don't eat at all while near Hawaii. So, I am still waiting to see bubble net feeding in person... hopefully some day in the future. With the rain, when the “Silver Spoon” boat was moving fast, it was a bit tight for the six of us inside, and one person had to stand (not really a problem though as normally someone always wanted to stretch their legs anyhow). While the boat went slow or was stopped, some of us went outside, which freed up inside space. Captain Floyd had a funny sense of humor and a ton of interesting stories, including how he met his wife:), and due to his friend letting him know, we got a chance to see a young brown bear on the shore which was pretty cool. The bear was so small and right next to a rock that I don’t think we would have noticed without his friend alerting us.

hmm, realized I somehow removed "net" should be "bubble net" feeding

Thanks for the report!

thanks for reading:)

Icy Strait Point

In Icy Strait, my husband and son did the ziprider excursion via Royal Caribbean, and then the whole family went out with F.I.S.H.E.S. Another couple was also with us on this excursion. This was our one truly rainy day. Besides whales, we saw two different bears and lots of sea lions. We saw one or two breaches from a distance, but no bubble feeding. I always love hearing whales “breathe.” I’ve been out to see whales on four trips to Maui, but the whales don't eat at all while near Hawaii. So, I am still waiting to see bubble feeding in person... hopefully some day in the future. With the rain, when the “Silver Spoon” boat was moving fast, it was a bit tight for the six of us inside, and one person had to stand (not really a problem though as normally someone always wanted to stretch their legs anyhow). While the boat went slow or was stopped, some of us went outside, which freed up inside space. Captain Floyd had a funny sense of humor and a ton of interesting stories, including how he met his wife:), and due to his friend letting him know, we got a chance to see a young brown bear on the shore which was pretty cool. The bear was so small and right next to a rock that I don’t think we would have noticed without his friend alerting us.

on the Silver Spoon with Captain Floyd

[YOUTUBE]xlrdC8LdIfE[/YOUTUBE]

Waiting for the ziprider

Son thought fog and rain really added to the fun

Saw had duplicate pic in Juneau section, was suppose to be this one of trail after get off tram

fyi, the orange suit has deep pockets to keep a small camera dry.

oops, meant to post with Juneau

Since we had the rental car, we did make a quick stop at the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery as salmon were in the ladder. It was an interesting 15 minute stop to read free signs/info outside the building and watch the salmon for a little bit. Just amazed at what drives these fish to do what they do...

Cabin 9076 - what the cabin looked like at night

Thought would post as the bed config pics are hard to find, and cabin is mostly tidy in this pic. This was a D1 cabin with a somewhat "slice of pie" shaped balcony which was a little larger than normal. It could have fit one lounger, but it had the standard table and two chairs. Balcony was private enough, and wind was never an issue. And, yep, we did manage four people in this cabin, though the foot of the sofa bed was a bit like the Whittier tunnel: one way only and required coordination, communication, and cooperation.

stylish :)

eagle nest

the required emerald lake shot:o

in Carcross

How late were you up that you saw the moon?

 

 

Laura

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can't remember :o, will have to check later to see if camera had a time stamp, etc

why there is a cross:

Visiting Skagway next and the Yukon

coming in to Skagway - from our balcony - cabin 9076

In Skagway, we rented another Avis car and headed to the Yukon. Fyi, it was a bit buggy and worth wearing long sleeves or using bug spray. When we returned, we went on one of the three excursions had booked via Royal Caribbean. We did the 5:30pm Ocean Raft Adventure that goes thru Lynn Canal. This was extremely well run, informative, and fun. We got up close to numerous waterfalls and saw plenty of seals and eagles. The exposure suits they gave us to wear were very comfortable and kept us warm. The goggles supplied helped with the wind. Highly recommend using them. The boat driver was very skillful. We have a small speed boat so I can appreciate anyone who handles a boat well.

---------------

So, we did use Murray's guide, and one person drove while the other recited from the guide. It always had the answers to our questions as we saw stuff as we drove by. The kids' job was to get a bit ancy in the backseat.

We did go past where a recent mud slide had occurred. I had never given it a second thought prior to the trip that we could potentially be delayed getting back to the ship due to a mud slide.

I loved Carcross the town, but Caribou Crossing was just not my type of place. We ate at the Sourdough Bakery in Carcross, and we got our passports stamped at information building. I also loved roaming around the Carcross Desert, but had a mild anxiety attack when daughter climbed the hill on other side of road from Emerald Lake - didn't let my anxiety hold her back at her age, just held my breath as she made her way down - she called it a little slippery on the way down. I was too chicken to try it myself - went halfway up and stopped.

The only thing I regretted was the opportunity cost of not being able to hike around Skagway - itching to do that some day.

And, Caribou Crossing will always make me laugh because we did stop and take a very brief look. Husband is like get your camera out, there are some beautiful dall sheep on the hillside with full horns, they can't be part of this petting zoo, etc. Back story is that we did think that some of the Anchorage dall sheep were kinda scruffy/very thin, and we were worrying/wondering about their health. Anyhow, just as I go for pulling my camera out of the case... his balloon is popped as he realized that they are not moving... and plastic. We will never let him forget this, and it does still make me laugh out loud.

growing the beard - Alaskan style

so any questions on anything, let me know as happy to try to answer and love remembering the trip

Leaving Juneau

just a few more of shrine, very peaceful place

trails above tram - the higher up you go, the better the view

actually saw the moon in a darker sky again

Favorite main dining room desserts on the Radiance

Chocolate Sensation

Something like dessert sampler

So on day six (Ketchikan), they had special dining event in Windjammer at 10:45pm called Sweet Temptations. There was a bottleneck to get in which caused one of the longer lines of the trip. Might want to go a bit early if this is high on your list of things to do and want to try to avoid waiting in long line...

So just some of the stuff offered:

Just loved this salmon treat

This was hard work! (Izumi). - we laughed a lot as my son and I were so bad at cooking on these rocks :-)

Loved Chinooks in Seward

Rockfish

Drinks at Chinooks

Random fish dish on Radiance

On Radiance, think called Garlic shrimp or something like that

So, we did use the Northern Lights coupon book, probably would have used it more if didn't have RV for meals. Didn't want to carry home so I left it in the Radiance library right outside our cabin when left ship

Loved this monster to go travel power strip as fit chargers easily without blocking other outlets - does have blue light when on

All bundled up with travel monopod that found useful, but forgot to bring everywhere else on trip :-(

I love it and am so appreciative when people post pics of menus, especially as realize how hard it is to remember/take time out to do it. I only remembered to do twice - this was breakfast menu on train:

The scramble:

Glacier margarita from Blackstone Bay cruise (Major Marine). Yummy