Planes, Train, Cars, Boats/Cruise ship, and a RV – June 26th - July 12th 2014

[mollanjake]

I had to use the outhouse too, no way I could have made it thru the bumpy ride in the monster van.

 

 

Laura

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[JosieRhodes]

8am 6 hours Kenai Fjords Tour

 

It was very convenient to walk right over from the Holiday Inn Express to the Kenai Fjords building for the 8am tour. We had lots of sunshine and extremely calm seas. As mentioned, wee also got a treat and saw a bear swimming in the water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kayak Adventures Worldwide - 6-10pm kayaking tour

 

My husband and son did a four hour kayak trip from 6-10pm on same day that we did the Kenai Fjords Tour in the morning. They had nothing but good things to say about this adventure. My son now wants a kayak for this birthday. Additionally, KAW was great to work with when I had to withdrawal myself from this excursion due to my parents having to cancel the cruise. My daughter was going to hang with them while we kayaking so had to rearrange plans a bit throughout the trip. The KAW guide was also nice to take these pics, along with a fellow roll call member who also sent me some pics via FB.

 

 

 

[JosieRhodes]

8am 6 hours Kenai Fjords Tour - a couple more pics

 

 

 

 

On July 4th, as mentioned above, we boarded the Radiance. It was hot!

 

 

 

W used the free yellow school bus shuttle to get around Seward, since we did not have a car. We took that over to SeaLife Center after lunch. The Puffin Encounter was fun. The puffins were picky eaters.

 

 

[JosieRhodes]

Leaving Seward on the Radiance

 

 

Either leaving Seward or next day on way to Hubbard Glacier - not sure

 

 

 

Short summaries of shore excursions while on Radiance of the Seas Cruise

 

Viewing Hubbard Glacier

 

 

 

 

[JosieRhodes]

Juneau

 

We rented a car from Avis so we could explore where we wanted to hike, etc. We went to Mendenhall Glacier and did the Nugget Falls trail, and then I was on a mission to find the Shrine of St. Therese. I was afraid we had missed it, but realized we had not gone far enough on the Glacier Highway. We eventually did find it, and as a bonus we got to see lots of salmon jumping from the shore there. We had a big debate about where to hike, but then we decided to use our Northern Lights Coupon and go up the tram because it was such a beautiful, clear day, and we really liked hiking “up” once we got off the tram. I wish we had gone on it a little earlier so we could have hiked all the way up to the snow like others did. I admit we were a little sluggish, and got a late start off the ship, and we had rush a bit to get back to the ship for all on-board by 8:30pm.

 

 

 

 

 

Shrine of St. Therese

 

 

 

[JosieRhodes]

This is an excellent report with terrific photos.

 

Wonderful.

 

Keith

 

Thanks, wish I had more time for it, but real life after vacation intervenes:) so at least trying to mention stuff and answer any questions.

 

Karen

[JosieRhodes]

More Shrine of St. Therese

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking the tram

 

 

 

 

 

 

[laughing husky]

Great review....wonderful to see Alaska though fresh eyes and excitement...hope you come back. You made a lot of very good choices.....and Vern's place is a favorite place of mine...He is a great guy, and Cindy is super too...now you need to follow her during this years I'rod....

[JosieRhodes]

Great review....wonderful to see Alaska though fresh eyes and excitement...hope you come back. You made a lot of very good choices.....and Vern's place is a favorite place of mine...He is a great guy, and Cindy is super too...now you need to follow her during this years I'rod....

 

 

Thanks. Thru work and for fun, I've had opportunities to travel the world, and while I love to travel, guess didn't realize that my excitement level wasn't quite where it once was for trips. So I really enjoyed how VERY excited I got and how excited I still am, and would love to return. I have ideas already percolating in my brain.

 

Everyone at the kennel went above and beyond to give us a great tour just for our family. It was by chance that got to meet Cindy, but her story of mental toughness has really stuck with me, made a lasting impression on me.

 

 

 

Also Micky the border collie pet really made an impression with us. If I recall correctly, somehow he ended up being the dad of the little scientists.

 

 

Puppy following my son around

 

 

Giving the dogs a rest break

[JosieRhodes]

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

 

 

[JosieRhodes]

Loved Chinooks in Seward

 

 

 

Rockfish

 

 

Drinks at Chinooks

 

 

Random fish dish on Radiance

 

 

On Radiance, think called Garlic shrimp or something like that

 

[JosieRhodes]

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 :-)

 

Edited July 23, 2014 by JosieRhodes

[JosieRhodes]

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

[mollanjake]

How late were you up that you saw the moon?

 

 

Laura

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[JosieRhodes]

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

 

 

 

 

Edited July 23, 2014 by JosieRhodes

[JosieRhodes]

How late were you up that you saw the moon?

 

 

Laura

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

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

[JosieRhodes]

 

the required emerald lake shot:o

 

 

 

 

in Carcross

[JosieRhodes]

 

 

 

 

stylish :)

 

eagle nest

 

[JosieRhodes]

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.

 

[JosieRhodes]

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

 

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the report!

[JosieRhodes]

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

 

[JosieRhodes]

Thanks for the report!

 

thanks for reading:)

[JosieRhodes]

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

 

[JosieRhodes]

F.IS.H.E.S pics