Glacier Bay cruise (9/5 - 9/12) out of Seattle.

[renaissancewoman101]

I've decided to do a little trip report as my way of giving back to this community that has given me so much advice about cruises and excursions, which was a godsend for a first time cruiser like myself.

 

This was my first cruise as well as my first time to Alaska. I had chosen to fly into Seattle because I had never been there before and Princess Cruises had ships doing round trips from Seattle. I chose Princess because I have heard that their cruises are pretty good, especially those that go to Alaska. Also, they were one of the few cruise lines that cruised into Glacier Bay.

 

I flew up to Seattle on Sept 4th, which was a Friday. I wanted a day to explore Seattle (aka go to Pike Place, see the Space Needle, and go to the Chuhuily exhibit. I had a 9:15 AM flight on Alaska Airlines out of Santa Ana. Flight was delayed about an hour (due to 2 runways being out of service in Seattle). When we arrived in Seattle, we circled the airport for almost an hour because of lack of runway space. Some of the people on the plane (who were sitting close to me), were a bit worried since they were going on a cruise that was leaving that day. I'm glad I listened to people here and got to the port city the day before the cruise.

 

Finally, we landed, and I had pre-reserved a shuttle from Shuttle Express for $14.00 I think. It was a lot cheaper than taking a cab and it was a pretty quick ride from the airport to the Sheraton.

 

The Sheraton is a nice hotel, only a 4 block walk from Pike Market. It was also close to the monorail (that you took to the Space Needle). I have found out that hotel rates in downtown Seattle are kinda expensive.

 

 

The rooms are kinda nice and the beds are soft. I mainly chose the Sheraton to stay at because it was centrally located compared to other hotels.

 

 

In order to get to the Space Needle and the Chuhuily exhibit, one had to take the monorail, which was about a block from the hotel.

 

Edited September 15, 2015 by renaissancewoman101

[renaissancewoman101]

To continue on, it was also a hot day (in the 80's). People had told me that this was an unusual summer for Seattle, since normally it doesn't get that hot in September.

 

Before I went on the monorail to the Space Needle, I went and explored Pike Market. It was very busy there and very crowded. It reminded me of the Farmer's Market in Los Angeles and the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. There was a lot to see and do. I loved the variety of flowers and fruits, and food that was there. It was also nice to see the fishmongers throw the fish.

 

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All the sights, sounds and smells were overwhelming, but I had a good time. Did some shopping, bought chocolate covered cherries at Chukar Cherries, had some Chinese food at this place called Country Dough (they make a type of flatbread with meat in it and it is pretty yummy

 

 

 

Also, got to see the first Starbucks and bought some unique cups there that you can't find at any other Starbucks. Had to wait in line for an hour to do that.

Edited September 15, 2015 by renaissancewoman101

[renaissancewoman101]

After walking around Pike Market for a few hours, I headed back to the hotel to drop off my goodies, and to take the monorail over to the Space Needle (I had bought my ticket online in advance and my ticket time was for 5:30).

 

I didn't spend that much time at the Space Needle. Went up to the observation area and took a few pics. It was pretty crowded with tourists, especially since it was Labor Day weekend.

 

Afterwards, I walked around the Chuhuily museum and admired the glass work. I also had dinner at the cafe.

 

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Edited September 15, 2015 by renaissancewoman101

[renaissancewoman101]

I decided to make it an early night since I had a food tour scheduled the next morning at 9 AM with Savor Seattle. They put on great food tours and it was a nice way for me to see Pike Market early in the morning without the madness of the crowds

 

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[renaissancewoman101]

I will admit, I was a little bit apprehensive about going on a cruise alone, since I wasn't sure how stuff would be and if I would have a good time. I will say that I did enjoy being on the Crown Princess and I probably will do a cruise again, although I am not sure when, since solo cruising is quite costly.

 

After doing the food tour, I went back to the hotel to get my stuff and took a cab to the Pier 91 terminal, where both the Crown Princess and Holland America's Westerdam were ported.

 

It was exciting to see the Crown Princess up close. Going through check in was pretty easy. It took about an hour from the time I got dropped off at the pier, till I was on the ship. We had to take our luggage inside to the terminal and drop it off at a designated area where the porters took it and loaded them onto large carts.

 

We then went upstairs, had to go through metal detectors and have our stuff x-rayed. There were a lot of people in the lines to board the cruise. I had heard that the ship was at capacity. It seemed everybody was excited.

 

I had never been on a cruise before and I was excited to get on the ship and check out the stuff.

 

The large entrance hall where we waited to check in and board the Crown Princess.

 

 

My first look at the Crown Princess after getting off the taxi

 

the Piazza

 

my stateroom. I had an interior stateroom on the Aloha deck.

Edited September 15, 2015 by renaissancewoman101

[renaissancewoman101]

I was a bit lost and overwhelmed when I got on the ship. I did meet my cabin steward, Jerome. As people here have advised me, I asked him to take down my life jacket so I would be able to easily get it when it came time for the muster drill.

 

Since I had eaten a little bit on the food tour, I did not go eat at the buffet. Instead, I walked around the ship, went to the front desk to get a hole punched in my cruise card so I could put it on a lanyard. I also went to sign up for the Ultimate Cruise Tour. The lady at the desk told me that there were already 25 people signed up for the tour so they were going to have to do a lottery to see who would get to go. The tour was scheduled for the last day of the cruise (the day we ported in Victoria).

 

Pretty soon, it was time for muster, so I had to go back and get my life jacket and head to Club Fusion which was my muster station. Had a little bit of a hard time finding it.

 

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Muster went off pretty well. People were behaved and took the drill seriously, which was good. After the drill, there was a mad dash for the elevators to go back to the rooms. It was kinda frustrating because I got pushed around a bit. I am pretty small and crowds tend to overwhelm me.

 

After I got back to the room, and put my life jacket away, I was planning to go up to the deck to watch sailaway. Unfortuanetly, I left my cruise card in my room and had no way of getting back into my cabin. Had to run downstairs to the front desk and get someone to open the door for me. That took about 20 minutes.

 

I didn't really do much that night, except eat at the buffet for dinner. I felt very self-conscious about eating in the dining room, so, for most of the cruise, I ate in the buffet, or off the ship at our cruise stops. I did manage, on the first formal night, to eat at Sabatini's. I had a lobster main dish and the food was wonderful. Although it felt weird to eat alone, when all around me were couples eating, or families.

 

I did watch the show in the Princess theater where they had the Cruise Director come and introduce his staff and then there was a show afterwards. I didn't stay long for the show since I wasn't feeling too well.

 

The cruise director for our cruise was Bob Leininger. He was an ok CD, although I didn't see him around a lot. Mostly the assistant CD Mathias and the other people in his staff, did the game shows, etc.

Edited September 15, 2015 by renaissancewoman101

[renaissancewoman101]

The next day (Sunday) was a sea day, and also the night of the first formal dinner. There was different activities going on around the ship on the first day. I didn't really participate in anything since I was feeling a bit sick from the rocking of the ship. It seemed as we went further up towards Alaska, the ship was rocking more and more. I ended up having to take Bonine so I could feel better.

 

Sunday night was the first formal dinner. It seems most people dressed up in tuxes or really nice suits. There were also photographers around to take pictures.

 

I made a reservation to eat at Sabatani's that night since I had wanted to try it out. The food was one of the best I've eaten. Service was also excellent.

 

the proscuitto appetizer

 

lightly fried calamari with some type of lemon sauce (very yummy)

 

lobster cooked in three ways (I had them take the lobster tail out of the shell)

 

a tiramisu dessert with coffee gelato (very yummy)

Edited September 15, 2015 by renaissancewoman101

[renaissancewoman101]

After the lovely dinner, I did go down to watch them do the champagne waterfall. I even went and participated. It was cool and fun.

 

I did buy the picture, since it was so cool.

 

Edited September 15, 2015 by renaissancewoman101

[renaissancewoman101]

The next day was Labor Day (9/7) and we were scheduled to be in Juneau by around 11:30. It was a cold and drizzly day. The night before, I was informed that the Pilot's Choice helicopter tour that I had signed up for, had been cancelled because not enough people wanted to go on it.

 

Instead, they placed me in another helicopter tour that was cheaper, but still had a glacier landing. They also refunded me the difference in price.

 

It was so cool to go on the helicopter tour. Got to see some cool glaciers and walk on one. Once in a lifetime experience.

 

flying over the cruise ships

 

landing on the ice

 

 

 

glacial river

 

 

the vastness of the icefields

 

 

 

I will say the helicopter tour of the glaciers (and getting to walk around on one of them) was well worth the money. If I go on another cruise, I would probably take a helicopter tour in Skagway to see the wildlife there.

Edited September 15, 2015 by renaissancewoman101

[renaissancewoman101]

Since the heli tour was in the middle of the day, I didn't have enough time to go see Mendenhall Glacier and come back. I also didn't want to go up on the tram up the mountain since it was a cold and cloudy day. I didn't think the views would be that great.

 

Instead I explored Juneau and did a bit of shopping. I found some really cool stuff at Caribou Crossings. They have unique items that are made by local Alaskan artists. I also bought some glacial silt soap at Glacier Smoothies, and some maple nut fudge from a candy store.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 15, 2015 by renaissancewoman101

[renaissancewoman101]

Crown Princess set sail that night around 11 PM. I was exhausted from all the walking I did so I went to bed early. We would have an early day in Skagway the next morning.

 

We got into Skagway around 6 AM in the morning. I only had one tour planned for the day with Chilkoot Charters. I was going to do Yukon Rail and Bus tour (bus first then return trip by train). We were scheduled to meet at 8:30 AM.

 

I am glad that I booked the tour with Chilkoot. They were very organized and I liked being on the smaller buses. Our driver was able to stop at places where the bigger buses could not. I forgot her name, but she was very knowledgeable about all the sights and the history.

 

There was so much to see. It is amazing to see the change in landscape as we got closer to the Yukon.

 

there were 2 other cruise ships in town

 

watching the train go past the waterfall.

 

 

Emerald Lake

 

 

On our bus ride up, we stopped at this place where we got a BBQ chicken lunch (included in the tour price) and were able to play with puppies and take musher rides (extra price). The BBQ chicken was decent. The apple cider doughnuts were yummy. I didn't go on the musher ride, but I did take pics of the puppies. They were really cute.

 

 

Edited September 16, 2015 by renaissancewoman101

[Keith1010]

Enjoying your trip report.

 

Keith

[renaissancewoman101]

Enjoying your trip report.

 

Keith

 

Glad you are enjoying my trip report. It's the first time for me to do one.

 

I'll try to post more later today.

[renaissancewoman101]

On our bus ride up to the Yukon, we stopped alongside the road, where we saw some stone "inuksuks" that tourists had made along the stops. I found them to be really interesting.

 

 

 

Before we got into Carcross (which was in the Canadian side), we had to stop at the border where Canadian border agents boarded the bus and we had to hold our passports out (with the picture page showing), so they could check our passports. It didn't take long and the border agent was friendly.

 

We also got to see the mini "desert" in the Yukon (Carcross desert)

 

Edited September 16, 2015 by renaissancewoman101

[renaissancewoman101]

When we reached Carcross by bus, we had some time to explore the town before we had to board the trains for the ride back.

 

We saw the White Pass Carcross station. We also saw a really neat railroad bridge and some native buildings. At the General Store, we could shop around a bit (the store sold ice cream and various knick knacks) I bought a children's book on Alaskan dogs as well as some candy. They did take US dollars there, but they would give you change in Canadian money. Also, you could get your passports stamped there if you wanted.

 

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the general store where you could get your passport stamped

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the railroad bridge

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[mimmy52]

I'm enjoying your trip report. I know what you mean about being self conscious about eating solo in the main dining room. The last night of the cruise I took, my roommate ate early while I was watching Hubbard Glacier. I decided I was going to eat in the main dining room anyway, and I did feel self conscious about it, even though I asked to share a table and was seated with two very nice couples.

[renaissancewoman101]

One thing I liked about taking Chilkoot Charters was that we were able to get a train compartment for only our busload. It was nice and thus ensured that we weren't crowded.

 

The bus ride was a lot of fun. I remembered to sit on the right side (according to people here on Cruise Critic) and was able to see everything. I also was out on the platform between the cars, where most photo people congregated in order to get great shots of the natural wonders passing by.

 

We were each given a small pamphlet that outlined the history of the WPYRR. Also, in each compartment, there was complimentary bottled water in a basket. I was glad for the bottled water because the BBQ chicken lunch had made me a bit thirsty. At the end of each train compartment there was a restroom, as well as a wood stove (the wood stove was not in use since the weather was quite warm)

 

 

the inside of the train compartment:

 

 

 

some of the mountains that we passed:

 

 

 

 

 

river rapids:

 

 

 

you can see how narrow the track is for the train:

 

 

Edited September 16, 2015 by renaissancewoman101

[renaissancewoman101]

I'm enjoying your trip report. I know what you mean about being self conscious about eating solo in the main dining room. The last night of the cruise I took, my roommate ate early while I was watching Hubbard Glacier. I decided I was going to eat in the main dining room anyway, and I did feel self conscious about it, even though I asked to share a table and was seated with two very nice couples.

 

Thanks for reading my trip report.

 

Going solo on this cruise was harder for me than any of my past trips (non-cruise). I did meet a lot of people on the cruise and enjoyed their company, but I felt that in order to truly "enjoy" the cruise (as in participate in the onboard games, etc), I probably should have come with a partner (whether it be a SO, a friend, relative, etc). Although, a lot of the people I met, were very impressed with the fact that I was cruising alone. People said I was brave.

 

Normally, I do travel alone. I have been around the US by myself (whether it be by car, train, or plane). I also have been to various countries by myself (most of the time flying to a city, staying there in a hotel, and exploring the city by myself). I dunno, it just felt "different" to cruise by oneself.

 

If I do go on a cruise again (which I hope to do), I probably will not do it alone.

Edited September 16, 2015 by renaissancewoman101

[renaissancewoman101]

One of the more interesting sights on the rail trip back, was coming upon the old abandoned rail trestle and bridge.

 

 

 

 

At the US/Canada border, this is what you saw to delineate the borders:

 

[renaissancewoman101]

More views from the train:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Langley Cruisers]

...Also, got to see the first Starbucks and bought some unique cups there that you can't find at any other Starbucks. Had to wait in line for an hour to do that.

 

Yes... I have tried twice now to get in and the line is always way too long. I admire your resolve. :D

[Loving My Life]

Thanks for your review! I'm enjoying reading it. Our next cruise will probably be to Alaska so I'm reading all I can.

[renaissancewoman101]

Thanks for your review! I'm enjoying reading it. Our next cruise will probably be to Alaska so I'm reading all I can.

 

Hope you are able to go to Alaska. It is a wonderful and magical place. The only thing I would advise is to probably not go in Sept.. After reading a lot of trip reviews on here, it seems people had better sightings of animals, glacier calvings, and better weather, if they went in mid summer. On my cruise, I saw mostly birds and one bald eagle that a driver pointed out to us, on our way to our helicopter tour. Weather was rainy and cloudy most of the days. I had hoped to see the Northern Lights (and there was a chance), but the cloud cover didn't allow that.

 

I was very lucky that I got to go on the helicopter tour because after talking to people on our cruise, I realized that quite a few helicopter tours were cancelled on that day. I must say, the helicopter tour and glacier walk, was one of the most magical things I have ever done. It was well worth the $$$, and I got some really cool pics.

 

When I do go on another Alaskan cruise, I will probably try to do it mid-season.

 

I will try to post more of the trip this evening.

Edited September 17, 2015 by renaissancewoman101

[renaissancewoman101]

Some more sights that we saw from our return train trip.

 

 

Canada/US border

 

 

 

some of the small lakes that we passed

 

 

this isn't a clear picture, but on one of the rocks, someone had put a Mickey and Minnie figurine. Kinda funny

 

[renaissancewoman101]

At the end of our train excursion when we got to the Skagway train station, we had to again take out our passports and hold it out to be checked by CBP agents who boarded the train. That was a quick and simple process.

 

By the time we got back to Skagway, it was around 4:15 and our "all aboard" time was at 7:30. Chilkoot Charters picked us up at the train station and we could either take the charter bus back to the pier, or be dropped off in town. Most of the people chose to be dropped off in town.

 

With only a few hours left to check out Skagway, I did a fast walk around town. Skagway isn't that big. I was kinda tired from the excursion so I mostly just took pictures.

 

 

View towards the mountains from the main street

 

 

 

Red Onion Saloon:

 

 

 

 

 

you can see down the main street to where the ships are docked:

 

 

some of the "graffitti" on the rocks right next to the ship (telling of what ship was there when)

 

 

Edited September 18, 2015 by renaissancewoman101