Royal Princess May 28, 2022 Alaska Northbound live report

[TrixiePixie]

On 5/30/2022 at 6:45 PM, dhanakorn said:

Today we have an amazing day in Ketchikan. It’s sunny 70degree. Great warm weather. You can still see snowcap on top of the mountain. One lady by the pool told me that it’ll be even warmer when we get to Juneau and Skagway. And hopefully we’ll get bright sunny day on the Glacier day. 

Hi sounds like you enjoying the cruise. We will be on the Royal June 25 and have a question. Do they still bring the sled dogs puppies on board in Skagway. We will be on an excursion but wanted to try and return to ship to see them. Thanks. Also how many children are on board. We have an 11 year old traveling with us. Any info would be appreciated 

[sunviking90]

Thank you for taking the time to do this report. We enjoyed your reports from the Majestic in January before we boarded and really enjoying this one too. Glad you saw the best side of Vancouver.

[Buckeye10640]

1 hour ago, TrixiePixie said:

Hi sounds like you enjoying the cruise. We will be on the Royal June 25 and have a question. Do they still bring the sled dogs puppies on board in Skagway. We will be on an excursion but wanted to try and return to ship to see them. Thanks. Also how many children are on board. We have an 11 year old traveling with us. Any info would be appreciated 

They did bring the puppies on when we were in Skagaway last month. It was late afternoon on Lido deck and there were long (very long) lines 

[dhanakorn]

Internet speed test this morning -- somewhere in the middle of the ocean on the way the College Fjord. If you need to work while on the the ship, I tried a conf call with MS Teams today -- sound and video were clear on both sides. I feel that the internet connection on my laptop is faster than on my iPhone -- this's similar experience I had on Majestic earlier this year. 

 

[dhanakorn]

2 hours ago, TrixiePixie said:

Hi sounds like you enjoying the cruise. We will be on the Royal June 25 and have a question. Do they still bring the sled dogs puppies on board in Skagway. We will be on an excursion but wanted to try and return to ship to see them. Thanks. Also how many children are on board. We have an 11 year old traveling with us. Any info would be appreciated 

There’re quite a few number of children on this cruise. Kid club on deck 17 is open. 
 

As part of Princess tradition, we had 2 puppies on board in Skagway. They’re incredibly cute, very energetic, and friendly. Line to play with the puppies was very long. If you go up there by the scheduled time, you wouldn’t make it. I think maybe 10-15 lucky ones get to play with the puppies. 

Edited June 3, 2022 by dhanakorn

[Yehootu]

Also on this cruise and today had presentation for the 300 or so continuing back to Vancouver.

No mid testing!

Both the Crown and Sabatinis open.

Glad I brought sunscreen, weather has been unbelievable.

Youtube and Netflix seem to work Ok. Skagway alittle weak.

Have been able to talk to Grandkids using wifi calling.

Ranger announcements worked good in room on ship camera channel

Medallion net is a bundle of joy. Will be great once bugs worked out. We find we just log out and then back on to get it to work.

Nice having door unlock while approaching

Sometimes things work, so times they don't. Oh well

Masks are hit or miss. Have heard only 1 cough this whole time.

We didn't get the Princess email, so my TA will hear about our wait in terminal. 

Pan Pacific hotel is the way to go, if it's in budget.

Have to arrange own Covid testing for flights home, if needed.

No signing off the ship in Victoria even though you are Canadian resident. Must go to Vancouver

Time for a beer.

 

Edited June 3, 2022 by Yehootu

[dhanakorn]

Day 3 Ketchikan (1)

With 3 long days at the port and amazing day at Glacier Bay, I didn’t have time to post the review. Here’s the next installment on Ketchikan. 
 

I got up around 6am and look like we now entered the inside passage. 

 

Around 7am the ship started slowing down as we approached Ketchikan. 

 

We docked on time at 8am. This’s dock 4, not right in front of the town but within walking distance. 

 

There’s a bus stop right outside the dock where the two white busses are. 

 

Free bus running around the town if you don’t want to walk. 

 

Day 3 Patter

 

[dhanakorn]

Day 3 Ketchikan (2)
 

I didn’t book and excursion tour today. I use Tom’s Port Guide as a guide. It’s already a few years old but still very useful. 

https://www.tomsportguides.com/

 

There’re 3 routes for public bus in Ketchikan — free bus, green line, and silver line. Schedule is infrequent, about once per hour. 

 

If you want to take the silver line to Saxman or Totem Bight, then you need to walk a little up to another bus station, not the one for free bus near the ship on deck 4. I didn’t know that so I missed the early morning bus, need to wait for another hour for the next bus. 
 

Rather than waiting, I took the free bus to town to explore Creek Street first. The free bus dropped us off near the fire station - this’s also the bus stop for silver line.
 

Totem pole near Creek Street. 

 

The famous Creek Street. 

 

 

Salmon sculpture 

 

Usually the tour will start from the other end near the red bridge since it’s more beautiful on that side. 

Dolly’s house. I didn’t stop by since it looks very cheesy, kind of tourist trap. 

 

 

 

[chrliesangel]

7 hours ago, TrixiePixie said:

Hi sounds like you enjoying the cruise. We will be on the Royal June 25 and have a question. Do they still bring the sled dogs puppies on board in Skagway. We will be on an excursion but wanted to try and return to ship to see them. Thanks. Also how many children are on board. We have an 11 year old traveling with us. Any info would be appreciated 

We will be on the June 25 cruise as well and bringing our 10 year old daughter. This is our first Alaska cruise. 

[dhanakorn]

Day 3 Ketchikan (3)
 

Creek Street on the other end

 

 

 

Another Totem in the town center 

[dhanakorn]

Day 3 Ketchikan (4)
 

Creek Street is rather small but it’s the most photogenic part of Ketchikan. An hour went by fast, then I walked back to the bus stop near fire station.

 

I took the silver line southbound to Saxman Village. The fare is $2 one way, cash only, no change. It’s a quick 15-min ride and the bus dropped us off on the highway in front of the village. 

 

You need to pay $5 entrance fee at the booth. 

 

There’re a few Totem poles in the park 

 

If you booked a ship tour, you’ll native Indian dance inside this building. 

 

 

The village wood shop

 

There’s not much to see around the village. Overall I don’t think it’s worth the visit.
 

 

 

 

 

[dhanakorn]

Day 3 Ketchikan (5)
 

I only stayed in Saxman Village around 15-20 minutes. Then take the silver line northbound to Totem Bight State Park. 

 

It’s about 45-min ride from Saxman to Totem Bight. Beautiful scenery along the way. Even if you don’t want to visit the park, taking the bus ride to see the area is worth your time. 
 

Entrance to hiking trail at Totem Bight state park. There’s $5 entrance fee. 

 

 

 

After a short hike in the forest, you’ll reach the Clan house. This state park used to belong to a native tribe. 

 

Inside the Clan house 

 

[dhanakorn]

Day 3 Ketchikan (6)

Beautiful beach at the end of the park. 

 

 

 

There’re a few totem poles in the park

 

 

 

Totem Bight state park is highly recommended. It’s a very beautiful park with combination of different things to see from hiking in the forest, native clan house, totem poles, and beautiful beach, all in one place. It’s a little bit further away from cruise dock but totally worth the visit.

 

 

[dhanakorn]

Day 3 Ketchikan (7)

Then I took the bus back to the town. Silver line bus runs once per hour so you need to plan the schedule accordingly. 
 

Ketchikan the Alaska’s first city since it’s the first town the cruise ships stop/pass after enter Alaska. 

 

 

We had many ships in port today. Carnival ship is the first to arrive and first to leave. 

 

This’s dock 2 right in front of the town. Royal Princess was at dock 4, a little further away. 

 

 

The famous bald eagle sculpture 

 

 

 

[dhanakorn]

Day 3 Ketchikan (8)

Royal Princess at dock 4. The whole ship dock area is walkable with lot of shops. 

 

Ketchikan is known as one of the rainiest city but we had a very nice sunny day today. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Didn’t I say we had such a beautiful day in Ketchikan 

[sunsetme]

great reporting!

[cruzin4us]

My goodness Alaska is beautiful when the sun is shining.    We are expecting 10 days of rain next week.  I'm glad I got to see your pictures!

 

[dhanakorn]

Day 3 Ketchikan (9)
 

Tonight I had dinner at Sabatini’s 

 

The bread were a little hard and cold

 

Burrata cheese was good. 

 

Seafood linguini was ok. Look like it’s been cooked a long time ago. 

 

I ordered seafood parcel as the main dish. It’s served in a nice package. 

 

Inside is steamed seafood in fish stock. It tasted a little bland. 

[dhanakorn]

Day 3 Ketchikan (10)
 

Dessert menu 

Special tiramisu. Although I think traditional tiramisu served at Alfredo’s is better. 

 

Server recommended chocolate special. Ice cream inside the chocolate ball already was melt when I cracked it open. 

 

Tiramisu martini was probably the best part of this meal. Overall I’m was impressed with Sabatini’s. Food was not really special, on par with MDR. I prefer La Cucina on NCL over this one. 

 

Tonight show is the singing concert by Kory Simon. He’s amazing. very entertaining show. His stage show is much much better than his regular performance at Crooners. 

 

 

This’s Kevin, our cruise director. He’s pretty good. He’s leaving with us on Saturday and will join Coral Princess in the coming week. 

 

Sunset view from my balcony around 8:30pm. 

 

 

 

 

[dhanakorn]

This’s around 5:30pm - we’re about to enter College Fjord. 

[TrixiePixie]

8 hours ago, Buckeye10640 said:

They did bring the puppies on when we were in Skagaway last month. It was late afternoon on Lido deck and there were long (very long) lines 

Thanks for info

[TrixiePixie]

7 hours ago, dhanakorn said:

There’re quite a few number of children on this cruise. Kid club on deck 17 is open. 
 

As part of Princess tradition, we had 2 puppies on board in Skagway. They’re incredibly cute, very energetic, and friendly. Line to play with the puppies was very long. If you go up there by the scheduled time, you wouldn’t make it. I think maybe 10-15 lucky ones get to play with the puppies. 

Thanks for info and pic

[deltaqueenie]

Oh my Gosh! Your photos are amazing! Surely, you must be a professional photographer? We are sailing July 24 R/T Seattle on the Discovery- our first time to Alaska. After seeing your posts, I can’t wait. Thank you so much for sharing.

[dhanakorn]

Another great day in College Fjord. While we don’t visit Hubbard Glacier on the northbound cruise, the glaciers in College Fjord look no less amazing. 

 

Harvard Glacier. Glaciers in College Fjord are named after colleges. 

 

 

 

 

 

[dhanakorn]

This’s the last night on board. This incredible cruise finally comes to the end. I’ll continue to update the remaining cruise review after I get off the ship. 
 

We’re approaching Whittier around 11:30pm. It still looks bright outside. 

We docked the the port around Midnight. 

Nice reflection on the water. Look at how calm the water is.