Fire and Ice : A photo travelogue from Alaska thru the canal to the Caribbean and beyond

[scubacruiserx2]

A couple of photos of the ship at sail away . Cruin and Juneau was great and we would give him a 9 .

 

 

 

Removing the ship's ramp

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Dinner was a dressy night so we just enjoyed room service after sail away

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Saturday October 1st was a day in the inside passage and someone's birthday

 

 

 

 

 

It was also packing day as we would be moved by the ship's decision makers up 2 floors to a different room .The same room location but a different level on the next day .

[northernphoenix]

On 11/23/2022 at 11:53 AM, scubacruiserx2 said:

On Wednesday September 28th we stopped at Skagway at 0700 - 2030 and we booked a guide named Thomas from Tours by Locals for a day photography tour to the Yukon .

 We stopped by the Artic Brotherhood and the Red Onion for a photo

 

 

And stopped at a small waterfall

 

 

 

We had the ultimate day trip with Dyea Dave…the exact opposite experience.  Sorry to hear that your day was not up to “Snuff”.

[scubacruiserx2]

49 minutes ago, northernphoenix said:

We had the ultimate day trip with Dyea Dave…the exact opposite experience.  Sorry to hear that your day was not up to “Snuff”.

 

So glad to hear that . Of about 50 independent guides 47 or 48 were very good or excellent . You will know when we like them when we show them in photos but we've only had 1 or 2 bad eggs in about 30 years .

[scubacruiserx2]

Before packing we did enjoy breakfast and a sunny lunch at the Retreat later

 

 

 

 

 

We also enjoyed pleasant weather and calm seas en route

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Dinner was at the Tamarind with my favorite new cocktail - A Wasabi Martini

 

 

 

 

A refugee from a hot wok

 

 

 

The present came in the afternoon in the form of a white bow 

 

 

 

I never saw a white rainbow before !

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

The Alaska cruise was over and we're slipping into Vancouver under the cover of darkness and the smell of brimstone

 

 

We're at the end of the hall and our bags stayed inside . Everything on a hanger with the bags were moved down 2 floors

 

 

Breakfast was room service as we got off early to visit Vancouver

 

 

There was only 1 teaspoon of Cottage Cheese

 

 

We proceeded to the Gangway with In Transit card and old and new Key Card in hand. Started out good until we got to Customs and  Immigration. We understood that we were suppose to walk out like a regular visit in port ( In Transit card with our passport through the crew line ) . Nope. Tried to go to Visitors and Crew and the young lady would not let us pass. We got in line with everyone else and when we got to Officer, we did not have our paperwork. We had turned it in the day before to the ship ( a discussion ..). Another officer came over and took care of the paperwork and got us through. Walked outside to pick-up areas for buses etc. A bit of a walk and we came out at the street in front of Pan Pacific Vancouver, where we met our guide Mahara. We thought that she may be a hand full .

 

 

Edited November 30, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Another early morning

 

 

A new neighbor

 

 

 

Lego Orca

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

First stop was the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park to cash in some of our funny money

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highscar]

Capilano.  Could have stayed there for days.  Love it.    We got off the HO HO bus and the Capilano tour lady asked it we would like to go. Free on highway bus. Sure we would.  Only passengers on the bus, same on return.  Mr & Mrs in their limo     Lol.  

[scubacruiserx2]

Tree house

 

 

The bridge

 

 

 

Measuring up

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

The birds

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

The bridges

 

 

 

 

 

We've never seen so many selfies as taken by these people

 

 

Treetops adventure

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 

We also went to Queen Elizabeth and Stanley Parks in hope of seeing some Fall foliage 

 

 

 

 

 

We were told that we were in the wrong place and that it was about as good as it gets here .

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We did make a couple of other stops ( but not for lunch ) .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mahara spent a lot of time on the phone and let us know that someone else had hired her and that she needed to get us back pronto . We would give her a 7 as a result of being cut short on time .

[scubacruiserx2]

Getting back on board at 1500 was much better as we had our key cards and in transit cards . Our new room was much nicer .

 

 

 

 

 

 

And with a Dive In quickie up top the parade of ships was about to begin 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

The Crown Princess went by first

 

 

 

And then the noisy Noordam backed out

 

 

 

We were the last under the Lyons Bridge

 

 

 

 

Followed by a sunset

 

 

The new room for almost 3 weeks

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Sunday night was Chicken Parm night at Canaletto

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

With the new cruise we got a new room and a new Retreat room since the other one that we first had was rented to someone else . When we went to our new cabana  - it was occupied . We spoke to the workers who mentioned to their boss who said that our new one was already rented . We went to the concierge who checked with Seattle . Even though we had booked and paid for it in advance they had resold it to someone else ! While we had the same attendants we now had a side Retreat that didn't get the forward breeze .

 

 

Additionally, we got a "new" revised itinerary. Surprise! Once again Nicaragua (10/16, now Sea Day) was cancelled along with Puerto Chiapas. Manzanillo 8am-5pm on 10/12 (originally a sea day) was the replacement for Puerto Chiapas (10/14) now a Sea Day. The date for Huatulco was changed by a day later 10/13 to 10/14 and time was changed from 10am-6pm to 8am-3:30pm. Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala time change was 8am-6pm, new time 10am-8pm. Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica had a time change from 8am-6pm to 8am-8pm. 

Some changes were welcomed, but we had to scramble to let guides know and check availability on HAL's high-speed internet. Fortunately all were able to accommodate the changes.

Edited December 3, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

We did have a nice lunch at the Retreat brought from the Lido by Ian and James the attendants

 

 

 

 

This is the Thai Curry which was much different from the Thai Curry at the Tamarind . The Tamarind's is much better .

 

Edited December 3, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Dinner on the first Sea Day was at the Pinnacle

 

  

 

One bread that the Pinnacle used to feature before Covid was a cheese bread

 

 

 

 

We did find a red wine we liked - Crios Malbec.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 3, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[oakridger]

I'm not normally a baked Alaska fan but I did like the one at Pinnacle Grill on this cruise.  It had Cherry Garcia ice cream (one of my top favorites) and the cake and meringue ratio was just right in my opinion!  I'm glad I took a chance on ordering it.

 

~Nancy

[CruisingGrandmaW]

Hello @scubacruiserx2

I just came across your many Cruise Reviews - my favorite your SA & Antartica back in 2018/2019.

I've not seen any mention of you ever taking a cruise to the French Polynesian Islands.

With your love of water & scuba diving I highly recommend you do that.

While HAL offers cruises to this area it; they normally are NOT during the best season to go.

Best time for French Polynesia is in July/August.

Also Bora Bora is limiting the size of ships now that can visit this Port.

While we love going there on the WindStar line - you may prefer a little larger ship such as the Paul Gauguin.  I believe the "Paul" still sails year round in the French Polynesia.

I would recommend trying to piggyback a stay with their annual Heiva Dance Contest on island of Tahiti - it should not be missed...which I believe takes place in July.

We would often combine our Tahiti cruise with a land stay for a couple of weeks. 

Normally breaking up the weeks by staying in Moorea, then flight out to Bora Bora, followed by Rangirora for 3 nights.  Last night was on island of Tahiti to catch a flight back to San Diego. 

 

There is nothing like the waters & Marine life of the French Polynesian islands.

Please put this on your bucket list if you've not been.

Be sure to do it while you're young enough!!!

[scubacruiserx2]

13 hours ago, oakridger said:

I'm not normally a baked Alaska fan but I did like the one at Pinnacle Grill on this cruise.  It had Cherry Garcia ice cream (one of my top favorites) and the cake and meringue ratio was just right in my opinion!  I'm glad I took a chance on ordering it.

 

~Nancy

 

I'm not normally a fan either as I'm a Key Lime Pie guy . But the BA was huge and I gladly shared with Pat . BTW as this point we were really excited about our first visit to San Francisco and we were rapidly eating our way there .