Not-quite-Live < limited > cruise journal: QE (Q427) Alaska cruise: 10 night, 30 Aug – 9 Sep 2024 plus Vancouver pre & post

[Sugar Magnolia]

15 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

Posse leader SM, for you ... and the other niece on the Prima TA, curious minds wanted to know & asked 😆

 

Think I mentioned this a few days ago...my posse and I would have been kicked out before we reached the dance floor.

 

[laudergayle]

2 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

Internet here is largely offline, except here at the Fortress of the Bear

 

This is for you 

 

I enjoyed Fortress of the Bears.  We were there at feeding time and the bears are trained to do certain tricks (body movements) so they can be evaluated for health reasons…checking paws, agility, teeth, etc.  From a humanitarian perspective…I’m not certain if a few bears in captivity really demonstrates a real concern for distressed wildlife. I sure hope the $$$ raised from visitors goes further than the upkeep for the facility and the 6-8 bears housed there.

[mking8288]

We are back and online, Starlink to the rescue.  All abroad 15 minutes ago, should be sailing shortly at 4 PM.

 

Happy and full of. King Crabs - a mini feast ashore right at the cruise terminal. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

👍 fingers licking good👌

 

 

[mking8288]

 

And, proof positive, cookies that are fresh & good, free and available in Lido, not hidden, during afternoon tea time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 7 by mking8288

[mking8288]

All pax & crew onboard, QE now on the move at 4:20 PM, will be doing a 180 deg. for the open ocean. 

 

[mking8288]

Earlier, arrival into Sitka 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

52 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Happy and full of. King Crabs - a mini feast ashore right at the cruise terminal. 

 

 

 

Nice legs!

 

 

[mking8288]

30 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Nice legs!

Crab legs were really tender, tasty and fresh, that platter has enough to be shared by 2 ... even the shells were semi-harden, easy to cut open with the snipping scissor.  $98 only vs. higher prices in downtown (not as fresh) based on Goggle reviews.

 

 

Menu w prices in case others wanted something different, $400 including 6 % taxes and tips. 

 

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

6 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Crab legs were really tender, tasty and fresh, that platter has enough to be shared by 2 ... even the shells were semi-harden, easy to cut open with the snipping scissor.  $98 only vs. higher prices in downtown (not as fresh) based on Goggle reviews.

 

The platter looks amazing and there is no way I would share.

 

I know the restaurant is right at the pier but it looked empty. Did most people go downtown and/or joined excursions instead?

 

[mking8288]

We are moving slowly at 10 kts and it is foggy and visibility is low.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight, we lose that extra 1 hour, by setting the clock forward by 1 hour - full sea day ahead. 

 

 

[mking8288]

11 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

The platter looks amazing and there is no way I would share.

 

I know the restaurant is right at the pier but it looked empty. Did most people go downtown and/or joined excursions instead?

This place "Crab & Chowder" is easily missed, stepping off the ship onto the pier, it's on the right before the ramp up to port shuttles & tour buses, etc.

 

We got back from our private shared mini-bus tour around 1:45 PM, past their peak lunch rush ... wasn't busy by then. 

 

See pictures below - on the right ... and clean bathrooms w running water.

 

 

Edited September 7 by mking8288

[mking8288]

BTW @Sugar Magnolia  thanks for the heads-up about Sitka's Island wide internet & cellular outage, not a joke.  Driver & shop sales told us they now can do SMS or text messages only, voice calling still out - those with Starlink satellite internet aren't affected.  Local ISP offering them a month of compensation ... 

 

Next, winging it about local, private tours - we stopped by the info Booth & grab a map, spoke & asked questions, and in the finest NCL traditions - played Deal or No Deal 😁

 

 

We found one - leaving in 45 minutes, time for shopping first, at the locally owned gift ships, on top of that ramp.

 

I had our plans set - to raid that crab place later. 

 

 

Edited September 7 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Wait 🫷 🫷 we are not done yet, what are these.   Mrs said, we got 3 more nights onboard, 3 dinners including the 2nd Gala tomorrow ... it's not fair.  She is refusing to pack her bags 😁

 

[mking8288]

6 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Did you want me to raise orphaned cubs and pufflings?

Badly posted ... bear cubs are taken care of.  Those puddings are cute, you went out of your way to see them in Halifax ... and caught our group nearby 😀😀😀 

 

We are going (should) to be stopping at Halifax later this month, refresh my memories about your favorite lookout spots for them.

[mking8288]

Back to our Sitka tour ...

departed at 10:30 with Ryan as our driver-guide, he's originally from Oregon. 

 

First stop - to see the eagles & other birds rescued, cared for and rehabilitated ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 7 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Eagles & Owls - Sitka, part 1 of 2

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Edited September 7 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Eagles & Owls - Sitka, part 2 of 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving on ... 

Edited September 7 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Quick scenic photo-stop while in route to see black & brown bears

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 7 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Our 3 hours semi-privare shared tour continued - salmon in the streams 

 

 

That's the veterans final resting ground

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 7 by mking8288

[mking8288]

More totoem poles - quick tour of the Sitka, population of 8,000 year round residents, 2 traffic lights and 4 police cars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There used to be 1 McDonald's in town, no more and just 1 Subway franchise these days ... everything being shipped in or flown in, more expensive. 

 

 

 

 

One of the 2 small cruise ships anchored in the harbor and required to tender.  Cruise terminal can handle 2 ships, this month - they expect to get 10,000 pax on busier days with mega ships coming in. 

Edited September 7 by mking8288

[mking8288]

This is the free shuttle drop-off and pick-up location in the city centre, behind the main street / business district ... a 15 minutes trip each way to/from the ship.

 

 

One of the 2 traffic lights in town. 

 

 

Misc - about the bears & owls

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

Tonight's MDR menu (Britannia Restaurant)

 

 

 

 

 

Salmon Fillet - my favorite @sea

 

Spanish Paella 

 

Lamb Shank 

 

 

[mking8288]

Almost forgotten to check it out, Cunard's Late Night Snacks option in the Lido Pizzeria section, opposite the main beverage station ... typical hours: 10 PM to midnight, perfect for those hungry after the late show at the Royal Theater or dancing in the Queens Room ... or just overslept & missed dinner/supper elsewhere.  And, I smell curry food (hot). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@Sugar Magnolia  what do you think ? 

 

 

 

 

Of course, Room Service is 24/7 free and no charge for delivery, with a late night menu. 

 

How does NCL compares ... 😆 nil, none, surrendered by default 👎 

 

Hunger late night onboard is not an option, except by choice, to sail & sustain and based on passengers feedback ... there are probably 40 + in the Lido when I dropped in "unannounced" and under the covers of a moon-less night, speeding toward Victoria.

 

[mking8288]

The Breakfast Room Service Menu of choices, cold & hot - no delivery charge and no 20% add-on. 

 

 

[mking8288]