Follow Bill & Mary Ann’s Story Live On The Zaandam From Alaska To The South Pacific For 77 Days 9-4-24 To 11-20-24

[WCB]

Report #12  Sunday  September 15, 2024    Cruising Glacier Bay National Park    7am-4pm  Rainy And Cool All Day 48 Degrees And 20mph Winds  Part #1 Of 3.....55 Pictures

 

Dismal skies, fog, and rain greeted us as we approached Glacier Bay.  We did have a following wind all the way to Margerie Glacier.  In order to see Gloomy Knob, we would have to delay breakfast.   We did arrive to the Pinnacle Grill at 8:30am, and were among about 8 guests at that time.  No problem.

 

The park rangers were dropped off by 6:30am when most of the folks were still asleep.  They set up an information desk in the Crow’s Nest, then began narration at 8am.  Ranger Ashley was our speaker today.  She has a nice voice that carried well with the speakers inside and out.     Going to deck 6 forward, we found it was raining enough to flood the deck.  The bow was supposed to open at 9am, but due to the rain, it remained closed all day. 

 

We did pass by Gloomy Knob and with the help of binoculars and the good camera, we did see several mountain goats that reside there.  Most were laying down trying to keep dry we assume.  At least the granite cliffs were not shrouded in fog, only rain.   Usually, this view of Gloomy Knob was part of the scenic cruising.  Now there was no mention of it in the Daily newsletter.  After passing this 1331 foot mountain, the we headed north to the US and Canadian border up the Tarr Inlet. 

 

The ship arrived to Margerie Glacier at 9:45am.  Last week we had seen scores of sea otters and some seals here, but today we only saw a few.   The Captain kept the ship here across from the face of the glacier for one hour, rotating so everyone could view it.    This glacier is one mile wide and about 200 feet above the waterline.  The ice flow is 20 miles long originating in the Fairweather Mountain Range.   This week we saw few icebergs, bergie bits, or growlers in the inlet.  So that was a clue that the glacier had not been calving.  Watching and listening for that spectacular calving is like a watched pot that never boils.  Last year we caught one view of this glacier calving, then nothing.

 

And at the same time we entered the inlet to Margerie, Dutch pea soup was served on all of the outside decks.   The waiters set up the soup cart in the hallway where we accessed the deck, blocking the way for the guests.   One of us indulged in the Dutch treat which helped warm him up.   

 

On the way out of Tarr Inlet, we ventured into the Johns Hopkins Inlet just enough to catch a view of that tidewater glacier.   We think it is equally as impressive as Margerie, but for some reason, we did not enter the inlet once again.  The Viking Orion was just leaving and heading where we just came from. 

 

Once past Jaw Point, we had a view of the smaller Lamplugh Glacier, followed by the Reid Glacier.  Watching from the forward deck, that’s when we noticed the winds were getting stronger as we were facing directly into them.   Holding onto the railings, we pulled ourselves along to access the side door.  It took a lot of strength to open the double doors.  

 

We went for a Lido lunch around 2:15pm.  By then, we were passing the North and South Marble Islands where typically the stellar sea lions hang out.  This week the Captain took the ship close enough to see the seals out on the rocky spits.  Of course, we had left the cameras behind.  Last week we also saw many otters in this part of the bay’s entrance.  Today we saw only a few.    By 3:30pm, the rangers departed and were brought back to the headquarters at Bartlett Cove.  Their small vessel was tossed around a lot due to the wind and swells.  The rain had never stopped all day.  This will be our final adventure in Glacier Bay since it is not on next week’s itinerary. 

 

We stayed warm in our room until dinnertime, doing online work as usual.   We are headed south all the way to Ketchikan where we arrive by 11am.  Gosh, it seems like we were just there. 

 

Tonight was Dutch Dinner in the main dining room, and Morimoto in the Pinnacle Grill.  We chose the dining room and started with the Durch pea soup for appetizers.  It is so thick, you could eat it with a fork.  And very good.  One of us had the chicken and French fry entrée and the other the tenderloin.  It came smothered with a Hollandaise sauce, which I failed to remember to say hold the sauce.  We split one small Bosche Ball for dessert.  It is one of the few desserts that is not overly-sweet.

 

Showtime was a musician by the name of Chris Bannister performing the hits of John Denver.  We believe he was also on the world cruise this year.  If you could stay up later, Jim Short put on a late night comedy act.    Finally, it was Orange Party Night in the Crow’s Nest.  Many folks wore a splash of orange at dinnertime….some wearing flashing orange light necklaces.  Bet these were sold in the shops today.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[WCB]

Report #13  Monday  September 16, 2024  Ketchikan, Alaska  Docked Port Side To Pier-11am-7pm  Heavy Fog With Rain Mist All Day  52 Degrees  Part #1 Of 4......66 Pictures---Dressy Night

 

The salmon capital of the world, Ketchikan, was our last port of this 7 day run.  And what a difference a week makes.  Last Monday, we enjoyed the nicest weather we have ever seen in this port.  Today was a whole different story. 

 

On our way here last night, we woke up to the sounding of the ship’s foghorn.  Some of our friends like that horn, but to be honest, it is blowing for a reason and that’s to warn other vessels of our location.   In other words, we are not always visible from a short distance.  When the horn blows repeatedly every few minutes, then it is scary.  Looking outside our window at 7am, we could barely see the islands of the Inside Passage, and although the fog was thick, it eventually lifted and turned to rain.  The need for the horn was finally over. 

 

Breakfast was at 8am, even though it is a port day.  We won’t arrive to Ketchikan until 11am.  There was scenic cruising before our arrival, but the bow was not opened this time as it was raining.   A small group of us went to deck six forward as we approached the city.  Two Princess ships were already docked – the Crown and the Grand.  There was no sign of the Viking Orion. 

 

There was a total of 30 excursions offered here today.  We doubt that the tours that involved flights happened.  Way too dangerous to fly in this weather.  Docking between the two Princess ships, we were directly across from the iconic Ketchikan Welcome Arch.  We left the ship around 12pm, and headed under the arch for a change.  Several stores lined this street….most were high end jewelry shops like Milano, Effy, and Diamond International.   Unlike the same stores in the Caribbean, these stores did not offer a free charm.  And the prices seemed quite high and tax would be added on top of that.  Better deals could be found on the ship, and the purchases would be tax free, more or less. 

 

The streets were alive with cruise folks, all looking for bargains.  They must  have found them since most everyone was carrying a bag with treasures.  There is a Walmart about 5 miles out of the center of town.  Many of the crew members have access to a free shuttle that takes them there.  Their biggest purchases are snack foods.

 

Making our way to Creek Street, we followed the boardwalk watching the salmon fighting their way up the rapids.  The tide was in, so the creek was much deeper than what we saw last week.  It was not as easy to see the battered salmon under the acidic tea-colored waters of Ketchikan Creek.   There was a whole lot of people here today, doing the same thing we were.  Squeezing around the crowd of onlookers, we continued up the street to the bridges that crossed the creek.  We would estimate that only half the amount of salmon were here today.  Perhaps the run is coming to an end soon. 

 

City Park was about empty of people today.  The rain must have kept the locals inside.  In fact, the smell of wood fires permeated the air, reminding us of home in the winter.   The Totem Heritage Center is up this way, and we always take photos of the totems outside.  Several buses had brought guests here, so the place was busy.   Time to head back to town, and go to lunch.

 

Once again, we took the elevator at the Alaska King Crab Company.  Since it was near 2pm, the restaurant only had a few diners.  Seated at a window table, we watched as many buses, shuttles, and the Duck tour vehicles dropped off guests near the ships.  Even in the rainy weather, most all went shopping afterwards. 

 

Lunch was good starting with Amber Gold draft beers, a small salad, and chicken tenders with French fries.  Their BBQ sauce is really good here.   After our relaxing meal, we headed to Tongass, the biggest store on the pier.  We did not find any treasures today, but it is aways fun to look. 

 

Back to the ship where the rising tide had made boarding challenging.  The gangway had gotten steep.    Since we were docked portside today, when the tide went out, we could look directly out our window to the street level.  Working on photos took the rest of the afternoon while we watched the foot traffic and tour groups pass by our window. 

 

All aboard was 6:30pm, and shortly after that time, the Zaandam pulled away from the pier and headed south.  The other two ships had left already.  We had intended on going to the sail away, but there was none at the pool deck.  There was wildlife spotting at 7pm, but it was raining heavily so it did not happen.

 

Usually “dressy” evenings are on sea days.  On these shorter itineraries, a dressy night could be on a port day, which was the case today.  Honestly it really does not matter what they call it, people will arrive dressed any way they wish.  A handful of guests looked quite formal, but the majority were not.  “Fixed seating” is not the same as it used to be.  The guests were being seated wherever there was a table and a wait staff available.  Ever since anytime dining arrived on the scene with competing cruise lines, HAL followed suit.  Sure seems like a lot more work for the staff to accommodate the diners these days. 

 

We tried some different items tonight, although our starters were the same Caesar salads and a shared shrimp cocktail.  Pork schnitzel and the brown sugar glazed salmon were very tasty.  Actually, the cranberry rice pilaf was the deal maker with the fish entrée.    Dessert was one chocolate volcano cake (not like the old one) and a plate of sliced bananas. 

 

Later at 9:30pm, there was a chocolate surprise on deck five.  Musicology was the Step One Dance Company, a routine we have enjoyed many times on other cruises.  Since the clocks had to be set forward one hour, we skipped the festivities and turned in after dinner. 

 

Tomorrow will be the last day at sea with some scenic cruising on the way back to Vancouver…..again.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

[WCB]

Report #14  Tuesday  September 17, 2024    Scenic Cruising The Inside Passage 4pm-7pm  Cloudy With Overcast Skies And Warmer 62 Degrees  Seas: Flat With Slight Swell.....Part #1 Of 1......52 Pictures---Casual Dress

 

Cruising the Inside Passage was the title of today’s “The Daily”  newsletter.  However, for the majority of the day, we were on the outside of the islands so we could make the most of the time we needed to get to Vancouver.  And today was the final day at sea where the guests could take advantage of the spa specials, the promotions in the shops, and attending the Alaska Brunch in the dining room.  There was no early breakfast served in the lower dining room, but the extended time from 10am to 1pm was dedicated to a special brunch.  We were told that this brunch was not served in the small shot glasses like they did a few years ago.   As for us, we prefer being spoiled with the morning service in the Pinnacle Grill, which opened at 8am.  

 

We had the chance to talk with the other President’s Club couple, who asked us if we had gotten an invitation to a Mariner Event this afternoon.  Come to think of it, no, we did not.   This would be the first time there was no event at all.  Perhaps no one was getting a medallion, so someone decided to skip it.  We are certain that the other couple inquired at the front desk.  They have been onboard for a month now, and have had these get-togethers on each 7 day cruise.  We will have to ask them tomorrow morning what they were told about the non-event.

 

Later in the morning, we did get one more canvas tote bag and two tiles.  And we had an invitation to an international wine tasting in the dining room at 2pm.  As most all of you know, we are not necessarily wine drinkers.  Give us a good whiskey or scotch, then we are happy.  Anyway, Tahana, the Cellar Master, had mentioned this event a few days ago and we said we would try it.  So at 2pm, we went to the dining room to find the Captain’s table area had been transformed into a private tasting for about 18 or 20 people.  An assortment of wines were featured from France, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Argentina, the USA, and Chile.  Flags representing these countries hung from the orchestra pit.   Some were whites, but the majority were reds.  One of us cannot tolerate red wine (headaches, etc.), so a few sips of the whites would be OK.   In addition to the wines, there were three trays of assorted cheeses.  The best was the smoked gouda.  Tahana handed each of us a paper and a pencil to rate the wines by sight, aroma, and taste as we sipped them.   Great idea….that way you could remember your likes and dislikes.  Since we had not eaten lunch yet, we helped ourselves to some of the cheese slices, then tried a few of the white wines.  By the way, this event was advertised in the newsletter for $29 a person.  Since the majority of guests will be leaving tomorrow, we found it strange to have a tasting when there was only one day left.  We thanked Tahana and excused ourselves as we headed for the Lido for salads and one slice of pizza. 

 

The weather was not the best today.  Most of the morning, we were in the fog, which turned to drizzle and finally rain.  The temperature was in the 50’s.  We did take a walk on the promenade deck where many people were covered with blankets and sleeping in the lounge chairs.    Must have something to do with putting the clocks ahead last night.   There was a chance for scenic cruising, but not until 4pm.    The bow would have been opened, but it was too wet and rainy.  As usual, we went to deck six forward and waited and watched for one  ½  hours, but only spotted three otters.  We would have to wait until 6:30pm to see orcas, one porpoise, and several whales diving and spouting.  By then, we were soaked even with our heavy jackets.  Only three other guests joined us for the wildlife sightings.  We seem to recall we had seen the whales and porpoise in exactly the same area as last week.   

 

Dinnertime had some of our favorites.  Tonight was extremely casual since most everyone had packed their luggage and did not wish to dress up one more time.   Can’t say we blame them.  Starters were the spring roll and tomato soup.  We had gotten chilled to the bone outside, and the hot soup warmed us up.  Mains were the sweet and sour shrimp plate, but with the sweet chili sauce that came with the spring roll.  The other entrée was the Club Orange leg of lamb….very good.   We call these special dinners the “blue plate special” since they arrive on a blue plate.  One of us enjoyed the tiny slice of rich chocolate cake with a cup of coffee.  During dessert time, the chefs, kitchen staff, and some of the waiters paraded through the dining room singing their farewell song.  That earned them a rousing applause from the guests, showing their appreciation for the good food and great service.

 

Back in Vancouver tomorrow, we will repeat the same process of leaving the ship by 9:15am, spending some time in town, then come back after lunch.  Hope it doesn’t rain……

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

PS   We have to mention that the laundry service has been excellent with the same day return.  Today’s basket came with a note saying “Thank you for sending your laundry.  I hope you are satisfied with our service.  Have a beautiful day”.  Signed by Arsa.  For those who may not know, the Zaandam and Volendam have eliminated their self-service laundry rooms.

 

 

 

[Fred321]

Think on one of our world cruises (may have been the last one on the Amsterdam) Peg and I told Shiv how impressed we were with the laundry service and the sweet little notes they included. We asked if we could thank them and maybe contribute a little something directly to their snack fund. He was nice enough to arrange a visit to the laundry. Unbelievable how those guys do such a great job in such hot and tiny work space. And they actually seemed happy!!

[WCB]

Report #15  September 18, 2024  Vancouver, British Columbia 7am-4pm  Docked Starboard Side To Pier Turnaround Day   Sunny And Warmer 65 Degrees   Part #1 Of 4......55 Pictures Of 251---Casual Dress

 

The Zaandam arrived to the port of Vancouver and docked along with three other ships.  The Seven Seas Explorer, the Grand Princess and a smaller Norwegian exploration vessel were in port today as well.  Hmmm, that is going to be a whole lot of folks departing and new guests embarking all four ships. 

 

Breakfast was early at 6:30am, although Tina said we came come anytime before they close at about 8am.  We were up at that time anyway, so we don’t mind going early.    On this day, usually most of the guests either go to the Lido or order room service.  It was not crowded at all for breakfast.

 

We stayed onboard working on yesterday’s photos until 9:15am.  Most all of the luggage tag colors had been called off, and we knew the call for everyone was about to happen.   Going off was easy….all we needed were our passports and room keys.  We never had to show our passports going off, or coming back onboard for that matter.  Using the “In Transit” cards, we were directed straight to the bus and taxi pick-up area.  

 

We pretty much repeated our walk that we did last week.   The big difference today had to be the weather.   The fog we encountered on the way here had lifted, and blue skies appeared.  How nice it was to see the sun for a change.  There still was a chill in the breeze, but there was some warmth in the sun.  Whatever….we will take it.  Compared to last week, many more locals were walking, running, and biking the waterfront promenade. 

 

From the cruise ship terminal, we hiked past the Vancouver Convention Center West, passing the Seaplane Terminal and the Olympic Cauldron.  Walking the seawall along Burrard Inlet,  we passed by Harbor Green Park where locals like to meet with their dogs.  Coal Harbor Quay was next filled with small vessels and sailboats…many for sale.  Stanley Park was next where we saw some Canada geese flying overhead, and two large blue herons hunting the shallow waters of Coal Harbor.  The furthest we could walk today was to the Horse Carriage Tours.  We have to mention that our time here was limited, due to the fact we had to be back to the terminal by 2pm.   But that’s another story…..

 

Here are some facts about Stanley Park that we missed writing about last week.  This park consists of 1000 acres with ½ million trees.  Among them are Douglas firs, western red cedars, western hemlock, big leaf maples, grand firs and Sitka spruce.  The oldest-growth trees exceed 200 feet in height.  In December of 2002,   10,000 trees fell during hurricane force winds.  Another 100,000 trees died from 2020 to 2023 from a hemlock looper insect outbreak. 

 

Park wildlife includes 500 species like Douglas squirrels, raccoons, otters, beavers, geese, greater blue herons, salamanders, and even coyotes.  And do not feed the animals.  If you do, you can face a fine of $500. 

 

Finally, horses had been used over 100 years ago for hauling lumber.  Today teams of Grey Shire, Clydesdale, Belgium and Percheron horses are used to pull aluminum-framed coaches with signal lights and hydraulic brakes.  The well- groomed horses consume 31 pounds of hay and 15 pounds of mash.  They can drink 33 gallons of water a day.   Impressive.

 

Time to backtrack, we took our time walking and sitting on some of the convenient benches along the way.  Then we arrived to the Steamworks Brewery right before noontime.  Perfect timing, the place filled up within minutes after 12pm.   It is popular with the local office workers as well as tourists.  Once again, we enjoyed Lions Gate Lagers with a Hawaiian pizza.  They make a very good apple dessert called a galette.  We shared one before heading back to the terminal.  What a mess we ran into this time.

 

Like we stated earlier, there were four ships here in transition.  Our in transit cards got us to the xray checkpoint quicker.  However we forgot that their xray is much more sensitive.  One of us got pulled aside to do a wand-check.  A wallet and eyeglasses were the culprits.  Oddly enough, the knee replacement was not detected.  Go figure?  Then we were directed to that Disneyland line that zigzagged with 10 lanes of guests.  Each lane had at least thirty to forty people.  The officials had three facial recognition pads, so it took a long time screening folks.  We prayed that we got the green check, or else we had to go in another line to see an agent.  It was green for both of us.  By the time we boarded the ship, we noticed it had taken almost an hour to get back.  It’s no wonder that some of the in transit guests like us never left the ship for town.  They would exit the ship by 10am and wait one hour to reboard.

 

We had an invite to the Mariner welcome in the Crow’s Nest starting at 2pm.  We got there 20 minutes late, but did get our mimosas.   There were only a handful of 3-4-5- star Mariners there, although the rest could still be stuck in that customs and border check.   Back in our room, we had our bottle of sparkling wine on ice and a tray of chocolate-covered strawberries.  Very good.   Since we had already done the muster check the first day we boarded, we did not have to go today.  The rule is everyone has to do this drill every 30 days.

 

Sail away was at 4pm, and we went to deck six forward of course.  Just as we walked out the side door, we saw some action in the water directly across from the Zaandam.  Suddenly we spotted the telltale dorsal fins of killer whales or orcas.  They appeared to be feeding in the shallow waters of the inlet.  At one point, we saw five spouts of perhaps three adults and two young ones.   How lucky was that?  In all of the times we have sailed out of this harbor, we have never seen such a display.  In a few minutes, they headed deeper into the inlet and ended up by the Chevron island.   The best thing was that the exposure was right and hopefully we got some good shots of the pod.

 

The bow had been opened, and filled up with folks watching the sailing under the Lions Gate Bridge.  That is, until the winds got colder, sending most everyone back inside.

 

Tonight, dinner for us was in the Pinnacle Grill.  Normally this venue is not crowded on the first evening.  However, we were told that many of the new guests had made reservations before the cruise, but Seattle failed to communicate that to the manager, Tina.  She was able to accommodate everyone, including a group of 8 or 9 officers who were dining with the Captain.   Lucky for us, we got our usual table for two where we ordered the wedge salads with the clothesline bacon.  This time we split a rib eye steak with baked potatoes.  Cooked perfectly, the size was right.  Passing on dessert, Tina wrapped up a few of the new macaroons for us to take back to the room.   Sweet in more ways than one. 

 

Once again, tomorrow will be a most welcomed day at sea.  Captain Willems warned us to expect some rough seas this evening. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

 

[0106]

3 hours ago, WCB said:

On this day, usually most of the guests either go to the Lido or order room service.

On my 7 HAL cruises since the pandemic, room service has not been available on disembarkation day. Is room service actually available on the Zaandam on disembarkation day?

[WCB]

Report #16  Thursday  September 19, 2024   Sea Day Enroute To Juneau, Alaska   Cloudy With Rain Showers And Some Sun Cooler-- Temperatures 48 Degrees  Part #1 Of 1.......8 Pictures---Dressy Night

 

Yesterday we had the chance to purchase the Have-It-All package for the next 7 days.  The price was $65 per person per day, and both of us would have to buy it.  The perks included $100 towards a shore excursion, one specialty restaurant dinner (excluding Morimoto pop-up), and a surf internet package.  But the big draw has to be the beverage end of it which included 15 beverages up to $11 each.  The drinks included could be non-alcoholic beverages as well as wine, beer, and cocktails.  If we had purchased this package before the cruise began, the cost would have been $55 per person per day…..a better deal.   Doing the math on this offer, if you are big drinkers, you would be well ahead of the game.    We have only had the Have-It-All as a perk on one cruise and never came close to the 15 beverages a day. 

 

The new guests in the Neptune suites took advantage of the Pinnacle Grill breakfast this morning.  We also noticed that some of the wait staff had been re-assigned here.  This can be good, but not always.  Most of the original waiters knew we liked hot coffee, but now that they are gone, we have to start over reminding them.  Not a big deal since they are quick to learn.  

 

Somewhere in the pile of invoices we brought with us, we noticed that on this particular cruise, Glacier Bay was not on the itinerary.  Neither was Tracy Arm.  Substituted for Glacier Bay was scenic cruising of Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier.  Do you think we could find that invoice with the itinerary changes?  The one to ask was Nyron, the shore excursion manager.  He knows everything.  So after breakfast, we stopped at the desk located across from the front desk.  Nyron confirmed that we are indeed substituting Endicott Arm for Glacier Bay day.  He added that all of the permits for Glacier Bay have stopped, as well as the entrance into Tracy Arm.   And there would be no excursion in that arm, just scenic cruising for all. 

 

The ship is currently sailing outside the Inside Passage in open waters.  The Captain mentioned that we would experience some deep swells, which were expected to increase later in the day and this evening.   He was correct.  The weather was a mixed bag.  The temps have dipped to the mid 50’s with high overcast.  Later in the day, it rained, then the sun appeared off and on.  There was actually a real sunset, the first we have seen since we have been here in Canada and Alaska.  No chance for a photo because it was during  our dinnertime.

 

We had another invite for a wine tasting today,  but decided to go to lunch at the same time.  It’s always nice to be invited however.  We also spotted a Princess ship sailing neck-to-neck with us.  It may be the Grand Princess on her way to Juneau.  Besides ducking in and out all day for walks and possible wildlife sightings, we kept busy working online.  We did check for any sightings of that promised wildlife at 6pm, but we were far from land, and we saw nothing but driving rain and high winds. 

 

With today being a sea day, the  evening dress suggestion was “dressy” once again.  The Captain’s welcome was at 7:15pm…short and sweet.  This group of guests seem to be more in tune with the dress code tonight.  We had new waiters tonight, one of whom we know from previous cruises, and a new fellow….both from Indonesia.  Most all the tables in the upper dining room were filled tonight.  When Pulung came around to say hi, he told us that there are 1400 plus guests on this Alaska cruise, the last one for this ship.  That is about full capacity.  The dining room staff seemed to handle this crowd quite well.  

 

So for this Gala dinner, we ordered one Caesar salad, and one French  onion soup.   For our entrees , we both had the rack of lamb, cooked medium.  One came with the beans, artichokes, and bell peppers.  The other plate had only a baked potato with the lamb.   Both were delicious with a nice gravy on the side.  Dessert was one flourless chocolate cake with blueberries and a dollop of whipped cream.  One of us asked for frozen yogurt….always on the menu every day along with assorted ice cream or sorbet. Anyway, the frozen yogurt was not available.  We realize now that these items are not included on the main dining room menu anymore.   One cup of coffee was served, and we were happy campers.  The entertainment was the Step One Dance Company with Musicology, but with the ship rocking and rolling somewhat, we are not sure the show went on. 

 

The clocks went back one hour this evening…..making everyone happy.   The rocking and rolling of the ship continued to get worse.  By the time this was written (11pm), we found it smart to stash things that may fall during the evening.

 

Tomorrow we will arrive to Juneau and be docked by 1:30pm.  We bet that the ship will slow down since we do not have that stop in Tracy Arm.  We shall see…..

 

Bill & Mary Ann