The weather is indeed rainy for the rainiest city in Alaska. We are docked downtown and I enjoyed wa

We had a direct flight from DFW airport to Vancouver and actually met several of our group at the airport for the flight. We arrived in Vancouver and took a limo for six to the Hyatt Regency downtown to stay two nights pre-cruise. All of our group are staying there and it is a great hotel and in a good location. We had an impromptu gathering at the hotel bar and then a wonderful dinner the first night at the Black + Blue steakhouse . The following day we had a group day trip to the Capilano Suspension topsail island vacation rentals Bridge Park . It was very convenient as they had a shuttle from the hotel and the park was interesting with the suspension topsail island vacation rentals bridge, treetops walk, and cliff walk. In the afternoon we visited the Gastown area shops and had a wonderful meal at Vancouver s most popular Pub: The Lamplighter. We decided to walk back to the downtown and hotel area stopping at Mahony Sons Public House on the waterfront and enjoyed a cocktail and the wonderful views of the Harbor, Canada Place, and the mountains beyond. Everyone seemed to really like our pre-cruise stay in Vancouver and the weather was wonderful. It was a very nice start to a cruise vacation.
We took a taxi from the hotel for the short trip to the Canada Place Cruise Terminal about 11:30. We dropped our bags and went to the security and U.S. immigration area and soon were in the Holland America check in terminal. It was not busy anywhere and embarkation was a simple process. You can go direct to your cabin on Holland America Lines so that was our first stop to drop off our carry on bags. The MDR (main dining room) is open for Mariner members (past guests), but we chose to eat at the lido buffet. I like that the name of the area is actually The Lido, since that is generally what every cruise line calls their buffet area by default even though they usually have a specific name. It was set up very well too and they serve your food to you so that you are not handling the utensils or food on the buffet. I had roast beef with some extras and their wonderful bread pudding (they also had a banana bread pudding) for dessert. After lunch everyone explored the ship and settled into their cabins until time for muster drill. The boat deck was on our deck so attending was very easy for us, just walk directly out the passageway topsail island vacation rentals across from our cabin and down to our assigned life boat. We sailed immediately as the drill ended and we stayed on boat deck until we passed under the Lions Gate bridge, then it was inside to get away from the open decks and cool weather. Everyone in the group had Champagne, Chocolate strawberries and Beverage Cards in the cabin as a nice welcome. Many met in the Crows Nest that will become our regular spot for the week. I did have a Grizzly Bear the drink of the day. The DW I went to the lounge to hear some very good Jazz music before dinner. As a group we have four tables together in the Rotterdam dining room along the aft windows. Unfortunately, topsail island vacation rentals they sat some people from Anytime Dining at one of our tables so there was confusion and problems from that. The Maitre D later sent an apology and chocolates to the group. Although I didn t sit at my table, dinner was good, my entree was the Prime Rib, but it was not an completely enjoyable dinner due to the confusion of their error in seating arrangements. The production show, Nothings Going to Stop Us Now , started long before we had completed dinner service so we retired after leaving the MDR.
I had a good nights sleep was up early to watch us drop off the pilot at 7:45 am and leave the inside passage and into the open waters. I went to the MDR for my usual first morning on a cruise breakfast of Eggs Benedict that were very well prepared. Off to a better start in the dining room. The seas were really rolling today. It was much more than I expected it to be for sure. The group spent the day doing various activities including the Casino, a Kitchen Tour, a Culinary presentation, Seminars, and more. I had a very light lunch, but did have to have the wonderful bread pudding. They have the standard raisin everyday on lido plus a flavored variety as well. Today was Alaskan Berry (blueberries rhubarb primarily) and both were great. The rolling seas continued throughout the day. In the afternoon many of the group attended the High Tea and they say they had wonderful scones. I attended the Alaskan topsail island vacation rentals Beer Seminar in the Mix bar area. Four varieties of beer for $12.50. At 4:00 pm we all met as prearranged in the Crows Nest for Happy Hour. We had one complete area to ourselves and it was wonderful with the view and cocktail service. There is one thing our group is known for and that is the one-hour cocktail party so this Happy Hour arrangement was perfect for us. I had mojitos and then some Duck Farts to get in the Alaska mood. We extended our time there well beyond an hour. There is a group trivia contest at 6:30 that many used as motivation to leave the Crows Nest. This was formal night and dinner this evening went much better. The Matre d came by to check that all was well. My entree, the Beef Wellington, was very good and they also had sourdough bread pudding that was excellent. After dinner we attended the Captains Toast and Welcome in the Theater followed by the production show: Bob Mackie s Broadway featuring music and costumes from Broadway.
The weather is indeed rainy for the rainiest city in Alaska. We are docked downtown and I enjoyed watching the early debarking passengers leave the ship before going to the MDR for breakfast. We soon left the ship and went to Creek Street the location of the old bordellos and red light district that are now craft shops built along the creek. We did visit Dolly s, the intact bordello topsail island vacation rentals now a museum and it was interesting. We saw friends that had just attended the Lumberjack topsail island vacation rentals Show and joined them for lunch at Annabelle s in The Gilmore Hotel . I had my first Alaskan Halibut of the trip and it was very good. As a foodie though I was envious of the Snoozemates topsail island vacation rentals that took the Crab fishing/dinner excursion. They got to eat the catch and the Dungeness Crab feast sounded wonderful. In the afternoon we visited the Tongass Historical Museum and the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center operated by the U.S. National Park Service. We returned to the ship as we had a 2:30 sail away and we were also scheduled for the 3:00 pm Cocktail Mixology Class. It was a lot of fun and the drinks we prepared were: Champagne Dreams, Tropical topsail island vacation rentals Cable Car, and a Pool Side Car. I especially liked the later. At 4:00 pm it was time for Happy Hour in the Crow s Nest. Not only is this a regular thing for the group but we have other passengers wanting to join the fun and we do have a FUN time. Following Happy Hour it was some R R time in the cabin before dinner. topsail island vacation rentals Dinner was good this evening, my entree was the well prepared Pork Chop. The productions shows this evening were The Marriage Game and the Filipino Crew Show . We also set our clocks back one hour to the Alaska Time Zone before retiring.
topsail island vacation rentals It is a rainy day in Juneau, not enough to limit a fun day though. I had a very nice breakfast in the MDR and we took our time leaving the ship. The Statendam is docked at the prime pier located topsail island vacation rentals closed to central downtown. We booked a local tour of the city and Mendenhall Glacier ($50 for both) that left from our pier area at noon. We really enjoyed the Glacier and the Mendenhall Visitors Center , it was unique and I had not visited on my previous trip to Juneau. As we left the park area we stopped for a mother black bear and her two cubs that crossed the road in front of us. First bear sighting of the trip. We also saw three Eagles on the Mendenhall Lake mud flats. After returning to town we visited the shops and stopped at the old (1913) Alaska Hotel and Bar . It was very nice and more original than the more famous Red Dog. We had a very nice cheese crepe and fudge from local vendors (buy Alaskan) before meeting friends at the Red Dog Saloon . We enjoyed the Duck Farts and Alaskan beer from 4:00ish until close about 9:30 pm. The entertainers were fun and our folks could come and go as they pleased as we had several tables. We did have 17 of our group plus some extra fans there at one time. It was an easy one block walk back to the ship. We briefly considered the 10:00 pm ship happy hour, but everyone split up to finish topsail island vacation rentals the evening doing various activities.
We arrived as scheduled at 7:00 am in Skagway and we are docked at the Broadway pier directly in front of Skagway. The weather is overcast with a little sprinkle or mist. We ordered room service breakfast and it was very good, not many cruise lines have a hot room service option for breakfast. We met our group for the Best of Skagway excursion. We boarded a bus that gave us a brief tour of Skagway topsail island vacation rentals on the way to Fraser, BC, Canada to meet the White Pass Yukon Railroad for the return topsail island vacation rentals trip by rail back to Skagway. It s a beautiful trip even with the low clouds and mist. The railroad and train are not to be missed and is actually the most popular cruise excursion in the world. We then went to Liarsville Gold Rush Trail Camp for a salmon bake and show. This is on the actual topsail island vacation rentals site of the tent city at the head of the White Pass trail used during gold rush days. The press never ventured beyond this point and thus the name Liarsville. The Salmon was cooked on an outdoor grill and was very good. They also had a nice little show. The final Best of Skagway tour stop was a tour of the Red Onion Saloon Brothel museum on the second floor above the bar. After the tour the men stayed for a few Alaska beers while the ladies shopped. Overall a very nice full day tour. We returned to the ship about 6:30 pm. in a light rain to clean up before dinner. Dinner was good, I had the Beef Brisket entree and it was served topsail island vacation rentals over a mound of Alaska Gold Mashed Potatoes, an interesting presentation. After dinner the group was off to the various venues including the Casino, Showtime with Jeff Burghart in the theater,