Assateague Island Princes

(Sung to the tune of "Gilligan's Island" theme song)

'Through the night we cruised to Icy Strait and Hoonah's forested shores, a boat trip planned with Misty Bay, we hoped for whales galore...we hoped for whales galore."

Icy Strait Point (Hoonah) - Spoiled rotten with breaching whales, numerous instances of bubblenet feeding, along with the obligatory humps and tails on our 2011 whale watch w/Misty Bay Lodge, we were hoping for more of the same. Alas, the whale gods were not smiling on us so much this day, but we still managed to see several whales, just no acrobatics this time:(.

Booked independently with Hope and Capt. Dan of Misty Bay Lodge. I cannot recommend these folks enough - wonderful customer service, friendly, personable, and the nicest folks you'll ever meet. They treat you like family. Google "Misty Bay Lodge", cost was approx. $170/pp for 4 hours.

LVSue, Rhodi, and my friends Donna and John joined me on this whale watch. (No, Michelle didn't come along, she isn't into small boats and isn't very adventurous, so she lives vicariously thru me:D). We tendered to shore, walked up the dock and thru the parking lot to just outside the guard shack where Hope was waiting with big smiles and hugs all around. Hope remembered me from my 2011 whale watch/bear search combo with them, so we briefly relived that trip (they provide an excellent bear search as well if the time of year is right). She showed us points of interest along the mile or so drive along the coast to the lodge located in beautiful downtown Hoonah. We settled up our fare, and she drove us to the dock, where we walked down the pier to meet Capt. Dan to board the 6 passenger catarmarin to begin our day. The boat is large and roomy, plenty of comfortable indoor space with small head (bathroom), kitchen and bunk area, table w/padded bench seats with cookies and beverages for our pleasure. There is a covered aft area that was large enough for all of us to be out there if we wanted, as well as a flying bridge that John and I later climbed up to in order to get some whale photos from a different perspective.

The day was warm and sunny, though out on the water you needed to bundle up to be outside. Capt. Dan warned us that only about 8 humpbacks appeared to be 'back' in Hoonah this May, which was unusual. Normally at this time of year they have up to 20 humpacks at a time.

Reports of a bear along the shore sent us along the coast as we headed out to whale watch country, but we never did see him. Finally we saw spouts in the distance and made our way to our first whale. Again, just humps and tails, but it was still thrilling. Capt. Sean from Glacier Winds and Capt. Floyd from F.I.S.H.E.S. were in constant contact with Dan, so we learned about a pair of whales not too far away. As we approached, we saw the other two boats watching some activity nearby. After surfacing several times, the pair seemed to head for the deep. While the other two boats headed out, we patiently waited and were rewarded with the whales surfacing closer to our boat. I love whale watching, would do it in every Alaskan port if finances allowed, so any day on the water seeking whales is a worthwhile experience for me. We saw several sea lions and sea otters, curious about us and the boat, as well as loads of eagles, and of course, the spectacular Alaskan scenery all around us.

Capt. Dan is full of wonderful stories of life in the sleepy Alaskan town of Hoonah, and we all enjoyed his chatter. Saw approximately 5 whales and spent as much time as we wanted with each sighting. Before too long, it was time to head back to port. While it was a bit disappointing not to have the whale show we'd been fortunate enough to witness on our 2011 trip, we all enjoyed our time on the water in ISP.

Upon returning to the pier, Hope took Sue and Rhodi back to ISP, while Donna, John and I grabbed a bite to eat at Misty Bay Lodge. Donna said the halibut pizza was delicious, and my huckleberry ice cream cone was to die for! Hope gave John and I a tour of the Lodge's accomodations, explaining the new week long package they are offering for those who wish to partake in the 'real' Alaska for a glorious 7 days. You tell them what you want to do - whale watching, fishing, crabbing, hiking, bear searching - whatever your heart desires, each day and they take it from there - all meals and lodging provided in one price. I know my husband would LOVE to do that, so we'll definitely keep it in mind for the future.

I noticed that Hope and Dan had taken our suggestion on the 2011 trip to produce teeshirts for sale, and even used the photo my niece took of a whale tale with the slogan we had suggested "I got some 'tail' at Misty Bay Lodge." Of course I had to get one of those teeshirts as a souvenier!:D

Afterwards, the three of us walked around Hoonah going into a few small shops, and into the village's carving barn to watch an artist as he worked on a totem pole. Really fascinating. Met the town dog who insisted that you throw a stick for him. Anyone would do. Just pick up a stick or a rock or whatever was handy, and our 4-legged friend would retrieve it and bring it back with a wagging tail and a lolling tongue!

After we'd spent some time in Hoonah, Hope gave us a ride back to the cannery building where we wandered the shops and walked along the beach trail out to the campfire the natives had blazing. They provide a bucket of cedar chips for you to throw into the fire, which in their culture means you will one day return. We walked to the bottom of the zipline hoping to see (and hear) a screaming 'passenger' zipping down the mountain, but nope, no victims while we were there! It was a LONG way up, I sure as heck wouldn't do it!

Eagles were everywhere in the spruce trees, along the beach, flying across the water, and even on the pier. Naturally, we saw a whale right there in the harbor not too far off shore! And as we boarded the tender to head back to the ship, a whale surfaced right next to the tender, scaring the bejesus out of the poor soul sitting by that window. What fun!

Once back on board our home away from home, I shared our whale watching experience with Michelle and we sat on our balcony for sail away.

I hated to leave. Hoonah has quickly become one of my favorite places. I know many don't see the appeal of this port, complaining that there is nothing to do there. I on the other hand, see it differently. Not only is it the perfect port to go whale watching, fishing, kayaking, or on a bear search, to me it is a true Alaskan village, the beauty of the place is just stunning, and how can you not be moved by that? You can shop or do any of those other touristy things in Ketchikan or even Juneau, but you can't experience the true Alaskan spirit that can be found in ISP/Hoonah just anywhere, now can you?

Tomorrow is a sea day as we sail toward Anchorage. While it feels like our adventure has only just begun, we're already almost seven days into the trip - How'd THAT happen????:rolleyes:

It is indeed a worthwhile stop if you are there during the salmon runs. Fortunately, we were! It was early to mid-August of 2011 and we had a rental car for our afternoon at leisure following our kayak excursion at Mendenhall lake in the morning. We spent about an hour at the hatchery - fascinated by the masses of fish swimming up the ladder and amused by the sealion carefully positioned at the bottom, enjoying his afternoon smorgasboard of sushi! Took the 'guided tour' inside the hatchery for the few bucks charged, then walked around inside gazing at all the aquariums filled w/Alaska sealife, pausing to hold colorful starfish at the touch tank, and purchasing some wonderful smoked salmon treats to take home to loved ones. Enjoy your visit

(Sung to the tune of 'Gilligan's Island' theme song)

'Sailing into Juneau-town, anticipation built. The small boat TA tour was set, with the Alberta lass who quilts...with the Alberta lass who quilts.'

Juneau: Up and out on the porch early to view the familiar Juneau shoreline as we sailed into port. Gazing at the Mt. Robert's peak and the remains of the gold mine off Douglas Island are burned in my memory from that 2006 cruise where we had reached our first Alaskan port - newbies, full of anticipation and excitement of the adventure ahead.

Now, all those years later, was no exception. THIS time I would finally be able to partake in the Tracy Arm small boat excursion I had yearned for these many years.

While this excursion wasn't listed for our ship on this sailing, a Roll Call member had contacted the vendor, Allen Marine, to request several tickets for Amsterdam passengers to share w/the Oosterdam passengers. After many months of back and forth, and the original Roll Call member having to cancel the cruise, only Clipper (aka Alberta Quilter) and I had taken advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

Due to a slight misunderstanding on my part with where to meet up for this tour, I walked over to the Oosterdam's docking point and boarded the coach to take us to Allen Marine's dock, a short drive away. Clipper was left ringing her hands and wondering where her traveling companion was at the Amsterdam's docking point. No worries - it all worked out in the end, as Clipper and I boarded the small catamaran along with approx. 25 Oosterdam passengers to begin our journey back into Tracy Arm.

On the ride to the mouth of the fiord, we were rewarded with many whale sightings as cameras clicked and exclamations of wonder were heard. Upon entering Tracy Arm Fiord, the spectacular scenery of the day before once again assaulted our senses - a feast for the eyes! Alternating between the top deck and the comfortable (but overly warm) interior of the boat, Clipper and I had a repeat performance of the prior day, stunned by the beauty around us.

An all-female group made up the crew of our boat and these ladies, including the captain, were more than capable of providing informative and interesting commentary as we ventured forth.

Alas, we were unable - even in this much smaller boat - to get close enough to the glacier to rival the Amsterdam's position of yesterday.:( Certainly the small boat perspective in this beautiful, almost reverent place, was magnificent. We got up close and personal with some of those lovely waterfalls we'd seen from a distance the day before. Close enough to feel the spray of the falls on our faces, almost close enough to catch some of that frigid glacier melt in a glass if we'd had a mind to.

While our sail in and out of the fiord was once again spectacular and a feast for the senses, I don't think I would spend the $$$ to do it again. I'm afraid Capt. Fred had spoiled us with the proximity of the glacier just the day before. We sure did get lucky as it is rare for cruiseships to get so close to the Sawyer Glacier.

On the return trip to Juneau, it was so warm inside the lower deck of our catamaran, Clipper and I ventured to the aft outside deck to feel the wind in our hair and the sun on our faces as we glimpsed humps and tails (some quite close) of those mammoth whales that call Gastineau Bay home.

Walked back to the ship after calling DH to tell him about my latest adventure, dropped off my camera and binoculars, shedding my jacket and donning a teeshirt and capris (it had gotten downright balmy!) to venture out with my shopping diva, Michelle, to hit some of her favorite stores. Another successful afternoon of retail therapy for Michelle, I do believe she was happy with her jewelry purchase;)!

We strolled around Juneau's shopping district, noting the relocation of Tracy's Crab Shack from the area near the library and parking garage to a store front with an outdoor dining location in the rear, much closer to the Mt. Robert's Tram departure point. To any of you with a hankering for humungous King crab legs, mouthwatering crab bisque, and all the trimmings - be sure to visit Tracy's. Pricey? Without a doubt. But oh so worth it - the size of those crab legs are as big as my wrist and filled with sweet crab meat that will melt in your mouth! BTW - you can order crab legs, bisque and some of Tracy's other crustacean treats via her website to have shipped home so you can enjoy it whenever you like. Google "Tracy's Crab Shack" in Juneau.

A late dinner in the Lido, then up to the Dark Side to compare notes with our new-found friends about their day in port. John and Donna shared with excitement their experiences for the day and watched Juneau fade into the distance from our 'porch' at 10PM that night.

My longing for a whale watching excursion that rivaled that of my 2011 experience in Icy Strait Point the next day made for dreams of bubblenet feeding and breaching bohemoths as I drifted off in that oh-so-cozy HAL bed.

Icy Strait Point and the very Alaskan town of Hoonah is our next stop on this magical journey thru Southeast Alaska.

Many thanks to all who have posted your complimentary and encouraging words - it gives me incentive to continue! Today is looking busy for me, so it may not be until this evening that I can get back in the saddle again to continue the review. Appreciate your patience.

KK - sorry to hear you had to cancel the June 22nd sailing, I know how much you enjoy this itinerary - me too! Hoping you will be able to reschedule or perhaps be able to book next year's sailings on the Statendam. Speaking of which, I was a bit disappointed to see that HAL shortened several port times on this itinerary for next year. As I recall, Sitka, Kodiak and ISP (and maybe a few others, can't remember) port times have been reduced from those of this year. Boo-hiss! If anything, I'd like some additional hours added to those ports - and Homer too!

SunLakesBob - your journey on the Amsterdam is just a couple of days away. Go, feed your addiction! It is good for the soul! I hope all of you on the June 22nd sailing will have as enjoyable time as we did on the May 18th sailing!

(Sung to the tune of 'Gilligan's Island' theme song)

"Through bergie bits we forged ahead to the Sawyer's southern face, the same held true for Hubbard Day, as we approached its icy base."

Ketchikan: After another wonderful night's sleep on HAL's delicious beds, we woke to a bit of a drizzle but nothing to get your panties in a twist about. Just put on the raincoat, up with the hood, waterproof hikers laced up and off we went.

Prior to sailing, four of us - Michelle, LVSue, Rhodi and myself had decided that we had all been to Ketchikan way too many times to meander around town; its kitchy atmosphere had worn a bit thin for us, so we made plans with David and Kat of Ketchikan Taxi Cab Tours (tours@ketchikantaxicabtours.com) for a 3 hour tour (do you see the Gilligan's theme emerging here?:p) for sites out of town. With our tour slotted from 11AM-2PM, we were up bright and early to get off the ship at 8AM because Michelle needed some retail therapy before embarking on our adventure. You all need to know that Michelle is a shopper and she likes nothing better than to find a bargain. So off we went, perusing the shops along the waterfront and up into town. The drizzle continued for most of the morning, stopping on and off as we got closer to our tour departure time.

We met up w/David at the covered portico area at the Sockeye Sam Store near Berth 3 (by the tunnel) where the Amsterdam docked promptly at 11AM, and off we went. We drove out the road a bit to a public dock area where eagles were congregated and eagle nests abounded. During our drive there, David filled us in on what it is like to live in Ketchikan year round - very interesting and oft times funny stories were shared. At the dock, we saw the carcass of a rather large halibut floating at the end of the dock - and eagles were dipping down to take a peck at it. Great photo opportunities. Then we were off to Potlatch Park, which we had all to ourselves. Again David shared stories about the park's history, the totem poles that lie within the park, and we set off on a short hike on a meandering path thru the rainforest. It was interesting to visit the carving shed, learn the meaning of the totems, and see the peaceful area in which this park is located.Time flew by and before we knew it, we were headed back to town - hungry for some fish and chips. He dropped us off at Burger Queen (you can order your lunch there and have it delivered across the street at the Happy Bear bar where you can eat on picnic tables overlooking the harbor. Since it was still spritzing on and off, we chose to eat inside. Michelle and I shared an order - plenty for both of us, as did Sue and Rhodi. Afterwards, it was a short walk back to the town where we continued wandering around a bit. The weather cleared later in the afternoon, and sailaway from Ketchikan was sunny and bright. Temps. ranged from 55 to 65 degrees throughout this whole cruise. We got lucky!

Tonight was 'Neil Diamond Name that Tune' w/entertainer Derek in the Piano Bar. Yeah, our team rocked it and we had a blast winning too!

Good night from Capt. Fred 'on the lovely Aaaamsterdammmm in Alaaaaaska'!

Tracy Arm Scenic sailing: Our scenic sailing day dawned bright and sunny, blue skies abound and into the fiord we traveled. Soaring cliffs and Sitka spruce forests surrounded the ship, close enough to touch it seemed, as we made our way thru the twists and turns of the passage. Many times cruiseships don't make it too far, certainly not close enough to see (and hear) the glacier, often times only as far as Sawyer Island before turning around. On THIS day, however, Capt. Fred was a rockstar - edging closer and closer thru the bergie bits hitting our deep blue hull to within 1 1/2 miles of the glacier. The deep rumble of the calving sounded like thunder, and then you'd seek hunks of ice crash off the glacier face into the water below. As often as I've been to Alaska and as many glaciers that I've been fortunate enough to get close to - it is always a thrill, and a sight to behold as tho it were the very first time.

We spent some time on the aft 'secret deck' on 7, and we sailed in and out of Tracy Arm. Whales were seen aplenty, Dall porpoise frolicked in the ship's wake, and my friends John and Donna were just in awe of the spectacle before them. We wandered the ship - to the bow, and to the small deck just below the bridge on deck 6, popping into the gym to watch and warm up, then up to the Crow's Nest, and out to our balcony. It truly was a spectacular day!

Sailing away from the South Sawyer Glacier, many folks went back inside while we just moved the party to our balcony, where John and Donna, Michelle and I continued to view the splendor around us. Someone on the balcony next door said they saw a bear, but a thorough scan w/my trusty binoculars found nothing - wish I could have seen it....

All in all, a memorable day sailing Tracy Arm. Way to go Capt. and crew, for getting us so close to the glacier face!

9PM found us once again at the Piano Bar for TV Sitcom Themes. Not to brag or anything, but can you say winners? Uh-huh, that would be us.:D:D

Next up: Juneau

(Sung to the tune of "Gilligan's Island" theme song):

'From Ketchikan in the wet southeast to Anchorage we docked, wildfires there showed us smoke and ash, yet to the town we flocked....yet to the town we flocked.'

Let's get this party started!: A quick visit to the front desk and we had our Unlimited Laundry package ordered ($98.00/cabin for 14 days - best bargain on the ship!), and had retrieved a power cord for use of my CPAP machine and all our electronic gear - cell phones, Ipad, cameras, etc. Our Explore4 beverage card and our HAL excursion tickets were in the cabin and ready for our use.

After unpacking, we refamiliarized ourselves with the ship and ordered our first drinks. As the Seattle skyline grew smaller and smaller, we took up residence on our 'porch' to enjoy the views and the long hours of daylight as we headed north. Seas were truly smooth as glass - actually remained that way for almost the entire trip.

Days onboard for us were lazy and enjoyable - a great deal of time spent enjoying the scenery and looking for whales on our porch, on the secret deck on the aft of Navigation deck, or 'on the dark side', which is what I lovingly dubbed the outdoor smoking area on the starboard side of the aft Lido deck. Met THE nicest people there and we became friendly with them throughout the trip and beyond. If you guys are reading this - big hugs to Scott and Rick, and Marianne and 'Dutch' (never did learn his real first name - they were from the Netherlands and we so enjoyed their accents).

Lots of whale sightings from the Lido while heading north those first few days and oh, what an event it was! People would flock to that side of the ship when the cry went up that a humpback had been spotted. It became a sport, one that we all hoped to excel in. You gotta spend the time on deck scanning the seas to get the kind of results you wanted - and Michelle and I were up for the challenge. Great fun!

Didn't participate in a whole lot of activities - other than "Name that Tune" in the Ocean Bar (at which, might I add, our team excelled and kicked butt - two first place showings and a tie or 2 if memory serves me correctly). Sure didn't hurt that we had our "ringers" Val and Roger from Britain on our team when Beatles Name that Tune was the order of the day!;) Thanx folks - couldn't have done it without you!:D

What was missing?: Two things we found lacking in the entertainment department included no "Marriage Game" (think Newlywed Game), and no "Amsterdam Superstar" (think American Idol). None. Nada. We always enjoy that silly type of entertainment, and sometimes you can find a gem of a voice among your fellow passengers when karaoke is on the agenda.

Full disclosure - Once - against my will I might add - DH and I actually participated in the Marriage Game. Ugh - lets just say, it was not our finest hour and I will never forgive Michelle, Silly Jilly, Mary and Kim for "volunteering" us to participate. (Did get a nice insulated HAL mug out of it though, so maybe it was worth the embarrassment?? Nah, it wasn't).

Come and Get it!: I'm a Lido girl myself, and I think I may have converted Michelle as well. We had our first dinner in the Lido and now that I think about it - only had two other meals in the MDR for the entire 14 day trip. One lunch on Kodiak day and one dinner with John and Donna.

We had received a free Pinnacle Grill meal w/the Explore4 package, and upon seeing the assigned time was unsatisfactory, we were easily able to change that reservation to a time of our choosing by visiting the dining kiosk located near the Lido buffet.

Breakfast each morning was either room service or the Lido where I enjoyed a custom made omelet most every day and deliciously crisp bacon to accompany it. During the cruise, we did experience some instances where the food served in the Lido was lukewarm and apparently there had been some complaints because a server clearing our table mentioned it. It certainly didn't happen often enough to impact our dining experience there, and we could usually find something on the menu that appealed to us.

About a week into the trip, both Michelle and I were tired of large 'fancy' meals, so she dialed Room Service and ordered up two Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches (grape jelly please!) and two glasses of milk. After a bit of back and forth on the phone, our sandwiches arrived as ordered, and oh my, were they good! Nice change of pace!

On the final formal night, we ordered room service from the MDR menu - three surfs each, no turf please - and it was delivered to our humble abode - hot and fresh and delicious.

Had burgers at the Dive In and yes, we enjoyed them (mine was minus the bun - too much dang bread for me). The fries were amazing both at the Dive In and at the Lido - everytime, crispy hot and delicious!

Visited the Explorations Cafe for specialty coffees and teas on a regular basis (thank you Explore4 - we got our money's worth there alone as, alas, we didn't come anywhere close to the 7 drinks per day in the alcohol beverage category). Be sure to say hi to Christian (or as we lovingly called him "Co-Captain") from Michelle and I. He's a gem, always smiling, always friendly, and always all-seeing and all-knowing when it came to what we were thirsty for.

What was missing?: Two things stand out that we found lacking in the food department - NO cinnamon ice cream and NO pizza. None. Nada.

Now I'm not a huge fan of HAL's pizza to begin with (the crust is too thick and not enough cheese), but after about a week there I was jonesing for pizza. Heck any kind of pizza would do!!! Fortuntely, we were able to remedy that by getting pizza at a Mexican restaurant (yes, you read that right!) in Sitka of all places. Delicious and tasty - mission accomplished!

As to the cinnamon ice cream, both Michelle and I are big fans and always look forward to it being served on our HAL Alaska cruises so we were majorly bummed that it never made an appearance. M. inquired several times to the ice cream bar server as to when we might expect it on the menu, but she was told that they had never had cinnamon ice cream. What?:eek: Finally, M. badgered the Lido manager, who promised to look into the matter and get back to us. Sadly, we never heard a thing and 14 days passed being cinnamon ice cream-less.:(

I had to console myself with make-your-own-sundaes in the Lido for dessert if I couldn't find something else that appealed to me.

Meet and Greet: As I said before, our active Roll Call was a lot of fun, so we looked forward to the M&G scheduled for 10AM in the Crows Nest on Monday, May 19th. Thanx to LVSue for all her hard work, she is a planner extraordinaire!Great turn out with the usual cookies and coffee/tea supplied by HAL. No HAL officers or staff in attendance that I saw, but made no difference. Everyone mingled, there was lots of chatting going on, and friendly smiles abounded. It was so wonderful to meet so many of you and to catch up with old friends I hadn't seen since 2010.

Special thanx to Clipper (aka: Alberta Quilter) for her hard work on the 'live from' thread she so brilliantly produced.

Next up: Land ho - Ketchikan here we come!

Thanx to all for the kind comments! So happy you are enjoying the review so far. Hoping to post more later today.

I'll tell them, Karen - thanx for the offer. No, they aren't on CC, though Lord knows, I've encouraged them to take a look. Will pass along the info and hopefully, they will show up at the Meet and Greet. Appreciate it!

(Sung to the tune of "Gilligan's Island" theme song)

'Each port reveals a stunning jewel with beauty far and wide. Each mile we sailed in the Great White North, showed Alaska's homegrown pride...showed Alaska's homegrown pride.'

From the east to the west in 5 1/2 LONG hours: The worst part of any Alaska trip is getting there, sigh, but it is a necessary evil. On Sat. afternoon, May 17th, we bit the bullet and headed for Phila. airport from my home in the Lehigh Valley, picking John and Donna up along the way, for our 6PM flight to Seattle. Non-stop (thank God!) on Alaska Airlines, arriving at 9PM in Seattle. Several years ago knowing Alaska was on our radar as often as possible, DH and I signed up for the Alaska Airlines VISA card to take advantage of their yearly $99 companion fare and to earn frequent flyer miles. It has saved us big bucks ever since and made flying to Seattle or Anchorage much more affordable. As a matter of fact, with the FF miles we had acrued, this RT flight to Seattle only cost me $7.48 - not bad, right? John and Donna took my advice to get the Alaska Airlines CC as well, and were able to book a relatively inexpensive flight using the $99 companion fare.

While uneventful, the flight seemed endless and we all breathed a sigh of relief upon landing safely in Seattle. Love that airport - I know many don't feel the same way, but I'm so familiar with it at this point, that it feels like coming home each time we touch down. Quickly retrieving our luggage, we headed to the parking garage and put in a call to the front desk of the Sleep Inn Seatac for their free shuttle service to whisk us to our evening's accomodations.

Sleep Inn Seatac: Cannot say enough good things about this lovely airport area hotel - we've always stayed here pre- and post-Alaska trips. Reasonable rates (most times under $100/night), spotless rooms, free shuttle to/from airport and within 3 miles of the hotel, two computers/printers for guest use in the lobby, and complimentary continental breakfast including fresh waffles, sausages, various pastries/bagels/muffins, yogurt, hot and cold cereal, fresh fruit, etc., and 24-hour free coffee/tea/hot chocolate, etc. With an IHOP conveniently located right across the parking lot, options for other meals are always available.

Met up with Michelle who arrived from California earlier, and after 'catching up' for a bit, we hit the hay in anticipation of the beginning of our journey back to Alaska the next morning.

From Sleep Inn to Pier 91: Prior to the trip, we booked the 10:45 pick-up with Seattle Express for $12/pp. Wonderful service, always prompt - highly recommend. Tell Matt at Seattle Express that Lynda sent ya;)). As expected, the shuttle arrived and we all comfortably traveled to Pier 91, entered the terminal, dropped off our luggage and quickly went thru the check-in process. Waited approximately 10 minutes before our number was called. Breezed past the ship photographer with a polite "No thanks" and there she was - the beautiful and elegant MS Amsterdam - close enough to touch.

Upon boarding, Michelle and I walked Donna and John to their cabin (2715) on the aft of the Main Deck, and we were all amazed at the size of this oceanview cabin with a large window overlooking the Main Deck's 'secret deck." They were very pleased with their cabin choice.

Eager to see our balcony cabin (6210) on the Verandah deck, up we went to deck 6, squealing with delight when we saw our very own 'porch' (as Ruth calls it!) for the next 14 days.

Originally, Michelle and I were booked in our favorite 'secret cabin' on the aft of the Navigation deck. DH and I sailed in this cabin in 2010, while Michelle and another friend sailed in the identical cabin on the starboard side (7055), so we knew its advantages - just five short steps to that wonderful, little used 'secret deck' overlooking the mesmerizing wake views, and just one short flight of steps up to the Seaview bar, outdoor pool, and Lido deck. A couple of days prior to sailing, we had our TA contact HAL to see if a reasonable upsell might be offered to a balcony cabin, and we were in luck! Ask and ye shall receive - we were blessed.

After exploring our cabin and dropping off our carry-ons, we met up w/Donna and John in the Lido for our first (of many) meals there. Found a sunny spot outdoors to enjoy our meal and the sunny day we had been blessed with.

With the iconic Space Needle in the background and the Seattle waterfront panned out before us, muster drill was soon complete, our luggage had arrived, and we set sail for the wonder that is Alaska. Ain't life grand???

Stay tuned.....

(Sung to the tune of 'Gilligan's Island' theme song):

'Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip, that started at Seattle port aboard one fine Dam ship....aboard one fine Dam ship.

A 14 day Alaskan cruise for the third time I did sail, with whales and bears and glaciers blue, there's bound to be a tale....there's bound to be a tale.

The ship was the lovely Amsterdam, the Captain's name was Fred. With sunny skies and calm smooth seas, our journey forged ahead....our journey forged ahead.'

The Players: Hi, my name is Lynda, (better known in these parts as AIP) and yes, I'm an Alaska-holic. No desire to overcome this addiction either so I learn to live with and feed the addiction at every opportunity.

This was my third time on this wonderful 14 day AK itinerary (May 31, 2010 and August 5, 2011) and if I have anything to say about it, it won't be my last;)!

I shared a cabin w/my friend Michelle who DH and I had met on this same sailing in 2010. DH remained behind keeping the home fires burning and caring for our furry family member - Hyper Piper, a 4 year old Springer Spaniel whose name says it all.

Aboard and along for the ride were several others we had met in 2010 including LVSue and her SIL Rhodi. We had a very active Roll Call (which continues to this day!) that began back in March of 2013, I believe, so plenty of time to cultivate friendships before we even stepped aboard. Shout out to ALL of you - I miss your smiling faces throughout the ship and in port.

Also traveling w/me from PA were my friends John and Donna - new to cruising and virgin Alaska visitors, so I was most excited to show them all the wonders of the Great Land and the lovely MS Amsterdam. Two other friends were scheduled to travel and sail with us, however a tragic car crash just days before sailing took the life of my friend's sister causing them to cancel the cruise and rebook (they will be on the June 22nd sailing leaving this Sunday instead). Those of you on the 6/22 sailing, please keep your eyes peeled for Lorraine and Ralph and take them under your wing for me, would ya?

Alaska Addiction: Began in Sept. of 2006 - on the last 7-day AK cruise of the season aboard the Oosterdam.

Now I'm a beach girl thru and thru, so the prospect of sailing to Alaska wasn't all that appealing to me at the time. However, since a group of 10 friends had booked this sailing, my DH coerced me into giving it a try, and I went (kicking and screaming I might add!) aboard the lovely O, vowing to be a good sport.

Ha!!! Little did I know that I'd find my 'heart home' that fateful day, and would return to Alaska again and again. In fact, the plan now is to retire somewhere on the Kenai Peninsula (hopefully in or around Homer) in the future. Amazing how life takes you in new directions when you least expect it. Who knew??

Subsequent trips to AK included another 7 day sailing on the Oosterdam in May of 2008, then the two 14 day sailings in 2010 and 2011, followed by a 17 day land only trip to Alaska with DH in 2013 - BEST. VACATION. EVER. Plans are now in the works for a winter trip in coming years for an early March visit to include the Iditarod and (hopefully) aurora viewing.

But I digress, back to the adventure at hand....

A huge vote of confidence and recommendation for Capt. Davey in Sitka. Unless you want to rent the boat privately for the day, he can and will find others to fill the six passenger maximum. I've gone with him twice and would not hesitate to book with Capt. Davey again. We saw plenty of humpbacks and my first gray whale, along with numerous sea otters, sealions, and puffins galore. The boat is very comfortable with plenty of room to move around both inside and out. There is a small 'head' on board, and he provides snacks and beverages. Capt. Davey is very interesting, personable and knowledgeable, and oh, the fresh baked chocolate chip cookies his wife and daughters delivered warm to the pier before we left didn't suck either;).

Hi Carri - Kodiak was on a Tuesday this year - the day AFTER their annual Memorial Day weekend Crab Festival ended. Drats!:o

Edi - I'd LOVE to join you on that July sailing, believe me....unfortunately life gets in the way. Wishing you a wonderful trip and can't wait to hear all about it when you return!

Was just on the HAL catamarin trip (via Allen Marine) within the past 2 weeks - your feet won't get wet at all. No worries.

Yes, the 14 day itinerary will continue next year on the Statendam instead of the Amsterdam. Looking over the itinerary, it remains the same, however they have shortened some port stays by an hour - including Sitka and Kodiak, maybe one other, I don't recall. I would much rather have our Anchorage port stop cut shorter, with more time in Sitka and Kodiak, but realize tides play a huge roll in that decision. Friends of ours who went on the May 18th sailing with us this year have already booked next year's 14 day itinerary for mid-July - lucky ducks!:D

Waved to you in Victoria, SeahawkSiren - did ya see me?;)

Got some great shots of your ship and the Grand when leaving Victoria, BC around 11PM on Saturday night. All lit up like Christmas trees, looked so pretty!

Great cruise on the Amsterdam, fantastic weather for both weeks - a bit of drizzle in Ketchikan and Kodiak in the morning, otherwise blue skies and relatively warm temps. (53 to 60 degrees F) the rest of the time. Smelled smoke from the wildfire in Anchorage, and had ash falling on us while walking thru the weekend market. Feared our Homer stop the next day would bring smokey skies, but nope, the wind changed direction and not a whiff of smoke, just clear skies. Lots of "Deadliest Catch" boats seen on this trip - Time Bandit, Ramblin' Rose, and Cape Caution in Homer, then in Kodiak, saw the Saga, and just missed the Seabrooke by one day and the Cornelia Marie by a week....sigh....

All in all, another wonderful 14 day Alaskan cruise on the Amsterdam. Hoping to post a review on the HAL board once I settle into all things 'Homedam".

Yes they do. Just got off the 14 day Amsterdam itinerary, and there was a small section of scrapbooking items in the shop aboard the ship. Also, each and every port has plenty of stores w/those items specific to that particular port available for purchase.

Thanx for the 'welcome home' Carri and all you others who chimed in. It was, indeed, a wonderful cruise. Yes, I'm hoping to do a review once I catch up with life here at Homedam. Til then, Clipper's 'Live from' thread will have to suffice. We enjoyed particularly lovely weather throughout the cruise, with just a few sprinkles in Ketchikan and Kodiak in the morning.

Sure do miss the Lido....my room stewards....the Explorations Cafe mocha every morning....my 'porch'....and of course, the star of the show - Alaska itself!

Leaving for my fifth tomorrow (two 7 day and this will be my third 14 day), plus a 17 day land only trip last year this time. Alaska is my heart home. I have no desire to cruise (or for that matter, vacation) anywhere else. Hoping to retire to Homer someday...:p

Many thanks to everyone for the good wishes and kind words.

Suitcases packed and by the door, my dog Piper is looking at me sadly knowing something is up (but she'll be home w/her "Dad", so no guilt pangs here:p), did the final grocery shopping for DH to nosh on while I'm gone, last load of laundry in the washer (he's on his own for the dryer), and now just have to sit back and relax til we leave the house in just 4 short hours. Heck, I may even read a magazine while I wait!

Will post when I return, and I urge everyone to read Alberta Quilter's 'Live From' as I'm sure she'll post all the details of our trip on a frequent basis.

To those of you on the Oosterdam this weekend, we'll be seeing you in port for a couple of stops - be sure to wave;).

There are a couple of 2014 Alaska reviews on the HAL Board, plus one 'Live from' thread in progress for the sailing I'm on - Amsterdam 14 day itinerary (being done by Alberta Quilter). Also saw a review on the Princess Board.

Oops, sorry POA - just saw your post. Appreciate the good wishes. After your selfless pursuit of all things alcohol, much of your 'research', particularly about the Explore4 info, has really helped us in planning. We'll raise a glass to you...on our balcony, don't ya know?;)

Thanx Cruz Chic and S7S for the good wishes. Very excited.

And yes, the TA was able to negotiate. Apparently HAL's comment to her after Thursday's chat was "Make us an offer." She knew our top dollar amount, and HAL went for it. I think there were four balcony cabins vacant, no suites left to my knowledge. HAL also told TA this date isn't sailing full. Hope those following us on the June 22nd sailing can get some upsells as well.

Thanx Karen, I'll post when we return. One of our fellow Roll Call members has started a "Live From" thread on the HAL boards. Her name is Alberta Quilter.

Seahawk Siren - will be waving for sure! Hope you have a spectacular trip as well! Alaska, here we come:D!

Thanks Trish!

....til I fly to Seattle to board the lovely HAL Amsterdam for her first 14 day Alaskan cruise of the season. This is my third time on this marvelous itinerary and I have been very excited about the trip for well over a year now. Our Roll Call participation has been off the charts, and I'm so looking forward to meeting every one, and to seeing old friends from past sailings to Alaska.

To make things even better, late this afternoon our wonderful TA was able to get us a very, very reasonable upsell to a balcony cabin (6210) near the aft of the Verandah deck from our original ocean view cabin (H7056) on the aft of the Navigation deck. While I will actually miss my 'secret' cabin and its 'secret' deck just steps out the door, it will be lovely to have a balcony for this particular sailing. Coffee in my jammies at first light searching for whales will be sweeter than ever;).

Grinning from ear to ear, and now even more ecstatic about heading back to the Great Land for the sixth time. Life is good.....very, very good:D.