SPIRIT to ALASKA May 8 - 15 Review ... LOVED IT!!!

[ohscrap]

What a great pictorial of your trip. I am loving it! We are sailing in August on the Coral Princess so I've been scouring Cruise Critic for info on Alaska cruises when I stumbled upon your post. It has been fascinating and so informative. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to do these posts. I'm sure posting the pictures has been very time consuming, but I'm so glad you did. They are fantastic.

 

How did your cruisemate like the Deadliest Catch excursion? My husband and I have booked that too and would like to get any feedback from someone who has done it.

 

I hope our paths will cross one day on a future cruise!

[btyko]

Good morning Lambie,

This may seem like a strange questions since we will be cruising Alaska - and we are cruising for the Alaska experience but did you notice how busy the casino was? I know DH will like to spend some time in there especially in the evenings after dinner. Do you know when the casino was opened?

Thanks for the wonderful review!

 

Not a strange question at all. I am wondering the same. Also, does the casino re-open after departing Victoria?

[sandys57]

I thoroughly enjoyed your detailed review. The pics are all gorgeous. I have been debating if I even wish to go on an Alaskan cruise, but your review has convinced me..... I DO want to go. Thanks. Sandy :)

[TheCalicoCat]

...and Duck Farts... too... my down fall...

 

I have to ask, what is a duck fart? (I have a drink card ordered - so I can splurge.)

[LambKnuckles]

Two weeks ago today... I woke up on a cruise, sailing on to Victoria, BC... After a wonderful evening... a beautiful sunset... and a lounge on the Serenity deck just before Midnight... ...and of course, my nightie night Rueben Sandwich from the Deli!!!

 

My cruise is coming to an end... this evening would be our last port. It's almost like a full day at Sea today. We arrive in Victoria after dinner and sail away, again, at Midnight... for that two hour cruise to Seattle...

 

I woke to my buddies sleeping with me. I forgot to tell you that I bought my Lambster, my newest lamb, a new outfit yesterday. On board, they have a set of stuffed animal and outfits to buy. They open this area, normally on the Lido Stage, in the early afternoon. You can buy the Babies, or babies and outfits or just the outfits.

 

Little Lambie already has a Carnival Crew uniform, so I decided to get Lambster a Carnival girlie uniform... looks kind of like a cheerleading uniform. I used the pompoms for hair bows around her ears... and her they are...

 

Now... this morning was my day to look for whales and interesting things in the sea. We're in the Pacific -- but it's a MUCH CALMER day than the first time we travelled this route, going north! I wasn't aware the Pacific could be this calm... so maybe the cruise to Alaska doesn't have to be rough seas!!!

 

If you look carefully, you'll see the whale and his spout spray...

Whether it's that they just don't always jump and dance like they do in Sea world, or if it's the short lag between my sighting, the lens focusing, and the clicking and capturing... I'm sorry but this is all I got!

 

This one is truly late... But I saw a saw breach of the whale, where that spray is almost disapated.

 

But, whales aren't the only things at sea... Here's a neighbor heading north...

 

And a close up!

[LambKnuckles]

So... this one, you can see a bit more...

 



 



 



 

Some more spray...

 

[LambKnuckles]

 

Walking aft... I needed another wkae shot, but saw this little peek first...

 



 

 

And here and above, you can see, I was playing with different settings... Some for bright daylight, some for sand and sea, some auto... But since we talked camera... you can see all the things it will do.

 



 

 

[LambKnuckles]

Then off to wander a bit, before the Chocolate Buffet!!!

 

I don't think I showed you the spa showers... Such a treat! When the showers are full in the cabin, because you have more than one using it, the Spa showers are there and ready! And with the bathrobe, you just take you shower, wash your hair, and walk back to the cabin to finish getting ready...

 

The side shower heads are such a luxury and treat!!!

 

 

My roomies were on their Behind the Fun excursion, which is on board and takes you behind the scenes on the ship. I've done this tour and LOVED it!!! I didn't it on the CONQUEST, when Captain Massimo Marino was there. Such fun going to the crew area, the laundry, the engine control room, the crew and Captain's Mess, the brig, the infirmary, the bow of the ship, and then watch them get ready for the Chocolate buffet in the galley!

 

But now, it's the buffet set up and ready to be partaken!!

 

 



 



 

[LambKnuckles]

 

 

These are all ready for dipping in the chocolate fountain...

 



 

 

... there is help waiting to satisfy our sweet tooth!!!

 

[LambKnuckles]

But I had lunch first at Chopsticks...

 

 

And back to the cabin to start packing... Here's our door...

 

Then, I want to show you how the bunk comes out of the ceiling... here's my home...

 

OK... Maybe it's just me, or maybe not... But this was the one mural on the hallway walls that I questioned... Is this provocative to any of you???

 

[CorvetteLady]

Great review!

[musicgal]

Lambie- In response to your question about the nude decor all over the Spirit... that green and white "nymphette with groper" surprised me... mostly because of the exit sign placed up in the corner. While it does not offend me, I look at that kind of thing as I would a "velvet Elvis" painting. (I like Elvis music, BTW)

I'll tell you that it will be a topic of laughter amongst the older travelers in our group, and unfortunately will disturb some of the younger ones who are neo-missionary minded. They've made a vow not to watch R rated movies... so, like I said- sometimes I think "art" like that is pushed out there to get in somebody's face and provoke some kind of reaction. Which, I guess it does- because I've seen a lot of comments in the reviews about it. But I've seen enough art (Rome, British Museum, Pompeii) to know what art is, and what naughty little line drawings are- and this is closer to the latter than the former IMHO.

I am absolutely loving your review. Hoping for nice weather and great excursions- thanks for taking the time to post everything.

[LambKnuckles]

Oops... I forgot my Trophy Winning...

 

After breakfast, but before my "whale watching," was the Morning trivia... I wasn't going to stay -- but decided to, since I would really LOVE a ship on a stick, to add to the ones I display at the office... It was general trivia, so let's see...

 

SURPRISE!!! With 15 out of 21 right... I win my trophy!!! THANK YOU to Senda and Don for coming in second and letting me win!!! They also took this photo of me...

 

This is our last sea day... and it's the day of the Farewell Party. The Farewell Party is NOT advertised or listed in the Funtimes of the day. It was listed on the first day's Funtimes, Embarkation day's... Just a quick listing saying FUN FAREWELL...

 

It's usually in the Punchliner's Lounge... and it's scheduled to end about an hour or half hour before early seating... That said, we figured it would be 4PM, right after the $5000 Coverall BINGO, and drawing for the free cruise and drawing for the $500 of you bar tab paid for...

 

So, once the BINGO was done... I head down the stairs, to Versailles and discover the Party doesn't start till 4:15. So I take some photos of the decor...

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 



 



 

 

[LambKnuckles]

And some of our gang!

 

 



 



 

 



 

And the band...

 

 

[LambKnuckles]

I'm loving your review.

 

If I had to pick just one word to describe your personality, it would be BUBBLY. :) You have the most wonderful way of enjoying everything you see and experience.

 

I laughed so much at your pic of "toes." As you said everyone takes pics of their toes in the warm sand ... but yours is so unique. Hiding under the blanket, then under the socks...Hey must be toes. :D

 

Thank you for putting this fantastic review together.

 

THANK YOU!!! I'm glad you see how I just LOVE the whole cruising time.

 

And... when I thought about the toes pic... I was trying to figure an Alaskan toes picture... And while taking photos on the Serenity that night... I just wanted to show the socks and toes and blanket!!!

 

THANKS!!!

Lambie, I am so loving your review, helps me relive some of our times there. I would have to say I loved Ketchikan best too. Juneau was probably my least favorite, I think because my ears were the most cold there...haha. I believe it was Juneau where we did the float plane over the glaciers and that was awesome. I too hope we can go and experience it again some day.

 

I'll bet the float plane tour was GREAT!!! You got to see all the glaciers that were close... WOW!!!

 

I think that is so great that someone signed ASL to the Karaoke song. I'm not a fan of karaoke but I would have loved to have seen that.

 

Congrats on narrowing down the vases to 3 favorites - there were some I loved but that would have been tough. I liked a couple of the paintings too on the stair landings next to the vases.

 

You got a lot of great shots of Ketchikan. We didn't wander a lot because it was raining so hard & so windy. Apparently a lot of people didn't even leave the ship that day, or left only briefly. Glad I got a better look through your pictures.

 

You would have LOVED the ASL singing!!! It was great!!! As for the vases and art work and decor... The SPIRIT was simply elegant and beautiful!!!!

 

I'm glad you got to see more of Ketchikan in the photos. It's a lovely town or village... and has many places I didn't have time to visit!! I really loved it!!!

[LambKnuckles]

Two of my favorite pictures from Ketchikan.

 

The Creek Street area had so many great places to take photos!!! Very picturesque... Especially on a nice and sunny day!

 

THANK YOU!

Those glass stairs ... YIKES. I've seen them in person, and there is no way I'm going to get on them. It is interesting to people watch (adults and children) when they get to the stairs and realize they are glass and you can see all the way down to the atrium.

 

The first time I was there, I couldn't even take a photo looking down... But I'm glad I went back, with no crowd around, and took my time.

 

Great review, especially loving the part of my home town, Silverdale. Not often I see that. Glad you enjoyed yourself here. I am looking forward to taking this cruise one day. Your picture are gorgeous and shared some with the hubby. Hinting for a new camera before our next cruise. Thank you for sharing.

 

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

 

I loved Silverdale!! That sandwich shop, in old town, named after a girl's name... YUMMMMM!!! And the Beach Resort was GREAT!!! Kent loved the walking trail and he took full advantage of it!!!

 

And it's walkable!!! WONDERFUL!!!!

 

I'm glad you're enjoying the review. THANK YOU!!!

[LambKnuckles]

Yea, the stairs...the only time I was on them was to take pictures and when we went one time to the chef demonstration on the lst sea day of our Miracle cruise. I wore crocs and CLUNG to the bannister for dear life. Can you imagine walking down them in heals after you've had a 6 course dinner and a couple bottles of wine!?! :eek::eek::eek:

 

NOPE... I don't even want to think about it!!! I've been there and I'm so HAPPY there's an alternative!!!

 

I got up there, realized too late the glass stairs & how you see all the way down. I was able to walk back down but had to force myself not to look down. Fear of heights....not as bad as the "walk of faith" in China - have only seen photos & no way I could handle that.

 

Yep... When I did a suspension bridge in Rock City on a vacation... I just kept looking ahead!!! NOT DOWN!!!

 

I'm just glad there is an elevator you can take to that deck and to the restaurant (specialty) there. I think if I had been in your situation, I would of froze in place. Like you, I have a fear of heights. There is something too about a glass floor. When we were on the Mariner of the Seas, they have a glass curio box type floor into the casino. I could only walk on it if I didn't look down and it was probably about 8 inches deep and filled with things. Just gave me a creepy feeling.

 

Oh my gosh, just checked out the walk of faith ...there is absolutely, positively no way I would even go near that. Feel the same way about the lookout at the grand canyon that is all glass too.

 

http://www.demilked.com/walk-of-faith-glass-pavement-built-on-4690ft-mountain-in-china/

(walk of faith photos if you haven't seen it).

 

WOW!!! Clinging to a cliff on a glass walkway...

 

YIKES!!!!!

[LambKnuckles]

I feel your pain ... :eek:

Fortunately you can get to the deck and to the specialty restaurant by elevator. Glass stairs are not mandatory.

 

AMEN!!!!

 

Good morning Lambie,

This may seem like a strange questions since we will be cruising Alaska - and we are cruising for the Alaska experience but did you notice how busy the casino was? I know DH will like to spend some time in there especially in the evenings after dinner. Do you know when the casino was opened?

Thanks for the wonderful review!

 

The casino Slots opened at 7am... Casino Table games opened at 10am... and I want to say it closed at 2 or 3... But I didn't ever stay till closing.

 

It was busy, but I could always find a slot machine. And I saw table space. I'm not a smoker, but there were some slots I would have liked to play in the smoking area... but didn't. you can only smoke while you're playing -- but this wasn't enforced from what I saw. Smoking on in the designated area ws enforced though!

What a great pictorial of your trip. I am loving it! We are sailing in August on the Coral Princess so I've been scouring Cruise Critic for info on Alaska cruises when I stumbled upon your post. It has been fascinating and so informative. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to do these posts. I'm sure posting the pictures has been very time consuming, but I'm so glad you did. They are fantastic.

 

How did your cruisemate like the Deadliest Catch excursion? My husband and I have booked that too and would like to get any feedback from someone who has done it.

 

I hope our paths will cross one day on a future cruise!

 

THANK YOU!!! I hope you enjoy your cruise and I'm sure you will!!!

 

Karen came back with great stories and smiles!!! She loved the tour. If she comes to read this, I hope she posts!!! I haven't seen her photos, but I'll ask her to post them here too!

[LambKnuckles]

Not a strange question at all. I am wondering the same. Also, does the casino re-open after departing Victoria?

 

NO... Neither the casino, nor the gift shops reopened after Victoria.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed your detailed review. The pics are all gorgeous. I have been debating if I even wish to go on an Alaskan cruise, but your review has convinced me..... I DO want to go. Thanks. Sandy :)

 

Sandy... GREAT!!! I think it's a cruise that is so MEMORABLE!!! ...and I'll do it again!!!

 

I have to ask, what is a duck fart? (I have a drink card ordered - so I can splurge.)

 

It's one of the shots... Crown/Whiskey, Kahlua, and Bailey's/Irish Cream... It was invented in Alaska -- so they say!!! I first had it on the ECSTASY, on the way to Progresso and Cozumel...

[LambKnuckles]

Great review!

 

Thank you!!! I have a little bit more...

 

Lambie- In response to your question about the nude decor all over the Spirit... that green and white "nymphette with groper" surprised me... mostly because of the exit sign placed up in the corner. While it does not offend me, I look at that kind of thing as I would a "velvet Elvis" painting. (I like Elvis music, BTW)

I'll tell you that it will be a topic of laughter amongst the older travelers in our group, and unfortunately will disturb some of the younger ones who are neo-missionary minded. They've made a vow not to watch R rated movies... so, like I said- sometimes I think "art" like that is pushed out there to get in somebody's face and provoke some kind of reaction. Which, I guess it does- because I've seen a lot of comments in the reviews about it. But I've seen enough art (Rome, British Museum, Pompeii) to know what art is, and what naughty little line drawings are- and this is closer to the latter than the former IMHO.

I am absolutely loving your review. Hoping for nice weather and great excursions- thanks for taking the time to post everything.

 

Thank you!!! I really didn't mind the art -- but this one was right in our hallway and I saw it every time I'd come back to the cabin from the mid ship elevators.

 

It just surprised me when I really looked at it!!! It did NOT offend or bother me... just wondered what others think...

 

I guess the weather is the variable in each Alaskan or any cruise... I always LAUGH when it rains in Cozumel. Leaving from the gulf coast on all of my previous cruises... I think Cozumel is my most visited port. And I think it rains about 70% of the time I'm there... but that rain is HOT, sticky rain!!!

 

......XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX......

 

 

OK... I have dinner and Victoria and flying home left to post... I'm almost done...

Edited May 29, 2012 by LambKnuckles

[belkin]

Sorry if this has been asked before but I was wondering which port you thought had the best shopping? Also did you get any glacier silt soap in Juneau?

 

Thanks again for taking the time to write such a good review and answering eveyones questions.

[MilliesMom]

Sorry if this has been asked before but I was wondering which port you thought had the best shopping? Also did you get any glacier silt soap in Juneau?

 

Thanks again for taking the time to write such a good review and answering eveyones questions.

 

I have to share my experience with our cruise in September to Alaska. We were the last cruise of the season and the shops have some great sales as they close down for the winter and ship things remaining to storage etc.

 

Juneau and Skagway have a company called Alaska T-Shirt Company. This store has a HUGE variety of products from magnets, art/sculpture, sweatshirts, jackets, souvenirs, and even batteries & snacks etc. Prices are reasonable. If you start watching people board the ship after being in port, you will see many, many of the stores bags (back then they were bright red) being carried back on the ship in the two ports.

 

I went to the one in Skagway, and they have everything 75% off including the batteries & snacks the day I was there.

 

We found stores more willing to barter/have sales in Juneau and Skagway, but not in Ketchikan. I did NOT instigate the bartering, I had shop owners/staff do that. If anything regular prices were higher in Ketchikan compared to the other ports.

 

I have a beautiful Ulu knife that is carved antler from a shop in Juneau. I used it once (it's great), but then put it on display in my curio cabinet. It has 3 carved eagle heads on both sides and is a true piece of art.

 

In Skagway, I went into town by myself while my husband did the White Pass Railway. I loved all the shops and art galleries. I was able to talk to many of the artists. What a thrill that was.

Edited May 29, 2012 by MilliesMom

[TheCalicoCat]

 

It's one of the shots... Crown/Whiskey, Kahlua, and Bailey's/Irish Cream... It was invented in Alaska -- so they say!!! I first had it on the ECSTASY, on the way to Progresso and Cozumel...

 

I may have to try that - since I am going to AK - in 1 week!

[Sunnyday2010]

Thank you for your review !! It made me really get serious about cruising Alaska !!! Might be booking ?! :D

[LambKnuckles]

Let me bring the ship into Victoria.