Carnival Spirit Happily ever "AFT"ter

[erewhon]

A great review, fabulous photos, Thank you for sharing.

[mumofsons]

I forgot to mention that we had a very nice family as table mates. Our oldest son decided to stay home and work this cruise so as three people we were sure we would be put with someone else. Their daughters were 16 and 18 and they were so nice to talk to!

We didn't do the shows - and only spent the first night in the casino - I can't tell you how strange it was to us to see how dead it seemed in the casino. It was very rare to see two roulette tables going. I lost fifty dollars the first night which was half of a $100 coupon we got in the mail and then another fifty the day after. Small peanuts - I usually love roulette but wasn't feeling it this cruise so just passed through after that. I asked one of the cruise critic people that likes to gamble and she said the machines were very tight. Even the vault didn't seem too busy.

Chris Roberts the cruise director is very very hands on - I enjoyed him very much although my DH said he thought he seemed over the top - I quess he is used the CD that let their staff do everything He had a couple of Q & A's and boy he knows alot. I really liked him and would absolutely love to cruise again with him. They even did a Micheal Jackson review one night that wasn't that great but he did sing and dance which impressed me.

Michelle the Naturalist should not be missed. The first sea day she does a talk I think around 2pm DO NOT MISS THIS - she is so smart and it is very obvious how much she loves Alaska and the wildlife - I loved how all of the naturalists we met called the animals critters.

[mumofsons]

Thank you Erewon!:)

[mumofsons]

The boat you go on for the Tracy Arm excursion has two levels - and two areas that you can stay inside if you want to. They also had complimentary Hot cocoa and coffee as well as donut holes. There was also food to buy. You could also buy TShirts.

DS and I on the top outside deck on the excursion

heading back to the Spirit

[mumofsons]

The excursion itself was about three hours - It leaves the Spirit and goes ahead of it right up to the glaciers. You don't get as close when staying on the ship but the people that did stay on the ship saw alot of goats, and seals along the way. We doubled back and went back to the Spirit where the 2pm excursion was ready to go. We headed up for something warm to eat in the Buffet. I noticed then that alot of people hang out in the buffet with chairs pulled up to the windows. I didn't realize until later on in the week that alot of these people are the ones without balconies which I can totally understand as I would have been one of these people too. I sat out on the Serenity area one day I think when we were leaving Juneau and it was a cool 52 degrees. If you are going on the Tracy Arm excursion or you plan on staying out on deck or even on your balcony you do need to have warm clothes. My DH/DS were glad I packed those gloves and hats even though they said not too.

[mumofsons]

Skagway - Chillhoot tours - White Pass - Yukon rail ride - 9 hours - GREAT!

We had to get up super early again on this day - we had to meet our tour guide at 730 on the dock.

I keep having all these random thoughts - sorry I should have written everything down and done this a little less scattered. :rolleyes: but hey that's me anyway lol.

One of the great things about this cruise is that the ships seem to park and there is little to no walking to get to the souvie shops or your tours. It was great for me because I have a bad knee and I was able to walk to things without difficulty. Yeah!

We met our tour guide right outside the gate and it was cool but very sunny and we looked forward to our tour

We took a nice tourist bus up to Carcross Yukon Canada and waited for the train but along the way we had some amazing views.

[mumofsons]

Emerald Lake

We got to Bennet Lake which you can only get there by the train. They served us a family style lunch with big pots of beef stew, homemade bread and homemade apple pie. The coffee tasted so good and our table came to the conclusion it was due to the water it was made of.

floatplane landing on Bennett lake

[mumofsons]

Both tour guides on the tourist bus and the train were full of so much info about the gold miners and their search for the Yukon Gold rush. I love history and DH and I were enthralled by it all - 16 year old son - not so much

The Church built by the Gold Rushers waiting for Bennett lake to thaw.

The train

 

I love this picture of these trees

[mumofsons]

When we arrived back at the train station I opted to go back to the ship - DH and DS went walking around town. They tried to get into the Red Onion but it was packed.

A very enjoyable day. We did this tour privately - Chilihoot gets their own train car and the ride up was great with James our tour guide sharing personal stories that were fabulous.

You can book this tour with Carnival. FYI

[mumofsons]

The next day is again very early - We have to be on the dock at 715 for our tour with Harv and Marv whale watching in Juneau.

It was pouring rain the whole time we were out on the boat but the experience was the best!

Here is the Famous Tracy's Crab shack-didn't try it so I can't tell you my personal opinion. sorry

First shot of Juneau

We walked right off the ship and met the tour guide for a trip to the whale watching - There were five of us on this small boat and strangely enough - the other couple that were not from any cruise ended up being from my hometown in Ontario Canada (population around 75,000) small world.

Just hanging around the dock

[mumofsons]

OK now for the whale watching :D Keep in mind it was pouring rain!

[mumofsons]

A couple of sea lion shots they were so cool!

Heading back to the dock

[mumofsons]

After the whale watching Harv and Marv's tour guide drops you off at Mendenhall Glacier for about twenty minutes. There were beware of bear signs and the guide said that a tour the week before someone took a picture as he was getting off the tour bus and it was quite close. Sadly we did not see any real bears.

We got back in the bus and went back to the dock - there were eagles everywhere - at one point we passed a building that looked like it had about twelve eagles just sitting on the top of the roof - we went by so fast I couldn't get a shot.

We finally found a bear ;)

See how close the ship is to everything?

[mumofsons]

Just a few shots from our balcony - and leaving Juneau -

Brown building in background is the state building

These two planes take off within a few minutes of each other

[mumofsons]

[mumofsons]

Ketchican

We only booked the lumberjack show here - you literally get off the ship turn right and you're there. It was a fun show - after that we just wandered around a little bit and went back to the ship. Of course stopped for more souvies :D

They do have a duck tour there.

A few pics

 

[mumofsons]

 

[mumofsons]

The last day was really a sea day as we wouldn't arrive in Victoria until around 7pm. We finally got to sleep in and it was great!

We got up and spent the day as we usually do - trivia. The games were packed . They closed up the casino and the stores on the ship at 230pm so I quess that is why.

We decided that we would just continue to chill and opted not to get off in Victoria. I just didn't want to rush and we only had three hours. People getting back on the ship looked very cold as they went through security.

here are a few shots from our balcony.

[mumofsons]

We got up early on disembark day and went to breakfast. We had gotten Silver Cloud Broadway on priceline - I think for $145 and the room was great but there really wasn't anything except for Seattle University and the hospital area. They did have a shuttle that would take you to four destinations.

One of the destinations was Pioneer Square where the underground tours begin. I think by that point we were pretty tired so we just walked around and then called the shuttle to pick us back up.

 

I will say the time change really kicked my butt here I am with chief Seattle

[mumofsons]

Well we finally checked into the hotel - I was pooped so we just chilled out for the day - computing - reading and getting ready to leave in the morning.

I had to organize the suitcases and all three weighted in at 49 or 49.5 lbs. That was close.

Once again we had a delayed flight to newark and had a twenty minute layover. Good in some ways but a little close for comfort for me.

We loved this cruise and would absolutely do it again.

Our excursions were pretty tame - there were something for everyone - it seems the Bering Strait excursion on one of the Biggest Catch boats was very popular.

The people on the ship ranged from baby to senior. We saw lots of extended families.

We did buy a future cruise critic. - think we will head south - no kids:D

If you have any questions I will be happy to answer them if you can. Thanks for reading my review.

I took almost 2000 pictures - lol but I have looked at them about 20 times since I loaded them on my computer.

April

[Pee-ah]

Great review!

So would you do an aft again? (I have one in 8 weeks for the Glacier Bay IT)

[mumofsons]

I can honestly say that the Aft balconys never appealed to me but we loved it! I have always loved to sit on the balcony reading and often in the caribbean I don't get off the ship and just sit and read - I have already been pricing something for January or February and looking to book another aft. My DH spent a lot more time on the balcony than in past cruises. One of the best parts was cruising out of Tracy Arm.

I know you will enjoy your cruise. Thanks for reading my review.

[dustyroad]

Thanks Dusty

Mike001 - we went on a private Whale watching with Harv and Marv in Juneau I have some great pictures, I will post as I go along.

I only saw whales on the ship one time while eating lunch on Monday afternoon.

 

im glad you saw whales. they are so awesome. i have gone with capt.larry each time i go and have seen alot of them ( i get excited with each one ). my last cruise too alaska was the first time i ever saw them from the ship. i was so thrilled too see them there too :).

 

 

and i found out in seattle that if you zig-zag the blocks going up the hills from the market it saves your legs. it is a pretty steep walk.

please keep the reveiw coming. i love it.

[jetsfan]

Really nice review!

 

I have some questions.

 

We are going with Harv and Marv and then we're going to go with Evergreen taxi for a ride around and up to the brewery. I know they make a stop at the Mendenhall glacier, was 20 minutes enough, or should we stay longer?

 

Were there any live bands on the ship? Was the ship dead at night or were there people hanging? I know the ports of call are early, but we like to stay out a bit. We have been on 14 cruises, all to the Carribean, this cruise probably has a different feel.

 

We have 4 kids ages 23,20,16,15, they are pals, did your soon hook up with kids his own age?

 

What kind of camera did you use?

 

Thanks so much!

[Cushing985]

Great review and pictures. I gotta get off my butt and arrange an Alaska cruise!