North to Alaska on the Carnival Miracle - April 29, 2013

[selljd]

I am enjoying reading your review and can't wait till the next portion.

 

We are planning to go to Alaska in July of 14 with our oldest son. In fact working to put a group together. So thanks again for your review.

[smwc71alum]

So excited to see this review !! Thanks for including the pictures of Vancouver...DH and I are on the May 21st sailing !:D

[SunnyDayz4me]

Cabin 5233; standard issue Carnival balcony cabin! Starboard side, very close to the stairs/elevators. Loved the location. (I also have bathroom pictures, but figured no one really wants to see them...)

 

The first thing Joe noticed was that we had one bed, instead of two. I told him not to worry...that our cabin steward would handle that (which she did). More on our cabin steward later; she was fabulous!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next...the "dreaded" 7A balcony!

 

We just got off the Miracle on the 29th from the Hawaii cruise and were in #5235....right next door. Was Sunny your cabin steward ? She is indeed absolutely fabulous....such a sweetheart too ! Liliana in the casino was another that I loved talking with....hated to have to leave the ship as I knew that we would miss both of these lovely people !

[Rockee4055]

Very nice review Jen. This makes me homesick for Alaska again. We cruised about 4 years ago and loved it.

 

So, tell me about the train ride. You flew into Seattle then took the train to your embarkation port?

[Jenbo57]

Do you remember what time the main dining room is open for breakfast?

AND

I'm wondereing about the temperature inside. I realize in mid-June that the outside temps will be cooler than in Missouri, but am guessing that packing for evenings indoors will be the same as any other cruise. Right?

 

 

The MDR opened at 6:30 a.m. on port days, 7:30 a.m. the day we were in Glacier Bay, and 9:30 a.m. on sea days, for the Punchliner Comedy Brunch.

 

I didn't notice that the indoor temps were cooler than usual, and I didn't hear anyone comment on being cold.

[Jenbo57]

We just got off the Miracle on the 29th from the Hawaii cruise and were in #5235....right next door. Was Sunny your cabin steward ? She is indeed absolutely fabulous....such a sweetheart too ! Liliana in the casino was another that I loved talking with....hated to have to leave the ship as I knew that we would miss both of these lovely people !

 

Sunny was our steward -- we loved her! Our sailing was her last after 12 years with Carnival; she flew home to Bulgaria the day we arrived in Seattle. She came up to our cabin on the last night and we had a drink with her and toasted to her future success! Such a sweetheart!

Edited May 9, 2013 by Jenbo57

[Jenbo57]

Very nice review Jen. This makes me homesick for Alaska again. We cruised about 4 years ago and loved it.

 

So, tell me about the train ride. You flew into Seattle then took the train to your embarkation port?

 

We live across Puget Sound from Seattle, so we drove to the Amtrak station (I had my son ride along and then take my car home), which took about an hour, and got on the train there. We could have taken the ferry across, and cabbed to the train station, but it would have meant getting up even earlier than we already had to! :D

 

Living locally, it's a lot easier for these to do these Alaska cruises than it is for most. I'm thinking about looking for a deal at the end of the season this year and going back up again; if not, I'll go back next year or the year after...

[fin]

Thank you most sincerely for a stunning collection of beautiful and exciting photos! They are gorgeous. {And thank you equally (if not more) for sparing us a shot of your motel toilet on the way to the ship, as well as pictures of what was on every plate for ten tables in any direction}. LOVE the eagle.

[Jenbo57]

I was really looking forward to Skagway, because once again I was renting a car (through Avis) and driving the Klondike Highway up the Yukon. I had driven up there before -- also with my brother -- in June of 2011, and couldn't wait to see all that beautiful scenery again!

 

The weather looked a little dreary as we pulled in, but at least it wasn't raining. It cleared up as the day went on, but wow...talk about wind! It was really howling up Lynn Canal, so much so that when we departed that night, they shut down the upper decks and wouldn't let us out there to take pictures.

 

I got to Avis a little after 8:00, and was the second person in there. I got helped right away, and was out the door by about 8:20. I headed out the Klondike Highway and almost immediately was surrounded by the most dense fog I had ever seen! I wish I'd been able to take a picture -- white everywhere! Between the fog and the fact that, as I got higher up the pass, everything around me was covered in snow, it was like the twilight zone! I was a little bit disappointed that because of all the snow (and the fact I could barely see) I couldn't pull off to take pictures at some of the places I had in 2011, but it was still an incredible drive, both up and back. The fog cleared out a couple of miles beyond the summit, and the sun was out! I stopped in Carcross (still boarded up for the winter) and the Carcross Desert, then turned around at Emerald Lake to return to Skagway. The lake was frozen, which I'm sure was a disappointment for those on tours who'd heard about how beautiful it is, but I loved seeing it that way.

 

Not looking too good upon our arrival...

 

 

 

 

 

If you book the White Pass & Yukon Railroad tour through the cruise line, you board the train just off the ship, on the pier!

 

 

 

On my way to Avis

 

 

[Jenbo57]

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Tutshi Lake, which goes on for miles

 

 

I don't know why, but I think it's cool to be able to tell people you've been to the Yukon!

 

 

Bove Island, on Tagish Lake

 

[Swayde]

Wow gorgeous pictures! 3 more weeks till I get to see it in person =) Thank you for taking the time to share your pictures and experience with us!

[Jenbo57]

Carcross is one of those blink and you might miss it places, but it's worth a look. There's the wreck of an old stern wheeler, the S.S. Tutshi, a nice visitor's center, a general store, and it's just kind of fun to poke around. As I said, it was pretty much boarded up, so I just kind of drove through and headed back out onto the highway. (It's worth noting that a woman I stopped to talk to said that the snow should have been gone by now, but that April had been pretty brutal. She thought the visitor's center would be opening in another week.)

 

 

 

 

 

Just up the road is the Carcross Desert. Not really a desert; it's the remains of an ancient lake. Worth stopping for...

 

 

[MRVEGAS711]

Your pictures are fabulous. Thanks for the review!

[Jenbo57]

Just a few miles further and I reached Emerald Lake. I thought about driving all the way up to Whitehorse, but I'd seen pretty much everything I wanted to see, so this was my turnaround point.

 

The lake on May 3, 2013

 

 

The lake in early June, 2011

 

 

Quite a difference, but beautiful, either way!!!

 

Montana Mountain

 

On the way back, I pulled into the boat launch on Tutshi Lake. I really wanted to get to the water's edge to see how thick the ice was, but I couldn't tell where the snow left off and the lake began. No one knew I was there and I had no cell phone coverage; if I'd gone in, they wouldn't find me 'til the thaw!

 

 

Taken from the overlook on the road to Dyea. I wish I'd gone all the way into Dyea; it's largely abandoned now, but would probably be an interesting place to look around. Next time!

 

 

 

I gassed the car up ($4.30/gallon) and returned it to Avis at around 1:00 p.m. I wanted to get back on the ship for lunch and to find Joe, to see what his plans were for the rest of the day.

 

Next up: The Days of '98 Show

Edited May 10, 2013 by Jenbo57

[MsABGilroy]

The MDR opened at 6:30 a.m. on port days, 7:30 a.m. the day we were in Glacier Bay, and 9:30 a.m. on sea days, for the Punchliner Comedy Brunch.

 

I didn't notice that the indoor temps were cooler than usual, and I didn't hear anyone comment on being cold.

I thought the temps onboard were quite comfortable. Our cabin was a bit cool so kept the thermostat at the highest setting until the last day when it seemed to warm up a lot! The cold came thru the glass on the balcony and door so pulled the drapes at night (don't usually have to close them where the climate is warmer). I was never uncomfortably cold.

 

I'm enjoying your review and pics and reliving the cruise. Thanks!

[Jenbo57]

I'm enjoying your review and pics and reliving the cruise. Thanks!

 

You're welcome! Glad you made it home safely.

 

We sure had a great time... :D

[Jenbo57]

I got back onto the ship and to our cabin just as Joe was leaving me a note letting me know he was heading out to the Days of '98 Show. It's the story of Soapy Smith and his reign over Skagway in 1897-1898, told through song and dance. Someone on our roll call had posted that he was going to go, so I knew about it, but I really wasn't interested in seeing it (actually, I thought it sounded really corny). But my son has been involved in community theatre since junior high, and it's always good to support the local arts, so I figured what the heck.

 

Turns out this show has been in production since 1923, when Princess steamships started bringing tourists to Skagway. The local residents decided to put on a show for them to raise money for uniforms for their local hockey team. The show has been running ever since. The performers all had professional theatre experience and were great! The whole thing was very entertaining. It's only an hour long (and costs $20), so if you're done with your shopping/exploring and looking for something to do, check them out! Here's their website: www.thedaysof98show.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe had his picture taken with the girls afterwards...

 

[lulabelle522]

So glad to see a fresh Alaska review :) We sail on the Miracle May 21st!

[Jenbo57]

My favorite building in Skagway; and such an interesting history!

http://arcticbrotherhood.com/

 

 

Downtown Skagway reminds me of a movie back lot, or something from Disney. I didn't take as many pictures this trip...

 

 

 

 

 

I love the "graffiti" on the cliffs opposite the railroad dock!

 

[Jenbo57]

Once we got back on board, we ate dinner in the buffet and looked at the entertainment lineup for the evening. There was a local guy by the name of Steve Hites doing a show at 6:45 called "North to Alaska" that sounded interesting, and someone by the name of Tyler Linkin doing comedy juggling later in the evening. We didn't go to either. I was tired and just wanted to sit in the cabin and read; I think Joe watched a movie on his iPad. I wanted to be up early, because tomorrow: Glacier Bay!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heading out into Lynn Canal. Shortly after taking this picture, we all got kicked off the outer decks because of the wind!

 

[Jenbo57]

Before I post my dreary pictures of Glacier Bay from this trip, let me show you one from a previous cruise. That way, if you're sailing into GB this season, you'll see that it isn't always as nasty as it was while we were there!

 

 

 

Yes, folks...this is what it looked like when I opened my curtains early Saturday morning, as we were entering Glacier Bay! It that point I wasn't sure what the day would have in store for us.

 

 

The park rangers had a table set up on lido deck (in the covered area, thankfully) to answer questions, and were joined later by two women from Alaska Geographic, who had books, maps, etc. to sell. The rangers provided commentary throughout the day, and did a presentation in the main theatre in the early afternoon.

 

 

 

A little less socked in as we got further into the bay, but by then it had started raining! It continued to rain for most of the time we were in there.

 

 

 

 

Lamplugh Glacier, the second of the tidewater glaciers we'd see that day. We passed by Reid Glacier first, but it was so socked in I didn't even attempt to take a picture.

 

Edited May 10, 2013 by Jenbo57

[SaraAnne29]

Yes the pictures of the cabin do put me at ease! Thank you for sharing your experience. I do have a question...you said it was rough one of the nights. Was it like that the whole time cruising? We are traveling with with a couple that have never cruised, I for one have been in some rougher waters and it doesn't bother me, but I am concerned about my sister in law. Does it tend to get rough on the Alaska cruises? Just curious. I know it is never predictable.

[Jenbo57]

 

Margerie Glacier. By now we're at the head of Tarr Inlet, 65 miles north of the mouth of the bay, and as far as we can go. After viewing Margerie and Grand Pacific glaciers for 40 minutes or so, we turned around and headed back out of the bay.

 

 

Grand Pacific Glacier. It looks dirty, but it isn't; it's covered with gravel and stones.

 

 

The gulls were enjoying themselves!

 

 

 

 

[cathyz]

We just got off the Miracle on the 29th from the Hawaii cruise and were in #5235....right next door. Was Sunny your cabin steward ? She is indeed absolutely fabulous....such a sweetheart too ! Liliana in the casino was another that I loved talking with....hated to have to leave the ship as I knew that we would miss both of these lovely people !

We are in 5235 on the Miracle in November and were in 5235 on the Spirit, I think it's a great cabin for the price.

[Jenbo57]

After spending most of the day on either deck 9 or deck 3, I decided to go back down to our cabin. I sat on the bed enjoying the scenery, occasionally going out on the balcony to take pictures. I wondered whether people were really disappointed in how the weather had turned out that day, hoping they were able to enjoy the day in spite of it. Glacier Bay is amazing...I hope to see it again some day.

 

 

 

 

Sea lions

 

 

 

The boat arrives to pick up the rangers and the ladies from Alaska Geographic

 

 

In Icy Strait

 

 

 

After dinner we lost more $$$ in the casino, and then stopped at the Gotham Lounge so Joe could grab a beer. The captain and his companion were enjoying a drink so we, along with a very funny couple from Australia, chatted with him for a few minutes. He was very friendly (told us where to find the best beer in the world) and seemed very down to earth. After he left, a couple from our roll call joined us for a few minutes, and then it was off to bed.

 

Tomorrow: Ketchikan! (And what a day it was...)