Alaska Cruise May 31 to June 1. With pics.

[gina06]

Alright just recently got off the Westerdam, now to review. We took our digital camera and a gopro. I have not had to time to put together a gopro video yet. That should follow in the next couple of weeks.

 

We flew delta from Orlando to Seattle, a day early so we arrived on the 30th. We took a taxi from the airport to The Warwick hotel. (prices averaged $40-$50 with tip depending on traffic). Great hotel for the night. And when we checked out they held our luggage while we explored seattle before getting on the ship.

 

Pictures of room

The room was very nice, perfect for one night. We were also going to rent a car when we got back, as our flight was the red-eye upon returning. But the hotel offered to hold our luggage when we returned while we explored Seattle further while waiting for our flight. So that saved us around $100.

Anyway back to the second day of our trip, Sailing day, but first to explore Seattle. We are from Florida so we woke up early, ready to start the day. We walked down to pike place market around 7:30ish. I warn you around this time most of pikes place market isn't open yet. But it was nice to walk around without a lot of people around. Around 8:45 it started to get packed(with tourist,like us), and they started throwing the fish. We got fresh fruit and flowers to take on board, and managed to find a target to get wine and soda to take on board. Also another warning all the public bathrooms are locked until 10am. Then upon opening are full of street walkers taking showers in the sink and sleeping. (was a shocker to us)

 

We got a taxi from the hotel to Pier 91 (around $15). And arrived around 12ish. Check-in was fairly quick, and so was boarding. I would say we were on the boat around 1ish if not before. Our room was 6132 on the upper verandah.

After looking at our room, we set out to explore the boat and to catch a bite to eat before the lifeboat drill. Also the lifeboat drill was very quick.

[Jim Avery]

Great start. Looking forward to the rest.:D

[gina06]

June 1 was our day at sea, which was not that eventful. My boyfriend got sea sick( even with the sea sick patches). So I was by myself most of the day as I did not want to miss a thing. Tried my luck in the casino and with bingo, but no good.

Here is picture of us at dinner the first night (Casual night may 31):

 

And here is a picture of us at the first formal night before he went back to the room due to being seasick (june 1):

 

Let me just say that they did let people in jeans into MDR on both night. I do not think they turned anyone away from eating. I thought that the dress code might be enforced a little more, otherwise I wouldn't of made my boyfriend dress up. But we had fun participating as we don't dress up much.

 

June 2 we arrived in Juneau:

 

We booked our shore excursion indepently thru Harv and Marv Whale Watching, I booked this excursion due to the great reviews and price. Also they offer the most time on the water looking at whales. Let me say it was amazing not even on the boat for 2 mins and we at spotted our first whale. Then after viewing for a few, we moved on to the next one. The next whale sat in front of the boat for about 30 min. He would tail flap over and over again, which was amazing. He would then roll over on his belly with his pectoral fins in the air, exposing his white underside. ( I have many picture of this this but it will only let me upload 6 pics at time, maybe they are too big, not sure)

 

 

After watching this he went down, for a deep dive and we had to move on. Next they took us to a buoy with Sea lions, and an eagle.

 

 

 

I have to make dinner will be back to finish review later. Hope everyone enjoyed reviews and pictures so far.

[Typhoon1]

Great pics. Thanks for sharing. I hope more take look at them, you two certainly don't fit the HAL demographic.

[onefine89]

Thanks for sharing the great pics!

 

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[lazey1]

Very, very nice, whales, sea lions and an eagle allready; we are looking forward to the rest of your review and photos. :)

You and your boyfriend make a very handsome couple.;)

[POA1]

Very nice. Thank you!

[KirkNC]

Nice pictures, love the whale tales!

[gator919]

Subscribed, can't wait for more. Great pictures. We leave for Alaska in 10 days!

 

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[brazilgirl]

Looking forward to the rest , leave Saturday on the Westerdam!

[krazy4kruisin]

What? How can you eat at a time like this? You have a bunch of hungry, crazed

cruise addicts out here:D

 

Loving the review so far! Thanks for sharing. You have me hooked til the end ;)

[gina06]

...

Edited June 17, 2014 by gina06

[Mtn2Sea]

Anxiously waiting for more! Thanks for doing a review with pics.

[Himself]

Nice pictures and I am looking forward to more of them.

[PathfinderEss]

Enjoying your report and wonderful photo's. Looking forward to more.

[gina06]

I forgot a couple things. After the whale tour, they take to Mendenhall glacier. Now they only give you 15 minutes, and sense you get there so late the shuttles will not be running. I would recommend staying and getting a taxi. We did not and I regret it now. You get there around 5:30 and all aboard isn't until 9:15. But I got a couple good shots in the 15 minutes of running....and I mean running, I wanted to see it all.

 

Can you spot the porcupine? Keep your eyes open, and look everywhere for wildlife.

 

Sense we didn't have a lot of time. my boyfriend climbed the rocks to get me a picture of nugget falls. And let me say after these rocks there were more.

 

 

After he climbed on the rocks, everyone else wanted to.

[gina06]

So June 4, we were in Sitka. I think this is one of my favorite days, even though we did not pay for an excursion we had an amazing day. So we tendered at sitka at 7. I think we were one of the first ones off of the ship, as we got into sitka nothing was open, except one coffee shop which we had coffee and scones and they were amazing (its called the backdoor i think). If you pay to do an excursion thru HAL you will not get off the boat, the excursion will directly pick you up off of the boat, just a FYI. But again with nothing being open (as in pikes place) no one is around so it is nice look at everything without all the tourist around. As soon as we got off the boat there is a little hut with information. (I had done research and knew I wanted to go to The Fortress of the Bears.)The first bus isn't until 9, which gave us plenty of time to look around. Before getting on the bus. We found a beach to wander on,( I have been to Alaska on a different HAL cruise in 09) so I knew to turn over every rock I could find (after snorkeling in Ketchikan) my boyfriend was shocked.

 

 

So after that we went back to get on the bus. I think it's $13 (adults) for the shuttle to Fortress of the Bear and admission. I will warn you that they are a not-for-profit organization, every penny you spend from admission, to buying a shirt goes to helping these bears. So the facility is not 5 stars, but you can tell that the people that work there love these bears, and want the best for them. The state of Alaska has no bear rehabilitation program in place, and unfortunately orphaned cubs are routinely shot by the Department of Fish and Game for lack of an alternative. So Fortress of the bear was opened to help the bears out. On the bus ride out the driver informed us of a meet and great( if you want to do this I recommend being on the first bus, the bus runs on the hour) It is $100 to feed the bears, but its up to four people sometimes 5. We were lucky to find two other women to throw down money. So it ended up being $25 per person. Let me just say you do not realize how big a bear is until you right next to them, even if I was feeding thru a fence. And the keepers give you a ton of apples, the lady we had even went and got more when a different bear approached. I highly recommend doing this, and you do not have to book thru HAL.

 

He wants an apple, please.

 

Mean bear, watch out.

 

3 baby bears.

 

Belly rub please.

 

Feeding the bears.

 

Also there a lot of eagles here, one guy thru a fish in the air and the eagle caught it. Amazing if you ask me. Just wish I would of gotten on film.

[JimAOk1945]

I am enjoying your review and eagerly waiting for more. We have not done this itinerary but hope to next year. Sitka is on our bucket list.

 

Your pictures are great! Which camera did you use?

[runnergirl71]

Awesome report so far!! Making me even more excited for my trip!!

[gina06]

After looking at bears and feeding them, for about 2 hours. We got back on the bus, I asked the bus driver if she could please drop us off at the Raptor Center. Which she said sure. To get into the Raptor Center cost is $12 per person. Let just say this place has way more funding than Fortress of the bear.

 

Here is a link for a video.

Checking how we compare to an eagle.

 

 

After looking at the Raptors for a couple hours. There's a trail right in the middle of the raptor center that takes you through the The Tongass National Forest.

My eyes were closed.

[krazy4kruisin]

Fabulous!

 

Thank you!

[gina06]

After walking through the forest for a few, we decided to tread off the beaten path and walk the beach back to boat.

 

The boat from the beach.

 

Eals under a rock.

 

Baby crab.

 

Sea urchins.

 

After walking the beach, we hit up some stores for some souvenirs. Man the streets were packed. Not what we were used to after just being there at 7 am. I think we also would have had time to visit the Sitka Science Center if we wouldn't of gone shopping (it is right off the beach that you can walk). For those trying to fit all 3 events in. At a cheaper price than the boat offers.

[gina06]

I am enjoying your review and eagerly waiting for more. We have not done this itinerary but hope to next year. Sitka is on our bucket list.

 

Your pictures are great! Which camera did you use?

 

I used a Canon PowerShot S100. We also bought a gopro, but I have not gone through all the videos yet for it. We recorded every moment from the moment we got on the boat, to the moment we got off. We even got a bear to lick the gopro, and put it in a couple tide pools. :))))

[erewhon]

Thank you for your review, and sharing your great photos.

[gina06]

Great pics. Thanks for sharing. I hope more take look at them, you two certainly don't fit the HAL demographic.

 

We defiantly don't. I have cruise Hal before to alaksa before and I liked being on a small ship, but to my shock the westerdam is not considered a small ship but it's a medium size ship. :( oh we'll live and learn. Alaska is about the scenery and not the normal cruise stuff (like partying) so it worked out fine.

Edited June 17, 2014 by gina06