The Alaskan Jewel! Welcome Aboard….You don’t Exist!

[jenseib]

Looking forward to your "special viewing area"!

 

Great review! I have been in Tracy Arm a few times and seeing your pictures I am hoping we see Endicott Arm on our cruise.

 

I was happy with our special viewing area. ;)

 

I would love to see Tracy Arm to compare, but I also really want to go to Glacier Bay. I guess we'll see when the time comes what the prices are and which line we decide to go on. I know now that we splurged on this one that next time Skip will say he doesn't need the balcony and all the extras...and I can live with that....sort of. hahahaha

 

I have been trying to take this slowly but, alas, I have finally caught up with you. Your photos are incredible! This trip report is such a wonderful way to remember your adventure and keep the photographs in context. We'll be be taking our first cruise on the Norwegian Sun in August, so I am definitely taking notes about things to do and see!

 

I really hope the Sun has fish on the floor. I have such a ridiculously poor sense of direction, it took me a month to learn my way around the building where I work. I keep imagining myself getting lost every time I venture out for a meal!

 

Thanks for reading along.

I think typically most ships have their carpet like that.

I did a lot of reading of reports (my favorites are the ones with details and pictures) once we booked our cruise. I wanted to see what the ports were like, what people thought of this or that and of course learning about the ships too.

[jenseib]

It's finally happened! I'm the guy in the red pullover and the drawstring backpack! :D:D:D

 

 

Woooohooooo! ;) :D

[jenseib]

I headed back to our room which was at the complete opposite end of the ship. Claire was there and she was all for going with me to see the glacier. Skip said he was going to just watch from the balcony.

We had gotten a note in our room today about a special viewing area for Suite guests. It said that snacks and beverages were being served and to dress warm and also to meet by Moderno. Now I couldn’t fathom where they would have us go that we would get both snacks and have to dress warm. I debated whether or not to go to it. We had some time still to think it over, so Claire and I decided to head to the bow again and watch from there.

We arrived and it was more crowded now. Before you could get near the railing fairly easily but now it seemed to be at least 2 deep of people. I took a few shots.

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We decided what the heck. Let’s leave here and see where this special viewing area was.

We found Florentina near Moderno and she directed us up to floor 14. Oh wow. I never thought about another floor. Well that’s where the Haven is and all the fancier suites are. The Haven has a special area just for its guests and we were directed there.

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Wine and Hot Cocoa was being served.

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And a few snacks, though I don’t think we had any as were still full from lunch…and I later found out Claire had just had a bowl of Clam Chowder. I guess they had a clam bake of sorts out on the pool deck and Skip had taken Claire up there after she was done in the kids club. She said they had a HUGE kettle of clam chowder brewing.

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I shot a few pictures of the Haven…after all I am probably never going to get to stay in a Haven suite in my lifetime.

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[jenseib]

As you can see it had a glass covered roof but it can slide open so that on tropical cruises you will have open air.

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Boy I would like to get in that hot tub today!

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We were given a blanket each and directed upstairs. Wow..another level I had not even thought about.

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Chairs and loungers were all set up.

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We grabbed 2 loungers and staked our claim of space and put our stuff down.

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[jenseib]

If you sat still you did need the blanket at times but later we moved around and were plenty warm.

 

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Enjoying some cocoa.

 

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[jenseib]

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We just chilled out a bit on our loungers and I shot a few pictures.

 

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[jenseib]

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I could see Skip coming up here and just taking a nap on the hammock.

 

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[jenseib]

We decided we would walk around. Most people were anyways and we would get better views if we moved around.

 

The water started to turn this beautiful aqua green color.

 

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Looking back you can actually see the line from the yucky looking water to the beautiful blue green water.

 

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Of course the few pictures I took of the line are all blurry.

 

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Up next…Dawes Glacier

[jenseib]

We moved around on the top deck and just enjoyed the views.

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Around this bend is the glacier!!!!

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There was a photographer up there with us and we got some pictures taken. I should have grabbed her again when we got in view of the glacier, but we took some of our own so I felt we didn’t need to have her do more.

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[jenseib]

It was a little colder up here compared to the bow and more windy, but still was not that bad.

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You can see a peek of the glacier now.

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And there it is! Dawes Glacier…which at that time I had no clue what the name was. It wasn’t till later in the day when the Cruise Director asked over the speakers how everyone enjoyed Dawes Glacier did I know that is what it was called.

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And I am pretty sure Florentina had no clue either. One guy asked her if this was it and she said yes. He said that this wasn’t how he pictured Tracy Arm and she said “no this is it”. Well it wasn’t Tracy Arm first off and I did feel the ship did a poor job at telling us where we were actually going and why.

At this point was disappointed a bit too as I expected more icebergs…and more importantly seals on them. Luckily as we got closer I was rewarded and my disappointment turned into pure excitement and joy.

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[jenseib]

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If you didn’t know we were in Alaska some of these pictures look like a tropical paradise.

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[jenseib]

The size of the glacier is just amazing.

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Claire and I did some posing.

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Claire took like 20 pictures of me standing there. LOL.

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I let her use the point n shoot though I did grab it back here and there, but most of the time she took pictures on that while I used the big camera.

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[jenseib]

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Claire took another of me, but she told me my eye was too squinty and I look better with sunglasses on. Got love your honest daughter.

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Then someone offered to take one of the 2 of us.

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Claire kept sneaking pictures of me. This one isn’t too bad, but some were like just one eyeball or a nose shot. Crazy kid.

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Isn’t this just gorgeous?

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[jenseib]

You can barely see it but there is a small boat over by the glacier.

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Now something I was hoping to see was seals on icebergs. In this next one you can see dots on one. At the time I took this I hadn’t realized I was seeing them yet.

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Again, the boat is there but you can barely see it…it’s in front of the dark stripe.

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[jenseib]

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Claire went to take some pictures of the deck furniture….I have taught her well.

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And she had to get a close up of my coat.

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This is where that glass ceiling of the Haven slides back to when they open it.

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[jenseib]

And a look down at the Haven.

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Someone offered to take our picture and we returned the favor.

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[jenseib]

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This was just a photographers dream. Everywhere you looked there was beauty of a different kind.

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[jenseib]

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[jenseib]

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Up next…More of Endicott Arm and some Seals!

[bonvoyagie]

Often times in the early season (May and June) Tracy Arm is too full of ice for the ships to navigate. Often times captains try Tracy, get part way in, turnaround and then try Endicott arm to visit Dawes Glacier - then they have to turn back before reaching the glacier to maintain their time schedule.

 

Usually when ships like the Jewel leave from Juneau, they know exactly which one they are going to visit. I am surprised that they did not announce the departure from the normal itinerary when they left Juneau.

 

Your photos prove that Dawes Glacier is every bit as nice as Sawyer Glacier - however Tracy Arm is narrower and twistier than Endicott arm. This is also visible on a map as well.

 

Glad that you got to go up to the Haven area - we were not as lucky on our Pearl trip through Glacier Bay. Different captains and concierges:)

[ncklhaus]

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Claire took another of me, but she told me my eye was too squinty and I look better with sunglasses on. Got love your honest daughter.

endi145 by Jenseib, on Flickr

endi146 by Jenseib, on Flickr

Then someone offered to take one of the 2 of us.

endi148 by Jenseib, on Flickr

Claire kept sneaking pictures of me. This one isn’t too bad, but some were like just one eyeball or a nose shot. Crazy kid.

endi150 by Jenseib, on Flickr

Isn’t this just gorgeous?

endi149 by Jenseib, on Flickr

 

I love your hair in the 5th picture. The other shots haven't done it justice. You look like the cool mom.

[kornuttle]

I love all of your pictures of the Jewel and Alaska...so beautiful! I've been following since, well I don't know when :p but it is truly a treat to see! We are going to be sailing on the Jewel leaving on SUNDAY!!!! :D The "secret viewing spot" looks perfect! I saw you entered the spot by going through The Haven retreat area, I know you were in a suite so is that why you were allowed to go up there or is it something that would be offered to anyone if staff/director/whomever allowed? Thank you for all of your hard work and photos...it is very much appreciated! I'm sorry for anyone that complained about how long it's taking, every picture and detail is worth the wait!

[3kidsncats]

I love all of your pictures of the Jewel and Alaska...so beautiful! I've been following since, well I don't know when :p but it is truly a treat to see! We are going to be sailing on the Jewel leaving on SUNDAY!!!! :D The "secret viewing spot" looks perfect! I saw you entered the spot by going through The Haven retreat area, I know you were in a suite so is that why you were allowed to go up there or is it something that would be offered to anyone if staff/director/whomever allowed? Thank you for all of your hard work and photos...it is very much appreciated! I'm sorry for anyone that complained about how long it's taking, every picture and detail is worth the wait!

 

It's the Haven sundeck, so generally just for passengers traveling in the Haven cabins. As a suite (but not Haven) guest, OP got a special invitation for this event, but I haven't heard of that being done very often - or maybe I have just missed those posts from others. I'm guessing this was a way to provide more viewing space during a portion of the cruise when a lot of passengers would be vying to see the glaciers.

[jenseib]

Often times in the early season (May and June) Tracy Arm is too full of ice for the ships to navigate. Often times captains try Tracy, get part way in, turnaround and then try Endicott arm to visit Dawes Glacier - then they have to turn back before reaching the glacier to maintain their time schedule.

 

Usually when ships like the Jewel leave from Juneau, they know exactly which one they are going to visit. I am surprised that they did not announce the departure from the normal itinerary when they left Juneau.

 

Your photos prove that Dawes Glacier is every bit as nice as Sawyer Glacier - however Tracy Arm is narrower and twistier than Endicott arm. This is also visible on a map as well.

 

Glad that you got to go up to the Haven area - we were not as lucky on our Pearl trip through Glacier Bay. Different captains and concierges:)

 

They did announce something and I am pretty sure they said Endicott Arm..I just couldn't here and I don't think many people heard it or understood.

 

I am happy to have gone to Endicott but would love to still see Tracy Arm as well. For people like me who have never been to Alaska it was all just stunning! :D

 

That sucks about not getting to go into the Haven area. I have/had no clue if this is normal or not but it was a nice perk.

 

I love your hair in the 5th picture. The other shots haven't done it justice. You look like the cool mom.

 

Thanks so much. I have to agree....I am super cool! hahaha. ;)

[jenseib]

I love all of your pictures of the Jewel and Alaska...so beautiful! I've been following since, well I don't know when :p but it is truly a treat to see! We are going to be sailing on the Jewel leaving on SUNDAY!!!! :D The "secret viewing spot" looks perfect! I saw you entered the spot by going through The Haven retreat area, I know you were in a suite so is that why you were allowed to go up there or is it something that would be offered to anyone if staff/director/whomever allowed? Thank you for all of your hard work and photos...it is very much appreciated! I'm sorry for anyone that complained about how long it's taking, every picture and detail is worth the wait!

 

I hope you are having a fabulous time on your cruise!!!

We were invited because we were in a suite category room. I know they are kind of strict with who was up there as there was a family who had part of their family in suites and the other half in regular rooms and I saw Florentina go up to one of them and tell them that only those in suites were allowed to be up there. I am not sure if they left or if she ended up allowing them to stay.

I am still plugging along. I finally am caught up with work so I thought I would be really getting after this...and then my mom went into the hospital last week so I spent most of the week there. Next week we are going away for Thanksgiving, but I will get this day finished before we go and hopefully a start on the next one.

 

It's the Haven sundeck, so generally just for passengers traveling in the Haven cabins. As a suite (but not Haven) guest, OP got a special invitation for this event, but I haven't heard of that being done very often - or maybe I have just missed those posts from others. I'm guessing this was a way to provide more viewing space during a portion of the cruise when a lot of passengers would be vying to see the glaciers.

 

I had never heard of it being done before but I didn't really read many reports of people who went to Alaska and were in a suite, so I wasn't sure if it was not normally done or I just hadn't run across it yet.

It was nice though and I really was appreciative of it.