Living the Alaskan Suite Life On Board Celebrity Solstice, September 2018

[Kevin's girl]

We booked KE38 Exclusive Flightseeing and Crab Feast through Celebrity. The excursion description goes like this:

Once you arrive at the George Inlet Lodge, enter the dining room for a delicious all you can eat Dungeness Crab Feast, crisp salad with homemade dressing and a slice of rich cheesecake with blueberry topping. Steaming hot Dungeness Crab and beverages are All-You-Can-Eat! 

The Ketchikan exclusive flightseeing and crab feast includes a 30-minute flight via floatplane, bringing you over the mountains to the far uninhabited side of Revillagigedo Island. You will crest breathtaking peaks where the keen viewer may see mountain goats resting on crisp snow or black bears foraging for fresh berries. 

Now, you may be think to yourself, It sounds good but really?? Did it really go like they said? 

It was everything and more! Very little food porn here, fingers were too buttery and full of crab for pics, but YUM!

 

Luckily we only had to walk way down the stairs. There are seats along the way if a break is needed. Our Sea plane picked us up on the pier. 

[Kevin's girl]

After eating way more than one should we headed out to the pier to see the views and wait for the sea planes that would take us up for our sky views.

 

Our plane coming in.

 

 

And then the one to follow ours.

 

 

Kevin was given the seat as the copilot and I the tail gunner. The seats had been assigned long before boarding as we had to provide our weights at the start of the trip. Kevin was so excited with his assigned seat, as when he was younger he flew with his dad and flight hours booked for his pilot's license. 

[Kevin's girl]

From the copilot's seat

 

The views were beautiful and I could have stayed up there for another hour at least. The following are from the Tail gunner's perspective:

 

 

Now in this next pic there really are two bears. No kidding. Can you see them?

 

[Kevin's girl]

Soon he promised we would see mountain goats. When we said maybe, he got much, much closer.

 

Then we started our slow return to port with a fly by for George Inlet where we had lunch.

 

[Kevin's girl]

A quick word about the drag and drop for photos. I do really like this function since the upgrade. Much easier than the third party upload, resize, copy and paste. You can also click on one of the photos and it will show the larger file. Very nice Cruise Critic.

[Kevin's girl]

Next day, we were on to Tracy Arm Fjord and Juneau with a very busy day planned. We were up early to see the most of Tracy Arm Fjord. We were originally book for the small boat excursion that goes deeper into the fjord directly from the ship, but a week after it became available and I booked it, it was canceled. As a suite perk we were invited to view the fjord from the helipad which was beautiful. Our meeting time was 6:30 am and we were bundled up and ready on time. Please remember to pack you warmies for this part of the cruise. There were SO many people around us shivering and not able to stay on deck due to the cold in this area and time of day.

Breathtaking Tracy Arm extends over 30 miles long, with nearly a quarter of its area covered in ice. In fact, it encompasses some of Alaska's largest glaciers, including the twin Sawyer glaciers, which often expel enormous chunks of ice into the waters below in a magnificent process known as calving. This was from either Wiki or Travel Alaska.

Sunrise from the balcony and waiting for the helipad to open for us:

 

[Kevin's girl]

We were led to the helipad at 6:30 and were given blankets, hot chocolate and the silent disco headphones to listen to the Naturalist's commentary. It was beautiful and silent. I was lucky enough to have the front center rail for the ride into the glacier. 

 

 

[Kevin's girl]

A little wild life along the way

We were all wondering what this little guy did to get kicked off the big iceberg.

 

[Kevin's girl]

We headed down to get warm and enjoy the views from the balcony and then up top. Heading back up the fjord in the sunshine was gorgeous.

[gwynne2]

Hi Kevin's Girl,

Such beautiful scenery!

I am so enjoying reading your trip report. 

[Kevin's girl]

On 2/8/2019 at 5:00 PM, gwynne2 said:

Hi Kevin's Girl,

Such beautiful scenery!

I am so enjoying reading your trip report. 

Thank you so much.

[Kevin's girl]

Okay, just a couple more as we came into port in Juneau.

Fishing in the flats.

And now coming into port.

 

 

[Kevin's girl]

Our excursion; Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier Photo Safari, which I did book through Celebrity was run by Gastineau Guiding. When I tried to book this on my own through the Gastineau Guiding website it took me to the Celebrity excursion, so I booked it. This was an amazing tour just as everyone on here on CC has said, so no matter how you book it, just do it. When I decided to book an Alaskan cruise, I said I wanted to see whales and play with bears (figurative speaking)and this tour gave me everything and more. Our guide was Jim and he was very unknowable and fun. 
To book your excursion through Gastineau Guiding and your cruise line use this link:
https://www.stepintoalaska.com/shore-excursions
 
 
This is from their website and the tour I booked.
WHALE WATCHING & MENDENHALL GLACIER PHOTO SAFARI
Experience the beauty of Southeast Alaska in this customized, hands-on experience led by a professional photography guide. This awe-inspiring area awaits the nature enthusiast who wants to capture that perfect moment. Our goal is to provide a fun atmosphere, an opportunity to learn and engage and a chance to explore a new locale; all the while inspiring your passion for photography. No better place than here in Juneau, where you can practice on the photogenic Mendenhall Glacier and feeding humpback whales! Whale sightings are guaranteed!
We were a nice small group and had a great day.

 

Our tour got started as did the photo lessons.

 

[Kevin's girl]

I did mention play with bears, right? Yes they really were that close. They went under our bridge as we walked over the bridge. A mom and her little cubs.

[kentuckytravelgirl]

On 2/6/2019 at 9:29 AM, liptastic said:

 Hi Kevins girl,  really enjoying your thread . Fabulous photos and great narration.

We are looking forward to our fourth Alaska cruise in May. Previous cruises have all been end August and September so this is a new adventure for us.

Your thread is making me more excited as time goes on, we are not sailing on Celebrity but we did exclusively until 2009, but that’s no matter I am enjoying your thread.

Thanks, and good wishes to you,  Jean.  

Jean, you didn't mention what ship you are taking in May.  We also have been to Alaska in September and are going again on the Ovation May 2020.  

 

[Kevin's girl]

The hike to Mendenhall glacier was great. A nice uphill walk but not to strenuous for most in the group. There were markers along the walk to show where the glacier ice had been.

 

 

Mendenhall glacier and Nugget Falls are beautiful. The size of the two can be deceiving from our distance. I took a couple snaps to try and show just how enormous they are.

 

Can you see the 20 person boat at the base? 

 

Can you see all of those tiny people at the waterfall?

 

[Kevin's girl]

After our hike we were off to see whales. Our weather was incredible and made for a very comfortable day and great photos.

After boarding our boat the Navigator we set out with views of an eagle to set the mood.

 

[liptastic]

Hi Kentuckytravelgirl,

We are sailing on Regent Seven Seas. Mariner. Vancouver round trip.

We sailed with Celebrity cruises from 2003 to 2008 and since then we have sailed with Regent.  Excited to visit Alaska in May.

Really enjoying this great thread, thanks again Kevin’s girl.   Jean.

[sfpd3000]

Loving your review and pictures so far.  We'll be on the Solstice in May to Alaska.  Silly question: do we need to bring our life vests to muster?  (I'd rather not have to return to our cabins after muster and just proceed to the open deck for sailway.)  Looking forward to your day in Skagway.

[Kevin's girl]

5 hours ago, sfpd3000 said:

Loving your review and pictures so far.  We'll be on the Solstice in May to Alaska.  Silly question: do we need to bring our life vests to muster?  (I'd rather not have to return to our cabins after muster and just proceed to the open deck for sailway.)  Looking forward to your day in Skagway.

No such thing as a silly question. No you do not have to lug the life vest with you. I'm glad you are enjoying the review. The Solstice is our favorite. The feel of the ship and the service is just so special. I'm sure you will just love her and Alaska.

Skagway coming very soon.

[Kevin's girl]

The area we were in for our whale watching was Auke Bay. From Auke Bay you can see Mendenhall glacier and Mount McGinnis. The views are beautiful.

 

We were there during the end of the season but were lucky enough to see a few. This trip gave new meaning to the old saying "there she Blows" and lyrics "purple mountain majesties". As you go along at high speed to get out into the water there are calls over the radio reporting possible sightings. The captain hollers "there she blows, 2:00" and we head off slower speed with all eyes watching at 2:00. Then you see the blow. Then the roll, then Fluke! It was amazing.

 

There she blows!

 

 

Roll

 

 

Fluke

 

A few more backs, rolls and flukes

 

this was the roll and I just missed the fluke. 

[Kevin's girl]

Next up were sea lions, purple mountains, eagles and one of the prettiest sunsets we have ever seen.

 

As we started to turn around and slowly return to the harbor the mountains turned purple and yes our captain did sing of "purple mountains majesties". It was so pretty.

 

 

[Cairns Cruisers]

KG, I know it's obviously cool/cold on the outside decks. But what is the temp like in the interior of the ship, can you wander

around in shorts between bars,eateries,etc or is it jeans/pants all day?

We're doing Carnival to Alaska round trip from San Francisco in May 2020.

Really enjoying your pic's.

Thanks.

[Kevin's girl]

2 hours ago, Cairns Cruisers said:

KG, I know it's obviously cool/cold on the outside decks. But what is the temp like in the interior of the ship, can you wander

around in shorts between bars,eateries,etc or is it jeans/pants all day?

We're doing Carnival to Alaska round trip from San Francisco in May 2020.

Really enjoying your pic's.

Thanks.

 

It was jeans/pants for us in September, no coats inside the ship but sweaters were not uncommon.  I would think May would be about the same due to the shoulder season. I found this info for max highs and lows for the outside temps

Average Weather in May in Juneau Alaska, United States
Daily high temperatures increase by 7°F, from 49°F to 56°F, rarely falling below 41°F or exceeding 66°F.
Daily low temperatures increase by 7°F, from 35°F to 42°F, rarely falling below 29°F or exceeding 46°F.
For reference, on July 31, the hottest day of the year, temperatures in Juneau typically range from 48°F to 61°F, while on December 31, the coldest day of the year, they range from 20°F to 28°F.

In most years, San Francisco averages a daily maximum temperature for May that's between 62 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit (17 to 19 degrees Celsius). The minimum temperature usually falls between 49 and 53 °F (10 to 12 °C). The days at San Francisco warm a little during May.

 

I'm glad you are enjoying the pic's. 

Edited February 13, 2019 by Kevin's girl

[Cairns Cruisers]

29 minutes ago, Kevin's girl said:

 

It was jeans/pants for us in September, no coats inside the ship but sweaters were not uncommon.  I would think May would be about the same due to the shoulder season. I found this info for max highs and lows for the outside temps

Average Weather in May in Juneau Alaska, United States
Daily high temperatures increase by 7°F, from 49°F to 56°F, rarely falling below 41°F or exceeding 66°F.
Daily low temperatures increase by 7°F, from 35°F to 42°F, rarely falling below 29°F or exceeding 46°F.
For reference, on July 31, the hottest day of the year, temperatures in Juneau typically range from 48°F to 61°F, while on December 31, the coldest day of the year, they range from 20°F to 28°F.

In most years, San Francisco averages a daily maximum temperature for May that's between 62 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit (17 to 19 degrees Celsius). The minimum temperature usually falls between 49 and 53 °F (10 to 12 °C). The days at San Francisco warm a little during May.

 

I'm glad you are enjoying the pic's. 

Thank you.