9-25 to 10-2 Alskan Explorer Trip Report

[HAL4NOW]

2 hours ago, Brentt_M said:

So they have decided to drop sitka from our itinerary and replace it with Skagway. This was based off some predicted bad weather/storms forming.  We will be going to skagway on Tuesday and Glacier Bay on Wednesday now.

Sitka was cancelled this week with no replacement port, just another sea day. If you haven't been to Skagay it can be interesting.

Edited September 26, 2021 by HAL4NOW

[dobiemom]

1 hour ago, Brentt_M said:

Not upset at all. I have not been to Skagway before so I am looking forward to it.

I highly recommend the White Pass and Yukon Railroad, or a walking tour of the town. Lots of history. 

[quilty964]

Skagway was a fun place to visit.  We did a walking tour with the Park Rangers...very interesting.  The tour sure made you think about how life was back then.  We did the train ride after lunch.  If anyone is interested in quilting, there was a nice quilt shop there.   Rushin' Tailors...we spent some time looking around in there...bought home some nice fabric!   I hope the weather cooperates for you!

 

[SightCRR]

If thinking about the train in Skagway ask about a discount because of bridge construction cutting the trip shorter than normal and think about if is it worth going. 

Edited September 26, 2021 by SightCRR

[Dancerforlife]

On 9/25/2021 at 5:36 PM, PSR said:

 

This is off-subject, but noticed you are from Canada. Do you need another Covid test to get back to BC after your trip? Glad you are ok with the route change...stuff happens when you cruise!

Yes, we will get a PCR test on Friday at the Medical Center on-board. It is required to be able to return to Canada.

[dobiemom]

2 hours ago, Dancerforlife said:

Yes, we will get a PCR test on Friday at the Medical Center on-board. It is required to be able to return to Canada.

@Dancerforlife I would double-check. On our cruise (Sept 4) a couple from Victoria CA was told on the last sea day that HAL would not be providing the test. If they were told earlier, they might have found a testing site in Ketchikan. 

 

Edited September 27, 2021 by dobiemom

[erewhon]

@Brentt_M Best wishes to you and your brother for a fabulous cruise.

[Florida_gal_50]

8 hours ago, Dancerforlife said:

Yes, we will get a PCR test on Friday at the Medical Center on-board. It is required to be able to return to Canada.

Please report what happens.  Hal says they will do this and they need to regardless of what the cheerleaders feel.  If they said you are on your own that would be a different story.  They are doing it in Europe so it’s not like it can’t be done.

[Brentt_M]

So been a pretty uneventful trip up to Juneau so far.  Seas were a little rough, but following for the most part so not that noticeable.  Today is extremely overcast with a cold drizzle as we are getting ready to dock in Juneau.

 

We have no excursions planned at all for today and we are just going to see what happens.

 

 

[Brentt_M]

It was a cool and windy day in Skagway, but it was dry so that made it very tolerable.

 

We walked thoughout most of the town and visited some of the buildings. Some pretty interesting historical information was on display.

 

I also had lunch at the Red Onion Saloon and that was a pretty interesting place and I would definitely go back there.

 

 

[AnnieBelle]

I was going to recommend a spruce tip beer at Skagway Brewing but I see you’ve already been there.

[zgscl]

On 9/25/2021 at 5:37 PM, RuthC said:

I love Skagway! On my first Alaska cruise the ship went to both Skagway and Sitka. I was looking forward to Sitka, but was disappointed as it seemed like a real city, with traffic and traffic lights. Not like the Alaska I had imagined at all. Skagway really looked like Alaska. 

If you don't get sucked in by the tacky stores, but concentrate on the buildings they are in instead, you can really enjoy the town. Check out the Arctic Brotherhood Lodge, and the story behind its façade. Then go through the museum pretty much across the street. If you can walk a distance, head out to the cemetery, and remember the story of the Gold Rush and the shoot-out one night. 
There are also some great tours. 

I think Skagway has a lot of history, and is worth a visit. 

 

I really loved Skagway (and the train is a favorite). I have only been once as HAL does not sail there out of Seattle which has been much easier for us (and will be even more so now that we moved here). Will have to make the trip up to Vancouver or try another line at some point as I do want to go back. 

[boze9999]

On board also - the mid-day and afternoon weather was spectacular (for almost October 1st!). Of course, the Captain had the opportunity to take credit for the good weather - and of course had the weather been not so good, he could have said "I have no control over the weather"!! Loved spending our dollars with the businesses in Skagway!

[kalenaj]

On 9/24/2021 at 2:40 PM, Brentt_M said:

So I when Alaska bookings opened up for this year I quickly booked a spot on the 2nd HAL sailing of the season and had such a good time I am going back for the last HAL sailing of this season.

 

The 1st trip was just me and my 2 kids. This trip will be just my brother and me. It is his 1st cruise ever and he is getting really excited.

 

We don't fly out until tomorrow morning so I am a little nervous about that since it is the 1st time I have ever flown in day of the cruise.

 

We completed our BinaxNow at home test a little while ago and both got negative results.  The BinaxNow process was so easy. I know the testing requirements have caused a lot of stress for people, but highly recommend the BinaxNow option it was completely stress free.

 

I am not sure if this will end up being a live from or not. I do not have the internet included in my booking and based on my experience earlier in the season I am not sure it is worth purchasing. Either way I will try to provide updates while we are in port.

I was on the Nieuw Amsterdam 9/18 to 9/25 and we were unable to stop at Sitka due to high winds. We did not go to Skagway though. 

[kalenaj]

On 9/24/2021 at 2:40 PM, Brentt_M said:

So I when Alaska bookings opened up for this year I quickly booked a spot on the 2nd HAL sailing of the season and had such a good time I am going back for the last HAL sailing of this season.

 

The 1st trip was just me and my 2 kids. This trip will be just my brother and me. It is his 1st cruise ever and he is getting really excited.

 

We don't fly out until tomorrow morning so I am a little nervous about that since it is the 1st time I have ever flown in day of the cruise.

 

We completed our BinaxNow at home test a little while ago and both got negative results.  The BinaxNow process was so easy. I know the testing requirements have caused a lot of stress for people, but highly recommend the BinaxNow option it was completely stress free.

 

I am not sure if this will end up being a live from or not. I do not have the internet included in my booking and based on my experience earlier in the season I am not sure it is worth purchasing. Either way I will try to provide updates while we are in port.

I was on the Nieuw Amsterdam 9/18 to 9/25 and we were unable to stop at Sitka due to high winds. We did not go to Skagway though. 

[SightCRR]

Ketch webcams. 

KPU Ketchikan Webcam – Totally local. Simply Better. (webcamketchikan.com)

 

[Brentt_M]

So we are waiting for the ship to be cleared in Ketchikan.  We are going to do the lumberjack show then an all you can eat crab feast today. 

 

I have been completely slacking on pictures this trip. I haven't even been taking pics of food.  We did eat at Nami/Tamarind on Monday and Pinnacle Grill on Tuesday. We ordered miso soup, spicy tuna, spicy salmon (not on menu), tiger roll, and crab legs at Nami. At PG we both had lobster bisque, Filet + lobster tails, and then skipped dessert.  I added on the 5oz lobster tail and my brother did the 12oz. The size contrast of the tails on the plates was pretty amusing.  Both specialty restaurants were excellent and significantly better than the MDR has been.

 

 

[SightCRR]

N/A in Ketch 9/30/2021

[SightCRR]

Shot w/ seaplane. 

[PSR]

8 hours ago, SightCRR said:

Ketch webcams. 

KPU Ketchikan Webcam – Totally local. Simply Better. (webcamketchikan.com)

 

 

Thanks for the link! Will be able to use it next season (hopefully there is one). Missed the ship today, though. Found your post too late....☺️

[GrandmaOhio]

Really looking forward to your thoughts on the lumberjack show and crab feast.  We’ve booked it for our Alaskan cruise next year!

[Brentt_M]

The crab feast was actually pretty good if all you are going for is the crab. The lodge is about a 20 min coach ride from the ship and wasn't very scenic. The Dungeness crab was delicious and we left stuff. 

 

The lumberjack show is pretty cheesy and not sure I would go to it again. It wasn't bad, just extremely staged and cheesy. Overall it was a good excursion, but not a great one.

[Brentt_M]

So Ketchikan started they day as cool and rainy, but ended up clearing up to give us a nice afternoon.  The lumberjack show and crab feast was an ok to good excursion, but definitely not great. The $150 per person cost felt a little high. $99-$119 would have seemed more inline with the experience.

 

We also walked Creek Street and saw a lot of salmon (mostly dead), and 4 seals. 

[Brentt_M]

The final sea day was prettt laid back and I spent some time in the casino and all played in the final Jackpot bingo of the cruise.  Bingo was excited... my brother won the 2nd game (along with 6 other people). He had to split the $140 prize 7-ways so that was a little disappointing, but then he also ended winning the 3rd game and only had to split that with 1 other person so he got like $140 there. The final game of the session was the jackpot game for just under $1800 and I ended up yelling Bingo! In that game! There was also 1 other winner in that game so we each took home just under $900 and didn't have to bother with any tax paperwork!

 

I finished the night off at the craps table with a really nice roll that locked in a nice gambling profit this trip which helps offset the beating I took during the trip earlier this year.

 

Overall another nice, relaxing trip to Alaska with HAL, but the weather and wildlife were not nearly as cooperative this trip as my previous ones. I will probably stick to trips between the last week of May and mid August from now on.

[Sharon in AZ]

@Brentt_M Thank you for your posts and congrats on your casino and bingo wins!  I can't wait for you to share your next cruise!