Live from the Jewel April 29-May 13, 2024: will definitely contain sarcasm and grumpiness

[NikiPinkston]

1 hour ago, ihate2cruise said:

I don't see a where it tells me if we are docked or Tendered. I just see letters after the cruise ships w/o a guide to what they stand for.

 

I believe that there's a letter T before the dock code if you're tendering. For instance, the day that we're in Skagway, the schedule shows TWL, meaning that we're tendering to the Wilderness dock. Berth Codes confirms this.

[MohrPfun]

To try and close the loop on this Skagway question, I actually reached out to the Visitors Center this am and they just responded!  Much like in @YVRteacher’s recap, they ended up in RRF, and needed to tender.  This dock position was confirmed by the VC as the only one that requires it.  Hopefully RRA sticks for both our dock assignments, and we can avoid that.

 

 

 

and here is the link:

https://www.skagway.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/skagway_visitor_department/page/33137/2024_skagway_cruise_ship_schedule.pdf

 

[schmoopie17]

I don't know why they call it a tender when the process is usually tough,

[Monica887]

I just binge-read this thread to pregame for my July cruise and the thing I can't get out of my head now are those darn truffles. But we are only in Juneau from 2:30-11, and have a 3-8 excursion so I'm not sure we're going to make it into town. Hiking and whale watching, or truffles? Life is hard. 

 

How is the Skagway Brewing Co for a vegetarian? I see a veggie burger on the menu but is it worth the stop? We do have a full afternoon available there after our excursion there. Any other good vegetarian finds in ports?

Edited May 5 by Monica887

[YVRteacher]

Glacier Bay

 

Margerie up close

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[YVRteacher]

We were 6/10 of a mile from Margerie Glacier. Distances are deceiving!

 

Does anyone remember when the Grand Pacific Glacier was the highlight of Glacier Bay? She used to be so grand! Now the Ferris glacier has swept in front of the Grand Pacific Glacier and the National Parks team is debating whether to stay with tradition and keep referring to her and the Grand Pacific or lean toward a name with greater geologic accuracy which would be the Ferris Glacier.

 

The black moraine you see in the photos is the Ferris Glacier.

 

[YVRteacher]

As we were heading away from Margerie Glacier toward Tarr Inlet the butlers brought steaming bowls of clam chowder to the Haven sun deck and my dad was in chowder heaven. He asked me if this was lunch. I said it was snack. He said he didn’t want a snack so I said it was lunch.

 

Then he ate it.

 

 

It was icy cold up there!

[YVRteacher]

Surf scoters (hundreds of birds)

 

We weren’t able to go to John Hopkins Glacier today because it is seal birthing season.

 

Screaming babies should be banned from glacier viewing events. I like my glaciers scream-free.

 

After a couple of hours of glacier viewing dad said there wasn’t much wildlife today. I said “there’s a grumpy bear next to me.”

He asked “where? as he peered around the deck.

[YVRteacher]

Glacier bay has lost 8 trillion pounds of ice. The land is rising through isostatic uplift and is experiencing the highest rate of uplift anywhere in the world.

The force of gravity is weakening here so I have lost at least a billionth of a pound just from being in Glacier Bay. A few more hours of this and I’ll look like Heidi Klum.

 

Lamphugh Glacier

She shows off the blue glacier ice which is a result of densely packed snow which does not absorb blue light from the spectrum.

 

 

 

[YVRteacher]

Bubbles! So far on this cruise I have blown bubbles in every port and glacier stop.

 

 

 

 

[laudergayle]

By far my favorite Bubble picture.  I’m trying not to look at the glacier pics as I’ve never been to Glacier Bay!!  A week and a day till we board.  Maybe we’ll see you and Dad getting off!

[wolfie11]

On 4/27/2024 at 6:45 PM, libtrek said:

well, bummer.wonder if that will make our troll shirts collector items? Travel day interesting starting with Detroit airport where cops tasered a guy trying to slit his own throat near us. Then R falling in the plane aisle, no damage. Now in beautiful 1-bedroom suite in Sutton Place. Going to borrow hotel wheelchair for falling-down boy to tour Granville, rain or shine.

Well, bummer… will ask Cruin what happened. We are cozied up in our beautiful one-bedroom Sutton suite.

Ray Troll retired.  He’s still doing art and tee shirts but the shop is closed.

[YVRteacher]

Map of Glacier Bay

 

The Rangers joined our ship on a pilot boat at Bartlett Cove. We cruised up to Margerie and the Grand Pacific where we had a full hour and a 360 view, back toward Tarr Inlet then did a 360 at Lamphugh and Reid Glaciers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took my first photo in Glacier Bay from our cabin balcony at 8:09am and my last in Glacier Bay at 12:30pm. 
 

Both photos were wildlife captures, with mountain goats in the morning and this lovely creature in the afternoon.

 

 

 

She snuck into Cagney’s and I didn't want her to get squashed so I put her out on a deck railing. My dad told Cagney’s staff with a shake of his head and a sigh, “only my daughter would rescue a ladybug.”

[YVRteacher]

This was in our room on the first day

[YVRteacher]

Glacier Bay lunch

 

I brought my own food to the Haven restaurant  because the Indian food is that good

my food

 

 

 

 

dad’s food

 

 

Dessert

 

[YVRteacher]

If you are doing this cruise, try to position yourself with a forward view as you leave Glacier Bay around 4:00pm. The rangers told us this is the place to see whales and we saw many! It was wonderful! Whale watching from the spa is my new favourite pastime.

[YVRteacher]

 

Dinner with the officers was held on different evenings this cruise. There are so many higher level Latitudes guests that they had to spread out the dinners. They didn’t do any on Glacier Bay evening because they knew the dining rooms would be full. We had an invitation for the evening we were in Juneau but a 7:00pm start time is just too late for my dad to be functional. Many people with dementia experience sundowning which is evening confusion and disorientation. My dad gets really grumpy and often presents as rude in the evenings and it just wouldn’t have been  fair to him to do dinner with officers from 7-9pm.

 

We had dinner with Rumi (the GM) in Le Bistro the evening of Glacier Bay.  My dad has been practicing how to tie a tie and he did it!  We enjoyed a wonderful evening of good stories, laughter, shared memories and trying to convince my dad to go on the Jewel at Christmas.

 

We all ordered the Soupe aux Quatre Champignons although mine was made without chicken stock.

 

 

 I also had the Cromesquis de Chèvre because who can pass up fried goat cheese balls?

 

Rumi recommended the Sole Grenobloise and he and my dad both had that. I ordered  a small portion for dad and Rumi told our server to  bring him the whole fish!

 

I didn’t want to complicate things with a special order so selected the Napoléon de Légumes and it was actually way better than it used to be. The spinach was waaaaaaay too much but the flavours were delightful.

 

 

 

 

Desserts

 

 

 

 

This was such a special evening!

 

Edited May 6 by YVRteacher

[YVRteacher]

11 hours ago, Monica887 said:

I just binge-read this thread to pregame for my July cruise and the thing I can't get out of my head now are those darn truffles. But we are only in Juneau from 2:30-11, and have a 3-8 excursion so I'm not sure we're going to make it into town. Hiking and whale watching, or truffles? Life is hard. 

 

How is the Skagway Brewing Co for a vegetarian? I see a veggie burger on the menu but is it worth the stop? We do have a full afternoon available there after our excursion there. Any other good vegetarian finds in ports?

Hi! You can order the truffles to be shipped to your home or you could find a friend on the cruise to pick up some for you. The flavours are listed on the website in the order section. Another option is to ask your tour driver to drop you off downtown before heading to the ship.

 

I posted the menu for the Skagway Brewing Company and vegetarian items are marked with a “v.” I really wanted the beer cheese soup but it is made with chicken. Why does everyone need to put a dead bird in soup??

 

 

Edited May 6 by YVRteacher

[YVRteacher]

The National Park service rangers on board for Glacier Bay were outstanding. We had Ranger Mike doing the PA presentation throughout the morning then Ranger Dan did the kid’s program, Ranger Mike went to Entourage to give the teen program and we enjoyed Ranger Megan’s fabulous slideshow about her life growing up in Glacier Bay and the changes she has seen over the years.

 

The heat was cranked up in the Stardust Theatre and one moment I was listening to Ranger Megan teaching about tidewater glaciers and the next my dad was poking me and saying wake up.

Sheesh. Can’t a girl take a nap on a cruise?

[YVRteacher]

When the Jewel goes into her 21-day dry dock in Marseille the thermal spa and Le Bistro will both be revitalized. The goal in the thermal spa is to make the therapy pool less noisy. That thing gurgles like a lactose intolerant dinosaur after eating an ice cream parlour!

[YVRteacher]

We finally had some time during the afternoon of Glacier Bay day to peruse Tradewinds (this is the gift shop on board.

 

Here are some items I did not buy:

$6 Pringles. $6!!!

 

A stuffed pineapple.

 

 

Fish magnets

 

 

 

Captain bear magnets

 

@ceilidh1 know anybody who would like some Limoncello?

 

Much to my dismay, all the gift shop destination items were specific to Alaska.

 

Nothing from the Panama Canal voyages or the Asian itineraries. I was absolutely distraught and this almost ruined my cruise. How dare they only have Alaskan-themed T-shirts, hats, notebooks, teddy bears and mugs? 

 

My foray into the gift shop left my onboard account unscathed. Too bad because I really wanted a transatlantic crossing shirt. IYKYK.

[MohrPfun]

1 minute ago, YVRteacher said:

When the Jewel goes into her 21-day dry dock in Marseille the thermal spa and Le Bistro will both be revitalized. The goal in the thermal spa is to make the therapy pool less noisy. That thing gurgles like a lactose intolerant dinosaur after eating an ice cream parlour!

You’re hilarious and I’m loving this report just as much, if not more than your others.  Dad (despite the full Monty in the spa) seems to be doing relatively well this trip!  And your pics (especially Glacier) are fantastic!

 

Question:  I’m considering adding thermal for our 6/3 sailing from Seward, which it seems you more than enjoy, gurgling aside.  Should I buy in advance for $199/pp for the week, or since we’ll be adding treatments onboard with a tour, would it be better to wait and combine all onboard?  Any thoughts?

[YVRteacher]

Definitely purchase the spa thermal pass in advance. With the decline in entertainment and on board daytime activities the spa is popular and the number of passes are limited to prevent overcrowding. Passes sold out on our cruise.

[YVRteacher]

The ceramic loungers are nice and hot today and the heat is both soothing and relaxing. I think I fell asleep with my face on my book last night so my neck is a little out of whack.

 

Today’s book is

 

It is exquisite! My friend on the Ruby Princess trades one of books for this one because she knew I would like it. Thank you, friend!

 

As a school librarian I often get asked what are my favourite kids’ books. I have many, and I always include this one as a must-read. It’s a beautiful companion to The Island of Missing Trees.

 

 

On another sweet note, we devoured these in seconds

 

[MohrPfun]

6 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

Definitely purchase the spa thermal pass in advance. With the decline in entertainment and on board daytime activities the spa is popular and the number of passes are limited to prevent overcrowding. Passes sold out on our cruise.

10-4, done, and thank you!