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

[AKR2011]

Happy Belated Birthday, Yvonne! 🎉🎂 I don't get the chance to get on here every day, but I'm loving your review as usual. Do you have another trip to Alaska planned so you can reschedule the whale watching trip?

[mjcatlvr]

2 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

@mjcatlvr

Here is the updated Haven breakfast menu. 
Lunch menu coming soon!

Gigantic THANK YOU Yvonne! I appreciate this so much. My Dad will be pleased to see that this is very similar to to Breakfast menu in the regular Haven restaurants. Plenty to choose from. Enjoy the rest of your Birthday cruise!

[mjcatlvr]

14 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

Skagway part 1

Rough.

 

Rough morning.

 

We arrived at the Garden Cafe for breakfast at 9:55. All the food was being whisked away. I was able to grab a slice of cheese and a half of an English muffin. It was like a scene from a military movie where the forces charged in swiftly and took no mercy, not even for the cantaloupe.

 

The Freestyle Daily lists The Great Outdoors being open. 

It’s not remotely open.

 

A maître d walked by and I asked why it wasn’t open.

He said the weather was too bad.

 

This weather.

It’s a gorgeous day. 

 

I asked where to get food. He said the Garden Cafe. I said they took all the food away. He said there was still food.  We went back to try to get breakfast. 

 

This is what was available.

 

I had to eat so we went to O’Sheehan’s. 

That was a disaster.

 

If you’re going to make fake eggs, at least measure the water correctly. This is the breakfast sandwich.

 

 

 It blows my mind what chefs cook and what waiters serve. At some point a quality check needs to happen. I asked for tomatoes but not potatoes. Neither came.

 

My dad ordered the oatmeal. I’ve had it before and it is supposed to come on a little platter with the oatmeal, some brown sugar, some raisins and some hot milk. Maybe some cinnamon. This is what my dad got. 

 

Just a bowl plunked down in front of him with no accoutrements. The accoutrements are the best part of the oatmeal.

 

We were served cold coffee.

 

Those who know me know how much I adore brunch. It’s my favourite. We have concluded that O’Sheehan’s on this ship is not the place for breakfast. Drinks yes. Eggs no.

 

 

The woman behind us just ordered 14 pieces of bacon plus three entrees. I guess she likes brunch too.

 

We left O’Sheehan’s and went to bracelet making. That was fun! You get a kit and can do what you want. I loved seeing the different designs people created.

 

 

 

 

 

We went back to O’Sheehan’s (it’s the only indoor bar open when we are in port) for morning libations. Hello hot toddy made with cognac!  My first cognac of my life, I believe.  Not the last!!! Oh, this is a good, good drink!

 

Note: neither of us were in a bad mood or let the breakfast experience wreck our day or our morning. 

Your bracelet came out great! Hopefully that class is offered in July, I will sign up for sure!

[MamaToMany]

@YVRteacher Thank you for bringing some love to my sweet boy! He was thrilled and enjoyed meeting you very much. My mama heart is happy! Can’t wait to get up there and see him myself, but I’m so glad you took the time to say hello. ☺️

 

Now I’m off to the very beginning of this report to start reading properly. I’m all snuggled up in my recliner with a fuzzy blanket, and I’m ready for some Alaskan adventures!

[YVRteacher]

11 hours ago, mjcatlvr said:

Your bracelet came out great! Hopefully that class is offered in July, I will sign up for sure!

The class is free. You just show up. I wish I had done the journal making class.

[YVRteacher]

@mjcatlvr Haven lunch menu

[YVRteacher]

12 hours ago, AKR2011 said:

Happy Belated Birthday, Yvonne! 🎉🎂 I don't get the chance to get on here every day, but I'm loving your review as usual. Do you have another trip to Alaska planned so you can reschedule the whale watching trip?

Yes! We will be doing the Jewel again B2B embarking August 19. 
 

[YVRteacher]

14 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

@mjcatlvr Haven lunch menu

Have you tried the Banana Banoffee Cream? I’m thinking about it right now and I want one!

[mjcatlvr]

4 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

Have you tried the Banana Banoffee Cream? I’m thinking about it right now and I want one!

Oh My God! The Banana Banoffee Cream is my absolute favorite dessert anywhere! I am not even that keen on bananas! Our first trip in the Haven our server told us that it wasn't to be missed, we ordered and had very low expectations, then we were both blown away! Difficult to not order it. We do control ourselves somewhat and always share. Happy to also see our beloved fish sandwich is available too. Thanks for the menus

[schmoopie17]

@YVRteacher Haven't seen too much grumpiness in the past couple of days. Things must be going well with Dad. (Good beer, good food, and not getting his hair messed up?)

 

Having said that, I need my fix of Dad grumpiness. I can't be the only grumpy one around here...I need company.

 

And having said all of that...Happy B-Day to Dad. Cool having both of you celebrating birthdays together on the same cruise.

 

Edited May 12 by schmoopie17

[MamaToMany]

8 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

@YVRteacher Haven't seen too much grumpiness in the past couple of days. Things must be going well with Dad. (Good beer, good food, and not getting his hair messed up?)

 

Having said that, I need my fix of Dad grumpiness. I can't be the only grumpy one around here...I need company.

 

And having said all of that...Happy B-Day to Dad. Cool having both of you celebrating birthdays together on the same cruise.

 

I agree. The dad grumpiness is one of my very favorite parts of your trip reports. I always read those bits to my hubby and he chuckles and enjoys them too. Happy birthday to you both! We are nearly birthday buddies. Taurus energy for sure!

[mimi'sgirl]

Wishing Dad a very Happy Birthday! 🎂

[cruiseny4life]

Happy late birthdays to the crew on Jewel! Or, I guess perhaps coming off Jewel? I wasn't around and had a lot of catching up to do. It sounds like you had a most fantastic cruise!! 

[tcmagnum]

On 5/12/2024 at 4:08 AM, YVRteacher said:

Have you tried the Banana Banoffee Cream? I’m thinking about it right now and I want one!

May I ask for a description on the Banana Banoffee Cream?

Loving your trip report...

[YVRteacher]

The Banana Banoffee Cream is layers of deliciousness served in a parfait glass.  The layers consist of graham cracker pie crust, ripe bananas, dulce de leche pudding and fresh whipped cream. It is garnished with toasted coconut flakes and mint.

 

 

[YVRteacher]

Back to Skagway

 

Views from the scenic overlook (it was windy and cold up there!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[YVRteacher]

Crossing over Lynn Creek

 

 

and they are working on the railroad 

 

 

 

[YVRteacher]

Now we are at the cemetery. I could have spent hours here and hope to return one day with more time to linger. 
 

The streetcar guides aligned their timing and did a re-enactment of the epic shootout in Skagway between Soapy Smith and Frank Reid.  I was too engaged to take photos. Oops.

 

 

 

Just as we were reboarding the streetcar the train zoomed by

 

 

 

[YVRteacher]

  The streetcar tour continued in town and we had the option to stay downtown or be driven back to where the shuttles are.  

 

I think everyone on our streetcar chose to stay downtown. My dad and I walked along Broadway then headed toward the library then went to the grocery store which was so fun.

 

Look at these signs!

 

Prices are high in a town where groceries arrive by barge from Seattle once a week

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our streetcar driver told us that with a graduating class of 5 people a year the school, which is Pre K to grade 12 and has 10 teachers, has an arrangement with Holland America. The graduating students get to go on board and have a formal meal, partake in entertainment and celebrate their grad instead of having an awkward prom.  How awesome is that?

 

I would tell you that I followed my nose to the Klondike Doughboy but that would be a lie because I am so stuffed up and sick that I can’t smell anything.  I followed the crows! They know good food.

Edited May 13 by YVRteacher

[YVRteacher]

next stop: a sweet treat!

We have seen the line ups but have never tried Alaskan Fry Bread. In some places these are called elephant ears. In Canada they are Beaver Tails or Whale’s Tails.

 

 

 

 

Here’s what dad had to say:

“Dang that’s good!”

 

We were both hungry so this hit the spot. So yummy and hot! We shared one. My dad said I know how hungry you are. You take two thirds and I’ll take one third. 

 

I folded it in half and we shared equally. 

 

This will definitely be part of our Skagway tradition from now on.  Fortunately we are here twice in August!

 

Look at these hopeful crows!

[YVRteacher]

It is creeping closer to spring in Skagway

 

 

 

 

[YVRteacher]

With three ships in port and +/- 10000 people in town Skagway was busy and hopping. Several business that weren’t open for the season last week have now opened. The Klondike Brewing Company was open!! Our streetcar driver/guide also works at Klondike Brewing so if you see her maybe she’ll sing for you!

[YVRteacher]

Post-Skagway 

 

We were swiftly swept back onto the ship and up to our suite through a tag team of Haven butlers. Some old guy thrust his cane into the Haven elevator to prevent the doors from closing so he could get on but the butler said no and his wife said no. We wouldn’t have minded the company. As the doors slowly closed he shouted “sorry, Haven people.”

 

I saw something for dad sitting on the dining room table! 

His laundry!

 

I requested that the shirts be on hangers but they were all folded in the basket.

 

From my room I heard a string of profanities similar to those I hear in my own head when people talk loudly in the spa.

 

At the “oh bloody hell” comment I went and asked what was wrong.

“Look at this!” Dad declared. “They have buttoned my shirts all the way up!”

 

Not only did dad get his laundry we also have afternoon treats and a fresh basket of fruit. Yum!  

 

 

I made a snack plate and asked dad if he wanted some.

 

He shook his with certainty and stated, “No, no, no. None for me.”

 

Since he didn’t want any I put a little more on my plate. 

 

He saw my plate and said “oh that looks so good. Maybe I’ll just have a strawberry.”

 

I made him his own plate and we took our munchies up to O’Sheehan’s for some drinks and people watching. Dad got all the blue cheese because that’s a no-thank-you from me.  The Norwegian Brown Cheese was the star of the cheese plate.

 

If only every after-school snack looked like this! 

 

 

 

[YVRteacher]

The Latitudes party was a blah non-event. This is the worst cruise next manager I have ever encountered. 
 

 

 

I had a polar bear and dad had surprise- another beer!

 

Then we went to the art gallery to meet for Dinner with the Officers.  I had mentioned to Kem last week that my dad doesn’t do well late at night (late in dad’s world is now 7:00pm) so we met at 6:00pm for fake champagne. As we were leaving the latitudes party Rumi said see you in a few minutes so I knew then we would be dining with him. Yay!!!

 

[YVRteacher]

Dinner with the officers

 

I’m so sick my ears are plugged and I’m straining to hear. 

 

Our dinner companions were a couple from Seattle we met last week at Sail and Sustain. I can’t stand it when people spend their time at Dinner with the Officers only talking about themselves and how many cruises they’ve done and who they know. It’s boring and the officers don’t care. Talk about real things and take an interest in others’ lives. I tuned out a few times after they told us for the umteenth time how much the crew on board this ship just love them. I literally found myself staring at the ceiling. 

 

Moving on.

 

My food was great but dad didn’t like his entree. He ordered the fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp but there was no sauce on it. I ordered some sauce for him but once he decides he doesn’t like something there isn’t a lot that can be done.

 

 

 

I ordered him three scoops of ice cream for dessert and that made him happier. 

 

I had a coughing attack during dinner and had to leave the table so I didn’t cough on anybody. So embarrassing.

 

I told my dad he needed to dress nicely for dinner. The other two people showed up looking like slobs. We were in the Palace. If you’re doing dinner with the officers, maybe change out of your tshirts, jeans and running shoes. That sounds snobby but to me it is respectful to dress nicely.

 

My dad said it was so nice of Rumi to spend so much of his evening with all of us.

 

There was another table with another officer that was seated before us and a third table tonight with Celeste from Cruise Next and Ronan from Guest Services. I’ve had dinner with Celeste before (Bliss) and she is wonderful. They had table hosting last night as well.

 

I think this may be our last dinner with the officers. I’ll still attend when I travel solo or with friends. My dad can’t handle the over-stimulation that comes from being in a noisy (we were seated near the grand piano) crowded dining room, the conversation with a group and the slow pace of the meal. 

 

My dad was done for the day after dinner so I brought him back to the cabin. I decided to stay in for the rest of the evening too. I cozied up on the living room couch under a fuzzy blanket and read my book. Still in my robe, I went out on the balcony to blow bubbles. That was fun!! A woman from a balcony two cabins down wind of the bubbles came out and said “who’s blowing bubbles??!”

 

I said “oh sorry. That’s me. Do you want me to stop?”

 

She said “no, I love them!” then pulled out her big camera and started shooting the Chilkoot range with a side of bubbles. She told me she wished she brought bubbles.  I told her I am a teacher and always give bubbles to my students at the end of the year and love to bring them on cruises.

 

I had a hard time concentrating on my book because I was on Aurora Borealis watch. I kept going out on the balcony to check the sky.