Panorama Transpacific 08/22/24 - 09/10/24 - Live-ish 'cause that's how I roll

[CoffeeGoddess]

3 hours ago, fabby50 said:

Thank you for the info on the dry dock.  Disappointed about the kitchen, we have enjoyed several of the cooking classes offered there and gambling offers no appeal to us.  We've done the pasta class together and my husband took the bar-b-que and the sushi classes.  Something fun to do on a sea day.  If you are not interested in gambling or shopping, classes in something are fun.

 

 

I feel the same way, the kitchen offers something unique and it's a shame to see it go for more slot machines.

[CoffeeGoddess]

This morning I got up around 7 to texts from my friend checking on my house to tell me everything was good. I went back to sleep and got up to a grey day around 10am. By the time I got my rear in gear and out the door it was a little after 11am and Ocean Plaza was packed and loud while I waited on my morning how. Some kind of dance or exercise class was going on so I got out of there as soon as I had my liquid gold.

 

I thought I'd go up to Serenity since it was close to noon and grab a lounge and one of those salads for lunch while I read. As soon as I stepped out of the elevators on deck 15 I could tell that was not happening.  The heavens had opened and everything out there was soaked.

 

I figured I'd go grab a deli sandwich then and stop on my way through deck 11 to grab a Pic of the main pool.

 

 

Unfortunately the lines were long and they only had 2 people working there so, pizza it is!

 

 

Unfortunately it is a bit nippy out on deck so I may need to either go grab my hoody or find someplace inside like the Havana Bar to read.I could go back to my room and chill on my balcony too. I'll figure something out.

[CoffeeGoddess]

So, here are the Funtimes from the first day, third, and today as requested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CoffeeGoddess]

I was reading in the Havana Bar with a drink like I did yesterday since it was mostly empty and pretty quiet. However people started to find it and started to get loud very quickly. While the rain had pretty much stopped, all the comfortable Serenity chairs were soaked enough I didn't want to try using towels to sit on.

 

There was a nice seating area on 11 aft but the wind is coming from the aft so it was a little too breezy even though it was dry.

 

 

I'm just giving up finding a good reading venue at this point and chilling in my room for a couple more hours. Then head on down to Alchemy to see what's happening. I thought about going up to the gym and grabbing a treadmill or bike but I know it's going to probably be packed and loud as well. Not the kind of atmosphere I'm looking for right now.

 

 

[CoffeeGoddess]

Got down to Alchemy little before 5pm. Marina started me off with a Bramble with mint.

 

 

Followed by a gin and ginger concoction by Victor, the trainee.

 

 

Now I'm sipping on another internet find that used Campari, Chambord, grapefruit juice, and prosecco.

 

 

Very nice. I am going to need to go get food after this but not sure where I'm going to go. The main dining room menu doesn't have anything compelling. I was looking at maybe sushi but they don't have many roll choices. I may try the deli if they don't have too long of a line. Gotta say, I really miss NCL at these times. Their buffet always had a great variety and at least two Indian entrees.  Then there was always O'Sheehans on the older ships called The Local on the newer ones. They had a basic menu and the chicken wings were a bit hit or miss but it was a great option open 23 hours.

 

While I love the pizza, it can get a little repetitive.

 

Edited August 26 by CoffeeGoddess

[OddJob]

On 8/24/2024 at 4:54 PM, ninjacat123 said:

Check out my last review, a land trip to Tokyo and Kyoto. In my signature 👍😁

I followed every step of the way as you were posting 🙂

[CoffeeGoddess]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ketchikan-alaska-landslide-dead-evacuations/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab6a&linkId=564637265

 

While the landslide happened yesterday, there was nothing announced on the ship. I found out this morning because of a post on the FB group. The Ketchikan FB page has a few posts from residents asking what is happening with the ships that are coming in but there were no official responses.

 

Still nothing either on the app or announced but they said yesterday they would not be doing any announcements when they were here due to regulations. Not sure if I want to go into town that's still in a state of emergency and use their resources.

[shof515]

I don't know if its planned or not but i noticed the Panorama is now docking at Norwegian cruise lines cruise terminal a few miles outside of Ketchikan at a place called Wards Cove. usually only NCL ships dock at the cove 

[dctravel]

54 minutes ago, shof515 said:

I don't know if its planned or not but i noticed the Panorama is now docking at Norwegian cruise lines cruise terminal a few miles outside of Ketchikan at a place called Wards Cove. usually only NCL ships dock at the cove 

There are two Princess ships that seem to be at the regular Ketchikan docks. I haven' seen any reports of the cruise area being affect directly, although certainly your concern over using resources is very valid. Curious to see if the ship tells you anything else.

[maryann2]

Probably best to stay away.

[CoffeeGoddess]

1 hour ago, shof515 said:

I don't know if its planned or not but i noticed the Panorama is now docking at Norwegian cruise lines cruise terminal a few miles outside of Ketchikan at a place called Wards Cove. usually only NCL ships dock at the cove 

 

Yep, we're at Ward Cove so need to take a shuttle into town.

Edited August 26 by CoffeeGoddess

[CoffeeGoddess]

So they did finally make an announcement once we were docked. They said they had been in contact with the local government and while there are areas that are closed and some without power that the town was still open for tourism.  A lot of ship's excursions were canceled and I'm sure there were a lot of private tours canceled as well.

 

 

Back in '22 Royal docked right at the port in town so when you got off the ship you were right there. Carnival is docking at Ward Cove which is about a 20 minute shuttle ride into town. Like Sitka was, and will be.  So I am now in the line for the shuttle which is winding through the port building which has the typical souvenirs and a few tables for local people to set up on.

 

They don't seem to have anything up in port yet that I can see for donations but I would expect something in town, maybe in the visitor's center. I'm really going into town for one thing and that's to see if that shop that was for local artists to sell their work is still there and open. They announced the Rainbird Trail, which I wanted to walk was closed so won't be doing that.

[TravelWith FunShips]

23 hours ago, CoffeeGoddess said:

So, here are the Funtimes from the first day, third, and today as requested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you very much

[crzndeb]

3 hours ago, CoffeeGoddess said:

I'm really going into town for one thing and that's to see if that shop that was for local artists to sell their work is still there and open

If you like to hit up local bars, I always go to the Totem Bar on Front St. when I’m there. Have gotten to know a local, who offered to show me around the non touristy places next time I’m there. If you go, and see a guy who looks like Santa, that’s Dave. Tell him hi. It’s a fun place. 314 Front St.

[CoffeeGoddess]

Oddly enough, or maybe not, there was no mention of the landslide in the port building, the bus driver gave us some info driving into town but said nothing, ans aside from one store everything was open.  I guess when you depend on tourism you can't afford to lose the business that comes from 4 ships in town.

 

I did find the shop I was look for even though they had moved over a street. They had so many great things that I wanted but limited myself to a couple large purchases, three prints, and 2 pieces of jewelry. I wound up having them ship the vase, antler carving, and larger print to my house since I didn't want to risk breaking the vase and the print would just slip into one of the boxes. The antler carving needed to be shipped no matter what since it was bulky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I forgot to snap a Pic of my larger print before they took it back. They're also going hold them and not ship until I get back home so I don't have worry about them sitting on my porch before my friend can get them inside.

 

On the next street over there was another shop with local vendor tables I stopped in. I bought three beautiful copper rings from one artist and then a couple of wonderful smelling moisturizers from another.

 

 

 

I the took a walk to the bridge and around the town since the one trail I wanted to walk was closed due to the landslide.

 

 

Nothing else piqued my interest so I headed back to the bus stop to head back to the ship. Not a bad day considering.

[CoffeeGoddess]

I figured I'd go up to JiJis to see if the Mongolian BBQ line was long or not since it was close to the time it closes. It wasn't at all so I was sat and provided the menu.

 

 

I picked the shrimp since it had everything I like in it and waited for my lunch. To say I was underwhelmed by what arrived would be an understatement. In the menu the shrimp has peas, greens, garlic, peanuts, and basil. What I got was a bowl full of noodles, a few small shrimp, and a singular large piece of green pepper. 

 

 

Sadness stir-fry.

 

I ate the shrimp out of it then went downstairs to the Blue Iguana and got a shrimp and chicken burrito bowl and a Mezcalrita.

 

 

 

So much more satisfying than the depressing pile of noodles.

[TiredTrucker]

13 minutes ago, CoffeeGoddess said:

I figured I'd go up to JiJis to see if the Mongolian BBQ line was long or not since it was close to the time it closes. It wasn't at all so I was sat and provided the menu.

 

 

I picked the shrimp since it had everything I like in it and waited for my lunch. To say I was underwhelmed by what arrived would be an understatement. In the menu the shrimp has peas, greens, garlic, peanuts, and basil. What I got was a bowl full of noodles, a few small shrimp, and a singular large piece of green pepper. 

 

 

Sadness stir-fry.

 

I ate the shrimp out of it then went downstairs to the Blue Iguana and got a shrimp and chicken burrito bowl and a Mezcalrita.

 

 

 

So much more satisfying than the depressing pile of noodles.

We never did make it to the Asian lunch in Jiji's but heard it wasn't very good.   We noticed even in the MDR many dishes were lacking several of of the listed ingredients, especially the soups and salads.   Not sure what's up with that. 

[CoffeeGoddess]

I had planned to do laundry tomorrow but the self-service ones have restrictions while in Alaskan waters apparently. So if I want to do laundry tomorrow it will need to be between 1am and 3am. I don't think I'm going to make that 2 hour window so will probably try and hit after 9:30pm on Wednesday.

 

[CoffeeGoddess]

Okay, here is today's and tomorrow's Funtimes.

 

 

 

 

[CoffeeGoddess]

At Alchemy I decided to do espresso based drinks tonight.  I looked up a couple of recipes and while the first with bitters, espresso, and brown sugar syrup was a complete banger, the second was not so we'll forget it.  My last drink was espresso, vodka, with some chocolate bitters and a bit of lemon. That was also good.

 

 

 

Then I went up to the deli for dinner and got a hot dog and a BLT. The hot dog was good but the "chili" tasted a little weird so I just ate the dog. I had to ask for more tomato on my BLT because that's an integral part of the sandwich.

 

 

Tonight's towel animal was an elephant and I saw a ship all lit up out my balcony before I went to go get dinner so had to get a picture.

 

 

 

 

Feeling a bit tired tonight so even though I don't have anything scheduled tomorrow until 4:30pm for a massage I'll probably skip the hot tub and go to bed soon.

 

[jimbo5544]

Great live review so far.  Thanks for the time and effort to do it.  

[kdr69]

Love that antler carving with the polar bear

[jimbo5544]

8 hours ago, CoffeeGoddess said:

I had planned to do laundry tomorrow but the self-service ones have restrictions while in Alaskan waters apparently. So if I want to do laundry tomorrow it will need to be between 1am and 3am. I don't think I'm going to make that 2 hour window so will probably try and hit after 9:30pm on Wednesday.

 

That does appear to be Alaska flexing their eco muscle.  If it were me, I would wait.

[vanislandcruisers]

Really enjoying your Live!!!

 

[CoffeeGoddess]

Soooo, today was to be Endicott Arm and cruising by the glacier. Just before 10 an announcement came on in the rooms from the Captain that due to a medical emergency we are on our way to Juneau and will not be able to go to the glacier. They are going to let us go ashore in Juneau however and we should be able to able to do that around noon.

 

First, I really hope everything turn out okay for the passenger.  That's a scary thing and one of the reasons I always get travel insurance with the medical evacuation included when I cruise because you never know. Second, I'm on my balcony figuring out what to do in a surprise port. The first time we got a jeep and went out to Mendenhall Glacier which was great. Now I'm probably going to need to stay in town. They have not come back to tell us how long we will be in port but I'm not expecting long.

 

 

It's not going to get over the mid-fiftiees there so I'll be sporting a hoodie. Probably hit a drug store to grab a couple of those little items that I forgot.