Inside Passage

Day 9 (Sunday): From Fog to Sunshine—Sailing the Inside Passage

Our final day at sea (Sunday) began shrouded in thick fog, with near-zero visibility as we cruised through the Inside Passage. The ship's horn sounded every two minutes to alert other vessels of our passage until the fog broke. It was the perfect excuse to visit the ship’s library, where I spent about three focused hours at an oceanview desk making headway on my doctoral work. Something about the hum of the ship and the distant sound of waves makes for a surprisingly productive setting.

Then, around 2:30 PM, the fog lifted, the sun broke through, and it felt like Alaska was giving us one final, glorious gift. After nearly a week of cloudy skies and rain, seeing the sun again felt amazing. Temperatures warmed, and passengers flocked to the sun deck—some to bask in the sunshine, others to scan the water for seals and orcas, which made several appearances throughout the afternoon.

We sailed through Seymour Narrows, flanked by endless forested islands, and passed several cruise ships and smaller vessels at sunset, which was a treat.

This morning (Monday), we docked in Vancouver, British Columbia, where a very friendly and unafraid seagull greeted me on my balcony.

We’ll spend the rest of today exploring the city at our own pace using the hop-on, hop-off buses—no agenda, just soaking it in. Tomorrow, we’ve got a full-day tour scheduled, including stops at the Capilano Suspension Bridge and a gondola ride up Grouse Mountain. With temps expected to hit 78° today and 81° tomorrow, we’re ready to enjoy this beautiful city to the fullest before returning home on Wednesday. 😊Read more