Caines Head

We got to sleep in! Luggage pull at 7 am.

Denali was absolutely clear this morning- in all its glory. We had coffee on the back patio of the lodge and basked in the beauty.

We loaded onto the bus, and headed to Cubby's- an IGA store. On to Anchorage, where we underwent COVID testing at the conference center.

Lunch was at the Fat Pterigan- steak and Stilton pizza for Julianna and me, and Italian sub for Wayne. She also had a cider flight which was quite beautiful and appeared to be delicious.

We took a walk to find an ATM- success! Then to Wild Scoops for unusually flavored ice cream. I had Spruce Tip- it was strange at first taste, but really grew on me.

We reloaded onto the bus, and headed for the Alaska Wildlife Center. We saw it on Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet, when she treated bears, Muskox and an Eagle. We saw all those plus black-tailed deer, foxes, coyotes, moose, and a bunch of other injured/rehabilitating critters who can't be released into the wild.

Then back aboard enroute Seward, where we boarded Norwegian Jewel. One problem before boarding: we had purchased an Ulu- a rounded-blade implement used by Native Alaskans. We were informed that we couldn't take it through security and that it would be confiscated and disposed of. Our luggage had already been sent onto the ship. Yikes!!! One of our tour-mates came to the rescue. His luggage had not yet been loaded, and he offered to put our Ulu in his bag. Problem solved (and he was kind enough to bring it to our stateroom.)

We bade farewell to our tour guide, Aaron, and driver, Bob. They made our land tour truly memorable.

Being aboard Jewel is like coming home. This is my fourth voyage in her- New England/Canada, New York->Los Angeles via Panama Canal, Sydney->New Zealand->Sydney, and now this Alaska cruise, Seward->Vancouver.

She's had some remodeling done. Looks spiffy, and lots of upgrades, but a few changes include less small shelf space for incidentals and a light that pops on-quite brightly (minor shout-out to Mellow Yellow) with no means of shutting it off (at least that I could find)

Our mini-suite (now redesignated as "Club Balcony") is very appropriate for the three of us. The fold-out couch, which is prepared nightly by our wonderful steward Aquillino, is reported to be comfortable. The room is a bit larger than a standard balcony, and the shower is the full footprint of the bathtub that was replaced during the upgrade. I'm a fan- as I almost killed myself getting over the side of the tub to take a shower during some rough weather on a previous cruise.

Dinner was in the Azura Main Dining Room. Norwegian food is good.Baca lagi