The Trip of a Lifetime to Alaska – Land and Sea – Trip Report - COMLETE!! 4/13/12 - Page 20 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Day 7 – Friday July 1st – Seward and boarding the Radiance of the Seas! Part 1
I forgot to mention that last night, after getting off the fjords tour, Matt had inquired about going out on a halibut charter with Colin on some boats. Unfortunately they were all booked up. Not only was our ship leaving from port today, there was also another one there as well, and in just a few days (on July 4th), Seward would be overrun with 30,000 people as there is a race to the top of Mt. Marathon and back down. Apparently for the good runners, it takes around 42 minutes to get up, and 3 to get back down! We would be happy to be leaving, as I can’t imagine the town swelling with so many people!
Since we had really nowhere to go this morning, we took things slow. Breakfast was downstairs in the lobby (free). They had a cool pancake maker that the pancakes come out on a conveyer belt after you push a button! It was a bit crowded, but we were able to find a table. After that, we went back out to walk around a bit. We could see the ship at the dock so we wanted to see if it was somewhat close and we could just walk our luggage over there. Plus, it was a beautiful morning with the sun out. My guess is that doesn’t happen all too often!
I believe this is Mt. Marathon!
This is a coal conveyer belt. The guys on the fjord tour yesterday said this belt/tunnel goes all the way up past Healey (which is just north of Denali NP)!
We discovered that the walk was not conducive to hauling all our luggage, so we gave up on that idea. We went back to the room and packed everything in up. In the process, I seemed to have lost my Tour Saver Coupon book! I had it out in the room because I was looking for the BOGO coupon for the Sealife Center, but by the time I had gotten to the Sealife Center, I couldn’t find it anywhere (and have yet to do so). I was mad at myself. Thankfully, there were no other excursions I was using it for (you can’t rip out the coupon until you get to the tour to prevent fraud and trading, etc.) but it had a bunch of souvenir coupons and such that I could have used!
We checked out of the hotel, and discovered that for $2/bag, they would hold your luggage for you and deliver them to the boat as well! Sold. That was the best $10 we ever spent! That done, we took some time and just walked around the area again. I saw the shuttle for Exit Glacier, but no one seemed to be thrilled with that! L We went into the Visitor Center for Kenai Fjords National Park (where we toured on the boat yesterday) and looked at some exhibits and got a map for the free shuttle bus that goes around Seward (old school bus). We decided we’d take that to the Sealife Center. Once there, you already know my tale of woe by not having the BOGO coupon. I did get a AAA discount. Better than nothing. I think I was losing my mind! The Sealife Center is SMALL. I think we went thru it in less than an hour. It was a nice diversion, but not a must do, IMO.
Matt’s pictures…….
As you can see from the pictures now, it is overcast again and looks like it is going to downpour any minute. We walked around the “downtown” area near the Sealife Center (which is about a mile from the “downtown” area near our hotel) and then caught the shuttle to the port.
Are you making a scrapbook or something of the trip? I don't know how you're going to choose what pictures to use. There are so many gorgeous ones!
I'm going to do a photobook on Shutterfly, like I've done for all our recent vacations. However I think I'm going to have to go over the 20 page standard and add quite a few more!
How cool that the ship is so close, and for $10 what a great deal that they also transport your bags to the ship, I would have jumped on that deal as well. Sorry about your discount book, glad that you used it for the majority of what you wanted to use it for but I would have been upset too. Can't wait to hear about your first thoughts on the ship.
What a deal on the luggage transfer!
OK, seriously - 42 minutes to run up and 3 to run down? Sure they weren't rolling in a barrel!?! Doesn't sound like something I'll sign up for if I find myself in Seward!
The pancake conveyer belt sounded fun!
All caught up now!
Marnie, what beautiful photos and so lucky for you to have 2 Mt McKinley sightings
Your kids will have so many wonderful memories. With our shorter holiday times, I really think our kid's generation is missing out on nature. David Suzuki says that kids "these days" are so programmed for instant fun, right from their early days in front of Sesame Street with it's 3 minute segments and that one of the best gifts you can give them is time spent in nature to learn how to slow down and be at peace.
I remember the feeling from my trips out west and camping to Alaska as a child. I became aware for the first time of being so small in this big world, and I'm sure yours will hold that with them forever.
(sorry for the philosophy, but I feel inspired ) Now enough about nature - let's get cruising!
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We would be happy to be leaving, as I can’t imagine the town swelling with so many people! 
It was a bit crowded, but we were able to find a table. After that, we went back out to walk around a bit. We could see the ship at the dock so we wanted to see if it was somewhat close and we could just walk our luggage over there. Plus, it was a beautiful morning with the sun out. My guess is that doesn’t happen all too often!
I had it out in the room because I was looking for the BOGO coupon for the Sealife Center, but by the time I had gotten to the Sealife Center, I couldn’t find it anywhere (and have yet to do so). I was mad at myself. Thankfully, there were no other excursions I was using it for (you can’t rip out the coupon until you get to the tour to prevent fraud and trading, etc.) but it had a bunch of souvenir coupons and such that I could have used! 
That done, we took some time and just walked around the area again. I saw the shuttle for Exit Glacier, but no one seemed to be thrilled with that! L We went into the Visitor Center for Kenai Fjords National Park (where we toured on the boat yesterday) and looked at some exhibits and got a map for the free shuttle bus that goes around Seward (old school bus). We decided we’d take that to the Sealife Center. Once there, you already know my tale of woe by not having the BOGO coupon. I did get a AAA discount. Better than nothing. I think I was losing my mind! 
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I hope you'll share the finished photobook, although I have no idea how you're going to pick photos to go in it! 
) Now enough about nature - let's get cruising!
Guess where we were headed??
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