The Alaskan Jewel! Welcome Aboard….You don’t Exist! updated 12/13/2015 - Page 25 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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You were blessed with an amazing whale watching tour. When we went on our last one, our captain (small boat with 6 passengers), who was also our guide told us we would never have another tour as good as the one we got. She was totally amazed at all we had seen.
By the way, by law, the boats can go no closer than 100 yards from the whales. If one, however, should come up unexpectedly beside the boat, that is just luck for those aboard. We did see that happen a couple of times to other boats, never ours. Our captain explained all the courtesies that the boats use when viewing whales from where they join the group (on the right, if I remember correctly) to how far away they must stay, etc.
You really were so lucky to have such a great whale watching experience! Sorry that you didn't have time for Alaskan crab or shopping once you got back to the Port but at least you made it on the ship!!!!
Yikes! I'd be so nervous knowing all-aboard was getting close but looks like you definitely weren't the only ones toeing the line there! Glad today's excursion was so wonderful!!
I was a little but being it was a ship excursion I also knew we were safe...but even then I hate being late for stuff like this. I know a lot of people like to do private excursions but it is times like this that reinforces to me why I mainly do Ship sponsored ones.
The sad thing is we were in port such a short time so I bet a lot of excursions are cutting it close. I have read that the ship often leaves a little late there on many occasions
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Your whale watch was AMAZING!! So cool to see such a big pod of whales like that!
It really was. I was very happy with the way everything went that day on our tours. Just a wonderful all around day and more beauty to come.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Oh my goodness, you saw so much more than we did on our whale watching excursion - colour me completely jealous!
It was a fabulous tour and I do feel so lucky we got to see all we did....if if those dang whales wouldn't jump in the air and do a trick or 2 for me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmymac
Amazing excursion. Your pix are just fabulous. Take a bow
Thanks. It really was one of those once in a lifetime experiences.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pris
You were blessed with an amazing whale watching tour. When we went on our last one, our captain (small boat with 6 passengers), who was also our guide told us we would never have another tour as good as the one we got. She was totally amazed at all we had seen.
By the way, by law, the boats can go no closer than 100 yards from the whales. If one, however, should come up unexpectedly beside the boat, that is just luck for those aboard. We did see that happen a couple of times to other boats, never ours. Our captain explained all the courtesies that the boats use when viewing whales from where they join the group (on the right, if I remember correctly) to how far away they must stay, etc.
Good to know. I have hard of whales going right under the boats too. I think we were further away as a rule. I want to say 300 yards but I could be wrong. I do know the smaller boats were much closer than us, but I still was happy with what we saw. You really need a good zoom lens though to get good pictures.
Sammy said something similar to us too about what an amazing tour we had and that this was not normal. That just made me more excited!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SharonK0527
What an awesome whale watching tour you got to experience! And your photos turned out amazing!
Thanks.
I really enjoyed this tour so much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
You all had such an amazing experience on this whale watching excursion.
We really did. Claire and I were bouncing back down the steps so excited to tell Skip all we saw. He of course said he had a perfect view downstairs too and I am sure he did...but I still say up on top was better!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Glad you got to see so many whales!
Me too!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mpwife153
What an amazing whale watching tour! You got some great shots!
Thanks. It was really a great tour and great weather as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lindawdw
You really were so lucky to have such a great whale watching experience! Sorry that you didn't have time for Alaskan crab or shopping once you got back to the Port but at least you made it on the ship!!!!
I was a little bummed about not having any time in town...but it just means we need to go back. I have been watching the prices. Ideally I would love to go back in 2017. I just need to get Skip onboard with going back that soon. As a family (meaning my extended family) we are looking at a Nov. Caribbean cruise on the Fantasy so I know next year is out. I am also on the Magic in Feb. with my co-workers. I hope Skip will come on the family one. He acted like he may want to, but he is so wishy washy about commitments like that. Heck we are going away this weekend to a waterpark and at this point I don't even know if Skip is coming with us or not. LOL.
We finally got back on the ship and Skip wanted to race right up to deck 7 to see if the guy who was mad about all the late comers was watching again today. Sure enough he was and we chatted with him and told him we were late comers today too…but we were on an excursion so we had no control. We chatted with him a bit and today because we were a bit later getting people back on the ship there wasn’t the mad dashes like yesterday.
That’s really the bad thing about today though….we just was not in Juneau long enough. We were scheduled to arrive at 7 AM and all aboard was 1 PM…though we got on closer to 1:30.
As we stood watching them pack up the ship we saw the Pearl coming in.
She was waiting for us to move. The Pearl does the opposite of what we do on this day. We do Juneau and then Tracy Arm, they do Tracy Arm and then Juneau.
We were now moving and we were hungry for some lunch. Some of us were probably close to dying again, but we survived. I suggested O’Sheehans. Claire agreed that was a good choice and Skip didn’t know what it was, but I told him he would enjoy it as it had pub food.
It was pretty busy there and loud. Luckily they still had seats open and we were seated right away and soon making our orders.
We started with the spinach artichoke dip…and Claire went with 2 orders of mozzarella sticks (at the suggestion of our server).
We were full of excitement for the day so far and just chatted away.
Like I said it was very loud in there and an announcement was being made. It was near impossible to hear and no one seemed to care or lower their voices…including my husband. I could barely make out what they said but I know it was a bit of welcome back to the ship and hope you enjoyed your day. They then went on about how long before we would be entering……what I can’t hear. I don’t think they said Tracy Arm….I “think” they said Endicott Arm. Shoot I can’t hear…what are they saying? Now I only knew about Endicott Arm from reading prior to the cruise. It is often used as a backup for Tracy Arm when the ship can’t get in there. I think Tracy Arm tends to have more icebergs in it. Ok, I totally missed the announcement and now I wasn’t sure if we were going to Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm. And if going to Endicott I didn’t know the reason why. Now for some they may not care and I really didn’t care which we went to but I wanted to know why. Of course I never heard another announcement about it the rest of the day. And at the point I had no clue where we were going.
Meals then arrived. Claire went with the chicken wings which she really enjoyed again.
The food was great and if we got dessert I didn’t take a picture of it. I am thinking we may have gotten the same brownies with ice-cream that Claire and I got the first day, but I could be wrong. We just may have been too full.
There was a Nickelodeon show that was going to start soon so I think we separated and Skip and Claire went to it and I was going to meet up with them in a bit. Why we separated I don’t remember. My next picture is through the atrium doors.
I have no clue why I had to head back to the room, but I think that is the reason we separated….I must’ve needed something there. I am thinking that I might have went looking for my point and shoot camera as I had forgotten to take it with me that morning and I was pretty sure I left it on our table but I still wanted to double check. Also my big SLR was having some issues. I think because it had gotten wet yesterday in Ketchikan. When I tried to look at pictures I had taken it was being funky. By the next day it was fine so I chalked it up to being wet and knock on wood I haven’t had any troubles since then.
I then headed to the Stardust Theatre to meet back up with them and the show was already underway.
Basically the show was about 2 families competing against each other and they also would call other audience members to help in some of the competitions.
If that is what you get for winning you can count me out.
Claire enjoyed the show; I thought it was ok and at least something fun and family friendly. Skip thought it was torture but endured it for Claire. I will say it really wasn’t ran all that well. Not all that organized in my opinion….but I guess I never need to worry about that again as they will be discontinuing the Nick activities next year.
After the show Claire was ready for the kids club again, so we dropped her off and just enjoyed the views again.
One thing to keep in mind….the fish swim towards the front of the ship, so no matter what side you are on, you know by the way the fish are swimming if you are walking forward or aft.
Whoa!! Only 6 hours in Juneau! That is way too short a visit. You either took and excursion or visited town. We've always had a full day in every port. That's so much better. I hate it when I miss announcements like that one.
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You were in Juneau such a short time! I think we were there from 6:30 am until at least 4, but maybe later?
I've never seen the appeal of being slimed....
Oh that is so frustrating about the announcements. I hate it when that happens and you're like "what did they just say?"
I hate that too and I swear Skip always tries to talk to me during them too....and asking what are they saying. Um if you just shut up, maybe I could hear! LOL
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Lunch looked delicious, but now I'm wondering which you'll be seeing Tracy's Arm or Endicott Arm.
Lunch was good. I really recommend O'sheehans. It is included with the regular fare (not a specialty dining place) and everything we had was good. I wish i had more time to try more things there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmymac
Great update. Looking forward to the next chapter
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pris
Whoa!! Only 6 hours in Juneau! That is way too short a visit. You either took and excursion or visited town. We've always had a full day in every port. That's so much better. I hate it when I miss announcements like that one.
Yes, we had very short port days really. Skagway was our longest. I think if/when we go back that will be one thing I will look at. We may look at another line as well just to try something different and also because many offer longer port times. Ideally we would like to do a one way cruise and do some land time in Alaska as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
You were in Juneau such a short time! I think we were there from 6:30 am until at least 4, but maybe later?
I've never seen the appeal of being slimed....
It was our shortest port for sure. I guess at least if we go back we still have a lot to see and do there since we really only saw the town by bus.
Yeah it's so funny how the kids are excited to be slimed and I just think ICK!
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Glad today's excursion was so wonderful!!
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That is way too short a visit. You either took and excursion or visited town. 
We've always had a full day in every port. That's so much better. I hate it when I miss announcements like that one.
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