ALASKA: Seven Seas Mariner - May 2008

[cruisetour]

:)Dear Friends,

We are frequently asked about where we have been and where we are going. This forum is the best way to check on our whereabouts, hopefully fantasize about being with us, joining us on a future voyage, and communicating with us in connection with any questions or comments that you may have.

During this trip, we will be onboard the Regent Seven Seas Mariner departing May 16, 2008. Not only will this be a wonderful cruise through Alaska, but two of our very close friends will be getting married onboard the ship. How exciting and romantic.

We invite you to log into our forum and post comments as you read through our adventures. This way you will read our experiences during our voyage to the Great Land.

We look forward to seeing you soon, and wish you good health and happiness.

Sincerely,
Jay and Mary Pat

[cruisetour]

Astoria is listed as one of the 1,000 places in North America that should be visited before you die. Our ship arrived early, so we were definitely going to have that opportunity. I dressed quickly and went to the coffee corner to meet our group while MaryPat went off the ship and located our bus and guide for today’s tour. We both had our walkie-talkies, and very soon, she called to say that we should disembark the ship and meet her at our coach.

Astoria is much prettier than I thought it would be, and the tour was interesting. We visited the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park and Fort Clapsop, where Lewis & Clark spent the winter of 1805 before returning east to report to President Jefferson on their findings. Afterwards, we drove through the beautiful town, to the Astoria Column on the highest point above the city. The view of the Columbia river basin was spectacular. Following that stop, we drove through the airport and visited the Astoria Maritime Museum, where we saw a 19 minute movie on the history of the city and the growth of the Columbia River area. Our final stop was the “Bridge water Bistro” where our group had luncheon reservation with entertainment by a performer dressed as one of Lewis & Clark’s mountain men who described what life was like during those days of exploration in 1805.

We got back to the ship at 3pm, the last possible moment as the gangway was lifted and after our ship departed, we went to the lounge tea time, trivia, and bingo. We had a group dinner party tonight in one of the specialty restaurants onboard the Mariner and spent so much time talking that we totally missed the evening production show.

[cruisetour]

The Mariner was scheduled to dock in Seattle at 9am, but the currents going the opposite direction caused us to arrive an hour later. We called our group members to tell them that we were delaying the time to meet, and called the tour company to make sure that this would not present a problem for them. With all possible problems resolved, we proceeded to the coffee corner, counted noses, and at 10am, received permission to disembark. Thanks to Ann of the shore excursion desk, we were the first group to leave the ship. Mary Pat found our guide. We had arranged that John Curly, local television host of evening news on Channel 5 would take us around the city. He was very entertaining and made the excursion even more fun than it would have been.

Our first shop was at the well known, but little visited, glass art gallery of Dale Chihuly in Ballard, Washington where we were given a private and exclusive tour of his studio and his glass sculptures, as well as his staging area and workshop where his huge sculptures are created. This was really a treat because he is known to be very private and does not usually allow visitors unless they are proven buyers. After our visit, we drove a short distance to the J.P. Canlis gallery. He was a well known student of Chihuly before creating his own style and opening a gallery of his own. After showing us how he creates his sculptures, we had a delicious catered wild salmon luncheon there before proceeding to Pike’s Market where John Curly toured with us through the shops and introduced us to some of his friends for samples of hot chocolate and special cheeses before taking us to the “original” Starbucks where Joan & Charlie treated all of us to our choice of their special coffees.

We returned to our ship at 3pm which was the scheduled time for final boarding. Thirty minutes, with the ship having left Seattle and heading “North to Alaska”, we had a meeting with Frank, the F&B manager, along with the pastry chef, to sample two versions of the wedding cake that they were planning for the wedding dinner. A quick nap followed after which there was a cocktail party in Joan &Charlie’s room for their friends followed by another dinner in Latitudes. After this full day, again sleep came fast and easy

[cruisetour]

This morning was our private grizzly bear safari. At 8am, I went to the coffee corner to assemble our group while MaryPat disembarked to make sure that the six taxis we had reserved were lined up and ready to go. The weather was quite cool, so I was layered to the hilt, ending with a fleece vest and an outer hooded jacket. After receiving her confirmation by walkie talkie, the group also disembarked our ship, and four at a time, we were driven to the sea plane terminal.

At that point, we split into groups of six for the flight over the fjord to where our boats were waiting to take us on a cruise to find some grizzlies. The seaplane took us over beautiful scenery, past a glacier and over forested islands and glaciated fjord fingers of water getting us to our boat dock faster than we really wanted. Our group was split onto two boats that cruised together along the fjord. We quickly found one of the 50 or so grizzlies that live in that area. She was walking along the bank of the fjord, and we got close enough to take some good photos. After cruising a little further, we spotted another female, this time with a cub, but she walked into the brush before we got close enough for photographs. Later on, we sighted a young male, but before we realized it, two hours had passed and we were headed back to the pier where a soft shell crab (I had chicken breast) luncheon was waiting for us. Even better was the choice of two delicious cheese cakes for dessert. All too soon, it was time to return to the seaplanes. After the flight, which again showed off the beautiful scenery of the Canadian wilderness, we landed and transferred to our waiting taxis for the ride back to our ship.

It was not much later that the group was assembled again for a private wine tasting, followed by a galley tour led by the executive chef. A USA customs walkthrough followed after which it was time for dinner followed by a show in the theater where most of our group sat together.

[cruisetour]

We opened the curtains this morning to a glorious day of a cloudless, sunny, day that would reach 70 degrees by early afternoon. Mary Pat was up and out to find our guide and the boat that would take us to glacier point and the canoes for our visit to the Davidson Glacier while I went to the coffee corner to meet our group and release them to shore side after getting her okay.

Everyone was on time, and we were on our way by 8am. The 30 minute ride to “Glacier Point” passed quickly. The catamaran in which we were riding was exclusively for our wedding group; and our guide, Jeff, was knowledgeable and interesting.

After our boat ride, we were outfitted in Wellington boots and life jackets for the canoe ride to Davidson Glacier. Our guide informed us that we would have a quarter mile hike through the woods to a boat landing, and cautioned us about how we should act if we encountered a bear. We never did see a bear, and arrived at the canoe embarkation point without an incident. Upon arrival, we divided into three groups and boarded our canoes. The only way to get to the glacier was by paddling the canoe, although the boat did have a small outboard motor which the guide used when we got tired. The weather continued unseasonably warm and sunny and we reached the glacier after 30 minutes of paddling to the cadence of our guide. Our guide explained that the glacier actually recedes an average of one mile every ten years; and also that this was the back end of the Davidson Glacier and that the front end is seven miles away in Glacier Bay.

We spent two hours exploring the area in the canoe, after which we retraced our steps and returned to Skagway at 1pm. Most of our group then walked around the town before returning to our ship. We all attended a Shabbat service at 6pm led by Cantor Martin Feldman that honored Joan and Charlie with an “auf ruf” ceremony and a blessing over their marriage that is set for tomorrow.

The service was followed by the rehearsal dinner on the private side of LaVeranda Restaurant. Afterwards, we returned to our room, but received a call from the bridal couple. They asked if we wanted to join them in the observation lounge for a drink before going to bed. We agreed, but we all had sparkling water and tonic. Some drinkers! We checked out the musicians who played the selections that Joan & Charlie had chosen for their wedding and they danced to the songs before we went back to our rooms for the night.

[peggynathan]

Took me awhile to find this but I'm glad you're posting.

I'm looking forward to some wedding photos!

Peggy

[peggynathan]

I just found this!

Looking forward to pictures of the wedding of the year!

Peggy

[cruisetour]

This morning, our group was picked up by a guide at the cruise ship dock and transported to the heliport for our very special sled dog excursion. The adventure started with our transfer to the heliport, where we put on heavy snow boots over our shoes and donned our safety jackets. The weather was unseasonably warm so several of our group shed their parkas as we boarded our helicopter for the 20 minute flight that took us over the Juneau Ice field where the glaciers were seemingly within arm’s reach and where the glacier-carved mountains unfolded before our eyes. We also flew over the Taku glacier, the only advancing glacier in Alaska. As we approached the Norris glacier from the air, we saw specks of black against the solid white field of snow. As we got closer, we could identify those specks as the dog camp that marked the place where we would have our sledding experience.

After disembarking our helicopter, all we could hear was the constant and incessant barking of the Alaskan huskies as they signaled that they were ready to be hooked up to the double sleds that would take us on the two mile ride over the snow encrusted glacier. Each couple was assigned to a guide; one partner sat in the sled and the other stood on the sled’s runners. The couple occupied the rear sled while the front one was handled by the guide who handled the dogs. The team of seven dogs was hooked up to the sleds and off we went across the snowfields of the vast Juneau ice field.

The ride was exhilarating and beautiful as well. We spent an hour riding along the glacier, but the time seemed like minutes. Following our adventure, we had a champagne toast before returning to the helicopters for the ride back to Juneau and our ship.

This was only the first event of the day. After returning to the ship, we went directly to Charlie and Joan’s room to assist them with the final touches to complete the decorations and the final arrangements for their wedding ceremony this evening. By 6pm, everything was in order and we returned to our room to get dressed for the event that we had all come for—“Charlie and Joan’s Wedding”.

The ship had done a magnificent job in redecorating their suite. It looked beautiful. Even the lighting was perfect. The 17 chairs were covered in fabric, and we had created a runner for the bride to walk on as she made her way to the chuppah. The ship had set up a champagne and caviar table in the entry hall, and the musicians were playing the soft romantic music that the bride and groom had selected. Charlie approached the chuppah to the strains of “what a wonderful world”; and Joan took her place beside him after coming down the aisle with the playing of their song, “time after time”. Cantor Feldman sang beautifully as he choreographed the ceremony, and the beaming couple said their vows to each other with tears of joy flowing in each of them. It was a truly beautiful ceremony.

Afterwards, there was a reception as the group devoured the champagne and caviar. As we left the suite where the wedding had taken place to proceed to Signatures for the wedding dinner, Joan and Charlie were applauded by more than 50 stewardesses who had assembled in the corridor to wish them well.

During the wedding dinner, each couple toasted the bride and groom, and there were kisses and hugs all around. It was the perfect end to the perfect day when Joan announced that she and Charlie were going to return to their room “to consummate the marriage”. The guests stayed a little longer to discuss what a wonderful day it had been before they also returned to their rooms for the night.

[cruisetour]

Everyone was on time for the post-wedding waffle breakfast party in Joan and Charlie’s room. The ship’s staff and crew had again outdone themselves in creating a perfect party. However, there was only a short time to rest after breakfast because the wedding cruise schedule called for our group to meet in the coffee corner at 12:15pm for our final excursion, a fishing derby in the waters surrounding Ketchikan.

There was no need for raincoats despite the fact that Ketchikan is known as the rain capital of America because there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It was sunny and warm with a weather prediction of 75 degrees. However, after our briefing, we were handed a raincoat anyway because it is required by the tour company and the coast guard. We were also required to wear Wellington boots, and life jackets.

We divided up into groups of four, and each group was assigned to a specific guide and boat. With all the preliminaries taken care of, it was time to take off and try our luck at catching salmon, rockfish, and halibut. The fishing experience continued for four hours during which 20 of the 22 people in our group actually landed at least one fish. The two who would never have a believable fish tale were Ron Webb and me. However, it was still exciting because during the afternoon, we sighted an orca, not more than 50 yards from our boat. He surfaced several times. None of us had ever seen an orca that close before. It was a spectacular sight.

MaryPat’s caught two fish: the first was a medium size silver gray (a pelagic type of rockfish) plus a 10# yelloweye rockfish that is locally known as a red snapper. I actually thought that she would win the contest for having the largest catch, but Kathy Williams bested her with a 15# catch.

Before returning to the dock, we went to a company campsite where we were treated to a fish fry of our catch. We returned to Ketchikan and our ship at 6:30pm, in time for dinner; not that we were hungry, but you cannot miss a meal on a cruise; that would be sacrilegious. By the time we got back to our rooms, it was close to midnight, and exhaustion had definitely set in.

[cruisetour]

We had an 11am Olympic game competition scheduled for the group. It was conducted by the cruise staff, and there were prizes for the winning team. The games consisted of four events, and unfortunately for us, we lost, but it was a close race (and lots of fun). We had run into Lisa Delvecchio, our friend, and the Voyager world cruise social hostess earlier in the day, and made a lunch date with her. Almost everyone spent the afternoon packing. After some careful consideration, the wedding couple had decided that they were going to stay on the ship for another week, and during dinner, they asked why Mary Pat & I weren’t staying with them. It did not take much convincing to decide that the four of us should stay and enjoy being together, so I informed the ship of our decision.

We had our final group dinner in the Compass Rose and shared hugs and kisses with everyone, as we decided that Joan and Charlie really do have wonderful and loving friends. We ended the day putting our suitcases together for tomorrow’s transfer to our new rooms.

[peggynathan]

Looks like everything was beautiful including the bride! And how wonderful to be able to stay on board for an extra week!

Peggy