2024 June 1, Saturday Day One- Flying Day United Airlines and Westin Hotel
Traveled to Huntsville and arrived early
Let the house at 3:30 AM
Only to discover our flight had changed
We traveled on United Airlines from Huntsville to Denver Co
At 8:20am arrived 11am
I ate lunch at Smash Burgers and spent $28.92.
I ordered 3 pieces of chicken fingers fried and fries with water.
Took several walking sidewalks from Gate 51 to Gate B11 Concourse B Group 3
Now, I am waiting for the next flight
On United Airlines flight 1257
Left Denver at3:40PM and arrival at 5:37 PM
On flight UA1257 Seattle WA
Seats 6 & 7F paid an extra $160
Arrived at Westin room 4060 top level
Several couples are staying at the Westin and are going on NCL and Holland American
We were picked up at the airport along with a van full of people going to the Westin
Checked in went to our room 4060 took a hot bath and is now resting
The Westin has 40 floors and we were in 4060 and that is as far as you can go
2024 June 2, Sunday Day Two Boarding Ship Day NCL ENCORE
Ate a honey and oats bar with cranberry juice for breakfast
We are to meet our cruise director at 8:30
Now sitting in the lobby listening to people talking
Playing on my cellphone
Loaded onto the shuttle van along with several others and rode to Pier 66 to be processed to board the ship,
Showed our boarding pass and passport to get processed to board the ship
We were given our key cards and were told to take a seat until 10 when everyone was allowed to enter the ship, once inside we did the mustering to inform us where to go in an emergency
Our rooms were not ready until almost 2 PM
We got lunch at the AMERICAN Diner
I ordered a fish sandwich with fries
Hubby ordered a hamburger with fries
We went to Cruise Next services to get our bronze pins and the Bank of America Card.
Hubby went to dinner reservations to order, especially dining
Went to our room until time for dinner
Our bags were not in the hallway when we arrived at our room so I called Westin Hotel to make sure they sent them
She assured me she would be there by 4:30 pm
When we returned from dinner they were there
That was a load off my shoulders
We ate dinner at Ocean Blue
I ordered blazing shrimp, steamed asparagus, potatoes au gratin, grilled salmon
For dessert, I ordered Valrhona Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake
Hubby ordered Fisherman’s Platter grilled, clam chowder, potato au gratin, and seasoned vegetable medley
For desserts, he ordered French Apple Tart a Mode with ice cream
We watched a movie and went to bed.
2024 June 3, Monday Day 3, Sea Day on NCL ENCORE
Today is Monday Sea Day
It was cloudy early this morning but is clearing off the sun is finally coming out
We ate breakfast in the Garden Cafe
We arrived a little early so we grabbed a glass of juice and found a seat near the window so we could see outdoors
For breakfast, I ate French toast with peaches and bananas sliced very thin and topped with whipped cream
We sat there for a couple of hours while I wrote in this journal
We walked through the gift shops most were not open
Found another window and stopped in the Atrium area
We are going to This is Alaska Presentation in the
Encore Theater at 10 am
Next, we went to the Atrium Theater and watched a couple of shows
We both ordered a nonalcoholic drink
Michelle sat beside us she was from Seattle we talked about traveling
She said that they were going to Europe this fall
I told her we had two cruises under our belts this year and that this cruise was number 3
I had 2 more cruises this year plus 2 Bus trips
She was still working so she was limited to travel
She texts her husband Dave
and he came and set with us
We talked for a few minutes and they left around 1
We got a couple of co*kes and came back to our cabin ate half a Hershey candy bar and took a nap
We are going to eat in the Cagney’s restaurant for dinner at 7 tonight
For dinner, I ordered a jumbo shrimp trio, grilled jumbo shrimp skewers
With baked potato and sautéed garlic mushrooms
For dessert, I ordered omg Carmel butterscotch cheesecake
We watched the Beatles Invasion show
Got a couple of co*kes and came back to our room
We saw several sleepy children and a few adults on the elevator
Ready for tomorrow's adventures
2024 June 4, Tuesday Day 4, Tuesday Juneau, Alaska
Whale watching and wildlife quest
Up early I saw a range of snow-capped mountains as we cruised by from our room
Late breakfast of French toast with banana slices, whipped cream, and strawberry syrup
Cranberry juice in Garden Cafe
8:02 am
Went back to my room and hubby slept until noon
We went to Garden Cafe but it was overflowing with people so we went to American cafe
It Was also very busy but we got in line and the line moved fast
We sat with a couple from California and one of the women was a first-timer
Hubby ordered a salad chicken pot pie and carrot cake
I ordered BBQ sliders with fries and bread pudding
We sat in the atrium room until time to depart for our excursion
We took bus 101 and our driver was Jerrod he told colorful stories on our journey to and from the ship
We took a boat to see the humpback whales and we also saw a game of orcas
We loaded back onto the ship
Came back to our room
I took a hot shower and we took the elevator to level 16 to the Garden Gate food bar
There I got Indian food
Several Indians were standing in line and the lady behind me said do you like Indian food I said I didn’t know but was going to try it
She explained what each item I put on my plate
I was all very good
Came back to our room and went to bed
At 11 pm
2024 June 5, Day 5 Wednesdays
Skagway, Alaska White Pass Bennett Lake and Yukon Adventure
Breakfast at the Local Bar and Grill
I ordered a veggies omelet with English muffins with cream cheese
Hubby ordered oatmeal bacon and eggs
Loaded onto the bus to take us to the train
Michael is our bus driver taking us to the train which was a short ride
Bus number 138
Everyone loaded into Train car 358 and we headed up White Pass our train conductor told us about the different sites along the way
We met a couple from Australia
The man was going outside to take pictures and he had some good shots
There were several Indian people on the train they were together
One of them asked me where I was from
He said he was from Tallahassee Florida
Everyone had to fill out paperwork before entering British Columbia Canada
We stopped at customs and they boarded the train making sure everyone had their passports
They gave their okay and we continued on our journey up the mountain
We stopped at Car-cross train station
Several of us walked along the passageway up the mountain
I stopped at the chapel
Me and another lady walked to the lake Bennett took several pictures
By this time it was time to board the train
We continue up the mountain
Passing Belle River which is
2 miles wide and 25 miles long
Set below the glacier mountain
We stopped in the town of Car-cross
Took several pictures of historic markers and bought a chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cone
One large scoop
Loaded the bus and headed back to Skagway
Our bus driver Michel told stories about the history of Skagway on our 2 hour ride back to the shop
We stopped at the Frazier site overlooking to take a few pictures and we stopped at the Welcome to Alaska sign for pictures
The bus stopped in the downtown area of Skagway we got off with several others
We walked around through a couple of museums and De Soles where I bought 4 bottles of nail polish
We walked back to the ship took a shower dressed for dinner in the Manhattan room
I ordered cod with baked potato and Caesar salad
For dessert canolas
Hubby ordered Caesar salad, and shrimp pasta and for dessert, he ordered carrot cake
After dinner, we came back to our room
2024 June 6, Day 6, Thursday Glacier Bay
For breakfast, I ate French toast with cranberry juice at Garden Cafe
Wrote in my journal
Went to guest service to turn in our declaration card to enter Victoria BC Canada
Booked excursion for Saturday Butchart Gardens Evening & Victoria Highlights
Came back to the room to see the Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers where the ship made a complete circle so everyone on the ship could view the glaciers
Ate lunch at Garden Cafe
I ate German Food red cabbage and bratwurst
Came back to room
Put on my jacket and stood outside and saw lots of sea lions and a wide variety of birds and took lots of photos
Hubby took a nap
We ate dinner in the Manhattan room
I order cod fish with cream potatoes and bruschetta toast with tomato and goat cheese
Deserts were apple crumb cake
Went Atrim area to watch a couple of games
Went to my room and bed
2024 June 7, Day 7 Friday Ketchikan, Alaska
Wilderness Exploration and Crab Feast
Breakfast Local Bar & Grill
Ate French toast with sausage and cranberry juice
Walked to pier loaded onto
Bus 203 going to Crab Fest
Driver Regan
We arrived at the boat dock
We loaded onto the boat at 8 am
After descending down 79 steps
And a ramp
Took a boat ride and saw a pair of bald eagles and a fishery
History of the fishery
The locals were losing money because the fishery was catching all the salmon and selling such a large quantity of them cheaper than they could so a war broke out between the two
The fishery was using large nets to catch the salmon
The locals began stealing the salmon from the fishery and selling them back to them
The fishery thought the eagles were stealing them and started killing them
They finally figured out the locals were stealing them
I Held a dungaree female crab while on the boat ride
Came back to the lodge and ate crab legs all-you-can-eat
We were shown the correct way to open crab leg
Deserts cheesecake topped with blueberries
On our return bus ride, Our driver told several Native American folk stories
One about an Indian princess and a whale
Told one about the sun that was stolen from the sky
Another story about a man (named Cots) falling in love with a she-bear and marrying her
They became a family with three sons
The man returns to the man's village but Mama Bear tells her husband he cannot see or speak to his ex-wife
He is in the village for a week and does not see his ex
He meets her on his way back to the cave on last his day
When he gets back to the cave
Mama Bear asks if he spoke or saw his ex and he says no
Mama Bear became angry
Her sons come up not recognizing their father and kill him
The mama bear is so distraught that she bands her sons
The older one moves north and becomes a polar bear
The middle one moves south and he becomes a grizzly bear
The younger one is shy and stays in Ketchikan and becomes the gentle black bear
We stopped at the warehouse/ gift shop before boarding the ship
They also had a small museum about the history of the East Alaska logging unit which we walked through and several totem poles
We take the shuttle back to the ship
At 3:30 pm We watch the cruising tip and trip presentation
We bought 4 more next credit
Ate dinner at Garden Cafe
I tried several different items but couldn’t find anything I wanted
Came back to my room watched a movie and went to sleep
2023 June 8, Saturday Day 8,
Butchart Gardens Evening and Victoria Highlights
Going to be a beautiful day watching the sun come up
Ate breakfast at 6:09 am at Garden Cafe
I ate bacon, scrambled eggs, and French toast
We went to the Atrium for several hours watched a cooking show (cake) played several games
Ate lunch at 11:46 am
Ate a chicken salad sandwich with chips cheese chunks and slaw
For dessert, I ate custard
Watched the Beatles Invasion at 1:30 pm
Said goodbye to all the crew and came back to our room
For dinner, I ate a slice of pizza couple of pieces of fish
And for dessert cherry crumble cake
We are going to Butchart Botanical Gardens & Victoria highlights at 8 pm
Took a two-decker bus to Butchart Gardens
Our guide was Emmalee she told us some of the history of Seattle and its founder and the history of the Butchart family who founded the gardens
When we arrived at the gardens it was getting dark
From 8:30 to 11:30 pm
Came back and went to bed
End of another long day
