Booze Cruise

After the extra long train journey from Mount McKinley down to Whittier, we’re more than relieved to see the giant cruise ship waiting for us in the bleak weather. Although we’re both exhausted I’m buoyed by the excitement of being on my first cruise ship… and the bars are still open. Thanks to Diana and Gordon’s generosity, we have the Princess Plus package which means we can enjoy up to 15 alcoholic beers per day. Say no more, where is the nearest bar? As Alex and I sit by the window sipping our tasty concoctions we notice we’ve set sail and we toast to our maiden voyage together. We sample a couple of items from the bar menu and consider heading to bed.. but then Emma appears! Maybe there is time for another round. Feeling adventurous we explore the ship, cocktails in hand, curious to see the ‘Sky Walkers’ nightclub. Will it be full of teenagers raving away at midnight? No. There are a handful of other exhausted passengers sitting in what could be described as a “gentle” atmosphere for a club. We make our way back to our cabin, unsure if our swaying is because of the ocean or the booze we’ve quickly guzzled.

From here I’ll list out some of the highlights and observations from our wonderful cruise experience:

• Testing out the health care options (thanks to Diana) on morning one after realising the sickness was actually not just the hangover
• Deal or No Deal game show on the stage. We were desperate for one of us (Emma was nominated to represent) to get up on stage to try and win a big prize but sadly we were not chosen. Still we got to play along with the chance to win $1000 or even a free cruise!!! We won one free entry to bingo instead
• Taking part in many quizzes we were never very good at but a great way to pass the time and enjoy a cocktail or two
• Getting back to our cabin and sitting out on the balcony looking up at the stars. We may not have seen the Northern Lights but this was still an incredible sight
• The ginormous buffet with a myriad of gourmet options, so, so much food to be tried!
• Exploring the ship and getting lost on many occasions. “Head port-side in the Aft direction”, sure mate
• Going for a 5km run in Juneau. Alex scouted out a great route and it was nice to get off the boat to stretch our legs
• As well as the Horizon buffet were five or so “themed” restaurants we could go to in an evening. We tried each one at least once and enjoyed food such as sirloin steak and lobster tail, Alaskan salmon, beef wellington and so much more. Honestly the food was quite incredible which makes me very happy
• Ordering cocktails to be delivered to our room, (or wherever we were in the ship) dangerous but so good!
• An incredible train excursion with Diana and Gordon in Skagway along the old railway line used during the Gold Rush. There are stunning views all around as we climb up and up into the bleak forgotten lands of past hopes and dreams of striking it rich. We briefly pass back into Canada at this point but as we do not get off the train, we do not need to bring our passports!
• A “scenic cruise” day passing by and parking up next to giant glaciers. Also looking out for eagles, bears, seals, sea-lions, whales, dolphins and other ocean dwellers, we mostly saw seagulls but the chance was there!
• Cashing in our ‘cruise credits’ for a wonderful and relaxing massage in the spa area
• Emma showing us how to play Blackjack in the casino (we just watched the gambling happen after feeling like we had peaked in Vegas)
• Using the gym in some vain attempt to stay in shape while eating 16 courses a day
• Watching for wildlife off the back of the boat. There were rumours of whales swimming in the wake of the boat but we must have missed them
• Realising one of the bars sold an 11% Belgian beer… because I had not had enough booze by this point
• Entertaining the kids for the day while Ben and Emma went out for an adventure, it mostly involved dropping them off and picking them up from kids club, but we did our duties!
• Seeing the gorgeous Alaskan husky puppies being paraded around, sadly we weren’t allowed to hold them but my God they were adorable
• Using the spa area in the sunshine
• Watching Man Utd in the casino bar
• The fantastic lumberjack show, YOHO!
• Playing a bowling-like arcade game definitely intended for teenagers. Alex only won because in my eagerness I did not press the “start” button on my final go when I scored the required 50 points…
• Watching the evening stage shows, the musicals were not my usual thing but it was nice to see everyone enjoy them so much. I did enjoy the magician though, he was great
• One show of dances around the world really showed how difficult Irish dancing is (especially with a boat that rolling all over the place)
• Spotting the clumps of sea-otters playing around in and on the ice-bergs. One was even sun-bathing on a perfectly sized slan
• Observing a man expertly craft a grizzly bear sculpture from ice in under 30 minutes
• Taking a wonderful out-and-back through some woodland with Ben
• Speaking with a lady who had been on an excursion where you can catch salmon and even send it home to eat! I think she said her teenage boys caught something like 15 fish so they’ll be sick of salmon quite soon
• A lovely meal on the last night, after a couple of aperitifs in Diana and Gordon’s cabin
• The sunset on the last night as dolphins swim in the wake of the boat and we sip cocktails in the warmth of a Jacuzzi, it was really tough on this cruise I tell ya

Some photos from the boat trip:

Epilogue

As we depart the boat, just before we say goodbye to Gordon, Diana, Ben, Emma, Matti and Eddy, there’s time for a final group photo in front of the Vancouver sign with our vessel sitting nicely in the backdrop.

Alex and I are back to just the two of us to see out the last few hours of our epic journey. We have quite a few hours to kill until the “street art” walking tour begins. We decide to head back to the lovely Stanley Park and kill a few hours lazing around in the sun and watching the world go by. Both of us are beginning to feel the reality of coming home really start to set in, causing a heady mix of emotions.

Eventually we head back into the heart of town to join the walking tour and also meet up with Ben and Jen, BenEmma’s friends that we did the road trip to Seattle with a couple of weeks ago. The walking tour covers a bunch of murals dotted across Vancouver. One of which we were right next to the other day when we hired bikes here and didn’t even notice it. There are some incredible stories behind these stunning murals (we will add a link to them soon).

After the tour ends, we head for some dinner at a nearby Turkish restaurant and have a good chat over some yummy Mediterranean food. Alex and I abstain from alcohol after consuming a months worth on the cruise ship! Alex and I go back to the hotel where we got off the cruise ship to collect our bags and head over to Ben and Jen’s apartment. We settle down for the final night of the trip, barely able to believe it has come to an end and uncertain what the future might bring when we are back home.

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Adventure – My first cruise, and what a cruise it was, I can safely say I am converted! The stunning sunset on the final night, it felt like a fitting end to a wonderful journey.

Excitement – The thrills of the lumberjack show. Finding the cake bar and the many desert options. Waking up to clear blue skies after the mist had shifted on the third day.

Trauma – Sea sickness (it soon settled after the rough waters of the first day). Apprehension of returning home.

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The Highlights from the Whole Land and Sea Cruise

Alex – getting to enjoy some proper time with the boys, who are so wonderful and polite and adorable, thanks to the amazing team that is my bro and Emma. Can’t lie, getting a snippet of life like the wealthy of just having whatever you wanted brought to you whenever you wanted and not worrying about the cost, especially after a year of backpacking, it was a bigger treat that usual, thanks so much mum and Gordon! The Seaplane and seeing Vancouver from an amazing perspective.

Ben – Beautiful forest walks through Jurassic Park, Rafting fun, Sunny glacier views and seeing a chunk fall off!

Eddie – hot tub, pool, (big) boat

Emma – Kayaking and river rafting (both fun in different ways). Enjoying the boys having fun with you all and seeing the world through their eyes. Learning about a part of the world I have no knowledge or experience of and would never have had the opportunity to visit without your kindness, Diana and Gordon.

Gordon – I) the small river taxis around Vancouver, ii) closeness to wildlife in Alaska, iii) the seaplanes, and not forgetting Eddie’s blue ice cream experience in Denali! 😁

James – Spotting wildlife in Denali Park (while hoping for a glimpse of Mt McKinley), living the high life on the luxurious boat, spending time with everyone whether on a thrill seeking rapid ride or relaxing train journey.

Matti – Kayaking, magic show, the whole boat

Diana – (ignoring the request for just three, I bring you 15!) – 1) The walk along the forest in Denali. 2) Cruising along glacier bay towards the big glacier and the family gathering on the shared balcony enjoying the view of the glacier so near to us. 3) Seeing [everyone] happy and enjoying the last night on board with the amazing sunset, jacuzzi and dolphins swimming alongside. 4) Seeing [everyone] enjoying the food on board. 5) Movies under the stars: seeing the end of Top Gun with popcorn. 6) Seeing the boys so happy in the ship’s pool. 7) Walking endlessly along the Promenade on Deck 7 and watching the sea going by. 8) Vancouver Island – all of our day in it ending with a drink at the Fairmont. 9) Seaplane!!! 10) The shows on board with a myriad of exotic drinks. 11) Playing cards in our cabin and being introduced to “blind donkey”! 12) Cycling around Stanley Park.13) The day to Mendenhall Glacier and falls. 14) The train views along the train ride up to White Pass and the Yukon. 15) Dancing in the Piazza with Emma on the last day!!!!….just CELEBRATING LIFE!