The Itinerary
Days 1 and 2 - Seattle to Juneau
We departed from Seattle, Washington on Saturday afternoon and began the sail through Puget Sound and the Salish Sea to the Pacific Ocean. It takes nearly 48 hours to sail from Seattle to Juneau, Alaska. This time at sea provided ample opportunity to explore the ship, relax, enjoy the food, and take in the views of the ocean and the coast of Vancouver Island.
Day 3 and 4 - Juneau to Glacier Bay National Park to Icy Strait Point
Juneau, Alaska’s capital, sits in a fjord at the north end of the Gastineau Channel. The only way to get in and out of Juneau is by boat or by airplane. Leaving Juneau late Monday night, we sail to the northern-most point of the journey - Glacier Bay National Park, where we spend the afternoon taking in the incredible landscapes and searching for wildlife.
After exiting the park, we put into port at Icy Strait Point for a few hours, before departing for another overnight sail to Sitka.
Day 5 - Sitka
Sitka, Alaska boasts itself as Alaska’s first city. The old town has a both charm and history.
Day 6 - Ketchikan
Thursday brought us into Ketchikan, which averages 270 days of rain a year. The brightly colored buildings of Creek Street sitting on stilts provide a beautiful contrast to the gray skies and the deep green forest.
Day 7 - Victoria, British Columbia
We left Ketchikan Thursday afternoon for the long sail back down Vancouver Island to Victoria, British Columbia.
The Photographs
Mountains and Glaciers
I have lived in the Western U.S. for most of my life. The years living in proximity to mountains have left me with an indelible love and awe of their majesty. There are ranges whose silhouettes are forever etched in my memory - the Huachucas and Catalinas of southern Arizona; the San Francisco Peaks outside Flagstaff; Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens on the eastern horizon of Portland, Oregon. And there are ranges and peaks I’ve traveled to that have left me speechless - the Tetons in Wyoming, the Bavarian Alps in Germany, the Yosemite Valley in the Sierra Nevada. Then came Alaska.
Cruising up the west coast of Vancouver Island and into the passages of the Alaskan panhandle provided a spectacular view of countless and endless mountains whose names I do not know. They stand covered in dense forest, snow, ice, and clouds. They impose and remind you that nature is in control.
And until this cruise, the only glaciers I’ve seen (from afar) are Alpine Glaciers, those which are nestled in mountain tops. I’d never seen a tidewater glacier flowing (and calving!) into the ocean, such as the Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park. We also spent time at Mendenhall Glacier, a freshwater glacier located near Juneau. Their colors and textures are incredible. Seeing them gives up close is a testament to their power.
Wildlife
A cruise to Alaska provides ample opportunity to spot wildlife, whether at sea between ports, or during an excursion while docked. Spotted during this journey and pictured below: Sea Otters, Bald Eagles, Gulls, Gray Whales. Also spotted (not pictured): Sea Lions, Humpback Whales, Ravens, and one lonely deer.
Totems
The influence of , and appreciation for indigenous art and culture was prevalent throughout the cruise. Totems stood in almost every port. And in Ketchikan, Totem Bight State Historical Park (SHP) showcases fourteen Tlingit and Haida totem poles and a community clan house. The park also includes a restoration facility, where totems found to be in decay can be revitalized for future display.
Sunrises and Sunsets
The far northern latitudes mean daylight lasts a long time in the late spring and summer. It also provides for extended periods of dawn and dusk. Put together with the ocean, mountains, and clouds, the sunrises and sunsets can be both unique and spectacular. I had never seen anything quite like the sunset at Icy Strait Point. There was rain to the north between the little islands and the mountains. The clouds to the far west had broken, leaving a sliver of clear horizon. As the sun descended to this point, I had expected the rain and canopy of clouds to be illuminated in gold, but instead, only the rain at the surface was set alight… in pink!
