We boarded our ship around 2:00 PM, but it won't set sail for another few hours. Meanwhile this ship - either the Statendam or the Oosterdam - had just set sail for Alaska. We'll be seeing a number of other cruise ships along the way, including the two Dutch ships.
From the other side of the ship, you could see the Seattle skyline. Including the world-famous Space Needle. The top of the needle is painted orange right now, in celebration of its (50th?) anniversary. Apparently when it was first built, the top was orange.
I visited the Needle the day before the cruise. I didn't go up it, but took some way-kewl pics. For now, I'm limiting this blog to pics taken during the cruise. I could append them after the cruise pics, but it's more likely I'd just post them on a separate blog. Don't hold your breath.
There's Old Glory, alongside some sort of martime flag. But up above is the flag of the country that the ship is registered in. And that flag/country is?
Yeah, good luck with that. We'll post the answer in the comments.
This pic is for anyone who enjoys sitting out in your backyard, drinking a few beers. The cruise will provide you with a bucket of ice, and four Dos Equis as you wait for the ship to set sail, or to watch the movie by, or just because. Kewl, huh?
I think we're still waiting to sail. Left-to-Right : Liz, Donna, Jason, and Jasel, with yours-truly snapping the pic. And no, I don't think the lady behind us is passed out drunk. I am at a loss to explain what she is doing, though.
We'll be seeing a lot of this area. It became known as "Jason's Nook". As fine of a Smoking Area as you'll find on the ship.
The first official activity upon setting sail (not counting the mandatory life-jacket drill) was some line-dancing. Ask the girls what songs were played. I'm thinking Achy-Breaky-Heart. Please note that the only men that engaged in this were crew members. The rest of us guys had more sense.
But among the women passengers, this was a very popular activity.
Especially among the ...ahem... senior-type women.
It was fun to watch. The synchronization left a bit to be desired. I don't think the participants are quite ready for DWTS yet.
Bon Jovi was the featured singer on the first night of the cruise. He's actually a very down-to-earth guy . He thanked us for coming on the cruise, and braving the cold, crisp air to hear him sing. He even handed out blankets to the passengers, so they could be comfortable in their lounge chairs during the concert.
Okay, I'm kidding. Bon Jovi wasn't really there. But the cruise did show a different concert on the top-deck big-screen every night.
Some of the other feted luminaries :
Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Barry Manilow, Pink, Phil Collins.
A word about (non-alcoholic) drinks and refills. If you plop down $37 on the first day of the cruise, you get free soda, water, coffee, hot chocolate, and milk shakes the rest of the way.
They put a sticker on your cruise card, and give you a "magic cup". You can see one of the latter at the far right in the pic, with the red coke bottle image on it. You carry this magic cup around with religiously the first 24 hours, then realize that the stamped on the cruise card will get you a clean cup every time.
This was one of my impromptu photos of Liz and Donna. They're blissfully unaware of my shutterbugging, as they educate the bartender on how to make a proper margarita. The bartender, OTOH, sees me.
Good-bye, Blue Skies! Hello, Alaska! The first port of call is Ketchikan.
I should mention this came after one of our two days spent entirely at sea. And that once you leave the Puget Sound waters for the open ocean, the waves get decidedly rougher. And that we all discovered this around 4:00 in the morning when we were fast asleep. Dramamine, anyone?
So for the first time in just under 2 days, we're off the boat. It's about a five minute walk into Ketchikan. I snapped tis photo of our ship as we headed into town.
FWIW, our cabin is about 80% towards the back of the ship, two decks down from the top, and on the "inside" of the liner. That is, we had no portholes or sun decks. More about the rooms later.
Newbie Tip #1 : If your cruise is going to take you out on some rough water (San Francisco to Hawaii is infamous for this), and you are prone to seasickness, try to get a cabin close to the front of the ship.
Newbie Tip #2 : If you do feel yourself getting seasick, get out of your cramped little cabin, and up on outside decks. You will find it much easier going up there.
You will see lots of fishing boats at the Alaskan ports. Fishing and Tourism are about all you have for Industry in these parts. And once winter sets in, the tourists are gone, and the fishing conditions suck.
The natives were quite friendly - all touchy-huggy. The humans weren't bad either.
I am not a touchy-feely person. But when the native's this big, you let him pat you on the shoulder.
This area of Alaska/Canada is a rainforest. Ketchikan averages 12 feet (144 inches) of rain per year. Makes Phoenix's 6 inches of rain (or something like that) seem rather feeble. But we are a desert, after all.
Ketchikan's record for yearly rainfall, comemmorated by this sign, is 202 inches. That averages out to more than a half-inch of rain every freaking day. Wow.
The first order of business in Ketchikan was to get some coffee. Don't even dream of a Starbucks here. But be happy that the guy running the coffee-shop isn't afraid to be caught wearing a skirt. Um, I mean, kilt.
A couple of the houses in Ketchikan. Liz is happy - she has her coffee.
