So last post I left off while I was in Vancouver, which is a must city to visit. But today I want to talk about the first part of my Alaskan Cruise. I’m going to split my cruise, from Vancouver to Anchorage, up into 3 posts to have a chance to review the cities I visited and the Alaskan cruise itself. If you’re planning to travel on a Alaskan cruise from Vancouver to Anchorage this post maybe be helpful to you!
Day 1 – Leaving Vancouver:
Canada Place is the name of the cruise ship terminal that all ships leave out of from Vancouver. My recommendation is to fly in at least 1 day before your cruise and stay at one of the downtown hotels. That way you will be assured that you have more than enough time to make your cruise, there will be no feeling of being rushed, you won’t be tired for your Alaskan cruise, and the cruise terminal is walk-able from any hotel in Downtown Vancouver.
Canada Place is a little confusing. The entrance to the cruise ship terminal is like some sort of weird basement garage type of entrance. And once you get in there are signs trying to direct you the right way but no one tells you that you need to drop off your luggage with your cruise before you go ahead to the check-in lines. they also don’t tell you that you have to have your documents before you enter (although if you don’t they will look up your information for you, it is just easier to have them already), and someone to guide you to which cruise you are taking. They did have signs but it was all kind of confusing!
So you get in the lines and get your boarding/cruise card and finally you are on board. Your luggage will be delivered to your room, the same procedure for every cruise line. First off I thought the Princess Sapphire was nice but felt a little “different” than previous cruises I’ve taken. This was my first time with Princess Cruise Lines and I really didn’t know what to expect. Personally I felt the ship felt older in some parts compared to other cruises I’ve been. The Horizon Cafe, where cruisers can go get food most hours of the day, felt dated and not as grand as the same cafes on Royal Caribbean or Carnival. I was prepared for the rest of the ship to feel dated.
Walked to the room and I noticed that the cruise ship doesn’t have the grand atrium like all the other cruise I’ve been on. Felt weird but Princess Sapphire felt more quaint inside because of the lack of open space (in reality it’s the same size or equal to all other cruises I’ve been on). I had an interior cabin and it was actually pretty decent. Outdated, maybe just a tad, but overall not too bad. Only think we (we being my boyfriend and I) noticed was that the bed felt heavily used. Not very soft and warped. But I was able to get over it quickly and by the end of the cruise I barely noticed.
As we settled into to the first night of our Alaskan cruise I was so relaxed thanks to the rest I received from flying into Vancouver early. We decided to watch a movie on top of the deck (Princess has a big screen where you can watch movies, etc.. during the day or night). It was cold outside and very windy on the first night, so we had to wrap up with the blankets they offer you while watching movies. For anybody not familiar with cruising it’s also important to note that usually there is some sort of way to get food and drinks at all hours of the day. And you can bring those items up on deck and snack on food while you watch a movie under the stars!
Day 2 – Out at Sea:
The next day we saw our first wildlife. While eating in the café someone had noticed dolphins jumping next to the ship. Pretty cool to see in real life and it was only the first of many animals we saw on this trek. Surprisingly it was sunny for most of our journey. And on the second day I actually got a sunburn from being in the sun too long while watching a movie on deck (Ferris Buellers Day!!). You end up spending much of your time eating and or drinking on cruises and I was surprised to find the food to be very good. They do have some healthy options but a lot of the food is not so great for you (health wise), just fyi (it’s still yummy though).
By far, one of my favorite things to do on a cruise, is going to the gym and then afterwards the sauna. Most people would not agree with me but there is something about being on vacation and feeling your best. And I get that while going to the gym and sauna while eating the abundance of food. I usually feel strengthened after my workout and more relaxed which makes for a better vacation. And what’s convenient is that the gym is never that far away from anywhere on the ship (usually on a higher deck in the front on most cruise ships).
By afternoon we were both a little burned from staying outside for too long. It was time for tea and to plan the rest of our night. Like most cruises, Princess sets up events and shows for entertainment, one of the reasons I love cruises so much. Entertainment, food, gym, and excursions are all close by and easy to do. This type of vacation can have it’s downsides as you are always visiting a port city and only get a taste of different cultures, but if you like what you see you will be able to go back to a country and explore more. Cruises also offer a great time to escape from the world. Usually there is no phone or internet service. It gives you time to disconnect from your life and the rest of the world and allow yourself to focus on your travels.
On Day 2 we had our first formal night. It was Romans first formal night on a cruise and he was excited to get all dressed up, as was I. On most cruises (except Norwegian), you will have the option for a traditional dinner, where everybody gets dressed up for dinner. I actually like this part of the cruise. It’s fun and you come back with pictures of yourself in a suit or dress, etc… Our waiters were funny and hardworking. Anything that we wanted we would have gotten. Whether we hated our meal or just wanted to try something new. On cruises all meals are FREE. Another highlight of a cruise.
Afterwards we went to the library to take some pictures together. Most people get pictures done professionally through the cruise line and I would recommend this if you would like some professional photos to keep around your house. If it’s your first cruise then it’s definitely one buy you should think about (Note: They can be expensive). The cruise will also get pictures of you boarding the ship, leaving the ship to go on excursions, and while doing other cruise activities. Most of the time I just let them take my picture because it’s easier to take the picture and agree then have them hassle you for saying no.
So we decided to finish the night playing some trivia. It was geographical trivia where we had to guess where the photo was taken in the world. Some were hard and some were easy and surprisingly I missed some that were so simple. Mainly because the photo was outdated or the staff got the photo wrong (hrm like Cairo, whatever over it ; ) So we ended up getting 2nd place and only one point from winning. Blah whatever, time to go to bed and getting ready for Ketchikan, Alaska.
Day 3 – Ketchikan, Alaska:
On Day 3, by the time we are waking up, the ship was already docked in Ketchikan, Alaska. I turn on my phone to see if I got any cell service so I can update my family about where I am (this cruise happened to be in Alaska, so it was possible to use an American phone for free). Except my phone was not working. All through breakfast and eventually when we got out on land I was trying to play with my phone to get it to work. All it would do is show that my phone was searching for service. Roman had service! Ugh. I was so mad but then started to realize that if I kept thinking about why my phone wouldn’t work I would miss out on the day. Note to people who bring their computers or iPhones. Remember that sometimes technology doesn’t work or breaks down and the point of going on vacation is to enjoy it. Not to worry about your technology problems. My advice is to put it aside and worry about it when you are done with your vacation.
In the end my phone was actually broken. Still don’t know how that was possible since I didn’t do anything to it but in the end I had to swap it out for a new one in Anchorage.
http://youtu.be/-wChXW5nqKY
Overall the city of Ketchikan is quite small and unless you are doing an excursion there isn’t much to do. So we walked around the little city and looked at some of the shops. We petted an owl and saw a bald eagle. Some more wildlife off the list! Ketchikan is cute but you can finish the city in about 2 and half hours. Ketchikan has some shops and the usual Alaskan gifts and restaurants. If you love seafood and fish then you will love a Alaskan Cruise. And our ship wasn’t docked in Ketchikan for that long. So we decided that 2 and half hours was enough and boarded the ship again to eat. It was bye Ketchikan and on to Juneau, which will be in next posts.
While leaving Ketchikan we did end up seeing some whales, which I will post videos of. Much of the 3rd day was spent drinking tea and coffee and looking for whales as this was one of the best places to see them. This was probably the best time we actually saw whales although later in the cruise we saw more just they were harder to snap shots of. It was a different experience to see some whales out in the wild.
That night we decided to play some cards, eat more food and relax. Forget about my phone being damaged, enjoy the scenery, relax and enjoy a movie, and then go to bed for some glacier viewing and garden viewing in Juneau. The sun, during the summer in Alaska, doesn’t set until like 10 -11 ish. So you have plenty of time to view the islands, wildlife, landscape and take some fantastic photos. On an Alaskan cruise you want to be outdoors much of your trek. People seem to like to get an outdoor cabin but I don’t think it’s necessary. There is plenty of space above and so if you’re looking to go on an Alaskan cruise, consider an inside cabin (they are much cheaper). We actually were lucky with the weather and all of our shots were just furthered advanced by the great weather we had that week. So that’s it for now. Make sure to view the photos, leave a comment if you’d like and I will continue with part two of the Alaskan cruise next Tuesday. Also if you want to view some videos check out my video page and my youtube page!
images by: shawnvoyage
