Alaska Adventures: Day 9--June 27

Sun. June 27: We began the day with a continental breakfast brought to our cabin right at 8:30. From our balcony we watched a pod of Dall’s porpoises swim past the ship. Marv and I met Ann to get stamps on our Treasure Hunt give-away cards until Ann and I went to the Spa to see if we would win anything (we didn’t) and Marv walked to the very bow of the ship. All four of us went to the ship naturalist’s presentation on Hubbard Glacier and other nearby glaciers in Yakutat Bay, where we will arrive in the afternoon. By now it was very cold on the decks and we had to bundle up to be out. Marv and I got cheeseburgers at the grill and Ann and Shelby had pizza from the nearby pizzeria, which we all supplemented with items from the buffet, and we ate beside one of the inside pools, but it was still chilly. We went to the Fusion Club to see if we would win anything from the Treasure Hunt (we didn’t) and returned to our respective cabins to rest, journal, and watch our progress into Yakutat Bay into the early afternoon. Sandy, the naturalist, was broadcasting on the ship channel 35 from the bridge, explaining what we were seeing and helping to spot wild life. As we got closer to the bay and chances of seeing animals increased we bundled up and went up on the bow deck to watch, with Sandy’s voice coming over the PA to keep us apprised. It was very damp and cold out there and the PA speakers were hard to understand. But we saw cormorants, harbor seals and a bald eagle that sat on an iceberg for quite a while before flying a long ways right over the water. The bay here is quite full of large and small icebergs, so of which need to be avoided. With two harbor pilots guiding the ship we went as far in towards Disenchantment Bay as was possible. Unfortunately, with the heavy fog we weren’t able to see Hubbard Glacier. Seven miles wide and 75 miles long, it is the largest coastal glacier in North America. But we could see no sign of it or the mountains surrounding the bay. So they turned the ship 180° and we headed back out, hugging the shore on the port side a bit more than when we entered. Ann and Shelby came to our cabin in hopes of seeing more on our side. We went in and out of fog, catching occasional glimpses of the mountains and shoreline. At one point I could watch a dark headed, sleek Stellar sea lion swimming in the opposite direction near the side of the ship. As we pulled out of the bay however the fog totally set in and we could only see a few yards off.

Tonight was the first “formal” night, so we got dressed up a bit and went at 6:45 to watch them put the final glasses at the top of the Champaign fountain in the atrium at the bottom of the grand staircase. Each layer was already filled with Champaign so that when the captain poured the “first” glass at 7:15 it flowed down through the many tiers. As people took turns pouring more Champaign on the fountain, and having formal photos taken at about 6 stations on three levels overlooking the atrium, waiters circulated with trays of complimentary Champaign and hors d’ouvres. After enjoying the spectacle for a while the four of us headed for our reserved table at The Pacific Moon restaurant, which happened to be by the window. We had a fantastic dinner by ordering off the menu for the first time on the ship. Three of us had filet mignon while Marv had Cornish Game Hen; all of us also had appetizers, soup, salad and dessert, as well. Two hours later we had our formal picture taken. Then I changed into warmer clothes and we all went to the Princess Theater for the musical presentation of “The Piano Man”. It was another highly energetic, very talented group of young people. Ann and Shelby left about half way through, but Marv and I stayed for it all before going to bed about midnight.