June 1, 2024, Saturday, Day One- Flying Day, United Airlines and Westin Hotel
Traveled to Huntsville and arrived early.
Left the house at 3:30 A.M.
Only to discover our flight had changed.
🛩We traveled on United Airlines from Huntsville to Denver, Colorado, on Flight UA4640.
At 8:20 A.M., I arrived at 11 A.M.
We ate lunch at Smash Burgers and spent $28.92.I ordered 3 pieces of fried chicken fingers and fries with water.
We took several walking sidewalks from Gate 51 to Gate B11, Concourse B, Group 3
Now, we are waiting for the next flight
On United Airlines flight 1257
We left Denver at 3:40 P.M. and arrived at 5:37 P.M.
On flight UA1257, Seattle WA
Seats 6 & 7 paid an extra $160
Arrived at Westin room 4060, top level
Several couples are staying at the Westin and will be traveling to NCL and Holland America.
We were picked up at the Airport, and a van full of people went to the Westin.
Checked in, went to our room (4060), and took a hot bath.
The Westin by Seattle, Washington, has 40 floors, and we were located on the 40th floor, the top level.
We were both too tired to explore Seattle. Room 4010
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View of downtown Seattle, Washington
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| View of the Snow-Covered Mountains from the Denver, CO Airport |
June 2, 2024, Sunday, Day Two, Boarded the Ship NCL ENCORE
Ate a honey and oats bar with cranberry juice for breakfast
We are to meet our cruise director at 8:30
We are now sitting in the lobby, listening to people talking
Playing on my cellphone.
We loaded onto a shuttle van with several others and rode to Pier 66 to be processed for boarding the NCL Encore ship.
We showed our boarding passes and passports to get processed for boarding the ship.
We were given our key cards and instructed to sit until 10:00 A.M. Everyone was then allowed to enter the ship. Once inside, we went through the mustering process to learn where to go in the event of an emergency.
Our rooms were not ready until almost 2 P.M.
We went to the AMERICAN Diner for lunch.
I ordered a fish sandwich with fries.
Hubby ordered a hamburger with fries.
We visited Cruise Next services for our bronze pins and a Bank of America Card.
Hubby went to dinner reservations to order our two specialty dinners.
We went to our room until it was time for dinner.
When we arrived at our room, our luggage was not in the hallway, so I called the Westin Hotel to confirm that it had been sent to the ship.
She assured me that our luggage would be there by 4:30 P.M.
Our luggage was waiting for us in front of our room when we returned from dinner.
That was a load off my shoulders.
We ate dinner at Ocean Blue.
I ordered blazing shrimp, steamed asparagus, potatoes au gratin, and grilled salmon.
For dessert, I ordered Valrhona Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake.
My husband ordered the Fisherman's Platter, grilled, along with clam chowder, potato au gratin, and a seasoned vegetable medley.
My husband read the French Apple Tart, accompanied by vanilla ice cream.
We watched a movie and went to bed.
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| The houses along the coast of Seattle |
June 3, 2024, Monday, Day 3, Sea Day on NCL ENCORE
Today is Monday Sea Day
It was cloudy early this morning, but the clouds are clearing, and the sun is finally coming out.
We ate breakfast in the Garden Cafe.
We arrived a little early, so we grabbed a glass of juice and found a seat near the window to take in the view outside.
For breakfast, I had French toast with very thin-sliced peaches and bananas, topped with whipped cream.
We sat there for a few hours while I wrote in this journal.
We walked through the gift shop area, but most of the stores were not open.
Found another window and stopped in the Atrium area
We are going to "This is Alaska," a Presentation in the
Encore Theater at 10 A.M.
After the theatre, we went to the Atrium area and watched some shows.
We both ordered a nonalcoholic drink.
Michelle sat beside us. She was from Seattle, and we talked about traveling.
She said that they were going to Europe this fall.
I told her we had two cruises under our belts this year; this cruise was our third, and we had two more cruises and two Bus trips planned for the year.
She was still working, so her travel was limited.
She texted her husband, and he came to sit with us.
We talked for a few minutes, and they left around 1 P.M.
We ordered a couple of Cokes and went to our cabin. I ate half a Hershey candy bar and took a nap.
We will eat dinner at Cagney's restaurant at 7 P.M. tonight.
I ordered a jumbo shrimp trio for dinner: grilled jumbo shrimp skewers served with baked potato and sautéed garlic mushrooms.
For dessert, I ordered omg caramel butterscotch cheesecake.
We watched the Beatles' Invasion show in the Encore Theatre.
We ordered a couple of Cokes and took them to our room or cabin.
We saw several sleepy children and a few adults on the elevator.
Ready for tomorrow's adventures.
June 4, 2024, Tuesday, Day 4, Juneau, Alaska
Whale watching and wildlife quest.
Up early, I saw a range of snow-capped mountains as we cruised by from our balcony room.
Late breakfast of French toast with banana slices, whipped cream, strawberry syrup, and Cranberry juice in the Garden Cafe
8:02 A.M.
We went back to my room, and Hubby slept until noon.
At lunchtime, we went to the Garden Cafe, but it was overcrowded and had no seating available, so we went to the American Cafe instead.
It was also hectic, but we managed to get in line, and the line moved quickly.
We sat with a couple from California, and one of the women was a first-time cruiser.
Hubby ordered a salad, chicken pot pie, and carrot cake.
I ordered BBQ sliders, fries, and bread pudding.
We sat in the Atrium room until it was time to depart for our excursion.
We took bus 101, and our driver was Jerrod. He told colorful stories about our journey to and from the ship.
We took a boat to see the humpback whales and a pod of orcas. NCL Encore shore Excursion Ticket, Juneau 6/4/2024 Whale watching and Wildlife. The meeting point was on the pier, ashore, in the parking lot at 4:45 P.M.
After the Whale watching, we took the Whale back to the ship.
We loaded onto the ship and went back to our room.
I took a hot shower, and we took the elevator to level 16, where we stopped at the Garden Gate food bar, and I ordered Indian food.
Several Indians stood in line, and the lady behind me asked, "Do you like Indian food?" I said I didn't know but was going to try it.
She explained each item on my plate.
It was all perfect
Came back to our room and went to bed at 11 P.M.
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| Whale Watching in Juneau, Alaska |
June 5, 2024, Day 5 Wednesdays
Skagway, Alaska, White Pass, Bennett Lake, and Yukon Adventure
NCL Encore Shore Excursion Skagway 6/5/24 SGY06612 WHITE PASS, BENNETT LAKE. AND YUKON ADVENTURE. The meeting point is on the pier ashore at 7:15 A.M., and tickets are available for 4024428/4024429 and 31.
We had breakfast at the Local Bar and Grill.
I ordered a veggie omelet with English muffins and cream cheese.
Hubby ordered oatmeal, bacon, and eggs.
Loaded onto the bus to take us to the train.
Michael is our bus driver. He took us to the train station, a short ride on Bus number 138.
Everyone loaded into Train Car #358, and we headed up White Pass. Our train conductor told us about the different sites along the way.
We met a couple from Australia. One went outside to take pictures, and he got some good shots.
There were several Indian people on the train. They were together
One of them asked me where I was from, and He said he was from Tallahassee, Florida.
Everyone had to complete paperwork before crossing the border and entering the province of British Columbia, Canada.
We stopped at customs, and they boarded the train, ensuring everyone had their passports.
They gave their okay, and we continued our journey up the mountain.
We stopped at the Bennett Lake train station and museum.
Everyone got off, some went to the museum, and several walked along the passageway up the mountains to the Gold Rush area, but I stopped at St. Andrew's Chapel.
There were several markers that I stopped to take pictures of.
St. Andrews Church, Welcome/Bienvenue, Chilkoot Trail, the Land: Spring, The Land Autumn, The Land: Winter, Traditions, Heritage, Trade & Travel Commerce & Voyages, The packing business, Gold Rush, Changes & Connections, Names on the land, A Precious Place, BENNETT, Me'n Cho` Bennett lake, and End of Trail.
Another lady and I walked to Bennett Lake and took several pictures.
By this time, it was time to board the train, and we continued up the mountain, passing Belle River, which is 2 miles wide and 25 miles long, set below the glacier mountain.
We stopped in Carcross, located on the Klondike Hwy south of Whitehorse. The city was initially named Caribou Crossing by the miners who had reached this junction point of Tagish and Bennett Lane en route to the Klondike gold fields of Dawson.
Took several pictures of historical markers: The Duchess (Little Engine), Carcross, Caribou Hotel Historical site, White Pass & Yukon Route, "the Golden Spike," White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, and The Matthew Watson Store.
There were several markers at the S.S. Tutshi Memorial: S.S. Tutshi, Restoration of the "SS Tutshi," "To the land where beauty does abide," "Tutshi" Mechanics, The Crew of the "SS Tutshi, adapting to Changing Times, Nen/Haa and/the land, Tagish Shaan'ax Deiyi, SS Tutshi Memorial, A Matter of Safety, Safe Harbor, WP & YR, and Carcross, Freighting on the Southern Lakes, Boats of the Southern Lakes, and Mechanical Equipment.
I bought a large scoop of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream in a cone.
Loaded the bus and headed back to Skagway.
On our two-hour ride back down the mountain to our ship, our bus driver, Michel, told stories about Skagway's history.
We stopped at the Frazier site overlooking Bennett River
to take pictures. Took pictures of a couple of markers: Fraser, Welcome to Canada, and the Yukon.
Our next stop was at the Welcome to Alaska sign for pictures.
The bus stopped in downtown Skagway, and we got off with several others to explore on foot.
We walked around the Mascots Saloon Museum and the Corrington's Alaskan Ivory LTD Museum of Alaska History.
We stopped at the De Soles store, where I purchased four bottles of nail polish.
I also took pictures in Skagway of several markers:
Asaayix' Kudziteey Haa Le`elk'u Ha's Aani`, Skagway and White Pass, White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad Plowing Ahead, Events leading to the Shipwreck, SS Princess Sophia Memorial Skagway Centennial Statue 1897, In commemoration of Inspector Charles Constantine and Staff Sergeant Charles Brown, Northwest Mounted Police, and The Dead are speaking.
We returned to the ship, showered, and dressed in the Manhattan room for dinner.
I ordered cod with a baked potato and a Caesar salad.
For dessert, canolés.
My husband had a Caesar salad and shrimp pasta, and for dessert, he chose carrot cake.
After dinner, we came back to our room.
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| Bennett Lake, British Columbia, Canada |
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| Fraser White Pass and Bennett Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada |
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| Welcome to Alaska |
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| The Duchess Carcross, British Columbia |
June 6, 2024, Day 6, Thursday, Glacier Bay
For breakfast, I ate French toast with cranberry juice at Garden Cafe.
Wrote in my journal.
Went to guest service to turn in our declaration card to enter Victoria, BC, Canada
I booked an excursion for Saturday at the Butchart Gardens, including the Evening & Victoria Highlights Ticket (VICO 0311) on June 8, 2024. We will meet at 20:00 on the pier AshORE in the parking lot. The tickets are 4066300 and 4066301, each priced at $ 299.
Came back to the room to see the Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers, where the ship made a complete circle so everyone could view the Glaciers.
Ate lunch at Garden Cafe.
I ate German food, including red cabbage and bratwurst, before we went to our room or cabin.
I put on my jacket and stood outside on our balcony, where I saw many sea lions and birds, and took many photos.
Hubby took a nap.
We ate dinner in the Manhattan room.
I ordered cod with creamed potatoes and bruschetta toast with tomato and goat cheese, and for dessert, I had apple crumb cake.
Went to the Atrium area to watch a couple of game shows.
Went to our room and to bed.
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Glazier Bay
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| Glacier Bay |
June 7, 2024, Day 7 Friday Ketchikan, Alaska
Wilderness Exploration and Crab Feast
Breakfast Local Bar & Grill.
Ate French toast with sausage and cranberry juice.
NCL Encore Shore Excursion Ticket Ketchikan 6/7/24 KTNO 1011 WILDERNESS EXPLORATION & CRAB FEAST.
MEET at the end of the pier in the Terminal, meeting time 7:00 A.M., ticket numbers 4029338/4029339 and 41.
We walked to the pier and boarded Bus 203, which took us to a crab fest with Driver Regan.
We arrived at the boat dock.
We loaded onto the boat at 8 A.M.
After descending down 79 steps and a ramp, we took a boat ride and saw a pair of bald eagles and a fishery.
History of the fishery:
The locals were losing money because the fishery was catching all the salmon and selling a large quantity at a price they couldn't afford, leading to a conflict among them.
The fishery was using large nets to catch the salmon
The locals began stealing the salmon from the fishermen and reselling it to them.
The fishery believed the eagles were stealing their catch and began killing them in retaliation.
They finally figured out the locals were stealing them.
I held a female crab in dungarees while on the boat ride.
We returned to the lodge and were served all the crab legs we could eat.
We were shown the correct way to open crab legs.
For dessert, we were served cheesecake topped with blueberries.
I bought a pair of pajamas from Crabby at the gift shop in the morning.
On our return bus ride, our driver told several Native American folk stories.
One about an Indian princess and a whale.
Told one about the sun that was stolen from the sky.
Another story about a man (named Cots) falling in love with a she-bear and marrying her.
They became a family with three sons.
The man returns to his village, but Mama Bear tells him he cannot see or speak to his ex-wife.
He is in the village for a week and does not see his ex.
He meets her on his way back to the cave on his last day.
When he returns to the cave, Mama Bear asks if he has spoken to or seen his ex, and he says no.
Mama Bear became angry.
Her sons do not recognize their father and kill him.
The mama bear is so distraught that she bands her sons.
The older one moves north and becomes a polar bear.
The middle one moves south, and he becomes a grizzly bear.
The younger one is shy, stays in Ketchikan, and becomes the gentle black bear.
We stopped at the warehouse and gift shop before boarding the ship.
They also have a small museum about the history of the East Alaska logging unit, which we walked through and saw several totem poles.
We took the shuttle back to the ship.
At 3:30 P.M., we watch the "Cruising Tips and Trips" Presentation.
We bought 4 more next credit.
Ate dinner at Garden Cafe.
I tried several different items but couldn't find anything I wanted.
I returned to my room, watched a movie, and then went to sleep.
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| Holding a crab |
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| Wilderness Exploration and Crab Feast |
June 8, 2023, Saturday, Day 8,
Butchart Gardens Evening and Victoria Highlights
It's going to be a beautiful day watching the sunrise.
We ate breakfast at 6:09 A.M. in the Garden Cafe.
I ate bacon, scrambled eggs, and French toast.
We spent several hours at the Atrium. We watched a cake-making show and played several games.
We ate lunch at 11:46 A.M.
I ate a chicken salad sandwich with chips, cheese chunks, and slaw.
For dessert, I ate a custard.
We watched the Beatles' "Invasion" at 1:30 P.M.
Watch a goodbye show for all the crew, then go to our room.
For dinner, I ate a slice of pizza and a couple of pieces of fish.
And for dessert, I ate a cherry crumble cake.
We are going to the Butchart Botanical Gardens and Victoria highlights at 8:00 P.M.
We took a two-decker bus to Butchart Gardens.
Our guide, Emmalee, told us about Victoria's history and its founder.
She told some of the history of the Butchart family, who founded the gardens.
When we arrived at the gardens, it was getting dark and complex to see, even with all the lighting.
We rode the carousel and took several pictures of flowers and markers.
The Butchart Gardens, The Quarry Walls, The Sunken Garden Lake, Rose Fountain Lookout, Sit-on, Totem Poles, Seeds & Fireworks Fields, Concert Lawn, Private Garden, The Butchart Boar, Garden, and the History Rose Garden. From 8:30 to 11:30 P.M., we rode through Chinatown and saw several sites in Victoria.
We rode back to the ship and went to bed.
End of another long day.
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| The Butchart Botanical Gardens, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
June 9, 2023, Sunday, Day 9, Travel Home, Alaska Airlines
We watched the ship Dock in Seattle as the sun was coming up. What a beautiful sight, Seattle, with the sun in the background.
Dressed and packed, we took the elevator up to the 16th floor to the Garden Cafe for breakfast.
I ate French toast and bacon with juice.
We took our bags to the Atrium area to wait for our color to be called.
Red for those taking an early flight.
We took the shuttle to the Airport.
Thousands of people were waiting in line to go through customs.
It took us 2 1/2 hours to walk through the roped-off areas.
We had to climb a flight of stairs, and a young gentleman asked if I needed help, to which I said yes.
He carried my bags up the stairs.
I couldn't have made it.
There are still some polite and helpful people in the world.
We went through customs, but because our tickets didn't have a gate number, we stopped to ask for help.
The young attendant said we had to take the escalator down to the subway, take the subway, and then take Subway N.
We finally reached our destination.
By this time, I was burning up, so I bought myself a sleeved shirt, a Three Musketeer bar, and a Coke bottle.
🛩A short time later, we boarded Alaska Airlines Flight 410
I sat in seats 21A and 21 B and took a nap.
We had two snacks: pretzels, cookies, Coke, and cranberry juice
Arrived at Chicago O'Hare Airport.
There was a gate change to flight AA3399, gate L22 from O'Hare to Huntsville departure at 8:23 P.M. out of gate L22 terminal 3.
It was a very long walk.
It was thundering and lightning as we entered the Huntsville area.
The pilot said we were in for a bumpy ride, and he was not kidding.
It was terrifying.
The plane finally landed, and we disembarked, waiting for our luggage to be unloaded.
Our luggage was stored below because the plane was small and had limited overhead storage, all at no extra cost. I wish I had known that before dragging my luggage all over the Airport.
Walked to the car. It began to rain as we started our journey Home
We stopped at Taco Bell in Athens.
I ordered 2 chicken tacos.
Got one for lunch tomorrow.
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| Sunrise in Seattle, Washington |
It was after midnight when we arrived Home.
