GOS
06-24-2007, 12:46 PM
Thursday 24th May – port at last, Sitka.
Up, showered, dressed and in the usual breakfast joint by 8.00am. We both have the usual. As we don’t get to Sitka until about 12noon, we walk a smile mile – 3 times round Deck 7. (It’s 4 on the Disney boats. Morning trivia again at 10.30am, which we win – we are starting to get a reputation as the team to beat. The ship is slowly travelling up the estuary towards the port of Sitka. After taking loads of pictures – the views are stunning – we collect all our outdoor gear and head up to Vista Lounge with our tickets in hand.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/data/500/124143P1000815-med.JPG
Check in for tours, was a shambles. Everyone congregated by the doors waiting for their tour to be called and only then could you enter the lounge. You then had to wait to be collected to be taken down to the tenders. It then took about 20 minutes to reach the dockside. The tour company met us for our 4 x 4 wilderness adventure. After signing the waiver forms, we climb onboard the minibus and taken 10 minutes away to the boat that would take us to Kruzof Island. On the way we are given a brief introduction to Sitka and we spot loads of Bald Eagles.
The boat ride takes about 20 minutes and we see a sea otter, floating on his back, on the way over. Finally we arrive at the island and are given instructions on driving the vehicles and the usual safety demonstrations. Rick takes to the wheel first whilst I take pictures. Along the way we stop at the Pasture and see 6 brown bears. We carry on until we reach the Shelikof beach which is all black lava sand. We stop for 15 minutes for a snack break and to change over drivers. My turn – yippee.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/data/500/124143P1000825-med.JPG
The excursion was great fun, even if we didn’t get to see very much in the way of wildlife. The 4x4 vehicles certainly made up of the lack of animals. Back at the dock at about 4.30pm and there is a huge line for the tenders. So Rick and I head towards the main high street and Harry Race Pharmacy for Ice Cream and souvenir shopping. The ice cream is lovely and we head back to the dock and the queue is still as long. It takes over an hour to get back to the ship. Princess have totally messed this one up, by not providing enough tenders. There will certainly be lots of complaints about this.
Tonight we will have Pizza in La Scala so we don’t bother to change for dinner, but we do go to early evening trivia. It’s 50’s trivia tonight and by great surprise, our small team win. We received a letter earlier from the Pursers Office, asking us to explain why we need transportation to the airport, if we are not flying home. We go to the Pursers Desk to explain the situation and they are OK.
Pizza and Lasagne is OK in La Scala, but Tiramisu is wonderful. We are back in the cabin by 9.00pm, so I do some laundry and we prepare for our next port - Juneau.
The weather started off grey and cloudy, but improved as the day progressed.
Up, showered, dressed and in the usual breakfast joint by 8.00am. We both have the usual. As we don’t get to Sitka until about 12noon, we walk a smile mile – 3 times round Deck 7. (It’s 4 on the Disney boats. Morning trivia again at 10.30am, which we win – we are starting to get a reputation as the team to beat. The ship is slowly travelling up the estuary towards the port of Sitka. After taking loads of pictures – the views are stunning – we collect all our outdoor gear and head up to Vista Lounge with our tickets in hand.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/data/500/124143P1000815-med.JPG
Check in for tours, was a shambles. Everyone congregated by the doors waiting for their tour to be called and only then could you enter the lounge. You then had to wait to be collected to be taken down to the tenders. It then took about 20 minutes to reach the dockside. The tour company met us for our 4 x 4 wilderness adventure. After signing the waiver forms, we climb onboard the minibus and taken 10 minutes away to the boat that would take us to Kruzof Island. On the way we are given a brief introduction to Sitka and we spot loads of Bald Eagles.
The boat ride takes about 20 minutes and we see a sea otter, floating on his back, on the way over. Finally we arrive at the island and are given instructions on driving the vehicles and the usual safety demonstrations. Rick takes to the wheel first whilst I take pictures. Along the way we stop at the Pasture and see 6 brown bears. We carry on until we reach the Shelikof beach which is all black lava sand. We stop for 15 minutes for a snack break and to change over drivers. My turn – yippee.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/data/500/124143P1000825-med.JPG
The excursion was great fun, even if we didn’t get to see very much in the way of wildlife. The 4x4 vehicles certainly made up of the lack of animals. Back at the dock at about 4.30pm and there is a huge line for the tenders. So Rick and I head towards the main high street and Harry Race Pharmacy for Ice Cream and souvenir shopping. The ice cream is lovely and we head back to the dock and the queue is still as long. It takes over an hour to get back to the ship. Princess have totally messed this one up, by not providing enough tenders. There will certainly be lots of complaints about this.
Tonight we will have Pizza in La Scala so we don’t bother to change for dinner, but we do go to early evening trivia. It’s 50’s trivia tonight and by great surprise, our small team win. We received a letter earlier from the Pursers Office, asking us to explain why we need transportation to the airport, if we are not flying home. We go to the Pursers Desk to explain the situation and they are OK.
Pizza and Lasagne is OK in La Scala, but Tiramisu is wonderful. We are back in the cabin by 9.00pm, so I do some laundry and we prepare for our next port - Juneau.
The weather started off grey and cloudy, but improved as the day progressed.