Our WONDERful first trip "home" to Alaska- A Trip Report -Finished 1/8!!!

[happenin2you]

I looked over my navigator and it looks like I was right. We just saw the Avengers and went to bed. The next morning we had our character breakfast at Parrot cay.

This is the only day you can get a Mickey waffle, so I had to do it!

Me as Pocahontas

Chris as... a pirate?

After breakfast we went back to our room, to grab a jacket and got off the ship in Ketchikan.

We were really into this tunnel...

This creek runs through the old "red lamp" district.

Our giant heads

There's the district!

And us with the bubbling brook

Not sure what I'm looking at here, but that building behind me looks like the trendy new mid rise condos they're builing around here.

I wanted so badly to find this fish ladder!

But we knew we'd be travelling before the spawing season so there wouldn't be any fish in it. We walked up to the salmon hatchery and bird reserve. It wasn't too far. Maybe 10 minutes? We got to see a lot of really neat houses and foliage on the way. When we got there, we saw this guy.

And they had two injured eagles that were just breathtaking to look at.

Salmon look really different when they're spawning... it's kinda scary.

A short video Chris filmed of the eagles

After this we saw the areas where the salmon are hatched and raised. They were pretty much big tanks, like if you've been to a winery, but cut in half so you can see in the top of them. The whole process was really interesting, but I didn't take any photos of it for some reason...

Up next: More Ketchikan and lunch

 

[franandaj]

Ketchikan looks so beautiful! Wow! I'm going to have to go back to Alaska someday!

Thanks for all the pics of 2605. We have 2105 on our cruise next month. How did you find the room as far as location, motion, quiet, etc? Thanks!

I take it you decided against the November 25th cruise? Which one are you going on and will you do a TR before mine leaves on the 25th?

 

[happenin2you]

Ketchikan looks so beautiful! Wow! I'm going to have to go back to Alaska someday!

It was really nice. The best thing about the ports was that although they were similar, they were all very different. I loved them all for their own reasons. I think with more planning on a return trip, Ketchikan would be my favorite.

 

[happenin2you]

After we left the salmon hatchery, we walked back to the creek district area and slowly made our way back to the ship.

The Wonder peaking through some trees.

We were really interested in the duck, but the prices were so much better in Seattle, we were going to wait and do it there.

I had been waiting the whole cruise to get a pic of these guys! The ship was always docked in a way that I couldn't photograph them.

We really loved this Bear-tivity scene we found in the Christmas shop, but it was like $79 for a set of 5 figurines, and of course they broke them down into sets that were incomplete so you basically had to get all three sets or it wouldn't make sense. For instance, I think one was 1 wise bear, a sheep, an angel, Mary, and Joseph... Seriously?

Then we went back to the ship for lunch. We had been planning to eat lunch in one of the ports to try some great local seafood, but we couldn't find any places that we didn't feel were complete tourist traps. I know I can go to Maine and get lobster dirt cheap, so why would I pay $20/ plate for salmon (which I don't love) that I'm not sure is even good? Rant over.

I think Chris had Oysters Rockefeller.

And I had shrimp.

I can't find any menu's that look accurate online, so here are our soup pics. I have no idea what they are... They must not have been any good since I don't remember them.

For an entree, I think Chris had a tuna steak.

And I had chicken.

And I decided that dessert was necessary today. Chris' Creme Brulee.

And my sampler.

After lunch, we went back into port, but we just walked around a bit and came back to the ship. We decided, like crazy people, that with a sky looking like it might snow and very low temperatures, that it would be a good time to go sit in the hot tub up at the Cove area and watch the ship pull away from up there. We got all the way up there and it had started raining.... That didn't stop my husband, he's part polar bear. I temporarily froze in my tracks, then made my way to the hot tub. Then we decided we would need some drinks to work up the courage to get back out and to our room. So we had a couple drinks of the day. We stayed there until we pulled out of port around 4:45, then we had to get back to our room to get ready for dinner, very quickly. We found this guy when we got there.

Who knew there were scorpions in AK?

Next up: Dinner at Parrot Cay

 

[Chilly]

I did it again and re-read a bit i'd read already!

Not in any of your pictures again yet sadly although I think we could have been at lunch together in Tritons on Ketchiken day and I have an identical photo of the back of the ship.

 

[big jack 2002]

I just wanted to let you know we are still enjoying your report and are waiting for the next installment!!
Barbara

 

[franandaj]

Yup! Still here and reading....I wonder if they will have any of the same menu items on the MR cruise? I'm sure the menu is seasonal, but some things like the desserts never go out of season! Looks great!

 

[tink too]

Enjoying your updates. Love the close up photo of the eagle when he's looking right at the camera - you can see every detail of his feathers!

Thanks for the offer of assistance with our trip to LV next year. We'll be staying for a week and will be travelling with our DD11 so it's not going to be a gambling and nightlife type of vacation. We're looking forward to visiting the Grand Canyon (I know it will be a long day, but we can't travel and that way and NOT visit! ) I'm sure we'll see a Cirque du Soleil show as well - just not sure which one yet as there is so much choice!

I'm also considering one of the horse riding treks at Red Rock Canyon as our DD would like to meet some cowboys since we'll be near the desert.

 

[Kim in TN]

Great report, beautiful pictures.
Thanks for sharing!!

 

[happenin2you]

I did it again and re-read a bit i'd read already!

Not in any of your pictures again yet sadly although I think we could have been at lunch together in Tritons on Ketchiken day and I have an identical photo of the back of the ship.

I still have lots more pictures, so you may pop up in one of those

I just wanted to let you know we are still enjoying your report and are waiting for the next installment!!
Barbara

Thanks for checking in! I have some time to write a quick installment now

Yup! Still here and reading....I wonder if they will have any of the same menu items on the MR cruise? I'm sure the menu is seasonal, but some things like the desserts never go out of season! Looks great!

I know the Taste of Alaska menu replaces the Pirates in the Carribean, but other than that I would think they'd be similar. You'll just have to let us know! Dessert is my favorite, I had a cupcake for lunch today...

Enjoying your updates. Love the close up photo of the eagle when he's looking right at the camera - you can see every detail of his feathers!

Thanks for the offer of assistance with our trip to LV next year. We'll be staying for a week and will be travelling with our DD11 so it's not going to be a gambling and nightlife type of vacation. We're looking forward to visiting the Grand Canyon (I know it will be a long day, but we can't travel and that way and NOT visit! ) I'm sure we'll see a Cirque du Soleil show as well - just not sure which one yet as there is so much choice!

I'm also considering one of the horse riding treks at Red Rock Canyon as our DD would like to meet some cowboys since we'll be near the desert.

I'm not a gambler and I outgrew Vegas nightlife when shortly after I reached the legal age... If you're planning to do the Grand Canyon and back in one day, it will probably be a long day. It is an amazing sight to see, though.

I recommend LOVE as far as Cirque du Soleil. I just love LOVE! I saw it for the third time this past Sunday (it was my husband's fourth time!) I have seen it from all parts of the theatre from the very last row to very close to the front. I think it is best to be further back so that you can see everything that is going on. So much of it is up in the air, if you are too close, you'll be looking up the whole time. The sound in the theatre is amazing and the performers just do an incredible job. If you are interested in that show I would suggest checking out the mirage website (the hotel where the show is) and look into the dinner and show packages. The restaurants are amazing. We got a locals discount on tickets so we couldn't combine it with the show package, but we ate at BB Kings before and had a great time and enjoyed the food. Also, they have special deals for tickets on nights that don't sell well, and they currently have a deal up for 2013, if you're interested. I've also seen O, but I didn't like it very much. Most people love it, but it just wasn't for me.

There is a cool place out near Red Rock called Bonnie Springs. They have a petting zoo, which your daughter might be too old to be interested in, but they also have an old Wild West town and gun fight shows and things like that. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. And if you have any questions, just ask.

Great report, beautiful pictures.
Thanks for sharing!!

Thanks! This vacation has definitely produced the best pictures I've ever taken.

 

[happenin2you]

I was going to write another installment on this report, but I'm looking at my pictures and they seem to be out of order on the photobucket page. I'll have to compare them with the files on my computer, but I'm at school and not on my own computer right now... Sorry for the delay.

 

[luvslikepi]

That seems to be happening with a lot of Photobucket users...you are not alone.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[TinksMomma]

Loving your trip report!! We are hoping to sail out of Vancouver next August so this is super helpful!

 

[Leshaface]

Just got caught up.

I loved the character breakfast on the Wonder! I was worried about it because we were adults with no kids, so I thought we would be out of place, but it was so fun and not a CM batted an eye!

Can't wait to hear about dinner!

 

[happenin2you]

That seems to be happening with a lot of Photobucket users...you are not alone.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I thought I was missing some photos, but I just finally checked my home computer last night and everything matches up. I'm not sure what that means. Maybe I just didn't take any pictures on our last day at sea. I would think I would have at least taken pictures of the food, though...

Loving your trip report!! We are hoping to sail out of Vancouver next August so this is super helpful!

Cool, any questions, let me know!

Just got caught up.

I loved the character breakfast on the Wonder! I was worried about it because we were adults with no kids, so I thought we would be out of place, but it was so fun and not a CM batted an eye!

Can't wait to hear about dinner!

I did feel a little silly at first because there were all these children with their autograph books and we were just a table of boring grown-ups, but the whole thing was really well organized and I had a great time.

I have class in 20 minutes, but I am planning to do an update after that!

 

[Leshaface]

I did feel a little silly at first because there were all these children with their autograph books and we were just a table of boring grown-ups, but the whole thing was really well organized and I had a great time.

I have class in 20 minutes, but I am planning to do an update after that!

Well we felt REALLY out of place, especially because we were the only adults at an 8 person table!!! We looked like losers

 

[happenin2you]

Well we felt REALLY out of place, especially because we were the only adults at an 8 person table!!! We looked like losers

None of your tablemates showed?! I'm down for any opportunity to hang with Mickey!

 

[happenin2you]

Ok, I figured out part of the problem. The food porn I was trying to pass off for lunch at Triton's was actually the Captain's Gala dinner. Crazy, I know. So I'm going to repost those pics with descriptions from the menu. I think that our lunch that day wasn't very exciting, so we didn't take any pictures of it. Here we go again.

Chris started with Oysters Rockefeller on the Half Shell - stuffed with Spinach, Onions, and Butter, which he wasn't that interested in.

I had Garlic and Herb-Sauteed Shrimp - on Spaghetti Vegetables drizzled with Garlic Butter.They tasted shrimpy, which always makes me happy.

Chris had Wild Forest Mushroom Soup - swirled with White Truffle Oil.

And I had Beef and Sun-Dried Tomato Consomme - with Parmesan Polenta Dumpling.

Chris had Sesame Seared Tuna Loin - on Lemon Grass infused Bok Choy, Daikon, And Carrots with Wasabi and Ginger Drizzle. Which was overcooked for his liking.

And I had Fettuccine with Parmesan-Crusted Chicken - Chicken encrusted in Parmesan Cheese with Sweet Peppers and Mushrooms in a Cheddar Cheese Sauce. Which I enjoyed

Chris had Banana Creme Brulee

And I went with the usual Captain's Sweet Temptations - A trio of Amaretto Cheesecake, Banana Creme Brulee, and Coconut Macaroon.

Ok, now that that's all straightened out, I apparently did not take pictures on the last day at sea, except for at dinner, which was the Till We Meet Again dinner.
I'm not sure what we did that day. Must have just lounged around and relaxed.
At dinner, Chris started with the Sesame Crusted Tuna Sashimi

And I had the Grilled Potato and Goat Cheese Napoleon

Then I had the Potato and Leek Soup

And Chris had the Lobster and Crawfish Bisque

For my entree I had the Roasted Filet of Beef Wellington, which I enjoyed

And Chris had the Seafood Linguini

I finished the night with a variety of dessert options: Till We Meet Again Sweet Temptations - A trio of Celebration Cake, Chocolate Decadence, and Cappuccino Mousse

And Chris just went for the Celebration Cake - Layers of Cheesecake covered with Strawberries embedded in rich Vanilla Cream and glazed with White Chocolate, which he loved!

After dinner we went outside and got one last photo of the water.

And in the morning we woke up to see this!

Next up: Seattle!

 

[franandaj]

It's Kismet! You're just wrapping up the day before I leave on my cruise! Some of the items you had for your last two dinners look really good. I found menus online Thanksgiving Day. It looks like they are serving a lot of the same food still. That seafood linguine looks really good, so did the crusted chicken.

Can't wait until tomorrow!

 

[travellingwithnikki]

I'm sailing on the Wonder to Alaska next year so am loving your TR!