Planes, Trains & Antitussives, Alaksan Wonder Cruise - All done! Complete 11/21

[franandaj]

[Continued from Previous Post]

They had a little bar inside, and I snapped this shot because I couldn’t understand why they were selling Animal Kingdom beer. I got a glass of Peppermint Schnapps.



These pictures were taken from inside the boat, hence the glare in them.





We took a small detour and on the way out of Endicott Arm in there we saw a Bald eagle.



This was Ford's terror. Ford's Terror is a fjord with a narrow bottleneck entrance off Endicott Arm, about 60 miles south of Juneau. It is so named in reference to a naval crew member (Henry Ford) who rowed a dinghy into it at slack tide in 1889, and was caught by the currents for six hours when the tide began rushing in, creating rapids.



We stopped for this beautiful waterfall which we found out was really a cascade. This is where we learned the difference between a waterfall and a cascade. We would be back to this waterfall and I went outside to the back deck after this picture.



First we stopped at this (what I believe is the actual waterfall).







We turned around and headed back out of the fjord, but then we stopped at the cascade I showed you earlier, at least I think that’s how it was. The one that seemed like it would be more year round was the seasonal one.









Then we were on the final part of our voyage.







Finally we caught up with the Wonder and reboarded the ship. It was just after 6PM when we were back on the ship. Tonight’s attire was Cruise Casual. Fran didn’t want to go anywhere but dinner, so I convinced my mom to go down with me to get some character pictures. Goofy didn’t have any line so I jumped in and got my picture with him first.



Mom caught up with me when I was in line for Minnie.





Then I came back to the room to help Fran get up and dressed.

[Continued in Next Post]

 

[franandaj]

[Continued from Previous Post]

We had dinner at Animators. They totally changed the menu and I had to come up with something else for dinner. Normally I would eat appetizers for my whole meal here, but they removed the Tomato Tart that I like and changed the soup to something I didn’t like either. My picture of the first page of the menu was so blurry I couldn’t read it.





I don’t remember what the spread for the bed was.









I ordered this drink which was on the menu as a featured drink. It was some kind of a berry drink.



This was the butternut squash soup and I know Fran got it, not sure who else did.





I got my truffle pursettes and they were wonderful as usual.










I didn’t take very good notes and since I can’t read my photos of the menus I have no idea what I ordered. It was some kind of pork products. That’s all I remember.



I believe Fran and my father got this chicken.



My Mom ordered the strip loin from the “always on the menu” menu.



Fran left before the "show". Here’s Mickey for the show.







Our serving team.



I had to run out just after it was over because Fran had left her key to the room with me so that I could pay for the wine. I could have used my own key. Our towel animal.



Navigators for the next day.

 

[bcwife76]

Stunning....it's really nature in all her raw, natural glory.

Also, truffle pursettes? Little pillows of heaven

 

[franandaj]

Stunning....it's really nature in all her raw, natural glory.

Also, truffle pursettes? Little pillows of heaven

Thank you. It was very beautiful.

 

[franandaj]

I almost forgot about this one. I didn't take it, but I purchased it at the end of the cruise. I think it was taken on the very first cruise of the year. There were complaints by the folks on the first cruise of they year that took the glacier excursion. They said that the Wonder got just as close to the glacier as the smaller boat. I bet that was to get this photo op.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Very nice shots of the glacier and nice shots of Wonder when you were far away which looks small when you went farther and farther away.

 

[juniorbugman]

Great shots of the glaciers. On my Alaskan cruise in 2000 we were supposed to tour the glaciers near Anchorage but the tour boat broke down and we didn't get to go so it is great to see your photos. Judy

 

[Pinkocto]

I'll put you in my calendar for next year! I should be around. I will also be paying very close attention to your EBPC TR!

Awesome I'll keep,you updated on plans. I'm going to try and book VGC as soon as my window opens next year.

 

[Pinkocto]

What a fabulous tour!!! Just breathtaking, wow!

Love the characters in their winter gear, so cute

What is this? No tomato tarte??? They were so awesome and made me a gluten free one on the Fantasy. That's one of my favorites

 

[ACDSNY]

WONDERFUL shots of the glacier. I almost thought this was Tracey Arm until I saw it was Endicott Arm.

 

[DnA2010]

Nice shots if the glaciers! I can see why the people on the first cruise commented- that ship is close!

Those truffle pursettes- yum! Enjoyed them on the Fantasy

Your dress matches Goofy! Love their outfits!

 

[pkondz]

After my first sight of the glacier from the verandah, the ship started to make a 360 degree turn.

Why?
Or did you mean to say it did a 180?

Looking back from where we came.

Always good to look back at where you came from.

prices per person start at 150% of the price that Fran and I paid for BOTH of us on the Disney Cruise!

Ouch. But I suppose you're paying extra for the "privacy".

Great shot!

The crowds were insane.

But easily treated with medication.

Then I went down to wavebands

Wavebands?

We took the stairs down to deck 1 and boarded the small boat. It was immediately colder!

Makes sense.
Temperature inversions would be very common that time of year.

The views of the ship were spectacular.

No kidding!

There was a seal swimming in the water.

Probably worrying about Killer Whales about as much as I worry about sharks when I'm near the water.

Another “textbook” glacial valley.

Cool, too! I wonder how much isostatic rebound it has in any given year.

It was cold!

Were you outside? Judging from the photos, I'm guessing you were.
Welcome to windchill!

The people from the other ship were going out in zodiac boats. I can’t even imagine how cold that must have been!

Probably not any colder than what you were feeling, unless they were getting sprayed or going faster.

Such a cool shot.

Aw, look at you in your tuque and everything!

Excuse the excess of pictures, but they are just so cool, I couldn’t choose which ones to omit.

Oh, that's easy.
Don't omit any of them!

Man oh man. That is soooo cool!
Look at that big chunk that's just about ready to let go.
Did you see any calving while you were there?

When we got closer, it got even colder

I believe I mentioned that earlier. Those things have their own ecosystem.

Respect to your Mom. Not even zipped up.

OK so I lied before, but this is really the last look at the glacier.

Platypus Iceberg.

OK, just one more.

I can't really blame you!

Love how the clouds roll into the valleys.

I snapped this shot because I couldn’t understand why they were selling Animal Kingdom beer.

This was Ford's terror. Ford's Terror is a fjord with a narrow bottleneck entrance off Endicott Arm, about 60 miles south of Juneau. It is so named in reference to a naval crew member (Henry Ford) who rowed a dinghy into it at slack tide in 1889, and was caught by the currents for six hours when the tide began rushing in, creating rapids.

Love that story. I can just about see it.

First we stopped at this (what I believe is the actual waterfall).

Gorgeous.

Mom caught up with me when I was in line for Minnie.

Cute!

Fran left before the "show". Here’s Mickey for the show.

Show?

I almost forgot about this one. I didn't take it, but I purchased it at the end of the cruise. I think it was taken on the very first cruise of the year. There were complaints by the folks on the first cruise of they year that took the glacier excursion. They said that the Wonder got just as close to the glacier as the smaller boat. I bet that was to get this photo op.

Sucks if you paid for the excursion I guess. But it is a cool shot.

 

[cruisehopeful]

There was another cruise ship there, I looked up the information on this ship. Maximum occupancy on this ship is about 500 people, and that would be if most of the staterooms had 4 passengers. There are only 132 staterooms and prices per person start at 150% of the price that Fran and I paid for BOTH of us on the Disney Cruise!

Was it Oceania? I know when I priced out Silversea, it looked way more expensive than DCL, but it included all the drinks, tips, and excursions. I think it may even have included the airfare. I think Oceania was a step up from Silversea. If the price covers all the stuff, it could be worth it depending on excursions, how much you drink, etc.

We stopped for this beautiful waterfall which we found out was really a cascade. This is where we learned the difference between a waterfall and a cascade. We would be back to this waterfall and I went outside to the back deck after this picture.

I only learned the difference between the 2 from your report. I was blown away by how many waterfalls Endicott Arm had. I wonder how many were actually waterfalls. Not that it matters. The cascades are just a nice as the waterfalls.

Our serving team.

The guy in the middle looks like my head server. Was his name Mike? I had a different assistant server (unless the guy on the left got a haircut and I don't recognize him). My servers were nervous wrecks up until the last morning.

Your pictures are making me want to go back so much.

 

[rentayenta]

I am, booked on the last Alaska cruise of the 2017 season, September 4-11 with a B2B on the repositioning cruise until the 15th. Very excited about that! Hoping to squeeze in a day or two at DL after.

If by small chance, about 40/60 at this point that we are in Alaska at that time, lets meet up.





So what is the difference between a waterfall and a cascade?

Alaska sure looks beautiful. Cold but gorgeous. I would have been terrified next to those falls in that other seemingly tiny boat.

Dinner looks wonderful. Those pursettes are the best! Sure miss The Wonder.

 

[franandaj]

Very nice shots of the glacier and nice shots of Wonder when you were far away which looks small when you went farther and farther away.

Thanks! It was so meserizing as we pulled away from it. The Glacier was so large, and to see it from far away it was deceiving!

Great shots of the glaciers. On my Alaskan cruise in 2000 we were supposed to tour the glaciers near Anchorage but the tour boat broke down and we didn't get to go so it is great to see your photos. Judy

I'm sorry you didn't get to see them on your trip, this day was really a highlight, but then again, every day was a highlight!

Awesome I'll keep,you updated on plans. I'm going to try and book VGC as soon as my window opens next year.

Good luck on that! Now that F&W is back at DCA, I'm using up all my VGC points, every year!

WONDERFUL shots of the glacier. I almost thought this was Tracey Arm until I saw it was Endicott Arm.

Thanks. We were supposed to go to Tracy Arm, but no ship has been able to get in there this year. It's been too iced in.

 

[rndmr2]

Great update! This is what I look forward to on any Alaska TR's, the Glaciers! I really want to get on an Alaska cruise someday. Maybe 2017 or 2018 I'll get on one.

There was another cruise ship there, I looked up the information on this ship. Maximum occupancy on this ship is about 500 people, and that would be if most of the staterooms had 4 passengers. There are only 132 staterooms and prices per person start at 150% of the price that Fran and I paid for BOTH of us on the Disney Cruise!

What cruise line was it??

Makes that boat look like a bathtub toy, LOL

Aww too cute! I Love seals!

You definitely bundled up! How cold was it, do you think? Did they say?

Awesome pics of the glacier, I love the blue ice, I think it's so cool.

 

[dhorner233]

Beautiful scenery!! I could use some of that cold right about now! You are adorable all bundled up!

I love Minnie's Alaskan outfit

The food is beautiful, as always!

 

[Pinkocto]

If by small chance, about 40/60 at this point that we are in Alaska at that time, lets meet up.

Of course! That would be too cool!!! What are you planning?

 

[dolphingirl47]

After my first sight of the glacier from the verandah, the ship started to make a 360 degree turn.

That is so neat. I really enjoyed this on our cruise.

When I went up to get her burger, I noticed the textbook glacial peaks. So once I got to the upper deck with my camera, I took some pictures.

That photo is very atmospheric

The crowds were insane.

That is why we camped out on deck 4 in 2013. There were a lot less people about, the views were fantastic and we were more sheltered.

There was a seal swimming in the water.

How neat.

We also saw these seals resting on the icebergs.

I love this photo.

What a great perspective.

I love the textures in this photo.

I got a glass of Peppermint Schnapps.

That sounds intriguing

I love this dress and it works perfectly with Goofy's outfit.

I got my truffle pursettes and they were wonderful as usual.

I am glad that they are still on the menu.

I didn’t take very good notes and since I can’t read my photos of the menus I have no idea what I ordered. It was some kind of pork products. That’s all I remember.

Whatever it was, it looks pretty nice.

Corinna

 

[Leshaface]

There was another cruise ship there, I looked up the information on this ship. Maximum occupancy on this ship is about 500 people, and that would be if most of the staterooms had 4 passengers. There are only 132 staterooms and prices per person start at 150% of the price that Fran and I paid for BOTH of us on the Disney Cruise!

Holy moly that glacier is massive!

Crazy to see everyone bundled up when back in Cali it was scorching hot!

no thanks.

You look cute all bundled up like that!

When we got closer, it got even colder and I put on another layer that I carried in my backpack.

Wow. So I like cold weather (mainly so I can wear scarves, jackets, etc) but this sounds ridiculous.

I couldn’t understand why they were selling Animal Kingdom beer

Gorgeous!

So so beautiful but wouldn't want to touch it

I almost forgot about this one. I didn't take it, but I purchased it at the end of the cruise. I think it was taken on the very first cruise of the year. There were complaints by the folks on the first cruise of they year that took the glacier excursion. They said that the Wonder got just as close to the glacier as the smaller boat.

I can see why especially if the excursion was a pretty penny.

OMGOsh that is way too close for comfort!