WONDERful time WONDERing around Alaska - 5/24/2014 - w/Photo's & Navigator's

[podsnel]

Great pics! So subbed in- sorry you weren't feeling well!

 

[disbride713]

Great trip report so far, love all of the photos you're sharing! I now want to go on an Alaskan cruise! So many cruises, so little time! Sorry you didn't feel good, nothing is worse than getting sick on vacation.

Curious, what is the average daily temperature?

 

[hygienist999]

It doesn't look very crowded at all - was the ship pretty full?

At times it felt crowded, but then again it didn't. The lines on formal night for photo's seemed longer than usual, but I don't think they had as many area's for photo's set up as I'm use to seeing. This cruise had a very different feeling to it than all of the other Disney Cruises I've been on. Part of the reason is they could not have any outside noise, due to noise pollution law.

Beach Blanket was very crowded. Due to the cold weather, people wanted to eat inside.

 

[hygienist999]

Great pics! So subbed in- sorry you weren't feeling well!

Thanks, I'm just glad I took enough medicine with me, just in case. This was the third cruise I've had to use a Z-pac antibiotic on, and the only one I did not have to use Zofran on. I always go prepared, lol.

 

[hygienist999]

Great trip report so far, love all of the photos you're sharing! I now want to go on an Alaskan cruise! So many cruises, so little time! Sorry you didn't feel good, nothing is worse than getting sick on vacation.

Curious, what is the average daily temperature?

Thanks, I only felt terrible one day, the other days my nose was my problem.

The weather was not as cold as I thought it would be. When the ship was moving and you were out on deck, you needed a jacket or pullover. I only used my base layers on Tracey Arm Day, and probably could have gotten away with not wearing them. As the week went on, the weather warmed up. Ketchikan was about 70 degrees. Sitka was mid 50's. Juneau mid to upper 60's. Skagway mid 60's. Never go by the Navigator for weather. It was wrong almost every day and by a good bit. I did not need short sleeves, but light weight long sleeves were all that was needed inside the ship.

 

[hygienist999]

Day 7 - Skagway

We got up early, ate, and met our group in the Walt Disney Theatre to go on our Yukon Expedition Excursion. We boarded a bus and made our way up to CarCross, which use to be named Caraboo Crossing. The bus ride was advertised as 75 minutes, but took over 2 1/2 hours. We had to stop for immigration into Canada, then again for road work. We weren't all that upset as the scenery was just beautiful. Our bus driver, Marie, stopped 3 or 4 times for us to take photos.

When we finally arrived to our destination, DH and I were very disappointed. Nothing but a tourist trap. They even put fake sheep up on a mountain side. We ate a Bar B Q chicken meal, that was just ok. We spent a little over an hour here. We were glad to leave.

Marie then took us to see Emerald Lake and take photos. The water was truly an Emerald color, so pretty.

We then rode back the way we came, got off the bus at immigration and boarded the White Pass Express. Again, the scenery was wonderful. The inside of the train was pretty warm though. I went outside to take photo's when I could, but the train was very jerky.

We did see a bear while we were on the bus driving to CarCross. We saw another bear while on the train.

The Fake Sheep on the Mountain Side.

 

[hygienist999]

Once leaving the Tourist Trap we stopped at Emerald Lake.

This is the little town of CarCross. DH and I would have rather went there.

 

[hygienist999]

Once we boarded the White Pass Express, we had to go back through immigration again. We also stopped twice to pick people up on our way back to Ketchikan.

 

[hygienist999]

Once we arrived back to Skagway, we walked around the little town. We were due to leave port til 7:45. But as we walked around, we noticed most of the stores and business were either closed or about to close. This was about 5pm.
We decided we would try to make dinner since there wasn't much we could do in town. So we rushed back.

I loved this..

 

[hygienist999]

We were a little bit late to Dinner, but so were a good many other people. A lot of excursions were late getting back. We ate in Parrot Cay this night. Tonight was Movie Night, so Disney's Million Dollar Arm was showing in the Walt Disney Theatre. The movie Premier of Maleficent also took place at 12:01am in the Walt Disney Theatre. We didn't go see the movies. We people watched and went by the DVC desk to pick up our port gift, which was a photograph of Walt Disney and his wife, like the one in our cabin.

The weather started out very cold, but was very mild while we were at CarCross, then cooling down quickly as we got back to Skagway.


Our Towel Animal for the night.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Wow, it looks like we did the Yukon excursion in the reverse. Wish we had seen a bear though. You probabaly picked up the hikers that we dropped off.

A lot of familiar scenes. Great pics!

 

[travln1234]

Great review! We were on the Wonder right after you. I wish I had thought to photograph the ship more as you did. May I ask what camera you use?

 

[hygienist999]

Great review! We were on the Wonder right after you. I wish I had thought to photograph the ship more as you did. May I ask what camera you use?

If you were on the ship after us, then make sure you see the end of my report, because I have photo's of the ship going under the bridge as it left port.

My camera is a Canon EOS 60D.

Thanks for reading.

 

[hygienist999]

Day 8 - Juneau

We had to get up very early to be able to meet our excursion group for the Mendenhall Glacier Hike. There was only 9 of us. It was very foggy and 52 degrees when we left the ship. Thankfully the fog lifted and it warmed a little, to me it warmed to much, as I got hot on the hike. Our tour guide was Monica, and she was great. She took DH and I and another couple that was from Germany. Another guide took the other 5. Unfortunately we did not see any animals. We probably hike about 1 1/2 hours to 3 hours. The entire excursion was about 3 hours. We enjoyed the hike, except for the 201 steps at one point of the hike. The glacier was beautiful.

 

[hygienist999]

We were dropped off at the ship when our excursion was over. We unloaded our gear in our cabin and got something to eat before heading out again to take the tram up the mountain. Unfortunately it started to mist rain and become foggy.

When we came back from our tram ride, we walked around the town a bit. Weather still misty.

 

[hygienist999]

We got back to ship in time to see the first Pixar Pals Party at 4:30pm. There was another at 10:15 as well. Let me just say that this does not come close to the Pirates on the Caribbean Deck Party. This is no more than character's that I don't consider Disney, coming out and have a 10 minutes or so meet and greet and confetti coming down. I was really disappointed in this. In talking with others, they felt the same way. But, here are a few pics I took of it.

We were in Tritons for Dinner, and it was a Pixar Menu. Food was pretty good.

We were given 3D Glasses at the table to look at the outside of the menu.

Some more of the Pixar characters.

We went to see Toy Story the Musical in the Walt Disney Theatre. It was very good, although the guy playing Buzz was kinda wimpy.

After the show we people watched some, then went up to Deck 9 to get something to drink. Then back to the cabin and our new Towel Animal.

 

[hygienist999]

Day 9 - Ketchikan

Our excursion today was on a Float Plane. The plane we were on held 10 people. I got to ride in the Co-Pilot seat. The scenery was to beautiful to put into words. This was a fantastic excursion. Thankfully the weather was just beautiful. Here are a few photo's from the ride.

Once we returned from our Float Plane Excursion we walked around the little town of Ketchikan.

My DH found something he wanted to buy, instead of it always being me that wanted to buy something. It just arrived at our house in Georgia Monday and is now sitting in a prominent place in the family room, where it doesn't fit in. lol.

 

[hygienist999]

Before Dinner we walked around Deck 4 and caught a few characters.

At dinner we had the waiter take a photo of our group.

After Dinner off to see more characters around Deck 4 and Deck 3.

We noticed thru the big round window that Chip and Dale were out on Deck 4, so naturally we went out to see them.

Tonight the Entertainment was John Charles and his guitar. He was Excellent.

Later on back to the cabin and our Towel Animal.

 

[poison ivy]

Really enjoying your report. The pictures are just beautiful. We're planning to cruise Alaska around this same time next year on the Wonder as a couple and love how you showcase the scenery, your excursions and what to wear.

Thanks so much.

 

[pinksand]

hygienist999, I really love your photos. You're taking pictures of things many other people don't and it makes me feel like I am there. Loving your TR!
*subscribes*