9 Nights In The Wild Frontier!

[Arizona Rita]

Day8~ Ketchikan~Taste of Alaska~John Charles
When we arrived this morning we actually got to see the ship being moored. It just hadnt worked out to see it until this port. Always interesting to watch and it was awesome tht it was two women who were obviously in charge.
I thought it would be my last chance to see Fisherman Mickey so I wanted to go to Preludes and see him and as I was getting ready Lauren came over and wanted to go to breakfast.
So I changed my mind and Chris, Lauren and I went to breakfast before Mickey's meet and greet.It was early enough that Mickey should still be there after breakfast.
Lauren had had the "Breakfast Sandwich" once before and she loved it so much. She was able to have it again. It is worth a photo. It was really good!
After breakfast we went to Preludes and one other person was ahead of us for Mickey! Lauren was wearing a Dancing Stormtrooper Gangnam shirt and Mickey pointed it out and Mickey and I started dancing gangnam!
The best way ever to embarrass your teenager! Yea!!
Minnie was going to be next out so we waited for her and it was Parka Minnie.
One of the prettiest costumes Miss Mouse has ever worn in my opinion.
On the way back to the cabin there was no one in front of the ariel statue so we took photos there and as we passed Tiana no one was with her so we got those and same with Rapunzel. And after we got Rapunzel I noticed Ariel so we grabbed some photos with her and I think I had my own personal Princess Party.
Finally made it back to the cabin to get ready for

"Off Road Adventure Cart Expedition"!
This was the shore excursion Eric had chosen.
It was more expensive but Eric is usually so willing to go along with anything anyone else chooses so it was his turn.
After getting off the ship we went to our bus and there was a total of 7 of us. Us and a family of three others for our expedition.
Gook a nice drive out of town and up a mountain pass and arrived at "Base Camp".
we were greeted by a manager who told us what we would be doing~ bathroom, dress out, safety talk, etc.
As we were getting off the bus we met out guides for today. Kara, typical looking college student and Randon (no B!)~ Hello Shaggy, where's Scooby?
Rastafarian hair, attitude of Crush (Duuude! Whoa!)
These two were perfect!
They encouraged us to leave valuables and cameras behind, buy the bandanas which we did and glad of it!
They got us helmeted up, we didnt have to wear the rain gear they provide because it wasnt needed.
Took us out to the carts, went over safety, again, showed how to start and stop the carts, got us all strapped in and Chris and I were the lead cart!
They told us to stay in the middle of the road and not to avoid the potholes. as if you could!
The course was through an abandoned logging camp so the sceenary was beautiful with views of the forrest, mountains and ocean.
You know how on Kali River Rapids you go through some areas of deforestation?
In the 70's there wasnt any logging regulations and so some ares it looked sort of like that. But also in the same ares you can see wheer nature has come back.
really very interesting!
Most of the talking at our two stops was done by Randon. he is soon to be a dad and his daughter will be named Sequoia.
They had a photographer on the trail and we took photos a couple of times. We also took photos with our phones and they turned out great. The roads were so bumpy that if I had tried to photos with my camera they would not have turned out.
When our "expedition" was over, we did end up buying the flashdrive also.
They also have a really cool wall in the area where you get your helmets and everyone gets to sign it. Maybe future cruisers will notice my "Arizona Rita and Chris".
Honestly, for those looking for something for your older kids or something different, this was just great. Eric loved it and gave it "10,000,000 thumbs up" says so on the wall! and this is from a hard to please kid.

I just have to add that God smiled upon us that day because Ketchikan is known for its rainy days and there was not a rain cloud in the sky. It was dry. Not a drop of rain. Perfect weather and day. It may have made the trail dustier but thats what the bandanas were for.

When we got back to port, there is a block of shops five minutes away from the ship.Literally across the street. Eric was still looking for "the" tee shirt. I finally found out what he wanted. He wanted shirts with the Inuit type art on it.. Last port and the kid finally tells me what he's looking for.
He took off to look and Lauren and I started where the stores started and just walked.
We found what Eric was looking for!
He didnt respond to texts so we went back to the ship~ again offering hot chocolate!~ and found him there.
Right before dinner he decided to go see these shirts and "lets" me go with him. He sees these shirts and he says "These are them!" I told him he could get two and I would even let him wear one to dinner. He stood there for about 20 minutes trying to decide. The kid is happy! Yea!
Eric wears one of the shirts to dinner and our tablemates said "He found one!"

Yes! Finally! Disney came through!
I was not going to go to the show tonight but then I changed my mind and i am so happy I did.
John Charles is awesome! Funny and musically talented! Good rapport with adults and kids.
When I saw they were saving the best for last, even though the nexr night we had "Dreams" we still had the adult show with John Charles and because we were the 9 nighter we got "The Pub Skit"!
but after John Charles we went to the adult show with Thomas John who was on AGT and he was really good too.

Next Up~ Last Day at Sea!

 

[Arizona Rita]

Day9~ At Sea~"Til We Meet Again" menu~ Dreams

What can you say about the last day? After nine days gone are you ready to go home? Can you ever really leave the ship behind?We started packing early so we wouldn't have to do it tonight.
Always love when we have a sea day the day before we go home. Since we don't care for Castaway Cay, that usually happens.
Walked around the ship alot, took alot of photos, played a final round of trivia, didnt eat lunch in one particular restaurant, just nibbled all day long until dinner.

This dinner is always sad. You get so close to your wait staff, if you're lucky, and you know the chance is very good that you will not see them again.
They have the wonderful parade of nations with the flags and often people wave their napkins in the air. They serve the Baked Alaska, no open flames at sea! You have the option of everything going on your room account or using the little envelopes to give the tip. We do both.
Quinten informed us that breakfast would be at 630 in the morning and everyone groaned.
Lauren and Kennett had run out before dessert to pin trade with officers and Ashleen had gone with them.
So Sarah, Eric and I said our goodbyes and goodnights.
Chris went back to the room to put the luggage out in the hallway.
I found the kids and we went to the show and after the show Lauren and i found a place to stand by the railing on the fourth floor to watch the Farewell Show. We found Moon Daughter and Mojo and I found out that I am not the only who cries at this show.
Chris found us as the show was ending and he had gone and talked to our head server Roy and explained that since we didnt need to get off the ship right away could we change our breakfast time and he was able to so we didnt even have to get out of bed until 7 the next morning.

Chris, Eric and I went and watched John Charles and I finally had a drink. I just had never gotten around to having one and todays special was a "Blue Margarita". It was ok.
Chris had heard that they only perform the next show on cruises longer than 7 nights. I had heard about this "performance" but had never seen it.
The cruise staff and Club Host ~Andy~ put this one, the one and only
"Pub Skit"!
and now I know why! It was hysterical! If you ever find yourself on a longer cruise and its offered, see it, no matter how tired you are. Worth it!
Thats a way to end a cruise!
After that we went back to our cabins to crash until morning.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Enjoying your report and wanted you to know that I loved your "Build a Snowman" kits. How did you get the one big marshmallow--did you roll it out with a rolling pin? I brought both of mine home to share with son and DIL, but I am thinking I will make them a kit of their own for Christmas--such a cute idea--thank you.

 

[Arizona Rita]

Thanks!
The marshmallows came from Walmart. They had all different sizes, shapes, flavors and colors. i knew I wanted to make them and thought I would have to use several normal size and then saw those and thought "perfect"!
The clip art came from Pinterest and we just listed the ingredients on back.
Also, carrot jelly bean was from JellyBellys "Peas and Carrots' we found at Cracker Barrel.

 

[Arizona Rita]

Day 10~ Off The Ship~

So Chris had arranged our breakfast with Roy and when we got to AP at first the servers didn't know what to do with us and then found us a table.
Breakfast was fine, uneventful and we were able to say goodbye again to Quentin and Emma.
We found a place to "park" in the hallway and ran into Moon Daughter and Mojo. At first they had found a place outside on deck chairs and they were told they had to leave and couldn't wait there so they came inside. They had so much stuff I think they were going to buy another suitcase in Vancouver.
DCL was really slow in calling groups to dsiembark. It was almost worrisome slow.
MD's group was called. And then nothing.
I dont know if there was a holdup at customs or what. I have never waited this long to get off the ship, not even in Europe.
Finally the Tinkerbell group got called. Went through customs and went to the area where they hold your luggage. Our luggage was not all together and it took awhile to get it all.
Lauren had left her glasses at the hotel so Chris had to run into the hotel at Canada Place so we waited before we got in line for the bus back to the airport.
We got in line and we waited. And waited.
The group of people we were in was the very last group of people.
It felt so weird!
Finally, the bus came and we were able to board.
A rep for DCL came on and apologized that the bus transporting a wheelchair passenger had broken down and they had to make this person comfortable and get him to the airport and it was not DCL way, etc.
Ok. I understand all of that but are you telling me that in all of Vancouver you DCL couldn't find another bus?
I know DCL can do better than this.
This has been the most unorganized cruise I have taken with DCL concerning em/dis-barkation.
Got to the airport with enough time to eat lunch and last minute shopping.

Goodbye Vancouver. Truly hope to see you again.
DCL, see you in two years!

 

[sager1969]

Loved your trip report! We leave in 9 days and can't wait! Glad to hear you enjoyed the photography. I just upgraded my little point and shoot to just a step above to learn in Alaska. My husband has a DSLR so he hopes to help me learn. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Marla Hellwig]

We were there waiting with you for that last bus - most of the time while waiting in line - we were chatting with the couple with the service dog