We have now been at sea since leaving Skagway at 8:30 pm Thursday, June 25th. Right now it is 3:30 pm on Saturday, June 27th. Our time sailing in and out of Glacier Bay was unavoidable but now, the “being on the boat” thing is wearing a little thin especially since today, when we’ve been in more or less open waters, the rocking has been far more noticeable. Consequently, the queasy stomachs have been a bit more noticeable as well.
Another breakfast buffet – Nora and I went while Devon and Lia woke up and tried to feel better. Then the artists went to a Whale Watching Watercolor class while I attended a presentation on the Westerdam being a City on the Sea. It is quite amazing how this ship has to process everything from energy, electricity, water reclamation, recycling of all manner of waste, the internet and, of course, food preparation. It is no small feat!
The paintings are lovely and I imagine they will find frames once they are back in Ohio.
I continued on to attend the Holland America Line’s Origin Story. The line is 153 years old and has survived World Wars, the Great Depression, the onset of the jet plane era and, most recently, Covid-19. At each mark in their history, they have managed to re-imagine themselves. Carnival Cruise Line purchased Holland America in 1989 which was a mutually beneficial decision for the growth and prosperity of both lines.
A bit of lunch and then a presentation on the Iditarod – the Great Alaskan Race. It remains one of the most challenging sporting events in the world but all who participate recognize that it really isn’t about finishing 1st, 2nd or 3rd but simply about finishing! And the sportsmanship displayed by the competitors is part of why the race is so great. Stopping to help a racer when their equipment breaks down or their dogs get loose which impacts your own position in the race is simply the courtesy that these racers have developed and keeps the race one of a kind.
Then it was time for the Lido Fair!! The Cruise Director and staff set up carnival type games on one of the decks and provided free cotton candy, popcorn, French fries, chicken tenders and doughnuts. There were raffle tickets given out when you played a game and then drawings for small prizes. It was well attended and Nora got a whole bunch of tickets – Alas, no winners….
Retiring again to our rooms, it is time to begin to tie up loose ends and prepare to pack for the land portion. We need luggage outside our cabins by 10:30 pm; we disembark the ship at 7:25 am; make our way to the train depot and take our seats on the McKinley Explorer, a glass enclosed, two level passenger train that will take us North to Denali.
While gathering and packing, we failed to realize that we had sailed up College Fjord and were suddenly faced with a fantastic, monstrous glacier!!! It’s called College Fjord because there are five tidewater glaciers named after Ivy League schools. We were headed toward Harvard but there is Yale, Vassar, Smith, Bryn Mawr and Wellesley. Not only was the Harvard glacier bigger and more dramatic than Margarie, the captain put the ship so much closer and then we stayed put long enough to listen to it crack and crumble and then finally a pretty big chunk “calved” into the water! It made the sailing so much more worthwhile!
Our last dinner will be at the “Dining Room” – a little more upscale restaurant than the Lido Market but not quite as fancy as Canaletto – we could have been eating there all week but since it’s literally at the opposite end of the ship we took the easy way out and stayed with the Lido.
So, tomorrow the seasickness problem will be gone – let’s hope riding the train will not produce similar symptoms!!
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