CalmKiddo
Location:Oregon
Cruise Date Month: June
Cruise Date Year: 2009
October 16, 2009
I'd do it again & again
CalmKiddo
Location:Oregon
Cruise Date Month: June
Cruise Date Year: 2009
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Waterfall near Sawyer Glacier
I have sailed twice to Alaska, first on the Pearl July '07 & then on the Star June '09. Both trips were more than I expected each for their own reasons. My first trip was also my first cruise. My siblings & I took our parents on the cruise for their 50th Wedding Anniversary. We took the train in Skagway, saw Mendenhol Glacier in Juneau, shopped in all the ports and truly enjoyed the shows onboard the ship.
My second trip was with a friend and was more laid back. It was early in the year and we saw more wildlife than my first trip. We spent more time just relaxing and watching the scenery. The glassy waters allowed us to see whales spouting in the distance and we also got a treat of seeing 4 baby Orcas swim up to the ship and play in the wake water of the ship. We also saw a bear, flocks of puffin, eagles, and so much more. Again the shows were awesome.
Keep your expectations realistic and you won’t be disappointed. Take time to enjoy the sights.
My second trip was with a friend and was more laid back. It was early in the year and we saw more wildlife than my first trip. We spent more time just relaxing and watching the scenery. The glassy waters allowed us to see whales spouting in the distance and we also got a treat of seeing 4 baby Orcas swim up to the ship and play in the wake water of the ship. We also saw a bear, flocks of puffin, eagles, and so much more. Again the shows were awesome.
Keep your expectations realistic and you won’t be disappointed. Take time to enjoy the sights.
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jcherod77
Location:Kansas City
Cruise Date Month: August
Cruise Date Year: 2009
October 1, 2009
Victims of Our Own Expectations
jcherod77
Location:Kansas City
Cruise Date Month: August
Cruise Date Year: 2009
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Entering Ketchikan in the early morning
We sailed the Alaska-bound Pearl on August 23rd to 31st. This was our first cruise and the anticipation of sailing kept my wife from sleeping the night before we left Kansas City for Seattle. She had such great expectations! We had a balcony suite which was beautiful! We sailed from Seattle on a gloriously beautiful day! The departure party on the upper deck was fun and exciting. The days to follow provided rain, cold, and very dreary weather. We paid the extra $99 per person to utilize the spa facilities for the week, which was peaceful. The spa personnel lacked the fun personalities found throughout the other facilities onboard. One evening, while manuevering rough seas, the spa's pools were shut down and drained a bit. We found out after entering the pool, continuing to push buttons to engage the jets, only to have one of the personnel saunter through and, after questioned, told why it was not working. No signs, no words exchanged as we entered the spa. Glacier Bay was a big let down...Juneau was boring - skip the Tramway...crammed us in like sardines only to travel to the equivalent of a high school science project area with over-priced souvenirs. Train ride in Skagway -- do only one way --very, very, long! Prettiest town -- Ketchikan. The late evening trip to Victoria, BC did not interest us...people returned to the ship within the first 2 hours after porting! The second beautiful day...returning to Seattle! We will not need to do this again. Loved the ship's people, other than the spa's. We've done that Alaska cruise thing...
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