With high anticipation we began our Alaska chapter by skipping onto the MS Eurodam, our Holland America cruise ship and home for seven nights. Alaska is the non-driving exception to our road trip itinerary and let’s be honest – why would we consider driving Alaska when we can live on a ship for a week? There were so many options to chose from but our goal for Alaska was to visit Glacier Bay and that’s why we chose this particular cruise.
Our first full day on the ship was a sailing day with no stops. Sammy and I observed the seasoned cruise goers around us and became one of them as we ran around the ship clutching our itinerary full of cruise activities and ticking off each one as we completed them. And how busy were we?!… Starting the day in the gym we then tackled breakfast, photography classes, nature classes, lunch, a cooking demonstration, bingo, trivia, a chapel service, dinner, the captain’s welcome speech, a dance show and a performance by the resident blues band.
This cruising business is exhausting 😂
Day Two saw us sailing in the morning at a much more relaxed pace which included watching whales from our cabin verandah. Then in the afternoon the Alaskan capital of Juneau welcomed us with sunshine as we got down to serious touristy business.
First on the agenda was Mendenhall Glacier. Mesmerising to look at, the surrounding area also kept us busy with scenery abound and wild salmon to watch.
Following the glacier we headed off to visit a salmon hatchery where we learned about the life cycle of the salmon, the five different types of salmon found in Alaska (chum, sockeye, king, silver and pink) and how the hatchery allows these fish to reproduce safely and then releases over 100 million salmon back into the waters every year.
We followed up the hatchery visit somewhat morbidly but very yummily with an Alaskan salmon bake experience where we dined on pink salmon. And it was amazing how different – and good – wild Alaskan salmon tastes to the salmon we get at home.
Next was the Mt Roberts tramway. Taking us 1800 feet above Juneau, we looked down on our cruise ship and the others in port like they were pieces of Lego. Super views and a great cultural lesson about the Tlingit, Alaska’s indigenous people are offered up here and worth the cable car ride up the mountain.
Back to the ship we go now as we look forward to our day of sailing in Glacier Bay tomorrow. Alaska, you have been majestic so far.
P&S