Introduction to the cruise

This is the blogspot where you can learn about all the exciting information for our upcoming cruise!

we will be on the Island princess.

Itinerary leaving June 11th, 2007
	Port	Arrival	Departure
1	Vancouver, British Columbia		4:30 PM
2	At Sea
3	Ketchikan, Alaska	6:30 AM	2:00 PM
4	Juneau, Alaska	8:00 AM	9:00 PM
5	Skagway, Alaska	7:00 AM	8:30 PM
6	Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska (Scenic Cruising)	6:00 AM	3:00 PM
7	College Fjord, Alaska (Scenic Cruising)	5:30 PM	8:30 PM
8	Anchorage (Whittier), Alaska	12:30 AM

Click here to see everything you can do on shore;

I will create a post for each day. I want each of you to make comments on each day telling me what you will be doing. What should happen is that you will find other people who want to do the same thing, and you will be able to make plans with other family members.

Day 1, at sea, we will be getting together for a cocktail party to honor John and Mary Moeller's 50th anniversary. We are planning for 3pm with drinks and H’orderves.

We have three dinner tables two 8 place and one 6 place. You may move freely from table to table each day.

Please read each day's activities and make comments, tell us if you want to be included in anything and let us know what excursions you will be going on.........

Sunday, Victoria, BC and Buchart Gardens

You will love this place. Today we will travel from Vancouver over to Victoria. The ferry will take us to the island where we will drive through downtown Victoria and to Buchart Gardens.

Buchart Gardens is fifty-five acres of wonderful floral display, offering spectacular views as you stroll along meandering paths and expansive lawns. In 1904, Jennie Butchart began to beautify a worked-out quarry site left behind from her husband's pioneering efforts in the manufacture of Portland cement at Tod Inlet, Vancouver Island, Canada. Her venture has become a family commitment to horticulture and hospitality spanning over 100 years, and delighting visitors from all over the world. From the exquisite Sunken Garden to the charming Rose Garden, this show garden still maintains the gracious traditions, in one of the loveliest corners in the world.

Click here to read more.. Make sure to click on comments to read and add comments. Make sure to let us know if you will be going with us and if you need space in a car...

Monday, Embarkation Day, Vancouver, BC

We Leave Vancouver on Monday afternoon. I have reserved a mini-van and have arranged to drop it off at the port. This will enable us to shuttle everyone from the rental car locations and hotels to the ship.

We cast off at 4:30pm and dinner is at 6pm. The stewards are good at getting your luggage to your cabin, but with it is always good to take a carry-on to make sure you have the things you need while waiting on luggage.

We will be eating dinner as we pass under the vancouver bridge and out to sea.

Click on the comments button below to read and add your comments.

Tuesday, At Sea Day

This day allows you to sleep in, take in the ship and relax. The only thing planned today is the cocktail party to celebrate John and Mary Moeller's 50th anniversary.

Plan to dress up today for dinner. Coats for the men. We will be doing pictures at the party.

Click on the comments button to read and add comments

Wednesday, Ketchikan, Alaska

Ketchikan is a wonderful fishing village that reminds everyone that they are in Alaska. Its history and waterfront remind me of Monterey's Cannery Row. Ketchikan was once considered the salmon capital of the world and fishing still plays a major role in Ketchikan's economy. However, tourism is number one and visitors will love Ketchikan's flavor and charm.

Dad has booked a fishing trip for himself and several of the grandchildren. This boat is full but I am sure there will be plenty of fishermen to fill up another boat.

There are many things to do in Ketchikan. Click here to read excursion reviews. Remember to click here to look at all the Princess excursions.

Click on the comments to read and leave comments. Let everyone know what you want to do today to see if others would like to join you.

Thursday, Juneau, Alaska

Juneau is the capital of Alaska. Because it's an island, there is no way to drive to Juneau, you have to fly or boat in. Juneau is also located in a rain forest. With over 220 days of rain per year and over 50 inches of rain, you should be prepared for wet weather by bringing rain gear.

The city of Juneau is located at the base of mountains that soar straight up almost 4,000 feet. Early in the season visitors are presented with snow capped peaks and fabulous waterfalls.

There are many things to do in Juneau. Click here to read excursion reviews. Remember to click here to look at all the Princess excursions.

Click on the comments to read and leave comments. Let everyone know what you want to do today to see if others would like to join you.

Friday, Skagway, Alaska

Skagway was once the embarkation point for the Klondike gold rush of 1898. The gold was discovered by Skookum Jim, George W. Carmack and Dawson Charlie on Rabbit Creek, later called Bonanza, a tributary of the Klondike River, 600 miles from Skagway.

Moore opens trail on July 14 1897, just before steamships Excelsior and Portland arrive in San Francisco and Seattle with famed "Ton of Gold", setting off Klondike Gold Rush. On July 29, the steamer Queen lands at Moore's wharf, the first of many stuffed with hundreds of gold seekers. The Moores are overrun: Mooresville is re-platted by surveyor Frank Reid as Skaguay. Later that fall, a post office, and the first church (Union), and newspaper (Skaguay News) are established.

Many pack animals perish on crude White Pass, which will be dubbed "Dead Horse Trail." George Brackett builds toll road to White Pass City, a tent city 15 miles up the valley. Canadian Mounties begin to guard the passes, although their government is claiming territory including Skagway, where they briefly establish a post.

1898 - Skagway booms to 8,000 to 10,000 population. Daily Alaskan newspaper appears. Chamber of commerce and volunteer fire department organize. Construction begins in May on White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad after an agreement is secured by Close Brothers of London to purchase Brackett's road for a right-of-way. Unofficial city government forms and allows railroad tracks up Broadway. First school opens in Union Church in June. Criminal element led by Soapy Smith reigns until he is shot and killed by an angry mob led by Frank Reid on July 8, four days after he stood on the podium with Gov. John Brady at Skagway's first Independence Day celebration. U.S. Army, stationed in Dyea, restores order. Reid dies from wound and is given a hero's funeral at the town cemetery on the outskirts of town. Spelling changed to Skagway by post office, and most businesses reluctantly follow. Townspeople are called Skagwayans.

This will be a fun filled day of activities and tours. Click here to read reviews about the tours.
Click here to see all the Princess tours available.

Click on the comments to read and leave comments. Let everyone know what you want to do today to see if others would like to join you.

Saturday, Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Glacier Bay is a wonderful place. You enter the bay, pick up a park ranger, and spend the day sight seeing. The park ranger gives a guided tour, pointing out the bears, whales, seals, and many other points of interest.

The park has snow-capped mountain ranges rising to over 15,000 feet, coastal beaches with protected coves, deep fjords, tidewater glaciers, coastal and estuarine waters, and freshwater lakes. These diverse land and seascapes host a mosaic of plant communities ranging from pioneer species in areas recently exposed by receding glaciers, to climax communities in older coastal and alpine ecosystems. Diverse habitats support a variety of marine and terrestrial wildlife, with opportunities for viewing and research that allow us to learn more about the natural world.

Make sure to bring binoculars for this portion of the trip. Sitting on the pool deck affords the best views and a walk to the forward observation deck is fun as well.

The scenery is beautiful, take lots of pictures.
There are no excursions today, so sit back and relax.

Click on comments to read or add comments.

Sunday, Father's Day, College Fjord, Alaska

This will be a fun at sea day! We will spend the day touring the glaciers. Each one is named after a famous college, thus the name.

It will be very cold today. It doesn't matter what the temperature was yesterday, subtract 30 degrees to determine today's temperature.

Look for whales here too. This is a very relaxing day of watching the scenery and taking pictures.

There are no excursions today, so sit back and relax.

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Whittier Alaska, departure day

Whittier Alaska is a small little village. We have arranged for a tour for those who are going to Anchorage with us to fly home. The cost is $79 per person, it takes you on a boat tour and then drops you off at the airport or a holding area depending on your flight departure time.

Today is also Lisa's Birthday.

Don't let this be a bummer of a day....

There will still be lots to see and do.
click on the comments to read and add comments.