Geez...practically a month behind on this next installment of travel recap. It feels a little silly now since long gone is that relaxed vacation feeling I so gratefully experienced for three weeks. Perhaps reliving the fun might take me back in time to that serene Alaskan vibe.
Next up was the cruise! Along with our 13 family members, we boarded the Statendam in Seward. Simon was a like a giddy little boy as we explored the boat's nooks and crannies. Even though it was one of the smaller ships (1200 passengers), it was fully equipped with a casino, lounges, bars, an array of dining and entertainment options (I do not recommend the magician) and plenty of spaces for watching the beautiful landscape slide by. Our first few days on the ship didn't include any ports, so we settled in to savor the scenery. And wow. It was ridiculous. I really can't get over it, and my piddly pictures can't even come close to capturing the beauty, but you'll just have to trust me and book your own trip to Alaska ASAP.
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| Apprehensive first-time cruisers ready to set sail! |
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| Sunset as we steam away from Seward |
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| Sun in the clouds as we enter Glacier Bay |
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| Icebergs! Mountains! Calm green water in Glacier Bay |
Okay, these shots make me want to go back. Like Denali, everything was incredibly vast, but this time it was water meeting the cliffs of the snowcapped mountains and the hugeness of the glaciers that were most impressive. As we floated through Glacier Bay, we spent hours on the decks admiring the sea, ice floes and Margerie Glacier. We were thankful we had opted for a Verandah Suite upon booking, as we were able to take in Margerie from the quiet privacy of our our deck. She put on quite a show, calving a few times as our ship's captain hovered nearby. It's thunderous to hear the ice break from the glacier and crash into the sea. I mean, this is big stuff. She is about 2 miles long, a mile wide and rises 350 feet out of the water, with nearly 100 feet of ice tucked below the surface. That's about the height of a 30-story building. Glaciers are wicked awesome.
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| Margerie Glacier is only accessible by air and sea |
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