Cruising Alaska, day four: Still Sailing Toward Alaska on Star Princess

Sailing, sailing, sailing, with nothing but ocean and the Star Princess from dawn to dusk. Today was our second full day at sea. My friend and I intentionally opted out of every planned activity offered. We decided to not only set our own schedule but also to reset our circadian rhythms. We’re just far enough into the trip that relaxation has kicked in. We woke up when our bodies told us to, we had breakfast delivered to eat in bed (because … we can), we planned to read all day long in different locations around the ship, and our biggest decision was when to eat and then when to eat again. I’m active and adventurous in ports of call, but I like my time on the water to be low-key. Throw in a lecture event and I’m set. I wrote yesterday about the myriad activities offered on the Star Princess. If your cruising speed is set to a higher gear than mine and three full days at sea makes you anxious, you will not lack for attractions and distractions.

However, today I won’t be writing about what to do while on your trip. Instead I’m offering suggestions for trip preparation. I’m not going to share an Alaskan packing list (rain gear and layers) or tips about sea sickness (less-drowsy formula Dramamine and wrist bands). I’m interested in more creative preparations. How do you get to know a destination? You selected it for some reason or another, but how do you really dive in and understand a land, a people, a culture, and the unfamiliar experiences so unique to travel?

Hint: Put the guidebook down, says a former guidebook addict. Listen, I get it. I have shelves full of guidebooks at home and endless notebooks in Evernote dedicated to locations I’ve either been or am lusting after. I color code itineraries and research minutia ad nauseum. I’m a total nerd and revel in trivia. These facts thrill me to no end: 470 Rhode Islands can fit inside Alaska; Alaska is twice as big as Texas; and 89 percent of Alaska cannot be developed for human habitation.

I’ll be spouting them at cocktail parties for years to come. Classic guidebook. But what does that tell me about the people who live in that wild land? What about the people who lived there first? What does life look like? What does a Saturday afternoon in July in Skagway sound like? What do the 200-foot spruces in Ketchikan smell like after the rain? Factoids and I-Stood-In-The-Famous-Spot stock photos are inevitable. I have a lifetime of them under my belt. I’ll come home from Alaska with more. Yet the older I get and the more I travel, the predictable travel checklist means less to me. I now want to experience a place with all five senses. Hopefully once I’m wrapped up and seduced by the adventure of it all, I’ll leave with even a fraction of authentic understanding.

To the original question at hand: How can we prepare for a trip in a way that wakes up our senses and sparks our creativity? To give credit where credit is due, some of the tips I’ll share come from a creative mentor of mine. Laura Valenti Jelen is a photographer and gallery curator based in Portland, Oregon. She designed and now teaches a series of online photography courses. I’ve completed two out of three and am anxiously awaiting a break in my schedule to enjoy the third.

In a course called Traveling Light, Laura suggests we immerse ourselves in the poetry, music, visual art, literature, etc. of a place. Listen to Italian opera for two weeks before your trip to Rome. Read heaping doses of Kerouac if you’re planning an epic American road trip, or old mariner’s diaries if you’re water bound. Enjoy a Woody Allen movie marathon before you jet off to Manhattan, or Ewan McGregor’s documentary about circumnavigating the globe on a motorcycle … just for the delicious wanderlust of it all. Research regional authors and poets who not only call your destination home, but who write about the people, the land, the food. Dive in. Why not? I promise you will experience your final destination in a way you never thought possible.

I highly recommend Miranda Weiss' poetic, adventurous memoir about moving to Alaska.

I dove into three books for this trip to Alaska (but one is a now-hypocritical National Geographic coffee table book of stock photos and factoids, so ignore that one). While on the road I’m reading a book of poetry, Cartography of Water, penned by Mark Burwell. His lush descriptions of Alaskan wilderness, coastal rain forests, and isolated frontier life have prepared me to at least try and soak in the grandeur of it all. I’ll share some of his pieces as we visit different ports. I’m also reading the memoir of a woman named Miranda Weiss. Miranda and I are more or less the same age. I’m only a quarter of the way into her book, but already our suburban childhoods that turned into insatiable desires for adventure connect us beyond the words on the page.

She was 23 when she moved to Alaska with her college boyfriend. She reflects beautifully on her culture shock over the land and people. She opens Tide, Feather, Snow: “Moving to coastal Alaska meant moving to the water life, although I hadn’t known it until I arrived. Nothing is separate from the sea — not the sky, not the land, not a single day, nor my mood. I wasn’t used to this. I wasn’t ready for it.” She continues in the opening passage of chapter two: “Sitting at the edge of the continent, I was completely, terribly, and excitingly alone. I would be retracing the voyage of countless others who had traveled to Alaska before me: gold rushers, early pioneers, thrill-seekers, miners, surveyors, fur hunters, fishermen, law makers, sightseers, and naturalists.” Not only is it more entertaining to read these books for hours and hours at sea, but they also create an atmosphere of anticipation that guidebooks simply cannot.

When the deck became too windy to read comfortably, we migrated indoors.

I reviewed the materials in the Star Princess Library, located inside the Internet Cafe on Deck 5, just off the Piazza. The library doesn’t have many books in stock of the sort I’ve referred to (unless they’re checked out and in use somewhere on the ship), but there were a number of books about Tlingit culture and Native American art that would certainly get your creative juices flowing.

Two additional resources that I highly recommend are AFAR magazine and its online wanderlists, and Nowhere literary travel magazine. Both approach travel as a narrative, an experience, and something to bring you closer to the authenticity of it all.

Tomorrow is our third full day at sea and the final day before we reach Ketchikan. There are yoga classes and more lectures on the docket. Stay tuned for a review of the fitness facilities and whatever other adventures we round up for you.

I hope you’re enjoying your virtual vacation. You can follow along on each day of the adventure through my Live Voyage Report landing page. If you're interested in following other Live Voyage Reports, visit The Avid Cruiser website to see where the team is exploring now!

Bon voyage…and love,
me


This article was originally published on the Avid Cruiser Live Voyage Report website. 

Cruising Alaska, day three: Sailing to America's Last Frontier on Star Princess

The view from our balcony this morning: Star Princess cutting a wake through the deep blue Pacific Ocean.

Today was our first full day at sea on Star Princess. We awoke to a crisp 57-degrees, clear blue skies and bright sunlight streaming into our starboard stateroom. For those who have not cruised before, it’s difficult to explain the vastness of the ocean. Even flying over it doesn’t do it justice. The sensation of being perched on open water as far as the eye can see is a unique experience. For me it’s one of the most exhilarating feelings in the world. Alaska’s state motto came to mind as I stepped onto our windy balcony this morning: “North to the Future!” It’s an alarmingly earnest statement and captures the adventurous frontier spirit perfectly. The ocean, like my anticipation of Alaska, feels akin to total freedom and limitless possibility.

One of my favorite spots on cruise ships is the Promenade Deck, at the very back of the ship. We've seen dolphins playing in the wake.

What is not limitless at sea is reliable online communication. Regarding last night’s technical snafu when I was forced to post a day late, I conducted research today to benefit both me and future Princess passengers. Here are a few things you should know about the internet at sea:

• You can pre-purchase internet packages online, or you can wait until you’re on the ship. You may also pay a’la carte for the minutes you use. I secured an internet package before I boarded, knowing that online access would be critical to my being able to report daily while at sea.
• Prices as posted on-site at the cafe: Pay-as-you-go $0.79 per minute, 100 minutes for $69, 200 minutes for $99, 400 minutes for $159, or 600 minutes for $199. A one-time activation fee of $3.95 is charged to your stateroom no matter which option you choose.
• Whether you purchase a plan ahead of time or at sea, you need to check in at the Internet Cafe. On the Star Princess, the Internet Cafe is located on Deck 5 (Plaza Deck), just off the Piazza. The manager on duty will authorize your purchase and create your account while you wait. This process was quick and easy for me. The manger was knowledgeable about Apple computers, which I appreciated. In my experience, most hotel tech support lines only have troubleshooting scripts related to Windows operating systems.

Friendly staff at the Star Princess Internet Cafe, my new home away from home.

• Regarding the manager in the Internet Cafe: I mistakenly thought that when the manager was off duty, the Internet Cafe was closed. This seems like a silly assumption in hindsight, but nonetheless, I made that mistake. When the WiFi wouldn’t connect in our stateroom and I couldn’t reach the manager by phone last night, I packed it in. Now I know you can wander down to a fully functioning Internet Cafe at 2:38 a.m. if you felt so inclined. This may actually be a prime strategy of mine to win the bandwidth battle. I’ll be the only person online and you, dear reader, can see the photos you’ve been promised, as I’ll be able to upload them when there is fewer people competing for bandwidth.
• Regarding the bandwidth: When it’s being used heavily, it’s slow. Slower than dial-up (for those readers who remember cranking on The Internet and downloading email messages from Juno, hoping your roommate didn’t pick up the phone downstairs and interrupt the process). You cannot stream Netflix, YouTube or anything of the like. You also cannot upload photos (in any decent amount of time) to a travel website like this one, per se that’s your responsibility on your cruise.
• Multiple devices cannot share a single log-in, as you can on your home internet and even in most hotels. If you attempt to log in from a second device, you’ll receive a prompt that asks if you want to switch the connection from the original device.
• Remember to log out! If you’re using a desktop in the Internet Cafe, it will prompt you to log out with a giant red button on the final screen. However, if you’re using your own device, you must type “logout.com” into the address bar and hit return. If you do not log out, your minutes will continue to accrue and be applied against your package total.

You can bring your own laptop or tablet into the Internet Cafe to pick up the ship's strongest WiFi signal.

• Finally — unless you have an ongoing family emergency back home, or you’re under some sort of professional obligation to post your adventures online — take a break. You’re floating in the middle of an ocean for goodness sake. Step outside and have a face-to-face conversation with someone. Facebook isn’t going anywhere, Twitter marches on, and Instagram will be there when you reach your next port city. Either that or choose to spend your time battling it out.

Other than doing my best to sort out tech strategies, I enjoyed a long walk around the ship. I took my photographic memory for a stroll and oriented myself to the overwhelming list of amenities aboard. The highlight of my day was a lecture presented by Star Princess Cruise Director Paul. He told curious passengers in the Princess Theatre about our upcoming ports of Ketchikan and Juneau. I tend to geek out on stuff like this, but even objectively it was informative and interesting. I highly recommend attending lecture events. It may just save you the price of a heavy guidebook. I’ll share the facts I learned about these ports as we visit them, but for now I’ll attempt to explain the range of activities on a cruise ship of this size.

Port Information Presentations are an efficient way to feel prepared for your days on shore.

Lectures and Scholarship@Sea presentations happen multiple times a day. You can also participate in a table tennis tournament, American Idol / Eurovision style competition, trivia games or speed Sudoku, Zumba and line dancing, meet ups for chess players or singles or knitters or LGBTQ passengers, karaoke, Bible study, flash mob practice (not a typo) and Princess Pop Choir auditions (still not a typo), poolside dance parties with the house band, and that’s not even 1/4 of the offerings you can choose from — before 1:30 p.m. Every night outside your door you’ll find the Princess Patter newsletter that lays out each day in detail.

Rather competitive table tennis opportunities found on Deck 15.

If you're not in the mood for planned activities, you can always soak in the energy of The Piazza.

A few quick notes about food: A perk I love and that we promptly took advantage of this first morning on board was ordering a room service breakfast. Simply check the boxes and quantity of the items you want, indicate the time you want the goods delivered, and hang the tag outside your door before you go to bed. Done. Who doesn’t want to wake up to breakfast in bed every day? All included in the price of your cruise.

One other note about food in general is that Princess does fairly well with vegetarian fare. I was a vegetarian for many years and the friend traveling with me is currently a vegetarian. We’re always conscious of non-meat protein options. Princess clearly indicates vegetarian options on its formal dining menus, and even the casual poolside grill has veggie burgers and margherita pizza. My friend was concerned before the trip, but she has had no difficulty finding plenty of healthy, meatless options. For dinner tonight, as an example, we both ate grilled lentil cakes with fried eggs, melted monterey jack cheese and sweet potato fries. The portion was more than enough on its own … and it was our fourth vegetarian course.

Tomorrow is another full day at sea and I’m looking forward to diving into the books I brought. I will share those resources with you and discuss creative, non-traditional ways to gear up for your big trip. Hint: Put the guidebook down, says a former guidebook addict.

I hope you’re enjoying your virtual vacation. You can follow along on each day of the adventure through my Live Voyage Report landing page. If you're interested in following other Live Voyage Reports, visit The Avid Cruiser website to see where the team is exploring now!

Bon voyage…and love,
me


This article was originally published on the Avid Cruiser Live Voyage Report website.

Cruising Alaska, day two: Departing San Francisco on Star Princess

We woke up to Star Princess dominating the view from our hotel room. She docked around 7 a.m., and I can only imagine how hard the crew worked to turn everything around for us to board at 1 p.m. Starting our day with that serendipitous view was not only a fun surprise but also added excitement to the anticipation of embarkation day. Yesterday I recommended the Best Western Tuscan Inn based on its upgraded Kimpton ownership and what we assumed would be a convenient location. Today I can certainly recommend the hotel as the perfect location for a pre-cruise extension. Though we have a friend who lives in the city and drove us and our luggage to the cruise terminal, we could’ve walked if necessary.

However, first things first: brunch. As planned, we headed back to the market in the Ferry Building. The historic F-Line street car we rode today was originally operated in Boston. Today it transported us to Mijita Cocina Mexicana. At the far eastern end of the market, Mijita serves breakfast all day (important information for readers who, like me, would happily eat breakfast fare for every meal). I had the breakfast burrito and while it was good, it lacked spice. Between my childhood spent in Southern California and the outstanding Mexican food we’re spoiled with in Salt Lake City, I wanted more depth of flavor, kick, something. Regardless, it’s a beautiful space and the prices are reasonable.

I enjoy taking photos of markets and do so all over the world. I find it fascinating to learn about a culture through the food. After a quick photo walk — artisan olive oils, cheesemongers, bakers, butchers, flowers, fruit, sensory overload — I purchased sweet goodies from Miette Patisserie (far western end of the market). With those tucked in my bag, we were on our way.

Looking up at the beautiful architecture in San Francisco's Ferry Building.

Two caption options: 1) Say Cheese!; or 2) This is my heaven.

Mijita Cocina Mexicana, at the east end of the Ferry Building, serves breakfast fare all day.

Authentic ambiance (with less than authentic food) at Mijita Cocina Mexicana.

The boarding experience at the cruise terminal could not have run more smoothly. It was as quick as can be expected with that many people in one place at one time. It was professional, friendly and stress-free. Everyone was helpful, from the athletic curbside porters hefting endless piles of luggage, to the army of smiling grandpas in red ties and white fedoras directing foot traffic.

When you’re online at home finalizing your Princess cruise details, you not only print a boarding pass but also a series of luggage tags that identify your stateroom. As long as you arrive at the cruise terminal with your bags tagged appropriately, you have nothing to worry about with the check-in process. Step aboard, relax in your room, explore the ship and her many features, and your luggage will arrive in your stateroom sometime in the next hour or so.

We were welcomed to our Star Princess Aloha Deck stateroom with fresh flowers, champagne, chocolate covered strawberries and a thoughtful note from Princess. Our steward and his supervisor also stopped by to say hello and explain their roles in making our cruise experience enjoyable.

We enjoyed the treats on our balcony and took in the views of Alcatraz on one hand and the iconic hilly skyline of San Francisco on the other. I also took this time to scope out the toiletries, a telling factor for me in any lodging experience. Princess did not disappoint. The products provided were from Princess Cruises’ Lotus Spa line and included the standard lotion, shampoo/conditioner and bar soap. There was also eucalyptus body wash, gel eye mask (waiting for me in my mini-fridge at the moment), linen spray, exfoliating loofah, emery board and two SPF 30 lip balms. Going beyond the expected toiletries was a nice touch.

Our Aloha Deck balcony stateroom allows us to have one queen or two twin beds.

Champagne and strawberries on the balcony...don't mind if we do. Welcome aboard!

Other nice touches included plush robes and slippers, room service breakfast (no additional charge) delivered at a time of our choosing, fresh fruit delivered each afternoon per indicated preferences (also no additional charge), and turn down service with the proverbial chocolates on our pillows. Attention to detail matters to me, and so far Princess has done it right.

The highlight of our day was sailing under the Golden Gate bridge. It was a memorable way to say goodbye to San Francisco and to kick off this adventure. The decks were full of windblown passengers, clicking camera shutters, and cheering as we cleared the underside of the bridge.

The notorious Alcatraz Island as soon from the Star Princess.

Goodbye, San Francisco. Sailing away...and leaving our hearts. 

Sailing under the Golden Gate was a memorable way to kick off our journey.

We enjoyed dinner in the Capri dining room with three different couples at a communal table. Jackie and Ron have been on seven cruises, most of those with Princess. They spoke highly of the consistent level of customer service. I’ve sailed only once before with Princess (Mexico in 2010), and my experience aligned with their praise. All Princess personnel consider themselves to be “hosts,” and that shows.

Tomorrow is a full day at sea, and I will spend time exploring and photographing the ship. I’m also reading two books that you may find interesting if you’re considering an Alaskan itinerary, so I’ll share those resources in a later post.

I hope you’re enjoying your virtual vacation. You can follow along on each day of the adventure through my Live Voyage Report landing page. If you're interested in following other Live Voyage Reports, visit The Avid Cruiser website to see where the team is exploring now!

Bon voyage...and love,
me


This article was originally published on the Avid Cruiser Live Voyage Report website.

Cruising Alaska, Day One: Pre-cruise Adventures in San Francisco

San Francisco is impossibly charming. It doesn’t matter how many times I visit, and I visit regularly, I fall more deeply in love with her each time. The Avid Cruiser’s 2014 Alaska Guide lists a number of considerations for the selection of your ideal departure port. Truth be told, once I saw San Francisco on the list of possibilities, my search was over before it even began. San Francisco is not only a short (and typically affordable) 90-minute direct flight from my home base in Salt Lake City but also allows for three full days at sea while we make our way up up up to the last frontier. This was appealing to me as a way to balance four days in a row packed with excursions and adventures on shore.

My friend Heather and I chose to come to San Francisco the day before we board Star Princess for two reasons. First, we wanted time to revisit a few of our favorite spots, which I’ll share with you below. We also flew in early because, in my opinion, there are few things worse than rushed, stressed travel. If and when possible, I prefer to pad my arrival and departures days. This luxury often adds costs to the trip, but for my money, enjoying my trip well-rested, calm, cool and collected … is priceless. It turns out that padding was a particularly wise strategy this time around. Our flight to SFO out of SLC was delayed. Twice.

Delta’s on-time departure rating out of SLC is 96 percent, so the delays were particularly surprising. The fault, it turns out, was weather issues in SFO this morning. While the delay allowed for a leisurely breakfast at a favorite local restaurant in Salt Lake City, by the time we landed and reached the cruise terminal, we would’ve had been cutting it close — had we been boarding Star Princess today. We were glad the most pressing item on our agenda today was where to find lunch after checking into the hotel. Arriving a day early proved to be particularly beneficial for our cruise.

We did not purchase the hotel extension and ship transfer offered by Princess. We chose to book on our own and ended up in a lovely Best Western turned Kimpton property. We questioned our decision when we booked “Best Western – The Tuscan,”  but the price and neighborhood were right. We thought at the very least we’d collect a funny memory in a cheesy theme hotel. Not at all. We didn’t realize it was a beautiful Kimpton property until we checked in and the concierge mentioned the complimentary wine reception and we saw dog treats in the lobby, both Kimpton trademarks. The hotel was perfect for our one night, and it was situated near the cruise terminal.

We were pleasantly surprised to learn Kimpton took over the Best Western and added their iconic flourishes.

Our hotel is one block off The Embarcadero, and our afternoon goal was to ride the California cable car line to Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill. The most logical lunch spot between Point A and Point B: The Ferry Building Marketplace via the iconic imported F-Line street cars. The car we stepped onto was originally operated in Mexico City.

A foodie’s paradise, the infamous Ferry Market is hyper local, hyper fresh, and a flagship destination in a city filled with endless foodie destinations. We grabbed a quick bite at Out the Door, an Asian eatery, where I now heartily endorse the pork dumplings.

Sitting at the top of Market Street, the world-famous foodie destination, San Francisco's Ferry Building. 

Quick. Fresh. Healthy. Out the Door is a new favorite in San Francisco's Ferry Building Marketplace.

After lunch, we were back on the cable cars. I will make a bold claim in advising you to ignore the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde lines altogether. The California line is far more residential and filled with local commuters. The other lines go to and from Fisherman’s Wharf and the Visitor Information Center downtown on Market Street, so you can imagine the difference. You will not only stand in long lines on the Powell cars but also be packed in tight with tourists stacked two deep along the outer edges. If that’s your goal and the end point destinations appeal to you, enjoy yourself. If your goal is enjoy steep hills, understand the mechanics of the historic cars, experience the flow of normal life in the city — and meet gregarious operators who routinely chat with their friends in cars driving by (seriously, without fail they always know some dude at every other stop light) — the California line is for you.

The less-touristy California cable care line is the way to go.

We reached our destination, Grace Cathedral, an Episcopal Church that markets itself as “a house of prayer for all people, without exception.” It was once Grace Church, built in the Gold Rush of 1849. It was destroyed in the 1906 fire/earthquake and rebuilt in the French Gothic style between 1928-1964. The giant front doors are modeled on Ghilberti’s doors to the baptistery of the Duomo in Florence, Italy. Having experienced that work first hand, the replica at Grace brought back fond memories.

The cathedral holds no religious significance for me, but is certainly a sacred, meditative space. In fact, the labyrinth is the first place I visit in the city every time I come. There was a two-year period a while ago when I was in the city about twice a month. Without fail, my feet touched down in San Francisco and you would find me on the California line to the Grace labyrinth. Labyrinths are a form of moving meditation found in traditions and cultures all over the world. You walk in with a question, you walk out with an answer. You walk in with a problem, you walk out with a new perspective. It’s a beautiful process if you let yourself fully engage with it. The Grace Cathedral is a hidden gem in an otherwise bustling city. You’d never realize you’re just one block above the always chaotic Chinatown neighborhood.

Built in the French Gothic style, Grace Cathedral is perched atop San Francisco's Nob Hill.

Grace Cathedral is "a house of prayer for all people."

Graced With Light, an installation by Artist in Residence Anne Patterson, involves 20 miles of hand-assembled ribbon.

There is an exterior labyrinth available to the public all day every day. The indoor labyrinth is available for meditation when the cathedral is open. 

We decided to walk to North Beach (the Italian quarter and our dinner destination) because the hills were in our favor. Don’t let the maps of San Francisco fool you. “Just three blocks that way … ” means nothing without knowing the grade of the street. You may be in for an intense urban hiking experience if you don’t clarify.

After enjoying a bit of time Instagramming and the like in the beautiful Washington Square park area, we revisited Caffe DeLucchi. The last time we were in San Francisco together, we stumbled in on accident and dumb luck. Our return was intentional. I had the house-made spinach ravioli with gorgonzola cream sauce and I recommend it without hesitation.

San Francisco has many parks hidden amongst its bustling streets. Washington Square in North Beach is one of the most picturesque.

Caffe DeLucchi is a must when visiting San Francisco's Italian quarter, North Beach. 

Full of pasta and satiated memories, we made our way back to our hotel. Tomorrow we’ll have brunch at the Ferry Building (yes, again) before boarding the Star Princess.

I hope you’re enjoying your virtual vacation. You can follow along on each day of the adventure through my Live Voyage Report landing page. If you're interested in following other Live Voyage Reports, visit The Avid Cruiser website to see where the team is exploring now!

Bon voyage...and love,
me


This article was originally published on the Avid Cruiser Live Voyage Report website. 

Alaska's Inside Passage on Star Princess

Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises

“Up north there’s a land without fences. Animals outnumber people, sunlight shines at midnight, and nature reigns. Life is different. This northern frontier still boasts pristine landscapes, majestic wildlife, and a coastline that is one of the most enthralling waterways in the world” (Princess Cruises). I’d been craving a wild travel experience for some time. Not booming nightclubs and a mysterious tattoo that appears in the morning, but wild as in true wilderness. I’d been craving open spaces, land untouched by humankind, and silence. Los Angeles, by way of comparison, has a population of 3.9 million people. Alaska, a frontier spanning 1,400 miles by 2,400 miles, has a total population just under 732,000. In other words, perfect. On 23 May 2014, the Star Princess departed from San Francisco and sailed north toward this pure wilderness. The ship was originally built in 2002 and then refurbished in 2011. When she’s at full capacity, the Star Princess carries 2,600 passengers and 1,100 crew members within her 17 decks. Eighty percent of all outside cabins have private balconies, including my stateroom, which allowed for breathtaking vistas as we sailed through scenery like the Tracy Arm Fjord.

Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska

In case you missed it, The Avid Cruiser recently published their 2014 Alaska Guide, a comprehensive article designed to help you book your ideal vacation to the 49th state. Since I traveled to Alaska in May, on one of the earliest itineraries offered by Princess Cruises, it’s worth noting that some people do avoid the shoulder season. However, this Avid Cruiser article may convince you of the benefits of exploring early and/or late in Alaska’s sailing season. Princess Cruises also hosts a website called “Why Alaska,” orienting travelers to the many possibilities of this potentially-overwhelming destination.

This was my first time to Alaska, but I suspect many readers have experienced her beauty before and I welcome your comments. I booked a shore excursion in each port, as did my friend Heather. We took two of our excursions together, but we booked different adventures in the other two ports; meaning you get the benefit of a review for six different excursion offerings. Also – as a bonus to all the Alaska coverage – I’ve enjoyed a longtime love affair with San Francisco. We flew in a day early in order to share with you some of my favorite pieces of the City by the Bay.

I posted every night, recapping the adventures of the day. Follow along using my Live Voyage Report landing page. Enjoy your virtual vacation!

love,
me


This article was originally published on The Avid Cruiser Live Voyage Report website.