“Be prepared for liquid sunshine,” an experienced traveling friend says, while I prepare to pack for our Carnival cruise. “And don’t forget to layer up. Alaska can get pretty chilly.”
At the last minute, I stuff in a few more essentials; three wooly sweaters, a rain slicker and of course, an umbrella. I want to experience it all; mighty glaciers, misty fjords, and majestic snow-capped peaks. A few raindrops aren’t going to get in the way. Being a Vancouverite, I’m used to a little sprinkle.
Bizarrely enough, during our departure, the city has never looked so beautiful. Afternoon rays ricochet off high rises that frame Vancouver’s skyline, dapple over the lush green acreage of Stanley Park, and light up the coastal mountains to create a stunning backdrop.
Unfortunately though, precipitation is the word for the week and we know inclement weather is no stranger to the 49th state. Much of the Inside Passage is rimmed by the Tongass Rainforest, a 16.8 million acre greenbelt. The 800-km waterway and lush maze of channels is often blanketed by low-lying cloud. So far so good. We have sunny skies and clear sailing!
Our northbound route hosts a cornucopia of natural wonders along the way. While plying the Inside Passage we spot soaring eagles, leaping porpoises and whales that spout from the deep. Bordering the sliver-thin waterway are hills choked with evergreens and saw-tooth summits that tower above like looming sentinels.
Their craggy faces are blemished with glacial remains and laced with waterfalls that spill like streamers onto driftwood shores. It’s untamed wilderness in the finest form and we’re awed by its magnificence.
Although the vistas and wildlife sightings are certainly added bonuses on this spectacular excursion, there’s definitely no shortage of top-notch amenities onboard The Spirit. From the moment we step over this floating resort’s glitzy threshold, the Carnival fun begins.
Our daily guide outlines everything from gaming and grazing to entertainment and activities and believe me, there’s no way anyone can do it all. But we try.
We check out team events like the match game and Trivia, play ping pong, and shuffleboard, and plunge into swimming pools that dot the sun-splashed decks. There are lectures about wildlife, whales and glaciers, and a line up of professional performers that captivate us every evening.
While the casino lovers hover around slots and blackjack tables, spa denizens are lured to the heavenly rooms that promise exotic treatments at sea. And splayed over two levels is a state-of-the-art fitness centre where we attempt to burn off those extra calories – for me, an unattainable task.
As we all know, grazing is a big part of cruising. And Carnival goes all out to make sure we are more than satisfied!
Our personal waiters provide silver service at the elegant Empire Room, an exquisite establishment that’s mirrored after the Napoleonic 19th-century era. Beneath a ceiling domed with murals and chandeliers we savor culinary classics that would impress the House of James Beard.
Bonsai Sushi, Nouveau and the Chef’s Table are three of our favourite fee-dining options. And when we want to go casual, we head to Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ, Guy’s Burger Joint or La Playa Grille where buffet style spreads include everything from pastas and pizza to grilled specialties and ethnic creations.
During the week we enjoy ‘up close’ encounters with four different ports, each boasting a mind boggling line-up of onshore opportunities.
We roam Ketchikan’s rugged backcountry while on a canoe and jeep safari, check out the impressive Mendenhall Glacier during our day-stint in Juneau, retrace Gold Rush history on Skagway’s scenic White Pass Railway and relive some of Sitka’s Russian heritage while strolling its winding streets and totem-studded trails.
Each coastal community offers a unique flavor and personality. And beneath bluebird skies, all are stunningly gorgeous.
On our final day we’re scheduled to cruise through Prince William Sound, another glacially-carved corridor that’s riddled with lush beauty and wildlife.
Beneath cloudless skies, we look forward to sightings along the way; seal pups sun basking on translucent blue ice flows, black bear lumbering along timbered shorelines and whale flukes breaking through glint-tipped waves. But as the days and views roll by, we discover these visual highlights may not all be on our agenda.
“The weather pattern seems to have taken a turn today,” our naturalist, Michelle, reports as we ply close to the cloud-enshrouded hillsides. “But we’re approaching Harvard Glacier and the mist may dissipate enough to give us a view.” In spite of the drizzle, passengers flock to the port side of the ship and prepare for that photo moment.
We, on the other hand, remain riveted where we are – at our table in the Empire Dining Room. Soon, framed by our gilded floor-to-ceiling porthole, we have a breathtaking scene. Beyond the aquamarine sea, dotted by cerulean ice floes, is a mammoth river that has been frozen in time. The glacier bisects towering peaks that are pocketed with snow drifts, and gouges out a wide white pathway from skyline to shore.
Once again, we’re mesmerized by the magnificence and captivated by the beauty. It is Alaska – and pretty amazing, rain or shine!
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