Alaska Cruise
Our trip to Alaska was our first time on a cruise ship. The Celebrity Millennium carries well over 2,000 passengers. This is not very large compared to some that carry 3,500 to 5,000. But considering the number of bodies on the ship, we were pleased to see that we could always find a space to ourselves.
Our cabin was very comfortable with a king size bed and a large window so we always woke up to a great view. Meals were included in the package and there were many selections at the Oceanview Cafe's large buffet and the more formal Metropolitan. We also enjoyed amazing french cuisine at the Olympic Restaurant and a fun selection of foods from around the world at Qsine where you order your dishes using an iPad.
Our cabin was very comfortable with a king size bed and a large window so we always woke up to a great view. Meals were included in the package and there were many selections at the Oceanview Cafe's large buffet and the more formal Metropolitan. We also enjoyed amazing french cuisine at the Olympic Restaurant and a fun selection of foods from around the world at Qsine where you order your dishes using an iPad.
The Ports
Juneau
The location of the port allows guests to disembark right at the downtown core where there are plenty of gift shops and restaurants. There are also many jewelry stores which are promoted by the cruise line. Lured in by a big shiny bobble, I was quickly attended to by a gentleman who was clearly working on commission. The experience was not unlike walking through a carnival and having the game vendors trying to entice you to take a shot at their game. Rather than let my relaxing vacation be dampened with high pressure salespeople, I chose to avoid all jewelry stores and only go into the shops that are locally owned and a percentage of the proceeds goes to the artists themselves.
We rode the tramway to the top of Mount Roberts. It was still very snowy at this time of year and the trails were closed but we did get a great panoramic view of the area. At the top of the tram is a viewing center that houses an injured bald eagle who can't fly and is blind in one eye. She is one of the birds being cared for by the kind people at the Juneau Raptor Center http://www.juneauraptorcenter.org
The location of the port allows guests to disembark right at the downtown core where there are plenty of gift shops and restaurants. There are also many jewelry stores which are promoted by the cruise line. Lured in by a big shiny bobble, I was quickly attended to by a gentleman who was clearly working on commission. The experience was not unlike walking through a carnival and having the game vendors trying to entice you to take a shot at their game. Rather than let my relaxing vacation be dampened with high pressure salespeople, I chose to avoid all jewelry stores and only go into the shops that are locally owned and a percentage of the proceeds goes to the artists themselves.
We rode the tramway to the top of Mount Roberts. It was still very snowy at this time of year and the trails were closed but we did get a great panoramic view of the area. At the top of the tram is a viewing center that houses an injured bald eagle who can't fly and is blind in one eye. She is one of the birds being cared for by the kind people at the Juneau Raptor Center http://www.juneauraptorcenter.org
Skagway
This was my favourite of the port cities we visited. With seven blocks of false front buildings along wooden sidewalks, the frontier atmosphere is a real treat for visitors. The people are friendly, the shops interesting, and the weather was perfect.
This was my favourite of the port cities we visited. With seven blocks of false front buildings along wooden sidewalks, the frontier atmosphere is a real treat for visitors. The people are friendly, the shops interesting, and the weather was perfect.
Ketchikan
We're told Ketchikan has rain over 300 days a year. Well we got lucky and hit it on a cool sunny day so we were able to enjoy this beautiful coastal community with its Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, friendly shops, and fresh sea air. It was in one of these local shops that we bought a set of ulu knives with a caribou bone holder as a souvenier of our visit to Alaska.
We're told Ketchikan has rain over 300 days a year. Well we got lucky and hit it on a cool sunny day so we were able to enjoy this beautiful coastal community with its Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, friendly shops, and fresh sea air. It was in one of these local shops that we bought a set of ulu knives with a caribou bone holder as a souvenier of our visit to Alaska.