ALASKAN ODYSSEY

Part One: Friday 2nd - Monday 5th August 2019

This trip (like most of our longer haul ones) was over a year in planning. I have always been fascinated by the far North (but not in deep winter which would be a bit too cold after 30 years in temperate New Zealand) and a cruise along the Inside Passage to give Alaska a visit seemed a plan.

So, after all our planning, which I won't go into), we set off from Auckland airport (AKL - as an aviation "geek" I know a lot of the airport IATA codes and it is quicker to type them) on the 13 plus hour direct flight to Vancouver (YVR) courtesy of Air NZ. We had one night at the airport hotel and then presented ourselves to the Princess Cruises representative in the international arrivals area and were on the bus to the cruise terminal by Canada Place. Check-in was surprisingly quick (thanks to the "Ocean Ready" app on my phone into which I had loaded our passport details, etc.) and within 2 hours of leaving the hotel we were on board and having a walk around the ship to orient ourselves.

Royal Princess at Vancouver Cruise Terminal. Yes, I know it isn't sunny - this was taken two weeks later on our last day in Vancouver after our cruise - she was ready to sail on the next northbound trip.
We felt a little jealous of the people on board just starting their Alaska adventure (or maybe not - weather forecast not too good!)

So, off down Burrard Inlet on a beautifully sunny Vancouver afternoon, skirting around the southern tip of Vancouver Island and into the open sea heading north towards the Inside Passage. After our exploration of the ship, and our boarding glass of champagne, we headed down for dinner and then an early(ish) night, a bit tired after the travelling and time difference.

The next day (Sunday, 4th) was at sea, clearing Vancouver Island and into the Inside Passage proper, making for our first port of call, Ketchikan. We arrived early (around 0500) on Monday, 5th August on a very foggy morning. However, the fog cleared and by the time we were shoreside at around 0900 the sun was breaking through. By the time we had walked up to the Totem Heritage Center (very interesting - recommended), looked around that, and walked back to Creek Street (red light area in the Gold Rush days), the sky was clear, the sun shining very brightly.

0730 - foggy start to the day

Ketchikan is quite hilly (Wellingtonians would feel at home) - the street is the stairs!

Carol and "friend" - Totem Heritage Center

Creek Street - once populated by "working girls" - now full of souvenir shops.
There were a lot of salmon in the river

We found Ketchikan very interesting, particularly the Tlingit and Haida tribal totem culture and would have liked a bit more time there (the ship sailed at 1530).
So, that will be the end of Part 1 - on to Juneau and the next post.....