Alaska Revisited with a Fresh View - Day 4
Published Wednesday, July 20th 2022 - Updated Wednesday, July 20th 2022Day 4
Today we arrived in Juneau, Alaska after a morning of sailing the Inside Passage for several hours and a very early break of daylight (about 4 am!). The night was a bit choppy as we continued to make up for the lost time leaving Vancouver but as we approached the Passage, the ship slowed down and we could enjoy the scenery as we made our way towards Juneau. After enjoying room service again, I headed to the Crow’s Nest to find a good viewing spot and to get some work done.
The Crow’s Nest is the spot to be when cruising through the Passage. Panoramic windows all around the front of the ship pretty much assure that everyone has a good view and can spot wildlife. Many people had their binoculars ready and were set on spending some serious time looking for whales, birds, and bears along the shorelines. I found a great spot on the port side and made myself comfortable to work and watch the views as well. I even had a cup of fresh hot chocolate to stave off a little of the chill that was in the air.
About two hours before we got to Juneau, I caught a movement from the corner of my left eye. I glanced up just in time to see a Humpback whale arch up, take a breath, and dive back down right next to the ship. It was amazing! As I worked and watched, I spotted two more close to the ship and even saw a fluke as the whale dove down to feed. It was really beautiful and made me eager to go on the evening whale watching quest I signed up for through HAL.
We arrived in Juneau around noon and everyone were antsy to get off the ship. And I was blown away by the beauty of the area surrounding Juneau and the charm of the capital of Alaska. Picturesque with a old world flair is what best describes the port area and old town Juneau. I grabbed a quick lunch in the Lido Market, charged cameras, and headed out to explore.
As soon as you come off the gangway, you can smell the king crab cooking at Tracey’s King Crab Shack and see folks heading up the mountain in the tram. I set out to take as many pictures as I could and do some exploring while dropping in to check a few shops for mementos to bring home. Juneau is not accessible by car – there are no roads connecting it to the rest of the mainland – and can only be reached by plane or boat. Given this limited access, stores had unique products but pricing was also reflective of the unique position of Juneau imports/exports. There were many shops that specialized in local art work and products as well. Sea plane and boat traffic was hustling and there were three other cruise ships in port with us so the whole port area was very busy.
Also at the end of the dock were a number of excursion options for those wishing to explore the Mendenhall Glacier, go whale watching, explore the Tongas National Forest, or enjoy a salmon bake. So, if you don’t get signed up with a ship excursion, don’t worry – there are plenty of great options right at the port. All the tour busses were also in that area so it is an easy walk for all types of accessibility. Temps were perfect for walking around – high of about 55 – and only drizzled on me a couple times.
I headed back to the ship to charge my phones, rest for a few, and enjoy a piece of the Alaska Fudge I purchased at the Alaska Fudge Shop. My evening excursion, Whale Watching Quest with Dinner, was set to depart at 6 pm so I wanted to be sure I was ready for the adventure. I was more than ready for the adventure!
At promptly 6 pm, I departed with a group of about 25 people to head to Auke Bay where we would sail away on a double decker custom whale/wildlife watching vessel. Within 10 minutes of getting out of the bay, we saw our first plume of air indicating there was a whale coming up to breathe. We slowed down and within minutes, saw several whales. They were from a distance but I was able to snap a few pictures of the backs of the whales. We saw several more plumes and then some flukes which meant those whales were going down to feed. It was amazing!
Our naturalist, Brett, was very knowledgeable and shared lots of info about the local wildlife, geography, and of course, the whales. There was a chart on the boat that had the names of most of the whales that appear in the Auke Bay and we actually spotted, Sasha, a female whale who has habituated the area since the late 90’s. They also provided us with a tasting menu of fresh seafood chowder, reindeer sausage, smoked salmon dip, and shrimp. A nice bite as we watched for more whales.
Upon our late return to the ship (9:30), I opted to grab a bite from the New York Pizza/Deli on Deck 10. Had a great cabrese salad and pretzel which was a perfect late evening snack. Got back to my cabin and made sure the curtains were tightly drawn as there was still daylight peeking through and sleep would be elusive unless the cabin was dark enough. Before calling it a day, I contemplated how lucky I was to see and experience Juneau and the natural beauty of the area. Seeing whales in the wild has been a lifelong bucket list item and today it came true.
Skagway is Tuesday’s port and I’ll be doing the White Mountain Summit Railroad. Looking forward for more breathtaking views and learning more about this beautiful destination!
#greatwhitetravels #travelwithgwta #alaska #HALAboard
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