Alaska

Alaska, August 2002

Our 2nd cruise to Alaska. No, we haven't dyed our hair blue and started wearing polyester! Kay, my ex flat mate from Edinburgh and her husband Lee, were planning on visiting us in California. We suggested the cruise since we thought that living in Dubai, they would like some glaciers and mountains. So, we met up in Vancouver and set sail Friday afternoon. It was a glorious day and we sat at the back of the ship (aft) sipping our cocktails while leaving Vancouver. The ship Infinity is bigger than the Mercury which we sailed on last year and in some ways better. It had a lovely covered "hydrotherapy" pool and jacuzzis as well as the usual pools out on deck.

First stop was Juneau the capital of Alaska. It's only accessible by air or sea. We took a trip on the tramway (cable car) to the top of Mount Roberts and had spectacular views of the passage we'd just sailed up. Then it was back to town to find socks. We needed the woolly socks for our next adventure - ice climbing on a glacier. We were kitted out with helmets, waterproofs, and boots and then taken on a 20 minute helicopter flight to Meadenhall Glacier. We flew over the vast Juneau ice field which is 1,500 sq miles. Pretty amazing. Our guides met us on the glacier and provided crampons for our boots and a big ice pick. It was very warm but we had to wear gloves as the ice is very sharp if you fall. Then we started walking. We were shown how to go downhill - feet first and uphill - tips of crampons into the ice vertically and then using the ice pick to heave yourself up. It was definitely the highlight of the trip. For great photos and info click here.

Skagway is a very small town where the gold rush miners arrived from San Francisco on their way to the Yukon. It's quite quaint but easily seen in a couple of hours. We decided to rent a car and travel on the Alaska Highway to Whitehorse in the Yukon. It's about 150 miles and the road goes through some great scenery. We didn't get very far at first as we noticed an oil leak on our first photo stop. Went back and got another car. I thought I was doing the right thing by booking from a locally owned place instead of Avis but the cars were Rent a Wreck quality!

Hubbard Glacier was next on the itinery but we just sailed up to it for a few hours. It was an overcast day but we did see a lot of calving - bits of glacier falling off into the sea. We also got much closer than last time.

Ketchican was our last stop and we had hoped to do a kayaking tour but it was rainy and windy and the company cancelled. So, having 'done' the sights last year, we went back to ship and enjoyed the empty pool and sauna!

Food on the ship is legendary - you could easily eat round the clock since room service is 24 hrs and free. Every evening you get a newsletter outlining the events of the next day, port information and of course, when and what food is being served! There's an early riser breakfast at 6am and a late riser at 11.30 and then it's time for lunch. After that, afternoon tea, pizza or ice cream. After dinner, which is done in 2 seatings, a midnight buffet is held. We were getting sick of the sight of food by the end of the holiday. The grand buffet is on the last formal night and is a chance for the chefs to show off their talent in patisseries, ice carving, veg and fruit carving and anything else. They open the restaurant doors half an hour early for people just to walk past and look and take photos. Since we'd only finished eating an hour earlier, we could only look!

Vancouver had a fireworks festival the weekend we arrived back and since our hotel was on the 17th floor we had a great view from the balcony over English Bay.


Canada Place, Vancouver	Summit, Infinity's sister ship	Lion's Gate Bridge, Vancouver

1st day at sea in the tub	Drinks on deck	Hydrotherapy Pool

Kay & Lee, Juneau	Lethal weapon!	Bill ice climbing

Smallest Desert,Carcross, Yukon	Emerald Lake, Yukon	Whitepass, Yukon

Now entering the Yukon	Downtown Skagway	Grand Buffet

Cake	Bear ice sculpture	Exhausted from food and drink!