Our Alaska adventure begins - Vancouver to Inside passage to Ketchikan

In Vancouver ready for our cruise up the Inside Passage of Alaska to Whittier port south of Anchorage. 8 days/Oceania Riviera with 1018 passengers.  Our first cruise experience and a beautiful starting point.

Biking in Stanley Park

Stanley Park-Girl in Wetsuit sculpture

spring is in bloom!

Vancouver was lovely and perfect weather - little did we know this weather would not last!  

We supervised the loading of our ship that arrived in the morning from Japan - cross Pacific crossing - and was ready to leave again by early evening. Unbelievable!

Loading the food - so many pineapples!

Making sure its ONLY food going aboard

heavy equipment to bring items aboard

 

active flights viewed from our balcony

ready on our balcony

We got aboard as soon as we could so we could explore and figure out this ship! Lots to figure out. We were the first to get a tour of the spa and gym and decided it was a good idea to carry out swimsuits with us when we boarded (luggage would arrive later). The outdoor spa would be our first luxury - and a private one as no one else thought to carry their bathing suits in their purse!

greeted by string quartet as we boarded

first in the spa!

can we fit under the 1930's Lionsgate Bridge

good thing the tide is in

Turk is ready to grab a gable!

Sun setting as we head to sea

Dinner at Toscana, Italian, lots of olive oils

dishes designed by Versace

 

Captain busy on the bridge

First port of call - Ketchikan. Cold, rainy mid May weather in a rain forest. Alaska had a late spring this year!

learned: small rope gets caught ashore, attached to progressively larger ropes until largest rope is caught and ship is tied up

totem in town part

neighborly warning

quintessential Ketchikan shot - Creek St, former brothel area on Ketchikan Creek

good ole Dolly

aging house on Creek Street

see weather, and our 'small' ship. Turk fished for halibut-nada.

cold finger, lobster/waygu burger on ship