Our only non-US port of this Voyage was Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada. Many of us were not familiar with it and some had low expectations. (Note: A Non-US port stop is required by the Jones Act for any cruise ship that leaves the US and before it returns to the US.)
Surrounded by the Great Bear Rainforest and near the famous Khutzeymateen Grizzly Sanctuary, it is situated on Kaien Island. It is known for spectacular wildlife viewing and epic sport fishing and is also the third busiest seaport in Canada - after Vancouver and Montreal.
We were pleasantly surprised at how nice a town it was. As our last port, we had planned a tour with our Cruise Specialists guests that included a farewell lunch. We started with a fun Vintage Trolley tour around the city. Our guide knew everyone and everything about the area and had a great sense of humor, keeping us laughing throughout our tour.
Our lunch was at the excellent Arabisk Mediterranean Restaurant. It’s a family owned and operated business, the staff was warm and welcoming, and the food was fabulous. The buffet table was loaded with fresh breads, salads and vegetables, all traditional middle Eastern items - like chickpea salad and baba ghanoush -which we knew and a few we didn’t know but were delicious. The highlight for some was the grilled meats that were brought out on skewers and carved at the tables. We were served as much or as little as we wanted. We were familiar with this style from Brazilian churrascaria restaurants but apparently it is also a Turkish tradition. With a champagne welcome, wines and beer with lunch, and a marvelously rich baklava for dessert, it was a memorable meal and a fitting farewell event.
We had some time after lunch to look around the waterfront area, visiting the Sunken Gardens Park, the Pacific Mariner Memorial Park, and walking part of the Rushbrook Trail. The weather was perfect. We enjoyed our walk and reluctantly returned to the ship for our final day at sea before returning to Seattle.
Our last day was the usual combination of packing, and saying so long to guests, beloved staff, and crew. We will see some of them on our upcoming voyages.
Disembarkation was a smooth process on Sunday morning. Our flight was not until 9:00 pm, so we rented a car at the airport and did some geocaching on the outskirts of the city, rather than just sit in the airport all day.
We’re home now and reflecting on the wonderful trip. It felt short compared to our usual three to four-month journeys but was packed with memorable experiences and places.
A Few Highlights:
- Crab Feast at the Silver King Lodge outside of Ketchikan
- Fortress of the Bears in Sitka for our up-close visit with huge brown bears.
- Harvard Glacier, the most active calving experience we have ever seen. In fact, all the glaciers were spectacular in their own way.
- The city of Nome - friendly, welcoming, and unpretentious.
- Dog sled summer camp for 180 dogs in training - a must do in Juneau if you like dogs or admire the Iditarod.
- Arabisk Restaurant in Prince Rupert for authentic Mediterranean cuisine.
Geocaching Report:
We logged a total of 395 geocaches and Adventure Lab stops, including our before and after outings in Seattle. We were pleased with this result.
Ship Highlight:
The frequent Ballroom Dance hours that were scheduled in the evenings. We weren’t always there but appreciated the opportunity, and met dancers who shared our enthusiasm.
What is a Legendary Voyage?
This is a term Holland America has given to voyages of 28-59 days, with itineraries focused on specific areas.
Without a clear definition of what a Legendary Voyage would be like, we were pleasantly surprised. It was very much like a Grand Voyage.
We were totally immersed in the Alaska Experience through food, lectures, and scenic cruising.
There were many theme parties including July 4th, Orange Party, Costume Party, Masquerade Ball, and Officers Ball. Plus, Ice Cream Socials, Cake Me Away, and Fun Faire filled some afternoons.
The Pinnacle Grill and Canaletto restaurants were booked full every night including multiple Tamarind nights, Morimoto Pop-Up Dinners, and Cellar Master Dinners.
If every Legendary Voyage is like this one, we think the concept will be highly successful.
We hope you have the urge to go to Alaska. It is a spectacular part of our beautiful country and even a simple 7-day cruise will give you much of the flavor. But do get out of town, away from the shopping and the crowds, and experience the wildlife, the glaciers, the jaw-dropping scenery and the native cultures.
Our next trip is another Legendary Voyage, the 42-Day Ultimate Mediterranean and Atlantic Passage this November.
Thank you all for joining us on our Alaska Adventure.
‘Til the next time,
Fondly,
Wendy and Steve
See all blog posts:
Pre-Cruise, Alaska Awaits! | Our Adventure Begins! | Discovering Alaska | Seward, Dutch Harbor & Nome | Kodiak & Anchorage | Glacier Bay | Juneau & Misty Fjords
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