Cruisin'

Our Alaska cruise is a few days away and we're curious about what it is going to be like. Preparing for it has already been interesting... I've borrowed a big suitcase from one neighbour and 'cruising' clothes from another. Quite a change from a carry-on with runners, a change of clothes, and an extra layer or two in case we need it. Now I'm taking jewellery, good shoes, two formal outfits, and a sports jacket and tie for Bill! Neither one of us think this is the "real us" but ask me in a week .... Who knows, by then, we might be ready to head out to buy new luggage and sign up for another.

We already realize a few essential things about cruise travel. It is hard to see the wildlife from the boat because we'll be looking down on them from many stories above the water. The cost of the cruise only begins to tell the story as we check out the $500 (US) helicopter trips to the glaciers, full-day boat trips to see the grizzly bear and salmon country, and train trips to the Yukon. The inside cabin that was recommended to Bill for our first time (in case we get sea sick) can feel like a coffin if we are in fact sick and confined to quarters. We are entering a confined area with 1900+ people at a time when the H1N1 flu is about to take hold (again, that enclosed coffin...). And, it rains every day in Ketchikan and has been windy, cold and rainy at all the other spots we are going to for the past two weeks.

In spite of all of the above, we also know that the scenery will be beyond magnificent and the trips into the towns that now depend on tourism to replace logging, fishing and gold mines, will be worthwhile if you are prepared to dig a bit past the tourist stands and look for authentic rather than made in China...

We leave on Saturday from Vancouver and return the following Saturday.