Report #20 Sunday, September 20, 2026---Scenic Cruising Hubbard Glacier---8am-12:30pm----Heavy Overcast With Rain----43 Degrees---99% Humidity----3.1mph--Winds

It was a very cold and rainy morning when the Zaandam arrived at Hubbard Glacier this fine Sunday.  The temperature was 43 degrees, with 99% humidity, and winds of 3.1 mph.  Looking out our veranda door, we saw an extremely dark horizon with seas the color of glacier melt.   There were white caps due to the winds and swells.   And there was fog.....not the best for glacier viewing.  The plan for the morning was vague as it was printed in the Daily newsletter.  The bow was opened at 8am and would remain open until 12:30pm.   Scenic cruising commentary by travel guide, Holly, began around 8am.  Which happened to be our breakfast time.   Once again, we were all reminded to keep our things from blowing overboard, and please do not feed any animals or birds we might see.    Not a problem, we saw no wildlife and only a handful of birds.   

The speed limit arriving to this massive glacier was slow, so we did not actually arrive at the face until closer to 10am.  We were the only cruise ship there today.  From our veranda, we could hear the snap - crackle- pop of the bergie bits, brash ice, and growlers as we passed through them.   Reminded us of Rice Krispies.  In the distance, we could hear the thunderous sounds of glacier ice cracking.   And the ship was still far away from the face of the glacier for us to see any possible calving.   At that point, the face was still shrouded in fog.  

Only a small crowd of people braved the rain and cold to watch from the bow and deck six forward.  One minute outside, and you were soaked as Bill found out by going to the front on deck six.   Here are some facts about Hubbard Glacier.  It is the largest tidewater glacier in North America with an ice field 76 miles long.  Located in eastern Alaska, the glacier flows into Disenchantment Bay near the town of Yakutat.  The face of Hubbard is 6 miles wide with ice that rises up to 400 feet tall above the water.  The depth of the water at the face is between 200 and 250 feet deep.  There are no roads that come here, so the only access is by boat, cruise ship, or scenic flights.   There are a couple of small expedition boats that offer day tours from $250 to $360 per person.   There are no zodiac landings allowed here. 

Once the Captain got us within a mile of the face,  we realized how massive this glacier is.  Very impressive, we learned that Hubbard is advancing, not receding.  Now the best part we saved until last.    Just as we reached the far end of the ice, it began to calf.  Not once or twice, but several times.  It looked more like bombs exploding as the ice and snow hit the water below.    Once we heard the thunderous cracking, the calving was extremely fast.  If you blinked, you missed it.   We were thrilled to have witnessed this activity finally and were ready with the camera just in case - capturing some good shots.  Before 11am, the Captain slowly left the ice-filled waters and headed towards the opening of this tidewater glacier.  

We did see some birds flying in the area of the bay.  Most were different types of gulls, but then we did see a couple of boobies.   They appeared to be brown boobies, a bird we usually see everywhere else but here.  There may have been some eagles, but they tend to fly high and with the fog, would be hard to film. 

The Captain came on with his noon talk reporting a wonderful morning of glacier viewing.  He was happy to report that he and the pilot had gotten within a mile of the face.  Now we will have 288 nautical miles from the Yakitat Bay to reach Valdez tomorrow, where he will drop anchor and tender us to shore.    He warned us that we can expect up to 15 foot waves this evening and advised us to be most careful.  He also ordered all the outside decks to be closed from noontime onward.  The polar bear plunge was cancelled, not that we would do it.  And the planned entertainment by the singers and dancers would be moved to tomorrow due to the high seas.   The string ensemble, Vivace would play in the World Stage tonight. 

We kept busy processing hundreds of photos and doing research for the blog.   During the course of the afternoon, the clouds did break up revealing patches of sun.  And as promised, the waves did increase causing the ship to list in a long roll.  We ordered a salad and a couple of sandwiches from room service for lunch.  We understood from the waiter that they were very busy this afternoon.  This held true for dinnertime when Liberty mentioned room service was slammed.  Most of us looked like drunken sailors just getting to our tables.  

A few new items showed up on tonight's menu such as shrimp taco starters and arugula salad with squash and pumpkin seeds.  It is really good with their balsamic vinaigrette.  Mains were chicken Parmigiana with spaghetti and a pork chop with an added baked potato and toppings.    We shared one small slice of carrot cake.   Hope the rain lets up for our stop in Valdez tomorrow - a first time visit for us.

Bill & Mary Ann

 

241 Pictures

Report #19 Saturday, September 19, 2026---Sitka, Alaska--8am-4:30pm---Docked Port Side To Pier--Rain--54 Degrees--12.7mph Winds---90% Humidity-----Casual Dress

We arrived early to the port of Sitka with temperatures in the mid 50's, 88% to 100% humidity, and 12.7 mph winds.   The 100% humidity was due to light rain, which we knew was coming our way.  Not a bad rain, but wet and drippy off and on most of the day.  As long as we were dressed properly and packed umbrellas, we were fine with it.  

Sitka is a major tourist destination with a current population of 8200 people.  It was the seat of the Russian empire in North America since 1741.  The credit for this discovery goes to Danish explorer Vitus Bering who was part of the Russian Navy. 

Native Tlingit warriors destroyed the first Russian settlement, only to be defeated a few years later.  The Russians capitalized on the otter hunts for their excellent pelts almost to the point of extinction.  By reading some of the signage in the park today, we learned that not only the European women desired the furs, but the Chinese valued them even more.   It is said that the Chinese paid 10 times what they were worth for the prestige of owning these plush furs. 

In 1867, Alaska was sold to the United States and Sitka remained the capital until 1912.  The territorial government was established in Juneau where it remains to this day.  A picturesque town, Sitka has both native Tlingit and Russian history that has been preserved for centuries.  In our opinion, this city is far different from Juneau, Skagway, and even Ketchikan.  Far less commercialized.  

Some of the ship's excursions included the Fortress of the Bear and Raptor Center for $115.   The Raptor Center is a sanctuary for eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls that have been injured.  It is a chance to see these birds of prey close up.   Also a tour we took many years ago.  

The pedal and pub crawl involved a unique 15-passenger bike with stops for locally crafted beer.    We assume it went rain or shine.   

The sea otter and wildlife quest is a tour we have done in the past.  It is a 2 ½ hour boat ride with hopes of seeing otters, whales, seals,  bald eagles and more.   

Then there was the Fortress of the Bear and Silver Bay Cruise for $255.  It is a sanctuary for orphaned bears, more like a zoo setting.  The cruise part took the folks into a glacier-carved fjord to spot sea lions and otters.

Breakfast got busy around 8:30am.  We have an all-new crowd now that is enjoying the food and service here as well as the free mimosas and fresh-squeezed orange juice.  On a side note, we noticed a change with the serving dishes in both the dining room and Pinnacle.  The bowl-like dishes that yogurt was served in are reduced to a smaller glass container that holds about 6 ounces of food.   Portion control?  Our waiters admitted the new glass containers are quite breakable, so they don't like them.   Neither do we.  The berries we have every morning are best when added to the yogurt.  Now there is no room for them.  Maybe we can ask for a small soup bowl.

A crew drill began around 10am, so it was a good time to go off of the ship.  Layered up and packing umbrellas, we headed through the terminal area and to the waiting shuttle bus.  There was no need for us to get a shuttle ticket.  Besides, most all of the tours had left, and there was no line of guests waiting for the ride to town.  And we got lucky with a new bus with plenty of leg room.  It was not so on the way back later on.   Crescent Harbor is where the cruise ships used to drop anchor before the new facility was built.   There was a very small ship there, but we did not catch the name.

We happened to be here in Sitka at the end of April while on the Grand World Voyage.   The mountaintops were covered with snow and it was gorgeous.  Many of the stores and restaurants were not opened for the season yet, so we never went to lunch.  From the drop-off at the Harrigan Centennial Hall, we followed the Sea Walk that took us past the Crescent Harbor full of fishing boats.  The Russian Bishop's House was across the street built in 1841.  It is one of the oldest buildings here.  

St. Peter's by the Sea Episcopal Church was built in 1899 and is one of the oldest standing churches in Sitka.   Continuing up the scenic street, we came across the Sitka Sound Science Center, which used to be a hydro plant.  Now it is an onsite fish hatchery, an aquarium, a wet lab, and learning center.  There is also a fish ladder where we watched the silver salmon going up the creek.  Since today was a Saturday, the center was closed. 

Across the road was the Sheldon Jackson State Museum, the oldest in Alaska.  Opened since 1897, it houses over 6000 native artifacts from the entire state.  

Our final destination was the best -   Sitka National Historical Park, the oldest park in the entire state.   Besides the towering spruce and fir trees, it has the site of the 1804 battle between the native Tlingits and the Russians.   Modern-carved totem poles line the forest walk.   A sobering sign is always posted at the beginning of the path warning folks of recent bear sightings.  Hoping not to encounter one, the only critter we saw that lives here is a red squirrel about the size of a chipmunk.  We must have walked into its territory because it flitted back and forth between us and the shoreline before ducking into the brush.  Cute little thing.   

Another big attraction here has to be at the mouth of the Indian River where the remains of the silver salmon lined the banks of the river.   We never saw so many birds, mostly sea gulls, ravens, herons, and some bald eagles.   Watching them gorge themselves with the rotting salmon brought a whole new meaning to the term of a "salmon feast".    No kidding, there must have been 1000 birds if not more.  

The trail turned at this point, and we followed the shorter one back to the visitor center.  The forest floor is littered with fallen and decaying trees and made the scenery even more intriguing.   The trees are so densely planted that it was dark there.   It was lightly raining, but under the canopy of the trees, we did not get very wet.   

The all aboard time was 4:30pm, so we had to bide our time to make it back to town and have enough time for a leisurely lunch.   Unlike the last visit here,  all of the eateries were open for business.   We chose the Cold-Water Bar and Grill which used to be the Westmark Hotel's restaurant.  It was sold a few years ago but still offers the same type of cuisine.  

Seated at a window table, we ordered two Alaska Amber drafts, a salad, one cheeseburger with fries, and finally - a slice of mud pie.  How about that?  Never expected the treat of mud pie today, which needless to say, was quite good.   We left the bar and grill around 2pm, and joined a waiting shuttle back to the pier.    This time, we were in what the locals call the "prison" bus.  The seats were so close together, it was obviously a school bus.   We went all the way to the back to find seats with a little more leg room.  Made for the little ones, we all had to sit sideways.  Good thing it was a short ride.

We got back to the room after 3pm due to a long wait to board the ship.  Many people were being scanned twice because they cranked up the xray or they were training new security people.   Good thing it was not raining at the time.

The Captain came on with his talk at 4:30pm saying we had 227 nautical miles to reach Hubbard Glacier tomorrow.  The timing would depend on the amount of ice and the weather conditions.    Then he added that the winds were expected to pick up to 30 to 40 mph tonight with 8 to 11-foot waves all evening.  He advised all of us to be careful around and about the ship. 

Dinner time found us ordering Caesar salads and mains of halibut and prime rib.  Both were delicious.  We passed on the dessert. 

The Shredderz were on stage tonight with classics from the Beatles,  AC/DC, and Queen. 

Looking forward to seeing Hubbard Glacier tomorrow.  It has been years since we were there, so we hope the ice and bad weather do not cancel the stop. 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

307 Pictures

Report #18 Friday, September 18, 2026---Sea Day #2 Of 2----Scenic Cruising---Clarence Strait---Snow Passage---Sumner Strait---Cloudy And Rain---57 Degrees--6.6mph---Winds---80% Humidity-----Casual Dress

Our day at sea was better because we had turned the clocks back one hour last night.    One extra hour of sleep is always welcomed.   Many of the Neptune guests came to breakfast for a change, so the room filled up quickly.    Megan, the manager, had his hands full accommodating the group, but he is one of the rare managers that dig in and help out.  It is not beneath him to help with the bussing and re-setting the tables.   Breakfast for us was seamless.  

The weather was totally different from what we enjoyed yesterday.    It was 57 degrees with 80% humidity.  The winds were 6.6 mph with smooth seas but very overcast skies.  Downright gloomy would be the best word for it.   

At one point in the morning, the Zaandam was across from the city of Ketchikan, but further away traveling in the Inside Passage.  The ship's speed was 12 knots, more or less.  The scenery was much the same as yesterday but with far less sun.   Even though it was not printed in the itinerary,  the bow was opened for the few brave folks that desired to brave the cold and watch the waters for wildlife.   

The Captain mentioned in his noon talk that we had gone 662 nautical miles from Vancouver with another 237 nautical miles to teach Sitka.  We were currently sailing the Clarence Strait with Snow Passage and Sumner Strait yet to come.   Truthfully, it all looked the same as yesterday without the numerous animal sightings.   The Captain added that we would be turning out to open seas by dinnertime and stressed the importance of being careful moving about the ship.  He mentioned that increased motion would be caused by increasing winds and   produced 6 -7 foot seas.  He was right on with his predictions.  

At 12:30pm, we had the first and only sighting of a small humpback whale spouting near the distant shoreline.   There was a light drizzle at this point, and we realized it sure made it uncomfortable for us.   We did see a few sea otters as they floated by the ship at 12;30pm.   There were more bird sightings and Stellar seals seen laying on some low-laying islets.    Beside some gulls, there were sea birds such as cormorants, and some ducks. 

 

In the meantime, we got a letter last night with information concerning the shuttles in some upcoming ports.    Our first stop will be Sitka, where there will be a bus transfer to the city.    Unless we had booked a tour, we would have to get tender tickets or go off of the ship later.  We were here in April of this year while on the Grand World cruise, and we did not have a problem with the transfer. 

Valdez will require tendering and the guests have been urged to get tender tickets by appointment.   Those with priority tendering will get separate directions.

Kodiak Island was tendering with similar instructions like the port of Valdez. 

Homer is another tender port, but for President's Club members, we are given a complimentary shuttle.   

Anchorage is a docked port, so no tickets needed.  There will be a shuttle to the downtown area of Anchorage and will operate for two days.  We are glad to have all of this info ahead of time, so we can figure our timing onshore even better.    

Around 2:30pm, we ordered a room service lunch with one Caesar chicken salad, a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a shared club sandwich.   It was about then that we saw the Stellar sea lions laying all over small islets along the way.    There were plenty of seabirds around them as well as cormorants.    Then we saw a few sea otters, just like the ones we saw in Glacier Bay.    

The drizzle had turned into a light rain, so we were forced to go back inside.  It did not last long, but rain is in the forecast for tomorrow.   We knew this lucky streak would not last for long.    

Dinner time came quickly, so we headed off to the dining room by 7:30pm.   It has been so cool there, we decided to leave on our vests and jacket .   Most everyone had a type of cover-up so we were not out of place.   It seems that the menu has been a repeat of the 7-day cruises so far.  Liberty confirmed our suspicions.  Starters were the salmon salad, one without the salmon.  The fish was good I was told.   Mains were one turkey dinner and one chili rellenos plate - a nice change.   One of us had the vanilla raspberry swirl ice cream...only one scoop.  

A vocalist, Mark Kopitzke, was the singer performing in the show lounge tonight.   The ship was beginning to roll by 9pm, and the best  place for us was in our room.    By the time we get up tomorrow, we will be docked in Valdez, a first-time visit for us.

Bill & Mary Ann

 

55 Pictures

Report #17 Thursday, September 17, 2026---Sea Day #1 Of 2---Cruising Great Bear Rain Forest, Royal Island, Grenville Chanel----Sunny--86% Humidity--11mph Winds-----Dressy Dress

We woke up to cool temps in the mid 50's, 86% humidity, and 11 mph winds.  The ship was doing a steady speed of 16 knots when we were in open waters.  By the time we approached the tree-studded islands, fog appeared thick enough for the foghorn to be blown around 10:30am.   Not a good sign.....

The Zaandam was doing scenic cruising of Princess Royal Island, the Great Bear Rainforest, and Grenville Island.   When and where we actually sailed past these islands was sort of a mystery, because there was no commentary on the outside decks or on the bow channel.   The only mention of this sailing was when the Captain came on with his noon talk.   He said we had gone 328 nautical miles since departing Vancouver and had another 569 nautical miles to go to be in Sitka on Saturday.    The bow would be open until 8pm this evening, weather permitting.    And by some miracle, the fog lifted by 12:30pm and presented clear, blue skies.   How lucky was that?    

We had all the scenic cruising we needed right from our veranda.   No need to tell us to keep the binoculars and cameras close by for sightings of abundant wildlife such as humpback whales, soaring eagles, and many sea birds.   This is all part of the Tongass Rainforest, the largest temperate rainforest in the world.  We have never seen so many trees on as many islands.  There were a few scattered villages, but for the most part, it is a virgin forest with little industry that we could see.   An occasional fishing boat would drift by every now and then. 

We did have another invite for a wine tasting at 1:45pm, but scenic sailing won out.   Besides we do not drink wine, but it is nice to be invited.  

It was the perfect time to work on photos and do some reading.  Lunch was from room service with one salad and one bowl of soup.   We shared a plate of two mini burger sliders with a couple of watermelon spears.  

It wasn't until closer to 3:30pm that we started seeing whale blows.   The displays began with a few humpbacks, then they were everywhere.  We witnessed some unusual behavior with two whales performing powerful tail slamming.  Not once or twice, but over and over.   Now we wonder if that was a sign of stress?  Time to do some research which is so easy these days with Google.  Another small pod seemed to be breaching the surface, while others were shallow feeding, not diving.  It certainly was the perfect time for the photographers among us.  Once again, there were no announcements made ship wide, so it was the luck of the draw for these special sightings.   An added plus was that the sun was shining, warming us up somewhat.  We watched the scenery until it was time for dinner.   

Tonight was dressy and the Captain's welcome toast in the World Stage at one time - 7:15pm.   Our dinner time is fixed at 7:30pm, more or less, so we never go to the toast.  This might have been a good evening to have gone to the Pinnacle Grill for dinner since the menu was not all that exciting.   It was the same menu as the last two weeks, but the rack of lamb was nowhere as good or tender as the last time it was ordered.  One of us had asked for the surf and turf steak and shrimp meal but was served the alternate steak instead.  Not wanting to wait for the correct entree, we kept what we had.   Actually, the steak was better than the lamb and it came with French fries.     No need for dessert, we headed back to our room.  

The show was performed by the singers and dancers with classic hits from past years.   

Tomorrow we will have more scenic cruising and hope it is as good as today's.  And we had to put the clocks back one hour to be on Alaska time.  No problem.

Bill & Mary Ann

 

241 Pictures

Report #16 Wednesday, September 16, 2026---Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada--7am-2pm--Docked Starboard Side To Pier---Sunny---54 Degrees----92% Humidity---3mph Winds------Casual Dress

Today we are back to Vancouver where the Zaandam slipped under the Lions Gate Bridge around 6:25am.  Just as the Captain said.  We were docked at 7am,  with the Island Princess in our regular spot and the Coral Princess on the other side of Canada Place.   The temperature was 54 degrees with 92% humidity.  The winds were slight at 3 mph.   The skies were as clear as could be.....the nicest we have seen it here in a long time.   There was not a cloud in sight and it stayed that way all day.

 

Breakfast began at a very early time of 6am in the Lido, 6:30am for the dining room and the same time for us in the Pinnacle.   We did go closer to 7am to find we were among the first there.  

 

The various luggage tags were called around 7:15am, after the expedited guests left the ship.  We waited until 9:30amm before we departed.  That was about the same time the deck crew came through the verandas to hose and scrub them.   We made sure the door was locked before leaving the room.   

 

Today we hiked further towards Stanley Park, but had to turn around at Vancouver Rowing Club.  Since the all aboard time was early at 1:30pm, we had to be back to make it to lunch, then have enough time to go through USCBP at Canada Place.  Last week, this process was quick and easy.   Today?  Not so much.

 

Our destination for lunch was the same as last week.....the Steamworks Brewery.   We made it there by 11:30am and were seated by the same waitress we had last week.   She remembered us and also recalled our itinerary.  Pretty good.  Of course, we ordered their delicious Hawaiian pizza and a few Lions Gate Lagers, one of their most awarded beers.  Relaxing for an hour was quite nice.

 

Time to go, we headed back to the terminal to a "zoo" of guests destined for three ships.  The earlier boarding time was the difference from last week.  We had a different security person, who would not let the "in transit" guests in the crew line.  Last week we were let into the shorter line without even asking.   Today?  Nope, it was not happening.   The xray point was the hold-up,  so once through that, we had to pass the facial recognition check.  We had to bring our passports with us today, but there was not any time that we were asked to show it.   When we debark for the final time, we will need it then.  

 

Back in our room, we had our President's Club gifts of flowers and 20 Coke Zeros.   New shipboard credits had been added to our account...always nice.  Then we played the safety video on our TV, but we were not required to go to the muster station this time.  We completed the full drill last week, so we should be good for 30 days.  

 

Captain Willems came on with his 1:30pm talk explaining the muster procedure.  Then he continued with the upcoming plan for this cruise where we start with two full sea days.  Really fine with us.  

 

The ship left around 2:15pm where we watched from deck six forward.  After sailing under the bridge,  he picked up the speed and it was downright cold.  We did stay long enough to spot some whales about 100 yards in the front of the ship.  The bow had been opened for viewing, but the majority of people had left before the whales appeared.   Since all of the guests were watching the starboard shoreline, they missed seeing the whales. 

 

Back on our veranda, we took in the sun and were treated with more whale sightings as we left Vancouver.   Was so nice with the sun shining we passed going to the brief cocktail party in the Lido poolside at 6pm.  Dinner had begun at 5pm, so we had doubts that many folks would be there.   

 

The sun was just going down by the time we left for the dining room.   One of us had the French onion soup which was nice & hot, while the other tried the cod slider.   Both good.  Then we added one Caesar salad and one plate of tomatoes with mozzarella cheese slices.    Mains were lasagna and pork tenderloins with lingonberry sauce.   Normally we do not do dessert, but tonight we ordered on berry tart and a dish of double chocolate chip ice cream.   For the first night of a cruise, the dining room was about full.   This group appears to be older than the previous two 7 day cruises.  

 

There was one show tonight with a preview of what's to come on this18 day trip.  Sure looking forward to two days at sea on the way to Sitka.

 

Bill & Mary Ann  

 

153 Pictures

Report #15 Tuesday, September 15, 2026---Cruising The Inside Passage Enroute To Vancouver, Canada---1pm-7:30pm---Sunny---55 Degrees---90% Humidity---12.3mph--Winds---Ships Speed 15 Knots----Casual Dress

Today is the last day at sea on our way back to Vancouver for most.   We woke up to overcast skies with temperatures in the mid-50's and humidity at 90%.  The winds were a mere 12.3 mph, and the ship's speed was 15 knots.  The skies seemed to change all day with some sun, blue skies, and fog on the horizon.  No rain.  As we entered the inside islands, the sailing was very smooth.  

We had forgotten there was a brunch in the dining room at 9:30am, so that's why  there were few of us in the Pinnacle Grill.   Of course, the clocks went ahead one hour last night, and many guests would sleep in later.    Especially those who took advantage of the Have-It-All package last night for this cruise. 

We also got our letter with instructions for tomorrow's stop in Vancouver.    It appears that the all aboard time will be 1:30pm, so that will limit the time we have ashore.  Taking our passports and in-transit cards with us, we should be back to the ship by 1pm or so.   There probably will be at least two other ships in port, so we need to have time to go through customs.   Since we did the full muster drill last week, we do not have to do the muster tomorrow.....only watch the video in our room.   

While we worked on the computer, we had a visit from a small sparrow-like bird that was hopping from balcony- to- balcony in search of crumbs.   The little bird must have jumped ship yesterday while in Ketchikan.   He or she will have a long flight back home.  

The Captain came on with his noon talk to say farewell and safe travels to the departing guests.  This week has sure gone by quickly.   He said we were on the watch for some Pacific white-sided dolphins or possibly cougars on the islands.  Yes, we have seen the dolphins, but never a cougar, which would be exciting.   "Last chance" sales were in progress throughout the ship, so the guests were quite busy buying things.  That included buying tickets for a $1300 jackpot bingo where the prize had to go today. 

One of us needed to use the complimentary beverage vouchers we had been given at the beginning of the cruises.   Forgetting to do this, two of the vouchers had expired and could not be honored.  The other two gave us two Coke Zeros.   

We ordered a light room service lunch where one of us had the best chicken noodle soup ever.  The bowl was loaded with veggies and noodles for a change.  Not like the soups where they add some tiny things at the bottom of the bowl, then pour the broth over it. 

We noticed that we were following the Island Princess while starting into the narrow passages between the islands.  Then later, there was a third ship following up in the rear.  We assume it was another Princess ship.  We searched the shorelines for possible orca sightings but never saw any.  Around 7pm, there were a few porpoises and some birds.  No matter what, it was still scenic sailing.

Dinnertime arrived and we both ordered the wedge salad, which is a small version of the one in the Pinnacle Grill.  We have to make a better effort to make reservations there since we each get 10 free dinners on every back-to-back cruise we do.    One of us ordered the beef Wellington and the pork tenderloin.  Both meals were excellent with very tender meat cooked just right.   Around 8:30pm, the Maitre'd announced the farewell song was about to start.  This time there were only three chefs leading the line of waiters.    The song was short and sweet, and the crew did not parade through the dining room.   Only a couple of folks waved the napkins.  Desserts were baked Alaska, the small version. 

Entertainment was a group called The Shredderz with a rock symphony including a cello and a fiery electric guitar.    Iconic sounds of Queen, Led Zeppelin and Guns and Roses would be the music. 

It will be an early breakfast tomorrow and a short day in Vancouver.

Back in our room, we had two more tiles and an invitation for an exclusive cocktail party from 6 to 6:30pm in the Lido poolside.  No specific groups were listed, but we were included as one of their top Mariners.  

Bill & Mary Ann

 

47 Pictures

Report #14 Monday, September 14, 2026--Ketchikan, Alaska 11am-5:30pm--Docked Port Side To Pier--Overcast---54 Degrees--84% Humidity--3,9mph--Winds-----Dressy Dress

Ketchikan is the southernmost city in Alaska and is considered Alaska's first city.  It is located on Revillagigedo Island, populated with 8000 people.  The Tongass Narrows waterway is busy with cruise ships, float planes, fishing boats, and ferries.   Massive glaciers from the past carved out the present landscape of saltwater fjords and 3000-foot cliffs.  The largest collection of totem poles in the world is here.   

 

The Zaandam was the last cruise ship to arrive today at 11am.  The Oceana Riviera was docked at Ward Cove, 7 miles away from downtown, while Cunard's Queen Elizabeth, the Discovery Princess and Island Princess were docked in town.    The navigation team did a fine job of parallel parking between the larger Princess ships.   We had the best spot in town, directly across from the nice info center. 

 

Once again, the weather was going to be nice with temps in the mid 50's, winds at 3.9 mph, 84% humidity and overcast skies with some sun peeking through at times.  It was cool, but nothing like the chill in Glacier Bay yesterday.  The best news was that there was no rain in the forecast.   Ketchikan is one of the wettest cities in America.   

 

 By the time the gangway was in position, an ambulance pulled alongside with their sirens going.   There was to be a medical disembark with the help of two firemen who pulled up behind the ambulance.   Scores of guests were pouring off the gangway, vying to be first in line for the waiting tour buses.   Eventually, an elderly lady was wheeled down and was whisked away to the hospital.  

 

We left the ship by 11:30am and headed in a different direction to access the rapids above Creek Street.  There were so many people in that district last week, and we did not want to repeat that experience.  We went directly to the fish ladder and platform to watch the salmon fighting their way upstream.   What a site.....one we never tire of witnessing.  We continued up Park Avenue where the creek follows the road.  There must have been 100 million salmon in the waters, many of which had already died.  We have heard that they do not have to go far upstream to spawn.  The fight to get up here exhausts them so much, that many do not make it.   The banks of the river are loaded with the carcasses of those who gave up or already spawned.  We have been told by locals that bears will come down from the mountains to feed on these fish.  People know this and do not go out walking once it gets dark. 

 

Crossing the bridge on Park Avenue, we witnessed bank-to-bank fish.  There were more fish than creek water.   Turning right on Salmon Row, there is a hatchery there that is now an aquaculture facility.   They did not seem to be open to the public.   There is a City Park there with holding ponds that were used for keeping fresh salmon for special gatherings in the distant past.   Benches line the walkways and we always find it a good place to relax and take in the scenery and tourist activity.  A visit to the nearby Totem Heritage Center is another possibility here. 

 

On the way back, we ran into a couple of nice ladies who were traveling on the Island Princess.  Actually they stopped us and asked directions, specifically if there were restrooms here.  We chatted for a while sharing where we were from.  One of them was from Tennessee and her friend was a New Yorker.  Always nice to visit with other cruise guests and share stories.  Bidding them farewell, we headed back to town and the restaurant for lunch.   

 

This time we ordered one salad and a chicken tender meal with French fries.   Alaskan Amber drafts were our choice of beer, and one slice of a decadent dark chocolate cake was a shared dessert.   We watched as two ladies at a nearby table devoured their one leg of King crab with gusto.  Cannot imagine paying $190 for that meal, but when in Rome.......etc.  This might be our final chance for lunch here, since they told us they will be closing for the season September 30th.  

 

The gangway had been moved to deck one, due to the tidal fluctuation.  We were back onboard by 3:30pm where we worked online until dinnertime.   The new computer is giving one of us a bear of a time as it is tending to lose things or put them somewhere hidden.  

 

Cunard left at 5pm, then the two Princess ships pulled out.  We were last to depart.  The clocks will go forward one hour this evening.

 

Dinner was dressy, although few folks took the time to comply, including us.  A sweater and a sport coat worked just fine.  It has been on the chilly side in the upper dining room, so most guests wear something comfortable.  We had nice music with the Vivace strings for almost an hour.  Starters were one Caesar salad and a shrimp cocktail with avocado diced so small it was almost invisible.  Tasted good though.  Mains were the Parmesan-crusted sea bass and one oxtail and pasta plate.  They still offered us Jello and we were glad to have it.  Once again there was a seafood boil in the Lido for $35 and a chocolate surprise at 9:30pm on deck five.   

 

The World Stage Cast performed a musical journey with show-stopping numbers.  Songs from the Jersey Boys, West Side Story, Chicago, and Hairspray were part of the entertainment.  Tomorrow will be a day at sea traveling through the Inside Passage. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

238 Pictures

Report #13 Sunday, September 13, 2026---Glacier Bay National Park---6:30am-4pm---Sunny---39 Degrees---3.2mph-Winds---82% Humidity----14 Knots--Ships Speed------Casual Dress With A Splash Of Orange

Our second day of cruising in Glacier Bay was every bit as nice as a week ago.  The Zaandam entered the bay near Bartlett Cove, where the rangers, the cultural ambassador, and Alaska Geographic reps boarded the ship at 6:30am.   The temperature was a cool 39 degrees, the humidity was 82%, and the winds were slight at 3.2mph.  The forecast on the tv was broken clouds, but there was more blue sky than clouds or fog today.   With the ship doing 14 knots, there was a wind chill factor making it seem colder than it was.   It does rain a lot here, like 70 inches annually in the months of May and June.  Today we welcomed the sun.

 

By 7:30am we were passing Willoughby Island on the port and the Marble Islands on the starboard.  We bundled up and went out on deck six forward to be able to view Gloomy Knob up close and personal.   We skipped going to breakfast at 8am and stayed for at least an hour taking photos of another surprise sighting of bears at the start of the granite cliffs of the Knob.  Although the ranger pointed them out, these bears would not be visible without binoculars.  This time we saw one female brown bear with two cubs, then another adult bear in the creek that flows to the bay here.  The ranger claimed to see two more cubs with the second bear, but we did not spot them.    Last week we had a sighting of a Grizzley bear directly above the sandy beach standing on a cliff.   Pretty exciting.  

 

This time of day, the granite cliffs are in the shade, so seeing the mountain goats is more difficult.  Very few of the daring goats were visible, but we did manage to get some photos as the ship sailed by them slowly.    That's about the time we decided we were frozen to the bone despite the heavy clothing.  It was time to head for breakfast and lots of hot coffee.   Megan, the manager, knew we were outside for this scenic cruising, so he had not given our table away.  Our waiter Ano had our yogurts ready with soaked apricots and the best-looking berries he could find.   Now we had blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries.   Are they spoiling us or what?    We stayed until close to 10am, chatting with Megan for a while.  Since tonight was the Morimoto dinner, there would not be any lunch here today.    

 

Shortly after 10am, we had reached Margerie Glacier, which once again did not display any calving.    There were a couple of loud cracks, but no results.  The Captain turned the ship for all to view the glacier before heading back down into the bay and out of Tarr Inlet where we spotted the sea otters floating by.  Once again, the itinerary said we would pass by Johns Hopkins and Lamplugh Glaciers, but we had another surprise of sailing into the inlet, passing Jaw Point on the port side.   We did a quick turnaround at Johns Hopkins and went back out sailing by Lamplugh Glacier.  This glacier is mostly "dirty" ice with glacial silt and rocks.   A small expedition vessel, the Safari Quest, was stopped near the face, and later we saw in our photos that a zodiac had been launched with a couple of guests possibly going for a landing.  Lamplugh is 1 mile wide with a 19-mile ice flow to the inlet.   The state of Alaska has over 100,000 glaciers reportedly 95% of them thinning, stagnating, or retreating.  A trend we suspect is a natural change of events in evolution. 

 

We saw very few birds today, even the common seagulls were not flying in flocks.    No cranes or eagles....just a few ducks here and there.  We passed Gloomy Knob again at 1:30pm where the exposure was far better with the sun shining on the cliffs.    We did see the mountain goats this afternoon, and although there were fewer wildlife sightings, the scenery was stunning.  The waters of the bay were smooth as glass with reflections to match.  

 

Passing by the Marble Islands, there were a number of Stellar sea lions resting on the rocks.  You really needed good binoculars to see them.   

 

Sitakaday Narrows, near the opening of the bay was reached by 3:30pm.  The ranger said it is a very rich area for the otters, seals, and whales.  It was also close to where the rangers departed for Bartlett Cove after 4pm.  By that time, the temperature had warmed up to 57 degrees.    Still cool.

 

We had an invitation to a cocktail party with the hotel director and a few other guests at 5pm in the Crow's Nest.   However, due to ongoing back problems, we had to decline.    Still nice to be asked.

 

We filled out another Canadian declaration form to be turned in tomorrow morning.   Then we were off to the Dutch/Orange dinner in the dining room.  We had missed the Dutch pea soup at 10:30am, so we looked forward to a bowl of the soup for starters.  Worth the wait...it was good.  One of us had the bay shrimp cocktail and the other ordered the Westland salad.  While we waited for the beef tenderloin entree, we had a visit by Liberty, the nicest assistant maitre'd we met while on last year's fall cruises.    Last year, he personally served us hot food every evening.   We understand he will be replacing Yudy who will leave the ship soon.   There sure have been many changes with the crew this time.  Once we get the names memorized, they seem to be departing.  

 

There was a comedy show in the World Stage with Pete Zedlacher.  We heard he was funny.  Tomorrow we will be in Ketchikan again.  Sure hope this streak of good weather follows us.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

172 Pictures

Report #12 Saturday, September 12, 2026----Skagway, Alaska---6:30am-8:30pm---Docked Starboard Side To Pier---Sunny With Overcast---43 Degrees---93% Humidity---4.6mph Winds----Casual Dress

The Zaandam arrived to Skagway by 6:30am and was alongside starboard shortly thereafter at Broadway Dock.  There were a significant number of excursions today that ranged from $55 to $460 with the first groups leaving by 7:15am.   The Island Princess was already tied up at the Ore Dock.  There were only two cruise ships this week as well as the local ferry.  

 

At the time we arrived, the temperature was a crisp 43 degrees, but it warmed up to 45 degrees by 9am....big difference.   The humidity was 93% and the winds were calm at 4.6mph.   This valley is known for its fierce, treacherous winds, so we were lucky it was a nice and calm day.  We did read that just a few days ago another HAL could not dock here due to the winds and had to go elsewhere.  The skies were a mix of blue and high clouds.  That would change to mostly overcast skies later in the afternoon.   No rain was in sight.

 

It was just the two of us for breakfast until 8:30am or so when four more guests arrived.  That is to be expected on port days when the tours go off early.  

 

We have not seen a printed NY Times mini-paper anywhere, so we asked at the front desk.  The answer was that they do not print them anymore on the shorter cruises....only on the Grand voyages.   The paper is still available on their navigator site for those with cell phones.   No....we still do not own one and do not intend to buy one.  It has been hard enough figuring out the new computer we recently purchased let alone learn to operate a new cell phone.   

 

Not in a hurry to go off of the ship, we hung around keeping busy with photos and writing.    Taking the same route we did last week,  we left at 11am to fairly empty streets in town.   Must have been a good day for the cruise ships to book tours.  A short hike along Pullen Creek to the pond revealed that the fish had not arrived yet, or we may have missed the salmon run altogether.  No sign of Dolly Varden trout either.   

 

Once again, we did not venture as far as we usually do mainly because we are still trying to catch up on lost sleep due to the uncomfortable mattresses.  We have to report that both mattresses have been replaced with new ones, and thicker pads have been added also.  That has to help get us through the night and back on track.  

 

It is fun walking the main streets in town taking in all of the old buildings.  As we turned on Broadway Street, we could hear a lady singing but could not figure out where the music was coming from.   Finally we saw some folks looking up at an opened window where a "lady of the night" was halfway out of the windowsill.  They were advertising the next show at the Days of '98 Show which was starting in 15 minutes.  Then a second lady hung out another window beckoning the crowd to attend the show.  We think the performance is all about the life and times of Soapy Smith and his shady activities in the town.  It did not have a happy ending.

 

Continuing up the street, we found the shop where one of us bought an artistic fine wool scarf a few years back.   It is one of my favorites and the store's owner recognized it.  She was sold out of that design.  Then we headed back down and over to the best pizza place in town at the Station Bar & Grill.  It really is off of the beaten track and it appears that more crew members come here than ship guests.    Naturally, we ordered one pizza to share and two Alaskan Amber draft beers.  Once again, there was no room for the Doughboy treat around the corner.  Perhaps next year.  

 

There was one item we did not bring with us and that was a wall clock.  We have missed having it in our room and knew we could find one at the local Ace Hardware store on the corner.  They had just what we needed for a whopping $10 and tax.  That was all the shopping we did, then headed slowly back to the pier.

 

In every port in Alaska, we have had facial recognition before going up the gangway.    We still have to have our cards scanned and pass-through x-ray on the ship. 

 

Bundled up, one of us relaxed on the veranda which presented a good view of the Princess folks coming and going on the Island Princess.    One of us continued working with the computer, and it seemed to be co-operating better now with downloading the photos.    We enjoyed our day in town and made it a point to stop at the info place at the A&B Lodge.   They seemed to have the most Alaskan information than the other cities.   I am going to keep the printed booklets because someday, they will stop offering them.  

 

Dinnertime arrived quickly as it always does.  Tonight we were not really hungry, so we ordered small Caesar salads and one main of halibut and one honey mustard crusted chicken.    Served on a bed of mashed potatoes, the meal was good.  It could have been hotter, but that's our fault for forgetting to ask.  One thing we are noticing is with the absence of the wine stewards, the waiters are busier doing their job with the ordering of the beverages from the HIA deal.   Now the waiters have to enter the orders at a kiosk, then collect the room keys to scan the order.  It takes time away from their regular duties and slows the service to the rest of the tables.   Are we the only ones that have noticed this?

 

Our head waiter, Yudy, reminded us that he placed an order for Jello for dessert tonight if we wanted it.  Matter-of-fact, yes one of us did prefer it, while the other had the cake in a jar treat.  The flavor of the Jello was lime....my favorite.  Nice and light, it had three plump berries on top.

 

The World Stage Cast performed Rock Britannia this evening with the greatest hits from the 60's to the 80's.  It's a fun show for all.

 

Tomorrow we will be back in Glacier Bay.   Hope the viewing is as good as last week's.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

101 Pictures

Report #11 Friday, September 11, 2026---Juneau, Alaska---1:30pm-9:30pm---Docked Port Side To Pier---Sunny---54 Degrees---9.6mph Winds---69% Humidity----Casual Dress

It is hard to believe that it has been 25 years since 9/11 - a tragic day in history never to be forgotten.   Due to the fact that not all of the guests are from the USA, there was no mention of this date in The Daily newsletter.  The news stations on TV did cover the story and events all day.   

We assumed there would be a stop to drop off shore excursion folks in Tracy Arm, but it  did not happen as far as we know.   Perhaps there will be one next week, or maybe the season has ended.   The day began with temperatures in the mid 50's, a 9.6 mph wind, and 69% humidity.  We had blue skies as the ship did a speed of 15 knots.  The seas had calmed down once we were surrounded with islands on both sides.  Unlike last week, we did not see any whales or their tell-tale blows.  Later in the early afternoon, we had scattered clouds and a refreshingly cool breeze.  

The Pinnacle Grill filled with customers by 9am for breakfast with no rush to go anywhere.  Morning activities included wildlife spotting and a cooking show in the Wajang Theater featuring their teriyaki salmon bowl with cauliflower rice.   Although it was not announced, the bow opened up after 12pm for the sailing into the Gastineau Channel  and the cruise docks.  This time, the Captain turned the ship and docked portside.   A different view for us.  

We spotted the town around noontime when there was still time for a fish & chips lunch in the main dining room.   

Once again, the tram at Mount Roberts was not operating  today.    Last week it was closed due to maintenance, so we suppose it never got repaired.   

There were three ships in town today - the Anthem of the Seas, Seabourn Encore, and the Disney Wonder and the  Zaandam was number four.  The description n of this capital city is right on with a picture book community nestled along the base of mountains.   Winding streets, totem poles, brightly-painted store fronts with over 32,000 nice people to greet us making us feel right at home.  Famous for Mendenhall Glacier, it cannot be seen from town as it is located 13 miles away.  The face of the glacier is ½ mile wide with ice as deep as 1800 feet.  There is a glacier shuttle that runs from downtown every 30 minutes, saving you a lot of money if you do not take a ship's tour.  We have taken some of those tours in the past, and we can say the glacier is not melting all that fast. 

We watched the ship enter the docking area and realized it was going to be another rare warm day here.  Lucky for all.  The dock workers had some trouble connecting the gangway, so people were late in getting off.   We held off until 2pm and slowly made our way along the boardwalk passing shops, the Taku Fishery, the twisted Fish Restaurant, and the public library.  The line of hungry folks was not quite as long for Tracy's King Crab Shack.  We read that the Red King Crabs can be 5 feet wide from leg to leg and weigh as much as 24 pounds.  Wow.   And one female crab can lay from 500 to 500,000 eggs.   Another wow.  

Our destination was the Hangar on the Wharf, close to where the Taku float planes take off and land.   There was only a 10 minute wait for a table this time, and we enjoyed sharing a Jack Daniels burger with fries and two Alaska Amber beers.   No mud pie today, we opted to buy a bag of peanut brittle at the Fudge Shop on the way back.   One of us did take the time to make a sweep through the Alaska T-shirt Company, finding some possible bargains to look for next time we are here.   The lines for the registers were just too long because they truly had the best end-of-the-season sales.   

Something rather disturbing happened when we came back to our room.   We know for a fact that we had locked the veranda door before leaving.   We always lock it when we are out.  We had seen two deck fellows hosing the deck five windows from the verandas on deck six when we boarded.   Usually they use a lift bucket to do this.  Anyway, the door to the veranda was unlocked, the partitions were unlocked for at  least 20 rooms, and there were no workers in sight.  Then we realized that anyone could enter any room from the unlocked doors by going through the unlocked partitions.  If there had been a planned cleaning we would have been notified the previous evening.    There was no communication whatsoever, and we informed our room steward Pande immediately of this situation.   He understood what we were saying, and called it in to his supervisor.   With all of the ships we have sailed on, this is the first time for this to occur.  Before we left for dinner at 7:30pm, we had a visit from David, the assistant head of housekeeping, apologizing for the incident.  We reassured him that nothing appeared to be missing, but we felt there had been a mistake made by not informing us ahead of time.  He agreed it was incorrect and he would take it to his boss.    

Not all that hungry, we had two courses at dinner.   One starter was a Caesar salad and the other a bowl of chicken noodle soup.  Both of us ordered the turkey dinner which was good.  Due to late tours, the upper dining room filled with anytime diners that came in as late as 9pm.   The Lido did stay open until 11pm tonight.

There was an entertainer in the World Stage by the name of Pete Zedlacher, a comedian from Canada.  Tomorrow will start early with a docking time of 6:30am.   Not for us though.

Bill & Mary Ann

 

102 Pictures

Report #10 Thursday, September 10, 2026---Sea Day Enroute To Juneau, Alaska----Overcast Skies---57 Degrees---12mph Winds---82% Humidity

Our day at sea began with overcast skies, 57-degree temps, 12 mph winds, and 82% humidity.    As the day progressed, we did see some sun, but there was little heat in it.   Once the Zaandam left the sheltered waters of the inside passage, the seas got a bit rougher.  Come to think of it, we have had such smooth sailing, that this is the first day that we are experiencing some rolling.  It sure did not prevent the newly embarked Neptune guests from attending their first Pinnacle Grill breakfast.   Compared to last week, the room was filled with hungry customers. 

Last night, all of us received a strange letter regarding the internet onboard.  They announced a scheduled system upgrade that would temporarily affect internet access.  If we understand this correctly, the internet connections cannot be started during 10pm tonight to Friday the 11^th at 6am.  The same will occur Friday at 10pm to Saturday at 4am.    If you are already connected before 10pm, you will maintain that connection but be unable to reconnect.   We hope their upgrade works.

We spent the majority of the day working with photos and reports.    It makes it difficult if we fall behind , so a day at sea allows us to catch up.  There were scores of activities on the ship like lectures, sports activities, dance lessons, trivia,  casino deals, beer and wine tasting, and sales galore.  We do not see much difference with the activities on this shorter cruise compared to the grand voyage.   There is even a knitter meetup, but it is not associated with the Linus Project.   They do offer a watercolor class, which was held 4 different times today.  Arts and crafts are not present on this 7-day run.

At high noon, the Captain came on with his update.  The bow camera station is so slow to come up on our TV, we missed half of his talk.   We did hear that we had over 400 nautical miles to reach Juneau tomorrow.  We can expect nice weather once again.  Then he reminded us that we will turn the clocks back this evening to be on Alaska time.   

We did spot some whale blows on our way north at 2pm, but they were too far in the distance to take pictures.   

Lunch for us was late at 3pm with room service.   We kept it light because tonight is "dressy" with a nice selection of starters and mains.  Both of us had the tomato bisque soup followed by mains of lamb chops with garlic mashed potatoes.  The meal was quite good, served hot by our head waiter.  We happened to notice that this new group of guests did not dress "dressy" .  Last week's folks looked better with a few jackets and a touch of glitter.  Since there are only two dressy evenings, it is not a big deal to add a touch of something special.   We are not the "clothes" police, but we do object to t-shirts and baseball caps in the dining room.  Doubt we mentioned it last week, but we have had the strings of Vivace playing for us in the dining room for one hour.   Now that is classy rewarded with much applause.

The clocks went back one hour which suits us just fine.    Tomorrow's port will be Juneau with an early morning stop in Tracy Arm for a tour group. 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

8 Pictures

Report #9 Wednesday, September 9,2026---Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada----Docked Starboard Side To Pier---Sunny With Clouds---57 Degrees---80% Humidity---Light Winds----Casual Dress

The Zaandam arrived to the port of Vancouver close to 6:30am, going under the famous Lions Gate Bridge at the same time the sun was rising.   The weather was going to be just as pleasant as last week with temps in the high 60's, little winds, and 80% humidity.  Early in the day, there was some sunshine, but it got more overcast as the day advanced.    The good news was there was no rain in the forecast.

 

Breakfast for us was from 6:30am to 8:30am in the Pinnacle Grill, however, we were the only two customers until 7:30am when 2 couples arrived.  Megan told us that most of the Neptune folks ordered room service instead.  It was disembarkation day for most everyone.   

 

We had been given specific instructions for leaving the ship today.  Marie, our concierge, had  remined us that we would need to be off of the ship by 9:30am and we believe today was a zero-clearance day when no one would be allowed on the ship until after 11am.   We did have the option of staying onboard the ship and not going to town.  If that was the case, we would have been escorted off to the shoreside inspection, then brought back onboard after 11am.   

 

A long story short, we have not been sleeping well due to a very well-worn mattress.  The egg crate pad has not helped the lumpy side of the bed at all.  We finally reported it to our room steward, and he promised to look into added another pad, or changing the mattress.  By 9am, we did leave the ship but one of us did not remember to bring the small camera.   Now what?  We had our cards scanned already and only went 20 feet down the ramp when we recalled leaving it behind.   Explaining this to the security guard, he took a detailed description of where the camera could be located in our room.   Another security officer must have recognized us and gave us permission to go back on the ship to retrieve the camera ourselves.    A first time for everything, we will not make this mistake again.  

 

So with our "in transit" cards, passports, and room keys, we took the short cut up the escalator right to the Canada Place walkway across from the ship.   The rest of the formalities would take place on our way back after 1pm, where we went to the checkpoint with guests from the Coral Princess and Regent Explorer.  

 

Picking up a city map from a nearby kiosk, we strolled the waterfront to Coal Harbour and the Westin Hotel.  Still tired from a bad night's sleep, we went no further today.  We found the bench where we normally sit across from the marina and Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, relaxing in the filtered sun while people, dog and float plane watching.  Being that today was a Wednesday, the harbor was not very crowded like on a weekend. 

 

We had some shopping to do back at the nearby food court and mini mall.  Rexall Drugs was our destination where we found a replacement bottle of Tylenol that had been confiscated last week from our shipped luggage.  This store also has a nice assortment of snacks, so we picked up a bag of salted peanuts as we are trying to keep snacking healthy and minimal.   

 

Lunch was at the Steamworks Brewery with a shared Hawaiian pizza and a few Lion Gate Lagers.   For a change, the restaurant was not crowded.  We were back to the cruise terminal by 1:15pm, although we could have checked in around 2pm or so with the all aboard time of 3pm.  This is one place you do not want to cut your time short since the terminal may be filled with thousands of guests checking in for three or four ships.    

 

The entrance line was not too long and after showing our in transit cards and room keys, we were let into a shorter line with the disabled folks.  Passing through x-ray, we were directed to the boarding line and had facial recognition done.  Both of us passed with the green check mark.   We were back onboard before 2pm, where we had an invitation to the Mariners welcome reception from 2 to 2:45pm in the Crow's Nest.    Our greeters said there was a couple of fellow President Club members who were waiting to see us.  Not sure they want their names revealed here, we did indeed recognize them.  We visited for the entire time while sipping mimosas, then it was off to the mandatory FULL muster drill held for everyone on the lower promenade deck at 3pm.  As required by maritime law, this longer drill will be repeated every 30 days.  With everyone in attendance, the drill went smoothly as well as quickly. 

 

The ship left around 3:30pm, back-tracking the path we took coming here last night.   It was rather cool sitting on our veranda on the sailing out of the harbor.   Even though we were not all that hungry, we did go to the dining room for dinner at 7:30pm.  Much to our surprise, our waiters were gone and replaced with new ones.  Now they are Fraysure and Ferry.  Replacing Maitre'd Pulong is Dwi, but both upper dining room head waiters are the same -   Sutamba and Yudy.  They have been most helpful in bringing us hot meals every night.  We asked them about the switch with the waiters, and they informed us that there is a change every two weeks now.  The exception are the grands and legendary voyages where most of the crew stay for the duration.  We found it interesting that neither of our waiters had told us they were moving to a different area.   Actually, we noticed that many crew members on the grand voyage ended their contracts throughout the entire 133 days.

 

We kept our meal simple with one Caesar salad, a bowl of chicken noodle soup and mains of pork medallions and pot roast.   The serving sizes have been just right for us....not too large like they used to be.   One good thing is that the chefs are not hiding mounds of cooked spinach under the meat, chicken or fish like they did on the Volendam on this year's world cruise.   No room for dessert, so we turned in early.

 

The show in the World Stage was only at 8:30pm with a look at what's to come featuring the world cast.  And the Wajang movie was Mystery Alaska.  All of the bars and lounges were in full swing too.  

 

Expecting a restful day at sea tomorrow.

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

100 Pictures

Report #8 Tuesday, September 8, 2026---Cruising The Inside Passage Enroute To Vancouver, Canada-----Partly Cloudy----57 Degrees---11.1mph Winds----80% Humidity------Casual Dress

The final day of this voyage arrived so quickly, we cannot believe it.   Time flies when you are having fun.  We have just gotten everything in its place, while most others are packing to leave tomorrow.  Glad we are staying. 

 

When we returned from breakfast, we had a note from the Mariner Society explaining the new tiles we had been given.  The funny thing is there were no tiles.  We guessed that Pande may have forgotten them, although on some past trips, they had run out and promised to mail them when we got home.  We never did see them.  Later in the afternoon, Pande delivered the tiles with an apology that he had forgotten them.    To date, we have lost count to the number of tiles we have at home....probably enough to tile an entire bathroom.  

 

One of us was still processing pictures from Glacier Bay day, which took all morning.  I had not written a word of the daily report last night, so that took some of the time.  Luckily I had kept some notes and saved the map the park rangers provided.  We should know every nook and cranny of this massive park because we have been lucky to visit it several times.  Our only disappointment was not seeing any ice calving which can be extremely exciting.  Maybe next week, or definitely while at Hubbard Glacier.  

 

There were a bunch of activities today, most of which included promotions and sales.   Last minute chances for most everything.  On Deck for a Cause was held at 11am, during the one-time-only brunch in the lower dining room.  The fee for the 5K walk has gone up to $40 now with the proceeds going to the park system.  

 

Captain Willems came on the speakers with his noon update where he listed the temperature to be 57 degrees, the winds at 11.1 mph, and the humidity 88%.   No rain expected.  The good news is that the same conditions should hold for Vancouver tomorrow.   At 12 noon, we still had 257 nautical miles to reach Vancouver very early tomorrow morning.  

 

We had received spa credits of $60 each but never used them.  And for the first time ever, a 15% discount was offered towards all shore excursions, stating this was not available to the general public.   Doubt we book any, but you never know. 

 

There was also a Lido Fair at the Lido Pool area at 2pm.  That consisted of games, prizes, and fun under the Dome.  We also had an invite to wine tasting again, but as you all know, we don't drink wine.  We have noticed pre-owned Rolex watches for sale in the Shops, but never saw "pre-loved" handbags before.  Is that something new?

 

There was an Alaskan Seafood Boil for $35 in the Lido starting at 5pm and also a Cake Me Away display in the Lido Market.   Passing on these events, we ordered a simple room service lunch with a bowl of chicken noodle soup and 2 mini burgers from the kids menu.  With a bit of watermelon, it was just enough. 

 

Jobs for the day completed, we watched as the Zaandam began inside passage scenic cruising later in the afternoon.  The skies remained overcast and it was chilly.  There were some sightings of humpback whales earlier in the day and some dolphins or porpoise in the late afternoon.   The green forested islands were a sight to see on both sides of the ship with occasional birds here and there. 

 

Marie, our concierge, stopped by to see that all of our requests had been done.  The final thing we asked was for the ceiling HAC filter to be replaced.   She also wanted to remind us of the detailed instructions for leaving and returning to the ship tomorrow in Vancouver.   But we can address that tomorrow after it happens. 

 

Dinner was casual of course, and we found some nice things on the menu such as a wedge salad.  It is almost a meal by itself with a shared plate of anti-Pasto.   Our entrees were the same - beef Wellington with small baked potatoes and toppings. They were not part of the entree, but our waiter gladly added them.  Dessert was a shared mini–Baked Alaska served after the parade and song by the kitchen staff waiters, and chefs.  

The show was a magician by the name of Steve Marshall with surprise - magic moments.  It was bed for us for an early breakfast tomorrow. 

 

We did get some photos of entering Vancouver Harbor and going under the Lion's Gate Bridge along with a sun rise at 6:30am.  

 

Sweet dreams,

 

Bill & Mary Ann 

 

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Report #7 Monday, September 7, 2026---Ketchikan, Alaska----11am-5:30pm---Docked Port Side To Pier----Partly Sunny---59 Degrees---3.4mph Winds 82% Humidity----Dressy Night

Happy Labor Day to all!

 

And here we are at our final port of this 7-day cruise - Ketchikan which was highly decorated with dozens of Am,erican flags....nice to see.   And what a day it is going to be with mostly sunny skies, 59 degrees (9am), 3.4 mph winds, and 82% humidity.  No rain, which is very normal here in this part of the state.

 

The Zaandam sailed at a steady clip of 12 knots as we entered the Tongass Narrows.   Since the arrival time was 11am, we were able to watch most of the sailing after breakfast.   We had some visitors this morning in the Pinnacle Grill.  They were Marie, our concierge, and Mel, the Guest Relations officer we met last year.   Since we have not had any invites to any President's Club gatherings, we have not seen her for the whole week.   It is possible that we are the only members on board right now.    Another question to ask Marie.       

 

 As the ship approached Ward Cove, 7 miles from downtown Ketchikan, we spotted a RCI vessel, the Ovation of the Seas, and a Regent ship docked there.   The city does provide shuttles to bus the guests from here to town, but we have heard there can be a lot of lost time waiting for the transfer.  

 

As we got closer to downtown, we saw two Princess ships that were already docked - the Coral and the Grand.   The Oceana Riviera was also in port, making it another busy day for thousands of passengers and crew as well.   

 

Ketchikan has a community of about 8000 locals with most of them staying here year-round.  Here's a bit of info on this area.   Ketchikan, the first city of Alaska,  is located within the Tongass National Forest with 17 million acres, making it the largest national forest in the United States as well as the largest contiguous temperate rainforest in the entire world.  Beauty, mystery, and untold natural riches barely touch the surface of its treasures.   

 

Besides tourism, there are recreation opportunities, watersheds, fisheries and timber that employ over 3700 people.  Even more if you count the number of excursions offered here.  In fact, visitors spend $410 million dollars annually in this part of Alaska.  We have taken a number of these tours over the years but choose to go on our own these days.  We left the ship around 12 noon, avoiding the crush of shore excursion folks.   Our path took us towards the famous Creek Street where we decided not to go much further.   The clocks would go ahead one hour this evening, so we did not want to over-do it.

 

Crossing over the Stedman Street bridge, we had a chance to talk with a young local fisherman who told us anyone could buy a day fishing license for $15 and rent fishing gear at Dolly's House for $35.  For travelers like us, it would be catch and release.   Truthfully, we think the salmon are pretty beat up by the time they arrive at the mouth of the creek and might not be the best-eating.   Perhaps after smoking, they are acceptable.   Many large salmon were jumping in the estuary where some big seals were working the water under them.  We doubt the fish were biting since they stopped eating before they brave the rapids to spawn upstream.   All five types of salmon will come up this creek during the season to  spawn including several types of trout.   

 

We made our way halfway up Creek Street which really is not a street but buildings on stilts with a boardwalk all the way to the upper road.  The waters were full of swimming and dead fish.  Needless to say, there were hordes of people here today, so we made our way back to the Dockside Trading Center where the Alaska King Crab Company is located on the third floor.   We were seated at a table for two with a nice view of the cruise ships, including the Zaandam.  Even sharing one entree and one dessert, it was the most expensive lunch we have had so far.  That is just part of the price for visiting Alaska.   Nothing is cheap, except for a few souvenir t-shirts.  If we had ordered the king crab, the price might have tripled.

 

The more important stop was to buy 2 bags of popcorn before returning to the ship.  "You Know You Want It" is the amusing sign by their portable counter.    Hard to resist; it is made right on the spot.  Once again, we did not do any shopping except window shopping.   

 

The Zaandam left the dock by 6pm where we watched the sail away from our veranda for an hour or so.  The day had ended just as nice as it had started.  We can only hope that this exceptional weather continues for the following weeks ahead.

 

Dinner was "dressy" which is unusual for a port day. So we decided we had so much for lunch, we skipped dinner altogether.  Our one job was to complete the Canada customs declaration form and turn it in at the front desk.  

 

Later on, we did enjoy watching the re-make of The Call of the Wild in our room.  We missed the show of the singers and dancers with Feel The Beat and the chocolate surprise at 9:30pm where the waiters stroll deck five with all types of sweet, rich chocolate treats.  

 

Looking forward to a day at sea tomorrow where most guests will be leaving......except us.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

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