We were once again taking the White Pass Railroad excursion, because 1) railroad (G loves trains) and 2) because we’ve never made it as far as the summit due to the restriction about entering Canada during COVID one year and bridge repair another. Today was the day.
The Ruby Princess was berthed along the railroad next to where the landslides had occurred a few years ago. However, we couldn’t disembark on the pier, but instead had to tender to a small boat dock in the marina next to the campground. It was a short tender ride, but a bit of a pain. For some reason, the Grand Princess, berthed just behind us, didn’t tender. Instead, their passengers rode trams on the pier past the slide area. I’m not sure that saved them any time, but that’s the way it was.
When we were boarding the train, we asked if we could board a car toward the end of the train instead of in order, and were welcome to do that. This gave us a better photo taking position on the bridges and curves. It also gave us a nearly empty car. We all had own bench and could switch sides when the train turned sound. Very nice! With four ships in port, they were operating seven trains.
It was a pleasant day, and, as expected, the clouds that were hanging low were starting to lift, giving us two different perspectives going up the pass and coming down. In the interest of time, I will plop just a few of my many photos in here, but will try on an upcoming sea day to add some labels and maybe edit a few out. It’s hard to get a good view of them on my iPhone and that is what I am uploading them from (with cellular)…and typing all my posts on, too, for that matter. 😉
Our camera batteries were exhausted by the time we returned, so we tendered back to the ship to recharge our phones and decided to eat lunch in the buffet. If the ship had been a walk-off, we would have gone back out, but didn’t really want to tender again. Instead we enjoyed the sun and warmth on the Terrace Deck until it was time to get ready for the evening.
We had big plans for the evening, made on Wrangell Day (a year ago, right?). We had met the sweetest lady named Angie in the buffet at lunch that day. She told us she was turning 94 on June 20th (today!) and was traveling solo for the first time since her husband died late last year. I just fell in love with her, and she fell in love with G and thought he was soooo funny. He loves an appreciative audience and I love to have a mission, so, when she gave us her cabin number, I was able to find out her dining table. I had spoken to Restaurant Manager Alexander and we had plans to make a fuss for her birthday, and G and I picked up flowers on the way. Well, her waiter told us she had not been at dinner for a few days, and so we left the flowers with her waiter who took our names and promised she’d get them delivered to her, and we slid a note under her door last night. So it kind of went bust, but hopefully she knows someone cared.
Dinner was excellent last night. We skipped all starters and ordered three entrees, two surf and turfs and one seafood kabob. G got two filets and I was awash in shrimp and happiness reigned. He said it was the best beef he’s had onboard. Oh, and one scoop of passion fruit sorbet each for dessert. Delish!
We caught the end of Puppies in the Piazza, which I’m not sure I think is right, but puppies are puppies, There was a magician again in the Princess Theater tonight (again? still? I don’t pay enough attention to know), so we listened to music around the ship and stood on the Promenade Deck and examined the landslide area (and, frankly, were glad we tendered and didn’t tram. It looks highly unstable).
It was still warm out even at 8pm, and this cruise suddenly feels much more like a regular Alaska cruise, with busy ports and some passengers even wearing shorts. I can finally say that I am no longer freezing on board, our cabin thermostat, which has hovered closer to the highest temperature for over a week is now inching down toward the middle and we’re not sleeping under extra blankets. Frankly, it feels like summer has arrived, which, on this summer solstice day, is quite fitting.
