Day 9: Scenic Cruising Glacier Bay National Park

Before I get started talking about our fantastic day, I have to comment that we are, today, only one week into this 3+ week cruise. Less than 1/3 the way!  This has been a great experience so far, in large part because of this unique itinerary. We are so very glad we took this cruise, and equally glad that our flowers at home haven’t been flattened by hail in our absence…yet. It really was a concern buying them, planting them and leaving them, not being home to cover them in case of a severe storm. Some years we’re covering them nearly daily; others never. So far so good. We also can run our sprinkler system from our iPhones, and so can check on the rain situation before we manually start the various lawn and soaker zones. Again, no regrets. 🤞🏼

Back to today. We arrived early in Glacier Bay National Park to the expected rain, which was a disappointment but it’s actually more the norm. The shorts and T-shirt weather we wore in Glacier Bay two weeks in a row in 2023 were a lucky fluke (though admittedly allowed for better pics). Our focus today then was more on taking in the experience and looking for wildlife more than running all around the ship for pics, though G did brave the rain more than I did. They actually closed off the stairs on the outside back of the ship because they were so slippery and unsafe. 

We ensconced ourselves a banquette in the buffet, not against a window but we could walk over and get a closer view when warranted. These “cheap seats” provided comfortable seating and close proximity to the hot beverages. G had already scoped out Skywalkers, but it was packed solid; the rangers had set up their displays up there and people were already lined up against the windows. 

Once we left the Marjerie Glacier, we went down to the Promenade Deck for a few more pics, and it was only then that it started to clear a bit. (By evening it was sunny and beautiful, though still quite chilly). That gave me hope for better weather tomorrow at Hubbard Glacier. 

We went to lunch in Botticelli where we had a private( really private!!!) table for two next to a huge window and that was certainly well timed as we continued to sail out of the park. It was the Pub Lunch menu, and I had the pea soup (always with the soup on this cruise!) and chicken curry. Both were quite good. 

Best table in the house!

By 1pm or so we were in largely open water, and our early wake up caught up with us. We spent the afternoon in the cabin, resting and staying warm (the MUTS blanket Nestor brought me on the first day has become a permanent part of my anatomy. Time to trade it in for a clean one). We had plans for dinner, and skipped the PES Lounge, instead meeting G’s friend from 2022, Nona, for dinner in Michelangelo. Restaurant Manager Alexander was kind to find us a nice table for four near window and we enjoyed a companionable dinner. 

Veggie korma

Tastes a lot better than it looks!

The Princess Theater entertainment tonight was a couple who played the guitar and sang duets through the decades. Annalyse and Ryan were fantastic entertainers (she sounded just like Dolly Parton) and put on quite a show. A plus:  we had never seen them before. It’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised. 

It was still light and beautiful when we walked across the Promenade to the back of the ship afterward. Tomorrow is another early morning, so we retired early, but the sunset off the bow of the ship was perfectly captured on the bridge cam and we enjoyed it from the comfort of our bed.