It was a foregone conclusion (as we almost fell asleep at the table) that we would NOT be going to a show after dinner. Yes, we were tired, but moreso we wanted to watch sailaway at 9pm from our balcony. What we didn't know is that we would also be seeing a beautiful sunset.
We left the dining room and stopped by the Patisserie for cups of brewed coffee to take back to our cabin, but realized we'd left our coffee card in our cabin. No matter- we walked across the Piazza to the Passenger Services Desk and got a copy of our on board statement which proved we had purchased a coffee card on the current cruise. Armed with this, we picked up our coffee and I headed up to the Horizon Court buffet for some cheeses, dried fruits and nuts. G pushed the elevator button for Aloha Deck, where our cabin is located,, and was looking at our statement while we stood in the elevator. As he exited the elevator one deck before me, he turned around and asked, "Did you enjoy that $150 bottle of wine?". I thought he was kidding. Us? Buy a $150 bottle of wine? Sure enough, a charge of $172 ($150 plus 15% tip) had shown up on our account.
Always. Check. Your. On board. Spending. Statement. Every. Day.
Unfortunately, we have this issue periodically on Princess, but never on other cruise lines. However, we've never had an issue quite this large.
When I returned from the buffet with the plate of cheese, G was not in the cabin, and I knew exactly where he was. I added cognac to our coffees and settled on the balcony, watching the sun begin to slip behind the mountains surrounding Juneau. Within a few minutes, G returned. The Passengers Services Desk couldn't find a receipt for the charge (no surprise here). The issue hasn't been totally resolved but we know it's just a matter of time. We then sat wondering about the price of the most expensive bottle of wine we've ever bought. I don't know what it is, but it's way, WAY less than $150!!
Believe it or not, while we were still docked, just before sunset, there was a boat pulling a water skier around just next to the ship. Water skiing. At sunset. In Juneau, Alaska. I shivered just watching it.
Although we were on the side of the ship not facing the pier, and so couldn't see the shoreside activity, we could tell when the ship had released its lines and began to move slowly away from the pier. Sailing back down Gastineau Channel at dusk, sipping coffee and cognac and nibbling from our cheese plate is not something I'll soon forget.
G was asleep almost immediately, and I followed after preparing the blog posts about our day, to be sent in the morning when we once again have 3G Internet from our phones in Skagway.
It had been a perfect day, in a hundred ways, in Juneau.
Photo 1: the view from our balcony
Photo 2: sunset in Juneau, Alaska, not something you see every day
Photo 3: the mountains rise up from the water along Gastineau Channel
Photo 4: waterskiing at sunset- brrrrrrrrr!