It was almost a waste of time going to bed! Not just the usual lack of sleep, but checking the TV at 2am and 3am, waiting for the German GP. It started at 4am, so I watched it all the way through, but with the sound off. Paul awoke just before the end at about 5:45, so we got up. Thankfully, she felt OK and with a 3 hour whale watch tour ahead, that was a relief.
Breakfast was once again, a couple of rolls, OJ, coffee and a chocolate croissant, enough to sustain me for a few hours.
Arrival at Icy Strait Point was interesting, as all we could see was a dock and one wooden building in the trees. As I said yesterday, a new port for us and reading up about it, it appeared to be a small settlement of maybe 750 people, but the cruise lines seem to have turned it into a port, whereby they probably own some of the local businesses.
Ship berthed on the port side.
Paula’s el Cheapo, $30 Vodafone pre-pay phone worked - eventually. On the way out only.
Just a walk off the ship. No formalities as we are still in the USA.
A free shuttle to downtown Hoonah in addition to a paid one.
Downtown is about a 30 minute walk away, but there is a fair bit of interest adjacent to the dock.
Cruise cards checked on returning to the ship.
Ship scanning of hand luggage on return.
The dock is just that, a dock. About 1/3rd the length of the ship only and amazingly close to the shoreline. There is a covered walkway to a very attractive, modern (2014) timber building, that houses a small souvenir shop, a café and desks for zip-line bookings and other tours. Although this is all new, there was a golf buggy shuttle for the disabled, which is just as well, as Gary’s wheelchair (Kiwi Gary) got bogged down in the gravel path, which was far from wheelchair friendly.
We’d met Jo in the Atrium at 9am, and with Sharon & Peter, simply walked ashore, where Garry was already exploring. The main attractions here are the world’s tallest Zip-line, which is 1330ft, down to sea level, but to get to the top, is via a coach. Garry and Jo had that booked for 2:20pm.
We were met outside door 2 as arranged, by Theresa of Glacier Tours, who drove us along to the downtown harbour, where her husband Shawn had the boat ready for the six of us.
It had a cabin just big enough for 6 or 8 people, but with ample space outside.
We trundled slowly out of the harbour and past the Sun Princess and headed out in search of whales, sea otters, leaping salmon and maybe, even bears on land. As it happened, we managed to see all but the bears. They were too far away and too quick for me to get a pic.
Shawn was a very observant skipper and knows the area so well, but for the first half of the tour at least, we were all standing with cameras poised, fingers aching, to try and get a really good shot. There were plenty of pics taken of black blobs and occasionally, a distant tail, but the one thing we all wanted was a whale breaching, when it did happen, (just the once) no one managed a pic, as by then, our own cameras had almost dead batteries and we were slowly heading back. No matter, we thoroughly enjoyed it and Theresa was waiting at the dock for our return, where we then paid, either cash or credit card. She trusts Aussies, whereas with some, she’d get them to pay in advance.
Sharon and Peter opted to walk back, but she dropped us off back at the port area and a little bit of a description is probably required here. There is an old salmon canning factory that now houses a fairly wide range of souvenir shops. Between that and the dock buildings and the ‘Duck Point Smoke House’ restaurant; a is walkway. On the left is the Crab Station and to the right of this walkway is a fairly large café/restaurant and brewery, the Cookhouse. They were pushing the Halibut and chips. I spied Pat tucking in and I don’t think she was overly impressed with the fish, but I thought I may as well try it anyway.
The rather uncommunicative lad on the till, took my order without a word and even knowing that 95% of the people buying were not familiar with the system, made no attempt to tell me to take the electronic device from alongside the till and place it on the mat on a table, and the delivery waiter would find us. It was left to another customer to tell me to take the device and for Pat to tell me where to place it.
Eventually the $20 fish and chips arrived. Four smallish pieces of totally overcooked fish and a smallish portion of chips with tartare sauce. The fish was very dry indeed, very tough and a total disappointment. Sorry Icy Point, the Skegness sea front fish chips and mushy peas for £4.55, is 1000% better for less than half the price.
We walked along the boardwalk to the area around the dock buildings, then back to the ship briefly. Just enough time to pop a camera battery on charge, with just enough power then to photograph Jo coming down the Zipline. Garry was so fast we missed him!
There was music playing with one or two bands with different sessions, ending with a largish band, with several locals also enjoying the Sunday afternoon. We also bumped into Shawn and Theresa again. Really nice people.
Opinions are split as to whether or not the cruise companies paid for the new facilities or the locals, but we can’t see a handful of locals being able to raise the millions spent. Maybe we are just a wee bit cynical?
I did buy a ‘husky’ hat that may well end up in the dress up bag back home, which the twins will no doubt enjoy.
A half hour sleep then up to the Horizon Court buffet. An unannounced ‘Brazil’ theme only tempted me into (French onion) soup and a small empanada. We joined the regulars on the rear of deck 11 for the sail-away at about 8.30pm, apparently with some stragglers being chased out of the restaurant/bar! One well informed traveller told us that they’d be skipping San Diego, which if true, will be a huge disappointment. We then made do with a hot chocolate, down on deck 5, finally retiring, very tired, at 11:15.
A long day, but a successful one (apart from the halibut that is). Tomorrow is the scenic cruising of Glacier Bay – expected to be a highlight for many people.
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