ALASKA! Wow. Yesterday was a fantastic day on the Disney Wonder. The itinerary had us sailing into Tracy Arm to sight see as well as see the glacier there. At around noon the Captain announced that due to safety reasons and the large amount of ice in the water he would not be able to make the attempt to go all of the way to the glacier. So, he changed the itinerary and we were able to go into another area that usually restricts big ship traffic.
IT WAS AMAZING! We went into Endicott Arm (yes there were jokes made by my husband that this should be Tracy’s foot). This body of water is fed by Dawes Glacier. There was ice in the water all along the Arm and seals were on the ice as well as swimming. The mountains on the sides went up so high you had to be on the top decks to see the peaks. We spent hours on the verandah while the top decks (especially forward) were very full. The good news is that after 2-3 hours of standing the decks cleared and I headed up to the bow just in time to reach Dawes Glacier. I would consider this a good tip. When you reach the glacier is when you want to be outside.
I should mention that I was in the Navy and for two years was a “ship driver”. I was amazed at the turn the Captain made in this narrow passage. The best part was right as we were turning to leave……… a big ice chunk slid off the right side of the glacier and BOOM! Thunder. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Behind the fallen ice was a color of blue that I have never seen. The water the entire way up Endicott Arm was an aqua green.
On the way into and out of Endicott Arm we saw many whales on both sides of the ship. WHAT A GREAT DAY! I hope tomorrow I can tell you about my adventures in Skagway and Juneau. I hope that reading about my adventures helps you decide if you are ready for ALASKA!
