Two years ago, Nate and I experienced our first cruise with an 8-day itinerary through Alaska’s inside passage. We loved it so much, we had to do it again! This time, we chose a 10-day cruise, and we invited our friend Sharon who joined us on our Mexican cruise last January.
One Quick Day in Seattle
The first thing we enjoy about cruising to Alaska is that it’s an excuse to visit one of our favorite cities. From the local breweries and restaurants to great attractions like Pike Place Market, the aquarium, and the zoo, we always have a great experience in Seattle. This was Sharon’s first time in the city, and we only had about 24 hours, so Nate and I planned a quick highlight tour for her right off the plane.
We enjoyed a filling lunch at Pub 70 next to Elliott Bay, a visit to Chihuly Garden and Glass, and a trip to the top of the Space Needle. Our day ended with a delicious Italian dinner and tiramisu dessert at Tavolàta in Belltown.
Back at the hotel, we settled in for the evening anticipating our morning shuttle ride to the port. There we would board the Carnival Miracle and set sail for Alaska!
A Day at Sea and the Endicott Arm
The boarding processes is fairly simple at the Seattle port, but if you arrive sooner than your scheduled time, be prepared to wait in the early arrivals line. Once aboard and settled into our cabins, we had two days on the ship to look forward to, the second of which included a slow, scenic journey through the icy waters of the Endicott Arm Fjord and a view of Dawes Glacier.
The weather was cold, hazy, and drizzly when the ship entered the fjord, but we bundled up in our rain jackets and went out onto the deck to get the best view. Other than a few sea birds, we didn’t catch sight of much wildlife, but the mountains, snow-melt waterfalls, massive chunks of blue ice floating in the fjord, and the glacier were just as entertaining and thrilling to see.
Views and Brews in Skagway
For our first port of call in Skagway, we booked the White Pass Summit Excursion, a two hour ride in a vintage railcar through the mountains and along a portion of the original Klondike Trail. The train station is a short walk from the port, and you get a good view of the town as the train heads out for the mountains. Our ride happened to be the first of the season, and we could tell the tour staff were excited to be there.
As the train climbed higher and higher through tunnels and over trestles, we took in breathtaking views of mountains and waterfalls and listened to the tour guide’s stories of prospectors’ treacherous journeys through the White Pass during the Klondike Gold Rush in the 1890s. We couldn’t help feel a little nervous when the train wound around cliff side curves and passed over bridges in the snowy landscape.
After the train returned to Skagway, we spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the little town on foot. We explored souvenir shops, stopped into a little bookstore, and enjoyed a few beers and lunch at the Skagway Brewing Company. On our last trip here, Nate and I learned about the brewery’s indoor aeroponic garden where they grow the produce for their salads, and they kindly let us see it again when we asked.
By the time we finished lunch and our garden tour, the temperature began to drop and the wind picked up. Since it was nearly time for all passengers to return to the Miracle, we trudged across the port, laughing at how strong the wind was. We looked forward to resting, relaxing, and enjoying our evening meal in the ship’s restaurant.
Next stop: Juneau!
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