Alaska is Still Calling You

Canada has extended it's ban on cruise ships docking until February 28, 2022. Cruise ships that have overnight accommodations for more than 100 people will not be allowed to operate in Canadian waters during the ban.

“As Canadians continue to do their part to reduce the spread of COVID-19, our government continues to work hard to ensure Canada’s transportation system remains safe,” Omar Alghabra, federal minister of transport, says in a statement. “Temporary prohibitions to cruise vessels and pleasure craft are essential to continue to protect the most vulnerable among our communities and avoid overwhelming our health care systems. This is the right and responsible thing to do.”

 Since foreign flagged cruise ships must stop at a foreign port before sailing between two U.S. ports, the Canadian ban puts the Alaskan Cruise Season and the Canada / New England cruise season in jeopardy. The Canadian government could rescind the order should conditions improve but until then, this announcement leaves the major cruise lines scrambling to see what operations can be salvaged.  Many of them also operate lodges in Alaska, which initial indications are they will continue to do to allow for land-based itineraries to proceed.

The cruise industry is key to the economic recovery in Canada and Alaska, so this announcement is a huge blow to the hospitality industry in both countries. 

 So You Had Your Heart Set on Seeing Alaska 

While it appears that a cruise to Alaska won't be possible again this year, there is a vast amount of Alaska still waiting for you to explore it. I always recommend that my guest include a land portion to their Alaskan vacation plans, so my suggestion is that you continue your Alaskan vacation plans for 2021.  As an Alaskan expert, I can help you plan an amazing Alaskan trip.

Majestic Beauty

Imagine gazing out the window of your railcar and catching this glimpse of Denali (Mount McKinley).   We were fortunate enough to capture this view many years ago, and I can still remember the thrill of seeing this amazing site.

Let's begin your Alaskan vacation with Natures Best: Alaska tour. 

Peaks. Glaciers. Whales. Wildlife. 

You couldn’t see more of the great state of Alaska in one week if you were an Iditarod sled dog.

Fairbanks to Anchorage (7 Days)

FAIRBANKS: Your Alaskan trip of a lifetime begins in Fairbanks with a hotel stay along the banks of the Chena River.  The tour continues with a scenic sternwheeler cruise on the Chena River. Visit the Chena Indian Village and then continue with a scenic drive to Denali National Park. 

DENALI NATIONAL PARK: A must see for any stay in Denali National Park is the Tundra Wilderness tour which is included. You'll have free time in the evening. in the morning you'll visit the home of an Iditarod Musher before heading for a train ride. 

ALASKA RAILROAD: All aboard for a scenic train ride to Talkeetna. View breathtaking scenery as the train takes you comfortably to your next stop where you'll have free time that evening. 

TALKEETNA–SEWARD: Start your day with an Alaskan treat at the Talkeetna Roadhous and continue with a scenic drive along the Kenai Peninsula en route to Seward. 

SEWARD: Day 6 begins with a scenic cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park. Following the cruise you'll return to Anchorage. 

ANCHORAGE: Your vacation ends with breakfast but the memories will last a life time.

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Cruise to Alaska for 50th Birthday Celebration

Alaska’s celebration of 50 years of statehood

It's the morning of January 3, 2009, and the temperature in Anchorage, Alaska ranged from a low of -14.4 °F to a high temperature of -4.7 °F. That did not stop the native Alaskans from celebrating a historic event - the 50th Anniversary of Statehood. The celebration actually began the night before with the 50th Anniversary Gala at the new Dena’ina Convention Center. National and International dignitaries attended this historic event for a sit-down dinner and entertainment which included dance, symphony, and opera.

January 3rd saw the downtown area of Anchorage taken over for a huge birthday bash. A procession of Alaska’s diverse people kicked it off with performances at three separate venues. And, of course, there was a fireworks show.

50 is a landmark birthday to celebrate, and Alaskans plan to do it in style. Alaska’s 50th birthday will be celebrated all year long so there's plenty of time to join in the festivities which will be held around the state.

We were in Alaska in September, 2008, for our National Conference. Celebrity Cruises was our host for our 8 Night Alaska Northbound cruise. You can see the Alaska 50 banner on the lightpost in Juneau.

The cruising season in Alaska is from May - September. The cruises usually book up fast, but there are still cabins available. I always recommend extending your stay in Alaska to include some time on land. A cruisetour is the best way to really experience Alaska if you can spare the time.

Road to Alaska Statehood

The road to statehood began on May 28, 1958 when the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill proposing that Alaska become the 49th state of the union. The bill was passed by the Senate in June of that year. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill making it official on January 3, 1959.

For more information about Alaska consult the following websites:

• Alaska Statehood Celebration Commission (ASCC)
• State of Alaska
• Alasks Turns 50
• Arctic Focus
• Cruise Destination - Alaska

In a future column I'll describe our most recent Alaska cruise on Celebrity Mercury.

Galapagos Surprise - There She Blows

click on images to enlarge

The events of the morning of day 7 changed my afternoon plans. We had a wet landing for our morning excursion. I wore my Teva shoes which worked out well for the excursion. When leaving the island, the waves were preventing the Zodiac from getting completely to the beach, so we had to wade out a bit to get back in. I decided to keep my Teva shoes off.

When we returned to the ship, I still had my shoes off and didn't think much about it. Unfortunately, while disembarking, my foot slipped and I managed to stub my toe. I didn't break it or anything but it was sore. I didn't think it would be a good idea to go hiking any distance with the sore toe, so I decided to change to the low intensity activity instead.


My husband went ahead with our original plans of the high intensity activity. I'll discuss that in a separate post : Galapagos - Dry Landing Fernandina Island

The low intensity activity consisted of a Zodiac ride along a channel between Isabela and Fernandina islands. We saw flightless cormorants, green sea turtles, sea lions, and iguanas. I was enjoying myself despite my sore toe. What happened next would become the highlight of the day.

One of the naturalists spotted Orca whales and announced it on the radios. Even on land the groups were aware that Mother Nature had blessed us with a special treat. Just a few feet from our Zodiac there was an Orca whale breaching the surface. We started to follow nearby, staying just far enough away not to invade its privacy. Before we knew it, there was a pod of 4 whales in the area giving us quite a show.

It was a pleasant surprise to see Orca whales just a few feet from our Zodiac. All of us, including the naturalist, got some amazing pictures. The most amazing picture was when one of the whales had a sea turle in its mouth. This was definitely a rare occassion. In fact, rarely are Orcas seen in this area.
So, my misfortune earlier that day turned out to be a great fortune after all. I would have been on land and missed this amazing sight. View pictures from my Zodiac adventure: Galapagos - Zodiac Ride Fernandina

I obviously can't say that you'll see Orcas if you go to Galapagos, but no matter what Mother Nature has in store for you during your visit, I can say you will cherish that for the rest of your life. I have many memories from this day and from the entire trip.

Click on the image to the left for more Blog posts about this trip.

Additional Photos can be found on our Exotics Shutterfly page

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