| TK's staging site |
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By Denise and I drove the 850 kilometers from Melbourne to Sydney, and on the morning of the 30th. of August 2002 flew out of Sydney by Qantas, bound for Los Angeles. After 14 hours of deadly flying we touched down at LA at 0715 ( 7.15AM ) on the morning of the 30th. of August local time, actually arriving in America before we left Australia. We had an awful 5 hour delay before we could join Air Canada and fly on to Vancouver, we were actually booked in separate seats some 15 rows apart, and no entreaties to be seated together would move the incredibly rude Air Canada female dealing with our seats for this flight. We checked in at the Century Park Plaza Hotel about 2 PM, check in time actually 4PM, but the staff here were most accommodating and quickly found a room we could have immediately. On Saturday the last day of August, we taxied down to Canada Place and the Cruise Terminal, handed over our two cases suitably marked with our cabin number, the actual boarding routine very smoothly handled. At the gangway was the usual ship's photographic crew wanting to make the absolute most out of every couple and single person who were to join this cruise. We quickly brushed them aside not wanting to be involved with their photographic hype, " What no happy photographic memories for you?" A simple no thank you, hardly enough to deter them, but they did eventually get the message, as they were to do many subsequent times during the ensuing 7 days. Our cabin on Aloha Deck 11, was quicky located, all very adequate, a queen size bed, chest of drawers, desk, wardrobe, and bathroom with basin, shower, and toilet. TV and telephone, with the sea to shore rates at some outrageous price, and our own safe in which our passports, plane tickets etc were safely stored. Entrance to our cabin, gained through use of a credit type individually made card, which was used on board as the ship operated in a cashless environment. We had been informed by a brochure after we had paid our fare, that as the service on board was so wonderful, the P & O Company just knew we would want to award their staff accordingly, so to make it easy for all passengers, the policy was to debit each passenger's account on a daily basis US$10, including all children, to pay the cabin and waiting staff a gratuity. In addition, to pay the drink's staff, all beverages would attract a 15% loading, also in US currency, as this was the money on which the ship operated. We very quickly found our way around this quite remarkable ship. Some ship details:
The photo of Sea Princess docked at Juneau could go in here thank you Terry.
We sailed at 1730 ( 5.30PM ) with the drinks staff absolutely desperate to flog off "Sailing drinks." which looked quite a ghastly colour, and were priceed at about US $6.50. It was also interesting to us, that Coca Cola were running a special promotion over the 7 day cruise. One signed up, and was given a special Coke container, which you could then refill as often as you wished for US$ 22.50. The Americans on board, and there were some 1,360 of a total passenger number of 2,062, were queued up to get this Coke deal. The ship boasted some 7 eating areas, including 2 top class Dining Rooms, the Horizon on Deck 12 which had food available in a remarkable range for 24 hours a day. One could order from room service in one's cabin at any time day or night, a bowl of fruit could also be called for in our cabin. Saturday night and all day Sunday we cruised at about 20 knots on our way to Juneau. The ship had the Princess Theatre, almost a full size theatre , seating perhaps 750 or so, this was the venue for Movies, or a live stage show, several of which were staged during our week on board. Another site, the Vista Lounge, was also available for live shows. By a careful choice of our evening dining time, we were able to take in both live shows should we so desire. We had chosen open dining by design, so that we had could control when we wanted to eat at night, and were not stuck with the same group of people each day, and likewise they would not be caught with us every evening. Tables were for 2, 4 or 8, we quickly decided to book a table for just ourselves for dinner, breakfast and lunch gave us enough opportunity to meet our fellow passengers. We were amazed by the number of people in wheel chairs on board, at least 50, and they always seemed to be getting in my way, as they just demanded right of way at all times. Monday the 2nd. of September found us secure alongside the dock at Juneau by 1230 ( 12.30PM ) This is the capital of Alaska, a population of 30,000 spread over an area of 3,108 square miles, makes Juneau the second largest city by size, world wide, exceeded only by Kiruna in Sweden with an area of 5,458 square miles, information, I am sure you were just dying to find out. Joe Juneau and Richard Harris searched for gold in this area in 1880, and out of their discovery were to come three of the world's largest gold mines, and some $150 Million of this precious metal was recovered. We took the Juneau Tramway, which starts its brief journey to the top of Mount Roberts close to the docked ship. This tramway is operated by "First Nation people" who make an absolute killing out of brief tour, cost US$ 21.50, for about a two minute ride, but!! you may make as many trips up and down as you wish over the afternoon, I can assure my readers, once is very adequate. The township spreads over just a couple of streets, and really relies on the visit of cruise ships for its trade and I would think, its very survival. We sailed at 2055 ( 8.55 PM ) for Glacier Bay.
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