Reluctant Cruisers No More By Doreen Pendgracs
(article originally appeared on the http://www.travelwithachallenge.com/ web site)
My husband, Reg, and I had always avoided cruises like the plague. We just weren't attracted to the idea of having to dress up on a floating Las Vegas-style hotel complete with casinos and glitzy floor shows. Luckily, a friend introduced us to World Explorer Cruises (WEC) - whose motto speaks for itself - "Adventures for the heart, mind, and soul." Or equally apt, the motto of the onboard fitness program - "Sound mind, sound body."
The WEC cruise was all that. Because of the informal nature of the cruise, both staff and fellow passengers were always smiling and approachable. The warmth was evident the moment we stepped onboard the S.S. Universe Explorer, truly making our hearts glow with enthusiasm. There were no formal airs to deal with. No one felt self-conscience about being alone as everyone was so warm and friendly.
For the mind, WEC boasts the world's largest floating library, with more than 16,000 interesting volumes to keep any discerning reader happy. That beats a casino in my books anytime. The library's cozily upholstered lounge is a welcome place to nestle in and read while looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the spectacular scenery floating by. And to partner with the learning theme, a team of experts educated us in the past and present history, geology, biology, and anthropology of this unique part of Alaska -- only accessible by air and sea.
To satisfy the soul, what could be better than getting in touch with nature in 'America's Last Frontier?' Yes, we were off on a 14-night voyage through Alaska's Inside Passage where we were guaranteed to see an abundance of wildlife and natural wonders. And WEC's relaxed schedule allowed for gleefully long hours ashore at each port of call. After dark -- when we were all safely back aboard ship - a terrific assortment of classical and cultural entertainment provided something to inspire everyone.
Be warned that World Explorer Cruises is not for those seeking luxury and elaborate accommodations. The cabins are quite basic, but cleanliness is key with the crew and you'll always find them cleaning, whether it be your cabin, in the public areas, or out in the corridors.
The onboard food was quite good and a salmon lover's paradise, with abundance and variety to please any palate. Partaking in the onboard fitness program seemed the least we could do to ensure that it was our minds - and not our waistlines - that were expanding! So reluctant cruisers we are no more. World Explorer Cruises gave us the opportunity to learn while being pampered. What more could you ask for from a vacation?
Highlights of our 14-night sailing:
We set sail from the beautiful city of Vancouver, British Columbia. It's great to spend a couple of days (for a pre or post cruise visit) as Vancouver's dynamic nature has something new to offer each time we visit.
Our first Alaskan stop was the tiny city of Ketchikan, although on some voyages, the itinerary is reversed and Ketchikan becomes your last stop. We used our day in Ketchikan to shop, so that we could quickly cross everyone off our list. We were told this was a good thing, as Ketchikan boasts some of the most reasonable prices along the Inside Passage and offers an extensive assortment of souvenirs.
Our next port of call was Juneau -- Alaska's capital -- and the largest city we would be visiting. A float plane trip to the Taku Glacier Lodge -- where we shared our fantastic king salmon steaks with the resident black bears -- was unforgettable for the experience, the view, and the quality of the food. And Juneau comes alive at night. Dropping into the legendary Red Dog Saloon for a beer and a friendly sing-along made us feel as though weíd stepped back in time.
The next port we visited was Skagway, with its unique connection to the Klondike Gold Rush. We rode the White Pass & Yukon Route historic railway. Besides being an engineering marvel, the unending vistas were spectacular enough to inspire and excite anyone. And of course we made time to visit the equally legendary Red Onion Saloon, smiling at tales of its colorful past as a full-service bordello .. ..
We sailed through Glacier Bay. It's really quite the experience to sail right up to the glaciers and watch - and hear - them calving. The following day we continued cruising through the Gulf of Alaska, thankful we still had eight nights remaining on our voyage.
One week into the trip we found ourselves in Seward, where we toured the Seward SeaLife Center -- an impressive facility dedicated to research and the preservation of local marine life. That afternoon, we boarded a 95-foot boat and sailed through the Kenai Fjord -- a system of scenic waterways where we spotted black bears, mountain goats, orca and humpback whales, plenty of sea birds (including the tufted puffin), sea lions, and even a lone sea otter that playfully escorted our boat back to the dock.
Our next stop was Valdez, the port most famous for the oil spill that devastated the region back in 1989. The setting of Valdez is incredibly picturesque -- completely surrounded by snow-capped mountains -- explaining why it has been nicknamed 'Little Switzerland.' Hats off to the Valdez Visitor Center, who graciously offered the widest arrange of free travel literature Iíve ever seen. Reg toured the Alaska Pipeline Terminal located on the edge of Valdez, while I got the experience of a lifetime stepping out of a helicopter onto Shoup Glacier - covered with snow at the time of my visit, but home I'm told, to a natural beach if you visit during the summer. Keep in mind, though, that it's probably not that easy to visit Valdez when you wonít find snow. Weíre told they average about 400 inches of the white stuff each year.
We cruised Yakutat Bay -- home of the native Tlingit nation -- and were awed at the splendor of the Hubbard Glacier. WEC is one of the few cruise lines to sail here - the advantage of sailing on a smaller ship.
Our next port of call was Sitka, the site where the Tlingits battled the Russian people who'd settled the region back in the early 1800's. Sitka is perfectly charming, with evidence of its Russian heritage in the architecture - and on the menus of local restaurants. We tried the authentic Russian borscht soup at the charming Bayview Restaurant, also known for its generous-sized gourmet burgers. Both were great. Sitka is also known for its resident sea otter population. The Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest is one shore excursion that had everyone jumping -- up, that is -- to see the abundant wildlife we encountered during the three-hour sailing aboard a comfortable catamaran that serves you delectable treats and keeps the windows clean enough to pass the white glove test.
Our last Alaskan port of call was Wrangell. When we got off the ship we wondered aloud - "Why on earth are we stopping here?" Wrangell doesn't possess unrivaled natural beauty. It isn't where youíll find abundant wildlife - other than hoards of mosquitoes. But the question was happily answered by our cruise director. "Wrangell is a true, uncommercialized Alaskan city, where you can get an undistorted sense of the Alaskan people without being inundated with gift shops." True enough, and while we were there, we visited the Shakes Island Clan House and took in the totem poles and petroglyphs for one last look at early Tlingit culture.
Cruising back up the coast through British Columbia's coastal waters, we realized the Alaskan experience was one we would always treasure - in our hearts, our minds, and our souls.
The final port of call on our journey was Victoria, capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The British heritage of Victoria is evident everywhere - especially in the historic Empress Hotel, where we had "high tea" in the true British tradition. Fortunately we were able to bypass the lineups as we had made reservations.
The educational and cultural components of the trip made the World Explorer Alaskan Cruise unique. Some of the presentations included:
Anthropology lectures on The First Peoples of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest; Appreciating Native Art and Design; Ceremonies and Myths; A Living Tradition of Coastal Art presented by museum curator, Roslyn Tunis
Geology lectures on The Plate Techtonic Settling of Alaska; Glaciers; Earthquakes; Volcanoes presented by Dr. Harry Smedes.
History lectures on Exploration and a Love Story from Russian America; The Gold Rush; WWII in Alaska; Salmon & Alaska's Other Treasures presented by Dr. Eve Iversen.
Biology lectures on Birding; Whale Tales; Other Marine Animals; Bears of the North Country; Alaska Wildlife presented by Dr. Tom Darrow.
Entertainment included a spoons demonstration and hammered dulcimer by Ciel Duke with guitarist/songwriter, Robin Cottrell.
Classical pianist, Elena Ivanina.
Soprano, Dorothy Bishop with tenor, Neal Harrelson and Garold Whisler on piano.
Singalong and cabaret-style shows by songstress Janey Smith.
Jazz Night with the Universe Explorer Orchestra.
The Savitri String Quartet.