Who doesn’t love new car smell?  What about new cruise ship smell of adventure and a plethora of fun filled activities and amenities? We all love those! So if you’ve been following my Alaskan adventures you know that there is incredible scenery and adventure on an Alaskan cruise. The tough part is always – which ship is best for you and your family? How to plan the cruise? (read my 10 Tips for Planning an Alaskan cruise)  That’s a tough call until now with the brand new Norwegian Bliss ship set to sail from Seattle to Alaska in June.  This new cruise ship is expected to not only introduce new features like go-karts and laser tag but also to up their already amazing list of features – connecting solo cabins sound like an instant winner!  While the ship arrives in the U.S. this week to be officially christened and welcome travel industry guests to tour all the features of the new ship, I figured, I would provide 5 highlights of The Norwegian Bliss ship that I find quite attractive and exciting (official photos from Norwegian Cruise Line until I can get onboard for my own photos).

5 Highlights of the Norwegian Bliss Ship

Norwegian Bliss Solo Studio Cabins & Connecting Studio Cabins

For those who have always wanted to sail to Alaska solo now you have the opportunity to do so in your own cabin WITHOUT the single supplement.  Last year, I had to pay a single supplement on the Holland America cruise which was annoying and made the cruise cost twice as much (I’m still a bit bitter but hey it was all about Oprah!).  Not so on the Norwegian Bliss, now you can book a solo cabin and enjoy!  The ship will have solo studio cabins on Decks 10, 11, 12 forward.

(Pro Tip – Book Early as Studio Cabins tend to sell out first on the cruises)

I previously sailed Norwegian EPIC when I ran away to Europe.  On that fun filled adventure cruise, I was able to take a tour of the Studio Cabins for Solo Travelers (they were sold out when I tried to book).  Norwegian was the first in the industry to focus on solo (not necessarily single) travelers with their small inside cabins with double bed.  To say these have been a hit is an understatement.  So to read that the new Norwegian Bliss will have connecting solo cabins!  Well that’s impressive.  Imagine you and a friend want to travel together but don’t relish sharing a bathroom or each having a small twin bed.  Now you can each book a studio cabin with a connecting door.  You each get a double bed and your own bathroom space.  I can already think of a few friends that would love this option. I think you get to an age and like your own space to decompress without another person in the room (or a twin bed). Multi-generation family cruisers like me (Aunt Sue) and mom (Grandmom) can now each have their own rooms without sharing an inside cabin (Grandmom snores!).  Each studio cabin will have a virtual view to enhance the cabin space.

Studio Cabins and Studio Lounge are forward on Decks 10, 11 and 12.

The Mandara Spa & Salon

The spa on Norwegian was already heavenly but Mandara Spa on Norwegian Bliss is definitely luxury.  They sell a limited number of spa passes in advance and I always recommend spa lovers book the pass if they have a good amount of time at sea.  The Norwegian Bliss will feature their famous Thermal Suite as well as a Vitality Pool and both a Salt Room and a Snow Room.  Spa lovers get ready to bliss out.

Go Karts on Norwegian Bliss

I love bumper cars and go karts, neither of which I ever thought I’d see on a cruise ship out at sea.  The Norwegian Bliss will feature a racetrack on the top of the ship – get your helmets and car ready to race friends and family to capture the checkered flag.  If anyone needs to find me, it’s not quite F1, but I’ll be here on the track!

The Observation Lounge on Norwegian Bliss

The observation lounge in one word – WOW!  Floor to ceiling windows give you an impressive viewpoint in Alaska and elsewhere.  No longer will you need to find a space and lean forward for a good view.  This enclosed vantage point will keep you warm in Alaska and up close to the glacier views.  For those other sea days, bring a good book, grab a window seat and enjoy a drink from the bar.

Entertainment on Norwegian Bliss

I tend to find the entertainment choices a mixed bag on cruises.  There’s so much talent and yet some cruise lines miss the mark in their curation.  The Norwegian Bliss is kicking it up to Jersey Boys with a side of the Beatles (cover band) and a speakeasy.  These music features are in addition to the many lounges and featured headliners and nightly shows.  Passengers of all ages can enjoy the music of the past which laid the ground work for the music of today. I dare you not to sing along, that is if you can leave the relaxing spaces on the ship like the ultra luxury and exclusive The Haven, a private hotel within the ship.

Final Thoughts – New Norwegian Bliss Cruise Ship

So these are just a few highlights that I’m excited to see arrive in the U.S. aboard the Norwegian Bliss ship as it sets sail to Alaska in June. Knowing what I saw on my Alaska trip last year, those fortunate folks are going to have a fantastic base of operation aboard the ship as it sails from Seattle to Alaska with two sea days and stops in

• Ketchikan (7 am – 3 pm)
• Juneau (7 am – 1:30 pm)
• Cruising Sawyer Glacier
• Skagway (7 am – 5:30 pm)
• Victoria, B.C. (4 pm – 10pm)

Highlights in each city (based on my prior visits and experiences):

• Juneau – Dog Sledding (sadly canceled on my last trip), Mendenhall Glacier (I strapped on crampons and went glacier hiking), Nature tours, Seaplane tours, Taku Glacier Hovercraft Adventures
• Skagway – White Pass Railway
• Ketchikan – Misty Fjords Seaplane (incredible experience landing on the water), Lumberjack show, Totem Poles, Zodiac Expedition
• Victoria – Butchart Gardens (one of my favorite gardens) and Tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel

Thoughts on the new Norwegian Bliss cruise ship?  Will you consider it for your next Alaskan cruise adventure from Seattle to Alaska?

Continuing with my Alaskan adventures, I chose the Zodiac adventure in Ketchikan (often referred to as the “back country zodiac expedition”).  While not venturing far from port, the chance to ride the zodiac boat in the waters around town and the Alaskan coastline for 2.5 hours and out to the ocean seemed like an adventure that would be fun (even if I looked silly head to toe in the clothes).  As mentioned in the 10 Tips for Planning an Alaskan Cruise, the cruise ships have a stronghold over the tour vendors and direct you to book via the cruise ship directly.  So I booked my Zodiac Expedition in Ketchikan via Holland America Eurodam excursion tours (called EXC tours).

Preparation for the Zodiac Expedition in Ketchikan

Arriving in Ketchikan, Alaska, we were one of the first ships in port (there would be four ships that day) and as you disembark into town, it was easy to find the Zodiac Expedition van waiting for passengers.  I was welcomed and given a legal release waiver to sign (always a fun exercise to put the next of kin emergency contact information on before beginning your adventure) before we left for our tour.  Arriving at the Ketchikan Outdoor office in about 10-15 minutes from town, we were welcomed as the staff sized us up and began giving us our layers of clothes and accessories to put on (Pro Tip: use the bathroom before getting dressed) as well as a bin to put our shoes and personal belongings in.  It’s a quick process so be prepared to shed your shoes, etc. to get quickly dressed to keep the group on schedule.

I was given:

• Socks & Boots
• Overalls
• Coat
• Gloves
• Clip On Bag for my Camera and necessities
• Facemask
• Lifejacket

I had to be helped with some of the clothing (solo travel problems) and once done felt like a big dork who could barely walk in the gear.  It was funny to see everyone in the same goofy but necessary gear as we all hoofed down the stairs to our boats.

The Back Country Zodiac Expedition Ketchikan Tour

I was assigned a boat (the Johnny Cash) with a father/daughter since the other groups were together and easily split into four per boat.  The father asked to drive and I was happy to be a passenger (we would stop halfway if drivers wanted to switch but I didn’t feel the need for speed that day).  Driving age for the zodiac is 25 years and older so his college aged daughter was not allowed to drive.

Given a bit of instruction on how to drive the boat, steer and brake by our guide Mary, who is legendary for her survivalist adventures. Our group of four boats (Mary leading followed by three passenger boats) set off slowly following in a line behind Mary.  Given that we were out among the other boat traffic it was key to stay together.  It was fun when we sped up as my driver, who was British, was a bit slow and his American daughter said “c’mon dad, go faster and catch up”.  We were the last boat in the line so we were always catching up.  He took the opportunity to go a bit too fast to catch up and when he would hit the waves or veer away from the wake of the boats ahead, his daughter and I would get pretty wet with the water spraying in our faces. We were thankful for our gear but wished for less water in our faces.

Ketchikan Zodiac Expedition – Sights

We stopped a few times during our adventure.  We looked at an island in the middle of the water that residents do live on and need a boat to/from town.  We stopped to admire the bald eagles (golf balls in the trees).  Mary tied our boats together when we stopped so she could talk to us and ensure we all stayed with her. She did a demonstration that was pretty cool – she threw fish into the water and we watched an eagle fly down and pick it up with its talons and fly away – very nature channel.  My video is a bit wonky (I had it initially the wrong way) but you get the picture if a bit askew. (Pro Tip: Use Slow Mo setting on Iphone next time)

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkUktndOdMk[/embedyt]

She also showed us jellyfish like creatures and floating flora (I forget what this was but kept thinking Sigmund the Sea Monster).

When we picked up speed across the water, I felt very much one with nature and the water.  As we neared the ocean, the temperatures were much cooler and the water much choppier.

The day was overcast as much of the journey had been and for a few minutes the sky cleared and it was amazing to be in Alaska on a zodiac having an amazing adventure on the water in Ketchikan.  Downside to the boat ride and water was that my camera and iphone were tricky to use given the gloves and gear.  I suggest wearing a GoPro for this trip otherwise be careful with your camera.

Zodiac Expedition with Ketchikan Outdoors

When we had to follow Mary back to base it was with a bit of sadness because we were all now getting the feel of the boat, the water and the surprises of nature.  Back at base, we entered a room downstairs from the entry point to find our buckets of clothes, bags, shoes, etc.  We all needed help to undress of the gear and immediately felt so much lighter.  As we departed, each group gave Mary a tip except for me because I somehow (embarrassingly) couldn’t find my cash (I would find it later back on the ship at the bottom of my bag but at the time we were leaving couldn’t find it fast enough).  I went to the cruise desk to inquire about the tour company so I could send Mary the money and the staff on Holland America were not allowed to tell me the name of the tour company I paid to join that day (absurd!).

So, if you are cruising to Alaska and want a unique adventure in Ketchikan, I highly recommend the Zodiac Adventure (called Back Country Zodiac Expedition in the Cruise Tour books) with Ketchikan Outdoors.  Each boat holds four people and they will combine parties of two/three as needed so don’t get upset if you are sharing the boat.  It’s a fun day either way. The cost will vary by cruise ship so budget at least $169 + tax per person plus tips for your guide and office team (driver, gear staff, etc.).

Ps. – I mailed my $20 tip money to Mary while writing this, hopefully, she’s still there and doesn’t mind the delay.

On my first Alaskan cruise, I flew into Seattle and then boarded a bus to Vancouver to meet the ship.  Quite frankly, the last thing I want to do after flying cross country from Philadelphia is to move from one cramped seat on a plane to another cramped seat on a bus.  It’s exhausting and not much of a money saver and my time and level of grumpy gets tested.  So for the next cruise to Alaska, thankfully, the Oprah Live Your Adventure Cruise chose to leave from Seattle on the Holland America Eurodam.  I love Seattle and have been visiting for nearly 20 years as I have family that relocated there so I know the city and always find someone fun to discover each time.

So while my first Alaskan cruise from Vancouver ended in heartache (the ship leaked oil and we skipped the day in Glacier Bay…. on the Glacier cruise), the next cruise to Alaska from Seattle did require a lot of research on my part and a few lessons learned during the journey.  So hoping to save you any surprises, I want to share my 10 Tips for Planning a Cruise to Alaska from Seattle.

As for which cruise line, which itinerary, blah, blah that’s best, I’m sticking to the important features that pretty much affect all cruise lines going to Alaska from Seattle. We can all argue which cruise lines we love, like or hate to Alaska another time.

10 Tips for Planning a Cruise to Alaska from Seattle

1. Alaska ain’t cheap – the cruise price is tempting but the add-ons can quickly multiply to an expensive vacation. Plan your budget accordingly and then add 20%.

2. Seattle is normally a city that has tight hotel space with normal business and leisure travelers but during cruise season be ready to pay even more for the pre/post cruise hotel. Advice is to book lodging in advance or look at the cruise line hotel options (not what I normally recommend but in this case, the pricing might be better). I tend to enjoy the boutique/luxury hotels like the three Kimpton Hotels Seattle (except the Monaco Seattle), newly renovated Hotel 1000 Seattle (Loews) and Four Seasons Seattle.

3. Booking your flight – PLEASE LISTEN TO ME WHEN I SAY “GO THE NIGHT BEFORE”. Do not fly out the same day to Seattle especially from the East Coast.  If you need to know why, read my nightmare flight from PHL-SEA.  We had many people on the July flight leaving for a cruise that day and with our 5+hour delay, the ship sailed without them!  We were scheduled to arrive before noon which should give you enough time to make it to the port for a 4 pm sail away time.  However, our 7 a.m. flight didn’t arrive until after 4 p.m.  The cruise ship representatives met the passengers in baggage claim and had to deliver some bad news.

4. Check your credit card for travel insurance and/or travel interruption insurance. Buy additional insurance if the scenarios required for you, your family and/or group are not covered.

5. If you are buying your flight through the cruise company (not always recommended due to price and connections), in many cases, the cruise company is responsible to get you to the next port at their cost. With enough missing people the ship could wait for you.  This is the cruise company’s call based on port, schedule and a variety of other factors. So if you absolutely must fly on the same day as sailing, you might consider booking air though the cruise line. It’s your gamble.

6. Book shore excursions in advance via the cruise ship (it hurts me to type that! I usually book private guides or tours in advance directly.  I rarely book via the cruise line). Unlike other cruise ports where many of the tours can be had for a lower price and with a variety of tour operators, in Alaska, many of the popular tours are aligned with the cruise ship only.  They don’t offer their tours separately online or in port.  So just when you thought you would save money on that helicopter ride….or hovercraft….or zodiac….think again.

7. If you are flying to a glacier, to a lake or anywhere – expect a per person cost of $300+. Most of the adventure tours are $200+ per person. If flying, understand the risk of weather and cancellation so have a Plan B at the ready.

8. The days start early, really early. Arriving in port by 7 a.m. and expecting to start a tour before 8 a.m. means that you are up by 5 a.m. depending on how many people are sharing a cabin and bathroom.  With early days means early nights if you want to sleep at all.  Many tours are offered multiple times throughout the day so plan accordingly.

9. Leaving port mid-day. Most days started early and then left by 3 p.m. (except in Victoria where we arrived at night for a few hours). To be fair, most of the cruise tours would arrive back to the town with a bit of time to explore (shop, eat, etc.) but not much.  So plan the day in port for what matters most to you.  My Sitka Nature Cruise was all day and started early, however, you could have chosen to explore on your own the Raptor Center and/or Fortress of the Bear.

10. A balcony cabin is really worth it, this from the inside cabin on the lowest deck girl. Despite it being quite cold during the sailing (even in July), the time in Glacier Bay (all day) is wonderful.  The ship goes in and then turns around (a 360 degree turn) so each side of the ship has time to enjoy both sides of the bay and glaciers.  While many choose to be out on the various decks for their viewing points, sitting on your own balcony with a cup of hot chocolate (or mulled wine) is a nice perk.  I normally don’t recommend balcony room upgrades since you are not in the room much, in Alaska, it’s a good choice.

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Bonus: Make sure to enjoy Seattle for a day (or more) as it’s a fun city with a rich history (check out the Underground Tour), the colorful Chihuly Glass & Gardens and great foods, wine and beer. For me, I like to indulge in a great burger at Palace Kitchen, visit the Starbucks Roastery (for desserts) and end the night with chocolate caramels from Fran’s Chocolates.

So that’s my list of 10 Tips for Planning a Cruise to Alaska from Seattle.  Do you have any tips to add to help others with their Alaskan Cruise?  Tips you’ve learned the hard way (like me) or learned from others to avoid heartache and disappointment?

If you’ve ever been whale watching you know that it can get crazy when you see a whale and then try to chase the whale (never works) hoping to see it surface again.  I tend to think the whales have too much fun with this game of hide and seek played out in the waters of Alaska.  Our boat was chasing one whale – everyone had their cameras at the ready pointed in the distance only to hear “over there” and we all shifted sides and repositioned our cameras.  It’s all part of the experience but for those Alaska whale watching tours they tend to offer a money back guarantee (not the whole tour price but a portion of it, maybe $100) if you don’t see a whale, sea otter or a bear (note they rarely give your money back as you’ll likely see one or the other).   While my other port tours were adventurous, I just wanted an easy day of Alaskan animals.  The Sitka Wildlife Tour & Nature Cruise offered three perspectives on the animals via a nature cruise followed by visits to the Raptor Center  and the Fortress of the Bear.

Sitka Nature Boat Tour

The Allen Marine tour boat loaded next to the cruise ship dock which was only a few steps from the Holland America Eurodam. I was lucky to be one of the first ones off the ship so I found a seat upstairs in the front enclosed area.  Each seat came with a map as well as binoculars. The boat left and we were back out on the water, this time though we would now be able to navigate into the inlets around Sitka to look for eagles, bears, otters and much more. Downstairs was the head (bathrooms) and snack bar with more seats.  Upstairs we had the enclosed area and then an open area in the back to get a better view.  The waters were calm and we were the only boat to explore the area which was a nice perk.

The Bald Eagles spotted on the Sitka Wildlife Tour

We would enter through a patch of trees with tiny white spots on top (those were the bald eagles often referred to as golf balls in the trees).  Once your eyes processed white spot = bald eagles, you could easily see so many more and aim the binoculars accordingly.  The boat slowed down to quietly glide on the water and inspect the trees, water and animals.  If you’ve ever been the lone boat on the water, there is something magic when the engines are turned off and the only sounds are those of nature.  Your mind get to clear the clutter and enjoy the silence and focus on the trees, looking for animals and just being one with nature.

Brown Bears on the Shoreline – Sitka Wildlife Cruise

As we past the tree lined entrance, a large spoon shaped view came into focus and the boat sailed to the left side to look along the shoreline for residents.  We were richly rewarded by brown bears – a mama bear and her cubs – this was a special treat.  The captain tried to get in a better position, still way off land for photos.  Once the bears went back into the woods, we came upon the sea otters having a lot of fun in the water.  I couldn’t get enough of these animals as I didn’t expect to see them here.  For me, Alaska is about bears and eagles and yet there are so many other animals that roam (or swim) in the state.

A Raft of Otters on the Sitka Wildlife Tour

So while the three bears were a big deal to see it was the group of otters (a raft) that made us all smile with childlike wonder.  For those with long lens they got whisker views of the playful animals, for others like me, the binoculars were really fun to use.  The captain stayed in the area for quite some time for us to enjoy the otters before sailing out of the inlet.

One Playful Whale in Sitka

As we exited the inlet into the larger water we saw a whale (or the captain and animal spotter staff member saw the whale).  For me, I always see a fin and rarely a tail and never my “free willy” or “national geographic” whale that jumps out of the water.  This day we chased both a fin and a tail (on the ship at dinner later that night we would see a whale jumping in the distance following the ship).  I’m pretty impressed that I got the tail photo without having a fancy camera lens like so many on the boat.

Sea Lions and Seals in Sitka

Not to be overlooked in the water, we had the sea lions on the buoys.  With all the excitement over the playful whale taunting us, the sea lions and seals just swam around and a few were sacked out.

Sitka Wildlife Cruise & Nature Tour

I rarely expect much on these sightseeing tours given my experiences in the past but this day was quite different.  It helped that it was sunny for some time and that the captain happened upon a good number of Alaskan residents in the water, in the trees and along the shoreline.

Rather than return to the cruise port where our tour began, we docked in town and boarded our bus out to the Raptor Center and then to the Fortress of the Bear.  For the birds and the bears that need rehabilitation, these non-profits were focused on their needs.  After a day in nature where the animals could roam freely and enjoy the land, we got to see the other side of nature – those injured or abandoned and the dedicated staff and volunteers helping visitors understand more about Alaskan animals.

Final Thoughts – Sitka Wildlife Tour & Cruise

So while my nature boat tour wasn’t as adventurous as my Taku Glacier hovercraft adventure or Ketchikan zodiac adventure, it was the perfect mixture of relaxation on the water as well as advocacy on the land.  Alaska is nature and nature includes all of the animals in land and sea.  So on your Alaskan cruise to Sitka (only accessible by boat or plane), I’d recommend this wonderful tour in Sitka to see all the animals that make up the Alaskan wilderness.

The American Bald Eagle, a symbol of American pride.  To see an eagle fly is quite simply beautiful with its long wings and soaring paths.  But for many birds, including the bald eagle in Alaska, there are many hazards – namely cars in towns.  When a bird is injured, they can be sent to the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka with the hope of flying again.  For those who can no longer fly they can become a “raptor in residence” to help educate visitors and schoolchildren around the country.  This non-profit started in 1980 in the backyard of two local Sitka residents and has grown to the 17 acre property along the Indian River.  Each year the Alaska Raptor Center sees 100-200 patients – bald eagles, owls and other birds like falcons and hawks – in their facility with the hope of repairing, rehabbing and releasing them back into the world.

Visit the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka

The Alaska Raptor center is easily reached by bus, cab, local tours and ship tours in Sitka, Alaska.  The admission fee is minimal (2017 prices were $13 adult/$6 child).  My visit was a combination ship tour which consisted of three parts – a nature cruise, visit to the Alaska Raptor Center and a visit to the Fortress of the Bear.

Visitors are welcomed by a staff member and given insight into the center’s mission and guests. A “raptor” is a meat eating bird that hunts for its food.  They have sharp eyesight, talons (claws on feet) and hooked beaks.

We were then led to an enclosed darkened room, the Bald Eagle Flight Training Center, which was pretty cool to see the birds flying about (or trying to).  It was amazing to see so many bald eagles in one place but at the same time sad.  Sad, because you don’t know if they will ever fly again.  What happens to your spirit when you can’t do the one thing you were meant to do, meant to be, the essence of who you are?  I had hope that they will all fly again and have a release event to fly back into the wild.

The groups were then lead into a larger room with interactive displays (for kids), a window looking into the bird clinic (hospital) and information about the birds.  A staff member then entered with a guest on her arm – the kids all let out a “wow”.  I was surprised by the size of the Bald Eagle on her arm (which was a youngster!).  We would learn that the eagle was named “Spirit” (by Alaska Airlines) and was just over a year old.  She was injured and brought to the center for rehab. While she can fly, due to her head tilt and limited vision in her left eye, she can not be released into the wild as she won’t survive with the vision deficiency.  The dangers to the birds are mostly man made – power lines, gunshots, cars, chemicals, etc.

Once the show was over, I went to see the pigmy owls – they looked fake, like little dolls but they are in fact real and reside by the office.  I was then left to wander the grounds outside to see the variety of birds in residence – including a snow owl (I had a Harry Potter Studio flashback).   With not enough time to explore the vast property, I stayed close to see another staff member talk about another bird guest. Up close and personal, they are quite stunning – the intricate wings, feathers, beaks, talons and eyes.

In the outside habitat, there is an area with three Bald Eagles named Sunset, Thor and Titan that arrived at the center from a Raptor trainer who could no longer care for the birds.  Another enclosure contained Volta who arrived in 1992 after an injury with a power line.  Volta arrived with normal injuries – concussion, electrocution, bone fractures, etc. but it was the shoulder injury that would keep him grounded.  When the birds can no longer fly they are used for captive breeding programs (which release offspring back into the wild), sent to zoos/reserves for education and a few remain at the Raptor Center.

How You Can Help the Alaska Raptor Center

The work that the Raptor Center is doing is quite admirable.  They are a non-profit supported by visitors, members and donations.  If you want to help their mission – look at the options online (donation, shopping, membership, etc.) one which includes “Adopt a Raptor“.  You can read the stories about each of the birds in residence and how they came to Raptor Center.  You can “adopt a raptor” with a donation of $75 (individual) or $95 (classroom).

Every day the staff members and volunteers of the Alaska Raptor Center (and Raptor Centers around the country) work tirelessly in their efforts to rehabilitate the eagles and other birds because the goal is to set them free.  For the grounded residents, they try to make their lives as good as they can as members of the family of raptors onsite.  It’s a labor of love by all – you can hear their passion in their talks and see their passion in how they handle the birds and visitors.

Alaska, for me, is about the adventure and nature’s beauty and when you can combine the two that’s even better.  On my first visit to Alaska many years ago, I flew in a helicopter to the Mendenhall glacier to do a bit of glacier hiking (crampons, poles and helmets required) and rappelling.  For this visit to Juneau, I decided to visit the Taku glacier from a different angle – via hovercraft. Yes, hovercraft with Allen Marine Tours which offers their tours through the cruise ships tour desk, in my case, Holland America Eurodam Shore Excursions (new name EXC Tours).

The four hour tour began with meeting our shuttle driver in port to transport us to the dock to board a boat ride around the forest and lake of Juneau.  With multiple tours that day, the one hour cloud covered ride was full of information as we all hoped the rain would go away.

When we reached The Glacier boat near the glacier, we disembarked and received instruction while we waited for the hovercrafts to return from an earlier tour. Our boat of 23 was divided into three groups (generally eight people on each hovercraft, as I was solo, there was only seven passengers) and lined up outside ready to board our hovercraft after the passengers disembarked them and came on board. We were offered boots to wear (tip: put them on!), offered snacks and given the opportunity to use the bathroom before our hovercraft adventure began. As a solo traveler, I was able to sit up front across from the driver and we had three couples onboard.  We were given a quick overview of the boat and told to put on our headsets to communicate. And then the boat rose up and began floating on top of the shallow water (the hover part) as we glided quickly across the water toward the sand along the shoreline. With his StarWars bobblehead, we were off to a great start!  Our driver was one of many who travel the world during the seasons (what a life!) – he was in Alaska for the summer season.

I’ve sailed and experienced many types of boats and watercrafts over the years but this was definitely a different type of experience – it was so much fun (and loud, hence the headsets).

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxoTUZVx-as[/embedyt]

Visiting Taku Glacier by Hovercraft

We would come to rest in the sands on the shore and exit once the other hovercrafts had landed and safely settled – it was pretty cool to see that – they slide in and over the sand and then sink into the sand.  The first thing I noticed was the quiet – out in the middle of Alaska it was stillness and quiet and frankly wonderful. For anyone visiting Alaska for the first time, this was the perfect experience – the scenery, the glacier, the stillness, the quiet.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3lyiJsC-v4[/embedyt]

Our driver/guide would walk us around the glacier area to show us different parts.  It could have been a scene from a movie as explorers land on the unfamiliar shores to go wander about.  We hiked a bit uphill (wear good shoes) and then the three groups walked through the waters (one girl carried her mother who didn’t wear boots).

As for me, I was bootless in my hiking shoes so I had to stay on the one side of the glacier because the water was a bit too deep (and cold) for me to walk through (and no one could carry me across).  No worries about this as I was left with my side of nature to explore all to myself plus they didn’t walk too far as my telephoto lens could capture the same views from afar.  As the Taku Glacier is advancing (moving ever so slightly), you could see the white/blue colors of the glacier as well as the darker parts.

When the groups reconvened we trekked back to the sands and our hovercrafts to make our way back (time passed too quickly).

The ride back to the sightseeing boat –

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On the way back we diverted a bit as the driver spotted brown bears in the distance, he got as close as he could (still far away) and we just stared at our first bear sighting.

As we made it back to the transfer boat, we were all a bit sad that the adventure was over but it was a special day in Alaska.  The staff had local snacks waiting for us to enjoy on the ride back to the Juneau dock.

The tour was one of the shorter offerings and offered multiple times during the port day so many could experience it.  With only three hovercrafts, the adventure is limited which is nice so that you aren’t competing with so many other boats or cruise passengers and overwhelmed.  The other plus was that the weather can be iffy and this tour doesn’t depend on helicopters or weather – it can go in most weather conditions (unlike the planes and helicopters).  The last thing you want to do is come to Alaska and get grounded due to weather – the boat to hovercraft tour was a fun adventure that all can enjoy in my opinion.

The cost was $339.95 via the ship tour on Holland America Eurodam (Alaska isn’t cheap and few seem to tell you that!).  This tour was offered in summer 2017, hopefully enough people loved it so that it becomes a regular tour offering.  I tipped the Hovercraft driver directly and then tipped the guide boat staff as well (they have a tip jar).

Hard to imagine but Alaska doesn’t have any laws on the books to protect bears with rehabilitation programs. “Bullets are cheaper” I was told by the Fortress of the Bear staff member when I asked why the bears needed to be rescued.  She told me a story of a hotel owner who was luring bears into town so his hotel guests could “spot” bears on their trip.  I was disgusted, but when the mama bear was trapped looking for food she was shot and killed as an act of self-defense (legal).  The Alaska Department of Fish & Game would then normally kill (euthanize) the cubs who can’t survive without their mother.  But in 2007, the Fortress of the Bear was born in Sitka, Alaska to rescue and rehab bear cubs.  Now the Department of Fish & Game works with the Fortress of the Bear rescue in the hopes of someday releasing the bears back into the wild.  For now, the Fortress of the Bear has a few permanent residents while others get rehabbed and relocated to zoos and other rescues across the United States.

When I think of Alaska, bears come to mind.  So while seeing a bear in his/her natural habitat (which I did on an Alaska nature cruise, one of many Alaska cruise ship tours), I also thought it important to see the wonderful work being done in Sitka by the non-profit group at the Fortress of the Bear.  While I’m not keen on zoos and other captive environments, I do understand their need to exist after my African safari adventure. Many young animals often cannot survive in the wild or go back to the wild after certain incidents. So rescues and zoos (for the most part) play a key role in saving the animals but I still grapple with that.

I booked a cruise tour through the ship (Holland America Eurodam) to visit the Fortress of the Bear but you can easily get there by local cab, shuttle, and city bus or with a local tour group.  As Sitka isn’t easily accessible and only a few cruise ships call in port during the season, the Fortress of the Bear sees about 20,000 visitors each year. They rely on donations and visitors admission fees.

Visiting the Fortress of the Bear

I didn’t know what to expect – cages, free roaming areas, etc. so I was happily surprised when I walked up the stairs to the viewing platform to see two enclosures that were repurposed silos (they are waiting to expand to a third nearby) with eight bears wandering about (sadly since my visit, one bear has passed).  The large silos have water areas, grass, tree branches and play items like tires and such.

Watching the bears play in the water, with their food balls and with each other was quite magic.  I laughed at their mischief and playfulness and then was sad that they could have been killed for pennies by bullets rather than rescued and taken care of by the founder and his staff.  The bears are gorgeous animals both in nature and in the rescue.

Fortress of the Bear – Resident Brown & Black Bears

The website has more information about their resident group of siblings – the signs at the site told a bit more about each resident bear.

Family #1 –

Toby

Toby is the lone female and sadly Alaska does have a law about captive breeding so she will never be a mother. She has learned to sign and asks for more food regularly (she does like food)

Balloo

(sadly since my visit he developed a spinal injury and was euthanized last winter)

Lucky

Family #2 –

Killisnoo & brother Chaik

Family #3 – The Black Bears

Smokey & Tuliann

Bandit (unrelated)

How You Can Help Support The Fortress of the Bear

The Fortress of the Bear does rehab bears when they can and then sends them to a zoo or other rescue facility. Local fish processing plants supply fish and local vendors supply produce so the bears eat quite well. As a non-profit solely relying on donations and visitors and no government monies, here’s how you can help from near (and far).

• Visit the Fortress of the Bear when you visit Sitka, Alaska on your cruise
• Buy Merchandise from the Fortress of the Bear online store
• Make a charitable donation to the Fortress of the Bear in Sitka, Alaska
• Shop Amazon via Amazon Smiles (link from for the Fortress of the Bear website)
• Like & Follow The Fortress of the Bear Facebook Page

Final Thoughts at The Fortress of the Bear

After my visit to the Fortress of the Bear, I went back to the ship and watched Disney’s “Bears” Documentary and was even more impressed by the trials of the bear – it’s not an easy life (and not an easy movie as the suspense will drive you crazy).  At the Fortress of the Bear, it’s made a bit easier but it doesn’t take away the fact that a mama bear died ingesting plastic or another died by gunfire in search of food which are man-made hazards. The volunteers and staff at The Fortress of the Bear are doing good work to save the bears in Alaska.

Alaska is home to the bears and if you are lucky to visit Sitka on an Alaskan cruise, do make time to visit the Fortress of the Bear to help them continue the good works and let’s pray for a time when no one says “bullets are cheaper”.

The Oprah “Share the Adventure” Cruise to Alaska would be my first cruise “first date” on Holland America.  I was a bit apprehensive knowing that Holland has a reputation for skewing older cruise guests especially to Alaska but figured that the O Magazine inaugural cruise to Alaska on Eurodam with Oprah appearance would mix it up a bit.  I was interested to see how the new partnership with O Magazine and their wellness programs would translate to Holland America Eurodam.

I will post about the O Magazine programming, Alaska ports (Sitka Wildlife tour, Ketchikan Zodiac Expedition and The Fortress of the Bear) tours and Glacier Bay separately.

Cruise to Alaska on Eurodam – Sailing from Seattle Pier 91

The Eurodam leaves Seattle from Pier 91 which is a 10-15 minute taxi ride from downtown Seattle (taxi ride about $15 from the Four Seasons Seattle). Pier 91 is shared by a Princess ship as both cruise lines are owned by same parent corporation.  When I arrived at the cruise terminal, I was surprised that both ships were boarding using one shared terminal but it worked well with staff and ropes to separate the ships check in procedure.

I would walk straight toward the back of the terminal to surrender my checked bag to ship staff.  From there, I would need to stop to fill out the medical card (did I have the flu? Etc.).  Expecting lines, I was surprised that there were zero lines at 1 p.m. – zero!  I showed my documents to a staff member and boarding the escalator to the second floor where I expected the lines to snake around to the check in desks.  There were no lines there either?!  I was shocked based on past cruise line experiences and wondering if I was late.  I checked my documents and the ship was not departing for a few more hours – you would have thought I was the last to board based on the empty terminal full of staff and few guests. I would later learn that the President of Holland America was on this sailing so everything and everyone was on best behavior at the check-in (shame the staff onboard weren’t as up to task – more on that below).

I wandered through a few empty lines set up to the front desk and quickly had my photo taken, given my cruise card and welcomed to Holland America’s Cruise to Alaska on Eurodam.  The first sign that this was a special cruise was the stop at the t-shirt table to get my Oprah cruise t-shirt (all passengers were welcome to one t-shirt) and the photo with Oprah backdrop.  From there I walked and used the escalator to get to the ship deck.

Once onboard, I went in search of my room since the rooms were ready starting at 11 a.m. (it seems that most of the excited Oprah guests were on board early hence the empty terminal).

Holland America Verandah Room on Eurodam

First things first, I didn’t book a Verandah (balcony) room on Eurodam (category VD).  I booked the much cheaper inside cabin way down below.  Unfortunately, the cruise had a pricing adjustment (i.e. – they overpriced it, undersold it, and was having a fire sale right before sailing) which rather than refund my substantial overcharge, they upgraded me a few categories to make up for it.  While most upgrades are welcome, in my case, I tried to change it prior to the cruise (and wasn’t able to) as I booked mid-ship and was upgraded to back of the ship (aft) which I don’t like.  I like parts of the ship that are steady and stable (i.e. – mid-ship) and my room was foreshadowing my experience to come.

The Verandah room is a wonderful option in Alaska, especially at Glacier Bay, to see the glorious wonder of nature from your balcony.  While sailing in other locations, I wouldn’t normally recommend paying more for a balcony, but in Alaska, it’s worth the extra in my opinion for the views.

When I opened the door to the cabin, Cabin 6145 on Upper Verandah Deck 6), I was a bit surprised by the worn décor, setup and colors.  This was definitely a ship in need of dry dock refresh (scheduled for April 2018).

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yyJnr-62Q4[/embedyt]

Like most cruise cabins, the room had a bed, pull out couch, side chair, desk area and flat screen television.

Unlike other cruises, I had two provided robes and a fruit bowl that would be filled each day with fruit per my stateroom attendant.  He was lovely, I told him I like berries and green bananas, neither were offered in the fruit program.  But he tried, the first day, I returned to two pints of berries which was such a welcome surprise and showed he understood service.  He was surprised when I told him I didn’t need ice each night, didn’t need the bedding changed daily and a few other things.  He was very good and I tipped him extra cash at the end of the cruise.

The bathroom had Elemis toiletries and were eco-friendly – good for the environment but bad for a luxury toiletry chipmunk like me.

Holland America Cruise to Alaska on Eurodam  – Food Options

At the buffet, Lido Market, I liked that staff would serve you to avoid the potential for norovirus.  This also meant that I wasn’t tempted to pile my plate high (I could go back for seconds which I rarely did).  The dessert and juice area was self-service.  During the day transitioning to dinner, there was a nice setup for self-service with appetizers and small plates.

There are three restaurants onboard that charge an additional fee – one Italian, one Steakhouse (Pinnacle Grill) and one sushi.  I experienced the Steakhouse during the private Oprah fundraising dinner and it was really good.  Generally living in Philadelphia, I have access to so many amazing foods and chefs that I rarely spend the extra on the ship for specialty restaurants.  The steakhouses are usually $25-$35 extra per person for dinner (lunch is lower fee and different menu).

The pizza kiosk on the outside pool deck was hit or miss – I loved the panna cotta dessert and asked for my pizza well done because they had a tendency to undercook the pizzas.  As someone who worked in pizza during high school and college, they could have done better with topping allocation and cooking times. Raw dough pizza due to heavy topping is no fun but sadly, many don’t realize what an undercooked pizza looks/tastes like.

The burger bar, Dive Bar, was a favorite because it was the only place I could get a plain grilled chicken (or burger) with bacon and fries.  I would then go to the salad bar and ask for avocado (staff very nicely went to the kitchen for that) and then to another station for vegetables.  I was surprised that the buffet didn’t have grilled chicken all day long.  So my trek was a bit involved as I attempted to eat healthy (don’t look at the fries!)

For dinner, I ate in the main dining room for “anytime dining” and chose shared tables on all nights but one.  The one time I ate solo was the worst meal as I was ignored, the food was bad and I left early. The shared dinners were great opportunities to meet other travelers.  The menus were nicely varied three course meals and served quickly so that it wasn’t a two plus hour experience (only on formal night did we have a very long service).

Desserts, in general, were ok.  I did abandon a few that looked better than they tasted.

For the newly introduced Chocolate Surprise Dessert Parade which I highlighted on my schedule, I walked down the stairs into the setup and was directed back upstairs and down to the floor mid-ship.  I shouldn’t have listened by the time I did that the servers were circulating the lounge and I felt that I was chasing chocolate.  I saw chocolate of interest being served and then by the time I reached the server the treat was gone, his tray empty.  I much prefer a chocolate buffet that can be replenished constantly and the option to stack my plate, get a glass of red and go enjoy my treats.  Chocolate on the run wasn’t fun for me.  As this is a new option on Holland, hopefully they will work out the kinks to deliver a good experience for all.

Eurodam Lounges – Lots of Lounges on Holland America Cruise to Alaska

The ship has a plethora of lounges to enjoy, most during my time on board were empty save for special performances or trivia.  The Billboard lounge had two piano players singing the hits that you knew – given that the age is older, most of the songs were hits of the 60’s and 70’s.  The art lounge off of the casino was colorful and rarely crowded.

At the front of the ship, the Crow’s Nest was a bit hard to find but well worth it.  The large lounge had a bar (of course), lecture area, game room with puzzles and chess tables, a coffee bar and was the location for the National Park Ranger talks when we arrived in Glacier Bay National Park.  Plus the views weren’t bad either.

My favorite lounge was the Lincoln Center Stage which featured classical music with a twist.  The concerts were fantastic and it was fun to see people stop in the hallway when they heard Radiohead’s Creep or Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody played on the violin, piano and cello.  The musicians were all young (under 30 if I had to guess) and it was fun to see them enjoy the music both classical and classic.  I also liked the Wine Bar Mid-Ship.

Exciting New Partnership Options on Holland America Eurodam

Partnerships with America’s Test Kitchen, Microsoft and the BBC were proof that Holland America (and other cruise lines) are looking at increasing the content for guests.  I attended a test kitchen presentation about chocolate (naturally) and received recipe cards to recreate at home.  It was a fun presentation with loud audible gasps from the audience with the chef poured in almost a bucket of sugar for brownies.  She laughed and said “come on, you can’t be surprised by that”.  The only negative was that after watching the brownie demonstration it would have been nice to have a brownie to sample (that’s not too much to ask is it?).

With the BBC partnership, the Test Kitchen turned into movie room with a fascinating documentary on how the BBC photographers and film makers get that amazing photo/shot.  On the television in my room, I could also access BBC programming.  Another partnership is BB King’s Blues and hosted in the same room used for the Test Kitchen, BBC programming which at night turned into a popular club for fun and dancing (I was so exhausted that I missed Gayle King and O Magazine staff dancing at BB King’s each night).  The O Magazine partnership will offer special programming on select cruises each year.

The Spa & Gym Experience – Cruise to Alaska on Eurodam

One of my favorite things to do on a cruise is a spa massage or treatment usually on a sea day.  Prior to sailing, I wasn’t able to get an appointment at the spa (they are always popular) so I tried onboard and was able to snag a before dinner treatment.  The waiting area was relaxing with view of the sea. KC was incredible and one of the better massages I’ve had on a ship.  The spa is affiliated with Elemis which is a brand I love after being introduced in London.

I also attended a yoga class (for a fee) which had eight people in class.  The gym was a good size and usually busy when I visited but you could still snag a machine.  Note that the ship sells a very limited spa pass on embarkation day for access to the hydro pool and sauna area – if you can go daily, it’s worth the cost, otherwise it’s pretty expensive.

Holland America Cruise to Alaska on Eurodam – The Pool Experience

The ship has a retractable roof so even though we were sailing to Alaska you could swim in the pool in the temperature controlled pool area.  A new (to me) option were the private cabanas on the pool deck and on the upper decks.  For an additional fee (of course) you could reserve these private curtained areas with views.  The cabanas take a large chunk of space away from the normally popular pool seating area.

The ship had an outside pool and sauna area on deck but this being Alaska only those polar bear fans were strong enough to take a dip. The outdoor pool area had a small section for smokers on one side of the ship so make sure to exit on the side without smoking because who likes to go through smoke clouds on the way to the back of the ship for the naturalist talk and whale watching?

Entertainment on Eurodam

They mean well, but the ships entertainment always has me shaking my head.  There seems to be talent aplenty (dancers, singers, musicians) but the content and productions weren’t that great.  Since this was the Oprah cruise we had special programming – singer India.Arie and comedian Rita Rudner.  One highlight was the house band/orchestra performing the score to the documentary Alaska in Concert – both the music and movie were fantastic.

The Digital Workshop by Microsoft on Holland America Eurodam

Another exciting partnership is with Microsoft and offers daily classes to learn different features of technology.  Given that the normal cruise age is much older, the classes tend to be basic for most.  That said, the cruise offered the top 10 popular classes and I attended a photo editing class with six other people. The classroom features twelve computers and extra seats for those who don’t get the hand on option (show up early!).

Holland America Cruise to Alaska on Eurodam  – Common Areas

The orange bathrooms were tortuous to me and screamed 1970!  Orange countertops is a wrong decorating choice.  Common areas had a mix of furniture, paintings I hated and odd accessories throughout.  Every time I landed on my deck, I saw the outdoor furniture and it made me laugh.  The paintings made me cringe and the odd décor/accessories made me want to ask the Captain to sail into dry dock ASAP. The buffet area colors were bright too!

Holland America Staff – Cruise to Alaska on Eurodam

The front desk staff and I interacted frequently as the first night my aft room (which I didn’t want) was a sleepless night.  The bed was vibrating as the ship was sailing at a high-speed.  I went to the front desk the next day and treated as if I was crazy (I spoke with at least three others with a similar problem).  They didn’t want to send anyone to the room to see what I was talking about.  There were no other verandah rooms to move me.  I was offered an inside room for sleeping only (far from my cabin on a different deck) – I would need to go between rooms with clothes, etc. I declined this and wanted an explanation for the vibration.  Ships will sway/rock as I’ve been on many cruises but the vibration up on the deck 6 was unexplainable.  I might expect this if the room were further down near the bottom of the ship or the engine room.  I was told a supervisor would call me later.  No one called.  It wasn’t until the next day when I went to the front desk again that I was told they called the wrong room.  Ugh!

So my want for relaxation on a cruise was marred by the bed situation – I had to take Benadryl each night to get some sleep. I would be offered a free dinner ($25) at the sushi restaurant for my discomfort (I declined).  I asked for a supervisor after a few days since no one escalated my issue or tried to resolve it.  I was eventually given an additional $75 added to the $25 for a $100 on board credit after the supervisor contacted corporate in Seattle.  I wasn’t sleeping without assistance and this was Holland’s fault for not addressing or fixing my vibrating bed.   If only Holland had given me the refund I asked for and kept my inside cabin instead of this “free” upgrade. This was a case of the customer is not right which upset me from the get go.

The staff was uneven for me throughout the cruise.  Outside the few mentioned above, the staff were not really a highlight and this was when the President of the cruise line was aboard!  When I asked for Evian at the bar (listed on menu) and from service staff, I was told it was only available at the Steak restaurant.  When I asked for a t-shirt size at the shop with the special O Store merchandise,  I was told she was too busy to go in the back to look can I come back at x time.  I returned and she said she forgot to look so come back tomorrow.  When I went to see her, the shop was closed for the remainder of the cruise so I wasn’t able to buy the item.  Three times to buy something is ridiculous. If anything, she should have said “I’m too busy to go check but give me your cabin number and I have it delivered”.  Easy peasy in my opinion.

So many missed opportunities to deliver stellar service.

Holland America Cruise to Alaska on Eurodam Port Tours

For Alaska, you basically need to do the port tours (excursions) through the ships.  When I tried to book on the tour operators website it directed me back to Holland.  So while I don’t normally book via the ship, for my three tours, I did and was quite happy with all three.  I had researched them on my own first.  One odd thing was that I had forgotten to bring cash with me to tip the guide on one tour.  I asked the tour desk for the name of the vendor and they said “we can’t tell you that”.  I had paid for the tour with them and they can’t tell me – he checked with a supervisor and called me later to say “we can’t tell you”. Thankfully I found a photo on my phone that I took with the vendor name and location.  But seriously Holland?

Walking the Deck for Charity on HAL Eurodam

Holland America has a wonderful program to walk a 5k to raise money for charity.  For a donation (starting at $20) you get a t-shirt and plastic wristband.  It’s a great way to work off those chocolate desserts as you walk around the ship.  On the day we walked, it was cold (I had layers – coat, hat, gloves) for me while others braved the elements in shorts and sneakers (who are those people?). The crew had set up a sweets table at the finish – which you passed each go round.  I was walking for cookies!

Final Thoughts – Holland America Cruise to Alaska on Eurodam

Ok, so I had a few issues on this cruise that really marred my experience.  For me the price, product and service are key factors.  The sad décor I could live with, the vibrating bed and no sleep not so much.  The lack of sympathy for my lack of sleep was really surprising.  I overpaid for this cruise so from the get go – I was upset and felt cheated.  If this was a theme cruise from the beginning I might understand.  But this was a regular cruise which morped into a partial theme cruise.  For example, pricing in one cabin category was $1,099 pp (regular cruise) then soared to $1,999 pp (oprah theme cruise) before falling to $899 pp (fire sale to fill the ship). The O Magazine programming was fun, inspiring and meeting others interested in wellness was wonderful, so the theme cruise was a nice feature but I’m not sure worth the premium price.  Alaska is gorgeous of course so make sure you do your research to find the right ship to date that meets all your requirements.

Here are my  Tips for Planning an Alaskan Cruise and  First Time Cruiser – How to Budget for a Cruise

I filled out my after cruise survey with most (if not all) of the above and received a personalized email addressing many of my concerns.  I was offered an additional on board credit for a future cruise as an apology for my experience.  Right now, as the representative of Holland remarked, “you might not want to take another Holland America cruise anytime soon”, he’s right about that.  I like to say finding the right cruise line and ship is a bit like dating.  Right now, I don’t anticipate a second date anytime soon with Holland America Eurodam ship.   That said, my friends are Holland America super fans (they only said Holland) and told me they think my experience was a one-off and I should try a different Holland America ship given that I have a credit.  We’ll see….

Update: My on board credit offer from Holland America corporate has expired.  I did try to find another HAL ship to sail with but none had single supplements I could afford.

Leave it to my eleven (going on thirty) year old precocious niece to burst my Oprah bubble.  I was showing my sister and mom my photo with Oprah  from the O Magazine, Share the Adventure cruise to Alaska on Holland America’s Eurodam.  My niece said “did you meet Oprah…and she knows your name?  Or did you stand next to her for the photo?”  Um, let’s look at photos of Glacier Bay…

As part of the “Oprah cruise” which is what we were calling it, there was a private fundraising dinner with Oprah to benefit the National Parks Alaska program “Return to the Homeland”.  How I got my ticket is a hilarious (now) story.  I wanted to sail the inaugural Holland America Eurodam Alaska cruise with Oprah and O Magazine to see how the newly announced partnership was going to work with wellness programming for cruises in 2017 & 2018.  And Oprah was a bonus, on the ship for two days, for a free afternoon talk and an evening fundraising private dinner (extra cost).  I was keen to get that private dinner ticket, it helped that it would be a charitable donation.

Advanced Planning – the Oprah Dinner Ticket

I was on the Disney Magic Cruise in the Southern Caribbean in April with my family to celebrate my Mom’s 75^th birthday (yes, I know didn’t we already celebrate her birthday in New York, Paris & London last year? That was her 75^th pre-celebration).  The tickets for the private dinner would go on sale at noon EST on a Tuesday.  I checked the cruise itinerary and breathed a sigh of relief that I would not be out at sea that day subjected to dripping slow (and expensive) internet.  I would be on land in Barbados and scheduled to be at the plane geek’s nirvana, the Concorde Museum.  So I brought the phone number and internet information ready to buy my ticket at noon.

Unfortunately, I hit a bit of turbulence in my plans, the cruise line canceled my tour to the Concorde museum because there were not enough plane geeks onboard to do the tour.  With that, my friend canceled her day at the beach and we found a catamaran tour to go snorkel and swim with turtles.  Hmmm, now I was a bit apprehensive.  Would my cell service work out at in the water?  How far from the shoreline would we be?

Booking my Oprah Dinner Ticket from Barbados

As we set sail for our second stop to snorkel and see some wrecks, I still had bars on my phone so I was pretty happy.  My friend, “country mouse”, put her flippers on and joined the rest of the boat to go into the water and snorkel.  I stayed onboard and at noon, called (rather than internet) into the private dining line and was easily buying my dinner ticket (is it really this easy?).  I didn’t care that I was reading my credit card information aloud with others still on the boat.  I was happy that I secured a dinner ticket and unaware that only 80 tickets were being sold (on a ship of 2,500 guests!).  Happy it didn’t take too long, I asked if I could go in the water and catch up with the group.  The crew said yes and I climbed down the stairs with my flippers on and facemask ready.  I was told to swim straight ahead to the white boat and make a right in front of it to join the group.  Got it! With that I began to swim in the warm, clear water looking down every few minutes at the wonders below the surface. The waters were a bit choppy but I wasn’t fazed.  At one point as I swam toward the white boat, I thought “this seems further and more work than I anticipated”.  I looked back at our catamaran and decided to keep swimming to the group rather than give up and go back.

As I moved slowly forward, I stopped to clear my facemask and looked back again at the boat to see a crew member jumping in with an orange lifesaver.  I thought “surely, he’s not coming to save me, I’m fine” but sure enough he was swimming toward me to save me.  Geez, now I’m feeling old and embarrassed and as he neared I said “I’m fine, don’t you know fat people float pretty well?”  He didn’t laugh and said “the white boat was drifting and you veered way off course instead of going straight toward the boat you were swimming on an angle away from the group”.  Ok, not all my fault.  He then told me to use the flippers on top of the water and swam me to the group.  My friend saw me coming and wasn’t surprised that I was “being saved”, she just laughed and asked “did you get the Oprah ticket? Was it worth it?”  I said I got the ticket but maybe I should have stayed on the boat to drink the rum punch and dance to the music.  But the water was amazing, the views and experience of sailing on the water exhilarating even before my need to be saved.

Surprise! It’s Oprah

Fast forward to July when I’m on the Oprah cruise.  I arrived for dinner and joined the snaking line halfway down the hallway across from the elevator bank. I started talking to a woman from Atlanta behind me who told the story of her dream board and that “she would have dinner with Oprah and Gayle someday in the future”. She didn’t realize the future was now when she heard about the cruise. And definitely didn’t imagine meeting Gayle during the cruise to tell her the dream board story.  As she’s telling me this, the elevator opens and to the shock of the women in the back of the line who all yelled at once,  Oprah and Gayle emerge (with bodyguards) and Oprah walks right over to this woman and says “I heard all about you and your dream board”, Oprah was right in front of me and before I could say “Hi, I was rescued in Barbados, it’s a funny story…” an older woman in front of me pushed me out of the way to lunge at Oprah to hug her (calm down crazy lady! She then proceeds to rattle off all of the Oprah events she’s attended as a superfan). So I just took a photo (downside of celebrity for me are all the folks invading your space and touching you without your permission) so I didn’t get to introduce myself to Oprah.

I didn’t get to mention that earlier in the day, Gayle read the first question during the Oprah Q&A from me. My Oprah moment was gone.  I’ve worked with celebrities in the past at film festivals and they are inundated with people in their face and rarely remember them in the sea of people so I wasn’t too upset, a bit disappointed of course but there really were superfans who worship Oprah so let them have their moment.

Oprah Dinner in the Pinnacle Grill on Eurodam

As we entered the Pinnacle Grill restaurant, an aide took my handbag and jacket, another walked me to stand next to Oprah, I said “Hi” and she smiled for the camera, that big Oprah smile, and I was moved along like a conveyor belt of people.  I was handed off to a staff member to guide me to my table. I found my assigned table but my name wasn’t there (did someone move me so they could sit with a friend or celebrity?).

I found my name on the end of another table and sat with five other women. Each place setting had our name and a gift (sadly not “you get a cruise, you get a cruise….”) but a leather jewelry case from the onboard vendor, Roberto Coin.  Each table had an Oprah SuperSoul100 celebrity featured on the cruise or one of the O Magazine staff to dine with.  India.Arie was at the table behind me and a my new friends were seated with Adam Glassman, O Magazine’s resident fashion expert.

Private Fundraising Dinner with Oprah

As we introduced ourselves, I realized that I was seated with author, O Magazine contributor and motivational speaker, Glennon Doyle Melton, known for her Momastery blog and New York Times bestseller, Love Warrior. She introduced us to her wife, Olympic Gold Medalist & former US Soccer player, Abby Wambach, who is also an author and motivational speaker. To be honest, at the time, I had no clue who either of them were but I was interested to learn more about them as well as the other ladies at our dinner table (retired teacher, her cousin the banker and a new mom from Anchorage who won the Holland America employee contest).

Sharing a meal on a cruise is always a special experience to meet others from around the world and listen to their life stories.  My life hasn’t been as dramatic as Glennon and Abby’s (check out their inspirational tour Together Live in a city near you) but that doesn’t make it any less worthy.  In my circle, I’ve led an adventurous life traveling the world solo for the past twenty years. We are each on our own path and that’s what the Oprah cruise was all about – finding your own path, listening to your soul and learning how to be more authentic you.  If you’re not an Oprah fan, that’s ok, the messages are all about finding the best you and really who doesn’t want that?  To live your best life and know when it’s all over you really gave all of yourself to your passion, to your family, to your friends to yourself.

Dining and Toasting with Oprah

Before and after dinner, Oprah would speak and the President of Holland America, Orlando Ashford would also speak about the beneficiaries of our dinner – the National Park System.  They would talk to the motivation of the collaboration of Holland America and O Magazine to bring new programming to a select number of cruises in the future.  It’s an interesting partnership and I was keen to join this cruise to see how it would be received and rolled-out.  Are cruisers ready to embrace new programming on meditation, book chats, fashion shows and motivational speakers to focus on being a better you?

Before dessert, Oprah would talk about her love of tequila (low points on the Weight Watchers program which made me laugh).  It was then that the staff brought around Holland America tall shot glasses with tequila for us to toast with.  To add to the cache of the event, it was her friend George Clooney’s special tequila, Casamigos that was just sold for almost $1 billion!  I expected nothing less from an Oprah event. We were toasting the wonderful day we had in Glacier Bay and the fantastic restaurant staff that made a wonderful multi-coursed meal.  The kitchen staff lined up with the chef and were also handed tequila shots. When it comes to tequila, I could easily do the salted shot with a lime but it was a bit more than a double shot so I toasted with a few sips.  It was really good (expensive) 80 proof tequila that can easily be enjoyed by sipping.

The dessert arrived after the toast(s) were done, there were more toasts and free flowing refills of tequila (I was still sipping so I wouldn’t be drunk before the Rita Rudner comedy show).  I was excited by the chocolate dessert and the tree of mini chocolates (no one at the table had a sweet tooth so more for me!) which paired well with my glass of red wine.

My Photo with Oprah from the Oprah Dinner

As we left the restaurant, we were given our photo with Oprah in a special frame to commemorate our special night (mine was put into the frame wet so I have a blemish but oh well).  Did I meet Oprah? Yes.  Does she know my name?  Nope. Did I just stand next to her for the photo? Yes.  My niece may be technically correct, Oprah doesn’t know my name and won’t be calling me anytime soon.  But what my niece is too young to understand is that I don’t care, I had a special experience that night, meeting incredible women, sharing stories and laughing especially about my rescue at sea –  it’s in my memory and in my Barbados story. Life is an adventure and everyone has a story to tell about that vacation photo – that’s the fun of it all – the crazy stories behind the photos.