6/14/02 AM Sitka
This cruise far exceeds my expectations. I was very skeptical of cruises,
formal dinners, clothing restrictions, gambling and drinking. This cruise
ship has no clothing restrictions, no gambling, and no evidence of
excessive drinking. The people on this cruise want to be here to learn.
The lectures and educational tours are very popular. Several people have
told us that there is a different culture on this ship, compared with
other cruises. It's great!
Unfortunately for the cruise line, but good for us, there are only 420
passengers out of a capacity of 739. It is easier to eat, attend lectures
and activities, and disembark the ship, etc.
Today is Sitka, with a boat ride specifically looking for animals.
There is no dock here for cruise ships, so we will soon anchor. Tender
ships will take us to shore.
6/14/02 PM Sitka
Today was almost too beautiful to describe. It brings tears to my eyes and
a lump in my throat when I think about describing the scenes today.
The ship arrived in Sitka at 7:00am. We had breakfast on the ship, then
took a tender to the dock in Sitka. There are three cruise ships in the
bay (ours, one from Celibrity Lines, and Statesdam from Holland America).
We walked through town and then about one mile out of town, to a raptor
center. They rescue and provide medical help to raptors, often eagles.
They take raptors to schools in all 50 states.
At noon we took a three hour trip on a fast boat, with about 40 people. We
saw sea otters, humpback whales, a minke whale (spotted first by
Mom/Mary), harbor seals, stellar sea lions, and eagles. The background for
all this was snow covered mountains. It was warm and sunny; absolutely
BEAUTIFUL!!!! Breathtaking. Sea Otters, hunted for their hides, decreased
to a low of 200 world-wide. They now number 100,000. Sea Otters have a
pouch under each arm pit for storing a flat stone used for breaking shells
for eating the meat.
It is now 3:45 Alaska time. In one hour there is a lecture on glaciers.
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