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Timeless Journeys
Timeless Journeys with Sage Trip of a Lifetime – Alaskan Cruise by Kimberly “Sage” Pridemore
Welcome to Infinity Magazine’s exciting adventure feature, “Timeless Journeys with Sage.” Sage has been with the Infinity team for several years, her wisdom, knowledge and experience makes her a perfect fit as Infinity’s Travel Editor for this special feature.
Each issue will be a wonderful adventure with Sage as she travels to amazing destinations. Sage will share her travels with helpful tips, interesting facts about her fun filled and relaxing get-aways!
Trip of a Lifetime – Alaskan Cruise
While I have taken many fun cruises in the past, they have all been to a tropical location. I never once thought about an Alaskan Cruise. But when the opportunity presented itself, we definitely said yes! That afternoon, Ray and I were hanging out at our favorite Texas Hill Country winery, William Chris Vineyards, listening to live music and, of course, drinking wine. Members of the band gave us a flyer and said they were part of a Texas music cruise sailing to Alaska in September. It didn’t take us very long to make the decision to go! This cruise would prove to be a fun-filled week of spectacular scenery, intimate, live music, and bucket-list memories.
Our trip was on the Star Princess out of Seattle. I was especially excited because I was born in Seattle and have tons of family there! We decided to combine our cruise with a visit to Seattle, Eastern Washington and the Oregon coast. I will be sharing the later parts of the trip in a future column.
After departing Seattle, the Star Princess took us through glacier-carved fjords, forested islets and quaint ports along Alaska’s famed Inside Passage. Our ports included
Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, B.C before returning to Seattle.
I did tons of research on this trip before we went, including on what to bring, wear, pack and activities for the ship and for each port. This was a seven night cruise in September, so we expected some rain and cold weather along with some sun.
The cruise had a few formal nights, but I knew in advance Ray and I would probably skip them. So I choose not to bring any formal wear. If that is your thing, definitely do it. We just wanted to be as casual as possible.
As with any trip away from home, pack your passport and other key travel documents and essentials. My wardrobe on this cruise consisted of casual clothes to wear during the day and for shore excursions. I brought leggings and tons of tops that layered well. I did buy a black puffer coat that is both super warm and rolls up amazingly small. Add in the gloves, hats and scarves for outdoor adventures. It is also important to bring rain gear and a pair of sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots. I also threw in a little black dress and shawl as well a pair of dressy black boots, just in case. Oh yes, and bring a bathing suit for the hot tub! I also purchased a cruise adapter for the outlets and some hooks with a magnetic back. These came in handy to hang itineraries and other material in the cabin.
Ray and I splurged a bit for this trip and booked a mini suite with a balcony. It was totally worth it! The extra cabin and outdoor space made for 7 comfortable nights.
Our first night on the cruise included a meet-and-greet champagne reception with fellow Texas cruisers and musicians. We decided to dine at one of the special restaurants, for which there is an upcharge. Again, the splurge is worth it. There were no crowds and we had an amazing delicious dinner of Alaskan halibut and filet mignon. We also spent time that evening exploring the ship. There is so much to do and see, both day and night: from the gym to the spa; the putting greens to the pools; the library to the casino; and buffets to the restaurants.
We also enjoyed spending time on the balcony. The views while at sea are spectacular. I couldn’t keep track of how many whales we saw. I ate breakfast on my balcony in my pajamas while looking at glaciers. It was amazing.
Food on the Star Princess was great. The buffets were especially wonderful and we certainly found ourselves at the pizza bar more than once. Several evenings we enjoyed the wine bar with taps as well. Our favorite way to end the night, of course, was with soft serve ice cream!
Okay, so yes, I did go to the gym. On one of our sea days, Ray, and I, booked a day at the spa. It was awesome. We enjoyed the steam room, sauna and a couples’ massage.
Besides the live Texas music concerts, our favorite pastimes on the boat ranged from going to a theatre show, playing bingo and watching movies bundled up at Movies Under The Stars.
Now for the excursions:
Our first stop was Ketchikan. Ketchikan is a small fishing town located in the Tongass National Forest. At 17 million acres, Tongass is the largest national forest in the United States. We decided to see Ketchikan on our own and enjoy our first - but not last - meal of Alaskan king crab. Ray and I made a deal we would have Alaskan king crab legs in each port!
Ketchikan as a whole is heralded at the best location in Alaska to see totem poles. I wasn’t prepared for just how many are scattered casually around town beside streetlights, stop signs, and other nonchalant accessories of daily life. Eighty varieties of totems are found in the three block area of downtown Ketchikan.
Lunch was at the Alaska Fish House. We shared a plate of Alaskan king crab and the AK Sampler, made up of freshly caught fish, Bering Sea Cod, Local Silver Salmon and Local Halibut dipped in seasoned batter. It is served with Mesquite Fries and Southwest Coleslaw.
Throw in a couple ice cold Alaska brewed beers, and
we were in heaven! After lunch, we strolled through town, shopped for souvenirs and toured the Dolly’s House Museum. It is the only “den of iniquity” that still stands today. You can’t miss Number 24 Creek street, for its green, doll house appearance that looks much like it did during its heyday. Five bucks give you a peek into a rambunctious and edgy past, a lively part of Ketchikan’s history until Dolly’s was shut down for good in 1954.
Our next excursion was taking a deluxe catamaran off of the cruise ship for an up close experience through the Tracy Arm Wilderness Area. This included glaciercarved cliffs, spectacular waterfalls and exciting close-up views of the majestic Sawyer Glaciers. The exceptional agility of the vessel allowed us to have an in-depth exploration of this amazing fjord, plus close views of the glaciers inaccessible to the cruise ship. Ray and I were in awe for the entire 6 hour trip. We saw cobalt-blue icebergs, spectacular cliffs, 1000-foot waterfalls and the iceberg calving. We were also blessed to see eagles, bears, seals, and three different kinds of whales. There were times during this excursion tears just streamed down my face. I have never seen so much untouched beauty in my life. Later that day, we spent another lovely afternoon exploring Juneau, Alaska’s capital city, along with more Alaskan king crab, sightseeing and shopping!
Our final excursion was in the port of Skagway. Skagway is most known for being the “Gateway to the Klondike.” Gold! Gold! Gold! Early in the day, we rode the Skagway White Pass Summit Rail and Bus Tour. This bus and rail combination tour provided a view of unparalleled beauty of Alaska from two completely different tour perspectives. We took the luxury bus up to Canid and then the vintage train back down to Skagway. We saw famous landmarks including Bridal Veil Falls, the Gold Rush Cemetery, Tormented Valley and the Skagway Scenic Overlook. It is known as the Scenic Railway of the World, and for good reason.
Our last stop before heading back to Seattle was Victoria, British Columbia. Ray and I decided to stay on the ship that night and enjoyed having the vessel nearly all to ourselves. We had a light dinner, wine at the Wine Bar and finished the night off with our soft serve ice cream. Life is good. However, gazing at the crystal clear ocean with floating icebergs, lazy seals and the warm sun hitting my face, will always remain deep in my heart and my soul.
If you ever have the opportunity, or can make the opportunity, to take an Alaskan cruise, do it! It is truly the trip of a lifetime. It’s one of the greatest things I’ve done in mine.
Until next time.
Blessings,
Sage
About the Author: Sage Woman is an Intuitive and Spiritual Life Coach. Contact her to schedule an individual session with her. Her passion is to assist you in empowering and co-creating the life you desire with tools and practical applications along with intuitive messages to guide your journey. For more information, contact her at 512-234-2075, or email sagewomen61@gmail.com.
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