Another gorgeous day, sun is shining on calm seas, snow covered mountains in the background.
We are on our way to Hubbard Glacier and should be there in a few hours. What a spectacular day to visit the Hubbard Glacier. No matter what happens with the weather from this point we have been truly blessed.

I love this longer itinerary. Basically we have a port day and then a sea day for most of the itinerary. So nice not to have the combination I was so tired when I got back from our day in Juneau it is lovely to have today to chill out again. May always want to do Alaska like this rather than the rushed 7 day itinerary.

Ngaire, the longer itinerary is very appealing! Add to that the beautiful weather, and you have a winner of a journey.

Leslie, we were in that VERY spot last year in Tracy Arm! Your photo looks like some of mine. The Mendenhall hike sounds great for good hikers like you and Brad.

Continue to enjoy!

A FEW PHOTOS OF CALVING FROM THE HUBBARD GLACIER:

Great pictures, Ken! You are so lucky, when we were there a few months ago we had the same weather and not one calving the whole time we were there! I could sit and spin there for days without getting bored!

A few shots from our little Canon G10.

The lifeboat coming back from fetching some glacier ice for show and tell:



See how close we came; didn't seem to faze those two crew members up top:



and of the entrance bay:

Fantastic calving sequence, Ken.

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Eugene

Don't know how you do it Ken, but when it comes to pictures you are the best!

Sally

WOW!!!! Ken & Leslie, how cool are those photos?! LCT has the best photographers in the world!

Agree Ngaire, one of the things I like least about Alaska cruises is the rushed 7 night itinerary. On our first Alaska cruise in 1987 we took a 12 night round trip from San Francisco on the Sky Princess and we loved the longer itinerary, which included both Vancouver and Victoria as ports of call.

Great pictures Ken and Leslie as always.

Our first RSSC Cruise was the Alaska Inaugrual for the Mariner. It did 9 and 10 night itins that year.

We have been to Hubbard Glacier and had some fantastic days in the past. This one "took the cake" It was so calm and even warm on the top deck with the sun shining so brightly. I think the warmth may have contributed to all the calving. It just kept on happening many times. We were far closer than we have ever been before and probably ever will be again.

RAIN today. The sunshine has left us and it is very overcast and dreary today in Valdez. I know Leslie and Brad were not sure they were going to do the Kyaking this morning, looking outside they may still be onboard. We do not go out until after lunch - hopefully it may improve by then.

Dover Sole in Prime 7 last night was wonderful! As we all trooped straight down to our rooms it occurred to me how every cruise is different. We have not been up at night at all after dinner on this trip even though there have been sea days to sleep in. Tonight is Liars Club so we will probably stay up for that.

Won at Trivia twice and when we miss we miss by two points every time. Place is packed for trivia. We will be out this afternoon when trivia takes place so may many others, maybe the team will add a third win today.

Pooch is progressing with ARLENE really coming into her own as a great player. She is in lead on points scored and games won right now. Pat has the highest score. The competition is heating up. Jackie has just learned to play and still is trying to figure out how to play correctly. She has not yet learned there is NO way to play correctly it is so much luck!

All is well on board and glad we have about another week to go.

Lovely day in Skagway today! I think that is a Holland America ship on the left, are you docked near it?

What beautiful weather you have had for this cruise. The pictures are fabulous, as always. Makes me want to go back to Alaska, pronto. Keep having fun.

Me too Donna. We were thinking about it for next year until we won another cruise this week in a silent auction....

won a cruise? yay

Yes. AGAIN! We won a Viking River Cruise in a charity auction. Last time we won an Oceania Cruise in a charity raffle.

Yes it was a great day in Skagway today. We all did different excursions. Little windy but sunny day. We did a taste of Skagway with a chef cooking scones, carrot ginger soup and rubarb dessert. It was fun but not as good as doing the other excursions like the train. We have done the train several times before so just wanted a short excursion that was something different. Pat and Ray enjoyed their bus, boat, boat, zodiac, boat, boat bus trip. Sounded like a complicated situation to me they said they enjoyed it. Took some great eagle pictures.

Beautiful evening we just finished dinner and are watching the sunset.

Here are a few pictures from our Chilkoot Trail hike and float. The historic Chilkoot Trail runs 33 miles from near Skagway to Bennett, British Columbia and was one of the major routes used by thousands of eager gold rush hopefuls to reach the Yukon. Our group hiked the first 2 miles and then took the Taiya river route back to close to where we started.



on any cruise excursion hike you spend more time learning about the moss, lichen etc. than actually hiking



side tributary over which the gold rush guys would have to find some way to transport their required ton of provisions








our cute guide was full of knowledge and enthusiasm

Great photos, Leslie, as always.

All the BEAR seamail and photos are making me really want to get back to Alaska.

I am with you Priscilla. 7 days seemed too short last fall and we had cold and rain. I still loved it and want to return.

Yet ANOTHER wonderful day in Sitka. We did the wildlife boat tour and saw some good whales. A couple of whales were bubble feeding and Ken from Australia (not my Ken) got some great shots. It was so pretty today with the clear sky and sunshine it just made the whole tour that much more enjoyable. The sea otters were adorable and we got quite close. Back for a quick hamburger and looking forward to Prime 7 tonight at 7.00 with Rod and Cynthia to celebrate Rod's birthday.

Sea day tomorrow final pooch games deciding the camp, packing.

In Victoria Fred is coming onboard and so are Russ and Susan so we will have a great day socializing. Lunch with Fred and dinner with Russ and Susan. Looking forward to it.

Beautiful day in Sitka today - here are some scenery shots - trusting the Lens Kens will provide the otter, whale and eagle close ups.

Great pictures, Leslie--especially like the otters. We're going to have to go back to Alaska just because I had such a crummy camera when we went in 2004. Of course, we, too, had beautiful weather, and who knows what we'd have next time?

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Eugene

SOME PHOTOS FROM SITKA, ALASKA:


We saw Whales on our way to see Alaska Otters.


A Raft of Male Otters checking us out.


A Female Otter with her Pup.


Bald Eagle.




The Navigator Awaits our Return.




A Dog goes out Fishing.

Thanks Ken and Leslie!!!! We love the beautiful photos!

I LOOKED BACK BACK AT SOME OF MY PHOTOS AND FOUND THIS INTERESTING SERIES OF SHOTS, I CALL IT "KING OF THE BOUY":

Lovely day at sea. Final pooch games caused great competition it was down to the wire.

FINAL RESULTS
High Overall Score: Brad
Most Wins: Arlene and Sheila tied at 5 wins
Highest Single Game Score: Pat with 136
Most points scored in one hand: Ken bid 5 and got 5 - 20 points.

Weather was great at one time it looked like glass. Meals today real winners.

Lunch was a barbeque on deck plus great offerings in La Verandah. On offer was Leg of Lamb, Ribs, Steaks, King Salmon, Halibut, Herbed Chicken (fantastic) Veal Oscar. That is what I remember there was more.

Dinner was Chateaubriand (best ever) King Salmon, Lobster, Shrimp and Scallops, Seafood Bisque to mention a few of the items.

The Le Cirque Navigator show last night was truly outstanding. They have gymnasts who were incredible. A giant step up from a normal singer and dancer troupe.

The Crew Capers was really a great show tonight. They changed it up a lot and the crew were singing and doing new routines.

Tomorrow Fred, Russell and Susan all come onboard. Looking forward to lunch with Fred and dinner with Russ and Susan. Wonderful way to end the cruise seeing good friends on the last day.

Been a wonderful trip, good company, great weather, great food and service, looking forward to the Navigator in New Zealand.

I love the otter photos! The sea lions on the bouy are great too. The males can really be territorial.

Sounds like you had a fantastic trip.