I left out the most important part: we saw Orcas, a pod of four, on our last sea day, going towards Vancouver! :banana: The Captain was amazing, got the ship right in there, and we watched for a long time. One baby kept slapping his tail on the water. I was able to mark my last hoped-for sighting off the list! How could I have forgotten in the review! <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" />
This was incredible. <img border="0" alt="[beer]" title="" src="graemlins/beer.gif" />
Love, Elena <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

Elena,

That truly caps off the end of a cruise, does it not? When we were on in 2001, we'd packed and gone off to the Horizon Lounge for one last drink and to listen to the wonderful pianist on the ship, (Oh, Kemble, where are you? We LOVE your CD) when off in the sunset at 11:00 pm were a pod of orcas and dolphins. What a send off!

These Orcas got a couple of hundred feet from the ship! You could really see them. The night we had caviar in the Observation Lounge, there were dolphins playing in the bow wakes! Hopping back and forth (they must be verrrry fast!) I think Alaska is probably underrated by a lot of Americans, but never again me!
I bow to its beauty.
Love, Elena :hyper:

Alaska is awesome! So glad your trip turned out to be a tremendously enjoyable experience.

And my whole family stayed healthy while we were gone! That's the best! <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />
Love, Elena

Elena-
Thanks for sharing your adventure with us. Just over a week to MUSH and we can't wait.
Mitch
:D