North To Alaska

Since last we left our heroes, the Golden Princess has at last left Mexico and cruised north to begin the Alaskan season. It's been a great few weeks, rehearsing and opening WORDS AND MUSIC then finally hitting several great new ports and having an amazing time both on and off the ship.

After our last LA stop, we hit San Diego and went to the San Diego Zoo, then Catalina. In San Francisco a few of us got up early to watch the sail in before a good many of us went to Alcatraz. Then dinner in Chinatown and a boozy sailaway in the sunset. Next was beautiful Victoria and our only stop in Vancouver, and finally we began our "real" itinerary in Seattle. We hit Juneau yesterday and Skagway today, and by the time I finally get to post this we'll have cruised through Tracy Arm and to Ketchikan before returning to Victoria and Seattle.

Right now I am ridiculously tired from a long day (and night) yesterday and two shows today. Our night off in Juneau at The Viking was... long, but at least I was able to get back to the ship under my own power. I only mention this because someone else also got back to the ship under my power, having to essentially be carried. I won't name names, I just wanted to embarrass the person in question ... not humiliate them. Photos!

Frickin' Pandas! I have videos of our PANDA WATCH that are not as funny now as they seemed they would be.

Some of the Zoobills...

I believe I referred to these animals at "stupid conceited flamingos" for some reason while were were observing them and their horrible smell.

All of us but Ang (behind my camera taking the photo) who got up to watch the chilly sail in under the Golden Gate.

The bridge...

Trying out a cell toilet in Alcatraz. My favorite observation of the day during our trip through Alcatraz was Ang: "At least they all had their own cabin."

Speaking of Ang, that's her in jail.

Leslie and I went up to sailaway after we all got back, everyone else was going to nap after our long day. I figured I'd be upstairs for maybe 20 minutes and then get some sleep myself. We grabbed a couple of strong drinks from a top deck bar and waited for the ship to move. It didn't, so we got more drinks. Still didn't move, so we got another round, called and got Ang to join us. By this time it was nearly two hours after we were supposed to have sailed and we were fairly drunk.

Sunset was great, we sailed out, and then head to the wardroom for some reason to play drunken Scrabble, which did not last long.

Skipping ahead a few days to atop Mount Roberts in Juneau. This is what happens when you show and Australian snow for the first time. That's Josie getting some airtime there.

"Trail closed" and "avalanche danger" signs were everywhere as we trudged and slipped our way around up on the mountain. Next a series of photos from our first night out at The Viking.

Leslie mit telefon.

Daniel and Emma, Aussie bonding.

Angela resting on a couch in the smoking room. I am convinced she was not asleep as she appears far too aware there is a photo being taken of her.

Alyssa playing pool. I have a better picture of this but it's a late and I am lazy.

Josie and stripper pole.

Don and stripper pole.

An unrelated pic from a crewbar party a few weeks back - the Mexican crew threw a "Mascara" party, this is me and Danny posing during the not-very-exciting-as-it-should-have-been party. More photos are on my facebook album, if you can get to that.