Aussie Dawson's Holiday Adventures: Radiance of the Seas

Cruise Highlights
Where do I start to give you all a quick overview of our fantastic cruise. Sightseeing was just amazing, food, shows and activities sure filled the days and evenings.

Debbie & Peter cabin 9214 rear half of ship after the Centrum and Betty & Geoff Cabin 9074 in the front half of the ship just past the library.

We ate breakfast each morning in the Windjammer Cafe on the 11th Floor of the ship, it was a buffet with choice of cereal, eggs, fruit juice and coffee. So much more as well but we tried to keep it simple. We also had lunch in this Cafe when we where on board. Buffet lunch included soup, cold meats, salads, fruits, hot
dishes and sweets as well.

Dinner each night was in the Cascades Restaurant on the 5th Floor. Most nights we had a window view as we sailed along watching the Snow covered peaks, Porpoise and Whales following the ship. We could have 3 courses and most nights we did just that, with many choices. Yep I think the waistlines are paying for this now!

Every night after dinner we enjoyed the live shows in the Aurora Theatre on the 5th Floor.

Day 1 - Setting Sail - covered on a previous post. Beautiful sunny afternoon to set sail from Vancouver.

Day 2 - Saturday 1st June 2013 today we spent the day at sea. Breakfast at 8am as we had so many things on the list to do. 9.30am Live Shore Excursion talk, then Betty & Deb to the shopping talk - a waste of time a promo about Diamonds and previous gems - not what we are in the market to shop for. The boys attended Canadian Mountie presentation. Lunch at Windjammer and onto Alaska Destination talk, most interesting giving us an insight to what we are going to see over the next few days. Betty not feeling too well as we have a slight swell so back to the cabin for a rest. Debbie to Scrapbooking Class - very basic to say the least so kept the kit and chatted with a lady in the class. Found Peter having a beer in a bar and we then went on to play Bingo. Bigger prize money than we expected $624, $750 & $830 and a cabin upgrade up for grabs. Did not win but lots of fun along the way. Back to our room to dress for the first Formal night at dinner. following dinner down to the Captains Welcome at the Colony Club rear of ship on the 6th Floor and some how got to the front of the photo line had photo's with the Captain and enjoyed complimentary drinks. Then off to showtime amazing show by very talented Musician/Comedian John Bressler - this turned out to be the best show we saw. After the show down to watch the "Finish that Lyric" game show once again at the rear of the ship which was starting to sway a little. Betty & Geoff off to bed and Debbie & Peter went for a walk around the ship and a quite drink before bed at 11.30pm. Wow that was a leisurely day on board!

Day 3 - Sunday 2nd June 2013 Ketchikan - Wildlife & Crab Feast - docked in Ketchikan by the time the alarm went off at 6.20am. Following breakfast we walked a shore to check departure point for our tour - too early come back at 8.15am. Weather fine & sunny this morning. We walked along the wharf when we returned bus was full so we got put on a smaller overflow van with only 10 passengers. Short drive down to the George Inlet Lodge and then onto a small boat with only 15 passengers. Captain Gill and Sarah our guide. Drove upstream along the Glacial River saw a bear on the banks and Captain Gill got a Bald Eagle to swoop down from the tree with a whistle and get a fish which he had thrown out behind the boat. Then the large Red boat arrived and scared him off, once again luck to be on the smaller boat. Great to see but all to quick for the cameras. then onto a shallower part of the bay to pull up Crab pots - yep we all volunteered Peter for this job. Peter pulled up the 2nd pot which had some large Dungeness crabs in it. Sarah explained about the crabs and we got to hold them. Back to George Inlet Lodge for a all you can eat Dungeness Crab Feast. Small serve of salad to start then as much crab as we could eat. Fun game of creating the highest stack of crab shells, cheating allowed so we went to work on a creation while enjoying our Crabs. Yep we all had to peel our own, lots of fun and a great feast enjoyed by all. Raining while we enjoyed our lunch and only a slight drizzle when we came out. back into our small van for the drive back into town. Driver dropped us off at "Creek Street" we walked the streets in the light rain and did some souvenir shopping and back on board. Dinner at 5.45pm and show "El Gaucho" - Music/Comedy at 7.15pm - Viewed sunset after show. Debbie & Peter to the Colony Club - back of the boat to watch Line Dancing & games. Then stopped off at the Jigsaw table on the way to our room. Bed at 12.30am. Sorry some of the photos have come in sideways don't know how to change them.