Seward, AK

LJ and Larry were up at 4 to get ready for their Kenai River Float and Fish Trip. They are fishing seven miles of the Kenai today and from the parts we saw when we drove to Homer, it looks amazing! Claire and I had a lazy morning, breakfast around 9:15 and then finished packing everything up and got it into the living room. Then we decided to walk over to downtown and do some window shopping until the guys got back. We had a nice time looking at the local art and shops. LJ and Larry called around noon (when they had initially planned to be back) and said they were just leaving Cooper Landing so they would be back around 1:15 or so so Claire and I extended our shopping time. We were walking back to the B&B when they called to say they were back in Seward so we met them at the house and got loaded up to head to the pier.

They had a lot of fun on their fishing trip and each caught five fish apiece, with Larry getting the largest Rainbow and LJ the largest Dolly. It was a different kind of fishing for them and I was glad they had the chance to squeeze it in before we boarded the ship.
It took two trips to get all the luggage there (no comments please) but the lines were completely empty and we basically walked up and then on-board in record time. The terminal in Seward is so different than the Caribbean terminals or even Vancouver, just very laid back and since we do not depart until 8 PM, the arrivals are spread throughout the day and we were very fortunate to not have to wait. Those coming in on the train from Anchorage may have a bit of a wait but I still think it won’t be bad.

Our rooms were ready once we got on-board so we dropped off the things we carried on and then went to Larry & Claire’s junior suite to ooh and aahhh. While you can get a refund if the price drops on your cruise up until your final payment is due, after that the only thing available to you is an upgrade in room type if it is available. LJ is great about staying on top of any price drops and was able to get us upgraded from an interior room to our first balcony room; he was able to upgrade his parents from a balcony to a junior suite. They have almost twice the size we do in our room, a full sitting area with two chairs and couch, a walk-in closet and a full bathtub instead of just a shower, an extra-long balcony, plus a doorbell! They are very happy with the space and we are super excited for them!

We grabbed lunch in the Windjammer and then LJ went back off the ship into Seward to shoot the harbor and return the rental car. I think he has an allergy to being on the ship if we are in port anywhere! Larry and Claire’s bags had arrived so they were going to rest and unpack and I headed back to our room to do the same. Our bags hadn’t arrived yet but it wasn’t long before the first two showed up and I could start getting settled. LJ returned around 6:30 and we had our muster drill at 7:30, then dinner in the Dining Room at 8:00. We are doing My Time Dining for the first time ever. Tonight the service was a little on the slow side but LJ did spot a whale during dinner and we had a nice table right by a window so that was beautiful. We finished with the Welcome Aboard Show at 10:00. It was a full day and we were ready to get some rest. Hubbard Glacier tomorrow!