For the most part they dock these boats in the Seattle area, take them up to Alaskan waters in the spring, cruise all summer, and return in the fall. We got a special package that included the one trip up through the Inside Passage in May and was consequently 13 days instead of seven.
This wasn't our exact route, but pretty close:
The first, somewhat trepidatious sighting of our new home (for two weeks anyway).
Underway! That's two of our guides for the trip; they are on the bow of the ship as we are backing out of the slip. The picture above was taken from near the brick building in the background.
The denizens of Seattle like to say--usually through clenched teeth--"if you don't like the weather here, just wait five minutes. It'll change." How true.
Sandi and I have had absolutely the finest weather imaginable every time we've visited in the last 25 years. I commented to my brother-in-law regarding just how wonderful the climate was and how we could see why people loved living there. He immediately said, "Don't judge Seattle by today. It's gray eight months out of the year."
By March they're starting to take people's belts and shoelaces away to cut down on population losses. On arrival July fifth last year for a reunion we were greeted by gorgeous 70 degree sunshine and made the mistake of marveling at the beauty. Long, you're-an-idiot, condescending stares from natives, and mutterings about the first nice weather of the year. Best to keep your trap shut.
The sun broke through the clouds as we turned the boat around and headed north.
In this last picture, you can see the Space Needle (don't you love that name?) underneath the flag. I rode the elevator to the top when it was just a couple months old, 49 years ago, during the Century 21 Exposition (which nobody called it) aka The Seattle World's Fair.
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