Alaska Cruise, Part Six - Tracy Arm and back to San Francisco

We headed south.  Around 6 AM the morning after leaving Skagway we arrived at the entrance to Tracy Arm.  (Earlier in the season they go to Glacier Bay, but by September it has too much ice in the water.)  I bundled up (heavy sweatshirt, one of my winter scarves, rain jacket and gloves) and spent about four hours on deck.

It was around 50°F (10°C) and breezy.  I didn’t feel cold, but the ship was prepared for those who did.  (Edit:  click on the pictures to biggify.)

Alaska Cruise, Part Five - Skagway

Our final port in Alaska was Skagway, a gold rush town and jumping-off point for the Yukon.  We tied up at the Mining Pier and were met by busses to take us to the various excursions.  It was a beautiful sunny day, but chilly.

The predicted high was 54°F (12°C).  (Edit:  click on the pictures to biggify.)

Alaska Cruise, Part Four - Juneau

On day six we reached Juneau, the state capital.  (Edit:  click on the pictures to biggify.)

Alaska Cruise, Part Three - Ketchikan

On Day 5 we arrived at our first Alaskan port, Ketchikan.  (Edit:  click on the pictures to biggify.)

Alaska Cruise, Part Two - Victoria

Our first port was Victoria, the capital of British Columbia.  Labor Day is a Canadian holiday as well as American, and they were having a wooden boat festival.   We arrived just as they were starting the boat parade.  (Edit:  click on the pictures to biggify.)

Alaska Cruise, Part One

I returned from my vacation Monday evening - a ten day cruise to Alaska.  This trip had a number of firsts for me:  first commercial cruise, first time in San Francisco, Vancouver, and Alaska.  I enjoyed it tremendously.  Took hundreds of photos.  Not all of them are worth sharing, of course, and you’d be bored bored bored, so I’ve selected a few to post here. 

I sailed on the Sea Princess out of San Francisco.