Day 13 - Thursday - 09/05/24 - Gulf of Alaska

Sometime in the early morning we left Whittier. I recall waking up to slight motions of the ship.  Finally around 8:30 I got up and prepared for the day.  I'd gave to say this first night's sleep on the Grand Princess  was the best of this trip.  The pillows were soft, the comforter enveloping, and the mattress firmness just right.


At our Horizon Cafe buffet breakfast we enjoyed conversation with a couple who honeymooned on the Grand 25 years ago.  Afterwards we watched the last of a shore excursion presentation which was followed by Kevin, CD's, presentation to new Princess cruisers.  I then booked a Northern Lights cruise to Norway for September next year.  


After rejoining Angela for lunch, we Princess' onboard naturalist, Gloeta, who did an excellent presentation on glaciers.  The game show, Deal or No Deal was next and the first contestant won over $500 which was the largest sum we gave ever seen won.  We ended our afternoon doing laundry which costs $3 for a wash and $3 for the dryer.  


While tonight was a formal night, we ate a light dinner in the Lido before attending a terrific show put on by Jim Frankel, a vocalist and pianist.  On the way to the show Captain Kevin Smith introduced his senior officers in the Piazza.  I should add that all throughout the day there was motion to the ocean as we crossed the Gulf of Alaska.


Our day ended in the Explorations Lounge for the Yes/No game show where I lasted one minute and forty five seconds.  After the game, Kevin, the CD, engaged us in some pleasant conversation. Angela then sang in the first night of auditions for Voice of the Ocean.  There was strong competition among the 7 contestants.


While it was a disappointment to miss visiting Hubbard Glacier today, the prospect of a longer visit to Glacier Bay National Park is a more than reasonable substitute.  And thus our day ended at 11:30pm. 

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