Alaska has always been one of my favorite destinations.  It’s an adventure; no matter how many times you’ve been there.  What continues to impress me is the spectacular beauty and the total tranquility. Watching and listening to the roar of the glaciers as they are calving is awesome.  Spotting wildlife you hoped to see sends a rush of adrenalin and puts a smile on your face.  It’s hard to describe how truly beautiful Alaska is until you have experienced it.  Then, you want to tell everyone; hey…this is a must-do destination.

This past June my husband, Ed, and I hosted a group on Regent’s Seven Seas Mariner for a wonderful group of WGN Radio listeners and Kelly Cruises’ clients. The cruise itself was 7-night sailing from Anchorage to Vancouver.  Many people in our group signed up for a delightful 4-night pre-cruise land package called “Discovering Denali”, which gave them a more in-depth experience to the interior of Alaska.  Our cruise sailed from June 13^th to June 20^th.

Ed and I chose to arrive one day early, which is always a good idea for travelers.  It makes for a more relaxed trip and helps to insulate travelers against the “what ifs” that are so often caused by the weather and/or the airlines.

Our flight was a non-stop on United Airlines and a good choice.  Flight time was just under six hours. The crew was friendly, service was exceptional, and take off and landings were on time. We had booked a one night pre-hotel package at the Hilton Hotel in Anchorage through Regent Seven Seas.  They had a representative meet us in the baggage claim area and transfer us to the hotel.  The cruise line had their own desk with a Regent Seven Seas representative for check-in.  They quickly checked us in, gave us a room key and a packet with instructions for when to have our luggage ready for transfer to the ship the next morning.  There was also a concierge desk close by and the woman was very helpful to our group in recommending restaurants, sightseeing and answering any questions that guests might have. Breakfast was included in our package and, I must say, it was very good.

Guests were asked to leave their luggage right inside their room for pick-up at 9am.   Transportation from downtown Anchorage to the pier in Seward, where the Seven Seas Mariner departs, began at 12:30pm.  It is important to note this is a two and a half hour trip, but the scenery is simply gorgeous.  The motorcoach was very comfortable and did have a bathroom on board.

Note: If you book your own airfare and hotels, be sure to ask us for a quote on transfers.

I prefer the Captain Cook Hotel for its charm and location, but the Hilton Hotel is adequate.  Rooms are pretty basic, nothing fancy.  You would have to request and pay for a suite if you wanted something beyond a standard room.

On our first full day at sea we cruised the awesome Hubbard Glacier.  The ship takes on a required pilot and our ship’s lecturer positioned himself in the Observation Lounge where he shared interesting facts and history throughout the day.  The scenery was beautiful and the passengers were fascinated with the experience of coming so close to the glacier.  There was a definite chill in the air, but that didn’t keep anyone from spending some time at the ship’s rail for photo opportunities and to just get a better look.

Sitka was our first port of call on this cruise.  Although we’ve been to Alaska on nine prior cruises, this was our first time in Sitka.  We awoke to a brilliant blue sky and abundant sunshine, which apparently is rare for this city.  Ed and I, along with many of our clients, choose the Sea Otter and Wildlife Tour offered on Regent’s extensive list of shore excursions.  What a perfect choice!  Our ship didn’t dock in Sitka, so our tour boat (a beautiful and comfortable catamaran) pulled up right along side the Mariner for us to board.  There was a choice of upper or lower decks for seats; we choose the upper deck because it was covered and it allowed us to walk around the outside for a good view of abundant wildlife.  The typography of the land and sea was spectacular.  For two and a half hours we were thrilled at the sight of whales and sea otters. Since binoculars were thoughtfully provided for everyone on the tour, we were all captivated by the sight of hundreds of sea otters frolicking for our pleasure.  What cute, funny little creatures they are.  During our tour there were about a half dozen sightings of whales. My only regret was not having a camera with a telescopic lens for better pictures.  Next time!

The staff on this tour was extremely knowledgeable, courteous and made this tour a memorable experience for all on board.  They even served delicious refreshments and provided us with a naturalist who enlightened us and enriched our visit to Sitka.

Tonight we dined in Signature, one of the popular alternative restaurants, onboard the Mariner.  Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their delicious French dinner and excellent wine. What a great way to spend an evening with charming new dinner companions, and a meal that you’ve really enjoyed.  After dinner there were three evenings of exceptional Broadway style entertainment; the orchestra, singers, dancers and costumes would rival anything you could see in Vegas or a big city in the USA.  The ship’s casino was open in the evenings, as well as the days we were at sea. Many people told us how well they did in the casino; unfortunately, I was not one of them.

Tracy Arm Fjord: The Seven Seas Mariner entered Tracy Arm Fjord early in the morning on Saturday. I peeked through our curtains at 7 am to see if the view warranted getting up to observe at this early hour.  The decision was an easy one!  Throw open the drapes, open the balcony door and call room service for a pot of steaming coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice.  Next, slip into one of the white fluffy terry robes and slippers provided in our room and then step out on the balcony to behold thundering glaciers, gigantic waterfalls and amazing fjord cliffs.  As we cruised at a very slow speed, we were often so close to the snow-capped cliffs, I felt like we could reach out and touch them.  What a sight!  What beauty!  Don’t miss it!  This is one of the many highlights of your Alaska cruise.

Juneau:  Our ship docked in Juneau about 12:00 noon to bright sunshine and a temperature in the low 60’s.  Since we visited Juneau many times on prior cruises, we decided to take a whale watching cruise tour in an enclosed jet boat.  The seating was all enclosed, but we could go out on deck whenever the boat slowed down to better observe marine life and look for the elusive whales.  As one might expect, we traveled at a very high speed.  The scenery in Auke Bay was spectacular, but the whales we spotted were not close enough for us to get a good look at them.  We braved the wind and cool temperatures on the water in hopes this adventure would reward us with a better view of these magnificent mammals.  Since the whales are still migrating back from Hawaii, perhaps we were a bit too early to capture the sights and pictures we were longing for in this area.

On the way back to our ship, the minibus driver stopped and took us to the “Chapel by the Sea”, built of spruce logs, from the area in one of the most picturesque spots in all of Alaska.  If you are a photographer, do stop here and take a few photos.  It was nice to visit this special little chapel and say a prayer for all the people in our lives we love and cherish.

Juneau has lots of places to shop for souvenirs and of course you could stop at the Red Dog Saloon for a bit of local color, as well as a cold beer and a sandwich. Tonight we enjoyed a late dinner in the Compass Rose dining room followed by a movie in the lounge with fresh popcorn.

Skagway:  Our weather became cooler and rainy as we arrived in Skagway.  This is a charming little port that we have visited and enjoyed many times over the years. Since we had already experienced the Narrow Gage train ride several times and flightseeing, we decided to enjoy a relaxing morning on the ship; in the afternoon we went into town for a few hours.  Skagway has a population of 800 residents in the winter and about 3200 in the summer.  The Red Onion Saloon is the most popular bar/restaurant for cruise passengers.  My favorite place to shop in town is “Once in a Blue Moose.”  You can take a shuttle bus from the pier for $1.50 each way or walk about six blocks from the ship to the heart of town.  Fellow passengers told us they really enjoyed the seven mile bike ride tour, as well as the rafting and train tours. This is a fun little town to walk around and it is only about seven blocks long.

Campbell River: is a brand new port of call for cruise ships and currently the Seven Seas Mariner is the only cruise ship I know of calling there this year. We docked at the new 20 million dollar terminal at 4 pm and were greeted by the friendliest people I have ever met.  There are white tents set up on the dock for shopping.  The Mayor of Campbell River and a huge welcoming committee (perhaps the whole town) were there to shake our hands and to tell us about their city and make everyone feel welcome.  Ed and I purchased a float plane tour of the area, which we thoroughly enjoyed.  The scenery from the air over British Columbia is nothing short of fantastic!  Campbell River offers cruise passengers free shuttle service, new shopping malls and over a dozen options for tours, which include fishing for salmon (this is the salmon capital of the world), flightseeing, nature heritage, hiking and more.

Information about our ship:

The Seven Seas Mariner is a 50,000 gross ton luxury cruise ship with a maximum capacity of 700 passengers. She is rated one of the top luxury cruise ships in the world by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine, Travel & Leisure Magazine and cruise experts throughout the world. We love this cruise line and their ships. If you are not familiar with Regent Seven Seas you should know that the cost of your cruise is All-Inclusive. Accommodations are spacious, all Oceanview suites and staterooms, most with balconies. All onboard gratuities are included…Really! Complimentary beverages include select, delicious wines and spirits served throughout your cruise. Refrigerators are stocked with soft drinks and bottled water and are replenished daily. There is a magical ambiance on a Regent Seven Seas cruise. Their attention to detail is amazing.  We always enjoy their open seating policy in the main dining room, in addition to the various dining options, spacious suites with private balconies, and interesting choices of activities, world-class service and exciting destinations. The Broadway style entertainment in the evening was excellent and the destination experts gave interesting and informative lecturers for Alaska.  Discriminating traveler’s needs and wishes are satisfied on this cruise line.

Dining onboard was always a pleasure.  The Compass Rose restaurant is available for open seating dining from 6:30pm to 9:00pm nightly, so you may dine when and with whom you please.  The Signatures and Latitudes restaurants were both very popular and reservations are required. I would suggest making them before you leave home for one night in each. (This can be done online or we would be happy to make this request for you.) The La Veranda café becomes another alternative in the evening with white table cloths and an Alaska Grill Menu featuring fresh fish, steak and chops.

The Fitness Center onboard provides a well equipped gymnasium and aerobics area that was well used by guests of all ages the entire week.  The computer and internet area on Deck 6 offers email access for a reasonable fee; packages began at $25. You may also bring your own computer and use it in a designated area.

The dress code for 7-day cruises on Regent Seven Seas cruises in Alaska, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, Caribbean and Tahiti is Country Club Casual.  Usually there is one Informal evening where gentlemen wear a sport coat and ladies are fashionable in dresses or stylish pant outfits.  The other evenings on a 7-day cruise the ladies wore casual dresses or pant outfits to dinner and the gentlemen dressed in open collar shirts.

Every room is a spacious suite on the Seven Seas Mariner and her sister ship, the Seven Seas Voyager.  They all have private balconies, which add another layer of pleasure to your cruise experience.  Imagine waking up each morning and having the option of calling room service for either a full breakfast or at least juice and coffee to start your day. Your doorbell rings and a table is set up by your server with a white linen table cloth and fine china.  Your balcony door is open and you’re gazing at the breathtaking scenery with a smile on your face. While we were on this Alaska cruise we experienced brilliant sunshine six out of the seven days we were on board. The air is so clean and refreshing it stimulates all your senses (I wish I could bottle it and ship it home!)

The Observation Lounge is a perfect place to listen to the lecturers and enjoy a panoramic view of snow-capped mountains, endless beauty, glaciers and occasionally wildlife. It’s a place to enjoy a steaming hot chocolate, fancy coffee, glass of wine or cocktail.  It’s so nice to have all of your beverages included in the cost of your cruise!  The staff was extremely pleasant and anxious to please their guests.  It’s so easy to see why Regent Seven Seas has earned the top awards over the past few years for luxury ships in their class.

Disembarkation on the last day in Vancouver was seamless…no standing in long lines.  They have a very efficient system to retrieve your luggage, transfer you to the airport and bid you a fond farewell until next time. We traveled 2,150 nautical miles on our voyage and like all good things, it had to end sometime. I wish we had allowed additional time to spend a few days in Vancouver or Whistler, but my reality button was going off…reminding me to get back to the office to help take care of our clients.

Nancy Kelly
President, Kelly Cruises, Inc.