Volendam arrived at Sitka after an uneventful overnight crossing of the North Pacific at 5.45 am and the tenders began operation at about 7.10 am. Everyone was up for an early breakfast on a delightful sunny morning. The forecasrt was 13 c max, a pleasant change from Kodiak,so passengers were eager to get onshore. We had picked a lightweight tour and found that nearly everyone else had also. However it was a good tour especially since driver Bonnie was a rea...

Just as Captain Jereon Beijins predicted at 7am the ship was at anchor in Kodiak harbour, not being able to dock because of the presence of the ferry. Firstly we had a most efficient face to face with US Border Protection Officers who happily stamped our passorts. After lunch we had a very expensive boat ride on a working fishing boat under the guise of Marine and Wildlife Sightseeing. It was run by two ex and one serving Coast Guard personnel and t...

We left the dock at precisely 4.30pm in dense fog to commence crossing the North Pacific by the circle route, because ithat is the shortest distance usuing the curvature of tghe earth. The Captain's address forewarned of foggy cold days ahead with two to three metre seas. He also reminded us that maritime law required the ship to sound its horn every two minutes. And so it turned out , Monday morning was 1 degree C. None of the passengers even the North Ame...