Today was a sea day, greatly appreciated by all as we sat back and relaxed and spent time enjoying the many delights offered when cruising. Technically we are no longer in the Inside Passage, but rather sailing down in the open sea. Fortunately weather is calm. After breakfast with a view, we claimed a spot on the most comfortable reclining chairs at the very front of the ship, top deck and warmed by lovely sunshine. Oh, the luxury of a full belly, a rested soul ...

The weather gods have remained kind to us and blessed us with perfect weather to ride the White Pass and Yukon Route and witness more breathtaking scenery. We sailed into Skagway in fog, but it soon lifted to reveal a beautiful morning. Skagway marks the most northern point of the Inside Passage and its picturesque setting is framed by the deep waters of Taiya Inlet and the rugged Coast Mountains. The small town has tried to preserve its history and the downtown...

Juneau, surrounded by waterways, rugged mountainsides and glaciers, is the only capital of the United States that is inaccessible by road. We sailed into its lovely port this morning as a heavy fog lifted and revealed the surrounds. Juneau is situated at the foot of the Juneau Icefield, home to 38 major glaciers. After disembarking, we caught a local bus out to the Mendenhall Glacier where we were lucky enough to enjoy a pleasant few hours hiking some easy trail...

We docked in downtown Ketchikan, the salmon capital of the world, by seven this morning. Ketchikan is Alaska's wettest city, with an amazing yearly average of 13 feet of rainfall. We were lucky enough to have a misty, but rain-free morning that allowed us a great opportunity to explore the area on foot. By early afternoon, however, it was drizzling. Ketchikan's history is founded on fishermen, loggers and miners and the buildings and layout of the town evoke tha...

Ah! Life at sea - that's for me. Day 1 saw us board our cruise boat, the Norwegian Jewel, with a sleek, polished efficiency. We set sail mid-afternoon on a calm sea under a clear sky. The Seattle skyline faded to the south and after some coastline watching we set about exploring the ship. Naturally it has all the comforts of home, plus some. (I tell a lie - it has plus a lot.) The cabins are very comfortable and quite roomy. Roger, who is very jolly, tends our ...