We just returned from a 7-day cruise to Alaska, courtesy of my in-laws who wanted to celebrate their 50th anniversary with 14 members of their immediate family. We sailed on Celebrity Cruises’ Infinity, leaving Seattle and stopping in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria.
This was a first-time experience for the majority of us and we had a blast! Thanks to my brother-in-law Bill, we were VIP guests on the ship which meant we got all kinds of perks such as wine, bathrobes (you’ll see a picture of the kids modeling their robes), tote bags and nightly treats like chocolate covered strawberries.
We also loved our wait staff — John, Roland and our sommelier, Madeline. Madeline is from the Philippines and when she found out that nearly half of our family was of part-Filipino ancestry, an instant bond was formed! Madeline even arranged for a special Filipino feast on our last night of the cruise. In addition to the regular restaurant menu, one of the ship’s Filipino cooks prepared lumpia, pork adobo and chicken papaya soup with real “Hawaii-kine” rice. Needless to say, our children were delighted to have local cuisine for a change.
The accommodations on board are nice but cramped. You have to enter your room single file and only one person can be in the bathroom at a time. We at least had a balcony so that provided some illusion of added space and spectacular scenery.
As for the food, I kid you not when I say that there is food available somewhere on the ship 24 hours a day. And if it’s not on the menu, the crew will make it for you. There is so much food that you feel compelled to eat even if you’re not hungry.
We took advantage of the shore excursions too. In Ketchikan, we took the Bering Sea “Deadliest Catch” tour. In Juneau, we viewed the Mendenhall Glacier via a raft. That was a lot of fun because our kids got to paddle the raft (with the pro tour guide) and had to navigate some mini rapids. In Skagway, we visited the Klondike Gold Panning site. Not only can you pan for gold, you can visit with a real Iditarod musher and play with his dogs and the puppies. In Victoria, BC, we only had a few hours so we toured the city via a double-decker bus.
The highlight of our trip? Hard to choose but I think getting our brand spanking new passports stamped in Victoria was probably near the top of the list!
Here are some pictures from our adventure. Enjoy!
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