July 26, 2025

ICY STRAIT POINT, ALASKA, USA

We arrived to a drizzly quiet Port and since we were the only Ship in town, they choose to not operate their much toted Gondola and Zip lines, giving us very few options for excursions. Most of our fellow passengers opted for a Bear walking  tour and struck out while we went for the more adventurous option of driving 4x4's through the forest, with the hope of seeing some wildlife. The tour company bent the rules for us and still took our small group of 4 (they called in some of their off duty guide friends, to join us in making the minimum count of 6 ) and off we went. Our guide, was training another guide, and both were super informative and eager to share lots of knowledge with us! We started with a lesson in native berries and these Salmonberries were just ripening and delicious! We saw wild life, just not all that we were hoping to encounter. Still a fun time riding through the muddy trails!

Besides the tour we walked around the Port, explored the Salmon Cannery Museum and shops, and hiked the trail along the coast. We spotted some whales, but got no photos, as it happened so fast! 

By Patricia Patrick October 26, 2025
Thursday, October 23rd we arrived in the Port of Bitung, Indonesia to huge fan fare despite the pouring rain. Turns out we were the first cruise ship to visit this Port in a long time!
By Patricia Patrick October 22, 2025
WOW!!! PALAU is the tropical Paradise I have been dreaming about! This is trip just reached a new level of OMG!!
By Patricia Patrick October 16, 2025
Got to love a place that sells shirts saying " Where the heck is Yap? " Colonia ( population 3,100 ) is the Capital and Harbor town of Yap State ( population 11,600 ) one of four states in the Federated States of Micronesia. We are in the Pacific Ocean or Philippine Sea just north of the equator, Papua New Guinea and Australia.