Day 12 (DAY 5 OF NEXT SEGMENT)---JUNEAU, ALASKA

 

We're docked in Juneau today.  It is overcast and 54 degrees this morning.

BACKGROUND INFO

JUNEAU

        The City and Borough of Juneau is the capital city of Alaska and has a population of nearly 32,000.  Between the months of May and September the population can grow about 6,000 daily from visiting cruise ship passengers, us included.   It is the second largest city in the US by area and is located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of Alaska.  It has been the Alaskan capital since 1906 when it was moved from Sitka.  The area of Juneau is almost as large as Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

        Juneau is named after a gold prospector named Joe Juneau.  Mining began here in the 1880’s.  Juneau grew from the growth of state government once Alaska became a State in 1959.  The biggest growth was due to the construction of the Alaska Pipeline in 1977.  Cruise passengers have increased from 230,000 per year in 1990 to well over 1,000,000 now.  The economy is driven by state government which employs roughly half, followed by tourism, fishing and mining.  Another bit of trivia:  Juneau is the only US capital city that is not connected to the rest of the state, or even North America as far as that is concerned, by roads.  There is ferry service for cars however.

LAST EVENING

                        I decided to change my drink to this Grey Goose Cosmo for tonight.

                                                 Our "pigs" were soon to arrive at the bar.

Members of the orchestra entertained in the Meridian Lounge starting at 6:30.  Thankfully, not too loud.

Had a "family" photo with our waiter the past 11 nights with Joseph.  What a good long time friend!!!

                                          Joseph's assistant is Yasa.  He is from Bali.

            Many Regent return passengers rave about the salt rolls.  Personally, I could care less.

        OINK!!  Both of our favorite soups on this cruise has been the salmon chowder.  I asked for a large bowl of it but could not eat it all.  SOOOOO good however.

        We both ordered the chicken parmesan with spaghetti.  Both of our portions were way more than we could eat even though it was very good.  I'm finally figuring out out that us old folks need not to eat everything put before them!!

        Well, this is a different story.  This is the wild Alaskan berry cobbler that was on the menu last week.  I knew it was delicious so had to have it again.  Rebecca had some of mine.

        That pretty much wrapped up our evening.  Stopped to get a wine for Rebecca and an amaretto on rocks for the suite.  No show for us.  Rebecca is sleeping sitting on the sofa and I am hitting the hay at 9:30.

TODAY

        It was after 7:00 when we got up and opened the curtains to find we were already on the pier.  Same location as last segment when we were here.  I dressed and ran down to Coffee Connection (as I do every day) to get our Americano coffees.

                     Fog obscuring the mountains.  Downtown is very close by our pier.

        The Coral Princess is also already tied up and there are two interesting small expedition boats also.  The larger boat is a National Geographic ship.  Three more cruise ships will be arriving later today.

        Yea!!  It is Sunday and time for caviar and champagne in Compass Rose.  As always I ask for a huge portion of black caviar (I don't care for the red caviar).

                                                      I have a half order of eggs benedict.

   Rebecca ordered the eggs and bacon.  This is the first day she has not had room service breakfast.

         I took a walk into downtown at 9:30 since we were so close and I have no tours today.  When we were here last segment the weather was terrible with (rain and fog) so Jeff and my helicopter to glacier was canceled.  I did not get off the ship then.  I had Rebecca come out on our balcony and wave to you.

                                                         American flaps on this pier.

        I walked down the wood promenade along the on shoreline and there were these totem poles every so often.

          The tram up to top of mountain was obviously closed again as top was in the clouds.

Ferries           

                                                                            Flowers

                                        Two thirds of the shops in Juneau are jewelry stores.

                                                             Here's a carved wood shop.

                                      I did go in this crafts shop and bought a few things.

        I had gotten a chipolte salmon spread on my first trip to town but decided to go back and get these two to go with it.

        I got the buffalo chicken wings with blue cheese and french fries from the pool grill for lunch in La Veranda.

        Many of the crew finally got to go ashore today since we were so close to the downtown area.

        This afternoon Rebecca went up to the library to read while I finished watching "The Patriot" with Mel Gibson.  We are sailing again early at 3:30 for our final port of call, Ketchikan.  It is 270nm south of here and we are due to arrive there tomorrow at 10am.

        At 3:40 I went down for my usual afternoon cappuccino.  Most every afternoon they have a "tea time" in the Meridian Lounge.  I got these photos while they were still setting up for it.  Small sandwiches on other side.

        At 6:00 in the theater is the Seven Seas Society cocktail party just for the society members.  As you may recall there were only 138 members on the last segment and only about 40 showed up for the party.  On this cruise there are only 128 society members.  It will be interesting to see how many show up.

        I got the numbers in advance as to how many are in each level.  As your levels increase, so do your benefits

Bronze (7-20 nights)---42

Silver (21-74 nights)---62

Gold (75-199 nights)---17

Platinum (200-399 nights)---3

Titanium (400-999 nights)---2

Diamond (1000-1999 nights---2    This is Rebecca and I and we are again the most cruised again.
Commodore (over 2000 nights)---0    

        This means that over 600 onboard this cruise are first time cruisers on Regent.  That's amazing!

        Dinner tonight will definitely be in Compass Rose as our favorite entree, miso glazed sea bass and sticky rice, is on the menu.

        Will definitely not be going to the show as it is the comedian again.  We do NOT do comedians!