DAY 8 (DAY 1 OF NEXT SEGMENT)---WHITTIER, ALASKA

        We arrived at Whittier early last night.  It is cloudy and 50 degrees here this morning.  Almost everyone is disembarking this morning and new passengers boarding around noon.

BACKGROUND INFO

WHITTIER 

        Whittier is a city at the head of the Passage Canal with a harbor and deep-water port used by cruise ships.  It has a population of 272 with almost all residents living in the Begich Towers Condominium, earning the nickname of a “town under one roof”.

        Most cruise lines use the port here at Whittier or the one at Seward.  Anchorage is located 58 miles northwest of Whittier and became a popular cruise destination for Anchorage when the Whittier Tunnel (locals name for it) was opened in 2000.  (We have used the port at Seward on our earlier Alaska cruises).  This tunnel, through the Maynard Mountain, is the only land access to Whittier and is the second longest highway/rail tunnel in North America.  The tunnel links Whittier to Anchorage.  Busses take cruise passenger to and from the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

        Whittier is also popular with photographers, hikers, sport fishermen, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts.  Whittier is located in the second largest national forest in the US. 

LAST EVENNING

        Oh, my!  Both of us got this HUGE salmon in pastry that we had ordered special  I only ate about a 1/3 of mine.  It was very good however.

        Think I was in bed by 8pm.  Unfortunately, I did not sleep very well as coming down with an upper respiratory thing plus multiple trips to the bathroom.  Rebecca suggested I need to take a Z-pac.  We did bring a couple.

TODAY

               Only one other cruise ship in port with us today.  It is a Princess cruises ship.

        Room service showed up right on time at 7am.  I had smoked salmon with cream cheese on a toasted bagel.  Just had a couple bites as did not feel like eating.

        You're not going to get much our of me today.  I spent most of the morning back in bed after starting the Z-pac.  We did go up to La Veranda for a bite of lunch but I was not very hungry.  The new passengers started boarding at noon.

This evening we will have one drink in the Meridian Lounge as have 6:30 dinner reservations up in Prime 7.  Definitely not going to the Welcome Aboard Show at 9:30.  Hope to get some sleep tonight.  Hope to feel better tomorrow.