DAY 7---CRUISING THE GULF OF ALASKA

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BACKGROUND INFO

HUBBARD GLACIER

 Hubbard glacier is located in Yakutat Bay.  It is the largest single tide water glacier in the world.   A tide water glacier is one that ends in the ocean.  It is 76 miles long and 6 miles wide but we can only see 3 miles of the glacier face from our ship.  Hubbard glacier moves 3 to 5 feet per day.  It takes the ice 400 years to travel the 76 miles and break off “calve” in the water.  The face of the glacier that one can see is 400 to 500 feet high but there is another 1000 to 1200 feet of ice below the water.  If more than 10 feet of the “calved” ice floating in the bay is visible, it is called an iceberg.  Only 10% of the iceberg is above water so these pieces of ice are huge.  You all have probably seen the movie, “Titanic”, so now you know how hitting one of these icebergs can certainly damage a ship.

LAST EVENING

        So a little before 6:00 we stopped at the Meridian Lounge and got a drink to go.  We then proceeded to the theater for the Seven Seas Society cocktail party at 6:00.  There was a receiving line with the ship's officers greeting everyone.  We had not met the Captain yet and didn't this evening as the ship was departing the pier at the same time as party.

        There was a short program with the Cruise Consultant, also manages the SSS.  She announced the numbers on this cruise in each society category.  There are only 137 total SSS members onboard this cruise which is an unheard of low number.  That means there are a LOT of first time cruisers with Regent on board.  They are not invited to this party.  Here are the numbers in each category:

Bronze (7 to 20 nights)---43

Silver (21 to 74 nights)---74

Gold (75 to 199 nights)---15

Platinum (200 to 399 nights)---3

Titanium (400 to 999 nights)---0

Diamond (1000 to 1999 nights)---2   Rebecca and I as we now have 1114 nights.

Commodore (over 2000 nights)---0

                                                                        Ice carvings

                                                          There was entertainment also.

                                       We met Anatoli, the General Manager, at 7:00 for dinner.

                                                                      Nice pinot noir

        Anatoli had ordered these two wines for our dinner which Jessica, the head sommelier, presented.  Both wines were very good.

        We started with the Greek salad,  Then I enjoyed some escargot before the highlight of the evening.  This miso glazed sea bass with sticky rice.

                          I had this white chocolate & croissant pudding.  Very yummy!

              Executive chef, John, and restaurant manager, Natasha, came by to check on us.

        We again had front row seats for the production cast's show.  Following are some photos I took during the show.  We really enjoyed this cast.

TODAY

        We were supposed to stop and see the Hubbard Glacier today but last evening the Captain made a PA saying due to the forecast winds there, it was cancelled.  First time it was cancelled on our other Alaska cruises.  We are scheduled to stop at Hubbard Glacier in two days on our next segment so hope to see it then.

        At breakfast Jeff said the ship was rocking and rolling around 4am.  We slept through it.  When I opened the curtains at 6:30 we were getting a good ride.

        It is 55 degrees this morning with a 20 knot wind.  Ship's speed is 19+ knots which is faster than normal.

        Rebecca had her room service scrambled eggs delivered at 7:00.  They were way over cooked so she called and asked for softer eggs.  I swear 5 minutes later they were delivered.

                  This is Dayana who makes our Americano coffees at 6:30 every morning.

                                               This was today's breakfast in La Veranda.

                           This is what the special looked like.  Not one of my favorites.

      Joseph was working this morning.  He has been our Compass Rose waiter except for one night.

        Jeff and I went down and played bingo this morning.  $30 for 4 games.  I just needed one number for the blackout game.  It was over just before the Captain's noon PA with weather and navigation updates.  

        This is our position at noon today.  We have been cruising in the Gulf of Alaska today.  Ship's speed still 19 knots and it is sunny and 55 degrees with a good ride.  The Captain said he would be picking up the pilot around 6pm when we entered the Prince William Sound.  Said it would take 3 hours from then to reach Whittier.  He also said the winds were going to pick up to around to 35 knots so it might be tricky docking.  

        We also found out that there is a big crew change-over in Whittier tomorrow.

        I went to the suite and collected Rebecca to head up and meet with Jeff for lunch in La Veranda.  It was not that good.  Buffet foods just warm and fish in the paella was way over cooked.  Oh, well, I had enough.  After lunch Jeff was heading to his suite to pack.  His departure time tomorrow is around 8:30.  He will be taking the ship's transportation into Anchorage.  The buses are either going to the airport or to a drop off place downtown.  Jeff is staying in a hotel tomorrow night.  His flight to Seattle then Sacramento departs at 8:15 the next day.

        This afternoon Rebecca again went up to the library to read her book.  I will finish the end of this cruise segment critique online and try to find a movie to watch.

        At 6:00 this evening is the Krew Kapers show in the theater.  Certain talented crewmembers will put on a variety show.  This is another event special only to Regent cruises and is always a fun and is well received by passengers.  As usual we will be having our cocktail time in the Meridian Lounge before dinner in Compass Rose.  We call the last dinner of a cruise "The Last Supper".  It will be for Jeff but not us.

        This is tonight's menu but we have made another special request for our entrees.  Rebecca and I have asked for salmon in a pastry and Jeff asked for rigatoni pasta with pancetta and a tomato cream sauce.

        At 9:15 after dinner they are having a dance party down on the 4th deck atrium.  Count us out!!!

Sad, as we will be saying bye to Jeff tomorrow morning.  We are all checked in for the next segment so won't have to do anything.

STAY TUNED AS THERE WILL BE ANOTHER WEEK OF THIS BLOG COMING UP!