Day 3 - Ketchikan

Today's highlight is a floatplane (seaplane to some of us) ride to try to view black bears. 

We dock outside of town at Ward Cove. There is a large building with souvenir shops housing the terminal where excursions get organized for departure. 

A short van ride and we arrive at the floatplane base. Our pilot is a personable young woman who looks more like a teenager. Between liftoff and landing she proves to be a very capable pilot. The pilot is the short woman standing next to the door to the plane.

The flight is smooth with the landing superb. The pilot is young, cute, personable and COMPETENT. We are flying over gorgeous scenery.

There is no assistance at the dock where we land. The pilot must jump out, grab lines attached to the wing and stop and secure the plane. What happens if she doesn't. Her copilot, that would be CJ isn't going to be must help. Two men asked for the copilot seat. The pilot asked their birthdays. The other guy went first. It's the first time CJ's New Year's birthday has won him anything.

A short uphill walk, van ride, and downhill walk takes us to a viewing station above a salmon stream. We're informed that it should be the height of salmon season but they have yet to begin their run, our bad luck.

At the last moment of our visit, one of the group spies a bear.

How does our tiny pilot get us going for the return flight? She pulls the plane to the end of the dock, with us all onboard. She turns it around the corner of the dock. She jumps in, starts it up and off we go.

On the return flight, the huge cruise ship that was across from us at Ward Cove is backing out. Seven Seas Explorer is the smaller ship still at the dock.

We fly over the floatplane base before performing a tight descending 180 and landing.

We do not have time to explore the picturesque old town of Ketchikan.

Dinner is at the premium restaurant, Pacific Rim. The food is excellent. The use of a Guwurtz wine is ideal and the sake also very good.

And another beautiful sunset.

Day 2 - Cruising the Inside Passage

There is water to the horizon on both sides of the ship. "Inside Passage" seemed to imply land on both sides.

Today we have a wine luncheon featuring Caymus Wines. The food is very good and are paired with equally impressive wines. We share a table with a very nice couple.

Jessica, is the ship's head sommelier. She is very good.

Beautiful presentation of desert at dinner.

Delightful sunset to end the day in the Inside Passage.

Oshi Nori

Carol has booked Oshi Nori, a sushi restaurant for dinner. It's close but not close enough to walk. The staff, food, and sake are excellent.

Our Japanese admiral friend in Japan gifted CJ these sake boxes. We did not know how to use them until this meal. A glass is placed inside the box and is overfilled until the glass is full and the box has sake in it.

The restaurant specializes in handrolls. We order an assortment.

The sommelier will allow us to take unconsumed sake with us. We order a very good bottle.

Carol's restaurant selection turns out to be marvelous.

We finish with uni sashimi and back at the hotel a good sunset.

Day 1 - Regent Seven Seas Explorer Embarkation

Our North to Alaska holiday continues with our arrival on Regent Seven Seas Explorer.

Decks 5 through 10 have rooms. We are in a suite on Deck 9. It is large and comfortable with a bathroom with a shower, double vanity, and a shower/tub. It also has a separate wardrobe room. There is a queen bed and desk in the sleeping area and a couch and bar in the living area. Additionally, there is a large balcony with two chairs, lounger, and table.

We board at noon and depart a 5pm. Lunch is a buffet. The food is typical for a buffet and is disappointing.

We have time to unpack. There is ample storage in both hanging space in the wardrobe as well as drawers in the wardrobe, desk, bathroom, and bar.

We enjoy a welcome bottle of Champagne on the balcony as we watch the ship depart and sail down the channel under the Lion's Gate bridge and out to sea. We enjoy the scenery.

We depart the Port of Vancouver and begin the voyage

It's a beautiful day to relax on our balcony.

We pass under the Lion's Gate Bridge. It was privately funded and built by a member of the Guiness stout family. It was eventually sold to the city of Vancouver for the precise sum it cost to build a half century earlier.

We enjoy the beauty of British Columbia as we make our way to the sea. Might that be the glacier of Blackcomb ski area in the distance.

Apologies for not posting more frequently and regularly and the clarity of the pictures. The Internet on the ship is disappointing. When I get somewhere where the pictures download properly I'll update this post.