Juneau
On the eighth day of this 11 day exciting cruise, Seabourn Sojourn approaches Juneau – the capital of Alaska. From your cabin, you can see four huge cruise ships representing different liners anchored at the port.
The inclement weather at Juneau is unmistakable. You keep your fingers crossed, unsure of your much awaited Dog-Sled tour to Norris Glaciers. Perilous windy conditions at Haines a day before (as mentioned in Part 2), that compelled the organizers to cancel the trip aboard ‘White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad’ in Skagway is still fresh in your mind, enough to keep your worry alive.
It’s 10 am and guess what? The weather Gods have begun to smile. The piercing Sun’s rays through innocuous clouds create a striking spectacle. The Tram-Way, right on the Pier, resumes its journey up and down the Mount Roberts. The Ship’s sound system officially confirms that the tour is ON. The Helicopter services to Norris Glaciers have resumed. The mood is turns joyous and gleeful.
Juneau, the third largest city of Alaska after Anchorage and Fair Banks is named after George Juneau, one who supposedly had discovered Gold here.
Surrounded with vast Glaciers, Juneau receives a massive 10 feet of Rain each Year. Large swathes of Mud Flats emerge during the Low Tide due to an astonishing 25 feet difference between water levels during High and Low Tide. Interestingly, despite being the Capital, Juneau is not connected by land to any other part of Alaska. Either Air or Sea is the only route for you to reach here.
From the pier by Bus to Helipad at Douglas you reach in 20 Minutes. On arrival, you get a short safety briefing after which you are handed a pair of Over-Boots, useful for Glacier landing.
At the Helipad four bright red-white color Six Seater Helicopters are ready to fly you along with 20 other guests to Norris Glaciers.
Fortunately, you are seated on the front row besides the young svelte and feisty Pilot – “Jenny”. After ensuring that our seat-belts are accurately fastened and head phones properly placed, she presses the button to put Rotor in motion. And there you GO….. UP, Up and Up along with the other three.
In the next 20 minutes of this spectacular heli-flightseeing, Jenny takes you over the harbor, from over the untamed wilderness of the valleys, striking ice-fields and jagged mountain peaks and then through the ethereal clouds. Below you see the mesmerizing white streams formed out of melting glaciers that flow down the mountains from different directions to finally get collected in glassy alpine lakes.
Norris Glacier
Jenny now begins to descend and there you see, right before you, this massive, massive glacier. You realize you have arrived. The awesome Norris Glacier, as mesmerizing as divinity, is now everywhere around you. It’s ubiquitous. You can feel it under your feet, on your palms, your breath filled with its aroma and your eyes stunned.
You feel yourself on a different planet. This breath-taking sight of pure white and scintillating blue snow all around is inexplicable. Just ahead, you see dogsled camp where scores of distinctly furred Huskies (Dogs) are barking vehemently. Presumably this is how these canines welcome their Guests. You then see few sledges consisting of two separate parts but attached to one another to accommodate four guests plus an expert at a time.
Norris Glacier
Dog camp at Norris glacier
In a short briefing, Maria, your assigned expert, educates you on how to start and stop the sledge. When she shouts “Whoa”, the Dogs shall stop and the last man on the sled has to stand on the breaks behind. If the dogs have to turn Right she will shout “Gee” and for left “Haw”. Every Sled Dog is seemingly well trained to act on these commands.
Soon thereafter eleven strong and enthusiastic Huskies pull your sled speedily zipping across various portions of this pristine glacier. This 2 Mile long exhilarating trip takes approximately 25 minutes before you are back from where you began.
You are now airlifted back by the same Helicopter to the same Helipad in Douglas. From there to reach the pier by Bus once again.
Across the pier, on the other side of the street you see queue of eating joints, shops selling souvenirs and T Shirts, Jewelry stores displaying alluring semi-precious stones (particularly Tanzanite). After some shopping, you are on board Sojourn.
Inian Islands
Once on the Ship, ‘Inian Islands’ is the place where you have your next itinerary fixed.
On the Ninth Day of its voyage, Sojourn anchor’s itself in the middle of the Bay at Inian Islands. During this short halt of few hours four orange color Zodiacs (Inflated motorized Boats) ferry you to the area populated with exotic marine live. You can also opt for Kayaking if you so desire.
On reaching the mouth of the Pacific-Sea meeting point, the scene gets intense and interesting. The heights of waves increase dramatically and Zodiac goes up and down in a Sea-Saw Moment ….
On your right you see dozens of differently colored Sea Otters with distinct mustache swim together. The Zodiac operator then steers the boat towards this direction for their closer look. Interestingly, as you get close to them, these wonderful animals look at you questioningly as if you are a trespassers.
A little further you see a host of light grey Sea Lions popping their heads out through the waves. Just then you are startled as a large Sea Lion puts its head above the water with a sizable Octopus safely clinched between his jaws. Before you could focus to capture him straight in your Camera, he turns to vanish. You feel sorry for not having got his priced frontal shot. Nevertheless a profile with one tentacle of the Octopus still hanging out was there for you as a consolation.
Then there were these attractive dark grey tall necked Cormorant Birds, White & Brown color Seagulls and traditional Bald Eagles in this unique blend of land, Sea and Ocean.
Later, you are back on your ship after this thrilling two hours sojourn.
Cormorant birds
Dog camp at Norris glacier
Bald Eagle
Icy Straits
The final stop of this Cruise is at a place called – Icy Straits. Here there are two back to back excursions planned. First one will take you to the Inland forest, place reputed for Brown Bear Sighting.
All excited you reach the forest by Bus in anticipation to see some bears as in Ketchikan (described in Part 1). But this tour turned out to be a Damp-Squib. No Brown Bear cared to show-up at that time of the day. Day Off for the Bears?? May be …… So you return, unquestioningly disappointed.
Point Adolphus
Second, was the high-speed whale-watching cruise to ‘Point Adolphus’, presumably a favorite place to sight Whales in their natural habitat.
Here too, during the first 30 minutes there was no whale sighting. You wait but the whales remain elusive. Another disappointing trip? You ask your-self. Just then a huge Humpback Whale pops out not very far from the boat. Then you see another and then another on the other side.
Suddenly, there’s excitement everywhere. Animated guests run from one side to another to get shots of these giant mammals. The clicks of cameras continued ceaselessly. Capturing “Tail Up/Fluke” shot of the Whale is the one most sought after. Everyone gets them, luckily. The ‘joie de vivre’ was thus palpable.
As this riveting action was in progress, the Captain receives a message from another boat nearby informing him of the presence of the Killer Orca Whales around there. Captain’s priorities change almost instantly. He puts this boat in top Gear and speeds towards that area.
Just then someone shouts – “Orca-Orca”. All eyes turn to see not one but two unmistakable ‘Orca Whales’, also known as ‘Killer Whales’ . They can be distinguished from their distinct Black backs, White sides and White patch above and behind their eyes.
Nothing could have been more imaginable, exciting, enthralling & exceptionally rewarding. Click!! Click!! Click!! and the clicks continued till one of the Orca zooms underneath the boat and disappears.
Oh!! What a Sight!! What a Trip !! You tell to yourself. It more than compensated for the failed earlier trip. An endeavor worth every penny and every effort!!
Back on the ship, it was time to resume journey for the last time before reaching the final destination – ‘Seaward’.
After a day at Sea, during a special Dinner on the final night, you intermingle and exchange co-ordinates with the fellow guests. All assure each other to remain in touch before bidding a warm Good-Bye for now.
Next Morning, on the 11th Day, you are at the Port of Seward. As you disembark to board the Bus for Anchorage, you look back at this imposing Ship and reminiscence, vividly the unforgettable experience you had in the past eleven days. A voyage of a life time.
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Jane
This is definitely a highlight of the Alaskan cruise. the dog sled ,whale watching, and orca. Wow…. truly a fantastic experience …
Judy
These are beautiful, Alaska is on my bucket list! Thanks for sharing, love your photo’s! Glad you had such a wonderful time!
Bob
Based upon your part 1,2 & now 3rd blog our party of six persons have booked a cruise for the Legend Alaska… thanks for the blog and the itenary shared by you in the 1st blog… We wouldn’t have known if it weren’t for your blog…. ..hope we too get lucky as you in capturing beautifulĺ shots….
Satish
Read your blogs just now. Theu are very nicely written. And you actually describe it so effectively that one feels like seeing that place. Great job👍👍
Jessica
wonderful . That is a dream of mine to one day be able to do this exact trip.
Tara
Beautiful… amazing photos… experience of a life time i must say
Sana
What to say.. its truly a picture- perfect especially of the tentacle ….. wow .. amazing….. Beautiful
Brinda
Thank you for such a concise blog. We plan to visit in 2019 and will definitely use this as our guide.
Varsha
Read all your blogs…Very good write up
Sam
Truly a paradise
Rebecca
Nice getaway. Definitely worth a visit at least once
Andrea
Just jaw-droppingly WOW!
Raghuveer
Out of world very nice pitchers .there is saying from alasken native . Once you visit Alaska then you come back to Alaska 2nd time.i was in Juno six months . Never seen Juno the way you did
Sweety
This would definitely be one to put on our list! 🙂
Belinda
Wow! I absolutely loved all the 3 parts of your Alaska cruise blog.
Alaska is on my travel list but I’ve never really entertained the thought of cruising Alaska.
Thank you so much for opening my eyes with this well put together piece!
Hema D'souza
Truly amazing very well written and the connection to Alaska 1,2 &3 makes it interesting place. A guide to all who wants to travel these places. Keep it up…… Hope we get to read more about your travel.
RAJESH AJMERA
Beautiful description with the most enthralling experience in the last few days keeping the heart pumping with joy
definitely a journey of life to one end of the world bearing unspoilt nature and also the nature at its best depicting the
unprecedented beauty gifted by Almighty for the adventurous exploration of mankind utterly different from this
busy hustling- bustling life of the city
great description and hooking write-up
Rhia
Magestic is only a word but the Norris Glacier location is awesome … too beautiful
keith
Wow … superb article