The fjord is about 30 miles long and we are scheduled to board the catamaran at 10:45AM for our close encounter with Dawes Glacier. We head to breakfast in the restaurant. On this cruise there are a number of people that like to be served breakfast in a quite, elegant way. So far the port side window section is mostly filled every morning with between 40 and 70 people. Carolyn broke from our normal routine of Eggs Benedict today and had poached eggs and grits instead. The eggs have been perfectly runny and the bacon crisp every morning, well, except Monday. We were sitting next to a Cruise Critic member and were talking abut liking crisp bacon and the plates came out with limp bacon on them. Our waiter notices and immediately returns with plates of crisp bacon before either of us can ask! Now that is Seabourn!
We head back to the room and gather cameras, coats, hats and gloves just in case it is cold and head down to the club to meet the Allen Marine catamaran. It has been following us this morning. They get the kayaks going and then we board. The boat will hold 150, but Seabourn said they would not put more than 110 people. Not sure there are that many today. There is plenty of room on the three decks. The lowest deck is indoor seating only with a snack bar. The second deck has both indoor seating and an outside deck and the third deck is outside only. They have crab bisque, sweet rolls and small sandwiches with an open bar all during the trip.
There is heavy ice close to the glacier with some beautiful large icebergs. The ship stops about two miles from the glacier face and the catamaran takes us to about a quarter of a mile off the face. The glacier is actively caving today with lots of little splashes and two really nice shows. We really luck out with the weather.
It is misty and overcast most of the way to the face, but once we arrived, the clouds lift and the sky lightens up and the sun and some blue appear. We spend most of the time in front of the glacier before exploring the side walls and looking for wildlife.
The kayakers were also up at the face with us and looked like they were having fun. We did get to see some harbor seals hauled out on an iceberg. The catamaran has an all women crew except for a male bartender.
We get back to the ship about 1:30PM. Carolyn gets some pizza for lunch and brings it back to the room, to enjoy it on the balcony. Dick works on the 1,000+ pictures we took today and then goes to the grill for a late lunch. He also enjoys some time in the hot tub on Deck 6 with three ladies as we sail. They are out there over an hour having a wonderful conversation watching the scenery go by.
We have an invitation to join the Assistant Cruise Director’s table tonight. It is another pleasant evening. There are seven of us, one couple from Chicago, one couple from Auckland, NZ and the Asst. Cruise Director, a young man from Scotland. The conversation topics are diverse and interesting and once again we are late leaving. There is a classical pianist playing in the Grand Salon, but as usual we are sleepy and head for bed.
Tomorrow we have some scenic cruising then a stop in Wrangell.
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