Alaskan Cruise’26 Days First Days
Day 2
8:30 AM
Doing my standard walk about, my legs have told me to avoid going upstairs at all costs. I’m thinking this is a result of 17k steps from yesterday: the majority while carrying my carry-ons and backpack. And eventually Wendi’s backpack as well. Those suckers got mighty heavy. They eventually became “drag-ons” but we survived.
Anyway, just doing a scan of my 2019 Cruise Write Up, so far on this trip, we have become slightly more savvy cruisers.
-Magnetic hooks. The walls in this small cabin may not look it but are actually metal. So, bringing along 8 or 10 strong magnetic hooks gives us instant storage. Same with the shoe organizer hanging by the door.
Unlike 2019, I now have plenty of convenient places for my coat, hoodie, USCG ball cap, and ukulele. (I read Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prohibited Items list very carefully and as long as my uke doesn’t heat up, explode, or get me stoned, it’s fine.
-Last night, we went to a preview of all the shows we could see on this trip. We’ve already got one, maybe two on our schedule. Last time, we managed Bingo. And got a shirt. So, that won’t change much.
-Dude Wipes: Winter Mint style. We all know what lifesaver these little boys can be in the right sticky situation, boys?
To clean your hands before and after dinner. You boneheads.
-The space age collapsible coat hangers were a bit of a bust. Yes, they fold up to the size of your palm but we have all these magnetic hooks, you see.
-Plenty of clothes! Okay, bringing ONE non-Black or Grey t-shirt would have been nice. And perhaps a less holy pair of jeans.
But it’s Alaska, am I right, folks?!?
-Finally, the ship seems a lot wavier this time around. Same ship. Weather’s similar, if a tad colder. Our cabin is on the port side this time but still amidship and about the same deck. So either my balance has gone to shit in the last 7 years or the Norwegian Joy is caught is some sort of freakish current.
Enough commentary.
Day 2 Continued
As is my curse; up too early. Since my wife doesn’t suffer this affliction, I decided to go on a walk about. Weight room, light breakfast, more exploring and back to the cabin to pick up Wendi. Another trip to the buffet: let’s call this one brunch. Some shopping. It being a large ship, we used the top screen map our path.
Editor’s Note: Mansplagony (n) The deep anguish: on average 1.25 seconds, that a husband feels when he has the solution yet knows he. must. not. say. which. button.
Then a couple of hours at the spa where everything was heated, steamed or frozen (on purpose but not all at once). The spa was right at the stern and where the swaying was most noticeable. Practically rocked me to sleep but then an extremely rare cruiser feeling hit me; hunger.
Off to the very entertaining but very very loud restaurant. The restaurant: Teppanyaki, was similar to Benihana (?). Everyone sits around the cooking surface watching the food being prepared The food was good but holy smokes, it was loud. Our cook (chef?) and the other cook (performance artist?) right behind him were singing non-stop while using their spatulas to keep the beat.
Can’t fault them for their amazing showmanship and cooking skills. The food was great but sensory overload.
After that, we returned to the cabin to treasure the silence and then treasure the sleep.