Checklist
Arrival: scheduled at 2:30pm AKDT, actual 1:08pm AKDT
Departure: scheduled at 11:00 (actual unknown, I plan to be asleep).
Even though the thermometer read 57-60 degrees, it was a pretty raw day in Juneau today. We’d originally planned to stay aboard, but after I had a massage to loosen up my tight neck, we decided to go ashore. The rain had stopped for a while.
Let’s back up to earlier in the day and take it in order, though. It wasn’t long after I came up to the Observation Lounge after breakfast that the boat bringing the harbor pilot for the Juneau arrival came out to drop off the pilot.
I stayed resident in the Observation Lounge reading and hassling with the Internet for the whole morning. I was joined for a while by Roxan, who got started on the crochet blanket project she brought for the cruise, and a couple of people from the Facebook roll call group.
Breakfast today was my first exposure to the Garden Cafe aboard Encore. I’ll get some phontos and do a full review of the breakfast buffet Thursday or Friday — won’t be eating breakfast aboard tomorrow morning due to a food-related excursion planned at Icy Strait Point. I will probably do breakfast buffet in the Obeservation Lounge Thursday, when I plan to sit and listen to the ranger presentaiton as we enter Glacier Bay. I hope to be able to setup my camera on our baclony for the passess near the glaciers.
As I mentioned earlier, grey was the theme for today, with mist, rain, low couds and fog prevalent. I think our best ceillings all day were about 300-500 feet. Here’s 9am, when we got the first decent glimpses of land:
Just before noon
Rain was falling as we arrived at Juneau and I went for my massage. Photo here is from the pool deck, port side.
I was a little disappointed in the spa experience. Even with the shore day discount, adding taxes back in pushed the total above $250.00 for what I would call a “froo-froo” massage, at least at the time. It was supposed to be 75-minute deep tissue. I did get a little relief from the sore, tight neck, and am glad I did it, but I don’t think the value was there for the price.
Mandara Spa on Encore is also a bit less “spa-ike” than we experieenced on Sun or Jewel. It was more, I don’t know, clincial I guess. It’s not ok to take photos in the spa, so the only example I can show is the lobby:
The rain had stopped when I was done, and we decided on a whim to go ahead and go ashore and do some shopping/eating.
Afternoon/Evening Meal: Tracy’s Crab Shack
Right on the dock, Tracys’ is convenient and has a good reputation. I think it’s an earned reputaiton. I had the crab bowl, which is about 6oz of crab, rice and coleslaw for $28.
I spoke with the cachier, who said the season ended up being pretty good…though I coud tell from her voice she wasn’t competely sure how it rated against things pre-COVID. But she had an interesting comment: “I don’t understand why they’re still running ships, the weather is horrible.” And as anyone from these parts will tell you, this is normal weather for time of year.
We came back afterward and relaxed in the room, then went for some great chocolate gelato at Coco on desk 6 (midship, across from Social).
I had a scoop of white chocolate raspberry gelato with choocolate shavings. Roxan had milk chocolate with Oreos. I thought $10 was a fair price for this…which is not included in any of the dining plans to my knowledge.
Tomorrow, Icy Strait Point. For tonight: a close-up of our cabin as seen from the dock in Juneau. We’re the second balcony on the first deck of balcony rooms, two rooms back from the curved edge of the bow.
and then