Blog 784 Days 35 and 36, At Sea, en route for, and cruising by the Glacier Bay National Park, a “maiden” for Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. Steps, 4/6/22 1,080,328. 5/6/22. 1,089,808.

Written 6th June, 2022, started at 10 52 hrs GMT – 8, i.e. 9 hours behind U.K. British Summer Time.

Today (6th June) we are about one hour away from our maiden destination of Glacier Bay. Like yesterday, Day 35, the morning is grey, wet and misty. Yesterday, there was little to see; today spectacular forested hills and distant islands while discernable, are tantalisingly obscured by mist and drizzle. But this creates another atmospheric beauty, difficult for me to photograph well.

These are two pictures taken moments ago from my drenched balcony. 10.06 hrs, around 1 hrs 54 minutes away from the entrance to Glacier Bay.

Yesterday, there was little to see as we steamed at over 20 knots towards Glacier Bay, where we shall arrive shortly. This morning, the clocks went back a further hour, giving us just that little bit of extra time today.

At last, yesterday, Cunard managed a superb event in almost belated honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. This took the form of a splendid Afternoon Tea complete with wonderful displays and an ice carving in the middle of the ballroom, on the Queens Room dance floor. Musicians from the Queens Room Orchestra with Irish crooner performed a set of well known songs of an earlier era, i.e. the 1930s. It was necessary to take your seats early to be sure of securing a place at this unique celebration. The personnel involved all worked tirelessly to ensure a wonderful event and great sense of occasion. I do feel, however, they might have been let down by higher management who appeared not to have grasped the historic significance of the Platinum Jubilee. There were bits in various on board publications, and all those on the front line did pull out all the stops available to them. However, there was no playing of God Save the Queen, not even during the church service which took place not only on Whit Sunday, but also on the final day of said Platinum Jubilee Celebrations. Many opportunities were missed on this occasion. But, Afternoon Tea was magnificent and just for that day only, I suspended my moratorium on trifle and a couple of other delicious offerings, and, of course, having to be careful. Thankfully, there was little regret afterwards. And dinner, the penultimate Gala evening of this long cruise, was extremely pleasant as the same two, me and Lesley, represented what was once a table for six!

That was yesterday. I also attended Harry’s Port Lecture on Haines and Juno. Today, he, described the ports of Sitka and Ketchican, and I have gleaned some idea of how I might like to spend time at these places. I am still intent on maintaining my walking, even ‘though I passed the Million Steps Challenge on May 28th, while at sea between Manzanillo and Los Angeles. Ye Gods! That feels an age ago, now!

Now to explore the drizzle drenched open decks; the entrance to Glacier Bay is just 23 minutes away…and it’s still grey, wet and miserable (sorry, atmospheric!)

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Southeastern Alaska covers an area of unspoiled wilderness, 5,129 square miles, and includes Glacier Bay itself, the northern, southern and western slopes of Mount Fairweather and the U.S. portion of the Alsek River.

The lacklustre wet and misty weather gave me the opportunity to pick up the paperwork to enable transfer of my suitcase from this ship, Queen Elizabeth, to Queen Mary 2. With luck, I can then travel light around the United States 🇺🇸. Actually, the date of final disembarkation is only just over a week away. I really will be on my own when I take the bus from Vancouver to Seattle.

Right now, it’s 13.24 hrs and although we seem to be almost at a standstill, the Navigational Channel indicates we are steaming at 17.6 knots.

I spent around half am hour in my cabin, thankful for the extravagance of a balcony in this haunting area of the Pacific North West. There is opportunity to now walk around the Promenade and Upper Decks.

18.53 hrs

What an incredible day. What an incredible voyage. Although we did not disembark the ship, the journey into Glacier Bay was a destination in itself. As you will see from the photographs, stunning rocks, cliffs and islands were the backdrop for just about the entire day. Had there been less mist and cloud, I’m sure much more would have been visible. But, the rain, patchy mist and low cloud made for its own unique magnificence. I would like to think that I might just come again!

At around noon, we arrived at the entrance to Glacier Bay, where National Park Rangers boarded at Bartlett Cove. A description of the journey firstly to Margerie Glacier was broadcast over the ship’s P.A. system. I took numerous photographs, and only the time (less one hour) may help identify the location photographed. Although I made use of my balcony, I did go to most parts of the ship, either just to watch, or take plenteous pictures. While the Daily Programme lists only two glaciers, Margaret and Lamplugh, I had the Grand Pacific Glacier pointed out to me. This is hard to discern as the Glacier itself is under fallen rock and other debris, concealing the ice flow beneath. Also, the Reid Glacier was pointed out very shortly after we had “visited” the Lamplugh Glacier, where as at Margerie, the ship was turned 360° so as to enable a view from all parts of the ship.

It is now 11.40 pm, and it has only just gone dark, as we steam towards the maiden port of call at Haines. My plan is to explore the town and take the ferry to Skagway and have another look at the railway depot.

Many thanks for reading. David, somewhere on Main Street, Haines, Alaska, 11.20 the following morning.