Today the ship is anchored just off the community of Sitka. Once ashore we're right in town. It's a gorgeous coastal community in the foreground with mountains as a backdrop. Small community but packed with gift shops, artisans, restaurants, a museum, fish hatchery, coastal totem pole park. The sun even came out for a bit to welcome us! The restaurants all feature seafood but the prices are high! Best halibut I've had in a long time though! Lots of Russian influence here - just like the other communities we've visited.

Today all of the around the world passengers posed on the pool deck for a group photo - photo promised to be provided to us before the end of the trip.  Sadly our visit to the Hubbard Glacier was pretty much a now go - the weather conspired against us and between the fo, low cloud ceiling and the ber bits and growlers we never got closer than 7 km away. Couple of cruiseships here too - including the Norwegian Jewel which we seem to be following. We did see the sun for a few minutes today though!! The internet continues to be an issue - trying to get our videos uploaded over the next few days - tomorrow Sitka, Alaska!

Dubai

Today was another foggy day with some light rain. The ship was docked beside a Norwegian Cruise line ship that was huge compared to us. Poor/lucky Seward depending on your point of view - two big cruise ships arrive in this community of 2700. Additionally, there were RV's and campers everywhere. Apparently this is a popular camping area and lots of folks were in town for the Fourth of July weekend. 
The community has one main street, Fourth Street, filled with small shops and restaurants. It also boasts a lovely boardward and waterside path the full length of the town. At the far end of town is a marine rescue centre with all sorts of rescued marine life, seals, birds as well as aquariums. Despite the rain it was a great place to walk and have some lunch. 
It's funny how sometimes you see things that just make so much sense - Seward using it's green and black carts as the rest of the world but they put them around town as their waste receptacles - so they can be picked up directly without having to be emptied of use plastic bags -pretty smart.

Sao Tome & Principe

Walvis Bay, Namibia

Dubai, UAE

Falkland islands - Day 38

Punta del Este - Day 41

Buenos Aires

Sao Tome & Principe

The ship cancelled our stop in Kodiak today due to weather!  The crew and officers put on a Country Fair style games hour this morning - something different to pass the time during a sea day. It was truly inspirational to see what they came up with for games, with each department creating something unique. The housekeeping department held a pillowcase contest - this was the noisiest group as passengers competed husbands against wives or against their cabin stewards! The boutique offered a version of a shell game (no picture) and the bar crew offered 4 different ways to win. Get the ring around the wine bottle, get the ring around a Corona bottle, get the cork in the bucket, and identify the smell from the wine tasting smell kit! 
One of the most challenging games came from the spa department - you had to paint one of the staffs fingernails blindfolded. In the casiner you had to beat the house - high or low, your choice each with two cards. Destinations team had a name that flag event, the chefs had a name that spice booth, for the deck crew you had to tie a knot - could be any knot on their board, the dining room you had to catch an aluminum foil ball tossed by one of the stewards. One of the coolest and easily replicated at home was the human slot machine from the entertainment crew. One crew member played the arm, the passenger pushed down his arm to "start" the machine. Three others were seated each with a bag containing various items, they all wiggles in their chairs and then each pulled out an item and held it high - if they all the items were the same you won! Lots of fun - everyone got tickets for participating, more if you won and there were lots of draws at the end.​

Wild sea and Canada Day onboard. Five meter plus waves meant that many of todays activities were changes or rescheduled.  Lots of "motion on the ocean" but that didn't stop 30+ Canadians getting together for cocktails. Sadly it did keep us away from the ships official Canada Day event at 9:30 pm. Dinner just didn't sit that well with me. The bad weather and swells also means we're not stopping in Kodiak, Alaska tomorrow, another sea day instead. Here's hoping all of our friends and family had a great Canada and a wonderful weekend.

Finally, a day in port! It's been a long five days at sea. The weather continues to be cool overcast and lightly raining but so happy to be able to go for a walk on land. Today's been a day for wildlife, whales, sea otters, bald eagles, and foxes. The community is small just 4,000 people and landscape is rugged with wonderful shades of green. So excited to see the lupins! Even in the fog and drizzle it's beautiful. As a major fishing port - think Deadliest Catch - the harbour is full of fishing boats and fishing supply stores. Wonderful walk followed by lunch at the Norwegian Rat Saloon - funny just about everyone we know on the ship was in the pub too!! Fabulous halibut and chips and a local craft amber ale - $37 US!