The Sea Princess
Alaska, a destination that is not widely seen as a popular summer travel destination, is where I spent my summer vacation. My family took the Sea Princess with an itinerary of 7 sea days and 3 different ports of call: Ketchikan, Juneau, and Haines.
San Francisco
Once we checked in I saw that the interior of the ship was beautiful, fully equipped with gold furnishings and intricate designs. After attending an emergency lecture, we departed from San Francisco, sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge; it truly was a spectacular sight.
Ketchikan, Alaska
On the fourth day of my cruise, we reached Ketchikan, Alaska, a small town being only 3 miles wide and 5 miles long. My family and I joined a tour that took us to hike a part of the Tongass National Forest and a Native American museum. The sounds of wildlife and water trickling down were charmingly peaceful. After our hike, we went to a museum of Native American history. I found the museum to be interesting; I learned a lot about Alaska in my A.P U.S History class. After the museum, we traveled back to the town where we sampled salmon.
Whale Watching
That night, we sailed through a fjord known for whale activity. At first, I was uninterested and unimpressed. Then someone shouted that they spotted a whale and I was able to catch the tail dive back into the ocean. I have never seen a whale in real life, only in photos. For the next two hours, I stood there with my binoculars excitedly and patiently searching for whales.
Juneau, Alaska
The next day we were docked in Juneau, Alaska. There, we took a tram up to Mt. Juneau and saw breathtaking bird’s eye views of the city of Juneau. After the tram ride, we had lunch in a restaurant situated in the beautiful outdoors. Something about his lunch made it memorable; the food was decent, but the tranquility and beauty truly made this meal unforgettable.
Haines, Alaska
Our third port of call was Haines, a suburb, situated between snow-covered mountains. There, we took a wildlife tour that took us to another part of the Tongass National Forest. We were able to see eagles, an eagle nest, and bear tracks. Walking through the forest seemed surreal to me; the tranquility and beauty were things I would sorely miss when I returned back to the city. After the hike, my family and I took a ferry ride to Skagway, Alaska. The ferry took us through the Misty Fjord. Throughout the ride, I was able to see beautiful glacier formation, waterfalls, snow-covered mountains, and rocks.
Tracy Arm
After sailing away from Haines, we were headed towards Tracy Arm, a large and majestic fjord and glacier. That morning, I woke up bright and early to view this grand fjord. Standing on the bow of the ship, I was able to view waterfalls, glaciers, and mini icebergs. The fresh pine-green colors of the various trees beautifully contrasted the blue-green color from the water.
Reflection
When I was first informed that I was going to Alaska, I was neither excited nor enthusiastic. I thought that Alaska would be uneventful and unexciting. Now that I have returned from my trip, I realized that Alaska was the perfect vacation destination; I felt foolish thinking that Alaska would be boring. I enjoyed the serenity, freshness, and quietness that the city could not offer.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
