A highlight of any cruise is the time you spend ashore. Here is how I rolled, plus a few tips for your journey.
Part 2 of ?
The first task after booking your cruise is planning your shore days. Virgin Voyages has all the options curated for you and available to book on their site. You can choose from many types of shore excursions. You'll find cultural tours, high-energy activities like hiking and kayaking, plenty of chances to see wildlife, and more.
We were stopping in three locations: Ketchikan, Sitka, and Prince Rupert. In Endicott Arm Fjord, there is also an option for a small-boat adventure that gets you closer to Dawes Glacier.
I chose to allocate my shore excursion budget to one shore thing. A little research reassured me I could have plenty of self-guided fun at the other ports. This plan also ensured I had at least one peak 🗻 experience ashore, not three average ones.
Ketchikan, the Main Attraction
Ketchikan was my big shore excursion. I chose a 5-hour chartered boat tour of the Misty Fjords National Monument.
This area is a National Monument for a reason. The draw was the sheer cliff faces thousands of feet high.
We're normalizing the term mountain bathing here. Seeing inconceivably large objects brings about a mindful state. Your brain empties as it tries to comprehend what you are in the presence of. You are reminded of how small you are in the world, and are at peace because of it.
Another awe-inspiring sight was New Eddystone Rock. A 237-foot-tall, spire-shaped volcanic plug with trees rooted on and around it, standing on the edge of a small, oblong, otherwise flat island in the middle of Behm Canal.
The Melinda Leigh is a great boat, and the crew was fantastic. It has two stories with comfortable indoor seating, tables, and outdoor decks. Overall, it was a great experience. Thank you! The boat pulled into Ketchikan with a few hours to spare. Plenty of time to check out the salmon ladder and get souvenirs before boarding the Brilliant Lady.
It was the experience I was hoping for 💯
Sitka Alaska, by Foot
Second stop, Sitka. The largest city by land area in the US and former capital of Russian America.
The tentative plan here was self-guided hiking. The Sitka National Historical Park is next to downtown and has miles of trails. The city itself is a short bus ride from the port. On my ride in, the driver pointed out a local cannabis store, and I recalculated my plan.
After visiting The Joint for a pre-roll, I headed to find a discreet place to spark up. While it's legal in Alaska, you can't smoke it publicly. I found some green space on Google Maps and made my way there.
Signs in the park spoke to the history of Russian occupation of the area and conflict with the native Tlingit. A replica tower crowned the hill, half-hiding the surface of a large rock behind it. It looked like a good place to chill.
Apparently I wasn't the only one who thought it a good idea. Someone was already there, enjoying some smoke. We greeted each other and talked as we got stoned. He was from the area and about to go for a hike. He offered to take me out on the trails. Suddenly things were looking up. I was getting a free personal tour.
We took a local trail system that leads into Sitka National Historical Park, then back into town. The trails were wide and well-maintained gravel. Lots of locals were on the trail enjoying the beautiful weather.
Early on, he pointed out some bear scat. Thankfully, it's the only sign we saw of a bear. The park is monitored, and signs show whether there have been any bear sightings. Safety was something I questioned going in. By then, I had zero concern.
Along the way, my guide pointed out native berries for me to try and shared plants that were used as tea. We crossed a bridge high above a stream crowded with salmon weaving around each other and upstream. Colorful and historic totem poles decorated the park and museum.
I'm grateful I had a guide. It was nice to have the comfort and the company. The way everything worked out, this stop was every bit as memorable as my experience at Misty Fjords.
O Canada
Prince Rupert was our final stop and my first time on land outside of the US. I'd been to Canada before, but only in a houseboat, on a lake; I never made landfall. Being from Wisconsin, the vibe was somewhat similar. Largely meaning energy and a similar accent. They even have a neighborhood named Cow Bay.
Today's plan was to take it easy. We were on the tail end of the journey. I was looking to get back early to relax and enjoy the ship.
Like Sitka, I enjoyed a pre-roll before walking around town. There was a nice trail along the water, plus plenty of touristy and towny places. The Sunken Gardens are a must-see attraction. Thanks to the master gardeners of Prince Rupert for the display!
In Review
Three ports taught me three things.
- Research every port before deciding. Planning across sites allows you to make the most of the options.
- Book one epic excursion. Ensure a peak experience on every vacation.
- Be ready to say yes. Calculated risk is the fee for most great experiences, like I had in Sitka.
