After wrapping up our extensive European travels across Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK this spring and summer, my wife and I made a brief pitstop back home in Florida before heading to the Pacific Northwest. We spent a fantastic, slow-paced week enjoying Vancouver, Canada, before simply walking a few blocks over to Canada Place to embark on our next adventure: a back-to-back Northbound and Southbound Alaskan sailing on Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas.
We are currently wrapping up the Northbound leg of the journey, slowly making our way toward Seward, Alaska, before we turn right around and head Southbound next week. The trip has been wonderful so far, offering a great balance of exploration and relaxation.
Trekking Through Icy Strait Point
One of our favorite aspects of this itinerary has been the accessibility of the beautiful Alaskan wilderness right off the ship. In Icy Strait Point, we bypassed the paid excursions and opted for a self-paced day. We enjoyed a scenic walk of several miles from the cruise ship dock, winding our way through the woods and along the bay to reach the nearby town of Hoonah.
Along the way, we spent some time exploring the historic cannery, which offers a great glimpse into the area's past. While we skipped the paid gondola rides up the mountain, we did take advantage of the Green Gondola. It operates between the cruise ship dock and the other side of the facility, and best of all, it's completely free to ride.
While we enjoyed exploring on foot, we spoke to several fellow passengers who booked a whale-watching excursion. They had an amazing time, reporting numerous whale sightings alongside a variety of other wildlife, and found the excursion entirely worthwhile.
Totems and Salmon Runs in Sitka
Sitka offered another fantastic day of exploring on our own terms. We hopped on the free shuttle bus from the cruise terminal, which dropped us right into the heart of downtown. The town center is incredibly scenic, featuring a beautiful harbor and marina.
From downtown, it's just a short walk over to the Sitka National Historical Park. This park is an absolute must-do. The nature trails are lined with awesome, towering totem poles and wrap beautifully along the bay. As we followed the trail up alongside a small river, we were thrilled to find an active salmon run.
Solarium Relaxation and Glacier Views
By the time we reached Skagway, the miles we'd walked over the previous days had caught up with us. Embracing a slower travel pace, we decided to have a lazy day and stayed on board. We took full advantage of the ship's amenities, spending our time enjoying the hot tubs and soaking in the incredible views from the Solarium.
Today brought us to the Hubbard Glacier, and the views absolutely delivered. We opted out of the crowded top decks, choosing instead to drink some coffee in our stateroom and watch the ice from the comfort of our balcony. The ship was slowly spun in place several times near the glacier, ensuring that everyone on board had a spectacular vantage point regardless of their cabin location. The pictures don't do this place justice. I would highly recommend a visit here.
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The Bottom Line
As we approach Seward to terminate this first leg, the true luxury of a back-to-back cruise is setting in. Because we booked the exact same stateroom for both directions, there is absolutely no need to pack up our belongings. For anyone who loves the idea of unpacking once for an extended stay, stacking two one-way cruises is an incredible way to travel. We're looking forward to resting up and enjoying the journey all over again on the way back down to Vancouver!