Our last visit to Yakutat Bay was looking very sad. Poor visibility and a moderate but limiting amount of ice. We traveled up to Point Latouche and sat there looking into the fog and ice. After more than an hour the decision was made to leave.

As we turned around and started back down the bay the clouds lifted. Like a curtain the fog lifted to reveal a crystal clear day! Those who had congregated at the back of the ship watched as the glacier was now brilliantly in view. Guests were calling to the reception desk asking if we could go back. Department heads trying to manage all the agitated guests also asked the same question, are we going back? Unbeknownst to most, we had used our allotted time for the day, for the visit. It was wasted by the bad weather; we needed to move on to make our next port.

As many, myself included, watched in envy as the Radiance of the Sea steamed toward the glacier to enjoy the sunny day all of a sudden we were turning around! Cruise Director Ray Solaire spotted me down the corridor and shouted,”we are going back!” I ran up to the bridge and grabbed the microphone to make the formal announcement that yes indeed we were going back!

What was going to be a sad start to our last cruise of the season turned out to be a euphoric celebration. The captain had made a heroic decision that not only saved the day but may have saved the cruise. Thank you Captain Armellino!

The following article by Harry Shattuck appeared in the Houston Chronicle.

“Carnival has become the latest cruise line to try out an all-you-can-drink package, with a trial run of its “My Awesome Bar Program,” on its Victory ship.

The world’s largest cruise company is offering passengers the option of purchasing unlimited access to wine, beer, spirits, as well as sodas and non-alcoholic frozen cocktails for $42.95 per person per day, plus an automatic 15 percent gratuity of $6.44, according to USATODAY.com. The package can be used to buy all wines and cocktails priced at $10 and lower. Full bottles of wine and champagne, as well as any glasses of wine over $10, are available for a 25 percent discount, the website reported.

To prevent two people in the same cabin from trying to share a package, the cruise line is requiring that anyone 21 years or older in the same berth to each purchase the option

The decision follows other cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Oceania, that offer similar types of unlimited beverage packages, according to cruisecritic.com.

Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen told cruisecritic.com that the trial has been ongoing since Victory’s Aug. 5 departure from Miami, Fla. He cited convenience and value as the reasons behind the move.

Whether the cruise line extends the package to its other 23 ships remains to be seen. Some online commenters questioned the move, saying it may encourage more drunkenness on cruises.

The cruise line sails the Carnival Triumph from its departure port in Galveston.”

It’s always like this in Alaska - isn’t it?

Well, like any classy lady, you never want it to be obvious that you have had some “work done.” Well, so it is with the Navigator.

The Seven Seas Navigator went into dry-dock in North Vancouver on June 12th and returned into service on June 30th. I have been on this ship since she first came out in 1999, and I have to say, when I returned I could not see what had been done. Before leaving I was told that everything was going to be new from carpeting to wall coverings, etc. So I was excited to see the make-over. Maybe I watch too much HGTV when I am home, because I was ready for this big dramatic “reveal”. Did not happen.

That is not to say that work was not done - it was. Most of the dry-dock experience was below decks. One of the biggest jobs was the removal of the old ballast which was replaced with a solid material. If you come onboard and see these silvery, black blobs on people’s desks that look like a something from a sci-fi film, these are the original pieces of ballast. Franck Galzy, General Manager, gifted all the department heads with their own little piece of the ship!

Like most of you, I was more concerned with the things above decks - new restaurants, cosmetic changes, etc. The most noticeable change is the expansion of Prime 7 and the conversion of La Verandah’s evening offering to what is being called, Sette Mari. Prime 7 looks the same but can now accommodate double the capacity. Sette Mari is an Italian themed restaurant where soup, specialty pastas, main course items and dessert are ordered from the menu. Upon being seated you are served a glass of sparkling Prosecco, a plate of antipasti and various appetizers. It has been so popular I have only been able to sneak in once in the last month.

As for the cosmetic changes, the big surprise is there are none! As promised the carpets were replaced and the wall coverings were refinished, etc. but all with exactly the same thing! As I said, you’d never know she had any work done! I have not seen for myself but I have been told the Master Suites were all redecorated and look great. So, that’s the story on dry-dock!

The cooperative feeding behavior known as bubble-netting is a once-in-a-lifetine thing to see. It doesn’t happen all the time; in fact, marine biologists say that the humpbacks participate in this kind of feeding only a few weeks in the year.

Exactly what is bubble-netting? As a baleen whale humpbacks are filter feeders, so to eat they scoop up thousands of gallons of water in their mouths and strain it through their baleen which acts as a sieve. Humpbacks only feed in the summer so they must eat a lot to bulk up for the rest of the year. When they come upon a school of small fish like herring, they will communicate with one another to surround the herring with a fine net of exhaled bubbles. The herring concentrate toward the center. The whales then, on cue, come up at once with their mouths open scooping up all the fish. They slip back down only to reset their bubble-net and do it again.

Last Saturday in Juneau I was lucky enough to go out on the Evening Whale Watch from Auke Bay where we saw a pod of 14 whales bubble-net feeding. Not only is this rare, seeing a pod of so many members working cooperatively is even more rare. So as they just started, if you are coming up in the next few weeks I would definitely book one of the whale watch programs in Juneau! Photo credit: Peggy Hutchings

At long last, my new website is operational. Please take a look. In addition to the new site and the increasing library of YouTube links to Terry’s Tips, soon you will also be able to buy digital copies of Cruiser Friendly Guides to Alaska, South America and Panama for eBooks and Kindle.

It is hard to do things long distance, but I hope what my colleague has done works and that you find it easy to use. Your feedback is much appreciated on every aspect.

www.cruiserfriendly.com

Starting May 12, the Seven Seas Navigator will be going into to dry-dock for extensive re-modeling. The ship will be out-of-service until May 30, at which time the regular 7-day Alaska cruises resume.

Though I do not have all the details I do know that preparations are being made for the following:

New Carpeting throughout.
New wall and window treatments in select areas.
Major face-lift for all the suites.
Improvements to the Seven Seas Show Lounge.
Enlargement of Prime 7.
Re-modeling of La Veranda including installation of new menu dinner service.
Remodeling of Pool deck including new decking.
New steam and sauna in Spa.

I can hardly wait to see how it all comes out. As soon as the ship is back in service I will take pictures for all to see.

For those of you who have missed sailing with Barry Hopkins on Regent, here is your chance. Some of you may have received this announcement from Barry. If not I am forwarding it;

“I was thrilled when Regent’s President & CEO Mark Conroy invited me to join them aboard the Seven Seas Mariner for a series of 20th Anniversary Cruises. I’ll be joining the ship on June 16th for the Presidents Cruise and will remain on board until July 27th 2012. In all, I will be on board for five consecutive Mediterranean cruises! After retiring as Cruise Director eighteen months ago, my role will be purely social, so we will have lots of opportunities to share fond memories.

The “Mariner” has always been very close to my heart especially as I was the original Cruise Director who took her out from the ship yard back in 2001. I’m thrilled that eleven years on, I will have the opportunity to reunite with her and meet up with so many of my old friends.

I’ve attached a link to Regents official web site and would be thrilled if you could join me for these special anniversary voyages.”

Upon disembarking the Seven Seas Mariner I was invited to stay an extra day in South Florida. The visit started off poorly as the driver that picked me up dropped me off at the wrong hotel necessitating taxi rides to several other similarly named hotels to finally find my reservation. Not to worry; the place was great located within the tree lined-streets of trendy new Brickell Village. Downtown Miami is a far cry from the place I avoided when I lived in Miami twenty years ago. It is a clean and vibrant urban oasis filled with cafes and bistros frequented by local residents and foreign travelers.

The next morning I headed for the Port to Miami; leaving Brickell Village I was impressed by the parade of health-conscious joggers and downtown dog-walkers. The Port of Miami is under going a major transformation. Though there were seven big ships in port, traffic flow has been streamlined to and from the terminals minimizing congestion. Nice to know as soon Regent will be calling Miami home as well!

I was to meet people on the Marina but as usual, I was early. I used the extra time to explore the ship. I had heard she was beautiful but nothing could have prepared me for the extent to which this ship has been appointed. Last summer I went aboard the Crystal Symphony which impressed me with its spaciousness and class - I could not take my eyes off the white carpeting! I loved the spaces dedicated to learning and study from language skills to music lessons. I thought that was the tops until this January I when I went aboard the Seabourn Soujourn; OMG. How could any ship better its elegance and seamless flow? The spa was like nothing I have ever seen at sea; I only wished I could have curled-up on one of the heated, ergonomic chairs in the relaxation room. Well, after all that along comes Marina and I am in love. What a majorly beautiful ship.

Upon entering the main Atrium you are bedazzled by the magnificent pieces of Lalique crystal that adorn the grand staircase. The necessary offices you would expect to find in the atrium like Reception and Destinations are tucked away unobtrusively giving the impression you are in the gallery of a sumptuous private home. Friends gave me pointers on the things I had to see so I ran about the ship from deck to deck peeking into every possible room. I am not a cruise critic but I have seen my share of ships and this one is truly divine. Here are just some of the high points:

Red Ginger Restaurant

“Red Ginger makes an immediate and powerful statement with its decorative centerpiece: three fabulous, multi-colored Buddha heads, each carved from a single piece of glass and brightly lit from within. Then, with a nod to feng shui, the room unfolds in perfect harmony, the mood a study in tranquility. The décor simply radiates with ebony woods, bronze and hand blown glass light fixtures and eclectic, modern Asian artwork.

To complement the stunning interior, Red Ginger’s chefs have created a striking menu, noted for its contemporary interpretations of Asian classics. You might begin with a Salad of Roast Duck and Watermelon with Cashews, Mint and Thai Basil. Savor a Nutty Braised Beef Malay Curry with Coconut Rice and Paratha Roti. Or Asian-spiced Rack Of Lamb with Kohl Robi, Cream Spinach and Truffle Oil. For dessert, Green Tea Banana Cake with Toffee and Hazelnut Sauce Served with Coconut Ice Cream is the perfect ending. In Red Ginger, the gustatory pleasures are as striking as the visual ones.”

Jacques
“Enter Jacques, the eminent Jacques Pépin’s first restaurant to bear his name on land or sea, and you will be instantly struck by the sensory pleasures. Luscious aromas waft from the gleaming glass and brass show rotisserie in the room’s heart, where duck, pork, chicken and veal roasts slowly turn, sealing in their succulent flavors. Handsomely decorated with rich fabrics, heirloom antiques, pickled wood furnishings and art from Jacques’ personal collection, it resembles a classic Parisian bistro. Exceedingly comfortable and clubby, the ambiance is pure French, as is the cosmopolitan yet wonderfully approachable cuisine.

Chef Pépin has taken the classics, deconstructed them, and then ingeniously re-created each remarkable dish. This is Coq Au Vin beyond the imagination, as you have never tasted it before. Rotisserie-roasted chicken falls off the bone, bursting with flavor. His Steak Frites pairs the succulence of prime beef with the crisp sweetness of pommes de terre. At Jacques, simple classic French cuisine becomes incredibly elegant and, of course, absolutely magnifique.”

Privée

“Privée stands alone as Oceania Cruises’ most indulgent, one-of-a-kind dining experience. Even superlatives pale when describing Marina’s ultimate venue, which you may reserve solely for exclusive parties of as many as ten privileged guests. Opulently decorated with Ferrari Red carpeting, oversized white baby crocodile throne chairs, ornate Baroque millwork, and flanked by backlit onyx-clad walls, the setting for Privée is absolutely exquisite. A custom-made oval table, illuminated by a white Venini glass chandelier, lies at its heart, accentuating the culinary magic that awaits you.

Guests will be able to enjoy a menu selected from Polo Grill, Toscana or a combination of both. Each guest can select their own menu. Within the sanctum of Privée, dining engages all the senses, leaving you and your guests immensely fulfilled. This dining extravaganza can be reserved for $250 per evening for a party of up to 10 guests.”

La Reserve
“La Reserve by Wine Spectator may be the most inspired wine pairing ever. It’s the brilliant union of La Reserve, Marina’s exclusive domain for bons vivants, with Wine Spectator, the foremost magazine for wine connoisseurs. The resulting La Reserve by Wine Spectator is an industry-first onboard wine-tasting center that offers gourmands the opportunity to enjoy a series of seminars and tastings that will enhance your appreciation of fine wine and perfectly paired cuisine.

During the day, you might sample a flight of regional wines that the head sommelier has hand-selected from Marina’s wine cellar. Evenings are a more exclusive affair - for a maximum of 24 guests - allowing for an intimate, epicurean experience. You will be treated to a seven-course gourmet dinner, where each course is delightfully paired with an appropriate premium wine.

For sailings prior to January 1, 2012:
La Reserve dinners are $75 per guest plus 18% gratuity.

For sailings beginning January 1, 2012:
La Reserve dinners are $95 per guest plus 18% gratuity.”

Canyon Ranch Spa - Thermal Environments, Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Healing Energy, Tanning, Massage, Skin care….

For those of you who enjoy cruising on ships under the banners of Carnival Corporation or Royal Caribbean International here’s some good news. If you own at least 100 shares of Carnival (CCL) or Royal Caribbean (RCL) stock you are eligible for up to $250 in shipboard credit!

As a stock holder of CCL you can use your shipboard credit on any of the Carnival Corporation ships including The Yachts of Seabourn, Cunard, Princess, P&O, Holland-America, Costa, Aida, Ibero, and Carnival Cruises. An onboard credit of $250 USD per stateroom is extended on sailings of 14 days or longer. For sailings of 7 to 13 days the credit is $100 USD. For sailings of less than  6 days the shipboard credit is $50 USD.

Applications to receive this benefit must be made before departure. The benefit is available to holders of a a minimum of 100 shares and is not available to Carnival Corporation employees, travel agents, tour conductors or anyone else traveling on a reduced fare basis.For more information contact: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=140690&p=irol-sharebenefit
Stockholders of Royal Caribbean International stock are eligible for an identical offer. The onboard credit can be used on Royal Caribbean, Azamara, and Celebrity Cruises.

For more information contact RCL:http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-shareholderbenefit