By: Cody Thomas, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
Alaska cruises really are unlike any other. Take everything you think you know about cruise vacations and let’s just toss it out the window during our flight to Alaska. This is an adventure that needs a fresh start. Grab your rain boots, snow jacket, beanie, and binoculars and let’s dive into all the fun we had on day 1 of my Alaskan Cruise on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas.
Our morning started off very early. We flew into Anchorage, Alaska last night and fell asleep with the sun still up at 10pm. This morning we woke up to a crisp chill as we made our way down to the Alaska Railroad train depot. After a bag drop and a quick check in process we were ready to board our train railcar. We opted for the GoldStar seating option. We highly recommend this as you will receive a nice warm breakfast and get top glass view seating. It made for a wonderful way to embrace Alaska’s beauty. As we journeyed towards Seward, Ak we got to see so many wonderful sights. Bald eagles, sheep on the side of a mountain, a moose in a field, glaciers, lakes, rivers, and icebergs galore! It felt like we stepped back into an old gold mining story and we were venturing through new territory. The train has a place towards the back of the railcar where you can step out into the Alaskan air and really take in the sights and sounds. We recommend bringing your beanie, jacket, and gloves for that experience. It can be quite chilly with the wind blowing past you. All-in-all this was a must do if you fly through Anchorage for your Alaskan cruise.
Now many of you may know what it is like to board a Bahamian cruise. In Alaska you don’t see those cute sundresses, large beach hats, and the ocean just beyond the shore. Everyone in Alaska is bundled up warm and there are large mountains surrounding the port. It’s a view that you just can’t find anywhere else. It’s also very peaceful and quiet. Boarding is a breeze and it’s the coldest welcome party you will find on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
With the music pumping we were ready to get a little something in our tummies. We headed up to everyone’s favorite buffet, the Windjammer. They had a nice selection of options and even had chicken noodle soup to help warm our bones. Of course we grabbed a seat by the window and enjoyed watching the variety of travelers as they settled into their new home for the week.
Immediately following lunch we took a little walk around the ship. Radiance of the Seas is designed with viewing in mind. Almost everywhere you go has a glass window so you don’t miss one second of this unbelievable scenery. This ship caters to Alaska cruising and even the pool is covered and sheltered from that brisk weather. The crew onboard are very friendly and we had a lot of fun getting some silly photos of them.
Following our adventures around the ship, we checked our safety videos on the Royal Caribbean app and headed to our Muster Station for the mandatory check-in. Following the muster we headed back to our Oceanview Stateroom to settle in a little bit and learn more about each other. It can be so fun traveling with a new buddy and getting some real quality time together.
Dinner was a delight. We were set up with the early dining at 5:15 pm in the Cascades main dining room. We enjoyed our meals of french onion soup, crab cakes, prime rib, shrimp, and creme brûlée. Our favorite part of dinner was meeting the two women who were seated next to us and had never been on a cruise before. They were sister-in-laws from Michigan and wanted to try the escargot. As good friendly cruisers, we of course encouraged them to order it and a few other items that looked appealing. One of the things that we love about cruising is that there are plenty of opportunities to try new things. The two women both tried the new dish and both enjoyed it to their surprise. What fun!
Our evening came to a close as we set sail into the glacial adventures of tomorrow.
Ready to book your next vacation? Please reach out to Marvelous Mouse Travels for more information or for a quote!
