Seafaring in the Gulf of Alaska

Our cruise leg of the trip began on the evening of June 4th; we continued cruising at sea on the days of June 5th and 6th. Our views were truly breathtaking.
Prior to this trip, my husband and I had no experience with cruising. We were a little bit apprehensive about seasickness, so we brought Dramamine with us and used it as a preventative. We went to sleep while sailing and we awoke sailing without any trouble, so we were relieved. We spent part of the first full day on ship exploring our new surroundings. Even though the MS Zaandam is a mid-size ship with a capacity of 1,432 passengers, it still seemed fairly grand to us.
Before we left our stateroom, we studied the map of the interior and then consulted the maps on the walls near the elevators. Even with the maps, we found it a bit difficult at first to navigate the ship. Amenities on this ship included spa and swimming facilities, a movie theater, a casino, a library, a Starbucks coffee bar, several alcohol bars, and several dining options. We visited the library and Starbucks coffee bar several times and tried all of the dining choices. Our favorite was the Rotterdam Dining Room which had expansive windows with magnificent views of the ocean. Most of our meals at the Rotterdam were shared with passengers who happened to arrive at the hostess desk the same time we did. This gave us an opportunity to meet a variety of interesting people from many parts of the country. At lunch one day we met a young couple from Ames, Iowa who were cruising with the husband's huge extended family. She works with pigs as a veterinarian assistant at Iowa State University. He told us he spends his days in a lab spinning cows' blood. At this same lunch we visited with an older couple of Japanese ethnicity from California who work in college administration. We also met folks from Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. One couple we met was from New England, but the husband had been born of German parents who were missionaries in Argentina. The Pinnacle Grille was an elegant restaurant that offered wonderful menu choices and five-star service. Our maître de was the picture of European panache who made the experience very pleasant. For this restaurant, as well as for the Cannaleto where we tried Italian tapas dining one evening, reservations were required, but the Rotterdam permitted us to drop in at our convenience. We dressed for the occasion when we dined at the Pinnacle Grille.



We also ate on the Lido deck on several breakfast and lunch times. Calvin enjoyed getting an evening coffee and snack there as well. The Lido deck was dining was similar to a buffet where we could choose our food items already prepared, so it was a better option when we were in a hurry. We were able to locate tables by the window there so we could enjoy the views while eating.
The library was well stocked with books of history and geography about the Pacific Northwest, newspapers, and table games. There also were computers for our use. The best feature of the library was the viewing area with expansive windows looking over the ocean and lounging chairs where we could enjoy the experience in comfort. The decks were covered so they were convenient for strolling even when there was rain or mist. The decks also had benches and lounge chairs at various points.


Although we didn't visit the theater for a movie, we did visit there for other group gatherings. Our travel route took us out into the Gulf of Alaska on June 5th and into Glacier Bay on June 6th. We saw the Margerie and Hubbard Glaciers and the icebergs floating nearby. The sheer size of these glaciers was awesome.




We learned that the cause of the gray color of the sea in these areas was the pummeling action against stones on the sea bed which created a fine pumice. When we retired for the night on June 5th, we heard the captain's warning that the forecast for the next day was for rough seas. His warning was accurate. The day of June 6th brought rain, wind, and stormy seas. The waves were huge.






We learned to walk like mariners with feet planted far apart. We were thankful for the handrails in the hallways. A few passengers reported falling, but we managed to stay on our feet. By the evening, the sea had grown calm and we were able to enjoy the quiet of our stateroom.





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