Day 8: Shore to Sea

The original plan was to just take my parents on a cruise to Alaska for a week.  When my summer plans changed, it really bothered me that I was so close to a place that I have wanted and tried to visit several times.  So I decided to turn our one week trip into a two week trip.  The first week was all for me but think they were happy to go too!  Today we board a cruise to Alaska.  My dad has wanted to visit Alaska for a long time so when I was stumped on what to get them for Christmas, they got this trip!  Of course I could not just wrap a piece of paper with the itinerary so my dad got these things you freeze for your cooler that were named something like Arctic Ice and my mom got a cruise ship charm for her bracelet.  I wrapped a piece of paper with the Alaska state flag and the words “The Last Frontier . . . it was up to them to figure out what it all meant!  It took a while, but they were thrilled!   So here we are to board a boat . . . not a big boat but the Celebrity Infinity.  It was a really long line to board, but thankfully we are in the concierge cabins which meant we got to go to the really short line!  Let me tell you that $100 upgrade was so worth it and the idea that I questioned it makes me laugh now.  So we check in, get our cards, and find our way to the dining room for a lunch.  It was yummy and not crowded.  Shortly after we make our way to our cabin . . .

. . . we had two rooms that connect which really works well when we cruise together.  My parents are early birds and we are not so we each have our own space when we need to do our own thing.  The only down side was there was a huge steel beam between the the balconies which ruined my plans of having one really big balcony but at least we have the door between the cabins to connect us instead of going to the hall.

I had a lot of issues with my room.  The outside door to the hallway did not close which means it was not locked when we left, the peep hole was broken, in room safe was not working .  . . all minor but annoying that I have to start by complaining even before my luggage arrives.  I know it will all get fixed but seriously how do you not notice the door not shutting and locking? 

Our luggage arrived quickly and had it all unpacked and put away before we even left Vancouver!  I was so tired I took a nap before we sailed away too.  One of the other perks of staying in a concierge cabin was each day an afternoon snack arrived to your cabin . . .

 . . . seriously did they just go grab apples from the buffet?  We all laughed.  It was time to go check in for our emergency muster drill with a bunch of strangers.  It was over and time to sail away from Vancouver.  

When I booked the cruise one of the perks was a free beverage package.  We have never paid for this as it is usually something ridiculous like $55 per person per day.  There is no way we even drink $55 in a week.  We decided to stay in the lounge and enjoy a drink as we left Vancouver.  I tell you it was nice to just order whatever you want and pay zero dollars!  Here is to another great week . . .