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Prelude to our week long AK cruise on "Serenade of the Seas" We didn't want anxiety over arriving in time for departure if we drove from Vancouver to Vancouver (WA to BC) on the same day, so we left home June 6. My granddaughter was graduating HS June 6, so we weren't able to leave until about 8pm that night. In that way we avoided the worst of the traffic (though my daughter remarked that people of Seattle seemed not to know they ought not to be crowding the freeway at 10:30 at night), and, we had no wait at the Canadian border. On the other hand, though my daughter had forewarned the hotel we would probably arrive after midnight, as has been often the case in my travels, efforts to call the front desk just to be sure we'd not lose our room met with no answer. Additionally, I would have liked to see the Peace Arch and cross the border in daylight. With a stop for gas and such, a bit of going around the block as we missed the parking entrance to the hotel (and we could have sworn Google led us to wander on a gander rather than the most efficient route to the hotel once we were in the city), we arrived about 2:30am. Our room was still ours, but settling all didn't settle our wound up nerves, so we didn't get much sleep. Note: my odometer registered about 600 miles round trip, Vancouver to Vancouver. AI says it's about 325 mi one way. Both the US and Canada have parks for the Peace Arch at their shared border.  Day 1--Sunday, 7 June 2026 Depart from Vancouver BC, 4pm Unfamiliar with the city, we took an accessible taxi from our hotel (where we left our vehicle in a secure garage at a cost of $21/day while we were gone), and we were glad to have somebody else do the driving as well as not have to worry about finding parking. Once you've been there to reconnoiter, it's not as intimidating as for newbies. Our intention was to leave the hotel as early as possible so we could have about 3 hours to see a few sights near the Cruise Ship terminal before we had to board by 3pm, but then we were too nervous about returning on time, so we went back and boarded, ate aboard ship, and explored the ship a bit. That seemed a good decision, allowing plenty of time to get through customs and not feel rushed. Unfortunately, I couldn't take as many photos as I'd have liked: too many people, not cool to hold up people trying to get where they need to go, and perhaps not kosher to take photos of customs. The Convention Centre at Canada Place, where all the shepherding of tourists is, has quite a few lovely photo murals. Thankfully there are lots of people to guide you where you need to go.
Aboard ship We ate lunch in the Windjammer buffet, settled in our room, and we were scheduled for the early suppertime at 4:45pm in the main dining room, with our own table and wait staff the same each day (they were so excellent: friendly, accommodating, always remembered our preferences . . .). Of course you could eat in the Windjammer at different times, or make a reservation for the main dining room at a different time, but we didn't. Reflections, the main dining room, menu--Sunday June 7 . . . Appetizers--spinach & artichoke dip, shrimp cocktail, roasted tomato soup, Caesar salad, escargot, crab cake; Main course--fish fillet, fried chicken, NY strip steak, prime rib (was excellent tender and seasoned just right; the vegs that came with it were perfect, not mushy, nor too crunchy), Spaghetti Bolognese. stuffed portobellos, chcken breast, chicken saag; Dessert--Key Lime pie, cheesecake, Boston Cream Pie, ice cream, dark chocolate custard, peanut-caramel bar, artisan cheese plate. I forgot to take photos of our delicious main course at dinner. Though we explored different areas of the ship various days, I decided to post photos of the ship interior on Day 2, as we were cruisin'. Day 2--Monday, June 8 Cruising the Inside Passage, exploring the ship I was worn out, so while I slept in and ate in the room, my daughter went jogging around the track on deck 12. I wanted to go to a lecture on the history of the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police), but didn't get going early enough, so sadly missed it. They offer lectures on various subjects, and they are often more interesting than they sound.
Our ADA room on Deck 2 was quite spacious, our attendant very attentive and gracious. Windjammer buffet--Deck 11 (though my daughter treated me to Breakfast in Bed) The buffet has 2 mirrored buffet offerings, beside to-order grills. Soups and salads, meats and main courses, desserts, usually deli offerings. Each day had a theme for the main courses, but of course there were staples for various palates and preferences. There are beverage counters in place, and staffed beverage carts that make the rounds. General pics about the ship.  "Serenade of the Seas" of the Royal Caribbean line. Deck 1--probably ship engines, maybe crew areas Deck 2--Forward Boarding Area, & Centrum Boarding Area, Medical Facility, Staterooms Deck 3--Staterooms Deck 4--Reflections Dining Room, Card Room, guest Services, Shore Excursions, R Bar, RC Online, Staterooms Deck 5--Reflections Dining upper level, Cafe Latte-tudes, shops, art & photo gallery, Conference Center, Tropical Theater lower end Deck 6--see below Deck 7--Staterooms & Business Services Deck 8--Staterooms Deck 9--Staterooms Deck 10--Staterooms Deck 11--see below Deck 12--see below Deck 13--see below Deck 6--Schooner Bar, The Safari Club, Giovanni's Table, Chops Grille, and Chef's Table. Between the Schooner Bar and the Safari club were pool/billiard tables. Tropical Theatre (stage shows & lectures) uses one end of both decks 5 & 6, there is wheelchair seating, and at least some shows provide a deaf interpreter. Casino Royale is also on Deck 6. Deck 11--(Windjammer buffet pictured above), Rita's Cantina, Main Pool, Pool Bar, Solarium & Solarium Bar, Park Cafe, Hair Salon, Vitality Spa & Fitness Center Deck 12--miniature golf, rock climbing wall, Izumi, video arcade, sports court, kid pool with slide, nursery, teen disco, jogging tracck, Sky Bar, 2nd level Vitality Spa & Fitness Center Deck 13--Concierge Club, Viking Crown: Diamond Club & Vortex Cruising right along  We cruised the Inside Passage. This wasn't the glacier that we saw, though. Supper in the main dining room, "Reflections" After supper we went to see a Caribbean Band playing in the Safari Club Stage show of music & dance from Broadway in the Tropical Theatre It was ok to take photos as long as it didn't involve using a flash. I really enjoyed the show. Day 3--Tuesday, 9 June Sitka AK, 10:30am-6:30pm Breakfast in the main dining room, "Reflections" Sitka National Historical Park Russian Bishop's House--501 Lincoln St, Sitka AK 99835 (located in Sitka National Historical Park) Not very accessible for a wheelchair, but I thought extremely interesting. We didn't see the living areas, just the museum part. (more on this to come, of course) Day 4--Wed, June 10 Dawes Glacier (early) & Juneau AK, 1:30-9:30pm Because it was important to be up on deck (dressed very warmly) early, my daughter brought some breakfast items to me, like hot chocolate, an apple . . . Dawes Glacier Juneau AK Alaska State Museum--395 Whittier St, Juneau AK 99801
Day 5--Thursday, 11 June Ketchikan AK, 2:30-10pm Totem Bight State Historical Park--9883 North Tongass Highway, Ketchikan AK Day 6--Friday, June 12 Prince Rupert BC 7am-5pm Day 7--Saturday, 13 June Cruising south Day 8--Sunday June 14 Vancouver BC
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