Alaska Cruise 2025 - Prince Rupert, BC - Port Day #4 (08/19/25)

 

Prince Rupert, BC.  Independent excursion providers such as viator.com and shoreexcursionsgroup.com have no options for tours at this port. It's a town where there's no "There" there. We have a half-day port stop in Prince Rupert only to comply with the US Passenger vessel services act.  It could be worse - especially when we had a nice walk while in port.  At the time I write this, one 4-day Bermuda cruise from the US East Coast is being diverted to Saint John, NB to avoid a nasty storm. 

We have visited all of the ports we planned on visiting on this cruise.  Yet, it's hard to believe that this cruise will be over soon, and we will soon be in San Francisco, flying back to New York and reality.  After this last port stop, it will be 2½ days of uninterrupted cruising, followed by a return to our more hectic pace of life. 

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Unlike other port stops on this cruise, we had no plans to get off the ship here, as there were few things to do.  Our main plan for the day was to do some laundry and relax during the day.   However, RQS needed to replace her cane, so we trekked off the ship to find a store where she could replace it.  Luckily, there was a shopping mall nearby, where she could buy a cane.  Even through the Walmart in town was permanently closed, there was a pharmacy and surgical supply store in the mall where she could buy a cane.

Prince Rupert is not a port where one goes for exciting excursions. It's charm lies in the fact that the port is a place where one can get off the ship and have some quiet time walking around the cruise terminal district before cruising onto the next port of call.  There are a couple of museums in walking distance of the cruise terminal, as well as a supermarket and a shopping mall where people can buy non-tourist related goods.  It's not a port for everyone. Yet, we enjoyed the time we were able to get off the ship and stretch our legs.

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The afternoon came, and our ship left port for one last time before reaching San Francisco.  RQS decided to take a nap, as she had walked over 2½ miles today, and was a little tired. 

 

 

Bermuda Cruise 2024 #1 - Sea Day #1 (09/30/24)

 

RQS and I started the day by going to the main dining room (MDR) for breakfast.  Service was slow, but the food was as good as we'd get from our local diner.  This was more than acceptable to us, as we'd eat more responsibly than if we went to the buffet.

Now that we were fed, we explored the ship a little before going back to our room to rest.  After the chaos of yesterday, we knew to pay attention to our bodies and sit on the balcony while the room steward cleaned up the room.  Both of us were able to start reading some books we brought with us, and we chilled out until it was time to get a snack from the buffet.

For those who haven't cruised before, the buffet can be a madhouse during prime breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. We went for our snack about an hour and a half before dinner, and found the place mostly empty.  So we grabbed some pizza, sat down by the window, and proceeded to eat.  Unlike the list time on MSC, the pizza was very doughy - but very filling.  It was a tasty treat, but not one to enjoy when going to a specialty dinner 2 hours later.

Around 6, we went downstairs to have the first of our 3 specialty dinners.  This dinner was at the Ocean Cay seafood restaurant.  There were 5 main course choices for us to choose from.  Anything else on the menu would be half price.  Both of us chose the crab cake for a starter, and it was very good - one could both taste the crab and feel the texture of the crab.  Yum!  Next was the main course.  RQS had the Dover Sole, while I had the Cockerel.  The waiter made a mistake and delivered Tuna to our table instead of my Cockerel.  Seeing the dish, I should have ordered that, even though I enjoyed what I ate.  Neither of us could finish our main courses, but we left enough room for dinner.  RQS had the Tiramisu, while I had the Creme Brulee.   Again, both were very good.

RQS noted that the atmosphere of the ship reminded her of a shopping mall, and that the restaurant felt like a nice shopping mall restaurant.  She pegged it better than I could.  Would we eat there again?  Yes, but only on the dinner package.  I'd rather spend more money and treat her to dinner at NYC's Oyster Bar.

After another chance to rest and digest our food, it was off to see Rock Circus at the ship's Carousel theater.  The best way I could find to describe this show is a group of circus gymnastic performers doing their acts while another group performs a rock tune.  Was it good?  RQS felt that it could be better if much of the acrobatics were kept out of the way of the main performers doing their songs.

By the end of the show, we retired to the cabin for the night.  On the way, we again encountered a musty smell in the hallway.  But once in the room, we didn't notice it and were able to have a deep and restful sleep.

One thing of note that I'm mentioning out of sequence is that RQS is thinking of taking another cruise on this line, but not bothering to get off the ship.  This, of course, would be a cruise taken as Marian, and would be done in an inside cabin.  Like my first cruise on MSC, we'd be able to spend a week away from home in an inside cabin for under $1,000.  Not a bad deal, if I do say myself....