JillMelancon Travel

6 July 2023

Slept in a bit and had room service breakfast.  Took a nap, then showered and went to lunch in the buffet—btw, it is so much smaller than NCL in terms of selection.  Got back to my room and saw the disembarkation gangway was right below my window—super convenient!

Met my room steward today—Henry.  He seems nice (no shock).  Finally headed down and got in line to get off ship for my tour of Juneau.  “Juneau has as many churches as bars—so you get your spirit one way or the other”—my tour guide. They have no doctors here—just nurse practioners and an airlift if necessary.

After driving through the town, we got to Mendenhall Glacier which used to reach all the way up to where the visitor center is now…but thanks to global warming, it has greatly receded.  After walking the area (and over to a beautiful waterfall right next to it), I asked a park ranger in the visitor center a stupid question—what is the difference between glaciers and icebergs?  Glaciers are ice fields that are attached to land in some way (this one is 13 miles long).  The ice that “calves” off of a glacier are what become icebergs.  She said if you think of it as a spider…the glaciers are the body and the icebergs are the legs.

The icebergs (very small) I took pictures of are only about 20% above water…and the lake itself didn’t even exist until after 1930.  Thanks, global warming!!

After we returned to port, I walked back into town and went to Alaskan Brewing (the brand on our ship) for a flight and some amazing macaroni and cheese.  Really nice bartender and good atmosphere.  I then headed to another brewery—a smaller one—called Barnaby Brewing for another flight.  Also tasty.

Headed back to the ship and went straight to the theatre to hear Libby Riddles speak—the first female winner of the Iditarod dog sled race across Alaska.  Fascinating.  Wound up buying her book and getting an autograph as well.   Grabbed a snack in the buffet, and headed to my room.