Wednesday, May 30

Princess Cruises uses a luggage system where we set our bags out the night before, or in the early morning, and they transport them to the next hotel. Thus, it’s imperative to set out your next day clothes and any other items you’ll need during the day.

Kyle, exhausted after a long day of panning for gold and fly fishing, failed to do this. Thus, at 0900 hrs, our traveling party received the following group text from him… “I am helpless and nude in Room 2427, with the cleaning ladies pressing in on me. Big Johnson needs backup.”

Our traveling party, being the compassionate souls we are, responded with various and sundry items Kyle could choose from…

– “You’re welcome to my sunglasses.”

– “I’ve got a trash bag if that helps.”

– “I’ve got yesterday’s underwear and the ones I just put on this morning. Your choice.”

I was tempted to not respond. I mean, who doesn’t want to see Kyle travel by train across Alaska wearing only borrowed underwear, a garbage bag, and sunglasses?

Instead, I came to Kyle’s rescue, as I have done many times over the past quarter century. He ended up with my flannel shirt, pajama bottoms, and his brother-in-law’s barely used underwear. It was a good look for him.

We traveled 50 minutes by bus and then boarded the Alaskan WIlderness Rail in Talkeetna. With comfortable seats, leg room, food service, a massive window for sightseeing, and a table for 4 to play cards, train travel might be my favorite form of travel.

As we played 5 Crowns and Golf, the narrator pointed out points of interest along the way and a fair amount of Alaskan history. I enjoyed traveling through Elmendorf Air Force Base, a place where I would have loved to have been assigned during my Air Force career. We also travelled through Sarah Palin’s hometown of Wasilla.

The highlight for me was seeing about a dozen bald eagles flying above and to both sides of our rail car. As we’ve been saying throughout this trip, that’s not something you see everyday.

After traversing a long tunnel through the mountain, we arrived at Whittier and spotted our ship, The Coral Princess. For me, the next 45 minutes were arguably the most exciting of our trip so far. After a year of planning for and looking forward to this trip, it was so exciting to see and then board our sailing vessel!

After making our way through security, we located our rooms, dropped our stuff off, and then decided to go explore the ship from top to bottom. It is amazing! Multiple pools, hot tubs, theaters, and eating establishments. A gym, spa, library, game room, pizza bar, ice cream bar, massive buffet, and basketball court! We were like kids in a candy shop, marveling over the ship’s design and features.

After getting the lay of the land, we assembled in the Bourdeaux, our assigned dining room. How thrilling to be very hungry and have the waiter hand you a menu with multiple appetizers, entrees, and desserts. On top of that, it’s all you can eat. I resisted the urge to go too crazy on the first night, and went with one appetizer (spring rolls), one entree (prime rib with potato), and one dessert (ice cream sundae). It was all wonderful, especially the prime rib.

Our final stop of the night was one of the lounges, where we danced off a few calories and celebrated our first night on the ship.

Back in our cabin—a nice, simple interior room, I unpacked and did an accounting for all my belongings and luggage. The only things missing: my flannel shirt and pajama bottoms.

Ships ahoy!