Family Comments: This having been a family vacation, I wanted to include thoughts on the trip from all my family members. To that end, I sent out a couple of e-mails, the first one asking for comments and the second with a list of questions. These are the responses I received:
Bob Pancake
Favorite Activity: My favorite activity on board was dinner time. Which is always the case (not just for the good food) because it gives us the chance to have good conversations and get to know many new and interesting people. Of course with this cruise it was the same, being with the family altogether.
Favorite Show: I did not have a favorite show.
Favorite Port: I guess Juneau because of the tour to Mendenhall glacier. It was a great day with everyone enjoying the sunshine and exploring the park.
Souviners Bought: A handcrafted and hand painted totem pole by a local artist in Ketchikan.
Biggest Surprise: That the grand kids enjoyed it as much as they did, especially Ben. I felt they would have a good time but they enjoyed it more than expected.
Least Favorite Part: Of course was to disembark the ship. But other than that it was as always the lifeboat drill (boring !!!!!). Next in line was the unscheduled tour of Seattle on our way to the ship.
Patty Pancake
Favorite Activity: I enjoyed the dinners, not just because of the delicious food, but because we were all together. I also enjoyed taking our formal pictures together.
Favorite Show: I didn't have a favorite show. However, I enjoyed watching the "Hunger Games" under the stars, even though it rained a little.
Favorite Port: I enjoyed Juneau, mainly because we all took the trip to Mendenhall Glacier. The bus ride there and back was good, and it was just wonderful to see everyone enjoying the beautiful, sunny day, taking pictures, hiking, and jumping off big rocks.
Souviners Bought: We bought a small totem pole that was carved by a native Alaskan.
Biggest Surprise: That we saw each other so many times throughout the day, because the ship is so big.
Least Favorite Part: The very last day, knowing that our wonderful vacation had come to an end.
Additional Thoughts: I'm so glad that everyone had a great time. It was so good to have our family all together. I will NEVER forget.
Mark Pancake
Comments: I really enjoyed the time with my kids, especially when went up the mountain at Skagway. I was wanting to get out in all of the nature, and I thought the hike to Upper Dewey Lake was only 3 miles the way the ranger explained to me. She wasn't all that clear that it was 3 miles up from Lower Dewey Lake, which was a mile from the trailhead. The total ascent was something like 3,600 ft, and then we went up another 1/2 mile or so to play in the snow over a trail that was all big, coarse rocks and boulders. Calaen was right on track to get to the dirt part of the trail and we were looking over all of the town, after ascending about another 100-150 more feet of overall elevation. We played in the snow and Calaen wanted to build a snowman. There was some complaining on the way up, but once we got some water from the mountain stream near the top, all was well. That was some of the clearest water I've ever seen out in the woods. I figured it would be ok to drink since it was moving so fast and we were near the top of the mountain.
I also really loved that my 12 year old daughter was more interested in hanging out with me rather than other kids. We had at least 2 meals a day together, mostly 3 though. It was awesome! Both kids were very well behaved and I'm really proud of them.
Calaen Pancake
Comments: "It's Calaen and my favorite part was swimming. I love that I was able to swim in Alaska, the air might have been cold but the pool and hot tub were so warm. That and I liked making stops. My favorite stop was Juneau. I also liked seeing all the mountains I took so many pictures of salmon and seals and all the fun stuff we did as a family like dinner and watching movies under the stars. But my favorite part was the dessert buffet. There was so much chocolate and so many different things I have never tried before. I also liked seeing all three siblings together. I also became better at ping pong on the cruise, and beat Robbie three times, that's a big accomplishment for me."
Souviners Bought: A pocketknife.
Robbie Pancake
Comments: "Its Robbie i like stopping and making friends was my favorite stop was ketchacan becase we got are souviners i like makeing friends also i got to see you guys that was my favorite thing. seeing you guys :)"
Souviners Bought: A pocketknife.
Jim Pancake
Favorite Activity: Well, on board the ship it has to be cruising Tracy Arm Fjord. The scenery was absolutely spectacular.
Favorite Show: While the magic shows were good and the Navigation & Technical @ Sea was interesting, my favorite was Comic Jim McDonald. He was very entertaining and had dad, mom, Peep and me laughing throughout his entire routine.
Favorite Port: My favorite port was Skagway. While they were all nice, we spent the most time there so I was able to do a variety of things. It also has a very interesting history, which I loved learning about as Peep and I did the walking tour downtown.
Souviners Bought: As usual, the main souviners I brought back with me are pictures. Peep and I didn't do much souviner shopping due to the limited time in port. I typically like to get a CD of traditional music, but wasn't able to find one this trip, so I bought one online.
Biggest Surprise: The biggest surprise for me was the great weather we had. I had expected it to be much colder and wetter than it was.
Least Favorite Part: I don't like big crowds, and the ship was a very crowded place, so I would have to say that was my least favorite part.
Additional Thoughts: It was great to be able to spend so much time together with the family. Thank you dad and mom for taking us on the cruise. Happy Anniversary.
Peep Pancake
Favorite Activity: Eating breakfast, lunch and dinner with Jim everyday.
Favorite Show: The Live Dance Show [World Class Adagio Act] by the Grand Piano.
Favorite Port: Juneau, Alaska because all of our family members got to visit Nugget Creek Falls (aka Mendenhall Glacier Falls) and Mendenhall Glacier together, where we hiked together on an enjoyable trail to these attractive Glacier and Waterfall of the beautiful Alaska. I also got a chance to interact with the different members of our family along the way there and back. We got a chance to take our first family group photo together in front of the Nugget Falls. It was also the first time that I experienced indescribable view of the big, beautiful Waterfall and Glacier situated right next to one another. Then, we got to watch the Sockeye salmons that came to lay eggs at Mendenhall Lake and River area.
Souviners Bought: Smoked salmon and salmon carvier.
Biggest Surprise: To see a lot of live salmons on one trip.
Least Favorite Part: Saying goodbye to all our family members after the cruise.
Additional Thoughts: Thank you so much Mom and Dad for this wonderful and amazing experience!
Tim Bergdorf
Favorite Activity: The Rock 'n' Roll Hula-Hoop Competition.
Favorite Show: The Magic Show.
Favorite Port: Juneau, the state capital.
Souviners Bought: A t-shirt and casino tokens.
Biggest Surprise: There were waves in the swimming pool.
Least Favorite Part: Going through security checks to get back on board the ship.
Additional Thoughts: Remembered the kids being amazed that everything was free on board.
Becky Bergdorf
Favorite Activity: Eating and site seeing.
Favorite Show: The Magic Show.
Favorite Port: Juneau, because of the nature walk.
Souviners Bought: A t-shirt and scrapbooking items.
Biggest Surprise: The kids loving karaoke every night.
Least Favorite Part: Not enough time in the day to do everything.
Additional Thoughts: I loved it.
Ben Bergdorf
Favorite Activity: Swimming.
Favorite Show: Television.
Favorite Port: Juneau. It is a good town.
Souviners Bought: T-shirt.
Biggest Surprise: There were waves in the pool.
Least Favorite Part: Dressing up for dinner.
Memorable Quote: "This cruise is awesome. We should go every year."
Samme Bergdorf
Favorite Activity: Swimming.
Favorite Show: Liar's Club.
Favorite Port: Juneau, becasue it's the capital. Ketchikan, because of the stores.
Souviners Bought: A tie-dyed hoodie and a t-shirt.
Biggest Surprise: How big the ship was.
Least Favorite Part: Sea day.
Additional Thoughts: It was amazing.
Abby Bergdorf
Favorite Activity: Swimming.
Favorite Show: Magic.
Favorite Port: Juneau, because I got souvenirs there.
Souviners Bought: A stuffed animal and t-shirt.
Biggest Surprise: The magic shows.
Least Favorite Part: All of it was good.
Additional Thoughts: This was my first time on an airplane.
Nate Bergdorf
Favorite Activity: Swimming.
Favorite Show: The Magic Show.
Favorite Port: Juneau, because of the nature walk.
Souviners Bought: A stuffed animal and a t-shirt.
Biggest Surprise: The magic shows.
Least Favorite Part: Nothing.
Memorable Quote: "Why do we have to wear our fancy clothes just to eat?"
Additional Thoughts: I liked the airplane and the cruise.