We sail away...from the top of the Space Needle. Click here to see the Space Needle web cam.

Our actual sailaway weather

Say goodbye Seattle

Goodbye Seattle

On our way to Alaska after sailing out of the Straits of Juan de Fuca.

And then it got even prettier

One of only two  non-people Ketchikan shot. We had some amazing weather all day long.

Aother of only three  non-people Ketchikan shot. We had some amazing weather all day long.

Even the eagles were out in Ketchikan that day. As my buddy BSeaBob says, "Get a tan in Ketchikan!"

This was on the way up the Endicott Arm of the fjords towards the Dawes Glacier

Not a lot I can say about this kind of beauty.

Up close and personal with the Dawes Glacier

The dots on the ice are seals.

The front piece kept having small pieces of ice fall off but never really calved.

Two tour boats to give you some perspective of the size of the glacier.

Mom and baby having a nap.

That is one big glacier and we got nice and close.

It really is that blue. The "dirt" you see is really rocks.

The whole darned thing.

Glacier!

On our way out we passed this one small berg with a bunch of seals napping.

And there they go.

Mom and baby end their nap and go looking for a snack.

We sail away.

Still sailing.

In Juneau harbor with four other ships. Sorry, I did not get off the ship so no other pics. It was a long way to town.

In Skagway we took this bus tour on these cool buses. We did not book ahead but you should.

On the main street in downtown Skagway.

Trying to entice the gentlemen to come see a show.

I love old pickups.

The train to White Pass that most of our friends took. We have been on it before.

Our chariots await.

Our incredible guide AB. (Yes that was her name).

Looking back at the ship (and others) in Skagway.

AB acts out another Skagway story. More about this tour in my review.

Signs painted by the original businesses in Skagway have been grown over except this one that still advertises an open store

We had a BEAUTIFUL day in Skagway as well.

This view is from the Pioneer cemetery.

A little more zoomed.

We got quite a history lesson here.

Heard the legend of Soapy Smith...buried just outside the consecrated cemetery.

AB and her partner were AWESOME!

They acted everything out and we laughed throughout.

Just a quick Skagway panorama.

On disembarkation day I was up at 4:45 to take pics of the ship and Seattle as we sailed in.

I was rewarded with some great shots like this one of the Clinton ferry dock on Whidbey Island.

And some empty pool shots.

And some amazing sunrise pics.

Our mountain does not EVER look better than this. The weather was PERFECT!

Sunrise over our hometown.

Can't resist pics of our Mountain. If you don't live here, you have no clue how much Mt. Rainier dominates our entire state.

Morning Puget Sound traffic.

One of my favorite shots from that morning.

But I think I like this one best. You don't get this lucky that often.

And there they go.

One last one of the ferries.

And one more of just one and that glorious mountain.

Ok, one more after that.

I can't stop. It's just too beautiful!

Jamie gets hers to light up.

Steve and Jamie put theirs on as well.

Bob gets pinned. Martini Mates forever.

Bill telling Steve he needs an official shirt as well.

I've been shot...twice!

Judy get her Martini Mate pin at sailaway. It was her first cruise and she loved it.

The whole gang are Mates...officially!

Waiting for Paul and Gail to go dance so we can cheer them on.

Paul and Gail are our dancers. Just about every night they found their way to the dance floor.

Everyone watching (who didn't know them) thought they were the dance instructors onboard.

Here's a pretty classy group! The Martini Mates 2017 version on the first Evening Chic night.

OK, Bob and Holly win.

Kathleen and I looking sharp!

Bill and Sandra—always looking sharp

Dinner time on Evening Chic night.

Selfie time with my baby in front of a glacier.

Solstice opened up the helipad for those cruisers who were Elite or Elite Plus (the X loyalty program) in front of the glacier

Helipad

Helipad 3

Paul is explaining glaciers to Mike.

And Carole.

Helipad 5

Helipad 6

Bob arrives to explain them to Mike as well.

Helipad 7

Still explaining it.

Bob is waving to a drone that a crew member launched to take shots of the ship at the glacier face.

Keep waving Bob. You'll never buy the DVD so you won't know if it got you.

Helipad 20

Bob decides if the drone isn't going to take his picture, he will take the drone's.

Judy is coaching him on the best way to take the pic with his high-tech phone.

The aforementioned drone.

I took the pic too. But mine is better. I have a better camera than his phone. LOL

Bob complains to an officer that he can't fly the drone.

The officer is not amused. Judy is worried they will be left on the glacier.

Eagles in Ketchikan on a BEAUTIFUL day.

More eagles

More eagles

More eagles

My lovely bride and Paul (with Danny and Carole in the background) in sunny Ketchikan.

Headed to Creek Street

Let's all pose by the creek. Carole, Judy and Bob

Paul and Gail, our brilliantly AWESOME Brits

Kathleen and I. Also brilliantly awesome!

Paul, Carole, Judy and Bob head up the backside of Creek Street.

Carole looks like she spotted something she has to have.

Dinner time on the second Evening Chic night. Our tables for six and ten.

Bob helps Carole fix her GoPro in Skagway

Kathleen and I above Skagway. I really was having a good time. Just forgot to smile.

I love taking pics of food—gives me ideas for later. A beet salad.

Goat cheese, red pepper soufflé—an X classic.

Not sure what this was, but Jamie liked it.

The prettiest food on board—in Murano

Pork belly

They still do an amazing cheese course but they need Beechers.

The prettiest food on board—in Murano

The crowning glory—the Grand Marnier souffle.

A slightly lesser chocolate soufflé

The prettiest food on board—in Murano

The prettiest food on board—in Murano

Got this great seafood dish in the MDR, it was amazing.

Pasta for Kathleen

More seafood.

A pretty decent steak

Danny likes it. And you can eat it!

An Alaska Brewing Company White I had at lunch in Ketchikan in the SUNSHINE!