SUPER ALASKA CRUISE
G. Day 2:
Cruising the Inside Passage and Grenville Channel
Throughout the first night we sailed between the mainland and Vancouver Island. Once we got past Vancouver Island (about 7AM) the ship started rocking back and forth since we were in open waters. Many people felt sick (I felt dizzy), though a light breakfast without eggs or dairy products (try the vegetarian breakfast) made me feel better. For those who still feel sick, seasickness pills were available at the main desk for free and other remedies were available in one of the gift shops. Once we left open ocean the rocking subsided. Also today I took an exercise class. The instructor was very professional and the workout was intense (they provide ice water and cups). The Norwegian Wind offers several classes a day, except when in port. Also, for each exercise class you take you get a ticket. Supposedly after collecting a certain number of tickets you get a free t-shirt.
Later that morning an announcement was made saying that because of a medical emergency we had to make a detour. We would be sailing down the Grenville Channel (rarely used by cruise ships) so we could get close enough to Prince Rupert, BC so a coast guard ship could come and pick up the sick passenger an bring him/her to a hospital.
The Princess Cruise Line’s map describes the Grenville Channel as follows.
“Grenville Channel is possibly the most dramatic part of the Inside Passage. The channel narrows to 1350 feet at mile 518. Lore has it that at least one sleepy fishing boat helmsman was awaked by tree limbs slapping on the side of the pilothouse, but was able to veer safely away from shore.”
Because Grenville Channel is so narrow, the ship’s captain had to be on the bridge during the entire time through the passage. Therefore the captain would not be available at that evening’s cocktail party and at dinner, but both events were held and a cocktail party and dinner later in the voyage were re-designated as in honor of the captain.
Grenville Channel was indeed the most beautiful part of the inside passage that ships can sail. The channel was relatively narrow with steep wooded cliffs several times taller than the ship rising on both sides. There were waterfalls cascading down the cliffs throughout the channel. There are no houses or signs of human habitation at all along the passage. It felt weird to be on such a large ship to be sailing down such a narrow waterway. I am sure that our boat was an unusual site for the fishing boats that passed by us. (One fishing boat was number 23097 and was named Debonaire; another was number 22977 as was named September Isle.) If I were running a cruise line I would make the channel a regular part of Alaskan cruises and tout it in brochure as a sight to be appreciated. (Note: because of the detour and the delays in departure we arrived in Juneau a few hours late (but still in time for our excursions). It was worth it because the sights of Grenville Channel are so much better than spending more time in gift shops.)
When we got near Prince Rupert, a Canadian Coast Guard vessel came out from a cove (Prince Rupert) and docked beside the ship. A hatch was opened in the side of the ship and the sick passenger and the passenger’s companion were transferred to the smaller boat. The vessel then sailed back to the cove where it came from.
This evening was a formal night. Dinner was a dress up affair and there was a show.
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