Treasuring An Unforgettable Alaskan Adventure

If your “bucket list” is anything like mine, then a trip to Alaska is right there near the top.

I’m happy and grateful to say that my wish finally came true.

My husband and I and some dear friends just got back from an unforgettable Alaskan adventure that we’re still raving about.

I can’t begin to tell you how amazing and beautiful it all was.

Aboard the “Norwegian Bliss” cruise ship, my husband and I felt blessed to immerse ourselves in God’s creation for a “blissful” (couldn’t resist!) seven days.

When did they start making cruise ships this big?

Each day brought exciting new discoveries:

Towering, snow-capped mountains . . .

Icy cold waters reflecting the sunlight above and sparkling with brilliant shades of sapphire to turquoise blue . . . 

Glaciers that glistened like diamonds in the sunlight.

Majestic whales and charming coastal towns like Sitka, Juneau, and Ketchikan where we checked out the many shops and chatted with some of the locals.

Our dear friends Lisa and Charlie were with us as we explored these fascinating ports of call.

One of my favorite memories was sitting on their balcony next door, drinking hot chocolate and wearing our cozy jackets while the Bliss floated by icebergs, varying in size from tiny to large enough to stand on.

I know what you’re thinking. Yes, we thought about the Titanic.

Check out the icy blue color of the iceberg in this photo.

August is a good time to go.

The weather was perfect, just slightly cool.

God let us experience all of His workmanship and all the beauty in the areas that we went to. It’s just phenomenal, meeting people that you’re almost drawn to (like our driver that had the same beliefs that we had) that made me feel encouraged. Even in other areas of the world, there are still people touched by God, and being with friends that you don’t get to see very often and have such a good time with – I just enjoyed it so much! – Lisa P.

We didn’t see the Northern Lights this trip, but that’s okay. What we did get to witness was humbling enough.

We were all awestruck and so grateful to our Heavenly Father who created this for His pleasure. He loves us so much that we get to share in His delightful creation.

It was absolutely amazing. We had the opportunity to see an area of our country that we’d never been to before, but heard a lot about. Getting out and seeing the whales and seals and the little sea otters was an experience. Watching the mountains and the glaciers in all their majesty, we were awestruck by God’s ability to put those things there for us to see and enjoy. Kind of like a birthday and Christmas present all wrapped into one. – Charlie P.

If you ever decide to take an Alaskan cruise, I highly recommend getting a room with a balcony.

Waking up each morning and opening the shades was a delight to the senses.

I’m happy to say that I didn’t get seasick once! The ship gently glided through the open seas. I could barely feel a rocking motion, even at bedtime when all is quiet except the calming waves lapping against the ship’s hull. 

Just about every direction you looked was a new photo op. On land, we saw eagles perched on the trees in town, and at sea we marveled at the backs of whales as they surfaced.

No bears spotted on this trip, but that’s probably a good thing because we forgot to bring bear spray. Lol.

At last count, I believe we took about 400 pictures plus!

You do a lot of walking in those ports of call, but it is so worth it! And, when you’re ready for a break, you can hang out on the upper deck or in the observation lounge on the Bliss.

The ship’s observation deck was the perfect vantage point for stargazing and appreciating God’s creation in all of its splendor.

It was a fun place to people watch and, as always, there was plenty of food and drink to satisfy hungry tummies after a day of sightseeing.

We met so many genuinely wonderful people on this cruise – Tom and Melissa, Jenny and John, and more.

The food, both on board the Bliss and also in the ports of call was, out of this world.

How about some Alaskan King crab – as fresh as it could be. I did let my husband have a bite or two even though crabmeat is one of my favorite foods in the whole wide world.

There were so many excursions to choose from. We loved the Gold Creek Wild Salmon Bake in Juneau.

This was no ordinary buffet. We joined other hungry diners on picnic tables which were set up under a jacket-worthy rainforest canopy.

The peaceful sounds of a waterfall beckoned nearby. I could have sat there for hours.

I’ve never been a huge fan of salmon. However, this salmon, I am not kidding, was the best, most mouthwatering, salmon I have ever tasted in my life. Fresh caught and grilled over an alderwood fire right in front of you – I couldn’t believe how great it tasted. (We may have to move here just for the salmon 😉

Such pristine beauty all around us.

The landscapes, the adventures, and the friendships forged on that unforgettable journey to Alaska will forever hold a special place in our hearts.