Cruising the Inside Passage to Alaska

The drill completed, there are sail-a-way festivities with orchestra from 4:45 to 5:30. Mom opts to continue unpacking and I go to the forward deck, as our ship sets sail for Juneau, Alaska our first port of call.

As we leave Vancouver Harbour, the view of Canada Place on one side and the sun sparkling on Vancouver's North and West shore mountains is spectacular. We head towards Stanley Park , past two yellow hills of sulphur, the by product of natural gas refining and under the Lions Gate Bridge. Lion's Gate was built by Britain's Guiness Family in 1939, to sell real estate on the north shore. It is named for two snow covered peaks, which resemble reclining lions, guarding the harbour. I glow with pride at my beautiful home town, as the people around me watch in awe and remark on the beauty of spectacular scenery.

Dinner is casual tonight, however this does not mean jeans or shorts. Elegantly casual is expected, with jackets for men, One may choose to eat at the Buffet, whose hours are longer and dress restrictions less stringent. We opt for the dining room and are shown to our table. What luck! Our tablemates are also mothers and daughters, a group of powerful women, who are both interesting and fun. Our table steward Ringrat and his assistant Bangbang ( yes that is their last names) welcome us to the table.

There are two sisters, Jeanette and Mary Sue and their mother Tootsie. They are from Alabama. Jeanette is an accountant and Mary Sue a forensic scientist. Tootsie at 86, is bright and funny and deaf, as is my 89 year old mother. They seem to really take to each other and somehow manage to communicate, without a problem. Both have a terrific sense of humour. I once heard Tootsie remark to my mother, "Laugh when they do and they'll think we can hear them."

Our other much younger mother/daughter are from Burnaby, a suburb of Vancouver. Judy is a financial advisor at the Royal Bank financial organization and her mother Pat is retired. Edna, Pat's English school friend is travelling with them. Pat and Judy are cruise ship affectionados. They spend their holidays cruising and enjoy all the activities and services.

There are things to do on the cruise from dawn to dusk and much later. Their is a health spa, fitness rooms, a running deck, hot tubs, indoor

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