Celebrity Solstice Alaska: Ketchikan

After a beautiful cruise up the Inside Passage, we docked on day 3 of our cruise in Ketchikan, Alaska. We left the ship and walked over to the Visitor’s Center to the rendezvous point for our scheduled seaplane tour of the Misty Fjords. Then my phone rang. 

After a few minutes of “walk over to the visitor’s center” and “we are at the visitor’s center. I have no idea what you

are talking about,” we arrived at the proclamation “Oh! You are at the other visitor’s center!” and were promptly given directions to the correct place. Who knew such a tiny town would have two visitor’s centers just steps away from each other?

Within moments we boarded a van with several others and were taken to our seaplane for the morning. while waiting on the dock for our plane to arrive, we were able to see bald eagles, other seaplanes and soak in the grey, cloudy beauty of Alaska. It was the only time in the trip it was cloudy out, and it cleared up by the time we were in the air.

I’ve been on tiny sightseeing planes a couple of times, but this one was different. First of all, we were going to land in the middle of a lake, so that is always fun. Also, it was really tiny. And loud. But we got to wear those fun headsets.

About halfway through the flight, I realized that I do, in fact, get motion sick, so that put a damper on things. (No, I didn’t puke all over everyone. I was just rather nauseated for the duration of the flight. Nothing a little post-adventure ginger ale couldn’t fix.)

The flight was a great way to see the area. Although we were a bit early

in the season to spot bears, our pilot did try, unsuccessfully, to find some other wildlife (like goats, which I still have not seen). Despite the lack of bears, the views over the mountains and through the fjords were spectacular. Landing on a lake amid glaciers is incredible. FKGuy was the only one of us to brave getting out of the plane and standing on the side floaty things. (I’m sure they have a name. I have no idea what it is.)

Being in Alaska, and enjoying the vast landscapes, gigantic glaciers and unsurpassed beauty was beyond my expectations. Yes, I expected it to be beautiful, but I did not expect it to feel quite so peaceful. While we were landed on the water, there was nobody else around. Just six of us and a pilot (who was hanging outside the plane with FKGuy). Incredible. Although there are many other places on my travel short list, I cannot wait to go back to Alaska.