My AirBnB tiny house, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, would often reach 98 “feels like 110” degrees. Scheduled electricity outages, across all parts of the country, caused my power to go out, two or four hours, every other evening. During one such outage, I went online and booked an Alaskan cruise. And so, at the end of the month, I flew to Miami and on to Seattle.

The following morning, it was time to change shoes. My old Birkenstocks had been purchased in Sitka, Alaska, back in 2020. I was wearing them, in Sitka, when I fell and cracked a front tooth. I decided to replace both the sandals and the Skechers slip on sneakers I had purchased in Cardiff, Wales. The idea of bringing ten countries worth a dirt, on a cruise ship, just seemed wrong. After shopping, I headed to downtown Seattle and had lunch, with an old Peace Corps Armenia buddy.

The morning of the cruise, I made my way to Dock 66, on Alaskan Way Road. The Uber driver let me out across the street from the luggage check-in area. I hadn’t planned on checking my small under the seat suitcase. But, with seven hours to kill, before the ship set sail, I took out my swimsuit and checked the bag. Once allowed to enter the ship, I headed to the buffet, to eat and to kill some time.

Norwegian Cruise Lines offers solo travelers a private area on the ship. There are three levels of rooms and a lounge. No more paying double, when traveling solo. NCL also has a Cruise Director, for all solo travelers on the ship. He held a meeting (in the private solo lounge area) each day at 5:00 pm. I went to the first meeting, but didn’t really click with the group. I never went back.

All my time was spent in the spa area. I purchased the $330.00 seven day Thermal Suite pass. It gave me access to hot and cold therapies, including two saunas, two steam rooms, and the ice room. There was also a salt room and a large pool area. The area also featured heated ceramic lounge chairs, facing the stern of the ship. The views were spectacular and I was always able to find a seat.

After leaving Seattle, the overnight sailing was rough. Plastic sea sickness bags were set out, on each staircase railing. I headed to my room. It had a funny feature. Being an inside cabin, there’s no window. But, the room had two tv sets. One was a regular tv and the other one (set against the wall to look like a window) live streamed the view outside. I set the real tv to the captain’s view channel and opened the blinds on the fake window tv. It was all very calming.

Our first port was in Sitka. I lived there, for two years, during the pandemic. My old Sitka supervisor picked me up, from the cruise dock, and took me back to work. I was able to say hello to a few of my former colleagues and get an update on my old AmeriCorps worksite. Later, I hung out with an old Peace Corps Kenya buddy. We hopped into her car and drove around the island. It felt like I never left. She dropped me back off at the dock.

The next day, we arrived in Juneau. I had flown there, on my way to and from Sitka, but had never left the airport. So, for my first visit, I booked the Mendenhall Glacier tour. There’s not a lot of glacier to be seen, from the first view point. I didn’t bother walking down to the waterfall. I was just happy to find the elevator to the visitor center, as my sore knee was bothering me. I watched the free film about the glacier, then made my way back to the bus pickup location.

Having lived in Sitka, I was already aware of Tlingit culture. Icy Strait Point is Native owned and operated. All cruise tourism profits directly support the community of Hoonah, Alaska’s largest Native Tlingit village. I paid for all day access to a tram that I only used twice. I rode to the top of the mountain. When I saw the sign, at the hiking trail, warning people to walk in groups of ten, (there’s bears in those hills) I rode the tram back down. Then, I rode the free tram to the sea and walked around. Lesson learned.

Like Juneau, I had only ever flown in and out of Ketchikan. I booked an excursion that took me into the city center, by boat. Unlike other cruise ships, Norwegian Cruise Lines docks 30 minutes away from town. There’s a gift shop, between the ship and the free shuttle service into town. The small boat taking me there was parked in front of the cruise ship. Once on board, our small group was offered free hot beverages and donuts. The trip was only one way. We were dropped off at Pier One, near the lumberjack show. I skipped it and walked to Pier Four, to catch the shuttle back to the ship.

It’s been more than ten years, since my first trip to Victoria. I booked the famed Fairmont Empress Hotel. I friend suggested that I let one of their friends tag along. No good deed goes unpunished. The hotel was booked and didn’t have a double room. They put us in the living room area, between two rooms. I had a cold and began coughing, later that night. The friend removed my bedding, put it in the closet, and told me to go sleep in there. She was being kept awake and bothered, (in her free lodging), at the Fairmont Empress. I sat in the closet, until the urge to throw her out of the room passed. I then got back into bed and coughed myself to sleep. I was happy to leave Victoria, this time, with better memories.

We arrived back to Seattle the next morning. I was able to leave early, as I carried my own luggage off the ship. I walked up hill, to 3rd Street, and hopped on a bus going to the Pioneer Square light rail station. The bus was free, because the driver was nice. I didn’t have any cash and the bus didn’t take credit cards. I was able to use my card, at the rail station, to purchase my ticket to the airport.

It was great being back in Alaska. The best part, (after seeing my friends in Sitka), was cruising solo. I never would have thought of it, without those 100 degree days in Honduras. Who knew? XOXO — GGT