Viking Invades Alaska!

[Pushka]

Great photos. Looked like an awesome time. Did you mention earlier that you got TSA pre check ?

Yes. Not for every flight though. We are doing Anchorage - Honolulu in a couple of days. They don’t recognize QFF so will see what happens.

 

[Flying mermaid]

We hoped to see a Condor which became endangered a few years ago but they’ve managed to get stock back to around 90. The largest bird in the US. Its head is devoid of feathers because they dig their head into carcasses and being bald makes them easier to clean up after. Their wing span is 10 feet.

There are a couple at the South Rim. Now, my camera has a great zoom.

See that tiny red circle?
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That zooms into one of the condors. Now it’s kind of blurry but it’s a long way away.

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And here’s one I caught in flight.

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We saw a few condors when we were there in 2012. They were having trouble establishing them at that point, as hunters were refusing to stop using lead bullets and the condors were preying on carcasses and then gettin lead poisoning. They were hoping that the fact that lead was more expensive than the other type of bullets might eventually solve the problem. We really enjoyed the Grand Canyon - glad weather improved for you. (Well a bit - I have just read a bit further!). We were there in July and it was very hot!

 

[Deno]

How do you apply for the TSA pre check from Australia?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Never had it as OWE.

we always got it and we had it as J passengers with Qatar leaving New York

 

[Pushka]

How do you apply for the TSA pre check from Australia?

It just happened. We haven’t had it for all flights.
Today. Seward. On ship overnight then off on the train to Anchorage.

Photos later but oh my so many whales and Orcas. Fantastic.

Sunset tonight. 11.15 pm!!!

 

[Toula92122]

TSA pre check, it can depend on whether the airline issuing the ticket pays for it I believe. Being US based my experiences have varied between airlines. We normally pay for first class travel on domestic flights. On United I get TSA pre check probably 95% of the time. My other two main domestic carriers I use are Hawaiian and Alaska and I only get pre Check about 50% of the time. It hasn't made a difference whether it's a redemption ticket or paid.

 

[Deno]

Thanks to all re TSA pre check. The photos of the canoe trip were amazing. Thanks

 

[Pushka]

These are in sequence. Look for bottom right.

 

[Pushka]

More.

 

[Pushka]

Stunning Glacier. See those tiny dots at the bottom left in the water?



Seals. This Glacier is massive. Towered over us and we were really close to it.

 

[drron]

Now you are making me envious.One thing on my bucket list is seeing orcas in the wild.Have been on several orca cruises.They were always there yesterday.There was even one in the Mersey river at Devonport the morning of the day I flew in in the evening.

 

[RB]

If you are still in Seward I suggest a visit to SeaLife Centre.

 

[LadyC]

You have some stunning photos - the colours are so vibrant. It looks like a great cruise, ticking all the wildlife and nature boxes.

 

[Pushka]

You have some stunning photos - the colours are so vibrant. It looks like a great cruise, ticking all the wildlife and nature boxes.

Except for a bear in the wild.

Agree @drron re Orcas. We spent 30 minutes just watching this group of 7 frolic around. It was on the list so all ticked off now. We had one of those ‘should have been here yesterday to see Orcas’ in Icy Strait Point.

 

[Pushka]

Viking decided to bookend the nasty embarkation process and at 11.15pm as we were trying to get some sleep, presented us with this piece of goodness. It’s taken from our balcony.

Countless requests to stop the noise went unheeded so in my nightie and white robe and no footwear, the crazy Aussie went downstairs to guest services to show them the video. Oh that’s not good enough they said and the noise continued.

I’ll have to process how Viking manages things but needless to say we are not setting foot on another Viking Ocean ship again.

Now, we had an exceptional cruise to Alaska but in reality it wouldn’t have mattered what ship we were on because the excitement came the moment we got off the ship in each port.

 

[tgh]

To be fair, some parts of ships can be noisy and they have to move stuff somehow.
Craning the luggage off is a pretty crude way of doing it and probably tells us all that Viking have a lot to learn.

Next time book with Silversea…..

 

[henleybeach]

Happy anniversary guys, we have a long way to go to catch you.... we are 1 year down
Amazing photos , looks sensational

 

[Anna]

Happy birversarday Sorry that Viking weren't up to scratch.

 

[Pushka]

To be fair, some parts of ships can be noisy and they have to move stuff somehow.
Craning the luggage off is a pretty crude way of doing it and probably tells us all that Viking have a lot to learn.

Next time book with Silversea…..

Agree. But it’s never been done at midnight on even crass lines like Celebrity and Princess. It starts around 6am. Which is exactly what happened at the ship next to us this morning.

 

[RooFlyer]

Pathetic. But glad it was a great sightseeing experience and well done on the anniversary.

Tours often take 'credit' for the sights seen, but when I did trip advisor reviews, I always stuck to the tour performance, not the sights etc.