You won't need a pricey wardrobe to experience Alaska's laid-back, friendly ambiance. Wear sturdy sh

To celebrate our anniversary, husband st louis hotel new orleans Rob and I took a seven-day Alaska cruise on Holland America's ms Oosterdam. We enjoyed seeing God's natural wonders from a safe and comfortable ship giant glaciers, abundant wildlife, majestic peaks and luscious rainforests.
Embarking in Seattle on a sunny Sunday, we saw Mt. Rainier from the ship's stern pool. After attending the lifeboat drill and Catholic Mass, we enjoyed a five-course dinner with other guests from Los Angeles and Dallas.
After dinner, st louis hotel new orleans we listened st louis hotel new orleans to the Adagio Strings quartet play selections by Mozart, Bach and Schubert in the Explorer's Caf . Other guests st louis hotel new orleans played Bingo, watched a comedy show, gambled in the casino, sang along in the piano bar and danced.
A sea-day highlight st louis hotel new orleans was Tracy Arm, a scenic st louis hotel new orleans fjord with steep granite walls carpeted in green Sitka spruce striped by long cascades of whitewater. Within a one-hour time span, we had rain, snow, hail and momentary sunshine. While some guests st louis hotel new orleans watched the scenery st louis hotel new orleans indoors from the forward observation deck, we donned warm jackets to experience the glacier on an outdoor deck. During the brief hail storm we ducked into the Lido buffet for hot tea.
The Pinnacle Grill ($10 lunch, $25 dinner) provides elegant china, stemware and linens for a romantic dinner for two or a special group celebration. Dinner at the Pinnacle Grill is table side food theatre at its finest. Servers lace lobster bisque with aged cognac, flamb entrees and desserts st louis hotel new orleans such as Baked Alaska. Creative chefs go beyond simply preparing mouth-watering dishes. They create food artistry.
For our Le Cirque dinner, we had delightful lobster salad and butternut squash with huckleberry soup. Lucia, our efficient and attentive server, sliced Rob's Chateaubriand table side. My seared Alaskan Black Cod was prepared with a red-wine reduction. For dessert, I chose a decadent Napoleon with fresh berries, while Rob ordered his favorite, Cr me Br l e.
During our cruise, we visited three Alaska st louis hotel new orleans ports plus Victoria, B.C. Unlike some popular destinations where previous visitors st louis hotel new orleans have worn the welcome mat thin, Alaska ports are friendly and safe. Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan warmly st louis hotel new orleans welcome visitors from May through September.
Southeast Alaskans are friendly, outdoor types who favour rubber boots, Levis and hooded sweatshirts. They're often seen with large dogs, rugged like the Last Frontier they inhabit. Despite frequent rain, locals do not carry umbrellas which are for wimps.
Juneau ( www.traveljuneau.com , 1-800-587-2201) offers a choice of affordable attractions. The town developed quickly after the 1800s gold rush. Today cruise ships dock in city centre, enabling guests to walk to dockside tour vendors, shops, the library (get/send email), the Red Dog Saloon and Mount Roberts Tramway.
Juneau's best-known attraction, Mendenhall Glacier, is a 15-minute ride from downtown. Cruise ships sell various motor coach tours. Take an express bus from the cruise ship dock to Mendenhall for $8 each way. Visitor Center admission is $3, free with a National Park pass.
Don't miss the movie and accessible trails maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. We saw a porcupine back down one tree and scamper up another. On a previous visit, we saw a mama bear and her cubs eating salmon in the stream.
Set in the Tongass National Rainforest, Glacier Gardens is a unique; family-owned botanical garden. The Visitor Center brims with hanging baskets of fragrant petunias. Outdoors, we enjoyed photographing the unique, upside-down flower trees.
We rode a covered golf car up a steep trail through the rainforest as our driver shared st louis hotel new orleans the garden's history. At the top, we got out for stunning airport st louis hotel new orleans views and photo ops. www.glaciergardens.com . 907-790-3377.
Built in 2003, the Oosterdam caters to a wide range of interests. To work off calories, we hit the fitness centre and walked around the promenade deck. Other guests took digital computer or cooking classes, attended art auctions, played trivia or cards, visited the spa, took afternoon st louis hotel new orleans tea and socialized in lounges. More active guests played basketball and volleyball.
You won't need a pricey wardrobe to experience Alaska's laid-back, friendly ambiance. Wear sturdy shoes and dress in removable layers. Dozens of ships ply Alaska waters between May and September. Details: www.hollandamerica.com or 1-877-932-4259. n