The Wilderness Discoverer

In port at Klawock.

I've never been on one of the major cruise ships but I've read enough to make comparisons.  This is very different.  They take your photos on boarding only so that the crew can connect names with faces, not so that they can sell you pictures.  The captain is accessible, mingling with passengers and answering questions.  Same for the crew, most of whom have degrees in relevant fields such as marine biology.  They get as excited about the wildlife and the scenery as the passengers.  One night they set up a microscope so you could see phytoplankton up close; another night there was an optional talk on salmon fishing.  The bridge is open- anyone can go up and watch them pilot the ship. 

Our stateroom-not luxurious,but all the necessities incuding a comfortable bed and a spectacular view.

Side of stateroom, near the door.

We really enjoyed our fellow passengers- they were smart, curious and down-to-earth. There were a few family groups (including grandparents) and many Australians. The adventurous surroundings brought out a decades-old memory and I told them I remembered reading as a child about their Prime Minister, Harold Holt, who disappeared while scuba diving off the coast of Australia in 1967. I'd just thought it was a colorful way for a politician to go. They replied that he was an accomplished scuba diver, but had gone into a dangerous area and it was probably foolhardy behavior. Ron asked if they could arrange for Obama to visit the area.

The ship in port in Wrangell, July 4

Ron took this picture the week before, as the Wilderness Discoverer passed in front of our B&B in Wrangell.

Link to my review of the ship on CruiseCritic.com (under a pseudonym) here.

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