The cruise lines usually plan the itineraries so that we are in a new port each day, but pesky details of geography require one or two days of just crusing.
I don't get bored on the these days at sea. It gives me a chance to walk out on deck and fill my lungs with the healthy sea air. Or maybe sit by the pool with a good book and a drink with an umbrella in it. That's relaxation!
Herman Melville got it right in the first paragraph of Moby Dick:
Call me Ishmael. Some years ago - never mind how long precisely - having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen, and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off - then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.
Of course, a few pages later he talks about how a real man signs on as sailor for an for an ocean voyage, because passengers are weenies.
I was a little concerned that the weather might be lousy for this trip. The Northwest is known for it's rainfall and nobody confuses Alaska with the Caribbean in terms of sunshine.
We had a little rain as we left Seattle, but we had surprisingly good weather for the rest of the cruise.
The coast of British Columbia is very rugged, wild and undeveloped. I told my wife that this area is known as the "Canadian Riviera". She's learned to not rely on me for facts like this.
Today we got a couples massage in the ship's spa. This cost extra, but it was a great way to get relaxed after the plane ride and all the "hurry-up and wait" of embarkation.
