September 2022: a 7-night Alaskan cruise with my family aboard Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas, sailing from Seattle through Ketchikan, Sitka, and Juneau before a stop in Victoria, British Columbia on the way home. My brother in Seattle, my dad from Palm Springs, my mom and other brother from Phoenix—one ship, everyone in the same place for a week.
Day 1: Departure from Seattle, Washington
Our adventure began in Seattle. I flew in from San Francisco and my family from various locations.
I recorded this short clip of us sailing to Alaska. The ship, the sky, and the scenery was stunning.
Day 2: Cruising the Open Sea
The second day was spent at sea traveling up the Pacific Northwest coast. At one point I found some of my group playing tabletop games up top near the pool. This video shows what I stumbled onto.
Day 3: Ketchikan, Alaska
We arrived at Ketchikan where I grabbed a few shots of the Quantum of the Seas from the outside.
We took the "Ketchikan Waterfront and Wildlife Cruise" tour in Ketchikan, but didn't see much that day. The rest of the day I spent exploring the town and taking photos.
Creek Street is Ketchikan's historic waterfront district—storefronts on stilts over the creek, totem poles, and the particular energy of a place that has been selling its own history for a long time.
Day 4: Sitka, Alaska
Sitka was the stop that stuck. The first thing off the gangway: enormous crabs on display at the dock.
A walk into town.
I became captivated by a particular scene and decided to experiment with depth of field. I took a series of five photographs, progressively adjusting the focus to capture the boat coming into sharper view. Here’s the sequence and how it turned out.
We hiked the Totem Trail—a 1.0-mile loop through Sitka National Historical Park, totem poles spaced through old-growth forest with views of the Sound opening between the trees.
While my dad and stepmom were walking away on the trail, I took this photo of them. It's one of my favorites from the trip because they love to explore on their own and my dad dresses in vibrant colors, and I feel these capture all of that well.
Luckily, we didn't see any bears.
Before we left, with everyone suitably worn out from hiking, the group photos got less posed and better for it.
Day 5: Juneau, Alaska
Juneau is Alaska's capital and a dramatic arrival by sea—mountains dropping almost straight to the waterfront.
We visited the Mendenhall Glacier, which provided a fascinating look at glacial formation and the effects of climate change, took a tram ride up Mount Roberts, and tasted some of the freshest seafood at local eateries.
Day 6: Cruising the Open Sea
A day at sea: specialty restaurants, the pool deck, and a double rainbow off the stern that lasted about thirty seconds before anyone could decide whether to run for a camera.
Day 7: Victoria, Canada
We arrived in Victoria, a city known for its British charm and beautiful gardens. Highlights included visiting the Butchart Gardens, exploring the historic downtown, and admiring the architectural splendor of the Fairmont Empress Hotel and the Parliament Building.
Day 8: Return to Seattle
Our journey concluded as we sailed back to Seattle. On our last day we took family photos together on the ship.
After disembarking, I opted to go directly to the airport, and what I found was intense. The airport was packed.
The real value of the trip was the logistics: my brother in Seattle, my dad in Palm Springs, my mom and other brother in Phoenix—one itinerary that got everyone on the same ship for a week. And, for the record, two things that did not actually happen.