This December "Cruise Update" should
reach you between
Christmas and New Year's. I wish you all a wonderful
Holiday
Season! Since the November "Cruise Update" our
number of
booked cruisers has increased by more than 50%, from
19 to 29!
We come from CA, MD, MN, FL, IN, CT, AK, PA, MI and Barbados!
There are still several staterooms
of our group's allotment
remaining. Please let me know if you are undecided
yet hoping
to join us and I'll be happy to answer any questions
you may have.
If you are just enjoying a "virtual cruise", write me
a note also. I
enjoy hearing from all of you!
Here are a few comments from two couples
who have been on
multiple previous Libertarian Cruises, then another description
of
"A Day on the MS Statendam".
"We found
the second Libertarian cruise to be fun, relaxing and
politically stimulating.
The dinner conversations and the ability to
meet fellow Libertarians will be
remembered."
Dick and Donna Mancini, Louisville,
Kentucky
"It's great to spend a relaxing
week with people you love
to talk with."
- Barbara Bourland, West Lafayette, IN
DAY THREE ON THE MS STATENDAM
By 7 A.M. we are docked at Ketchikan,
Alaska. This town
is squeezed between mountains and the sea and is Alaska's
gateway to the south. Like most communities in
Southeastern
Alaska, Ketchikan is surrounded by vast wilderness and
impassible mountains. Everything must come to it
by air or by
sea!
A few blocks from the downtown cruise
ship dock is Creek
Street, a former red-light district. Today, some
converted "houses"
now feature museums providing a look at the "good ol'
days" in
the district. The Frontier Saloon features a theatrical
version in
a locally produced musical comedy "The Fish Pirate's
Daughter".
There are many venues displaying the
culture of the native
Tlingit, Tsimshian and Haida Indians. Ketchikan
is perhaps
best known as having the world's largest collection of
Totem
Poles. Some of the shore excursions you'll have to choose
from
include Nature Hikes, Sport Fishing, a visit to a native
village,
and a seaplane adventure.
Don't forget to be back aboard before
we cast off at 3! It's
a beautiful sight as we leave port viewed from the sun
deck. The
3000-foot-high Deer Mountain I climbed this morning looks
even
bigger now as it looms behind Ketchikan. As we
move along the
beautiful coastline, it's time to imagine what adventures
will await
us tomorrow in Juneau. Ellen and I prepare for our next
gourmet
meal in time to make a relaxing visit to the piano bar.
At dinner
everyone eagerly chats about their exciting day ashore
as our
hardworking staff manages a perfect presentation of our
choices
of meals.
We'll arrive in port again at 7 A.M.
tomorrow, so I'll turn in
shortly after enjoying tonight's stage show. Of
course, if the
cards get hot for my evening blackjack game, I may stay
up a
little later (and then check out the midnight buffet).
I hope you've
made plans to join us!
Till next time,
Ken