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So today was a tender day. Tender I here you ask??

Well all this means is that you cant' get off the ship via a gangplank you have to get on a smaller boat that takes you into the dock so the whole operation takes that little bit longer. To be fair to Royal Caribbean the operation today was actually quite slick and quick and we were ashore in less than ten minutes. Our Port of call today was Icy Point Strait and to be honest it was one of those purpose built ports that had been created by the cruise line, staffed by the cruise line making more money for the cruise line.

It's a shame actually as this town is actually the largest settlement of natives called the Tlingit. They are a cross between native American Indians and Eskimo's in

appearance. The building that the cruise line is now using as its gift shop come restaurant etc was actually an old salmon cannery that was built in 1912. The one good things that they have done is leave some of the old machinery in place so you can understand how fresh salmon is canned and cut up. The one big surprise to us both was that Salmon goes into the tin raw is sealed and then placed in circular drum like ovens and cooked at high temperatures. You learn something new every day.

Trying to avoid the Disney like gift stores etc we took a two mile walk into what was supposed to be the nearest city, a place called Hoonah. At first we walked along the beach that was actually made up of slate shavings but most oddly mussel shells. You were literally walking over thousands and thousands of opened mussel shells.

Our walk was rewarded with two wildlife spottings, firstly we saw a wild dear paddling along the edge of the shoreline heading into town then we saw an American Eagle eating what ever it had caught high up in a tree, definitely a highlight.

Now whoever decided to call Hoonah a city has clearly never been to any other city! This was a ramshackle range of houses and buildings and warehouses assembled together along a winding road and it felt poor.

Clearly the town was based around the fishing industry with a harbour full of fishing boats and the wharfs and quays lined with fish packing plants and canneries. The town had some charm but it was to be mainly found in its faded wash board houses and views. If you lived here you would really need to love fishing as there did not seem to be anything else to do.

So after our brief look around we headed back down the two mile route and back to the disney style perfection of the cruise company port. The good news is that at least it provides employment opportunities to a town that clearly does not have many but all the money that was being spent was going into Royal Caribbean's pockets and not necessarily into the local economy and thats a real shame.

Succumbing to the temptations that the cruise company had cleverly wafted in front of us we stopped for some lunch out in the glorious sunshine looking out to sea and the ship itself. We had Halibut and chips and I have to say that it was yummy and it felt good to be off the floating hotel just for a little bit at least.

Having exhausted all that Icy Strait Point had to offer in all but a couple of hours we headed back to the tender point and the ship to sit out on the balcony and drink in more of those snow capped mountains and enjoy the sunshine.

Well relaxing time has to end at some time so it was off to the gym for Jonathan for an hours run on the treadmill meaning just over seven miles. There is no way that I would run on the running track, it has to many people getting in the way and stopping in the middle of if for my liking. Not a fan of treadmills but when needs must and all that.

As for Trevor, well he braved deck 11 and the swimming pool that was by now full of families so no good swim workout there!

To be honest all the ships outdoor decks were busy as it was as it has been since we arrived in Alaska another glorious sunny day. We did actually venture out with our coats on this morning but they lasted all of twenty minutes as we realised it was a lot warmer than it had felt in the shelter of our balcony first thing in the morning.

So after all our healthy (ish) activities it was time to put on our tuxes for the last time this cruise and head on down to formal night. First stop of the evening was a pre dinner glass of wine in the Spinnaker Lounge. To be honest the wine was terrible but we still drank it and then it was time for dinner. Tonight our table neighbours from Houston were not there again but our Canadian / Montréal neighbours were. It was lobster tails and shrimp for us both this evening, to be honest it probably sounds better than it was but the moment you see Lobster on a menu you just have you have it dont you ?

After dinner we headed up to the disco on the 13th deck for an after dinner drink followed by our usual visit to Rebecca and the Champagne bar for a final night cap on deck six.

Its actually been quite a chilled day today and to be honest I think that our bodies needed it. We are undoubtedly over the jet lag but still struggling with a lack of night time so its goodnight from me........Ketchikan in the morning and thats meant to be the the city with the highest rainfall in Alaska. Lets see if we can turn that around and bring the sunshine with us like we have the whole of the cruise so far.

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