DAY 5--CRUISING THE HUBBARD GLACIER

 BACKGROUND INFO:

Today we are cruising to view the Hubbard Glacier.  It is the largest tidewater glacier in North America and the world at 76 miles long, 7 miles wide, and 600 feet tall.  350 feet of the ice is above the water which we will be viewing and 250 feet is below the water level.  It takes the ice 400 years to traverse the length of the glacier so the ice we see at the face of Hubbard is 400 years old.  Huge chunks of ice (icebergs which are the size of a 10 story building) routinely break off the face of the glacier (this is called calving).  In June of this year the Norwegian Sun (photo of her on yesterday's post pulling into Juneau) hit a growler (piece of ice smaller than an iceberg) while in foggy conditions as it approached Hubbard Glacier.  It's cruise was cut short and the Sun returned to Seattle for repairs.

LAST NIGHT:

Serhii, the head bartender from Ukraine but now lives in Germany.

Serhii brought our pigs-in-a blanket to us at the bar in Mariner Lounge.

                           Alex was playing in the Mariner Lounge during cocktail hour.

At night half of La Veranda buffet turns into an Italian restaurant called Sette Mari.  These appetizers are automatically brought to the tables.

Rey, the maitre'd, had saved a window table for us.  The restaurant was almost full last night.

Janine was our wine sommelier.  We have known her for several years also.  Very nice lady.

This is Kadek (from Bali) who assisted our waiter, Skinny.  Skinny usually delivers our room service breakfast and his photo was on an earlier post.

I had the veal parmesan with some spaghetti.  This was possibly the BEST veal parm I have ever had on a Regent ship.  Nice a moist piece of bone in veal.

                                Rebecca chose this veal limone and said it was also excellent.

I asked for the chef to come out so I could personally thank him for a great dinner.  This is Chef Siegfred.  He was also the Sette Mari chef on our world cruise earlier this year.

After dinner we adjourned to front row, center stage seats for Linda Gentille's high energy show.  We had seen her shows on other Regent cruises and love her.  She is an amazing pianist.

        Last night the ship was rocking and rolling some, and as a result, there was a loud popping noise coming from our balcony window/door.  I could not sleep and was up several times to see if I could figure out where exactly the noise was coming from.  This was around 3am and I could not sleep after that.  Rebecca, who wears ear plugs, said she could even hear it.  I finally called down to reception at 3:30 and the night time housekeeping supervisor came to the room.  I wanted her to verify the noise.  She said she could try to get a maintenance man then but I said no we can wait until 7:30am after we get up.  

        At 8am a housekeeping supervisor, maintenance man, and our suite steward showed up.  The ocean was not as rough but he could still hear the noise.  He put some "shims" (wedges) around the upper part and so far the noise is gone.  The Captain said we are to have some rough seas later today after we leave the Hubbard Glacier and tonight.  So hope the noise is fixed!! 

TODAY:

No room service for us today.  Every Sunday they serve caviar and champagne at breakfast in the restaurants.  I asked for a big order of caviar.  We did not have champagne but did have a bloody Mary.

     I had these eggs benedict.  Rebecca had two eggs over medium and some crispy bacon.

At 11:20 this morning we were approaching the Hubbard Glacier.  Ships is at yellow arrow in red circle.  The glacier is at the end of the red line.

At noon we went up to La Veranda for a bite to eat.  We got a nice window table so we could see the glaciers.

                                      As we approached the glaciers we see ice from them.

                                                                    Two seals playing

                                            This the Turner Glacier just next to Hubbard.

Following are some photos of the Hubbard Glacier.  Remember to click on them to enlarge for better viewing.  It was a really nice day (finally) for viewing the glaciers.  The view sailing in as amazing.  We have been to Hubbard Glacier on several other cruises but our Captain got the ship very close today.  We were actually less than a mile from the face of Hubbard today.  The glacier was very noisy today with almost constant "growling" and we saw several "calvings".

We will be sailing out of the protected waters this evening and tonight into the open ocean.  We have

 been advised that it will be a rough ride.  As you see our steward has prepared the balcony furniture for it.  Table is upside down and chairs close together.

We did not hit the fitness center today.  Rebecca may be coming down with an upper respiratory thing and I am very tired from not being able to sleep due to the noise.  I thought I might get a nap this afternoon but I am not a nap kind of guy.  Think I will get a shower and put half of a scopolamine patch behind my ear.  I have never been sea sick but I like to practice "safe cruising" and use a half patch just in case.  Planning Mariner Lounge again for cocktail hour then dinner in Compass Rose.  There is supposed to be another production show in the theater at 9:30 but I'm guessing it will be rescheduled if it is rough for the safety of the cast.  We miss watching NFL games today.