July 31, 2006
Alaska Cruise Review on Gather.com
 Cruise West Quyana Member, Kat Braman wrote a fantastic series of articles on her recent trip to Alaska. The Inside Passage cruise portion of her trip was with us onboard the Spirit of Endeavour in her post, Whales and Glaciers and Bears, Oh My! Part III: A Bird's Eye View & Sailing Day on gather.com.
The entire post is great, but I especially love her description of our beloved Chef Irv:
"Once cocktails and appetizers were over, the chef came upstairs to present that evening's dinner menu. Chef Irv, as we came to know him, is from New Orleans and has been with the Spirit of Endeavour for six years. Every night he came up to the lounge and entertained us with his humor and passion for his craft as he presented the menu. He would end it with "Ya'll ready t'eat?", wait for the crowd to cheer, wave his hand toward the dining room and say "Les eat!". He was definitely one of the most loved crew members with all of the passengers."
Thanks for sharing your experience, Kat! Quyana!
Posted by Leigh Strinsky on July 31, 2006
PermaLink | Share Your Thoughts on This Post Here(0) | Trackbacks(0)
July 28, 2006
All Things Great and Small
Submitted by Exploration Leader Peter Rumm. Peter has traveled far and wide with Cruise West, including Alaska, Mexico's Sea of Cortes, Columbia & Snake Rivers and California Wine Country.
 While we cruise through the Inside Passage and elsewhere in the Pacific, we impress our guests by spotting some fantastic wildlife. Six hundred pound brown bears, black bears, moose, wolves, coyotes, killer whales, Dalls porpoise and humpback whales just to name a few. In the mean time we are constantly surrounded by awe inspiring scenery. This combination has made cruising in Alaska and the Inside Passage one of the most popular cruising destinations in the world. While we are out in the field with our guests, it gives us great pleasure to also refocus our guest’s attention on the smallest of creatures, some are reviled, like the banana slug that’s eats fecal matter off the forest floor along with other plant life. They are hermaphroditic, with their sexual organs located on their neck, which means they mate both ways simultaneously. It gives a whole new meaning to term “necking.”
(More...)
Posted by Peter Rumm on July 28, 2006
PermaLink | Share Your Thoughts on This Post Here(0) | Trackbacks(0)
July 26, 2006
My Chicago
This post is part of our series, "My Hometown" These posts will feature the hometowns and local connections that our employees have with the ports that our small-ships visit. This week's post is submitted by Jessica Lakoff, Cruise Director aboard the Nantucket Clipper.
 Q: What is your connection to Chicago?
A: I went to school at Purdue and traveled to and from Chicago on many occasions. There is so much to see and do there that it makes a great weekend get-away or an even longer vacation. Q: Do you have a funny story or little known fact about Chicago you'd like to share? A: There is a huge auto show there in February. I used to work it every year with 3 of my girlfriends. People come from all over to go to this auto show that has 1000s of cars. Most people aren't even aware that it is there that time of year. Q: What is your favorite time of year in Chicago and why?  A: My favorite time of the year in Chicago is springtime. Everything is in bloom and really green- the baseball games are underway- people are out and about all over the city- and the waterfront is a gorgeous place to spend an afternoon. Q: Is there a particular food or song that reminds you of Chicago? A: Any Frank Sinatra songs about Chicago of course! Also, Chicago is deeply rooted in jazz and blues history... So there are great music festivals in June and Sept. for those genres of music. Also, you have to have Chicago-style pizza while you're there!  Q: What is on your "must see" list for visitors to Chicago? A: The Shedd Aquarium, the John Hancock building (there is a fantastic upscale restaurant on the 47th floor with an amazing view), Wrigleyville area, Magnificent Mile, Lincoln Park area, The Museum of Science and Industry, the beaches, Navy Pier, the Art Institute, there is also a brand new Centennial Park downtown on the southern side (near the museum campus) that is amazing- a huge park with sculptures and water sculptures and an outdoor amphitheater... I could go on and on! Q: Do you have a favorite area of the city? A: My favorite area of the city is right downtown on Michigan Avenue. There are a ton of shops and it is always busy. It is also very historic, so there are tons of older buildings (like the water tower- the only still-standing building that survived the Chicago Fire in 1871) that mix with the newer architecture to make it a wonderful contemporary collaboration of new/old. Q: Is there a favorite activity that you enjoy in Chicago? A: I love to shop! Shopping is great in Chicago- for malls and everyday stores, head to northern Michigan Ave., for boutiques and trendy shopping, head for the north side, Lincoln Park area. Actually, I also really love sipping a beer in Wrigleyville on a warm spring afternoon in an outdoor patio bar. People are out and about and it's a really happenin' place to be. Q: Is there a particular restaurant that you'd recommend for visitors?
A: Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder- on N. Clark!
Cruise West visits Chicago, IL on our Shores of Lake Michigan and French Canada and the Great Lakes cruises aboard the Nantucket Clipper. If you'd like to learn more about Chicago, IL- consider visiting the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau website.
Next week, we'll view Loreto, Mexico through the eyes of the Spirit of Endeavour's Chief Engineer.
Posted by Jessica Lakoff on July 26, 2006
PermaLink | Share Your Thoughts on This Post Here(1) | Trackbacks(0)
July 24, 2006
Meet Al and Sylvia
This article was originally printed in our Q-News, which is our quarterly Quyana Newsletter. We caught up with Al and Sylvia at their home in California.
 Q: Where was your first trip with Cruise West?
A: We went to Alaska’s Inside Passage on the Spirit of ’98. We had the Denali package too. It was a wonderful trip even though we didn’t see Mt. McKinley in Denali and we had some pretty bad weather and were overtaken by a storm, it was an adventure we really enjoyed.
Q: What was your next trip?
A: We like the small-ship cruising so much we went to the Sea of Cortes. We had been to Mexico before, flying in a small plane. It was so fun to see Loreto and La Paz by ship and the Spirit of Endeavour is a terrific boat. We took the Copper Canyon land tour and were so impressed by the very talented Tarahumaras.
Q. But you didn’t stop there did you?
A: No way. We went to Costa Rica and through the Panama Canal, which is my (Sylvia’s) favorite cruise so far. Then we took the Spirit Of Oceanus on the Coastal Odyssey cruise with an amazing helicopter ride by Mendenhall Glacier. After that, and our most recent trip, we went to the California Wine Country and enjoyed that experience as well.
Q: Have you cruised with other lines?
A: Not even once – we saw those big ships in Alaska and wouldn’t consider ever going on them – the escalators, the big lines, the waiting and waiting. We chose Cruise West because we liked the idea of fewer people, and we’ve met some lovely people onboard. They are truly wonderful.
Q: Do you have a favorite memory?
A: I (Al) went on the aerial tram line through the treetops in Costa Rica – it was wild and fun! I (Sylvia) have too many favorite memories to mention.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
A: You people are the tops as far as helping people out and taking care of them, how well you take the effort to make sure people see what can be seen in each destination. Although we’re older, the younger crew takes good, kind care of us.
We love Cruise West, everyone is so thoughtful!
Quyana, Al and Sylvia, we love you, too!
Posted by Leigh Strinsky on July 24, 2006
PermaLink | Share Your Thoughts on This Post Here(0) | Trackbacks(0)
July 21, 2006
The Columbia River meets Microsoft
 I love the Columbia River. From 1994-1997, I served as Captain aboard the Spirit of Columbia - which was on full-time assignment on our Columbia/Snake River cruises. While there, I became fascinated by the history of the river. From The Great Floods, to the history of early man, the exploration of Lewis & Clark and most recently, the taming of the river through the locks and dams that have been built - it all intrigues me.
A lifelong dream of mine, is to follow the Columbia River all the way to it's source in Canada. In the meantime, I continue to follow the news and issues of the rivers. Recently, the Seattle Times published an article about how Microsoft, Yahoo! and Google are building massive server buildings along the river. They are doing this to take advantage of the inexpensive hydroelectricity that these massive dams supply. The fact that the internet has become so vital to Americans that companies like Microsoft and Google are taking advantage of the power generated by the mighty Columbia to build bigger servers is mind boggling to me. I wonder what Lewis & Clark or even Roosevelt would think about this?
There's no doubt that the river is a crucial to the economy of the region. The  waterways are filled with barges moving supplies to the interior of the northwest, nearly half of all hydroelectricity in the US is generated by this river system and the water from the river is used to irrigate many of the farms along these fertile lands. Washington's wine country, apples, potatoes, asparagus, cherries, hops, pears and other crops all benefit from this endless supply. Of course, where there is gain, there's loss. The once abundant salmon are now near extinction and there is an ongoing effort to breach the dams in order to allow the salmon to repopulate.
I found a fantastic article at the National Geographic website that I thought was worth sharing. The article, A River Dammed written by Fen Montaigne and photographed by Jim Richardson explores these issues and offers wonderful interactive features, including audio interviews with the photographer and a map that does a great job of explaining the river system.
Where do I stand on the issues? Squarely in the middle. After spending three years on the river, absorbing the history, and witnessing the power and life that the river supplies to our economy, I remain undecided. What I know for sure is that the river is life - past, present and future. The cruise is wonderful and a great way to learn about the history, get to know the people who's livelihood depends upon the river, follow the waterways of great explorers and gain a better understanding of the issues. If you've traveled with us on the river, I'd love to hear from you. Was there a particular part of the experience that really spoke to you? How would you describe the complexities of the river to someone who's never seen it?
Our River Voyages of Discovery operate in the spring and fall, round-trip from Portland.
Posted by Leigh Strinsky on July 21, 2006
PermaLink | Share Your Thoughts on This Post Here(0) | Trackbacks(0)
July 19, 2006
My Nome
This post is part of our series, "My Hometown" These posts will feature the hometowns and local connections that our employees have with the ports that our small-ships visit. This week's post is submitted by John Krielkamp, Vice President of Land Operations.
 Q: What is your connection to Nome?
A: I lived in Nome from 1978-1987.
Q: Do you have a funny story or little known fact about Nome you’d like to share?
A:I joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in '78 after graduating from Seattle University. I asked the Jesuits to send me someplace far off and romantic....they sent me to Nome.
Q: What is your favorite time of year in Nome and why?
A: Albeit it is brief....but the fall is spectacular in Nome and the surrounding Seward Peninsula. The tundra becomes a quilt of orange, red, green and yellow. This makes for memorable moose hunting, whether you bag one or not.
Q: Is there a particular food or song that reminds you of Nome?
A: Food: Moose heart, stuffed with wild rice, mushrooms and garlic. Nome Song: "Fall on me"....The Pussette-Dart Band.
 Q: What is on your “must see” list for visitors when in Nome?
A: Go to the Museum and check out Marguerite Lee's picture ( Chuck's wife)...it is in the in the archives...of the Kegoyak Kozga building in Nome. Also, the Nome nugget has a picture of her stepping off the plane in Nome after being crowned the First Miss Alaska in the 30's.
Q: Do you have a favorite area of the city?
A: Front street is always pretty entertaining day or night...Nome has 12 bars and just as many churches.
Q: Is there a favorite activity that you enjoy in Nome? 
A: Living in Nome as 25 years ago was pretty special....I lived in a geodesic hut, right on the beach and had a dog team...hung out with a lot of other folks that had teams as well...as fun as it was, I learned that having a team is a great way to ruin any love for dogs.
My life moment in Nome came one December evening...I was standing on the runners of my sled about 5 miles out of Nome, it was at least 20 below based on the icicles that were building on my beard and mustache, it was a crystal clear evening, and I was listening to nothing but the trot of the dogs feet on the trail as we headed for Nome under with the lights of the City glowing in the distance...within minutes, the black starlit sky came alive with the Northern Lights were dancing from one horizon to the other in several different colors.
Q: Is there a particular restaurant that you’d recommend for visitors?
A: The Moose Lips Cafe....a.k.a. the Polar Cub Cafe....it's a folksy, friendly kinda place....often people would have their left over fries brought to my table for lunch...as they knew I would eat them.
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: Take the time to experience how others cultures live...it can give you a much better appreciation for what you have.
Cruise West visits Nome, AK on our Voyage to the Bering Sea and In Harriman's Wake cruises aboard the all-suite, Spirit of Oceanus. If you'd like to learn more about Nome, AK - consider visiting the Nome Chamber of Commerce website.
Next week, we'll view Chicago, IL through the eyes of Cruise West Cruise Director, Jessica Lakoff.
Posted by John Kreilkamp on July 19, 2006
PermaLink | Share Your Thoughts on This Post Here(0) | Trackbacks(0)
July 17, 2006
Former President, Quyana Member
 Guests aboard the December 7, 2005 Gems of Costa Rica cruise on the Pacific Explorer were delighted with the presence of former President of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Carazo Odio and his wife, Estrella Carazo.
Carazo served as president of Costa Rica from 1978 to 1982. During his term, he founded The University of Peace, an institution focused and dedicated on the study and promotion of world peace and co-authored the book, The Future of Peace in the Twenty-First Century.
Their Gems of Costa Rica cruise 8-day itinerary traveled across the western coast of the country, visiting wildlife refuges, and tropical isles along the way.
Said Carazo, “Our trip with Cruise West was excellent, with superb service and attention from the crew. Costa Rica is always beautiful and just as impressive from the ocean.”
What an honor it was to have President Carazo sail with us. We believe that all of our Quyana members deserve the presidential treatment and plan to honor them regularly in our Monday blog post. Check back often to meet more our extraordinary guests.
Posted by Leigh Strinsky on July 17, 2006
PermaLink | Share Your Thoughts on This Post Here(0) | Trackbacks(0)
July 14, 2006
Glacier Bay National Park
Daily Adventure Update- Submitted by the Spirit of Discovery - currently on our Wilderness Inside Passage voyage in Alaska.
What the Ice Reveals . . .
 Be prepared for a full day of sightseeing in spectacular Glacier Bay with a National Park Ranger and Huna cultural interpreter on board. Birders will delight at the variety of species that are found in these waters and we have good chances for an array of wildlife encounters. Mountain goats, harbor seals, brown and black bears are all at home here, and in recent years, moose sightings at the southern end of the bay have become surprisingly more frequent. Throughout the day, we’ll see some of the most majestic sights of our tour. The Marble Islands are just one of the areas designated for protection of nesting birds and no natural predators live here. Because of their isolated geography, it is an ideal site to conduct studies. Research on the traditional native practice of harvesting gull eggs, and the interactions between different species continue to provide researchers with new insight. We will arrive at the head of Tarr Inlet where the Grand Pacific and Margerie Glaciers make their great journeys from mountains to the water’s edge. While you look at these giant rivers of ice, think about what Captain George Vancouver or John Muir thought when they stumbled upon these giant faces that took up most of what is now Glacier Bay. Following Tarr Inlet, we will continue our glacier viewing and wildlife encounters as we make our way back down the West Arm of the bay. Throughout the last 200 years, many glaciers in Glacier Bay have undergone massive retreat. Over 65 miles of new terrain have been uncovered, inspiring much international research concerning plant and animal succession and adaptability.
Posted by Leigh Strinsky on July 14, 2006
PermaLink | Share Your Thoughts on This Post Here(0) | Trackbacks(0)
July 12, 2006
My Charleston
This post is the first in our new series, "My Hometown" These posts will feature the hometowns and local connections that our employees have with the ports that our small-ships visit. This week's post is submitted by Leigh Strinsky, former Captain & now Manager of Online Initiatives.
 Q: What is your connection to Charleston, S.C.?
A: My brother & his family live in Charleston and many years ago, I lived there for a summer. I come from a family of boaters, so long before my brother moved to Charleston, we would spend long weekends on the waterways in and around Charleston..
Q: What is your favorite time of year in Charleston & why?
A: I love spring. The azaleas are in full bloom, the weather is just about perfect. Low humidity, sunny days, light breezes.
Q: Is there a particular food or song that reminds you of Charleston?
A: Boiled Peanuts! If you’ve never tried them, you have to find a roadside stand and buy a bag. Another food that comes to mind is Hoppin’ John (black-eyed peas & rice), which is a classic recipe for this area, although I must admit, I limit my consumption to New Year’s Day. (Southerner’s eat black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Year’s Day to bring luck.)
 Q: What is on your “must see” list for visitors to Charleston?
A: The list is pretty long, but at the top of the list, is the Market, followed by a walk along The Battery. Other great experiences including taking a carriage tour or renting a bicycle carriage. Charleston is a city that with a buzz, night & day, so, take time to walk around downtown in the evening as well.
Q: Is there a favorite activity that you enjoy in Charleston?
A: I love to people watch. I especially love to watch the “basket ladies” at the market. They are very talented and entertaining. Many of them still speak Gullah, so it’s very interesting to watch and listen.
Q: Do you have a favorite area of the city?
A: I love downtown. It is very pedestrian friendly. Shopping is amazing and of course, the beautiful  architecture, fantastic restaurants and people watching could keep anyone busy for days.
Q: Is there a particular restaurant that you’d recommend for visitors?
A: That’s a tough question, because there are so many amazing restaurants in Charleston. World class, really. But, my favorite place for “roll up your sleeves” seafood is Hyman’s Seafood. My picks include the Soft-shell Crab Sandwich, Oyster Po-Boy or She-Crab Soup. Plus, they serve up complimentary boiled peanuts! Pure Heaven!
Cruise West visits Charleston, SC on our Antebellum South and our Cradle of Colonial America cruises aboard the Nantucket Clipper. If you'd like to learn more about Charleston, SC- consider visiting the Charleston Convention and Visitor's Bureau website.
Posted by Leigh Strinsky on July 12, 2006
PermaLink | Share Your Thoughts on This Post Here(0) | Trackbacks(0)
July 10, 2006
Meet Quyana Member Mike Morse
 Guest aboard the Spirit of ’98 sees a need and takes action...
Mike and Debbie Morse were first drawn to Cruise West by Lewis & Clark Bicenntenial cruise information. They took the Spirit of ’98 on the Columbia & Snake Rivers in the spring of 2005.
It so happened that Cruise West Chairman, Dick West, was on their cruise and Mike mentioned to Dick that although the bathrooms on the vessel were spacious, the pedestal sinks offered no storage. He told Dick he had an idea for a shelf and Dick said, "Send your shelf idea to us. If we like it we will get them.”
In the picture you can see the shelf that Mike made. This is an extra. The rest can be found being put to good use in the bathrooms on the Spirit of ’98.
This spring Mike and Debbie took the British Columbia cruise on the Spirit of Endeavour. They loved the trip and of course, Mike has another shelf idea in the works.
Quyana, Mike!
Posted by Leigh Strinsky on July 10, 2006
PermaLink | Share Your Thoughts on This Post Here(0) | Trackbacks(0)
July 07, 2006
Quyana Haiku
 I thought this would be fun for a Friday and a great way to start the weekend. Please enjoy this Haiku, written by Quyana Member and Poet Joesph J. Turncale. Joseph composed the first three while traveling on our British Columbia cruise aboard the Spirit of Columbia. The last two are from his book, Season of the Warrior: A Poetic Tribute to Warriors.
1.
Gray clouds above
Sailing calm waters
Mysterious islands
2.
Cool and refreshing
Wind in your face
Looking out to sea.
3.
Red leaves on trees
Sweet chill in the air
Natures paint brush
(More...)
Posted by Leigh Strinsky on July 07, 2006
PermaLink | Share Your Thoughts on This Post Here(0) | Trackbacks(0)
July 03, 2006
Summer Camp in the Bering Sea?
 Last week, I discovered a blog post from Nunivak Island, entitled "First Cruise Ship of the Year" that chronicled the arrival of the Spirit of Oceanus and our guests, who were on our Voyage to the Bering Sea cruise. What was amazing to me, was that the ship arrived in the morning and by that evening, the post was live on their blog, complete with video.
To understand what a great find blog site is, you need to know that Nunivak Island is part Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge and the second largest island in the Bering Sea and hundreds of miles from the modern conveniences that most of us take for granted. There are only about 200 residents on the island.
Being a semi-geek, I was obsessed with figuring out how they managed:
1) To have internet connection
2) To maintain a blog so rich in content
3) To go beyond the basics of blogging and embed video, slides and other forms of media on their site
Martin Leonard, author of the post, is a faculty member at the Summer Science Field and Research Incentive Program for High School Science and Technology Students in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta. This program is sponsored by the UAF- University of Alaska-Fairbanks and their goal is to expose their students to "both the principles of Western Ecology and to Native Ways of Knowing" and is mainly open to top performing high school students that reside within the Yukon Delta who plan to attend the University of Alaska. The students pay only nominal expenses, with the funding coming from a variety of sources. There are also many sponsors, including a satellite communications company.
I love that their site is so rich in content. From historical slide shows, video clips of rare birds, to simply notes posted for friends & family - the site is an enjoyable read. Really, it is the next best thing to being there! I'm sure that our guests came away from their experience on Nunivak Island with a true appreciation for the work of these students and a deep admiration for their commitment to their culture and the environment.
Thanks, Martin, for blogging about us and for sharing your program with the world!
Posted by on July 03, 2006
PermaLink | Share Your Thoughts on This Post Here(2) | Trackbacks(0)
|
|
|
|
videos 
booked guests 