Carnival Miracle 2013 7-Day Alaska Cruise Review
Day 4        June  14, 2013            Skagway, Alaska                        Arrival:   7:00AM                       Departure:  9:00PM
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Daily Overview:   Today the Carnival Miracle docked in Skagway, Alaska. The ship arrived before 6:00AM because it was docked when I woke up. The Carnival Miracle shared Skagway with Island Princess, Grand Princess, and the Norwegian Sun.  Skagway was crowded during the morning and early afternoon because of 4 cruise ships docked.  I enjoyed the stop in Skagway, Alaska! 
        Before breakfast I went to the front area of Deck 9, Lido, to look at Skagway.   It was cold in the morning, but the temperature increased to the high 70's or low 80's by noon.  The afternoon was very hot! 

Morning - Skagway From Front Of Ship

Side View of Ship With Pier

Grand Princess Docked

Norwegian Sun Backing In

View From Balcony Of Gangway

Deck 9 - Lido Looking Towards Back

Port Side View From Ship

Skagway

From Back Looking Foward

Pool

Golf Cart and Bus On Pier

Train Pulled Onto Pier

Pier View From Front

Deck 10

View of Back of Island Princess

Breakfast - Day 4

Breakfast:

I had breakfast in Horatio's Lido Buffet.  The buffet was very crowded because the majority of passengers were in a hurry to get off.  I decided to wait to eat later than normal in order to try to avoid the large lido crowd.  An hour after breakfast had started the buffet was still packed.   The breakfast food was the typical and was still very good!  I still didn't get my bacon served to me!    


I only took 1 breakfast picture today.  There are more food pictures (lunch and dinner) later in Day 4's review. 

Zoomed in View of Skagway

People Have Been Let Off

Rock Paintings

Gangway Closes; Tide Shifts:     When I was ready to get off an announcement was made that the gangway was closing and would be moved onto a different deck.  I decided to go wait in line at the designated area.  In order to move the gangway the pier workers have to get a "gangway mover" (picture below) and remove the gangway and then lower or raise it to a different deck.  Meanwhile, on the ship the photography staff have to move their equipment, security has to move the x-ray and Sail & Sign Machines, and the all of the posters & information signs have to be moved.  
It is a lot of work changing the gangway because of tides!  The process of changing floors takes only 20-25 minutes. 

View of Ship From Pier

Front of Ship From Pier

Off The Ship & Emergency Alarm Sounds: 
A few minutes after getting off the ship an announcement is made from the Miracle and then the Muster Station Alarm sounded.  The crew was having an emergency drill. Following the alarm a crew member came over the loudspeaker and told guests to disregard the alarm.  A few minutes later all of the other cruise ships were blowing their muster station alarms.  I think the Coast Guard was inspecting the ship's emergency alarms. 
I got part of the Miracle's Muster Station Alarm on video and I will be posting it online soon!  
In case you are wondering... The Grand Princess had the loudest emergency alarm! 

Carnival Jubilee Rock Painting

Carnival Spirit Rock Painting

Mouth of Carnival Miracle

Carnival Miracle

Front of Carnival Miracle

Grand Princess & Norwegian Sun Docked

Miracle With Pier

Ships in Harbor

Grand Princess With Marina in Front

Marina

Railroad Track

In Skagway

Top of Building Picture

Outside of Visitor's Center

Golden North Hotel

Picture of Town

Mountains in the Distance

View of Town

Post Office Box

Train Tracks

Train Pulling in Backwards

Front of A Train

Lots of Trains!

Creek or Stream

Grand Princess in Distance

Front of Ship

Ship Name With On "Mouth"

Carnival Jubilee Art

Side View Looking Towards Front

Lunch in Horatio's: 
Today's Taste of the Nations was "French".  I had my typical Pastrami on Rye sandwich from the deli and then I got some fish from the French Food Line.  The fish was very good and well worth eating! The bread good and the same as the main dining room, but was served at room temperature.  Below you will see three more lido buffet lunch pictures:

Fish & Bread

Beef & Fish

Cookies, Cake, & Red Velvet Cupcake

Cookies & Cake

Gangway

Little Activity On Pier

Spare Gangway?

Back off Ship

Railroad Crossing

View of Carnival Miracle From Opp. Side

Island Princess

Grand Princess

Railroad Tracks With Town in Background

Railroad Crossing Sign

Tracks With Mountains in Background

Mile Sign

Old Train Cars

Bus

Front of Miracle With Other Two Ships

Tour Information Booth On Pier

Norwegian Sun

Carnival Miracle

Main Dining Room Dinner:    Once again the dinner in the main dining room was great!  The food and service were great!  Tonight I had Shrimp & Fries from the Comfort Kitchen section of the dining room menu.  The Shrimp & Fries dish also came with a slice of watermelon. For dessert, I had apple pie which had a different texture than some of the other Carnival apple pies that I have eaten. It was still very good.   Once again I am not posting names of the food items because I do not know the names of all of the food items.  These dinner food pictures are in photo gallery format: 

After dinner I went outside on Deck 3 to the very back to get a picture of the Island Princess.  At dinner we got a table at the very back so we had a good view of the back of the Island Princess. 


Show:  "North to Alaska":    A local entertainer came onto the ship and did a show before the ship left port.  This show presented the history Skagway through songs and stories.  It was very good and very informational!  

View From Deck 3 Of Pier

Island Princess

Skagway, Alaska

Stateroom:
After dinner my stateroom was cleaned and a new towel animal was left.  



"Pier-Runners" View From The Balcony: 
Before the gangway was removed from the ship a few guests were running down the pier yelling "wait for me".  They were lucky they made it because the gangway removal truck was almost hooked up to remove the gangway.  The people were able to make it onboard, but I heard some people were not as lucky.  

Towel Animal

Gangway Getting Removed - On Balcony

Gangway Getting Removed

View of Pier From Deck 9 - Front

Front of Ship

2 Carnival Cruise's Rock Arts

View of High Mountain

Setting Sail:  The ship was scheduled to leave Skagway, Alaska around 9:00PM.  I think the ship left on-time.  It was still full daylight as we pulled out of Skagway.  

Ship Pulling Out Backwards

Carnival Tropicale Art

Lots of Rock Art!

Princess Ship in Background

Area Where Island Princess Was Docked

End of Pier

Looking Back at the Pier

Ship in the Distance

Hypnotist Show:   Later in the evening we also were treated to a hypnotist show.  The show was very funny and well worth watching.  The hypnotized people did crazy things like smell each other's shoes and dance around on the stage.  I  have not decided if it was real or acting.  The show was very good! 

Pool

Sunset

View From Balcony Of What Is Left Of Sunset

Next:
Day 5 - Juneau, Alaska                 Click Here To View Review For Juneau, Alaska