Setting Sail

Today was the day we never thought would come. After months of waiting, our Alaska cruise embarkation day was finally here.

We had a full night of sleep for the most part. I wouldn’t go as far as saying we were well rested, but it was certainly better than the night before.

Once again we moved our mountain of luggage down the elevator and out to the street for a taxi ride to the port. My mom, wife, and daughter rode in a Prius with several bags, while my dad, Benson, and I rode in a van with the larger pieces. The drive only took 15 to 20 minutes.

First Glimpse of the Ship

Seeing the ship in person was striking. It looked much larger than I imagined. Benson spotted it right away and eagerly asked if it was ours. I smiled and told him, “Yes!”

We had arranged wheelchair assistance for my dad so he would not need to stand in long lines. This made the boarding process smoother than it had been on our first cruise. We weren’t the first on board, but we were close. I noticed guests from the previous sailing still on the ship, and later learned many of them would be continuing on the Radiance after our cruise ended.

The first thing we did was head to the Windjammer buffet for lunch. Starting our Alaska cruise embarkation day with a big meal felt perfect. The kids were seated and I loaded Benson and Molina’s plates with fruit, along with hot dogs for Benson, his favorite. We boarded around 10:45 in the morning and knew we could not enter our rooms until 1:00, so we took our time and enjoyed the moment. After the stress of travel the day before, simply sitting down felt like a gift.

Settling In

When the rooms opened, Benson put on his swimsuit and wanted to try the pool. I had made the mistake of not packing mine in a carry-on, so I could only watch. Benson wanted to try the waterslide, but he didn’t meet the height requirement to ride alone. Lesson learned: always pack swimsuits and other essentials in your carry-on for an Alaska cruise embarkation day.

By four o’clock the ship began moving. At first, it was hard to tell if we were leaving or if it was my imagination, until the scenery shifted. Everyone gathered at the front of the ship as we passed beneath Lions Gate Bridge. It was an incredible moment for me, though the kids hardly noticed.

The haze from wildfires had been visible since we landed the day before, and it lingered as we sailed away from Vancouver. Dawn’s eyes burned from the dryness, while for me it was more of a distraction when taking photos.

Exploring the Ship

Our stateroom was noticeably smaller than the one on Ovation of the Seas. The bathroom and shower were tighter, the sofa was only loveseat-sized, and the number of electrical outlets was limited. With a pack and play for Molina, we chose not to convert the sofa into a bed. Instead, a bunk pulled down from the ceiling above ours. Benson was thrilled and climbed up with the excitement of someone who had just won the lottery.

The ship itself was still elegant, a marvel of engineering, but signs of age showed. Handrails had lost their shine, rust streaks marked the paint, and some windows were foggy with age. A faint sewer-like smell hung in one area of the ship. Still, the dining room looked as beautiful as any fine restaurant I had visited, and exploring it on Alaska cruise embarkation day made it feel new again.

At dinner we met our waiter Kurniawan, who went by Wan, and assistant waiter Bajrang, who went by Baj. They quickly made friends with us and with the kids. The highlight of the meal came when the captain announced orcas off the starboard bow. Seeing them for the first time in the wild was unforgettable. Even though I didn’t have my camera, I chose to enjoy the sight rather than run back to the room for gear.

Evening Adventures

After dinner, Benson went to Adventure Ocean while Molina stayed in the Royal Babies & Tots Nursery. Both had fun in their own way, and it gave Dawn and me a break. Molina is in the 98th percentile for size and is only five pounds lighter than her older brother, even though he is two and a half years older. She is wonderful but exhausting to hold for long stretches, and when she’s hungry she makes sure everyone knows.

With the kids taken care of, Dawn and I enjoyed a couple of drinks on the pool deck while watching the Chiefs play on the big screen. They lost, which was disappointing, but the experience of relaxing together on our Alaska cruise embarkation day more than made up for it.

Stay tuned as we share more from our adventure at sea! To read about day one of my Alaska adventure, visit Day 1: 2025 Family Cruise to Alaska or explore Day 3: Exploring Radiance of the Seas. Also explore the whole story at 2025 Second Alaska Cruise.