Deaf Alaska Cruise
June 3-10, 2011

Midnight Buffet on the Millennium Picture: William & Teresa Eckstein	We embarked Celebrity's Millennium in Vancouver, Canada. After cruising along the Inside Passage, we arrived in Ketchikan. After a narrated drive through Ketchikan, we boarded a vessel for a voyage of discovery along the waterfront of the Totem Bight State Park to the historic Guard Island Lighthouse. We learned about the area's maritime history, Native culture, timber and fishing industries. We saw Alaska's oldest working cannery, an authentic floating lumberjack camp, the totem poles and clan house at Totem Bight State Park.
During our stop in Icy Strait Point, we visited Hoonah. Hoonah is a fishing community and the world's largest Tlingit village. The guide explained the history of the local fishermen and their daily life. When we returned to Icy Strait Point, we went to the Heritage Center Native Theater for the Tribal Dance and Cultural Legends performance.	Performance at the Heritage Center Native Theater Picture: William & Teresa Eckstein
Gold Panning Picture: William & Teresa Eckstein	Juneau is Alaska's capital. On our tour we panned for gold and experienced what Alaska was like during the Gold Rush days. For this historical tour, our guide showed up in an authentic 19th-century outfit. We took the road to Gold Creek and "Last Chance Basin" where gold was found in 1880. Near a waterfall alongside Gold Creek we were shown how gold panning is done.
One of the highlights of our tour was the White Pass Scenic Railway ride from Skagway. It is an unforgettable journey traveling 20 miles from downtown climbing 2,865 feet to the summit of the White Pass. Sitting in a comfortable vintage rail car we traveled over trestles, through tunnels and beautiful valleys. We learned about the tale of the Klondike Gold Rush and the challenges of building the railway. Today, the narrow gauge railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Back in town, some of us boarded a yellow, 1927 sightseeing motorcar. A costumed conductor showed us around the waterfront, the Historic District in the downtown area and the residential neighborhoods of Skagway, the "Garden City of Alaska,".	Aboard the White Pass Scenic Railway Picture: William & Teresa Eckstein
Picture: William & Teresa Eckstein	After our arrival in Seward, we took the train to Anchorage and enjoyed a beautiful ride through Alaska's nature. We were lucky enough to see bears.

Group Picture Picture: William & Teresa Eckstein

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