Part of a continuing saga...you can find the previous parts here:
part 1
part 2

So there we were, smack dab on a boat for 7 days surrounded by strangers and with no clue on what to do next. We were just impressed that we could find our way back to our room at this point. And the problem currently at hand was how to eat.

After walking around for a while and watching the scenery as the boat left the harbor and headed out to sea we found our way to the buffet in the front of the boat. Now let me explain something here....they have little places to get food and drinks during the day strewn about the ship, but you won't get anything out there more major than a burger and some fries. If you want a real meal you have two choices. Either dress up and get fancy (which usually requires a reservation well in advance) and eat downstairs, or you can slum it at the buffet. Guess where we ate?

The buffet on this boat was located on deck 14, right in the front of the ship. It allowed for a pretty nice view (front seats are hard to come by, old people covet them) but guess what part of the boat is the most affected by the waves? If you said front I'd have to agree with you. But that aside the buffet was actually pretty damn cool, and I was surprised at the number of vegetarian meals they had (if you eat fish that is). And the real rub is they serve the same food as downstairs, just without fancy scenery.

The only thing that really bothered me about this before you could enter, they had this automated antiseptic gel dispenser thing that you "had" to use to clean your hands. Now you didn't "have" to, but otherwise you got a nasty look from everybody. The only real problem I have is I just don't like them cause they feel weird...but whatever....it kind of ties into my next point.

When you take bread/rolls....take them from the back. You wouldn't believe the people that molest those things and they always do it to the front ones.

Anyways, so onto Ketchikan.

At Ketchikan we had signed up for kayaking. We took a bus out along what I think was the only road and to the location where about 10 of us got out and went down to the boat house to sign forms and put on silly looking things that would save us if we tipped. Although I think I looked quite smashing in my spray skirt :)

After that we piled into the kayak (they were two seaters) and we headed out across the bay to eagle island.

Kayaking is cool, but probably something you need to do more than once to be good at it. In a two person kayak the back person has little feet pedals to control the rudder, and honestly I didn't think I did such a good job steering. I couldn't really get a feel for the "middle" so it was like we just made letter z's all around. But let me tell you, eagle island does live up to it's name. There are so many eagles up there in Alaska they're like pigeons almost. It's a little crazy honestly. While we were milling about in a little cove a baby eagle came out onto a branch of it's nest and spread it's wings...which are like 4 feet probably. Oh...another thing, the water is super warm because it comes up from Hawaii on a current, so we're kayaking in the middle of Alaska, but the water is like 60 degrees.

Pretty much we rounded the island and headed back to the dock. It took about 2 hours probably....I was surprised my back wasn't sore the next day. All I can say is we didn't fall in, so that makes it a success :)

Back in town, we walked around the area doing touristy thing like buying magnets and t-shirts. We also found this really awesome little kettle corn place while walking around. And then we ate lunch at Annabelle's Famous Keg and Chowder House. Now I wouldn't say it was Famous, but I must admit to enjoying the chicken tenders very highly. Plus their beer selection wasn't that shabby. Ironically, there were like 5 people with laptops there around us....and I was very jealous of that :P

So afterwards...emboldened by a few beers, we initiated plan "sneak beer on the boat" and headed to a nearby liquor store and proceeded to put the 6 pack of Full Sail Ale IPA on the bottom of our legally purchased knick knacks. Once through security (which still annoys me) we happily patted ourselves on the back with our devious success at not having to pay $3.50 a beer for Beck's (god help you if you want a Guinness). It was later on the cruise, in Juneau, that we learned that 6 packs are fine to bring on. So thank god we didn't take the prison house approach to sneak them on...*ow*.

Part 4 to come tomorrow....maybe...we'll see how busy I am.
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Our honeymoon pictures can be seen here, and a slideshow is available here.