The return trip delivered! We travelled back along the coast for 24 hours, flanked by the snow capped peaks of the coastal mountains. Hubbard Glacier loomed just as imposing and just as blue. But it did seem as if the bay was covered with more floating ice and icebergs on this return visit.

The ship nudged much closer today and unfortunately we had been listening to the Captain's updates which indicated we would arrive later than expected . We lounged around and eventually went up to the observation deck only to be met with hundreds of guests who had arrived much earlier than us. There were absolutely no spots left on the railing so short people in the second or third rows were out of luck!

So I hightailed it to the open Deck 6 and secured a perfect spot and Mac patiently waited for an opening on Deck 11. As luck would have it we were both in sweet spots for the spectacle that was about to unfold. The first hour was filled with "small" ice showers and tumbling blocks that kept everyone on their toes.

And then Hubbard dished up more! There was a scream and a roar from all observers as one of the 150 metre blue towers slowly edged forward and then tumbled into the sea as its foundation gave way. It was a super slow motion event and it ended with an enormous wave erupting from the surface of the water followed by the echoes of the boom as the sound rumbled and thundered around the valley . It was sensational!

Just in case you missed it the first time, about 10 minutes later, it all played out again, as the tower behind it reluctantly teetered and tottered and joined its twin in the sea. It was even larger than the first.

The excitement here is all about scanning along the full face of the glacier and anticipating where the next fall will happen. And I have to say the next massive fall was certainly unexpected. Not many on the deck had this one pegged as " the next to go." It was an entire arc of the wall that slipped down - it delivered so much ice and displaced so much of the water that we could see the waves generated as they approached the ship. We were in for a "rocking" as the waves passed under the bow of the ship. This little tsunami like wave sequence was followed by a slow creeping surge of ice and icebergs.

We both had great stories to tell about this visit to Hubbard . It seems as if I am a convert to Deck 6 and Mac still loves the lofty heights of Deck 11.

The theme of separate ways continued today. I am a groupie for The Stardust Room even though the show is a repeat, so we organised an early dinner at Cagney's and then a splitting of the ways. I took in some live music at Windjammers followed by the show repeat and Mac finally relented and joined the Texas Hold'em table. A good night was had by all despite no good luck stories from the table. Good news is that part of the stack is intact for another hand or two.


Tuesday
Temperature: 17C
Pedometer: 3 542
Bear Sightings = 0

Total Bear Sightings = 12

Things @AuntyGail and @Paul forgot to tell us about cruising:

1. Crew only signs can be hints to short cuts.

2. Cruising lifestyle can become addictive....makes you think about "around the world" options.

3. The legs of your trousers get shorter as your waist and bottom expand.

4. If you really want to, you can get two people in the shower cubicle.

5. There is a rhyme and reason for the toilet brush conveniently placed in every bathroom.