Alaska – Day 11 – Sea Day – Birthday! – No Pics – Final Update!

Sat July 19, 2025

Hi Again All! What a fun birthday celebration I had! Tonight was a “Gala Night” (maybe in honor of me??? Lol) where everyone dresses to the nines. And the theme was “Masquerade Ball” where people, if they’re so inclined, can don their favorite Venetian masks. They describe it as “Delight as you travel back to Renaissance Italy (how appropriate for the Wandering Italian?? Lol) at tonight’s Masquerade Ball in the Queen’s Room.” 

So we got all gussied up, donned our masks (oh how I wish you could see the pictures!) and had a nice dinner in the Britannia Restaurant. It was a better menu than normal so I had the Salmon and Potato Soup for appetizers, the Halibut with Prawns for my main and the Chocolate Mousse for dessert. But sneaky Kathy had them sing happy birthday to me at dinner (wish I could show you that video!) and so I got a second dessert of cheesecake. It was all so yummy and such a fun experience! 

After dinner we went to the Masquerade Ball in the Queen’s room and dang did people get dressed up and wear the masks. Scary! Lol. Afterwards we ended the night doing our favorite thing on this ship. Listening to our Irish friends the Blackthorn Duo sing their Irish folk music. A nice end to another great birthday. I’m the luckiest guy in the world!

Tomorrow we are in Victoria, British Columbia in Canada and plan to rent a car again and explore the wild side of BC! Hope everyone had a great Saturday and aren’t too burned out from partying away on my birthday! 

PS: We found out the meaning of the name of the Blackthorn Duo. It was named after the Blackthorn tree that is used to make the Irish Shillelaghs which are walking sticks that can also be used as weapons! We didn’t ask anymore questions!! Lol

PSS: Another “small world” moment… the British couple that sat next to us at dinner live in Surrey, south of London, and that’s both where my youngest daughter did her study abroad at as well as where our good friends Sue and Stuart who we’ve cruised with before live!