Holkham Bay sits about 45 miles south of Juneau, Alaska on the east side of Stephens Passage. The bay connects Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm on its east to Stephens Passage on its west. These arms are Fjords or long, narrow, deep inlets of the sea with steep cliffs, formed by glacial activity and later flooded by seawater.
The weather was beautiful with sunshine and a few hovering clouds throughout the day, but no rain. You could easily enjoy the outdoor decks with a light sweater or sweatshirt. The entire day was spent exploring the narrow passage ways and waterways of the area on the ship. Midday we saw a large glacier and late in the day we cruised by Mendenhall Glacier. The Mendenhall Glacier is about 14 miles in length although not that much was visible from our ship. The glacier has been retreating due to a generally warming climate in Southeast Alaska, linked to global warming.
We enjoyed afternoon tea where they served all varieties of tea and a rolling cart of both savory and sweet treats. The strings quartet played classical music during tea. Way too easy to overeat with food everywhere.
The art onboard our ship has been created by a variety of artists including Miro and some Picasso sketches and paintings. Most of the art is very interpretive and less clear as to what the artist was trying to portray. There are paintings of pieces of white fabric displayed in a variety of different situations but left for you to interpret what you see in them. The art collection onboard is quite extensive and ranges from small pieces to some very large pieces. The main elevator and staircase were created in collaboration with Lalique, the renowned French luxury glass and crystal manufacturer.
In lieu of traditional entertainment on this night, they had a blue party in the bar located on the top deck. The Riviera band played dance music and guests were encouraged to wear blue. The cruise staff and the Riviera cast of singers and dancers sang songs and danced with guests. Even the cruise director Carson joined in on the singing. He has a very nice voice which is not surprising since he started out in the cruise business as a cast member.