Postcard from Alaska (and My First Cruise)

Seasickness, storytelling, and the moment I found my grandfather’s signature in the wild

Dear Reader,

Greetings from Alaska!

I’m on my first-ever cruise and cruising we are. The first night (and day), the rocking was not my favorite kind of rocking. I swallowed ginger tablets, ate ginger chews, stuck a patch behind my ear, and wore anti-nausea wristbands. Nothing worked. A friend handed over a Dramamine. Lifesaver.

We are completely surrounded by water, at least one whale has been spotted (not by me), and while normally I might spiral into thoughts about what would happen if any part of this ship came loose and we sank like a stone… here I am, oddly unbothered. Honestly, I’m too busy to think about the fact that I’m floating.

My day starts early in the fitness center with a stretch class (not quite my usual hot power yoga, but with the ship rocking beneath my mat, it works.) Then a long walk around the ship, and breakfast. (Toast has never tasted so good.) I was told to always take the stairs to counter all the food. They were not kidding. The spreads go on and on, and that’s just the buffet.

Authors Karelia and Fay Stetz Water, Fay, me, Virginia Black and Georgia Beers

Honestly, taking a cruise never appealed to me. I said if I were to go on one, it would be to Alaska. (Sometimes the universe really does listen.) I thought I’d feel claustrophobic, but this ship is huge (and I’m told it’s half the size of others), and aside from a mild case of seasickness, I’m having a great time.

Especially because this isn’t just any cruise, it’s an Olivia cruise, which means all women, and there is a theme: Literary Adventures at Sea. I’m one of six featured authors, so in between meals, learning calligraphy, wildlife spotting, bingo, spa treatments, and about 35 other daily activities, there are panels, readings, and signings.

It’s been wonderful meeting readers, old and new. And to those who recently joined my Substack—welcome!

The real moment came when someone handed me a slightly worn copy of What Papa Told Me to sign. I opened the book and saw a name already written inside. It stopped me cold.

“This book has been signed,” I said.

“That’s what you get for buying used,” she replied.

“No,” I said. “This was signed by my grandfather.”

And then I signed my name underneath his, with a smile on my face.

Today we arrived in Juneau, with Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria, British Columbia ahead. I’m doing excursions at each stop, mostly hikes, plus a go-kart adventure I am super excited about.

I’m also learning ship terms: bow, stern, port, starboard, and from any of these spots on this Holland America ship, the views are stunning. But my favorite place is my private balcony, where I’ve been staring out at the endless deep blue water and light blue sky.

Anyway, that’s all for now. Pickleball is about to start, followed by High Tea, then a concert, a comedienne, and, of course, more food. It’s a hard life onboard a cruise ship, but someone’s gotta do it.

With love (and way too many desserts on my plate)

P.S. Have you ever been on a cruise? If so, where to? And if not, are you avoiding it… or just waiting for Alaska?

P.P.S. For videos of my trip, feel free to follow me on Instagram.

SONG OF THE WEEK

Postcards by James Blunt.

Felice Cohen is an award-winning author, best known for squeezing big ideas into small spaces—like her 90-square-foot NYC apartment (yes, really). Her books include Half In: A Coming-of-Age Memoir of Forbidden Love, 90 Lessons for Living Large in 90 Square Feet, and What Papa Told Me, with praise from legends like Elie Wiesel and Rita Mae Brown. Her viral YouTube tour has racked up over 25 million views—mostly from people wondering where she kept her shoes. More at felicecohen.com.