Postcard fun on an Alaska Cruise

My bags are unpacked, photos are edited and posted, and I've worked my postcard finds into files for my family and swap partners.  I guess it's time to report on my finds.  Here are the most interesting ones:

My system worked - almost.  In my last blog, I describe how I packed for my cruise.  For the most part, the system worked.  I just ran out of room in the file box and carefully packed a stack of swap cards separately.  By filing the cards while I was on the trip, it saved me time at home.

Buying ahead wasn't entirely necessary.  Before I left, I'd purchased cards from Alaska photographer Mark Kelly for 25 cents each.  When I walked into the ship's gift shop, I found his cards being sold there - at the same price.  No cruise ship mark-up.

Postcards were abundant and inexpensive in the tourist areas of the main towns.  Competition keeps the price down - typically five for a dollar in Ketchikan, where I found the "Deadliest Catch" postcard - perfect for fans of the show.  We didn't have much time in town on the Juneau stop, but I did find Lantern Press cards - the most desired by many collectors - for 50 cents.  Because our Skagway and Victoria excursions took so long, we had no time in town for shopping.

Prices in tourist spots outside of town were higher, but still worth checking out.  The observation center at Mendenhall Glacier is run by the U.S. Park Service, I expected to find Lantern Press there, but no luck.  I did find a couple of drawings by a local artist, one of which makes reference to the fact that the glacier is receding.  (They also had Mark Kelly's postcards at a higher price than I had paid online or were available in the ship's store.)  I also paid more on our bus trip to the Yukon; I don't really remember, because it was in Canadian money (so it doesn't count, right?).  They had a terrific Lantern Press card of a Mountie for $1 Canadian, which is an acceptable price for LP, which are commonly priced between $1 and $2.  Same story at Butchart Gardens, but again the prices were Canadian so it didn't feel like real money (smile).  They also sold Canadian stamps, if I'd been ambitious enough to write and send the cards before we reboarded the ship.  (I wasn't.)

Biggest surprise? Postcards onboard ship.  On previous cruises (between 2003 and 2008), we'd found postcards of the ship themselves, including a book of cards showing different sites on the ship which was great for scrapbooking.  Things have changed in the past decade.  On our last cruise, we found only one postcard - a 3D view of the ship which sold for $5, which is high even for 3D cards.  On this cruise, not only did I find the Mark Kelly cards at a reasonable price, but also a Lantern Press view of the card for just 80 cents!  (Even less with my 10% discount for being a frequent NCL cruiser.)

Most fun? Seeing the look on the clerk's face when I handed them a stack of postcards.  I buy my postcards in groups of 10 - one of each of my kids, and the rest for other family and swapping.  If there is a line for the clerk, I generally count them out in groups of 10 to make it easier to check out.  I have my explanation down, "I have five adult children and three grandchildren.  I send them postcards every week so they have something in the mail besides bills.  I also swap with other grandmas around the world."  It's an oversimplification, but it satisfies their curiosity.  And most think it's a really good idea.  The tourist towns import young people to work the stores during cruise season.  Homesick, I think I few wish their mom would do the same.

Lesson learned?  If you book a long excursion which takes most of your time in a port, resign yourself to not being able to shop.  That was totally OK with me, since: 1) I had purchased the Mark Kelly cards before I left; and 2) I'll be in the same ports (plus Sitka and Icy Point Straight) next year when Hubby and I take a cruise for our 40th anniversary.  And I'll take some of these cards along so I can send cards to the kids from each port.

What did I spend?  I have no idea.  But as the commercial says, being able to share the vacation with family and recalling cruise memories when I send them to swap partners - priceless!

Confessions of a Postcard Addict

I don't know when it started, but I'm pretty sure it's hereditary.

When my older brother went off to college, my mother would type recipes onto blank postcards she'd purchased at the post office.  The primary reason was to prevent him from starving while living in an apartment with three roommates.  But it also meant he had something in the mail besides bills.

Fast forward to when I went away to college, and spent four months in Europe, taking summer courses Monday to Thursday, and traveling on the weekends.  I discovered two things:

1. I could buy postcards for less than getting my photos printed - and they were better shots, because the photographer had access to the best angles under ideal photographic conditions; and 
2. Postcard stamps were a lot cheaper than regular air mail stamps.  One of my friends took me to buy a superfine pen, which enabled me to write super small and cram as many words onto the postcard home to my parents.  (It would be a few decades before I understood how hard it was to read small type once your eyes passed 40.)

Over the year, I continued to buy postcards of the places we went.  They came in handy when I took up scrapbooking.  Again, the postcard photographers could get better shots than I could.  

When my oldest son went away to college, I started sending postcards once or twice a week, so he'd have something in the mail.  (Later, he and his roommate both became photographers; his roommate, Kevin Russ, now sells beautiful postcards.)

I almost did the same thing when my second son went away to Marine Corps bootcamp;, but I was warned off by other Marine moms who suggested it was best not to give the drill sergeants any reason to single out my recruit.  A few years later when he deployed, I found  a set of "Star Wars" postcards.  I wanted to make sure he heard his name at every mail call. While I could send him e-mails, it wasn't the same as knowing he would hold something in his hand that I had sent.

As each child left home, I continued sending postcards a couple times a week - so they'd have something in the mail besides bills, and they'd know I was thinking of them.  Today I send postcards to five adult children, three grandchildren, my mother, sister-in-law and best friend from fifth grade.  

Some signs that I'm addicted to postcards?

1. Before I leave on a trip, I check my files to see if I have one from that location so I can pre-address and stamp postcards to send while I'm at that location.  (I usually do.)
2. I call ahead to the local Wal-Mart to see if they have postcards.
3. I have no idea how much postcard stamps cost, because I ask my husband to pick up a 100-stamp roll at the post office.  
4. My husband knows he can propose any day trip, as long as there are postcards involved.
5. When I'm checking in on Yelp, I note whether the establishment sells postcards.
6. At check-out, I let the other customers go ahead of me since the clerk will be counting out dozens - if not hundreds - of postcards.
7. I swap postcards with other postcard friends around the world.
8. When my friends downsize, they know exactly where to send their old postcards.

This blog will be about travel - and postcards.  Follow me, and grab your 34-cent stamps!