40.0°

"If I did another trip I might change what I brought," Helen said, "but then again I think everybody has been surprised with this weather."

The Oceanus, the first cruise ship of the year, arrived at the A-J Dock shortly before 3:45 p.m. Sunday. It was day 6 of its journey through Metlakatla, Tracy Arm, Petersburg, Glacier Bay and Sitka. The boat carries 114 passengers and originated in Vancouver, B.C.

The big ships begin arriving today. Four ships (Sapphire Princess, Radiance of the Sea, Diamond Princess, Oosterdam) will dock in town and bring 13,844 passengers. The Sapphire Princess arrives at 5:30 a.m. The Diamond Princess is the last to leave, at 10 p.m.

May 14 will be the last day with no ships until Sept. 17. More than 900,000 passengers are expected to arrive in town this season.

"My cousin in Sydney said if we were really wanting a good tour we should take in Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm, and so we incorporate those names in looking through the tour books," Helen said. "We wanted to be up close and personal as they say. We didn't want to be part of a large ship."

The Oceanus had trouble venturing close to Tracy Arm. Ice filled much of the bay.

"We were limited," Helen said. "We couldn't get all the way in, and there were a few disappointed people who had been up closer. At the same time, we thoroughly enjoyed what we did see. We've had a wonderful time."

Tom and Carla Becnel, from Destin, Flor., between Pensacola and Panama City, were also surprised to find the Southeast weather much like the forecast back home. It was 72 on Sunday in Destin.

"We were told that May would be really cold, and 'Oh, you're going the wrong time,'" Carla said. "We saw mountain goats because they're still down low, and the snow hasn't receded. We saw a couple grizzly bears, because they're feeding longer and they're so hungry. It's spring. Everything is out and lively. We're real pleased with our choice to come in May."

Tom, a real estate developer, has been to Alaska before - a hunting trip near Kotzebue. This is Carla's first trip to the state. They plan to fish for salmon in Sitka, then take a saltwater fishing tour in King Salmon, Kodiak and the Kenai Peninsula after the cruise.

"The smaller ship appealed to us, because you can get into a lot of areas that a lot of the large ships can't," Carla said of the cruise. "It's more about what's outside, instead of inside the ship."

"You all have a wonderful place here," Tom said. "Continue to take care of it. It's extraordinary."

• Korry Keeker can be reached at korry.keeker@juneauempire.com.