The Humpback That Changed Everything on Crown Princess

I almost missed the most magical moment of my life because I was binge-watching Netflix in my cabin. Let me back up. My wife Karen had booked this seven-day Alaskan cruise on the Crown Princess without telling me it was happening. She'd surprised me on my 50th birthday by printing out the cruise documents and leaving them on the kitchen counter with a bow on top. I was thrilled, obviously, but also kind of in denial about the whole thing. We're not really "cruise people," if that makes sense. We're more the drive-to-the-mountains-and-camp type. But Karen had researched Princess Cruises for months apparently, and she kept raving about how the Crown Princess was the perfect size—big enough to have amazing restaurants and entertainment, but small enough to actually feel intimate. She'd also splurged on a balcony cabin, which I thought was excessive until we actually got on board. Our cabin on Deck 9 was stunning. I'm talking about this perfect little slice of ocean view with a private outdoor space. We could see straight out to the water from our bed if we wanted. The first day, I opened that balcony door, breathed in the salt air, and thought, "Okay, maybe Karen was onto something h…