The Whale That Changed Everything: My Seven Seas Explorer Moment

I almost missed the most magical moment of my life because I was debating whether to order room service or go to the buffet. Let me back up. My husband Tom and I had been saving for this cruise for three years. Not exaggerating—three actual years of skipping lattes, postponing that kitchen remodel, and me turning down girls' trips to Cabo. But when we finally booked the Seven Seas Explorer for this Alaska itinerary, we knew it was going to be special. We'd splurged on a balcony cabin because, honestly, at our age—we're both in our early sixties—we figured we might as well go all out while we still could. The cabin itself was stunning. Regent really does things right. Our veranda was this perfect little slice of privacy with comfortable lounge chairs, a mini bar we actually used, and the most incredible unobstructed view of the Inside Passage. From the moment we dropped anchor near Glacier Bay that morning, I'd been glued to that balcony like a kid at an aquarium. We'd seen mountains, glaciers, sea otters, and a bald eagle that made Tom tear up—which, for the record, he'd never admit to anyone but me. But it was around 2 PM on our second day in the area, and I was getting a little…