All language subtitles for Cruising Canada with Jane McDonald Ch5 1080p_ENG_Subtitles01

Nowadays, there are cruises
for everyone.

Young, old, singles and families.

You can head off on
a weekend mini-cruise,

or blow the budget on a year-long
round-the-world trip.

Whatever floats your boat,
somewhere there's a cruise for you.

I'm Jane McDonald, and 18 years ago,
I was a singer on a ship,

that was filmed for a BBC series.

It changed my life,
but I'm still crazy about cruising.

I'm going to show you
how to get the best

out of any cruise you ever go on.

This time I'm sailing around Canada,

on two different cruises -

a cold water cruise around Alaska...

SHE LAUGHS

..and a fresh water
cruise around the Great Lakes.

It's unbelievable!

It's wet and it's windy
and it's fabulous!

So come on,
what are you waiting for?

All aboard!

My first cruise takes place

in the far northwest corner
of the United States, in Alaska -

the largest State in America.

It's bigger than Texas,
California and Montana put together,

that's 81,000 times bigger
than Wales.

It's huge, and it's empty but it's
filled with spectacular scenery -

towering mountains,
ancient glaciers,

deep lakes, and wildlife -
eagles, bears,

and seas alive with whales.

No wonder it's the world's number
one cold water cruise destination,

and I can't wait to get there.

This is huge,

this is what's huge, just look -
this is nature at its finest.

I'm in Vancouver in Canada,

it's the starting point
for most cruises to Alaska,

a city that's got the lot.

Mountains, water, totem poles...

It's really not at all
like Wakefield...

Well, apart from the fact
it's raining.

It's a bit like England, in't it,
because one minute you can be

in your bikini in the back
garden drinking a glass of wine,

the next minute you've got
central heating on -

four seasons in one day.

First, breakfast.

Hi, Hi, how are you today?
I'm good, how are you?

Good, thank you.

Can I have a cup of tea?
Have you got English Breakfast?

We do, we have.

You can't beat a good cuppa,

but wherever I am, I like to
try some of the local specialities.

I mean, I've seen some things
in here... Beltch? The Beltch...

No, I am not going to
have that...

I just thought it was a really funny
name and The Fat Cow...

I mean, that's...

Very, very tall burger.
I won't have that, either, then.

I really fancy pancakes this morning

because I've heard your pancakes
are brilliant here.

We're in the land of maple syrup,
so go for it.

Got Caesars, so...

really common breakfast drink here.
So it's got Clamato juice, erm...

vodka and Worcestershire sauce.

That sounds like
a bloody Mary to me.

"Clamato juice" is tomato juice with
added clams, very Canadian.

OK...

Oh, that is spicy...

Ooh... I think I'm going to
enjoy being here.

Ah...

There you go.
Thank you so much. Enjoy.

Thank you, I will...

Mm. This is so good.

Top tip - come to this place, get
phenomenal pancakes that are huge

and always have a Caesar.

Well, that was a first and believe
it or not this Alaska cruise

is a new departure for me as well.

This is actually
my first-ever cold cruise.

I've never, ever booked or even
worked on one that's been cold.

When I worked for Celebrity
all them years ago,

as soon as it stopped doing
the Caribbean,

I used to go home and do the clubs.

Because I knew
it were going off to Alaska

and yet everybody used to rave and
get excited about going to Alaska.

Cruising season to Alaska
is May to September.

After that, the weather closes
everything down.

More than a third of Alaska
is inside the Arctic Circle

and winter temperatures average
minus 30 degrees centigrade -

and that's cold!

And here she is -
the Nieuw Amsterdam,

my home for the next eight days.

There are 1,500 cabins,

staterooms and suites
for up to 2,100 passengers.

Wow - that is a beautiful ship.

It's got nice lines, great colour.

A handsome ship, I would say.

Handsome.

It looks like it's going to be
nice and classy on there.

It's lovely...

I'm looking forward
to getting on now - yay!

Alaska has been a cruise destination
for more than 100 years,

and this year more than one million
tourists are expected to visit.

Hello, there.
Welcome to the Amsterdam.

Thank you, thanks very much.

Hello. I hope you have
a wonderful cruise.

I'm sure I will.

You're all set to go right that way.
It's exciting, now, innit?

It's raining like mad
but it doesn't matter,

cos we're going on us holidays.

Everyone in Canada has been
so polite - it's just lovely.

I'm a bit sad to be leaving...

No, I'm not - I'm off to Alaska!

OK...

I love getting on a new ship
and finding my cabin.

It's always exciting,

cos even though you've seen it
in the brochure,

you never know what
it's going to like

till you get in there
and check it out.

Ah - nice comfy bed.

Look at all this.

Isn't that lovely? Thank you.

It's 4,500 miles from Wakefield
to the start of my journey.

Setting off from Vancouver,

The Nieuw Amsterdam will sail up
the Inside Passage - ooh, Matron! -

to Juneau, the capital of Alaska,

and then on to Skagway -
the furthest point of our journey.

We then head into to Glacier Bay

and finally south to Ketchikan
and back to Vancouver.

I looked at the ship's website

and checked out the weather
for this time of year.

It can get down to minus ten.

Let's just say I've brought things

I've never packed
for a cruise before.

Firstly...

..balaclava.

You can put it on as a hat.

Extreme conditions underwear.

That'll keep the girls in.

Erm, I've got the pants to match.

They're not the most salubrious,
are they?

Look at the flippin' elastic
on them.

Whoo!

What else we got?

Emergency blanket.

I think this is really quite good.

One, if you get lost...

..they'll be able to see you,
for a start off.

Secondly...

..you're not going
to get hypothermia.

SHE LAUGHS

I'm full of great tips for cruising!

Coming up - I take a helicopter...

Oh, wow! Look at that!

..to go sledding...

..I'm overwhelmed by puppy love.

Oh, look...
Oh, I'm getting really clucky.

..and I try my hand at cooking,

although our executive chef
has nothing to worry about.

It's a little bit more than what I
wanted, actually, but... Whoops!

I'm on a cruising
adventure around Canada,

and my first leg of the trip

is round the magnificent snow-capped
peaks of Alaska.

Good morning.
Hello. How did you sleep?

Really well, actually.
I'll sleep like a log on here.

I'm on my way to Alaska.

The scenery is breathtaking

and I'm wondering
why I never did this before.

The sun was coming through the
window at ten past six this morning.

It was when I saw that
and I thought, whoa!

So it was like the sun was knocking
on the door going,

"Come on!
You're in Alaska, come on!"

From Vancouver, we are sailing north
up the Inside Passage

to our first stop -
Juneau, capital of Alaska.

Juneau is unique in the USA,

it is the only State capital with
no roads into or out of it -

it's only accessible by air or sea,

and it sits at the foot of
the Mendenhall glacier.

At this time of year,

the temperature can be anything
between three and ten degrees.

I've got my vest on,
I've got a shirt on,

I've got a jumper on and erm...

I've got my extreme underwear, look.

I don't usually show people
my pants.

Trouble is, it's...

it's got quite tight elastic,
so it's...

it's given me a bit of a line there.

I'm used to no VPL.

But...but the elastic's pretty...

I think that's the most extreme
thing on it, actually,

is the elastic
in the top of the legs!

Excursions are
a big part of cruising.

They are a great chance
to get off the ship and go and see

and do something
you normally never would.

Thank you very much,
see you later...

See you later.

Dog sledding, for instance.

I've seen it in the movies
and never dreamed I could do it -

but today, I am.
I'm going dog sledding!

I've got no idea what to expect,
but now I'm here and I'm doing it,

I'm really looking forward to it -
I've got enough layers on now.

I feel like a Battenberg under here
but it's, erm...

Yeah, it's going to be great -

this is summat that don't happen
every day.

Thank you.

One thing you can't help noticing
when you disembark

is that most ports are filled with
people trying to entice you

on all sorts of day trips,
photo ops and excursions.

I always try and do
at least one thing

away from the touristy bits, and
I'm really excited about this trip.

SHE LAUGHS

It's like I'm A Celebrity
Get Me Out Of Here, isn't it?

Going on this dog sledding excursion
is a bit of an adventure.

I've got to get a helicopter
up to the Mendenhall Glacier

and the dog camp.

I can't say I'm not really nervous -

cos I am -
but it looks so cool to do!

Hey-hey!

Right, I'm ready.

It's a 15-minute flight
up to the glacier.

I've never seen one before
and I'm not sure what to expect.

SHE SQUEALS

Oh, my God. We're in cloud, now.
We're in cloud.

It's the best thing ever.
It's brilliant.

Oh, wow, look at this!

Ooh!

This icefield,
which covers 1,500 square miles,

was first formed
over 3,000 years ago.

It is invaluable to
scientists studying climate change.

By drilling into it,
they can discover

how weather patterns have evolved
over thousands of years.

This cruise has just turned into one
of the best things I have ever done.

Very exciting.

I am a very lucky singer from
Wakefield. That's all I can say.

Wow.

Every day, 12 helicopters
ferry a maximum of 200 people

up to the glacier for dog sledding

or just the chance to walk here

and discover the majesty
of these mountains.

Ooh!

Wow - just look at this,
just look at this.

I can't tell you and I have been
really rather blase all day,

thinking, "Yeah, I'm going dog
sledding or whatever it is, yeah."

And then I saw the helicopters
coming in,

and I swear I nearly wet my pants,
I nearly did.

It's just so exciting!

It's brilliant.

BARKING

People have been using dogs
to pull sleds

since around the time
the glacier formed.

Nowadays, skidoos
are faster and easier to keep,

so most dog camps like this
are for tourists like me

and to keep the tradition alive.

This camp is 3,300 feet up
on the glacier.

The handlers and their dogs -

huskies, malamutes and some cross
breeds - live and work up here

until winter starts
in September or October.

It's not just
the working dogs who are here.

There are puppies as well.

Oh, wow.

'And Matt, my dog team owner,

'is going to introduce me
to one of them.'

Oh, wow. Who's this?

This is Eleanor. Oh, hello. You hold
her like a baby, is that right?

Hello, babes.

Eleanor. Eleanor.

They're only 12 weeks old.

When will her training start?

We usually don't hook them up
to the sled

until they're at least
eight months old.

Yeah. Oh, God,
she's so gorgeous, Matt.

We really only breed
for gorgeous looks.

That's the only thing I'm
concerned about. Is that right?

Do that personally as well?

They just all look so pretty.

Doesn't matter what they look like.

Are you married? No. No.

To my dogs, I am! How many dogs
have you got? I have 42.

You've got 42 dogs?

I think that's why I am single.

No woman wants to live with a man
with 42 dogs.

Erm, no woman could compete

with 42 dogs, let's be honest.

Oh, Eleanor. I know...

Hey! Oh!

SHE LAUGHS

Off you go.

Sleds are pulled by
teams of up to 16 dogs.

The dogs are paired to work together
by personality type.

The older, stronger and more
experienced dogs are at the front

with the younger ones
behind watching and learning.

When we approach
an option in the trail,

I'll just talk to the lead dogs

and tell them which way
I want them to go.

They know that? Yeah.

Wow. Yeah, I speak dog language.

H-A-W means go to your left and the
letters G-E-E mean go to the right.

There you go. All right.

Gee! To the right, there you go.

So all of these dogs will eventually
one day run in the Iditarod which is

a world famous dog sled race. Yeah.

And that's what we train for
specifically, just for that race.

The Iditarod course is
1,049 miles long...

..and Matt has entered seven times.

His best effort was in 2014,
when he was placed 15th.

It took him 9 days, 16 hours,
42 minutes and 30 seconds.

Ooh, very good, you guys.

Oh, wow.

Well, how was your ride?
Oh, I loved it.

You liked it? Absolutely loved it.
Thank you so much.

That was one of the most
exhilarating things I've ever done,

but I tell you what - being in
the clean, crisp mountain air,

sitting down, being pulled around
on a dog sled,

and getting a helicopter there
and back was completely exhausting.

Ah, look - more little dogs
and puppies.

I'm going to have to move you
cos I just need to...

I need to just...
I need to get rid of that...

I'm cold and I'm tired,
but otherwise I'm fine.

From Juneau,
we steam 102 miles overnight,

north up the Inside Passage
to Skagway.

It was once the gold rush capital of
the Klondike,

but now it's here to entertain

the almost 800,000 cruise ship
passengers who visit annually.

Having worked on the ships
as a singer for eight years,

I discovered
cruising's best kept secret.

Staying on board
when everyone else gets off.

You have the ship to yourself,

all the staff are still here and
places like the spa and the salons

are much less busy.

Hello. How are you?
I'm good, how are you?

I'm good. My name is Tamara,
I'm doing your treatment today.

Are you ready? Yes, I am.
Well, please, come on through.

While most of the 2,000
other passengers head into Skagway

for a day on shore, I'm going to put
my feet in Tamara's hands.

Thank you. How do you like
your water to be?

Um...quite hot.

Oh, that's perfect.

Just wake me up
when you've finished.

Just think, instead of having
my feet massaged and pampered,

I could be pounding the pavements
window shopping

for things I don't want.

Now here's the Tanzanite.

I'm so glad I'm here instead.

I'm enjoying watching

planes, helicopters,

the clouds on the mountains
and having a spa treatment.

SHE LAUGHS

I wonder what
everyone ashore is doing now?

Oh, I dunno - probably
panning for gold somewhere.

That would be too much hard work
for me today.

And now I'm going to do something
even more relaxing -

it's time for a massage.

Yup, that's what I'm going to do.

What is that? Bamboo.
It's bamboo? Yeah.

Oh.

Bamboo's been used in Chinese
and Japanese treatments for years,

but using it like hot stones
for a massage is quite a new thing.

JANE GROANS

All right, Jane? Yeah!

Ladies and gentlemen
of the Red Onion saloon,

my name is Madam Rosie Peaks.

This gorgeous girl over here
is Madam Northern Lights...

One thing I know I'm missing is the
melodrama at the Red Onion saloon.

It wasn't just the men who rushed to
Skagway looking for gold -

bars, bordellos and brothels all
made a mint and they still are.

Well, the bars.

Everyone else is busy being a
tourist and here am I hard at work

lying on this heated stone bed.

Ooh. It's hard work, you know,
looking good all the time.

It's really hard work.

You just think I turn out every day
looking as glamorous as I do?

It's a full-time job,
all this maintenance.

I've been manicured,
pedicured, and bambooed,

and now I think it's time for
a drink.

Hello. Good afternoon.
Welcome to our Cabana Club.

Thank you very much.

Oh, my God -
I'm in a James Bond movie!

I mean, look, look at that!

There's snow-capped mountains,

there's all that beautiful view
and the sun's out,

and I've got a cabana.

Edison, this is very posh up here.

Yeah, it is the most perfect spot
in the ship, you know.

So is this just for the rich people?

No, it's for everybody.

Is it? Yeah.

Oh...

Do you recommend this one?
One of the highest, erm...

highly recommended wines.

Really? Yes, California Cabernet.

That is so good.

This is mine.

And now It's full steam ahead
to our next destination,

Glacier Bay.

Keeping a ship like this -
well, shipshape -

takes an army of staff,
and at any hour of the day or night,

something is being polished,
brushed or swept.

They think of everything here.

It's easy to forget what day it is,
so the mats in all the lifts

are changed at midnight.

So thoughtful.

Morning.

Hey, how are you doing?

Good morning! Good morning,
good morning, good morning!

Good morning, good morning,
good morning!

Yeah, I'll have a bit of
scrambled egg.

SHE WHOOPS

Yeah, I'll have a bit of sausage,
yeah.

Hi, there.

Look, there's an iceberg.

I never thought I'd get that excited
about seeing a lump of ice!

This food is nothing like what I was
used to when I worked on the ships.

I never ate this well
when I were crew.

You were lucky if you got
a cheese sandwich,

but full English Breakfast

when you've been at sea
for a long time as a crew member,

is like a real reminder of home
and it sounds pathetic,

but that little taste of home
just keeps you going.

The food on board any ship is really
important and as cruise holidays get

more and more popular, the ships
have to come up with increasingly

inventive ways of
enticing passengers.

So stick this back on.

Our ship has targeted
the foodie market

and have their own
TV studio kitchen

where you can release
your inner Delia, Nigella,

or Gordon and have the whole thing
filmed.

Right. OK, so, I'm going to show you
a few little bits...

So we're going to start with the
fish and what I want you to do is...

just take a piece off...

Just mind your fingers. I've just
had my nails done! I can see.

HE CHUCKLES

Executive chef Colin thinks
he's going to get me from no stars

to Michelin stars in 20 minutes -

he'll be lucky.

I'm just not good in a kitchen.

I'm not very good at chopping

because me nails always
get in the way.

Em, why are you
holding a knife, Jane?

Just in case.

I'm going to be making a pan-fried
halibut with pea risotto...perhaps.

Can you use any fish?

Well, we're using halibut now
because we're in Alaska

and Alaska's famous for halibut.

We get this fresh
in one of the ports.

We're going to make the risotto
while the fish is cooking.

Does smell good.

It's good. We got some chicken stock
there that we made earlier.

Is it strained?
Yeah, it's strained. Very good.

But... A little bit more than what
I wanted, actually, but...

'Whoops!'

To go in the risotto,
we're going to chop some asparagus.

OK. Right.

Yeah.

Shall I just stick it in? No.

OK. It's OK, it's now a tomato and
asparagus risotto.

It's fine. Oh, I'm sorry about that.
It works, it works.

Every time I make a mistake,
Colin just changes the recipe -

that's my kind of chef.

Oh, I've seen that on MasterChef.

Just because you don't cook,
shouldn't cook, wouldn't cook...

doesn't cook...

doesn't mean that
you can't on a ship.

Looks very Asian.

It's nice. Yeah. You've done well.

Good job. Thank you.

That's really good.
It's good, eh? Mm!

Coming up, the show-stopping
highlight of the cruise...

That's a view you don't see
every day, isn't it?!

..and I discover the multi-talented
lumberjacks of Ketchikan.

THEY CHEER

I'm on a cold water cruise around
Alaska in North America and Canada,

and before we get to
one of our star attractions...

Oh...

I know this feeling well.

This is the show lounge...

..of which I have spent
eight years -

not this particular one -

but many, many years

..as a ship performer.

It's a lovely feeling
for me to come in here

and watch the young cast like I used
to do 20 years ago - how exciting.

Come on, let's go and meet
some of them.

All the performers need to be
able to sing and dance.

The standard's really high
and it is great training

for a life in showbiz!

Hello? Hi?

This morning, it's the final
rehearsals for the show tonight.

So tell us about the shows.
Are the shows great?

Yeah. I do, I really do enjoy them.

The music is, erm, much more updated
than some shows that I've seen,

so I really enjoy that.
So it's quite modern? Yes.

Ooh... But then there's
also some good,

like, Whitney Houston hits, and...

You don't think that
Whitney Houston's modern?

She would be considered
one of the older... artists.

Oh, my God!

Do you get nervous at all
before the shows? Sometimes...

A little bit. Yeah? You see,
we were totally unprofessional

20 years ago.

We used to have music going but then
a quick brandy just to get us down.

THEY LAUGH

Which, of course,
is so unprofessional.

No, take no notice
of what I just said...

Well, listen - good luck and break
a leg. Sorry, break a leg.

I know.

And thank you for letting me in
to see you all.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

Bye. Bye. Bye.

I didn't really drink that much...

Yeah, we did. But we had
a good time, you know.

I've noticed that the youngsters
of today are very clean-living,

they're all very health-conscious.

You know? We were just...

just not!

LAUGHS

We were shocking.

I love being backstage,
but we've arrived in Glacier Bay

and the real show-stopper
is outside.

Despite their size and might,

glaciers are fragile things
and to protect them

and their environment,

only two cruise liners a day
are allowed in here.

Good grief! That's a view you
don't see every day, innit?

This is the Margery Glacier.

It's 350 feet tall and stretches
back 21 miles into the mountains

in the distance.

Just look at that,
it's just breathtaking.

It's like being in Game Of Thrones,
innit?

RUMBLE

Oh, I heard that, then!

WOMAN: It was like breaking ice.
It was, wasn't it?

The noises were
the icebergs creaking

and a lot of them fall, so that's
what the big thunder claps were.

Ooh.

When you see something as grand as
this and nature's force,

you realise how insignificant
you are, compared to the...

the wonderment of what
you're surrounded by.

This is huge.
This is what's huge, look.

This is nature at its finest.

This glacier is awesome,

and that really is the only word
to do it justice.

Good morning. Good morning.

Would you like to try some
Dutch pea soup? I'd love some.

It's a Holland America Line
tradition. Mm.

We typically make it the day before
and let it stand overnight.

Oh, that's...

They always say the best pea soup
is a soup

where you can stick the spoon
in upright

and it will stay like that.

It's like mushy peas. We put this
on fish and chips at home,

it's really nice.
Glad you're enjoying it.

Yes, I am. Enjoy the views.
Thank you.

This is...

such an experience.

This is definitely not
my typical cruise holiday

and I'm mad with myself for
missing out on such great trips.

I want experiences
and adventures in life,

and this has been the start.

Been fantastic.

We've travelled 1,400 miles so far
and are now heading to Ketchikan

and I'm quite excited because
I've heard

it's the lumberjack capital
of Alaska.

There's wildlife everywhere,

but you generally have to look
quite hard to see it.

Not today.

The eagle was a real show-off.

It went round and it just went,
"Hello, I'm here."

And everybody got the cameras,
"Oh, missed it."

And it thought,
"No, you haven't."

Went round the ship and came back
and went "W-a-a-a!"

SHE LAUGHS

Ketchikan used to be the heart of
the Alaskan timber trade,

but nowadays it's biggest
money-spinner is tourism

and catering for cruise passengers,
just like me.

Every passenger has got
a certain budget,

every passenger has got
a certain amount of money

that they want to spend.

And they will spend it,

and if you can get them
into your shop, that's it.

Have you got money to spend, Jane?
Nothing.

Tight, I think, is the word. Tight.

SHE LAUGHS

Shall we go here?

Oh, look at these...

Baby lumberjacks.

Is this the look of the land here?

Yes, this is the look of our land.
Yeah?

I generally try to avoid
the really touristy things

because they can be
a complete rip-off...

but a lumberjack show?

Let's just say I didn't take
too much persuading.

One, two, go...

I never thought I'd be interested
in wood or timber -

how wrong could I be?

These guys are all
proper working lumberjacks,

as well as great entertainers.

CHEERING

And this show is based on things
they really do when they're...

well, lumberjacking.

Oh!

Oh, my God. He just fell and he...

astride...

Bang! Right on his...nuts.

..a logger's worst nightmare.
How does it feel?

It's not good,
there's a huge crack.

LAUGHTER

Good fun.

I enjoyed that.

This is a family business,

and Cassandra has just got married
to one of the lumberjacks.

Which one's yours, then?

Um... He is on the far left
in the silver hat...

I know. Yeah.

It's Thomas. Damn!

Those biceps could be
a little bigger,

but we won't hold that against him.

He looks fine to me.
He is so funny!

What is the attraction
of a lumberjack?

I think it's the fact that
you get the athletic side

of someone who's in great shape,

gets out there and does
a dangerous job every day...

Erm, they're always fun,
they're always really good-looking.

Just like an all-round man's man,
in my opinion.

Yeah, yeah, and you married one,
didn't you? I did.

Yeah. My mistake.

Hello, boys. That was absolutely
great. Thank you very much.

Thanks. I'm Jane. I'm Ray. Really
nice to meet you. How are you doing?

Nice to meet you. Hi, Thomas,
nice to meet you too.

Hi, Junior. Really nice to meet you.

How's the erm...? Oh, you know
the water's cold, so, erm...

Yeah... Wedding tackle -
not great.

Great to meet you.

Hi. So you're all athletes
and everything, aren't you?

Yeah, we all keep track
of when we win, when we lose

what events we're winning and losing
and everything...

Nobody likes to lose. No. So
we're out here, we're trying, yeah.

So you how do you keep so fit, then?

Do you have a routine
or a special diet?

We're doing this four times a day.

That will keep you fit. And you just
got married to Cassandra.

I did, yes. And the broken hearts -
there's people with broken hearts...

I am so sorry.
..all over the nation...

Are you all married? No.

So, hey, girls and boys,
he's still single.

Still some lumberjacks
just up for grabs.

Once you lumberjack,
you never lumber back.

God, you're real, sort of, men,
aren't you?

LUMBERJACKS: Yeah!

I want to be her.

Left hand on top, right hand
on the bottom...

Anything to stay a little longer,

so I agreed to see if
I had what it took.

It's almost like taking a step up.

Hey!
SHE LAUGHS

That's how it works! There you go.
Now pull that rope up... Right.

THEY CHEER

Careful. You're trying to use
that rope

to pull yourself close to the tree.

CHEERING

CHEERING
There you go.

THEY CHEER

SHE WHOOPS

SHE SQUEALS

That's not for me,
it's a bit too manly.

HORN BLARES
Oh, morning.

It's almost time to say goodbye

to this beautiful scenery
and landscape.

This has been so much more
interesting than I expected,

but there's still one more party.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

# Once a jolly swagman
sitting by the billabong

# Under the shade of
the coolabah tree

# He sang as he watched
and waited till his billy boiled

# You'll come a-waltzing Matilda
with me... #

Everybody!

# Waltzing Matilda, waltzing Matilda

# You'll come a-waltzing Matilda
with me... #

We love good old sing-song
and that's what it's all about.

You've all had a drink,
you've all had a great meal,

got to know each other all week
and...

and you want to...
You actually don't want it to end.

And it is like, "Oh, there's
my friend, there's my friend...

"let's have a sing-song
and a drink."

And it doesn't get
any better than that, really.

That's what cruising's all about -

making new friends
and making new memories.

# ..You'll come a-waltzing

# Matilda with me! #

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!

AUDIENCE: Oi, oi, oi!
Yeah!

What a fabulous trip.

I am a complete convert
to the cold water cruise,

with dramatic landscapes
and different experiences.

My next cruise takes me
3,553 miles west across America,

to a new adventure
round The Great Lakes.

Straddling the border
between the US and Canada,

these natural wonders are
roughly the size of the entire UK.

Only a handful of
cruise lines sail them.

For those that do,

one of the favourite
departure points is Detroit,

home of America's auto industry

and, of course,
the birthplace of Motown.

Hi, I'm Jane.

Jane McDonald.
Hang on one second, ma'am.

McDonald, Jane -
you're in room 407. Yep.

OK, you got it on your tag here?
I have. All right.

We'll have the baggage handlers take
the bag for you, ma'am.

Go ahead and enjoy your cruise.
Thank you so much.

You're welcome. Bye. Bye-bye.

Nice fella, in't he?

The Victory II is 20 years old

and feels like a cross
between an ocean liner

and a traditional river cruiser.

She's got five decks and 101 cabins

for up to 200 passengers.

I've also heard
she's just been spruced up,

so I can't wait to check her out.

Hi! Welcome on board.

Nice to see you! And you!

How are you doing?

Now, sea cruise,
river cruise, lake cruise,

whichever one you go for,
it's the same deal.

Oh, this is nice, in't it?

Step one,
check in and collect your room key.

Is it in here?

Hi.

Um, I give this to you,
is that right? Yes.

What's your cabin number?
Do you know? 407. 407.

Jane? Yes.

OK, here is your room key.
The Wi-Fi password is on the back.

Step two, go to the purser's office.

This is where you
register your credit card,

so then it's not real money -

all you use is that.
Don't be fooled.

So, everything that you get,
goes on your credit card,

so don't think it's like
Monopoly cos it's not.

It comes out of your bank account.

Miss Jane McDonald. That's the one.

Step three, check what's actually
included in your package,

and remember, even if your food
and drinks are covered,

you will probably have to
pay for any extras

like a posh bottle of wine...

..or three.

Gorgeous day.

Step four, find your cabin.

409...

407, here we go.

Oh, it helps if you use your key.

Right.

Oh, wow this is lovely and cosy!

Aw, this is really nice.

There's all the mod cons
you'd expect -

air conditioning, satellite TV

and a fridge with free sodas.

Or pop as we call it.

And then we have...

..our wardrobes.

Here we go, watch your step.

Let's have a look here.

We've got a shower. This is great.

I like two sides because
I like plenty of room

to put my own
things in there.

So, yeah,

everything you need.

She's certainly a sturdy ship,

but that's exactly
what she needs to be

to navigate the vast,
and sometimes freezing,

stretches of fresh water
that make up the Great Lakes.

There are five in all

and I'll be taking in
the sights of two of them -

Erie and Ontario.

We'll be cruising down to Cleveland

before nipping over
the Canadian border at Niagara.

After taking in Toronto,
we'll coast by Kingston

and catch the sights in Quebec,

then we'll head back down
the Saint Lawrence River,

before making our
final call in Montreal.

10pm and sail away.

Say what you like
about American cities,

but the skylines illuminated
at night and reflected on the water

really are spectacular.

But, for me, with nine days of
action-packed cruising ahead,

I think it's time for lights out.

Coming up,

I get stuck into the gastronomic
delights of Cleveland...

Oh! Right, I'm sorry, I'm going in.

..and rock up at
the musical hall of fame.

Petula Clark!
Such a star, Pet Clark. Right?

I'm cruising around Canada
on the second leg of my tour

around The Great Lakes.

Morning.
HORN BLARES

We've sailed 87 miles
south on Lake Erie overnight,

and now I've had my sleep,

nothing's going to get me down -
even this!

This is Cleveland.

Apparently, massively
industrial in the 1900s...

..but, unfortunately, not any more.

Places like this make up the
so-called Rust Belt of the USA

but, like many former factory towns,

its enjoying a resurgence.

Alongside a string of
new attractions,

there are the traditional ones.

And, today, I am visiting
the grandest of all,

the West Side Market.

Thank you very much. You're welcome.

I've got my red ticket. I'm off.

Good morning. Good morning.

And I've got company.

Being Americans,
most of my fellow passengers

aren't used to staycations with this
sort of weather,

but I'm from Yorkshire!

This is just like
being at home for me.

But never mind, we're on vacation,
aren't we?

We're on holiday!

We're going to have fun. We're
going to have fun. Yeah, we are.

Yeah, we are. Fun! Yeah, fun. Yeah.

Good morning!

Welcome aboard Lolly the Trolley.

My name is Rosalind and I will
be your driver and guide today.

Don't worry, blue skies are coming.

You don't have to be
part of a cruise to book this,

as Lolly and the other trolleys
do public excursions.

They start at £13 for an hour -

a snip when you've got Rosalind
to share her local knowledge.

Well, Cleveland was founded

in 1796

by a Connecticut Yankee

named Moses Cleaveland.

The city's position on the lake
made it ideal for manufacturing

and transporting goods.

In the 1800s,

it became a magnet for eastern
European immigrants

looking for work.

The West Side Market
was built to cater for them

and other communities

and, a century on,
it's still a hotbed of diversity.

Today, you walk inside

and you can still hear all different
types of languages being spoken

at our beautiful West Side Market.

Right, come on, team.

Oh, wow, look at the roof.

Yeah, look at the ceilings.

Look at the ceilings.

This 44-feet-high tiled arch

is a masterpiece.

No wonder the market's been voted
one of America's

ten great public places.

Pasta.

You can't beat it.

This dried up packet stuff
is just not the same, is it?

Well, I've never had fresh,

so I don't know. Have you not?
Oh, wow.

I need to try that. Oh, it does
taste good, fresh pasta. I'm sure.

This is my new American buddy,
Linda, by the way.

We both love to chat

and adore a good sausage.

We're mostly German descent

and the town that we come from
has a bratwurst festival.

Really! So if they have bratwurst,

we want to see if they taste like
our bratwurst.

Oh, those are hot dogs,
not bratwurst.

Apparently, all the stalls here
let you try before you buy.

Wow, look at that - nut crispies.

Being British and reserved,

I don't like to ask. Hi...

Linda, on the other hand.

Do you have free samples? Yes.

Look, free samples. Free samples!

Oh!

It's very good.

Anchovies. Ooh, they look good.

This says this popcorn is hot.

How hot, is it? Let me try one.

Ooh.

Ooh, it is hot. It is hot?

Oh!

Oh! Oh-ho-ho!

That is really spicy. Whoopsy!

I've also been told

there's some great food
outside the market as well.

Apparently this is the best comfort
food you'll ever taste. Ah.

Hi. Hello, ma'am, how are you doing?

I'm good, how are you?

Hello? Hello.

How are you doing? Hi.

Hi. What is in a Polish Boy?

This is all a sandwich

with Polish sausage... Right.

..slaw, topped with fries

and Seti's barbecue sauce. Wow.

Mm.

So that's like everything
in a sandwich. Yes.

It's a whole meal in a sandwich.

Can I try one?

Absolutely.

In fact, I am going to have one,
two, three, four, five.

Five? Five. Oh!

JANE LAUGHS

We're all going
to have this together.

We're all going to go in together.

Seti and wife Marsha launched their
Polish Boy 20 years ago,

and it's since been voted
one of the best sandwiches

in all of America.

Oh!

Right, I'm sorry, I'm going in.
Oh, she's going in.

Oh, my God. There's a lot of fries
on there. Yeah. Mm!

Oh, my goodness.

Mm. It's really bad...

..but it's really good.

Personally, I'd stuff myself
with this all day,

but the one Seti really has
to impress

is my fellow passenger, Linda.

Mm. The sausage is very good.

I like when you bite
into it, it's...

Yeah, its good a good bite.
..it snaps or something.

It's crispy.

After years of decline,

Cleveland's a city on the way up,

and this is one of the reasons why -

the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,

now attracting nearly 600,000
visitors each year.

Now, loads of American
cities are linked to music,

but, here's why they plonked
the Hall of Fame in this one -

the term "rock and roll"
was born right here

by a guy called
Alan Freed, who was a DJ.

He was also one of the first
broadcasters to play R&B

on his radio show back in the '50s.

Not only that,

he hosted the world's
first rock and roll concert -

the Moondog Coronation Ball,

right here in Cleveland.

True, it ended in a riot

when 20,000 teens turned up,

but it did cement
the city's place

in popular music history.

To get into the Hall of Fame,

you have to have been in the music
business for at least 25 years

or if, like me,
you're a fresh-faced wannabe

with all your career still
ahead of you,

then you can queue up and pay around
25 quid to get in

like everybody else.

Hi! Hi, Jane!

Hi. So good to see you.
Good to see you.

My guide Anwaka is taking me
on a tour of seven floors,

all of them rammed with memorabilia.

So, this is...

Jane, this is
Aretha Franklin's dress.

This is her gown. This is what she
wore at her Radio City performance.

Wow.

You know, you don't realise what
impact that has,

just looking at that. Right.

Because you can just
picture her in it.

The exhibits are arranged
by artist, style,

city and era.

I think Anwaka's guessed
my favourite.

Dusty Springfield's jacket! Yes.

Here, on this side,
we have a beautiful gown

from Petula Clark. Petula Clark!

Petula!

Yes, absolutely, I mean...

Such a star, Pet Clark. Right?

Right? Amazing songs.

Is that Gerry
and the Pacemakers there. Yes.

Gerry Marsden, look at... Yes.

Gerry Marsden in the Rock and Roll
of Fame where he should be.

These people are still - The
Dakotas, Gerry and the Pacemakers -

they're still all working in the UK.

Those sounds are so unique.

You can't dismiss it.

No, you can't at all.

Well, what a treat that was

and what a shrine to some of
the greatest names in music.

So, after saying cheerio to Ohio,

we're now heading 180 miles north
on Lake Erie

to the Niagara River.

Here, we'll sail through
Welland Canal,

then hop on a bus

to one of the great
natural wonders of the world.

Right.

It's an hour's
drive from the ship to Niagara.

But what a drive.

And what a first
impression of Canada.

So exciting. I've just been waiting
for this, for such a long time.

And I'm finally here.

Our excursion of the Falls
comes as part of the cruise package.

There's so much to see,
if you are doing the Great Lakes,

but I wouldn't miss this one
for the world.

Are you ready for this excitement?

Do you know, I am,
I'm really excited about this.

Wait till you get under that rush.

Coming up, I get a close-up view
of the Niagara Falls...

I'm absolutely wet through.

It was like being in a car-wash!

SHE SCREAMS

..with the full Niagara experience.

This is amazing!

I'm cruising round
The Great Lakes on my Canadian trip.

And today we're at
the amazing Niagara Falls.

We're booked on the Hornblower
Catamaran which will take us

right up to the base of the Falls,
all for an £18 ticket.

One thing to remember,

is more than 12 million people
visit here every year,

so, plan your trip well in advance,
and consider booking ahead online.

Wow. Look at that! Look at that!

The catamarans leave
every 15 minutes, they hold

up to 700 passengers, who all
get the complimentary ponchos.

Fetching, eh?

Ooh!

Everybody has made
their way upstairs,

because they think
that's the best view.

It isn't, it's here.
Exactly the same view,

but there's a lot more protection.

The Falls were
formed at the end of the Ice Age,

when masses of melting glacier
water gushed through

the Niagara River, cascading
over cliffs, into Lake Ontario.

And it was the water's force,

that gave the Falls
their renowned horseshoe shape.

You know, Niagara
was an Indigenous word.

Aha.

From "Onguiaahra", which means
"thunder of waters".

Wow.

That's why we have... It's the
roaring water, from the Falls.

Thunder of waters.

Amazing. Now, we are going to get
really wet.

Going to get wet.

Let's just go in there.

SHE LAUGHS

We're getting wet.
We're getting wet!

You know what, I'm just going
to go out there and embrace it,

I'm going to go out.

Look at this.

Look at this!

Wow!

It's very, very wet,
but it is unbelievable.

It's amazing!

This has been fascinating. I've
come to the Falls numerous times.

Really?

Never taken the boat over. Wow!

It's the power of nature.
It is the power of nature.

Fantastic.

SHE LAUGHS

Oh, my gosh!

I'm absolutely wet through.
It was like being in a car-wash.

It was...

Or a big tumble dryer.

But it was exhilarating,
to see nature like that

and the force of water.

It was so exciting.

Just loved every single minute!

And, you know what, there's an
equally spectacular way to see it.

A few years ago, some bright
spark came up with a novel idea.

Put a zip wire
across the Niagara River, he said.

Well, in 2016,
they did it, and in 2019

I'm going to try it.

Are you scared, as well?

I'm scared, you know...

I've just started getting
really scared, have you?

I'm glad it's not just me!

No, I think it's everybody.

Like the catamarans, it's wise to
book the zip wire ahead, to avoid

the queues, because the longer the
wait, the more frayed the nerves.

Must admit, my mouth
and my throat have gone really dry.

Because I, erm...

My adrenaline's going like mad.

When I saw it online, I thought,
"Oh, gosh, that looks great,

"let's have a go,"
but actually, I'm here

waiting to queue up and it's...

It's a long way down.

220 feet,
or 67 metres down, to be exact.

And the zip wire
stretches nearly 700 metres.

And if that's not scary enough,

I'll be flying through the air
at 40mph.

I think I'm going to be fine,

I'm just going to watch
a couple of people.

My mouth is so dry,
I can't even begin to tell you.

I don't know why...

..why I'm doing this but...

I'll be fine.

I'll be fine!

Pull it up, and then over your
shoulders like a backpack.

Ah-ha. Are you nervous?

Yes. Don't be, it's not that bad.

I know.

Whoo.

All right, can you put
your left leg up for me?

Yeah. Right. Oh, hello.

Oh, that chafes a bit.

All right, sit down. It's going to
be the comfiest thing

you ever sit on. Oh! Yeah.
Lean back a bit. Yeah. All right.

Why am I doing this?
Oh, my God.

Aaaah!

SHE LAUGHS
Whoo!

Oh, my God, this is amazing!

Oh, wow!

Oh!

Oh, this is fabulous!
Look at me!

Whoo!

Aaaah!

Yay! Wow!

Look at this day!

Oh, whoa!

Yes!

Yes, here we go! Oh, my! Aaaah!

SHE LAUGHS
Oh, God.

OK, it may not have been the most
graceful landing in the world,

but who cares when you're having
so much fun!

Oh, my God! Oh. How was your flight?

Oh, it was brilliant.

It was so good.

It was much better than I thought.

Bye, Niagara.
I've definitely "fallen" for you.

During the night, my ship
left the splendour of Niagara Falls,

and headed north on Lake Ontario,
to hip and happening Toronto.

Let's go!
I wonder what we've got here.

Look at this skyline.

Do you know, I really love Canada.

I really do love Canada.

And that's the beautiful
thing about a cruise.

You can go and see little bits of it

and then see which is
your favourite.

And then go back and visit.

Oh, look, I match the decor today.

Good morning. Good morning.
How are you?

I'm really well, how are you? Great.

To help us get our bearings,

the cruise line's
laid on a city bus tour

and given us a lovely guide
named Phil.

It's my job to tell you probably
more than you need to know,

over the next few hours
about Toronto.

Canada was part of the British
Empire for over 100 years.

And Toronto was originally named
York! Now I do feel at home.

It's just stunning.
Absolutely stunning.

This is a place I could live.

Especially in one of them houses!

Please.

The architecture here is so varied,
from the futuristic CN Tower,

once the world's tallest,
to this Gothic style castle,

Castle Loma.

Thank you.

But there are more great sights off
the usual tourist trail, like this.

It's a fountain of dogs!

Berczy Park was an old parking lot,
until it was brought to life

with the unveiling of
its canine fountain, in 2017.

It's called Jacob's Ladder
and there's 27 dogs,

plus one lonely cat.

I like the fact they've got
a bone on the very top.

The local artist was commissioned
to design the piece after

winning a public competition.

He gets my vote, too.

I think it's really quirky,
and I think it's really great.

Now I'm back on the ship
and it's cocktail hour.

Oh, well, one more for the road.

And then maybe have an early night.

Ta-ra! An au revoir!

Toodle-ooh, Toronto,
what a fabulous day.

It's exceeded all my expectations,
I've had a fabulous time.

Cheers, everyone.

Coming up,

a little bit of an English tradition
in French Quebec...

I presume the changing
of the guards is all about

the guards changing over!

Are you ready to get
wet, wild and crazy?

..and I wonder if I've made
the right decision

about the Montreal Rapids.

I'm on the next leg of my journey.

After leaving
Toronto behind overnight,

we're heading north
towards Kingston.

It's where we'll join
the Saint Lawrence River

and say bonjour to
Canada's French province, Quebec.

Two days it'll take us, but then,
there's a lot of water to cover.

It's really hard to believe
that I am on a lake cruise,

because it's so big,
it feels like I'm on the ocean.

It feels like I'm at sea,
but all that water is fresh.

And, it was all frozen at one point.

So, all the lakes, the US lakes
and the Canadian lakes,

come from a glacier.

Which is quite incredible,
really, isn't it?

We're now cruising up
the Saint Lawrence River,

where you will find
The Thousand Islands.

Sound familiar?

Well, yes, the dressing really did
get its name from here -

thanks to a fisherman's wife,

who made the sauce to serve with
her husband's fish supper.

Or so the story goes.

What's definitely true is
that the islands have been

a retreat for the American
and Canadian rich

since the 19th century,

and they're still home to
some of the most elaborate mansions.

Every house is different,
every house has its own story.

Every house has its own island.

The Victory II continues
its way up the Saint Lawrence.

740 miles of waterway
connecting The Great Lakes

to the Atlantic Ocean.

And, taking in our next destination,

Quebec City.

Oh, what a beautiful day.

I've even got my arms out.

I'm going solo this morning.

Heading out to explore
the old part of the city.

It was originally a fur trading
post, and the French were

the first Europeans to settle here,
way back in 1608.

Now, it says here on t'interweb
that Place-Royale - which is this,

Old Quebec - is one of the oldest
cities in North America,

and the birthplace
of French Canada.

This really is a handsome city,

and though it may be
3,000 miles from France,

there's an unmistakably
Parisian vibe.

Now, I know I've been saying
this place is very French,

but there's also something
very, well...British.

BUGLE PLAYS

I never thought
I would travel to Quebec in Canada

to watch the changing of the guards.

The Citadelle of Quebec is
Canada's oldest military barracks,

and home to its only
French-speaking regiment -

the Royal 22nd, or Van Doos.

Created just after Canada left the
British Empire, it took inspiration

from our own Grenadier Guards,
right down to the bearskin hats.

Its colonel-in-chief is the Queen,
who even stays here whenever she's

in town, and every day, you can
come and watch the guards changing,

just like Buck House.

I presume
the changing of the guards

is all about the guards
changing over.

SHE LAUGHS

What's lovely about this is that
so many French Canadians turn

out to watch, even though
it conjures up thoughts of Britain.

Still, I've said it before,
wherever you

are in the world, there's something
about men and women in uniform.

Over the last nine days,
I've been blown away by the beauty

and splendour of North America's
Great Lakes.

But like all adventures,
this one has come to an end.

Overnight, my ship headed back
down the Saint Lawrence River to

make its final stop, in Montreal.

Thank you. Thank you. Bye!

Now, my flight home
doesn't leave until tonight,

so I could go and explore
some of the city's great sights,

like the Olympic stadium,
or this giant snow dome.

But I've chosen something a little
more daredevil instead -

a boat ride on the Montreal Rapids.

Are you ready to get wet, wild and
crazy? Oh, am I going to get wet?

Oh, for sure. This is like a
submarine ride in a convertible.

Oh! We guarantee
you're going to be wet,

otherwise we throw you overboard.

Oh, dear.

I booked this ride
in advance online.

More fool me.

They show you a video which,
quite frankly,

frightens the life out of you.

Then, you get to put on
your safety gear.

I've opted for as much of it
as possible.

Hiya.

That's me done.

Banana!
SHE LAUGHS

I don't suppose this is
the best look I've ever had.

Other more flattering safety
outfits are available,

as demonstrated by my fellow
passengers.

OK, you look so...
But I look like a minion!

SHE LAUGHS
That's funny.

This is not funny, is it?

I mean you look really buff
and gorgeous,

I look like something
that the cat dragged in.

Ooh.

Right, I haven't even set off yet,
and I've got white knuckles.

This boat was specially designed
to cope with the Rapids

and can reach up to 50mph,
which is fun! Apparently.

SCREAMING

Now, usually, at this point,
I'd give

you an interesting fact or two
about what I'm doing, but not now -

not when I'm stuck on a spin cycle.

And just for the record, the yellow
poncho doesn't keep the water out.

Finally, it's all over.

It's been an experience,

and while I'm not quite sure if
I'd do it again,

it's taken me
out of my comfort zone,

which is what adventures
are all about.

You know, before I booked this trip,

I could see it was geared towards
the older cruiser,

who likes a gentle pace.

But, if you plan ahead,
you can add some-action packed stops

and enjoy the best of both worlds.

I've seen some incredible sights,
made some fabulous friends,

and, as for the music...
well, nothing can match motown.

# Ain't no mountain high

# Ain't no valley low

# Ain't no river
wide enough, baby

# If you need me, call me

# No matter where you are

# No matter how far

# Don't worry, baby

# Just call my name

# I'll be there in a hurry

# You don't have to worry

# Cos, baby, there
ain't no mountain high enough

# Ain't no valley low enough

# Ain't no river wide enough

# To keep me
from getting to you, babe

# Remember the day I set you free

# I told you you could always
count on me, darling

# From that day on

# I made a vow

# I'll be there when you want me

# Some way, somehow

# Baby, there ain't no mountain
high enough

# Ain't no valley low enough

# Ain't no river wide enough

# To keep me from
getting to you, babe

# Oh, no, darling

# No wind, no rain

# Or winters cold

# Can stop me, baby

# No, no, baby

# Because you are my goal
If you're ever in trouble

# I'll be there on the double
Just send for me

# Oh, baby

# Ain't no mountain high enough

# Ain't no valley low enough

# Ain't no river wide enough

# To keep me from
getting to you, baby. #

SHE CHUCKLES

Stop laughing.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media