Hey all! Shadowmeboy here!
First of all I apologize for the tardiness of this review, I have been playing catch up all Spring. 2024 at my job is a busy year, because its the only year every 4 years where we can have 5 elections. I work in elections for the County immediately North of us here in Washington State. We started the year out with a February Special that was 83% of the entire county, so lots of work. Then the day we certified the February Special, ballots went out for Washington's Presidential Primary. That was a ton of work. Then we had a short break where Susan and I were able to sneak in a 5 night Pacific Coastal cruise (yes, I will do a review on that one as well). Before coming back to a small April Special Election, which allowed me to get caught up on photos and get this overdue review started.
Our Cruise History!
My wife, Susan, and I love to cruise and do it any chance we can. Before this cruise, we have sailed 16 times together and I have sailed once by myself.
Past Reviews:
In 2016 we sailed the Norwegian Sun on a Southbound Cruise from Seward, Alaska to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. You can read the review here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2529761
The Norwegian Sun is pictured in Sitka, AK.
In June of 2017, We sailed the Norwegian Escape to the Western Caribbean. Review: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2516206
The Norwegian Escape pictured in Costa Maya, Mexico.
In December 2017, We sailed the Norwegian Star to the Mexican Riviera over Christmas. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2581330
The Norwegian Star pictured in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
In June 2018, We sailed the Norwegian Jewel Northbound Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to Seward, Alaska. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2557365-north-to-alaska-shadowmeboys-jewel-shimmering-pictorial-review/
The Norwegian Jewel pictured in Juneau, AK from the Mount Roberts Tram.
In November 2018, We sailed the Norwegian Bliss on a Eastern Caribbean Cruise out of Miami. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2614687-shadowmeboys-blissful-eastern-caribbean-pictorial-cruise-review/
The Norwegian Bliss docked in Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin islands.
In June 2019, we sailed the Norwegian Dawn on a Canada/New England Cruise out New York City. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2678378-shadowmeboys-norwegian-dawn-canadanew-england-pictorial-review/
The Norwegian Dawn anchored just outside the harbor of Newport, Rhode Island.
In September 2019, I sailed a 7 Night Alaska roundtrip on the Norwegian Bliss without Susan. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2707063-shadowmeboy-helps-close-down-alaska-on-the-bliss/
The Norwegian Bliss docked in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Then Covid Hit. What did we do during our unplanned pause in cruising?
In July 2020, when we were supposed to sail Alaska, we ended up doing a 13 day, 7 state road trip. It got me up to 48 states visited, as I hit my 47th State (Wyoming) and 48th (South Dakota) along the way!
This picture I took near Glacier National Park was published in a train calendar for 2021!
Videos from our trip are on my YouTube channel (Playlist Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6BY6HPmDubE1rop-vFZS1p-7tqOKvd0O)
In December 2020, Susan got her 48th and 49th states when we traveled through North and South Carolina to surprise my Mom and Dad on Christmas Day in Florida.
Sunset picture from Indian Rock Beach, FL near Tampa.
Videos from our trip are on my YouTube channel (Playlist Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6BY6HPmDubELw7b1b-LHcGNfTHHGRVDA)
In April 2021, we took a train ride from Seattle to South Bend, Indiana, rented a car, and drove to my 49th State of Ohio. We visited family, the Ohio State Reformatory (where the movie Shawshank Redemption was filmed), and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
There I am in front of the Pro Football Hall of Fame!
Videos from our trip are on my YouTube channel (Playlist Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6BY6HPmDubGUpI47p3TseK36oE6g81RA
Finally, we snuck away for a Las Vegas Getaway in January 2022 for my Birthday.
A Lion Fish at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Shark Reef Aquarium.
Videos from our trip are on my YouTube channel (Playlist Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6BY6HPmDubGSUJn9EuQ-19fbfBb184vw
That caught us up to April of 2022. When we finally got back to cruising!
Return to Cruising!
In April 2022, We returned to to cruising aboard the Norwegian Breakaway! We sailed a 7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise out of New Orleans. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2851477-shadowmeboy-breakaway-adventure-from-new-orleans-to-the-western-caribbean/
Norwegian Breakaway docked next to the Norwegian Dawn in Cozumel, Mexico!
In July 2022, we finally got to return to Alaska sailing with our friends, Trace and Maria, on a 7 night Alaska Seattle Roundtrip on the Norwegian Spirit. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2888618-shadowmeboys-spirited-return-to-alaska/
The Norwegian Spirit docked at Ward Cove in Ketchikan, AK.
In December 2022, we escaped the multiple feet of snow at home and enjoyed the sun and sand of the Caribbean on our 11-night Southern Caribbean Cruise on the Norwegian Encore. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2927077-shadowmeboys-2022-encore-christmas-and-new-years-southern-caribbean-cruise-adventure/
The Norwegian Encore docked in Willemstad, Curacao!
In June 2023, we headed to Alaska onboard our favorite ship in the fleet, the Norwegian Sun! This was a 10-night Alaskan Cruise roundtrip out of Seattle. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2966898-shadowmeboys-suntastic-10-night-alaskan-anniversary-cruise-adventure/
The Norwegian Sun docked in Icy Strait Point, Alaska taken from the ZipRider!
About us:
My wife, Susan, is a Elementary Math Specialist and I stopped working for a grocery store and now work a county near our home in elections as a Washington State Certified Elections Administrator!. Susan and I have been married 16 years! Due to her school schedule, we cannot sail as much as we would like.
We live in the Pacific Northwest, along the Columbia River on the "dry" side of Washington State among the Apple and Cherry Orchards.
Back on December 19th, 2023, we embarked on our latest Cruise adventure! Our longest Cruise to-date! This Christmas/New Years cruise on the Norwegian Sun is our 18th cruise together! This was a 12-night Eastern Caribbean out of Baltimore.
Most of the pictures in this review are taken with my Canon EOS 90D, my iPhone 15 Pro, my GoPro Hero 7 Black, my GoPro Hero Black 9, or my GoPro 11 along with some shots from Susan's Samsung phone.
Please feel free to ask questions along the way! I will try to answer them as quickly as I can. This review will be (as always) very picture heavy. Additionally, part of the delay in getting this review out was that some pictures took longer to edit. I ended up with over 3600 pictures to sort, edit, and prepare for this review.
I love to relive my journeys through my pictures! I hope you enjoy them as well!
The Norwegian Sun docked in Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis on our way back from our Rail & Sail Excursion!
Let's get this trip aboard the Norwegian Sun started!