Shadowmeboy Breakaway Adventure from New Orleans to the Western Caribbean!

[shadowmeboy]

Hey all! Shadowmeboy here! I know some of you probably have missed my pictorial reviews. I have missed doing them. Covid really screwed up some awesome trips that we had planned. We had a total of 5 cruises cancelled on us, so we were finally glad to sail again!

 

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 catches us up to April of 2022. When we finally got back to cruising! So here we go!

 

Susan and I just got back from the Norwegian Breakaway to the Western Caribbean from New Orleans. It was amazing to be back on board!

 

Our Cruise History!

 

My wife, Susan, and I love to cruise and do it any chance we can. We have sailed 14 times together and I have sailed once by myself.

 

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 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.

 

About us:

My wife, Susan, is a Middle School Math Teacher and I stopped working for a grocery store and now work a county near our home in elections. Susan and I will be married 15 years (June 30th)! 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.

 

 

Most of the pictures in this review are taken with my Canon EOS 90D, My iPhone 10R, my GoPro Hero 7 Black or my GoPro Hero Black 9.
 

Please feel free to ask questions along the way! I will try to answer them as quickly as I can. This review will be very picture heavy, but I love to relive my journeys through my pictures! I hope you enjoy them as well!

 

Let's get this trip aboard the Norwegian Breakaway started!

 

- Matthew

Edited May 10, 2022 by shadowmeboy
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[brookie848]

So glad to see you back and reviewing. I was actually wondering about you a few days ago...thinking about the "regular" reviewers here that I hadn't seen in a while.

 

I'm looking forward to your trip report.

[vacation44]

Looking forward to reading your review!

[ChiefMateJRK]

I'm glad I don't have your photography skills, because I would spend a lot more time taking pictures.  (jk)  I don't, so my iPhone pretty much just stays in the room safe and I take mental pictures.  

[shadowmeboy]

The one thing about not sailing in almost 3 years, is finding where everything went that normally would be together. The snorkel and fins were one place. The cruise tag holders another. Unfortunately, Amazon got a bunch of business because things disappeared on us. 

 

Trying to remember what to pack and not to pack, once second nature, created a pause this go round. Plus the unknown nature of what restrictions would be in place was another. It was a very stressful precruise time frame for me especially.

 

Susan and I have done little treat/tip bags for meal servers ever since our 2017 Christmas Cruise. This time was no exception. 

 

 

Here are all the bags after puffy painting "Thank you" on all of them.

 

 

Here is the growing pile as we assemble the bags, putting a few pieces of chocolate, some starlight mints, and later the small tip.

 

 

Susan doing her best Price is Right modeling of the tip bag.

 

We also preordered our Inspire Diagnostic At-home testing kits in order to do the precruise covid test. That arrived well in advance of the date we needed it, but I was worried one of us would come down with covid right before this cruise. Spoiler alert: We didn't!

 

[shadowmeboy]

April 2nd, 2022 - The day before our cruise!

 

We wake up this morning and finish packing the last minute items we need into our bags. We discover we need to get a medium duffel bag, because things aren't fitting the way they should. Remember that comment I made about not having the cruise list down pat. Yeah, we over packed. But we were out of practice!

 

8:30am and its time to do our zoom covid tests. So we do the test in front of the proctor, and go through the waiting time to make sure we only see one line line!

 

 

Yes, we are negative for covid! 

 

We print the confirmations and then its time to pack the car and hit the road.

 

 

See that Laundry basket, yeah that is what needed to go in that duffel bag we need to purchase on our way to Seattle.

 

 

Somebody is super excited about leaving! Its her Spring Break, so she is extra glad to leave!

 

 

We head out on the road to Seattle.

 

 

Overlooking Coulee City and the South end of Banks Lake.

 

 

More Coulee City

 

 

just one more?

 

 

The drive on Washington 17 along the Sun Lakes was gorgeous as the clouds had disappeared.

 

 

Focus, focus, focus!

 

 

WA 17 in Grant County between Coulee City and Soap Lake

 

 

 

It was very windy this day. I said to Susan that they should have a Small Craft Advisory up for Soap Lake here. We had never seen the lake this choppy.

 

 

The Town of Soap Lake across Soap Lake. I have a railfan friend who lives on the shore here on Soap Lake. His house is over there on the bank.

 

 

We make a stop in Ephrata at Walmart to pick up that duffel. We also stretched our legs and grabbed some McDonalds Breakfast. No, I did not take a picture of us eating as we drove around Ephrata.

 

We head "West" on Highway 28. Its mainly South but the highway is a East-West highway so its West.

 

 

We leave Highway 28 as we shoot down Highway 283 to George, Washington. yes, you did read that right. George, Washington! 

 

 

Great views of the Mountains West of Wenatchee in the distance as we head down 283 along fields and cow pastures.

 

 

and Cows in fields without fences. Luckily, they were more preoccupied with eating!

 

 

 

Lonely Highway 283

 

 

Great little dust devil! Can't believe I got it! The tall towers mean we are getting close to George and Interstate 90.

[shadowmeboy]

 

The Columbia River from Interstate 90, looking down on the Vantage Bridge.

 

 

Look at that Wind Sock. Yikes!

 

 

The Columbia River here at Vantage is known also as Lake Wanapaum as its the lake behind Wanapum Dam, a Grant County PUD Dam.

 

 

 

Beautiful, but very windy and choppy.

 

 

Someone planted some Wind turbines!

 

 

 

 

Not much else to look at on this segment of Interstate 90!

 

 

Now, if the clouds were not in the way, you would be able to see Mt. Rainier from this spot. But the Mountain is not out today.

 

 

I am a major train fan. You are surprised right? This bridge spanning Interstate 90 is the old Milwaukee Road bridge on there line to the Seattle Area. Now its a pedestrian/bike/horse path called the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail.

 

 

 

We head through Thorp, WA. Uh, Gas prices are horrible, and this was cheap.

 

 

 

Beautiful!

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

As we continue on I90, we start getting into the Mountains!

 

 

 

 

I love the beauty of Snoqualmie Pass

 

 

This is a wildlife overpass. It allows wildlife a safe way to cross the freeway. It also reduces crashes on the freeway.

 

 

 

Snoqualmie Pass Summit

 

 

 

 

I90/I405 Interchange

 

 

Mercer Island - an Island in the middle of Lake Washington just east of Seattle.

 

 

Tunnel under part of Mercer Island

 

 

Crossing the I90 Floating bridge to Seattle. Notice the light rail construction on the span.

 

 

Tunnel under the hill to get to Downtown Seattle

 

 

Downtown

 

 

 

Mariners T-Mobile Park hiding behind the trees.

 

We finally arrive into Tukwila, just South of Seattle. We are going to hang out here until closer to our flight time.

 

If you want to see the entire time-lapse drive we did, click the video below!

 

 

I am going to stop here for the night!

[shadowmeboy]

6 hours ago, brookie848 said:

So glad to see you back and reviewing. I was actually wondering about you a few days ago...thinking about the "regular" reviewers here that I hadn't seen in a while.

 

I'm looking forward to your trip report.

Thank you for your kind words! Welcome aboard the review!

[shadowmeboy]

5 hours ago, vacation44 said:

Looking forward to reading your review!

Thank you. I am going to enjoy reliving the trip!

[shadowmeboy]

1 hour ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

I'm glad I don't have your photography skills, because I would spend a lot more time taking pictures.  (jk)  I don't, so my iPhone pretty much just stays in the room safe and I take mental pictures.  

It can be a blessing and a curse sometimes! I enjoy being able to look back and relive the experience. Being a visual person, the pictures and videos are awesome!

[drumming cruisers]

So glad you are back! Love your reviews, and pictures and videos. 

I was born and grew up in Seattle. Been all over the state. Your pictures bring back memories. our family moved to another state in 1970. Go back every year to go on Alaskan cruises though and take my DH on tours of Mt. Rainer etc. 

Love NOLA too. Have cruised out of there many times. 

Hopefully will be able to get back to cruising this year. have 2 booked, fingers crossed. 

have a wonderful time. 

 

 

[fethiyeden]

Looking forward to your review.

I hoped you would be doing one, as I saw you posted a few Breakaway videos on YouTube.

Fabulous photos as always.

 

[jimbri]

Glad to see you back on CC.  I was thinking of you the other day and checked out your videos on Youtube. Photos are great.

[shadowmeboy]

20 hours ago, drumming cruisers said:

So glad you are back! Love your reviews, and pictures and videos. 

I was born and grew up in Seattle. Been all over the state. Your pictures bring back memories. our family moved to another state in 1970. Go back every year to go on Alaskan cruises though and take my DH on tours of Mt. Rainer etc. 

Love NOLA too. Have cruised out of there many times. 

Hopefully will be able to get back to cruising this year. have 2 booked, fingers crossed. 

have a wonderful time. 

 

 

Thank you! I hope you are able to sail both of those cruises!

[shadowmeboy]

19 hours ago, fethiyeden said:

Looking forward to your review.

I hoped you would be doing one, as I saw you posted a few Breakaway videos on YouTube.

Fabulous photos as always.

 

Thank you. You caught me! 😉 

[shadowmeboy]

15 hours ago, jimbri said:

Glad to see you back on CC.  I was thinking of you the other day and checked out your videos on Youtube. Photos are great.

I had been lurking and reading but not posting much, as I didn't have much to post. Glad to be back into the review mode! Thank you

 

[shadowmeboy]

Arriving into the Seattle Area, we had some time to kill. Our flight leaves at 11:25 pm and Alaska Airlines will not let you check in more than 4 hours before a flight. Learned that the hard way in Anchorage in 2018.

 

So we got our rings cleaned for our service requirements. I shopped for a replacement belt as one had broke. Then we went and got Lunch!

 

Red Robin! Yumm!

 

A note about this Red Robin. When I was growing up, this was one of the few near us, and so this particular Red Robin has a nostalgic value that others do not!

 

 

This was a late lunch/early dinner situation. We knew we would get some food in the Alaska Lounge when we checked in, but didn't want to eat too much before our Red Eye Flight.

 

Lunch was very good though!

 

After lunch, we still had almost 2 hours to kill before we could park the car and head to the airport. So what does a good railfan do? Go Railfanning! 

 

This is a BNSF Pasco, WA to Everett, WA Manifest train heading through Tukwila. 

 

 

 

Lots of variety on a Manifest!

 

 

This was another Manifest, but headed Southbound instead of Northbound. It almost snuck up on me!

 

I caught one final train before heading to the airport.

 

Amtrak 507 - Amtrak Cascades (Seattle, WA to Eugene, OR)

 

Its always cool to catch Amtrak!

 

I packed up the stuff, and off to the airport we went!

 

For those of you who might be interested. Here is the train video from this railfanning adventure! 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

This is the check in is taking too long and I want to get to the Alaska Lounge look. Or its the why are you taking my picture look. I just can't tell.

 

Alaska Airlines check-in area here at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

 

We clear Security and start heading down to the tram as our departure is from the North Satellite (N Concourse). This stained glass is on the stairs down to the tram.

 

 

Another look!

 

N Concourse in newly renovated and this was the first time flying out of the new N. The artwork greeting us as we head up the Escalator from the tram.

 

Susan picked up a Hard Apple Cider, Chicken Noodle Soup, and a sandwich. You can see I have the laptop set up transferring videos already.

 

This Alaska plane, to unknown destination, is being pushed out of its N Gate.

 

Boeing 737

 

 

A few minutes later the plane just to the right of it starts to be pushed out.

 

Susan found the Pancake machine that Alaska has in each lounge. She made pancakes with banana, peanut butter, and syrup. I had a Hard cider, a sandwich, and some pretzels but somehow failed to get a picture of it. Must have been to enthralled in editing.

 

The Lounge closed at 10pm, so we headed down to the gate. Gate N19.

 

I struck up a conversation with another couple heading also to the Breakaway. Carol and Dennis would become friends on this trip. Here is the lively bunch waiting to board the 737.

 

Ready to go!

 

Heading for the runway!

 

Turning on the runway.

 

Here is the takeoff video for any of you who are interested. 

 

I want to go farther, but I had a long day at work today, and my eyes are not staying open. I will pick it up tomorrow. Sorry I didn't get further tonight. 😞

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

I found a few pictures from the Alaska Lounge we visited while waiting for our flight in N Concourse at SeaTac. I wanted to share them before I headed to work this morning.

 

Escalators leading up to the Alaska Lounge in Concourse N

 

View from the second level looking down on the concourse level of N Concourse

 

Entering the Lounge. We were able to access the Lounge due to having first class tickets on Alaska.

 

View of the seating area

 

 

Coffee Bar - Wait, what, a coffee bar in Seattle. 😉

 

Food buffet

 

The keeper of the Hard Cider. I mean the Bar!

 

Coke machine and drip coffee

 

Sorry I missed these when posting last night.

 

[cruisequeen4ever]

Yay, you’re back!!!! 🥳

[MrsTocko]

I LITERALLY just recommended your 2016 sun review to someone that is booking an NCL Alaskan.  Cant wait to finish your review.  We had the Breakaway book in July 2021, that was cancelled - and havent yet made the timing work for another go at it.

[AKR2011]

Hooray! Matthew and Susan are back 😀 I am so excited for this review. I'm so happy you made it back to sea.

 

❤⚓ Ashley 

[shadowmeboy]

10 hours ago, cruisequeen4ever said:

Yay, you’re back!!!! 🥳

Thank you! Glad to be back writing a review!

[shadowmeboy]

8 hours ago, MrsTocko said:

I LITERALLY just recommended your 2016 sun review to someone that is booking an NCL Alaskan.  Cant wait to finish your review.  We had the Breakaway book in July 2021, that was cancelled - and havent yet made the timing work for another go at it.

Thank you! I loved that cruise. We are back on the Sun in less than 2 months! I recommend the Breakaway, it was a lot of fun!