Shadowmeboy's Suntastic 10-Night Alaskan Anniversary Cruise Adventure

shadowmeboy · October 2, 2023

Hey all! Shadowmeboy here!

Some of you may remember a little incident involving the Norwegian Sun back in 2022. That pesky Iceberg incident, which prevented us from sailing her for our 15th cruise on our 15th wedding anniversary. Well fast forward a year, we had to cancel a cruise on the Norwegian Joy due to a roofing issue on our house, but were able to find a inexpensive cruise on the Norwegian Sun to Alaska. Plus I was able to get a $750 off voucher through MyVegas Rewards (MGM games) which brought the cost down quite a bit more. So no flights and a short drive to Seattle, winner winner chicken dinner! Alaska here we come!

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!

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.

This Alaskan cruise on the Norwegian Sun is our 17th cruise together!

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, 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!

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The Norwegian Sun docked in Icy Strait Point, Alaska taken from the ZipRider!

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

shadowmeboy · October 2, 2023

Our cruise adventure started out a few days earlier when we put together our tip bags for this cruise.

We went with a basic burlap bag with Hersey's Nuggets, starlight mints, and a small tip! We love putting these together for the crew and they appreciate the gesture! I always have people ask how we make them, so I wanted to include this part.

Bag contents - All this fit in that small bag!

A pile of bags ready to go!

shadowmeboy · October 2, 2023

June 29th, 2023

PreCruise Day

Look at these smiling faces! They are ready for a vacation!

The bags are packed and ready to head out to Seattle.

A slightly wider view!

Chief Joseph Dam - a US Army Corp of Engineers Dam on the Columbia River

They were picking Cherries as we headed out!

Columbia River near Brewster, WA

Cell phone made the photo a bit saturated

These are apple trees. If you look closely, you can see the small apples dotting the trees.

shadowmeboy · October 2, 2023

We grabbed some McDonald's on our way through Brewster.

Heading South on US Highway 97 towards Wenatchee.

Look at those cool clouds!

Still on US Highway 97

Heading west out of Wenatchee on US Highway 2/97

shadowmeboy · October 2, 2023

Heading towards Stevens Pass!

I love freshly paved Highway!

Cashmere, WA

Still on US Highway 2/97

This is where US Highway 97 heads South once again towards Oregon.

Leavenworth here we come!

Rolling through Leavenworth!

This is the new cart track in Leavenworth

shadowmeboy · October 2, 2023

Tumwater Canyon - US Highway 2 follows the old Great Northern rail line through the canyon.

This is one of my favorite parts of the drive.

Great Candy Shop in the middle of Tumwater Canyon

Winton, WA

shadowmeboy · October 2, 2023

Look at this car being towed!

Bathroom break!

Beautiful Stevens Pass in the Summer!

Almost down the Mountain!

Mt. Index

We finally made it over to Monroe!

drumming cruisers · October 3, 2023

1 hour ago, shadowmeboy said:

We grabbed some McDonald's on our way through Brewster.

Heading South on US Highway 97 towards Wenatchee.

Look at those cool clouds!

Still on US Highway 97

Heading west out of Wenatchee on US Highway 2/97

When I was a kid, we meet grandparents. (who lived in Wenatchee) and camp at Lake Wenatchee. pretty rugged back then, no bathrooms. Was a great adventure for us kids.

shadowmeboy · October 3, 2023

16 minutes ago, drumming cruisers said:

When I was a kid, we meet grandparents. (who lived in Wenatchee) and camp at Lake Wenatchee. pretty rugged back then, no bathrooms. Was a great adventure for us kids.

I am sure it was. It probably was one of the most memorable experiences you had as a child. I remember some of the camping trips with my grandparents like they were yesterday. They are some my most favorite memories.

SenatorsFan · October 3, 2023

Beautiful pictures so far, Matthew. I look forward to following the rest of your adventures! 😀

shadowmeboy · October 3, 2023

27 minutes ago, SenatorsFan said:

Beautiful pictures so far, Matthew. I look forward to following the rest of your adventures! 😀

Thank you!

I am sure I will have quite a few that you will enjoy.

AKR2011 · October 3, 2023

Welcome back! I'm already loving your review and looking forward to more. You still have one more stare left, right? Or did you get to all 50 now?

shadowmeboy · October 3, 2023

37 minutes ago, AKR2011 said:

Welcome back! I'm already loving your review and looking forward to more. You still have one more stare left, right? Or did you get to all 50 now?

We have 1 more; Hawaii! Less than a year to go!

LincolnLegend · October 3, 2023

Yay to a shadowmeboy report but boo to my workplace that has made it impossible for me to see your pictures! CC is my secret indulgence at quiet times at work, I don't think they like smugmug lol

shadowmeboy · October 3, 2023

5 minutes ago, LincolnLegend said:

Yay to a shadowmeboy report but boo to my workplace that has made it impossible for me to see your pictures! CC is my secret indulgence at quiet times at work, I don't think they like smugmug lol

sorry that they are blocking SmugMug on you. I hope you can follow along at home though!

shadowmeboy · October 3, 2023

So we arrived in Monroe after driving over Stevens Pass. I looked at the clock and realized it was almost time for Amtrak's Empire Builder to come rolling through Monroe on its way towards Wenatchee, Spokane, and eventually Chicago.

I always bring my railfanning gear! Plus I knew that we would be in Skagway and I wanted to railfan the White Pass & Yukon Route, so any other railfanning is a plus!

You can see the headlight of the engine almost 10 miles away from me on the straight track.

It was getting closer but seemed like it was taking forever.

It was at this point the engineer spotted me, because you can see the lower lights start alternating.

shadowmeboy · October 3, 2023

The train is running almost 50 mph through Monroe.

Amtrak 139 leads the eastbound Empire Builder on this day.

The Empire Builder travels between Chicago, IL and both Seattle, WA and Portland, OR. The train splits westbound at Spokane and the two halves complete their journey separately.

This accordingly is the Seattle Section. It has a baggage car and a transitional dorm car (crew quarters for dining car staff, etc)

The baggage car and transdorm are followed by two sleeper cars on this day and a dining car.

Finally, there is a coach car on the rear.

In Spokane, the train combines with the Portland section which has a Sightseer Lounge, 2 more coaches, and an additional sleeper.

Here is the video I took of the train rolling through!

shadowmeboy · October 3, 2023

After the train rolled through, we went the final two blocks to the hotel.

We were staying at the Best Western in Monroe!

Our room for the night!

This property was just a basic Best Western, but it was quite nice!

shadowmeboy · October 3, 2023

We had to run to a nearby city to return a pair of heals that just didn't quite fit Susan. They really wouldn't of fit my big foot (I wear a 15) 😉 Mt. Baker as seen across the Snohomish Valley from WA Highway 96.

Another shot

It was very photogenic!

This is what the drive from Monroe to Lynnwood was like!

shadowmeboy · October 3, 2023

After returning the heals, we headed over to Red Lobster for dinner. We were joking that we were having seafood from a chain before going to Alaska, oh well!