Shadowmeboy's Suntastic 10-Night Alaskan Anniversary Cruise Adventure

[yakcruiser]

I parked there last year for 10 days. I declined valet parking, so they let me park right in front. Loved the pictures up to the top of the pass. I used to make deliveries up there for many years. Once you got over the pass not so much. Since I retired the only time I go over there is to catch a cruise ship or go to a mariners or hawks game. I can't wait to see your Alaska pictures. If only my photography skills were 1/2 as good as yours.

[shadowmeboy]

4 hours ago, yakcruiser said:

I parked there last year for 10 days. I declined valet parking, so they let me park right in front. Loved the pictures up to the top of the pass. I used to make deliveries up there for many years. Once you got over the pass not so much. Since I retired the only time I go over there is to catch a cruise ship or go to a mariners or hawks game. I can't wait to see your Alaska pictures. If only my photography skills were 1/2 as good as yours.

Ah thanks! I would have declined it if I could have; unfortunately I didn’t have that option 

[shadowmeboy]

Note: I was hopeful to get a lot done today, but I got mired in a project at work. So sorry I didn't get much progress.

 

Time to drop the bags!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I spy my favorite part of the Sun!

 

 

 

 

Time to get our cruise on!

 

 

The wandering line for document checks

 

 

Lots of smiles!

 

 

We cleared security and headed to check in! Check-in is upstairs in Seattle.

 

 

 

 

 

Boarding Photo time!

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

Checking In!

 

 

 

 

 

We headed down the hall to board the ship.

 

 

Unfortunately, we weren't quite ready yet!

 

 

All the people with boarding group numbers

 

 

Here we go!

 

 

Hello Gorgeous!

 

This is our 3rd time sailing the Sun!

 

 

 

I love how the Port of Seattle repurposed basically an airport skybridge for pier 66.

 

 

 

Almost there!

[shadowmeboy]

 

Finally aboard our favorite Ship!

 

 

 

We had Muster Station C, so we stopped and checked in. I love how almost all the muster stations are out on deck on the Sun!

 

Freestyle Daily - Day 1 - Embarkation Day - Seattle, WA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

Atrium from deck 6 mid looking up towards 7

 

 

Atrium from deck 6 mid looking down towards 5

 

 

Atrium elevators from deck 7

 

 

 

Passing through the shops on deck 6 mid to aft starboard

 

 

Lunchtime at Seven Seas - Deck 5 Aft 

Note: you can only get here from deck 6 or 7

[warb]

Surprised to see the Cherry  Trees in a "Dry-Looking" area.I'm probably

wrong. We Love Wash. State Cherries !

[shadowmeboy]

24 minutes ago, warb said:

Surprised to see the Cherry  Trees in a "Dry-Looking" area.I'm probably

wrong. We Love Wash. State Cherries !

The climate is perfect for growing them, hot and dry. The irrigation keeps the trees watered. The perfect Cherry needs a bit of water at formation and dry weather to form that perfect fruit.

 

We also enjoy the cherries. We buy a 20lb box each year from a packing shed nearby for only $20. 

[drumming cruisers]

41 minutes ago, shadowmeboy said:

The climate is perfect for growing them, hot and dry. The irrigation keeps the trees watered. The perfect Cherry needs a bit of water at formation and dry weather to form that perfect fruit.

 

We also enjoy the cherries. We buy a 20lb box each year from a packing shed nearby for only $20. 

That would cost us $120!! 

$5.99 LB this year

[shadowmeboy]

10 hours ago, drumming cruisers said:

That would cost us $120!! 

$5.99 LB this year

 

Ouch! Yeah, we are really lucky to live near the packing sheds and are able to get such a fabulous deal.

[shadowmeboy]

Embarkation Day Lunchtime!

 

 

Seven Seas MDR

 

 

 

I caught Susan in an awkward moment with this picture.

 

 

 

Funny selfie time!

 

 

pano

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cobb Salad

 

 

Wedge Salad

 

So we got our appetizers at about 12:05; Our entrees did not come out until 12:45. People who ordered after us were getting entrees ahead of us. Finally, the entrees arrived.

 

 

Fish & Chips

 

 

Cheeseburger - I had requested bacon with it, but that didn't come. By this point I was glad our entrees finally showed up.

 

 

Five Spice Mango Tapioca Pudding

 

 

Creme Caramel

 

The only good thing about the delay was that the staterooms were finally ready by the time we were done eating. Unfortunately, lunch took twice as long as it should have.

[shadowmeboy]

While we were eating lunch, I realized we had an extra Specialty Dining Meal more than I had prebooked. So we figured out where we wanted to go and headed to 4 Seasons MDR where Restaurant Reservations is set up on Embarkation Day.

 

The Sun Ship model is on the counter leading into 4 seasons from the Atrium.

 

 

After getting our additional night situated, we headed to our stateroom.

 

 

We were in a Balcony - Room 0208 -  Deck 10 Forward Starboard - Under the Spa

 

We had booked an Inside Stateroom originally through Casinos at Sea. We had opportunity to bid through Norwegian's Bid program. I bid $200/pp to go from an Inside to a Balcony which was accepted. If I had booked into a Balcony at booking, it would have been $1600-$1800 more than what I paid for the inside stateroom. So I consider our bid a great win!

 

 

 

 

 

Letter in the room from Casinos at Sea

 

 

Balcony Pano of Seattle

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

While we were chilling on the Balcony watching them load the final cages of bags, our Latitude Strawberries arrived.

 

 

Then our bags started showing up, so we started unpacking.

 

 

Susan kind of lead the effort, as I hung out on the Balcony with my cameras hoping a train would roll by!

 

 

We were departing on a Friday, so it was a workday in Seattle. At about 4:35, one of the Commuter rail trains left Downtown Seattle for Everett.

 

 

I had a great view of the crossing from the Balcony!

 

 

 

 

Sound Transit's North Line Sounder Train 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

A few minutes later it was time for Amtrak's Empire Builder to depart Seattle for Chicago.

 

 

Gates are down

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of Amtrak's Long Distance Siemens Charger units is leading the train today. Amtrak 301

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As soon as Amtrak cleared, I packed up the camera gear and headed towards the Great Outdoors for Sailaway. We were just begining to push off the dock as I left the room.

 

Here is the video from the trains!

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

Sailaway Party was in full swing as I walked aft to the Great Outdoors

 

 

Mt. Rainier was out today as well!

 

 

A much clearer shot!

 

 

Goodbye Seattle!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a gorgeous day to sail out of Seattle! 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

Wow! This screams Seattle and Pacific Northwest!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

I couldn't resist snapping this series of photos as this Washington State Ferry from Bainbridge Island makes it way to Seattle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

The US Coast Guard was doing some training flights over the Puget Sound as we were sailing out.

 

 

 

 

While I was out taking hundreds of photos of the beautiful weather and scenery, Susan was attending the Spa raffle.

 

 

 Unfortunately, se did not win anything.

 

 

 

 

Off they go!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

Look who joined me out on deck!

 

 

As we got near Kingston, a Washington State Ferry heading to Edmonds from Kingston has to slow up and wait for us to pass. 

 

 

They timed it up perfectly, so they came around our aft and I got some beautiful pictures as you will see it this series!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile the other boat on the route, going from Edmonds to Kingston, was making the final turn to Kingston.

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

The cliffs of the western face of Whidbey Island with Mt. Baker in the far distance.

 

Here is the time-lapse of the sailaway from Seattle

 

 

I finally had to leave the Great Outdoors and head to our stateroom to change for dinner. After changing, we headed to La Cucina for our Anniversary Dinner!

 

 

Passing through the Bliss Lounge on the way to drop down into La Cucina from Deck 6.

 

 

It was dark and hard to get a good picture.

 

 

The entrance to La Cucina - Deck 6 Mid (Restaurant is on Deck 5 between 4 Seasons and Seven Seas MDR along the Starboard side of the ship. The rest of the area of deck 5 between Seven seas and 4 seasons is the main galley).

 

 

La Cucina - Deck 5 Mid Starboard

 

 

 

 

 

So when we were ordering, I had a server who argued with me about the Specialty Dining terms and conditions. I get tired of servers who make up things not in the T&C's. I ordered what I wanted. 

 

Zuppa/Antipasti/Insalate Course

 

 

Insalata Mista 

 

 

Insalata Di Rucola E Gana

 

 

Mozzerella "Caprese"

 

Pasta Course

 

 

Beef Lasagne Al Forno

 

 

Gnocchi Di Patate Al Pesto

 

 

 

We noticed that the Pilot boat was coming up on us!

 

 

The pilot gets on/off right below La Cucina on deck 4. I was shooting through the dirty la Cucina windows otherwise this would be a better shot. Nothing I can do about the outsides of those windows.

 

 

 

 

The ship had angled close to the Washington Shore (We were in the Straight of Juan De Fuca between Washington State, USA and British Columbia, Canada) to help protect the pilot and pilot boat on the transfer from the heavy wind and waves ripping through the straight as we were heading out.

 

Secondi Course

 

 

Salmone Grigliato Con Crema Di Cannellini E Croccantino Di Prosciutto

 

 

Filetto Di Manzo Al Pepe Verde - so this is supposed to come with a blue cheese ravioli. Our server was specifically asked if the blue cheese was in the ravioli or on top. He said on top. I said ok then no blue cheese. This comes out and he says, oh its inside actually. So you were going to tell me when? So instead of getting a different pasta to go along side this I went without. I was starting to get frustrated with him, as we were literally the only guests in La Cucina at this time. Its not like he was overwhelmed with a large number of tables.

 

 

 

Panna Cotta Alla Vaniglia

 

 

Tiramisu

 

Remember how I said it was our anniversary. Well we brought our certificate and they brought out the cake.

 

 

Typical NCL Anniversary/Birthday Cake

 

We were stuffed, so we asked our server if we could get a cover to take it back to our stateroom. We wanted to enjoy it later once we weren't stuffed to the gills. The answer was no. that wasn't allowed. Well later in the cruise we saw desserts leaving other specialties all the time. So basically, we had a lazy server who didn't want to do over the minimum. Not a good start to an 10 night cruise.

 

 

Remember that argument with the server over the T&C's, well here is the receipt. Who was right? That's right, me.

 

The server and restaurant staff had a chance to make this anniversary dinner special and memorable. They made it memorable all right, just in a bad way.

 

We headed back to the stateroom and enjoyed each others company for the rest of our anniversary night.

 

End of Embarkation Day

Day 1 - Seattle 

Edited October 5, 2023 by shadowmeboy

[justhappy]

2 hours ago, shadowmeboy said:

 

The US Coast Guard was doing some training flights over the Puget Sound as we were sailing out.

 

 

 

 

While I was out taking hundreds of photos of the beautiful weather and scenery, Susan was attending the Spa raffle.

 

 

 Unfortunately, se did not win anything.

 

 

 

 

Off they go!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoyed the photos of Mt Rainer, it was so smoky in late August that we weren’t able to see it when we departed.

[rugerdog]

Thank you for the incredibly detailed and descriptive postings.

 

I, too, live in the middle of nowhere on the east side, in the Moses Lake area.  I love Bridgeport, what a beautiful place to live.

 

I appreciate your information regarding the Sun.  I'm booked to be on board in a week and have never been on this particular ship.  It's encouraging to see that this is your favorite ship.  I've learned I prefer the smaller ships for Alaska, and I'm hoping the Sun will be a good experience.

 

If you have any specific "secrets" to pass along regarding this particular vessel, I'd love to hear all about them!

 

[shadowmeboy]

12 minutes ago, rugerdog said:

Thank you for the incredibly detailed and descriptive postings.

 

I, too, live in the middle of nowhere on the east side, in the Moses Lake area.  I love Bridgeport, what a beautiful place to live.

 

I appreciate your information regarding the Sun.  I'm booked to be on board in a week and have never been on this particular ship.  It's encouraging to see that this is your favorite ship.  I've learned I prefer the smaller ships for Alaska, and I'm hoping the Sun will be a good experience.

 

If you have any specific "secrets" to pass along regarding this particular vessel, I'd love to hear all about them!

 

It might be easier for you to ask specific questions you might have. I am on the 3 biggest socials as @shadowmeboy. 

[rugerdog]

27 minutes ago, shadowmeboy said:

It might be easier for you to ask specific questions you might have.

 

Thanks.  Will do.

[shadowmeboy]

Day 2

July 1, 2023

Sea Day