Shadowmeboy's NCL Sun 12-Night Christmas New Years Caribbean Cruise Adventure

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Guard stepped off his path to address the spectators, who were talking too loudly. People are expected to be quiet and respectful, these people were not and the soldier addressed it. You could hear a pin drop afterwards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

We then caught the Tram to Arlington House

 

 

 

Civil War Tomb of the Unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incredible views of Washington from Arlington House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

We headed into the House to look around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These displays were in former slave quarters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slave Quarters

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

When we visited in December, it was just after wreaths were placed at every grave.

 

 

The Pentagon

 

 

 

 

 

We headed over to the Kennedy family graves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking up at the Tomb of the Unknown

 

 

 

 

After we finished at Arlington, to save daylight, we Ubered over to the Lincoln Memorial. While its not that far, our legs were starting to hurt and it would have taken us far too long.

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

They were working on the Memorial when we got there. Unfortunately, it ruins the picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

After leaving the Lincoln Memorial, we walked over to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

 

 

 

 

I find this memorial to be one of the most impactful in DC. 

 

 

This picture captures the true size of the entire memorial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The personal mementos get me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As it was getting dark, we jumped in an Uber to get up by the White House quickly. Since we were only in town for the day, we were hitting some highlights for Susan's sake!

[shadowmeboy]

 

Eisenhower Executive Office Building

 

 

The White House - I am saddened that people can no longer be on the opposite side of the street. I understand the whole safety aspect for the President, but its still a government building that is paid for by my tax dollars. Why am I keep across the street from the White House fence?

 

 

 

 

General Marquis de Lafayette Statue

 

 

Treasury Department Building - Albert Gallatin Statue (Fraser)

 

We were getting hungry and knew we needed to eat something before heading to the train. We stopped by Panera and got some Soup and Sandwich.

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

After eating, we headed back to the Metro and made our way back to Union Station.

 

 

 

 

 

We collected the stored bags, and made our way to the gate where our train would board from. We were taking the Palmetto, one of the long distance trains that has a baggage car, up to Baltimore!

 

 

Susan ruined another penny. She loves those penny crusher machines.

 

I wanted to note, that on our way over to Seattle, the day before, we got notified that our bid was accepted to go from an inside to an oceanview. Unfortunately, now we had to figure out how to print new bag tags!

 

 

Time to board the train!

 

 

Amtrak Train 90 - The Palmetto!

 

 

We were going to be on the train for literally 45 minutes.

 

 

 

 

Just like that we arrived into Baltimore!

[shadowmeboy]

 

Baltimore's Penn Station

 

Interestingly; Our bags got put on a earlier train (Amtrak 20 - The Crescent) and were already in Baltimore when we arrived!

 

 

Waiting for the Uber to arrive!

 

 

 

 

It was chilly, like 41 when we arrived into Baltimore. So we were glad to get in the car!

 

 

We had a half an hour or so drive to the hotel. We were staying at the Best Western that was only like 10 minutes from the Port.

 

 

 

 

 

Our room!

 

 

 

 

 

The view from our room! 

 

So by the time we got settled in the room, the Panera had worn off, and it was Pizza time!

 

 

Dominos for the win!

 

We enjoyed our dinner, watched some TV, then fell asleep knowing that tomorrow we would be boarding the Norwegian Sun!

[shadowmeboy]

December 21st, 2023

Embarkation Day!

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

 

My nerves woke me up early! I was noticing that the Sun was running a bit late into Baltimore this morning. The cruise that was finishing up had a bit of weather come through, which slowed down the ship a bit.

 

 

At 7:30 am, the Sun was just coming into Baltimore. This is taken from our Hotel room!

 

Knowing that disembarkation would be slower, we headed to breakfast!

 

 

 

After breakfast, we got the hotel to print the new bag tags. Put those in our tag holders and got everything ready. Then we headed down to the lobby and grabbed an Uber, leaving our bags at the hotel for now!

 

 

 

 

Where could we be off to?

 

 

 

Interstate 95 tunnel

 

Finally, we arrived at our destination!

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

We had to visit Fort McHenry! So, for those of you who don't know. Fort McHenry is the Fort that the British were firing upon when Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem. Once we booked this cruise, I knew we had to visit the fort sometime while in Baltimore.

 

 

Inside display area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was tons of info to read and digest. But the fort awaits!

[shadowmeboy]

 

Fort McHenry

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a hard picture to look at. The Francis Scott Key Bridge was such a beautiful bridge, it is so sad that was hit and it came down.

 

During the summer months, the US Coast Guard places a special buoy out in the harbor to mark where Francis Scott Key was during the bombardment of Fort McHenry.

 

 

 

 

 

Heading into the Fort!

 

 

 

 

 

Ravelin Magazine

 

 

 

 

Someone short had to go down and explore the small room.

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

Pano of the Fort inside

 

 

The brig

 

 

 

 

 

Here is what it would have looked like if you were a soldier at Fort McHenry during the battle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am so glad the citizens of Baltimore stopped this from happening.

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

We got to experience the changing of the flag from the overnight modern flag to the historical accurate flag of 1812. 

 

 

The ranger gave an excellent presentation.

 

 

Modern flag

 

 

 

 

 

 

She then asked for volunteers to help raise the historical flag. They have to raise and lower the flags at the same time to fulfill the Presidential Proclamation that requires a flag fly at all times over Fort McHenry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

unfolding the flag

 

 

 

There it goes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the video of the changing of the flag! This was really informative! 

 

[shadowmeboy]

We had an awesome time at Fort McHenry! We also learned a bunch about the War of 1812 and how Baltimore stuck together. It was time to return to the hotel, so we could grab our bags, and head to the ship!

 

 

Row houses - I thought these were so cool.

 

 

There is the Sun!

 

 

See you soon!

 

 

We grabbed the bags and checked out! It's Cruise time!

 

 

 

Our Uber arrived!

 

 

Unloading the bags at the pier! I love how they use baggage carts; Great idea!

 

 

Let's Go Cruising!

 

 

Security

 

 

Check-in lines

 

 

 

 

Once checked in, it was time to head to take the boarding photo!

 

 

 

 

There we are!

 

 

 

As that sign says, to the ship!

 

 

 

How can you tell its a Christmas cruise without me saying its a Christmas cruise? With a Santa greeting guests as the climb up to the ship!

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

Brian Walters, General Manager, was up greeting guests as they got ready to board the ship. I love how he does that!

 

 Day 1 Daily!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shore Excursion insert

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

We headed up to take care of the Muster Station checkin

 

 

Boarding was on deck 5, so we headed up to 6 to check in. All Muster Stations on the Sun are on Deck 6 outside.

 

 

 

Once we checked in, it was time for lunch! 

 

 

We headed to Seven Seas for lunch.

 

 

 

Baggage Cart outside 

 

 

Lunch Menu 

 

 

 

 

Have you figured out my embarkation day order, yet? I order the same thing every cruise!

[shadowmeboy]

 

I always get the wedge!

 

 

Susan got a Cobb Salad.

 

 

Susan got the Fish & Chips

 

 

I ordered my normal bacon cheeseburger

 

 

I got the Creme Caramel

 

 

Susan got the Five Spice Mango Tapioca Pudding

 

After lunch, we checked in at CruiseNext and signed up for all our Sapphire Perks! 

 

 

 

 

This was the awesome gingerbread display in the atrium!

 

 

 

We cleared up a restaurant reservation issue.

 

 

 

We had purchased the Free at Sea Plus Package - Unlimited Wifi, 2 extra specialty dinners; $50 shoreex credit for 2nd person; Premium Beverage package; plus waters and Starbucks package! Here I am enjoying the first Iced Mocha of the trip!

 

 

Atrium Cafe & Bar - Deck 5

 

 

Susan opted for a hot chai latte.

 

 

We found a spot to sit as we waited for staterooms to be available.

[shadowmeboy]

So in 2007, when Susan and I got married, we sailed the Sun on our honeymoon. Our stateroom on that cruise was room 5001. When we got our upgrade notice, the stateroom that we got placed in was room 5002! Right next door. The great thing about these rooms are they are down a dead end hallway! Thus they are very quiet, even as you are literally 100 feet away from the Atrium!

 

Room 5002!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet & Greet Invite

 

 

Our bags started to arrive

 

 

So we started unpacking.

[SeekingKillerWhales!]

2 hours ago, shadowmeboy said:

 

Have you figured out my embarkation day order, yet? I order the same thing every cruise!

I'll take Wedge Salad, Cheeseburger, and Creme Caramel? For $500 Alex. 

 

Well, darn. Someone forget to refresh for new posts, and now can't delete. 😄 Sorry! But at least I was right!

Edited May 2 by SeekingKillerWhales!
Forgot to refresh

[purpleally]

What state are you missing?

[shadowmeboy]

4 hours ago, SeekingKillerWhales! said:

I'll take Wedge Salad, Cheeseburger, and Creme Caramel? For $500 Alex. 

 

Well, darn. Someone forget to refresh for new posts, and now can't delete. 😄 Sorry! But at least I was right!

That is the correct answer! 
 

Had to inject a bit of humor into the review!

[shadowmeboy]

3 hours ago, purpleally said:

What state are you missing?

We are missing Hawaii! 49 days to go!

[NikiPinkston]

We've sailed the POA twice and you're going to have an amazing time. Hawaii is my absolute favorite place on earth and you & Susan are going to love it!

[shadowmeboy]

12 minutes ago, NikiPinkston said:

We've sailed the POA twice and you're going to have an amazing time. Hawaii is my absolute favorite place on earth and you & Susan are going to love it!

I am looking forward to it! We have a variety of activities planned for the trip!