Shadowmeboy's "Bliss"ful 5 Night Pacific Coastal Cruise

[shadowmeboy]

Hey all! Shadowmeboy here!

 

I just got done with my 2023 Norwegian Sun Christmas New Years Caribbean cruise review. Make sure to check that one out if you haven't already! I finished up editing the final pictures I had to complete for this review and its time to get it started.

 

In the time between when we sailed this cruise and now, we have also sailed the Pride of America. I am working through the pictures as we speak, so be on the lookout for it in the future. Sneak Peek!

 

 

Waves crashing into the lava rocks of Hawaii Volcanos National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii! 

 

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!

 

In December 2023, we embarked again on the Norwegian Sun! This time we sailed out of Baltimore to the Caribbean on a 12-night Christmas New Years Caribbean Cruise Adventure. Review: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/3005801-shadowmeboys-ncl-sun-12-night-christmas-new-years-caribbean-cruise-adventure/

 

 

 

The Norwegian Sun docked in Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis on our way back from our Rail & Sail Excursion!

 

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 March 30th, 2024 we embarked on our latest Cruise adventure! Our shortest cruise in almost a decade! This Spring Break Cruise on the Norwegian Bliss is our 19th cruise together! This was a 5-night Pacific Coastal Cruise from Los Angeles, California to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

 

Most of the pictures in this review are taken with my Canon EOS 90D, my iPhone 15 Pro, my GoPro Hero 7 Black, one of my 2 GoPro Hero Black 11's, 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 about 1500 pictures to sort, edit, and prepare for this review, which was half the length of a normal cruise trip start to finish for us.

 

I love to relive my journeys through my pictures! I hope you enjoy them as well!

 

 

The Norwegian Bliss shimmering in the San Francisco sunshine while docked along the wharf.

 

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

Edited July 17 by shadowmeboy

[shadowmeboy]

Before the cruise, we made sure to make our tip bags, like we normally do.

 

 

Mini Burlap Bags 

 

 

Easter themed Ghirardelli Chocolates (fitting as were stopping in San Francisco!)

 

 

Assembling the bags!

 

 

 

All done!

 

We got everything packed up and it was time to head out on this Spring Break Cruise!

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

Saturday, March 30th, 2024

 

PreCruise Day

 

Location: Home

 

We did our last minute packing of the final items and loaded up the Guinea Pigs with food. We have someone come over and check on them and the house daily while we are gone. 

 

 

Abby all loaded up with food, water, and hay!

 

 

Delilah starting to munch on her goodies!

 

 

Winnie is enjoying a carrot.

 

 

We got the car loaded up and it was time to hit the road!

[shadowmeboy]

 

Heading out of town!

 

 

 

We are heading up the backway via County roads to Wenatchee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This years wheat crop (Currently the wheat is turning golden and harvest will soon begin.)

 

 

Overlooking the Waterville Plateau from above Withrow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The historic church in Douglas, WA.

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

A barn outside Waterville, WA

 

 

 

 

Heading down Pine Canyon on US Highway 2

 

 

 

Crossing the Columbia River into Chelan County on US Highway 2/97

 

 

 

[brookie848]

I'm excited that I caught this one at the beginning!

[www3traveler]

Do you have a Christmas 2024 Cruise booked yet?

[shadowmeboy]

4 hours ago, www3traveler said:

Do you have a Christmas 2024 Cruise booked yet?

yes! B2B on the Epic

[quillwercruisers]

6 hours ago, shadowmeboy said:

yes! B2B on the Epic

Hope to see your review before we do our B2B on the Epic in February. Always enjoy your reviews.

[shadowmeboy]

3 minutes ago, quillwercruisers said:

Hope to see your review before we do our B2B on the Epic in February. Always enjoy your reviews.

Thank you!

It will depend on how busy my January is at work. The busier I am, the longer pictures take to edit, unfortunately.

[j&bcruzing]

7 hours ago, shadowmeboy said:

yes! B2B on the Epic

My family is going on the Epic on December 28. I see you have an upcoming cruise on the Jade in 2025 from Whittier to Vancouver. We are thinking about that cruise in 2026. We have never been to Whittier.

[shadowmeboy]

17 minutes ago, j&bcruzing said:

My family is going on the Epic on December 28. I see you have an upcoming cruise on the Jade in 2025 from Whittier to Vancouver. We are thinking about that cruise in 2026. We have never been to Whittier.

 

We will have to meet up. That is the back end of our B2B.

 

Whittier is cool! The train and car tunnel is very unique.

Edited July 18 by shadowmeboy

[j&bcruzing]

10 minutes ago, shadowmeboy said:

 

We will have to meet up. That is the back end of our B2B.

 

Whittier is cool! The train and car tunnel is very unique.

Sounds like a plan. Do you know when they will release the cabanas to be booked? 

[shadowmeboy]

2 minutes ago, j&bcruzing said:

Sounds like a plan. Do you know when they will release the cabanas to be booked? 

 

No, sorry, I don't

[shadowmeboy]

We left Highway 2 and followed US Highway 97 over Blewitt Pass.

 

 

Just off US 2 near Leavenworth

 

 

Further up the mountain

 

 

Still further up. Oh look, Snow!

 

 

US 97 cuts off to Ellensburg, but we stayed straight onto WA Highway 970 to head to Cle Elum. Kittitas County is very beautiful.

 

 

 

WA 970 along the Teanaway River

 

 

Finally we arrived into Cle Elum and it was time to grab some lunch.

 

 

They just got done building a new Wendy's! Score!

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch to go!

 

Lunch was so good, I didn't get any pictures for a bit. Priorities right?

 

 

We got going west on Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass.

 

 

 

 

We went over the Summit and onto the West Side!

[shadowmeboy]

 

The fastest route took us into Seattle then South on Interstate 5 to SeaTac. Going through the Interstate 90 tunnel on Mercer Island.

 

 

Heading South on Interstate 5

 

 

Boeing Airplanes at Boeing Field

 

 

 

Museum of Flight is the building to the right of the 51.

 

 

My Dad worked in that building when he worked for Boeing when I was a kid.

 

 

 

 

Small plane landing at Boeing Field. Mt. Rainier was out today!

 

 

 

I miss the views of the Mountain on the East Side.

 

 

 

 

We had to stop at a couple of stores in Tukwila. I forgot to grab an external hard drive from home, not a  good plan if you have tons of video and pictures.

[shadowmeboy]

 

Heading to the Airport

 

 

 

We missed the exit and had to double back.

 

 

I got this cool shot because of it!

 

 

 

 

We arrived at Doug Fox and parked the car!

[shadowmeboy]

 

They dropped us off at SeaTac and now it was time to check into our flight.

 

 

 

 

SeaTac and Alaska are doing construction. As a result, its a major cluster.

 

 

 

 

In line to check our bags to Burbank.

 

 

Drop bag line across the way.

[shadowmeboy]

Once we were through Security, it was time to hunt down 2 Seattle themed shot glasses for the shot glass exchange for Andy @fastpitchdad and Sydney.

 

 

Here were a few of the options. Once we acquired the goods, we packed it in the carryon and we jumped on the AD Tram to get to the CDN Tram.

 

 

 

 

We are currently at A.

 

 

We took the AD Tram then transferred to the CDN tram at D Concourse.

 

 

Our flight was departing from the N Concourse

 

 

 

The Alaska lounge taunting us, but no free access due to the flight being too short.

 

 

Here are the shot glasses that we selected for Andy and Sydney!  @fastpitchdad is a major Seattle sports fan, so the Kraken shot glass was fitting!

[shadowmeboy]

 

Waiting to board Alaska flight 1168 to Burbank!

 

 

Where is our airplane?

 

 

There it is!

 

 

 

 

There was a delay to boarding, but it was finally time to board.

 

 

 

I was watching the Mariners as the rest of our airplane was boarding.

 

 

We finally pushed back, and the sun was setting. This was going to make it hard to get a picture of Mt. Rainier.

 

 

 

 

Flight were taking off to the North, so we had to taxi all the way down to the south end of SeaTac.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See the lights in the sky? Those are inbound aircraft on final approach to SeaTac. They are lined for Runway 34L. We are lined up to take off on Runway 34R.

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

Here we go...

 

 

 

Great Shots of Puget Sound and the sunset!

 

 

 

 

 

Mt.Rainier - It took a little bit of finessing on the photo editing!

 

 

 

 

 

Then it was back to the Mariners game!

[shadowmeboy]

 

Redmond, OR

 

 

Dinnertime!

 

 

It was very good!

[shadowmeboy]

 

It was cloudy and rainy when we got near LA

 

 

 

On final approach to Burbank.

 

 

 

 

 

Van Nuys Airport

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the ground in a rainy Burbank.

 

 

 

We walked down the ramp and into the terminal.

 

 

The size of Burbank was humorous. 

 

 

 

We were the last flight of the night. They were ready to roll the sidewalks up.

 

 

 

It started pouring as we waited for the Uber.

 

 

I though California was supposed to have nice weather.

 

We finally made it the hotel near the cruise port, checked in, and got settled into our room. 

 

 

The welcome note was a nice touch from the hotel.

 

Tomorrow is cruise day!

[fastpitchdad]

1 hour ago, shadowmeboy said:

Here are the shot glasses that we selected for Andy and Sydney!  @fastpitchdad is a major Seattle sports fan, so the Kraken shot glass was fitting!

 

 

 

 

I guess I resemble that remark. Thanks, they were perfect 🙂

 

 

 

 

Edited July 19 by fastpitchdad

[drumming cruisers]

How long a drive was it from Burbank airport to cruise port?

Pictures of Mt. Rainier were beautiful! 

Edited July 19 by drumming cruisers