BLISS Alaska Maiden Voyage Travelogue

[Motegi]

Deleted

[Motegi]

The Space Needle is a $5-$7 Lyft/Uber ride from the port. You could walk it but it is all uphill and quite steep.

Be aware that the Space Needle is currently being renovated. So there are a lot of construction barriers set up around the base as well as at the observation deck level. But you can still get some fantastic views from the top. We went around sunset and the weather was clear so we were able to see Mt Ranier just to the right of the city skyline.

 

In my photo you can see the Bliss in the bottom right from the Space Needle observation deck!

 

Edited June 1, 2018 by Motegi

[Motegi]

If anyone’s in the mood for sushi Pam and I checked out a place called Shiro’s (because my uncle’s name is Shiro). We had the Shiro’s chef 5 course tasting selection and it was outstanding. Every dish was impeccably seasoned and the flavors were delicate yet complex. And the quality of the seafood was fantastic. There was a Spanish tuna that they served three different cuts from in three separate courses and each was so different that we couldn’t believe it came from the same fish!

 

Shiro’s Sushi

2401 2nd Ave

Seattle, WA 98121

United States

 

 

 

[Motegi]

Today we started off by going to a local Starbucks before we headed up to Everett for a tour of the Boeing Factory. I gotta say the Starbucks baristas in Seattle do seem to make tastier drinks than elsewhere. We’re excited to see how the Starbucks is on the Bliss!

Apparently the Boeing aircraft assembly complex is the worlds largest single enclosure. The tour guide said it could accommodate all of Disneyland and the parking lots inside the building!

There are no photos allowed inside the assembly plant so I will post the free souvenir photo we received

They have a nice interactive museum as well:

 

[Motegi]

Watch out! Pam’s at the controls...

Well, since the plane’s emptied out I guess I’ve got the whole row to myself!

A view of the earth from the International Space Station:

Inside the ISS module:

TWO of Boeing’s massive Dream Lifter cargo aircraft were on site dropping off fuselage components for the 787s.

The Future of Flight Aviation Center

 

[Motegi]

Close up detail of one of the 787s engines

One of the newly completed jets on its maiden test flight:

 

[Motegi]

BTW, the Lyft pricing for the trip up to Boeing in Everett was just under $60 each way. A bus or even a rental car would probably be cheaper...

For the ride back to Seattle we asked to be dropped off at the famous Pike Place Market.

We grabbed a quick lunch at the Piroshky Piroshky russian bakery. It was our first time trying these russian pastries and we loved them! I recommend the beef and cheese or the salmon piroshky pie as a savory meal and the marzipan pie for dessert.

 

[Motegi]

Afterward, we stopped to take a selfie in front of the original Starbucks. We didn’t get any coffee because the line wrapped around the block!

At the Pike Place Fish Company we witnessed the famous tossing of the salmon:

We then made our way down the steps to the disgustingly infamous “Gum Wall” to witness the collage of chewing gum lining Post Alley under Pike Market.

Hmmm... I’m at a loss for words about this... Has anybody seen him?

 

[Motegi]

Soon it was “Hoppy” Hour at the Pike Brewing Company’s Tankard and Tun so we sat down for a couple of cold drafts. It was $1 off for each and Pam had a special brew that was created by the brewery’s female employees for their annual women’s charity event.

During the Hoppy Hour their oysters are $2 each. We saw several plates get shucked.

 

[Motegi]

After catching a $5 Lyft back to our rental apartment to freshen up Pam’s father’s cousin, Carol, and her husband, Clark, picked us up for dinner.

As a Seattle area native, Clark was one of the original employees at Trident Seafood company, the largest seafood company in the US. Through the business he knows many of the crab boat captains from the Deadliest Catch television show. He had so many stories to tell about life at sea, crab fishing, and the northeast. Funny

enough he had just returned this morning from Ketchikan, Alaska where we will be sailing soon on the Bliss! He was delivering one of the company boats up there for the season.

They took us to the Ballard Locks where we saw the boats as they were passing from the the fresh waters of Lake Washington to the salt waters of Puget

Sound.

We also were able to see the fish ladder where salmon are able to bypass the locks and dam during their spawning season.

 

[Motegi]

And to cap it off Carol and Clark treated me and Pam to an amazing seafood dinner at their favorite restaurant, Rays Boathouse, where we were joined by Carol’s sister and her husband as well.

The restaurant is perched on the waters edge with an absolutely breathtaking sunset view over Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.

Very interesting...

 

[Motegi]

What excursions do you have booked? We have some but may change our minds. Dying to hear about all your experiences.

 

As far as excursions we booked the following:

 

Juneau:

1) Helicopter Taku Glacier and Sled Dog Experience through a third party tour operator in the morning

2) Tracy’s Arm Fjord and Glacier Explorer excursion through NCL in the afternoon.

 

Skagway:

1) White Pass Rail and Bus combo tour through Chillkoot tours.

 

Victoria:

1) Buchart Garden Tour through NCL

 

We didnt book anything for Ketchikan and are planning to explore on our own.

 

In Juneau we had hoped to get the glacier canoe and ice cave tour but it was sold out months in advance. I suppose we will try it next time!

[WitnessProtection]

Following. Sounds like you are having a fantastic time in Seattle. Have a great cruise on the Bliss! :)

[Spyguy23]

Following, as we will be on the June 16 sailing.

 

I thought the Juneau stop was from 7 am - 1:30 pm? Sounds like fun, and a lot planned at that stop.

[Motegi]

Following, as we will be on the June 16 sailing.

 

I thought the Juneau stop was from 7 am - 1:30 pm? Sounds like fun, and a lot planned at that stop.

 

You are correct about the timing. The NCL Tracy’s Arm Excursion departs from the ship at 1:15. From what I understand it is a small boat that goes up into the fjord and gets much closer to the glacier and the fjord walls than the Bliss can. The Bliss will be following into the fjord from behind. The boat then rejoins the Bliss at the far end of the fjord to alllow everyone on the excursion to return to the ship.

[Spyguy23]

Sounds like an awesome excursion - we may have to look into it ourselves. Thanks for the info!

[Georgie562]

Great Travelogue and Photos

Have a great time on Bliss.

[Winner]

However, at least when I view the photos, included are ads for local (my town) call girls. It is quite offensive; does anyone else have ths questionable add-on?

[gbcruise]

However, at least when I view the photos, included are ads for local (my town) call girls. It is quite offensive; does anyone else have ths questionable add-on?

 

Yes, on mine too. Wondering......:o:o

[Motegi]

However, at least when I view the photos, included are ads for local (my town) call girls. It is quite offensive; does anyone else have ths questionable add-on?

 

That’s horrible! Is this the case for everyone? Are the ads on the photos?

 

Can you tell me which photos have the ads?

 

Pam is checking the thread on her phone and only sees ads for clothing and resorts at the bottom of the page. Perhaps the ad server is catering to your local advertisers.

 

I have been trying to find a good image hosting service for the embeded photos.

 

I used to use Flickr but they’ve changed the mobile version so I can no longer get the direct image links to embed into the forum.

 

For this thread I’ve tried google images, imgur, and Dropbox but the interfaces for getting image links on my phone are also not very good. That’s how the first few posts were apparently messed up. So for the last few posts here I’ve gone with postimage.org.

Edited June 1, 2018 by Motegi

[olivea02]

No call girl ads here when I click on the photos and I can see them fine in your posts

[erdoran]

You are correct about the timing. The NCL Tracy’s Arm Excursion departs from the ship at 1:15. From what I understand it is a small boat that goes up into the fjord and gets much closer to the glacier and the fjord walls than the Bliss can. The Bliss will be following into the fjord from behind. The boat then rejoins the Bliss at the far end of the fjord to alllow everyone on the excursion to return to the ship.

Oooh, thanks!!! I may have to do that one!

[beach Friday]

2) Tracy’s Arm Fjord and Glacier Explorer excursion through NCL

 

 

We are booked for this in July so very interested in your opinion on this excursion. Just wondering how smooth the reconnect will be 5 hours later in middle of ocean...

[LdyMags]

This is making me sad that we are coming in late the night before the cruise and not exploring Seattle and the surrounding areas before!

[spender]

Following

 

 

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