Shadowmeboy's "Spirit"ed Return to Alaska

FlGoodShips · October 25, 2022

On 10/20/2022 at 11:35 PM, shadowmeboy said:

Thank you very much! I enjoy doing them, so others can have ideas on what to do/not do.

Thank you! Hope I don't dissapoint. 😉

Thank you. Lots of cool and amazing pictures in this one!

Been waiting for actual ship pics.

Hope all is ok. No posts since Saturday.

Keep 'em coming. Love your reviews.

shadowmeboy · October 25, 2022

Thanks everyone for your kind words!

Sorry I wasn't able to jump on yesterday (Sunday). Life got busy and certain things had to get done and that took priority over this unfortunately.

shadowmeboy · October 25, 2022

Tuesday, July 5th, 2022 - PreCruise Day 3 of 3

Today would have been the embarkation day for the Norwegian Sun cruise. Unfortunately, the switch gave us an extra day of exploration in Seattle.

We grabbed breakfast at the hotel. Somehow I missed pictures.

We headed into Seattle.

Our first stop of the day! Woodland Park Zoo!

When we had to scramble to fill two days that would have been ship days, we decided to go with a Seattle CityPass. The pass gets you 5 attractions for one discounted price.

https://www.citypass.com/seattle

You get admission into the Space Needle and Seattle Aquarium and then choose 3 out of the 4 other choices. Your other Choices are:

Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

Woodland Park Zoo

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Since we had a car, Woodland Park Zoo was an easy choice.

African Safari

Showing off their best side.

drumming cruisers · October 25, 2022

Loved the Northwest Trek drive. Will have to check it out next year. Thanks for including in your posts.

shadowmeboy · October 25, 2022

I thought Trace was the only photobomber!

shadowmeboy · October 25, 2022

Nope! No Thank you

shadowmeboy · October 25, 2022

The Bear was very cooperative on the pictures!

We were getting warm, tired, and thirsty. So we headed out to get some lunch and head to the next attraction.

shadowmeboy · October 25, 2022

We got lunch at a Northwest classic, Taco Time! Somehow I forgot to get pictures. I was not on the food this day.

Museum of Pop Culture at Seattle Center - We decided to skip this attraction.

Wow!

Max's M wanted a picture with one of the Chihuly Glass installations.

shadowmeboy · October 25, 2022

I was blown away by the Chihuly Garden and Glass. I was not expecting it to be as great as it was. I highly recommend visiting here as part of your visit to Seattle. Plus its right next to the Space Needle.

shadowmeboy · October 25, 2022

Video from Woodland Park Zoo

Video from Chihuly Garden and Glass

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I am going to stop here for tonight.

shadowmeboy · October 25, 2022

31 minutes ago, drumming cruisers said:

Loved the Northwest Trek drive. Will have to check it out next year. Thanks for including in your posts.

I am glad you liked it. So many people just stay Downtown, but there is so much more outside Seattle proper to see and do. We tried to do unique things to give a true Northwest experience.

TSUmom · October 25, 2022

7 hours ago, shadowmeboy said:

Thanks everyone for your kind words!

Sorry I wasn't able to jump on yesterday (Sunday). Life got busy and certain things had to get done and that took priority over this unfortunately.

Completely understand life being busy....that is why we cruise to escape busy life for busy travel life.

drumming cruisers · October 25, 2022

Love Chihuly Gardens. Amazing what he does with glass! Beautiful pictures.

shadowmeboy · October 26, 2022

So we left Chihuly Garden and Glass and made the long walk next door to the Space Needle.

Waiting in line for our time slot to be called.

Poster while making our way up the ramp to take the Elevator up.

Looking down on the Gift Shop. When you come down the Elevator, you get dropped off in the Gift Shop.

Looking North - The three towers are on Queen Anne Hill. Lake Union is to the right. On the far end of Lake Union past the bridge is the University District and the University of Washington.

Looking Northwest - Queen Anne Hill is on the right with Uptown laid out in front. The cruise ship is at Pier 91. The hill in the distance is Magnolia. Puget Sound on the left with the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic Mountains in the far distance.

Max's M wanted a picture!

There we are!

Looking West-Southwest - Science Center is at the bottom of the picture with the 4 white Arches; Seattle Waterfront and Puget Sound; Alki is across the water.

Looking South-Southwest - Downtown and the Waterfront; You can see the ferry terminal and the Norwegian Sun in the distance near Harbor Island.

Another look West-Northwest

Looking South-Southeast - Downtown Seattle

Washington State Ferries, the Norwegian Sun, and Harbor Island

Looking East-Northeast - South Lake Union and Capitol Hill

I love watching the ferries.

Downtown

One floor down from the Observation Deck is where the restaurant used to be. They have made it a revolving glass floor. You are looking down on the Chihuly Garden and Glass.

The obligatory picture from Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill!

shadowmeboy · October 26, 2022

After finishing up at the Space Needle and Kerry Park, we headed to the Ballard Locks. We headed to the Magnolia side, so we could see them without much walking. All of our feet were shot with all the walking we did yesterday and today.

Fisherman's Terminal - This is where a lot of the Alaskan Crab and Salmon fleets are based out of. Ships like the Wizard and Northwestern from Deadliest Catch call this home.

Ballard Locks with an Argosy Locks Cruise coming out of the small lock.

I looked at my phone and saw what time it was!

Amtrak Empire Builder Time!

This bridge was built in the early 1900's by the Great Northern Railroad. It is in great shape and well made. They just don't make things like they used too anymore!

By the way, you can't tell I like trains, right?

Here is the video of the Empire Builder!

Also here is the video of the Space Needle

shadowmeboy · October 26, 2022

So we start heading back to the Hotel area to go get some dinner.

You can see some of Seattle's homeless campers in this picture. It has gotten really bad.

Norwegian Sun docked at the Container Terminal.

So we headed to Red Robin in Des Moines, WA for dinner.

Tower of Onion Rings!

Whiskey River BBQ wrap with Sweet Potato fries

Blurry picture of Maria's burger with bacon

Trace got a Mushroom Bacon Burger

I got a Bacon Cheeseburger, but somehow didn't get a picture.

Lets just say, one this day at this location, Red Robin had horrible service. It was such as disappointment.

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel to rest up for tomorrow! It's finally Embarkation Day! Yippee!!

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Wink87 · October 26, 2022

13 minutes ago, shadowmeboy said:

So we start heading back to the Hotel area to go get some dinner.

You can see some of Seattle's homeless campers in this picture. It has gotten really bad.

Norwegian Sun docked at the Container Terminal.

So we headed to Red Robin in Des Moines, WA for dinner.

Tower of Onion Rings!

Whiskey River BBQ wrap with Sweet Potato fries

Blurry picture of Maria's burger with bacon

Trace got a Mushroom Bacon Burger

I got a Bacon Cheeseburger, but somehow didn't get a picture.

Lets just say, one this day at this location, Red Robin had horrible service. It was such as disappointment.

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel to rest up for tomorrow! It's finally Embarkation Day! Yippee!!

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Your photos are really very, very good.

shadowmeboy · October 28, 2022

On 10/25/2022 at 10:14 PM, Wink87 said:

Your photos are really very, very good.

Thank you!

shadowmeboy · October 28, 2022

So, as I am sure a majority of those of you who live in the United States, it election season! Thus I have been very busy at work, arriving early, and leaving late. So I apologize if I miss a day or two of posting, just know I will do my best to post as much as I can.

Yipee! Its Cruise Day!

shadowmeboy · October 28, 2022

Wednesday, July 6th, 2022 - Embarkation Day/Day 1 - Seattle, WA

All four of us packed up our stuff to head to the cruise terminal. knowing we would have a generous lunch onboard the ship, we ate at the hotel's continental breakfast. Do you think I got pictures? Nope, I failed you once again.

We start heading for the ship and the cruise parking that we would be using in Interbay.

Here is the video of the entire drive if you are interested.

We were going to follow WA 99 and WA 509 to Downtown. Well the bridge over the Duwamish Waterway in South Seattle was open to allow a ship to pass. So we ended up taking a detour. We ended up over by Boeing Field.

Boeing Airplanes being prepared for delivery. They look like 737's to me.

Finally free of the South Seattle traffic, We head into Downtown Seattle on WA 99.

It was rainy at the start of the drive, and it started clearing as we got into the city. There is hope for a dry Sailaway after all!

T-Mobile Park - Home of my Mariners!

Downtown and Lumen Field (Home of the Seahawks and Sounders)

We made it to the Seattle Waterfront. Here is Colman Dock, where you would board the Washington State Ferries to Bremerton and Bainbridge Island.

Traffic was heavy because two ferries has just arrived. Plus add in the construction...

Waterfront fire Station and Ivars! I heart Ivars!

The waterfront looks so different since the Alaskan Way Viaduct came down. Its still strange to see the waterfront without it. I spent 30 years looking at that eyesore and hoping it wouldn't fall on me, but I kind of miss it.

We keep heading North on Alaskan Way. Alaskan Way is named that due to Seattle being a jumping off point for Alaska and the Klondike Gold Rush. Now, Seattle is the jumping off point for the latest Alaskan Gold Rush, Cruising!

They are building a plaza to allow better access from Pike Place Market to the Waterfront.

There she is!

shadowmeboy · October 28, 2022

Hard to get a good shot with all the traffic down by the ship.

The Space Needle is peaking out.

We made it to Seattle CruisePark. They were friendly and shuttles were good for the most part. We were there on a light day, so it could be different on a heavier day.

Here is the link to the website: https://www.seattlecruiseparking.com/

Edited October 28, 2022 by shadowmeboy