Live from the NCL Sun June 30-July 10, Summer time viewing of whales, bears and eagles!

[Happycrafter123]

Starting off the day a little nauseated, this time I blame after effects of the martini tasting yesterday, followed by high fat dinner at the Mexican restaurant.  
 

We were scheduled to go on the zodiac and big feast today, and I am neither up for a bouncing zodiac ride nor a feast so hubby went to talk to excursion desk and they were super kind and moved me to an alternate tour.  Hubby can enjoy the bouncing waves without me while I take the safe option to learn about Sitka history.

 

i have to say, the rocking is a real problem but I love this ship and we are having a great experience.  The staff are so wonderful and the feel is so personable.  It is super easy going and there are never lines for anything.  I WAY prefer it to the Breakaway and Getaway.  

[Happycrafter123]

Excursion review:  Historical Floathouse And Boat Cruise From NCL

 

 

this was a short excursion capped at 6 people.  There were 4 of us.  Sadly, we were surprised to be informed at the start that it was not a wildlife excursion but we might get lucky and see some wildlife en route.  In good news we got an amazingly warm and sunny day.

 

we sailed through the harbour, then to a house boat, took a look about it, and back to harbour.  Tour ditched you there and it was up to you to find the shuttle back in your own.

 

Advantage of this excursion - small group 

 

for myself, this was a dud.  Kind of boring and definitely not worth $200 US.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

after the excursion and before returning to ship i did take advantage to go in to the small museum for $5 entry fee and learn about the log trade and history.

 

 

buffet was thankfully still open on my return and a nice afternoon to lounge on the deck with a drink

 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2023 by Happycrafter123

[shadowmeboy]

6 hours ago, Happycrafter123 said:

Starting off the day a little nauseated, this time I blame after effects of the martini tasting yesterday, followed by high fat dinner at the Mexican restaurant.  
 

We were scheduled to go on the zodiac and big feast today, and I am neither up for a bouncing zodiac ride nor a feast so hubby went to talk to excursion desk and they were super kind and moved me to an alternate tour.  Hubby can enjoy the bouncing waves without me while I take the safe option to learn about Sitka history.

 

i have to say, the rocking is a real problem but I love this ship and we are having a great experience.  The staff are so wonderful and the feel is so personable.  It is super easy going and there are never lines for anything.  I WAY prefer it to the Breakaway and Getaway.  

Sorry you are still not feeling 100%

[shadowmeboy]

Beautiful day here in Sitka!

Currently sitting in the Great Outdoors watching the Eurodam pull out of port!

Edited July 6, 2023 by shadowmeboy

[Happycrafter123]

On 7/4/2023 at 9:49 AM, Mizunosport said:

Do you know how much it costs to do the Canvas painting and if there is an age limit?

@Mizunosport the canvas painting looks fun and is now waiting list only so make sure to sign up early!  It is $35.   This is a pretty good price I’ve done these type of things for more at home.  Maybe I will get to join tomorrow if there is a no show as I added myself to waiting list….

 

ps are you a golfer?  Or what sport does your screen name represent?

[Mizunosport]

7 hours ago, Happycrafter123 said:

@Mizunosport the canvas painting looks fun and is now waiting list only so make sure to sign up early!  It is $35.   This is a pretty good price I’ve done these type of things for more at home.  Maybe I will get to join tomorrow if there is a no show as I added myself to waiting list….

 

ps are you a golfer?  Or what sport does your screen name represent?

Excellent! Thank you for checking it out. Former softball player 🙂 

[KACTravels]

I’m enjoying your blog!  @MizunosportMy husband and I did the “Canvas by You” and had a blast!  It may have been the adult beverages before, during and after 🤣🤣. My husband says his looks like those paintings that orangutans paint 🤪.

Edited July 6, 2023 by KACTravels

[Happycrafter123]

Yesterday’s daily

 

 

[Happycrafter123]

Today was a glorious day weather wise with a beautiful setting in Icy strait point.

 

we have been enjoying the great outdoors deck which they do not have on the larger boats.  It has great views and we spend a lot of time there.  This morning was no exception.

 

 

 

 

[Happycrafter123]

Today we went on the whale watching and seafood feast.   This was another excursion we could have lived without.  Hubby rates it at a 2.5/5.   It was only 3 hours and we were done by noon so spent some time wandering the beach and forest trails, hanging out by the camp fire and riding on the lower (free) gondola.   It was a lovely day despite the overpriced and underwhelming morning excursion.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Happycrafter123]

Dinner at Cagneys is so enjoyable with impeccable service 

 

starting off with drinks and bread, and a view out the window.

 

when we go home and talk about our trip we always talk about dinner at Cagneys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Happycrafter123]

So good, hubby started with Femrench onion soup and a crab cake, and I started with the ahi tuna and prawn cocktail.

 

 

 

 

then he had the New York striploin and I had the fillet.  I chose bake potatoes as I love all the toppings they bring!

 

 

and a nice birthday surprise at the end 

 

Edited July 7, 2023 by Happycrafter123

[Seas2mountains]

Looks like you had a gorgeous day at ISP followed by a great dinner at Cagney’s. That’s wonderful!  
 

I’m sorry to hear about the underwhelming whale watching and seafood fest tour. Was it a tour through NCL or an independent operator? We did the 2.5 hour whale watching one through NCL at ISP and it was actually really good. 

 

I’m loving your review! Thank you for all the great photos. Hope you are feeling better. 
 

Happy Birthday! 

[Mizunosport]

12 hours ago, KACTravels said:

I’m enjoying your blog!  @MizunosportMy husband and I did the “Canvas by You” and had a blast!  It may have been the adult beverages before, during and after 🤣🤣. My husband says his looks like those paintings that orangutans paint 🤪.

I can’t wait to do this !!

[Happycrafter123]

Yesterday’s daily

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Happycrafter123]

The Elton John show last night was the best show so far.  Not a regular though, this was a guest entertainer.  No photos allowed.  He had an amazing voice and a fun line up of music but also engaged with the audience a lot.  It was fun.

[Mizunosport]

2 hours ago, Happycrafter123 said:

The Elton John show last night was the best show so far.  Not a regular though, this was a guest entertainer.  No photos allowed.  He had an amazing voice and a fun line up of music but also engaged with the audience a lot.  It was fun.

Was it on the daily? 

[SeekingKillerWhales!]

6 hours ago, Mizunosport said:

Was it on the daily? 

Yes, under tonight's entertainment lineup, second page. 

[shadowmeboy]

Great outdoors ingenuity! Coke float!

[quack2]

22 hours ago, Seas2mountains said:

Looks like you had a gorgeous day at ISP followed by a great dinner at Cagney’s. That’s wonderful!  
 

I’m sorry to hear about the underwhelming whale watching and seafood fest tour. Was it a tour through NCL or an independent operator? We did the 2.5 hour whale watching one through NCL at ISP and it was actually really good. 

 

I’m loving your review! Thank you for all the great photos. Hope you are feeling better. 
 

Happy Birthday! 

Private operator Glacier Wind has earned my business on several trips to ISP.  While some outings have had more action than others, I've never been disappointed.

Edited July 8, 2023 by quack2

[Happycrafter123]

Ketchikan was another great day.  Out of the ordinary warm and sunny weather, we started the day with the Wilderness exploring and Crab Feast excursion and then afterwards walked around town and shopped.  I’m not a big shopper but for those of you who are, I think you will like this stop best.  I got a beautiful porcelain handmade Alaskan doll—right now she is bubble wrapped so I’ll share photo of her when we get home.

 

the former red light district and a brothel tour of Dolly’s was the highlight in town.  I need to borrow hubbys phone to get photos for that as I was cradling my porcelain doll by then which impeded photography.

 

Ketchikan is lovely and in bloom at this time of year 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Happycrafter123]

Yesterday’s daily

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Happycrafter123]

We returned to ship at 5 pm yesterday in Ketchikan and all aboard was 7:30.  The pool deck was busy but there were still spots to be had in hot tub and chairs.  One thing I love about the Sun is that the ratio of deck/pool space to guests is good and it is usually not too crowded even on nice days.  We lounged here about an hour enjoying the hot tub and sunshine.

Another nice thing about the Sun is that the  whisky bar (windjammer) May have a spot to buy cigars but does not seem to have a smoke /cigar pit like in the bigger ships, si it is a nice bar to hang out at, with top shelf drinks, live music a lot of the time, and cleanish air.

 

 

 

[Happycrafter123]

Last night we also enjoyed the adults only comedy show in the Stardust theatre, before dinner, and then after dinner went to watch musician Matthew at the Bliss.  The adult comedy show was good at the beginning but kind of sexist later on—I think he lost the women in the audience in the last 15 minutes as he gave his man’s perspective on things.  Overall not a bad show.  This showed at 7 and 9 pm on the Ketchikan day.  Today on the sea day we have world beat show in theatre at 7 and 9.  They seem consistent with 7 and 9 for shows and dinner and specialty dinning takes 2 hours, so time your reservations accordingly.  Also, there has been little live music / entertainment before 6, but more later in the evening between 9-11, so if you want to enjoy the best entertainment on board I’m finding that an early dinner is best.

[Happycrafter123]

Excursion review Wilderness exploration and crab feast by NCL.

 

We rate this as a 3.5 out of 5 based on our experience— food was good but we were a large group, herded about, there was very little wildlife to see, just a couple eagles and a cage of crabs.  The boat was fully packed with little opportunity to go on the tiny deck.  For the meal part of the tour they crammed us in the restaurant at large communal tables, only a very few people got a view during the meal the way they packed us in, sitting literally rubbing elbows and shoulders with strangers, and rushed us.  I have not had to sit that close to strangers during a meal since before the pandemic and felt very uncomfortable.  Staff seemed harried and not overly friendly.  The best staff was actually the bus driver who gave excellent highlights on the drive there.  The crab was very good and they gave a tutorial on how to best break the crab and get at the meat before the meal started, and also provided adequate tools, which was an improvement on other crab feasts we have attended.

 

it was scenic and lovely in that area and definitely a good choice to take an excursion away from the downtown area to experience the natural beauty of the island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2023 by Happycrafter123