An Alaskan Adventure on the Sun - Pictorial Review with Menus, Dailies, and Puppies.

[bonvoyagie]

Being the organizer of the M&G does give you VIP status.

 

NCL loves CC

[Naomigruis]

Like Love my butler said, it was probably because of the Cruise Critic Meet & Greet, and setting it up. I can't think of any other reason.

H

We had no indication prior to getting to Seward. It was a nice surprise.

 

our ship only had 1700 passengers (full is 1950ish), and it was a lot of first-time cruisers. I can only speculate.

 

Well that explains why someone else wanted to organise it on our roll call when I offered. ;)

[karoo]

Yes-no one stepped forward to organise our Meet and Greet, but many people on the roll call expressed they would like to attend. I reluctantly stepped forward as I thought it was time to give back after attending many M&Gs that others had organised. This was on the Sun in January. I was granted VIP status, but I was only booked in a balcony cabin. I must admit I did love the breakfasts each day. I organised the M&G and many of the private tours. I suggested a few other things, but the roll call seemed happy with that. I have done 4 cruises since -(April/May), but I've been happy to return to being just an attendee. In fact the person who organised the M&G on my TA did an amazing job. We had so many things/activities/dinners/sailaways etc to attend. Also organised a stash of Mardi Gras beads for all of us to wear to our activities. There were over 100 guests at the M&G, the gift exchange was fun and SeaDays saw fun games of LCR. She was a fellow Aussie and already had VIP perks due to booking in a suite. Just a great, fun organiser.

[Funtime4me]

No, there was no interpreter/Guide. I felt it was amazing without someone babbling on and on. A little history was shared by Cruise Director Iain but it was limited.

 

Thank you!

[Funtime4me]

I'm enjoying your review and pictures. It is so much work and I look forward to catching up on your pics each evening.:)

 

We are heading from the east coast to Seattle and then to Anchorageon Saturday. Then we catch the cruise on Monday. How long did it take to get through security at the airport in Seattle? We are flying to Seattle on Southwest and then have to get our luggage and then recheck our luggage with Delta and go through security. I want to make sure we have enough time between flights. :confused: Thanks!

[shadowmeboy]

Yes-no one stepped forward to organise our Meet and Greet, but many people on the roll call expressed they would like to attend. I reluctantly stepped forward as I thought it was time to give back after attending many M&Gs that others had organised. This was on the Sun in January. I was granted VIP status, but I was only booked in a balcony cabin. I must admit I did love the breakfasts each day. I organised the M&G and many of the private tours. I suggested a few other things, but the roll call seemed happy with that. I have done 4 cruises since -(April/May), but I've been happy to return to being just an attendee. In fact the person who organised the M&G on my TA did an amazing job. We had so many things/activities/dinners/sailaways etc to attend. Also organised a stash of Mardi Gras beads for all of us to wear to our activities. There were over 100 guests at the M&G, the gift exchange was fun and SeaDays saw fun games of LCR. She was a fellow Aussie and already had VIP perks due to booking in a suite. Just a great, fun organiser.

 

I think a organizer is good to reflect the roll call of the cruise. Ours was slow from the beginning, and with 4 ports in the 7 days and only 1 true sea day due to Hubbard Glacier, one event max was all we would get attendees for and I was correct.

[shadowmeboy]

I'm enjoying your review and pictures. It is so much work and I look forward to catching up on your pics each evening.:)

 

We are heading from the east coast to Seattle and then to Anchorageon Saturday. Then we catch the cruise on Monday. How long did it take to get through security at the airport in Seattle? We are flying to Seattle on Southwest and then have to get our luggage and then recheck our luggage with Delta and go through security. I want to make sure we have enough time between flights. :confused: Thanks!

 

We went through Security checkpoint 5 at Seatac and it took us 20 minutes. We also were 1st Class and could go through the Premium line. The regular line was about an hour start to finish. We went through at about 1130am.

 

What time are you arriving into Seattle and what time is your departure?

 

A bit of personal bias here. I apologize now about your flight from Seattle on Delta, Alaska is far better airline to Alaska.

[shadowmeboy]

 

Day 4 Daily

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

VIP Breakfast again!

 

 

Susan got an omelette!

 

 

I got some bacon and eggs, along with some crab cake benedict!

 

 

A lighthouse in Sitka.

 

 

These pictures were taken from La Cucina.

 

[shadowmeboy]

The night before Sitka, we recieved a letter from Joaquin. He said we would be tendering in Sitka, and there was no need to pick up tender tickets if we were not on a NCL shore excursion, as he would take us down to the next available tender. While we were eating breakfast they had called tender tickets 1 through 4.

 

So as soon as we finished breakfast in La Cucina, we met Joaquin. We walked through the Four Seasons MDR, into a crew stairwell, down two decks to deck 3, and out onto the tender in 2 minutes flat.

 

 

 

starting to pull away from the ship.

 

 

 

Sitka small boat harbor

 

 

 

Sitka's tender dock

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

Our port photo...

 

 

look at the weather now. a marine layer was in effect, and it was cool.

 

 

a little clearer, and you can see the boats tendering.

[shadowmeboy]

 

My mom loves to paint lighthouses, so this picture was for her.

 

 

same spot but zoomed out a little.

 

 

Sitka's tender dock

 

 

I want the fish, and the bear didn't want me to have it.

 

 

Susan wanted to share the fish!

 

 

We caught a free shuttle down to some shopping area, down by the public library and the small boat harbor. We took our cell phones off airplane mode, to catch up with one or two things, and to tell my Mom we were VIP.

[shadowmeboy]

We walked along the road, becuase there were several National Park sites along here. Sitka used to be the Territorial Capital for Russian Alaska. The handover of Alaska took place in Sitka. The Russian influence on Sitka is very prominent.

 

 

walking up to the National Park Services Russian Bishop's House.

 

 

she wasn't smiling, so I had to take it again. Sorry Sweetie!

 

 

better?

 

 

 

St. Peter's-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church - one of the oldest church's in Alaska.

 

 

We walked through the bottom floor of the Russian Bishop's House, and saw an example of what the walls looked like unrestored. they also had room cut outs, so you could see the Russian siberian construction to keep a building warm. Too warm for Sitka infact!

[karoo]

I think a organizer is good to reflect the roll call of the cruise. Ours was slow from the beginning, and with 4 ports in the 7 days and only 1 true sea day due to Hubbard Glacier, one event max was all we would get attendees for and I was correct.

 

 

It's great you stepped forward to organise the M&G. I'm also enjoying reading your informative review. This is an itinerary I'd love to do, but haven't got around to organising it. I don't think it's going to happen this year-maybe next year!

[BirdTravels]

Thank you so much for all of the wonderful photos!

[shadowmeboy]

 

We decided to walk Sitka, since our shore excursion wasn't until 12:30pm.

 

 

 

Saint Michael's Cathedral

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

Pioneer Home

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

I spy an eagle in the tree.

 

 

We made our way back to the tender dock.

 

 

There are two sides to the sign

 

 

 

we saw this shirt in a shop in Sitka. We both laughed.

[shadowmeboy]

 

October 18th, 2017 will be the 150th Anniversary of the handover of Alaska from Russia to the United States.

 

 

 

The Sun from Baranof Castle Hill State Historic Site. The weather is clearing up as well!

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

The view of Sitka from the historic park.

 

 

 

This bus is similar to the one we took for our excursion.

 

 

looking toward the Coast Guard Station

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

We started our excursion by going to the Sitka National Historic Park Visitor Center and Totem Park.

 

 

 

 

The Sun from the Sitka Historic Park

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

The exhibits talked about the Tlingit culture and ceremonies.

 

 

 

 

demonstrating beading

 

 

tribal paintings

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

Susan went for a walk along the path of totems.

 

 

I spotted an eagle above the visitor center.

 

 

 

An Alaska Airlines flight on final approach to Sitka.

 

 

 

Visitor Center from the beach.

[shadowmeboy]

 

We boarded the bus and headed for stop #2 on the shore excursion

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

The Fortress of the Bear had 5 Grizzlies and 3 Black bears

 

 

 

 

 

Our final stop was the Alaska Raptor Center and the Bald Eagle flight center.