Shadowmeboy helps close down Alaska on the Bliss!

[justhappy]

Oh thank you for another great review! Going on the Bliss next June, I’ll be taking notes.

[Maleficent's Dad]

52 minutes ago, justhappy said:

Oh thank you for another great review! Going on the Bliss next June, I’ll be taking notes.

I concur. We’re sailing on the Bliss in February, so I’ll be following closely!  Thanks for your rather extensive pictorial reviews!

[DirtyDawg]

Shadowmeboy helps close down Alaska on the Bliss!

 

I sure hope somebody turns off the lights and winterizes the plumbing when you leave because it could be a real mess when Alaska thaws out and re-opens next spring. 😱

 

Edited November 2, 2019 by DirtyDawg

[shadowmeboy]

9 hours ago, S_cruiser said:

Shadowmeboy

I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed your reviews on your various trips.    I have not yet completed them all but will do so.  I also wanted to say I appreciate your pictures especially those around Wenatchee.   I grew up in Wenatchee/East Wenatchee and currently live in FLorida so when I see pictures from the Northwest, I am thrilled.  The photo of entering Wenatchee certainly brought memories of the hours that as a teenager, we would drive up and down the Avenue to see who was out and what they were doing.  The pictures of Turtle Rock and Columbia River bring back the memories of when Rocky Reach Dam was built and Turtle Rock became the island it is today and Stevens Pass and the Cascade Tunnel (been through it several times)

 

As a child, my family boated and waterskied around Turtle rock as well as picked huckleberries near both the old Cascade Tunnel as well as the new one.

 

Anyway, I just wanted to say your pictures bring bac fond memories and I appreciate you showing them.  I left Wenatchee in 1966 but have managed to get back every few years.  Each time there has been so many changes that the Wenatchee, I knew really does not exist any more.

 

Thanks again for sharing .

 

Sharon

s_cruiser

Ocala, FL

 

I appreciated your post here. Sometimes I question whether I should put the journey to the cruise, but getting there is sometimes half the adventure. I love how the pictures bring back memories of the Wenatchee you grew up with, its still changing and we have been over here 12 years. Washington State is so unique with so many differing types of climate zones; Rainforests on the peninsula, Evergreen forests of the Cascades, Ponderosa Pine forest of the high desert areas, desert, farm land such as wheat fields and orchard land, to the deciduous treed areas near Seattle. Yet many people only think of Washington as Seattle, and I hope to share a bit more of our diverse state. 

 

Thank you again for sharing! I appreciate the memories you shared.

 

Matthew

[shadowmeboy]

3 hours ago, justhappy said:

Oh thank you for another great review! Going on the Bliss next June, I’ll be taking notes.

 

Please ask any questions that you have.

 

2 hours ago, Maleficent's Dad said:

I concur. We’re sailing on the Bliss in February, so I’ll be following closely!  Thanks for your rather extensive pictorial reviews!

 

If you have any questions please ask. Thank you for following along! 

 

18 minutes ago, DirtyDawg said:

Shadowmeboy helps close down Alaska on the Bliss!

 

I sure hope somebody turns off the lights and winterizes the plumbing when you leave because it could be a real mess when Alaska thaws out and re-opens next spring. 😱

 

 

Your post made me chuckle! Awesome!! 

[shadowmeboy]

Some of you know in the middle of my review of the Dawn, Susan and I took a trip to the Southwest in late July/ early August. Well we did vlog that trip, so if any of you are interested in seeing the adventures we did, the vlogs are on my YouTube channel http://youtube.com/c/shadowmeboy

 

Here are the direct links to the first three:

 

 

 

Feel free to check them out if you want!

[Suna]

Following along with what I am sure will be another great report for you 

[shadowmeboy]

I was staying at the Best Western Seattle Airport hotel for the night before the cruise. Susan and I love it there and their breakfast is one of the best or the best included breakfasts you can find at a Best Western hotel and we stay at a lot of them.

 

https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotels-in-seattle/best-western-seattle-airport-hotel/propertyCode.48077.html

 

I caught the hotel shuttle to the light rail station at Angle Lake (3 minutes tops from the hotel). The shuttle runs from the hotel to the airport which is 10 to 15 minutes depending on lights and traffic. 

 

I caught the light rail and took it through Downtown out to the University of Washington station (cost: 3.75) You can purchase day passes that allow you to use street buses and the light rail all day long. 

 

 

 

These were taken in the tunnel downtown.

 

When I got to UW station, I popped up to street level and was greeted with this view!

 

 

Husky Stadium! I am a big UW fan, and think Husky Stadium is one of the best college stadiums in the nation. Plus you can boat to the game if you wanted to. It was a Saturday, but the Huskies were away today, so it was really quiet.

 

I came to UW station to meet up with my cousin and her husband and new baby who I hadn't met yet. We were going to go out to lunch. 

 

 

I explored the outside of husky stadium while I waited for them to pick me up.

 

 

 

Dubs - the Husky Mascot who is actually an Alaskan Malamute.

 

 

UW light rail station (across the street from Husky Stadium)

 

They pick me up, we go to lunch, and then they dropped me back off at the light rail. We had a fabulous time!

[shadowmeboy]

I go from UW station to Downtown Seattle (Westlake Center) and head to Pike Place Market.

 

 

I play tourist in the city I grew up in and went to college in! 

 

 

 

 

Pike Place Fish Market (aka the guys who throw the fish)

 

 

If you purchase a fish they will throw it, catch it, and fillet it for you! Showing a fish for the camera.

 

 

 

 

Getting ready to throw the fish

 

 

Calling out the throw

 

 

 

the fish is mid air by the green sign

 

 

 

The New Orleans Saints were in town to play the Seattle Seahawks the next day, so a lot of Saints fans milling around the market.

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

It was fun to watch people's reactions!

 

 

I went and explored other parts of the Market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a different fish stall

 

I headed out to the plaza over looking the waterfront.

 

 

 

panorama

 

 

Lets compare pictures...

 

Below is 9/21/2019

 

 

Below is 6/9/2018

 

 

Spot the difference?

 

The viaduct is gone.

 

 

Norwegian Joy in port, the Holland ship is already on its way from Pier 91.

 

 

 

You can actually see them working on getting rid of the last standing section of the viaduct.

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

Mt. Rainier had a hat!

 

 

Love the zoom lens!

 

 

Norwegian Joy preparing to leave

 

 

 

Better picture of the viaduct section demolition 

 

 

Alaska Airlines flight on final approach into Seattle

 

 

 

We can almost see the top!

[shadowmeboy]

 

The Washington State Ferry Sealth leaves Seattle for Bremerton, which is about an hour ferry ride.

 

 

 

Norwegian Joy getting ready to toss lines

 

 

 

Train coming out of the tunnel below Seattle

 

 

coal train heading to Vancouver BC

 

 

 

 

The Washington State Ferry Wenatchee

 

 

Almost clear!

 

 

 

 

 

Clear for a brief moment!

[shadowmeboy]

 

Designated power unit (DPU) on the end of the loaded coal train

 

 

 

Slightly better!

 

 

 

WSF Wenatchee leaving Seattle for Bainbridge Island (25-30 minute ferry ride)

 

 

 

 

All of my favorite things; Planes, Trains, Ferries, Ships, Cars, and of course Cruise Ships!

 

 

 

Container ship pulled his anchor and started turning.

 

 

 

Norwegian Joy's lines being pulled in

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

The red ship is being tugged out of the berthing area

 

 

This ship is going to go where the red ship was.

 

 

Mt. Rainier was so beautiful!

 

 

Amtrak 8 - the eastbound Empire Builder leaving Seattle and starting its journey to Chicago.

 

 

 

Norwegian Joy leaving Seattle

 

 

 

Another BNSF freight exiting the tunnel

 

 

 

Goodbye Norwegian Joy!

[shadowmeboy]

 

Red container ship heading out of Seattle

 

 

One final shot of the Joy!

 

 

I head back through the market, capturing the uniqueness of the market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

I walk back to Westlake Center to catch Link light rail back to the hotel.

 

 

ping pong tables in Westlake Park.

 

 

 

Downtown Seattle from the light rail

 

 

Street tacos for dinner! Used an Uber eats promo, so Dinner was delivered to me!

 

I surfed the internet and then decided it was time to turn in. It had been a long day.

[shadowmeboy]

Sunday, September 22nd, 2019 - Cruise Day 1 -- Embarkation Day

 

 

Best Western Seattle Airport Hotel

 

 

 

 

front desk area

 

 

breakfast area

 

 

 

24 hour coffee bar

 

 

 

My Uber to the cruise terminal arrives!

[shadowmeboy]

 

It was a little wet today! Heading toward Seattle from the SeaTac area.

 

 

Crossing the Duwamish Waterway

 

 

Heading to E Marginal Way

 

 

 

 

Centurylink Field - Seahawks and Sounders play here.

 

 

 

T-Mobile Park - Mariners stadium

 

 

 

Look there is the Bliss!

 

 

Alaska Way Boulevard

 

 

 

Colman Dock - Washington State Ferry pier

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

 

 

There she is!

 

 

 

The Uber driver dropped me off and I snapped a few pictures of the Bliss!

 

 

 

 

I don't know what I was looking at

 

 

 

Time to Board the Bliss!

[justhappy]

It’s been 4 years since I’ve been in Seattle and I’ve been to Pike Place Market but I’m curious where you’re standing when you’re above the train tracks and have those great views. Is there a viewing platform off the back of the Market area? 
I’d like to see the trains when we are there next May.

[shadowmeboy]

5 hours ago, justhappy said:

It’s been 4 years since I’ve been in Seattle and I’ve been to Pike Place Market but I’m curious where you’re standing when you’re above the train tracks and have those great views. Is there a viewing platform off the back of the Market area? 
I’d like to see the trains when we are there next May.

 

 

See above! Yes, it a new area opened in 2017. I love it there! I spent nearly 2 hours out there just enjoying the waterfront and everything going on. 

 

The map I got from the Pike Place Market and edited it to show key locations.

 

If you want to see trains, you can watch them rumble past from street level practically across from the cruise terminal too. You will have to wait to see those pictures later in the review (spoiler alert).

[Travelicious]

Would you please inquire of the price of a shot of Bacardi at any bar?  Trying to figure out whether to get a bottle for the room.  Thanks!

[shadowmeboy]

42 minutes ago, Travelicious said:

Would you please inquire of the price of a shot of Bacardi at any bar?  Trying to figure out whether to get a bottle for the room.  Thanks!

this is not a live review nor am I currently on any NCL ship. Your question might be better directed to one of the live reviews going on from the Encore as pricing is consistent fleet wide generally.

[justhappy]

8 hours ago, shadowmeboy said:

 

 

See above! Yes, it a new area opened in 2017. I love it there! I spent nearly 2 hours out there just enjoying the waterfront and everything going on. 

 

The map I got from the Pike Place Market and edited it to show key locations.

 

If you want to see trains, you can watch them rumble past from street level practically across from the cruise terminal too. You will have to wait to see those pictures later in the review (spoiler alert).

Thanks so much! We’ll be staying at the Marriott across from the cruise port so I assume the trains run behind the Marriott? 
I, like you love watching ships, trains, ferries and all the big construction equipment around a port. We took a harbor tour last time we were there and the tour boat got really close to a shipping facility and we got to see some cargo ships up close. 

[shadowmeboy]

14 minutes ago, justhappy said:

Thanks so much! We’ll be staying at the Marriott across from the cruise port so I assume the trains run behind the Marriott? 
I, like you love watching ships, trains, ferries and all the big construction equipment around a port. We took a harbor tour last time we were there and the tour boat got really close to a shipping facility and we got to see some cargo ships up close. 

yes, they do. Post 35 third picture from the bottom you can see the Marriott. Walk down Alaska way and you get them at street level!