Sunday, July 6, 2014
Coming Soon- Our HoneyMoon Adventures!
Coming soon will be a few blogs of our HoneyMoon adventures. Check out the preview below. We went to Tahiti!! Please note that it was a week long vacation and we really explored the islands therefore it will take a few posts to tell you what we did and what we recommend. In the meantime, if you have questions about it, please comment and let us know!
Want to head to Tahiti? Check out their airline website. In our books it gets a flying 5 star! http://www.airtahitinui-usa.com
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Most Recently-Alaska
Let us first tell you about our latest travel adventure: ALASKA- Known as the Last Frontier.
We went here on Norwegian Cruise Line- The Norwegian Jewel. (As an editors note- Mary has been to Alaska with her family before this trip. But, it was my first time) Leaving out of Seattle, our first Port was Ketchikan, AK. Here we went to the logging show which is only a few steps from the ship's port. It was awesome! A must do! They teach you all about the logging culture as well as it is interactive. (Alaskanlumberjackshow.com). From there we went across the street (literally ten steps) to the Bar- Fat Stan's. Where we had a good stop for Beer before shopping in this mall area where Fat Stan's is located. After that the sun was out and we sat on the patio at Crab Cracker Seafood Bar. Please note that I do not like seafood, but Mary does and the rest of the group that we were with does. Everyone ordered a variety of things, but let me tell you, what you order is what you get. You order King Crab legs, you're going to get only King Crab legs on a plate. Nothing else. So, please beware. After that we got back on to the ship to sail away. What is amazing about this place though is the planes are flying in on the water and much littler boats are surrounding the cruise ship, so it really is a treat to be outside when departing from this port. The next day we were in Juneau, AK. For starters, I knew Alaska would be cold, but did not know how cold! It was windy and rainy in Juneau. But, we took a wonderful bus tour around the city and learned more about the Alaskan culture there before taking a ride to Mendenhall Glacier. We did not hike to the falls near the glacier but got some great photos. It was freezing, but absolutely beautiful. We also visited the museum/visitor center (that costs $3 to get into) But it was well worth it as it shows you the melting of the glacier as well a teacher you about the animals. It also has restrooms and is toasty warm inside. After boarding the ship again and departing, we then sailed through Sawyer Glacier area (with all of the ice in the water, Titanic definitely goes through your head). It was cold, but absolutely beautiful. The best part? You get to see it all from the ship.
The next day, we were in Skagway, AK. Where coming into port, there was a 5.8 earthquake, which apparently some people felt on the ship, and we slept through it. Either way, we got off in the morning to take a bus tour. Stop # 1 was the old cemetery where they tell you the old history of the town of about 900 people. Stop # 2 was a snowy hill in the mountains, where naturally a snowball fight broke out. In to Canada (about 10 mins.) and back into USA. We then went gold panning at this place where they also have a lot of tours (sorry, the name slips me). Then we went to the main street and went shopping. First, we stopped for a shot at the brothel that was PACKED! 1. they do tours there and 2. it is a popping place to be, I highly suggest getting there early to have a drink. We also went to a popcorn place that as on the main stretch. It was so amazing! They literally pour the popcorn smells onto the street for you to go in there. After some shopping, we took a quick 5 minute walk back to the ship. If we were to head back again, a helicopter tour of some sort would definitely be in the works. After our next day at sea, we went on to Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada). This was both of our second time to this port and we absolutely fall in love with it more every time we visit. A very colonial looking town, with many young people, bars, coffee shops, food, and history. We started with, guess what else than a bus tour around the city. Where you can actually see Washington State, USA at certain points! We then headed out to The Docks restaurant (http://www.thedocksnow.com) Where we had wonderful food and service. On top of it being on the water, we sat at the back in what we would be used to calling a Sun/Florida/Arizona room. It was absolutely beautiful to eat out there before we went shopping around the downtown district and then of course took some photos in front of The Empress hotel (Which you cannot miss) then headed back to the ship to head out to Seattle.
Overall, this trip was amazing. The thing that bothered us was the cruise ship. This was the second time we sailed Norwegian Cruise Lines (First time was to Bermuda, which will be another blog post). Both times that we have sailed them it has mostly been a disappointment. Lack of good food and good service. Also, they always shut down the buffet for certain hours of the day (which are the only hours that we are hungry) and then put the same food over and over out. Also, beware that they do not serve Lobster tail on this cruise, which was also a major disappointment as they had a real lack of good seafood.
Pictures from this trip will follow.
Can you tell us about your Alaska Adventures?
We went here on Norwegian Cruise Line- The Norwegian Jewel. (As an editors note- Mary has been to Alaska with her family before this trip. But, it was my first time) Leaving out of Seattle, our first Port was Ketchikan, AK. Here we went to the logging show which is only a few steps from the ship's port. It was awesome! A must do! They teach you all about the logging culture as well as it is interactive. (Alaskanlumberjackshow.com). From there we went across the street (literally ten steps) to the Bar- Fat Stan's. Where we had a good stop for Beer before shopping in this mall area where Fat Stan's is located. After that the sun was out and we sat on the patio at Crab Cracker Seafood Bar. Please note that I do not like seafood, but Mary does and the rest of the group that we were with does. Everyone ordered a variety of things, but let me tell you, what you order is what you get. You order King Crab legs, you're going to get only King Crab legs on a plate. Nothing else. So, please beware. After that we got back on to the ship to sail away. What is amazing about this place though is the planes are flying in on the water and much littler boats are surrounding the cruise ship, so it really is a treat to be outside when departing from this port. The next day we were in Juneau, AK. For starters, I knew Alaska would be cold, but did not know how cold! It was windy and rainy in Juneau. But, we took a wonderful bus tour around the city and learned more about the Alaskan culture there before taking a ride to Mendenhall Glacier. We did not hike to the falls near the glacier but got some great photos. It was freezing, but absolutely beautiful. We also visited the museum/visitor center (that costs $3 to get into) But it was well worth it as it shows you the melting of the glacier as well a teacher you about the animals. It also has restrooms and is toasty warm inside. After boarding the ship again and departing, we then sailed through Sawyer Glacier area (with all of the ice in the water, Titanic definitely goes through your head). It was cold, but absolutely beautiful. The best part? You get to see it all from the ship.
The next day, we were in Skagway, AK. Where coming into port, there was a 5.8 earthquake, which apparently some people felt on the ship, and we slept through it. Either way, we got off in the morning to take a bus tour. Stop # 1 was the old cemetery where they tell you the old history of the town of about 900 people. Stop # 2 was a snowy hill in the mountains, where naturally a snowball fight broke out. In to Canada (about 10 mins.) and back into USA. We then went gold panning at this place where they also have a lot of tours (sorry, the name slips me). Then we went to the main street and went shopping. First, we stopped for a shot at the brothel that was PACKED! 1. they do tours there and 2. it is a popping place to be, I highly suggest getting there early to have a drink. We also went to a popcorn place that as on the main stretch. It was so amazing! They literally pour the popcorn smells onto the street for you to go in there. After some shopping, we took a quick 5 minute walk back to the ship. If we were to head back again, a helicopter tour of some sort would definitely be in the works. After our next day at sea, we went on to Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada). This was both of our second time to this port and we absolutely fall in love with it more every time we visit. A very colonial looking town, with many young people, bars, coffee shops, food, and history. We started with, guess what else than a bus tour around the city. Where you can actually see Washington State, USA at certain points! We then headed out to The Docks restaurant (http://www.thedocksnow.com) Where we had wonderful food and service. On top of it being on the water, we sat at the back in what we would be used to calling a Sun/Florida/Arizona room. It was absolutely beautiful to eat out there before we went shopping around the downtown district and then of course took some photos in front of The Empress hotel (Which you cannot miss) then headed back to the ship to head out to Seattle.
Overall, this trip was amazing. The thing that bothered us was the cruise ship. This was the second time we sailed Norwegian Cruise Lines (First time was to Bermuda, which will be another blog post). Both times that we have sailed them it has mostly been a disappointment. Lack of good food and good service. Also, they always shut down the buffet for certain hours of the day (which are the only hours that we are hungry) and then put the same food over and over out. Also, beware that they do not serve Lobster tail on this cruise, which was also a major disappointment as they had a real lack of good seafood.
Pictures from this trip will follow.
Can you tell us about your Alaska Adventures?
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