Alaska Cruise Tour—Norwegian Bliss
Alaska has always been a place I wanted to visit. Although choosing a cruise tour cannot reach the interior of Alaska, it can still fulfill part of my wish.
I invited some friends and started the Alaska cruise tour together.
Itinerary: Shanghai--Seattle, round-trip Seattle inner passage cruise, Seattle--Beijing.
Seattle is located on the Pacific coast of northwestern Washington State. It has been rated as "Best Place to Live in America" and "Best City for Living and Working"... Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, and other companies have their headquarters here. During our two days in Seattle, we visited some famous attractions, including Boeing and the University of Washington.
(1) Medina Town
A small city on the shores of Lake Washington, where IT elite Bill Gates' lakeside mansion is located. I don't know if it's because of the scenery or Bill Gates, but this place has become a tourist attraction. The road leading to the town is very narrow, with many deep mansions on the right side. A small road leading to Gates' mansion is said to have been bought by him. The local guide also introduced a series of dignitaries who have properties here, but due to limited experience and memory, I only remember the CEOs of Amazon and Lee Kum Kee. The lakeside scenery is beautiful, the town hall is not large, and several police cars parked in front are quite imposing. The last picture shows the town's supermarket. The guide said he chatted with the supermarket owner, who said that Gates often came here as a child.
(2) Space Needle
The Space Needle is an observation tower in Seattle and one of Seattle's landmarks. The Space Needle is 184 meters high, a famous scenic spot in Seattle, with a constant stream of tourists every day, and you have to queue up for the elevators. Personally, I feel that the Space Needle has several very nice features: the glass floor at high altitude is large, with a circular ground on the entire floor, and this glass floor moves in a circle, so timid people don't have to move, they can sit and watch the moving ground scenery); the view of downtown Seattle from the tower is very good, with 360-degree glass curtain walls providing excellent transparency; the Space Needle staff will take photos for each visitor. After the tour, visitors can choose a background on the computer on the first floor and email the composite photo to themselves. This is free, a very thoughtful measure. We took a group photo and chose three backgrounds to download photos (I don't know how many options are available).
The green building shaped like a parenthesis at the bottom of the picture is the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation↓
The Rock Music Museum next to the Space Needle↓
(3) Queen Anne Hill
The Queen Anne Hill observation deck overlooks Seattle and is the best place to view Seattle's scenery. The Space Needle seen from here is more graceful in shape, and this is also one of Seattle's iconic views. In addition to leisurely tourists, we also saw cheerleaders rehearsing.
(4) University of Washington
Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is a world-renowned top research university. The buildings on the main campus of the University of Washington are almost all themed on Gothic architecture and Gothic style. The main library is a typical Gothic building. The campus is beautiful, and we also encountered a wedding photoshoot on campus.
(5) Boeing Factory
Although affected by the 737MAX and other incidents, the Boeing Factory is still an important attraction in Seattle. We came here for a visit. The Boeing Factory has been certified by Guinness World Records as one of the largest building complexes in the world, with workshops that can assemble the twin-aisle Boeing aircraft 747, 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the factory, and all items must be stored. We visited two huge workshops, one assembling 747 and 767, and the other assembling 777 and 787.
(6) Outlets
The Seattle outlets are a relatively large outdoor area, with special offers for Chinese people (though I didn't feel much discount). At the entrance, on both sides, there are COACH and POLO, which many Chinese people like. We walked around and looked at the brand distribution map. There were not many first-tier brands. The busiest store seemed to be COACH, which is not expensive, with some models having discounts of up to 75%, and the store was very popular. We also went in and browsed, and also visited Burberry (small store with old stock), Tommy, Under Armour, Disney, Polo, Clarks, Swarovski, etc. Some friends also went to UGG and bought some reasonably priced items.
Day 3 (7) Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (Ballard Locks)
The locks at Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are located between the lake and the sea, with a drop of more than 10 meters, blocking seawater from returning to the lake, and were put into use in 1917. The dam gates go up and down to close and release water so that ships can pass between the lake and the sea (unavoidably reminiscent of the Gezhouba Dam). There is also a salmon ladder for salmon migrating upstream. We saw swimming salmon through the underwater viewing window. If lucky, you can also see seals on the sea surface (we only saw one popping its head out of the water). The park is small, but the scenery is nice.
(8) Pike Place Market
Pike Place Market has many stalls, including not only seafood but also fruits, flowers, and restaurants. It has basically become the number one attraction in Seattle's Top 50, a must-visit place when in Seattle. There are many seafood stalls, with fish, large crabs, large lobsters, long crab legs, making seafood lovers drool. The must-see show at Pike Place Market is the famous fish-throwing performance, which we were lucky enough to see. A short performance brings a very infectious cheerful atmosphere.
(9) Gum Wall
One of the world's most disgusting famous attractions—Seattle's Pike Place Market Gum Wall. A wall 50 feet long and 15 feet high is densely covered with millions of chewed gum pieces. It originated from a strange tradition in the 1990s at the market theater: travelers stuck chewed gum on the wall while waiting in line. It was repeatedly banned but persisted, eventually forming over time. In 1999, local officials declared the wall an official "tourist attraction." Today, this wall has become a well-known tourist spot.
(10) The First Starbucks Coffee Shop
Pike Place Market has the first Starbucks store in the world, located at 1912 Pike Place. This store was established in 1971 and is a must-visit place for Starbucks lovers when they come to Seattle. It is said that you need to queue for 30-40 minutes to get into the store to enjoy coffee. We didn't have that much time, so we could only take photos of the exterior and look inside through the glass, considering it as checking in.
2. Alaska Inside Passage Cruise Tour
After visiting the attractions, we boarded the Norwegian Bliss at Pier 66 near Pike Place Market in the afternoon.
After a long wait, we finally completed the procedures and boarded the cruise ship. Once on board, we looked back at Seattle's port and walked around to explore.
Lively departure party↓
Lunch (Buffet on deck 16 forward)
Theater on deck 7 forward↓
For dinner, we chose the Manhattan Room at the aft of deck 7. The restaurant environment and food were excellent↓
Today was a day at sea, spending the whole day on the ship: walking, eating, and sightseeing.
We got up early to watch the sunrise at sea. The moon was still in the sky, and only cleaning staff were visible at the top deck water park. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great, with dark clouds overhead, but we still saw the sunrise, which was nice.
Red wine left by previous guests↓
Walking through the quiet shopping area
Breakfast at the buffet on deck 16 forward (this was where we ate most often)
Dinner at SAVOR restaurant on deck 6 aft. The restaurant environment, dishes, and service were excellent. There was a table celebrating a birthday, and the waitstaff sang a birthday song for the guest; we also applauded. A waiter who introduced himself as Mark brought us one of each dessert to taste. He was very enthusiastic.
Our dinner table↓
Today the cruise ship docked in Juneau.
Early morning, we walked through the silent corridors to see the sunrise again. The weather was a bit better today.
The cruise ship docked at Juneau port, and next to us was the sister ship of the Bliss, the Joy. The "story" of this ship, once built for the Chinese market, can be found online, so I won't elaborate here.
Juneau is the capital of Alaska, the largest state in the United States, and is also the largest state capital by area in the US. However, Juneau has a population of only over 30,000, making it the least populous state capital. The vast majority of visitors to Juneau come on Alaska cruises, and we were no exception. Although it is a state capital, Juneau is the size of a small town. The shops on the main street mainly sell jewelry, furs, and souvenirs. Juneau offers glaciers, a cable car to the mountain, and delicious seafood—a place well worth visiting.
Before coming to Alaska, I prioritized this restaurant; I absolutely had to taste the long king crab legs shown in the picture and Alaska beer. A red building at the Juneau pier is this restaurant, easily spotted. We went straight in. There weren't too many customers yet, so we ordered without waiting. We ordered Large King Leg and Alaskan Amber. The crab meat was tender, with a slight sweetness, truly delicious. Eating crab meat here gives you the feeling of "eating big pieces of meat." The beer was strong, served in a large glass—you need to be careful when picking it up. Those with a low alcohol tolerance or small stomach capacity might not finish a glass. Very tasty beer! We accomplished our pre-planned tasks of eating crab legs, drinking Alaska beer, and taking photos with the long crab legs.
After eating, we went to see Mendenhall Glacier and walked around Juneau town. When we returned, there was already a long line outside the restaurant.
Mendenhall Glacier originates from the southern half of the massive Juneau Icefield, which begins in the Boundary Mountains of southeastern Alaska. Here there are Mendenhall Lake and a waterfall adjacent to the glacier. Besides viewing the glacier, lake, and waterfall from a distance, the park's natural scenery is also beautiful. Walking in the park, the scenery is pleasing to the eye, and the air is especially fresh.
Whale sculpture near the Glass Bridge
Streets of Juneau. Small shops line the streets, selling jewelry, furs, and various souvenirs.
This is Juneau's famous Red Dog Saloon, a social gathering place for gold rush miners. It still retains its original appearance, allowing visitors to experience the feeling of those days.
The cruise ship docked in Skagway
"Small ads" on the rocks at the dock are the logos of various cruise lines↓
There was a spot at the port to capture the front of the cruise ship, and for the first time, we saw the full view of the Bliss from the front↓
Train waiting for passengers↓
Skagway is located at the northernmost end of the Alaska Inside Passage. We arrived here by cruise ship. Skagway, born from the gold rush, had become Alaska's largest town by 1898, with a population of 20,000. After the gold rush, the town did not decline. On the main street, Broadway Street, the pioneer atmosphere of a hundred years ago has been recreated. Replica old buildings, bars, and shops selling handicrafts, gold, and jewelry line the street. Sculptures and murals related to the gold rush can be seen everywhere, presenting that history to visitors.
At the town entrance, the light yellow bungalow on the left is the ticket office for the White Pass & Yukon Route↓
The Red Onion Saloon was a place of entertainment in Skagway during the gold rush era. Now this colorful building has become a bar and restaurant and is listed as a National Historic Building. This old house named "Red Onion Saloon" on Washington Street in Skagway: during the gold rush, the saloon's first floor was a bar, and the second floor was a red-light district offering pleasure to miners. Today's Red Onion Saloon is a bar and restaurant, displaying old photos from the gold rush era, evoking memories of that period. Half-covered windows on the second floor feature mannequins of women, showing visitors the scenes of those days.
I didn't go inside; I only took photos of the exterior. My friends went in and ordered beer, sharing pictures↓
Visitor Center (former Arctic Brotherhood Hall)↓
In Skagway, we chose to take the nostalgic narrow-gauge railway, experiencing the railway built for the gold rush. The White Pass & Yukon Route tour includes a round trip by bus and train, offering different scenery (with a Chinese audio guide available for some departures). In 1896, with George Carmack and his three native companions Skookum Jim, Dawson Charlie, and Kate Carmack discovering gold here, the story of the White Pass & Yukon Railway began. Although only some gold dust was found in the Fortune River, gold miners still flooded in. In the Chinese audio guide, these miners are called "蜂拥者" (swarmers). Along the way, passing through steep mountain canyons, listening to the audio guide about the hardships the miners endured, crossing mountains and valleys, using horses for transport, for life, for the dream of wealth, for... they left behind relics and history. Twenty-six months later, in 1898, a narrow-gauge railway appeared in the rugged coastal mountains, a "railway born for gold." On the outbound journey, we traveled by bus along the Klondike Highway. The scenery along the way was beautiful, with dense forests and changing geological features. The mountains were sometimes shrouded in mist, sometimes clear. Some trees, to withstand strong winds, could not grow tall; their branches grew downward like roots reaching toward the ground, while the tops were bare—impressive. The bus stopped at two spots along the road for us to take photos. Near the wooden sign "Welcome to Alaska," a plaque commemorating the 100th anniversary of the gold rush was nailed to a rock. Skagway rose due to the gold rush, and the White Pass & Yukon Route and the Klondike Highway were also achieved because of the gold rush.
We chose the cheapest option of the nostalgic train ride, and luckily, we experienced different itineraries on the outbound and return trips. If we had taken the train both ways, we would have missed the "Welcome to Alaska" wooden sign I selected as the cover of my travel notes and the 100th anniversary plaque on the nearby rock.
Glacier Bay National Park
A new day starts in the morning
Glacier Bay National Park is located at the border between the US state of Alaska and Canada, containing a series of glaciers. It became a national monument in 1925 to protect the glacier environment and local vegetation. In 1980, it became a national park and preserve, and in 1986, it was designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Due to the park's unique location, it can only be reached by plane or boat. We visited Glacier Bay Park by cruise ship, enjoying the pure, stunning natural scenery.
The cruise ship entered Glacier Bay National Park, and park staff came on board to introduce the park, answer questions, and sell souvenirs.
Then the cruise ship sailed through Glacier Bay National Park. What attracted everyone the most was Margerie Glacier.
Margerie Glacier↓
This picture was taken by a friend, borrowed↓
Enjoying the park scenery in the restaurant
It is said that the forward deck on deck 15 is the best viewing spot, with some people going to claim seats at 6 am. Actually, the cruise ship made many turns in Glacier Bay, so it was more interesting to look around from different places. However, we still went to sit there in the afternoon.
Deck 8 forward was open to passengers only on this day of cruising Glacier Bay, and many people came here to view the scenery.
One of the channels on the cabin TV always showed the view from deck 8 forward, so we could see the scenery ahead of the ship at any time.
Inspired by the open forward deck, we decided to "live stream," though our filming wasn't great, we still "broadcasted."
For dinner, we chose TASTE restaurant on deck 6 aft, across from yesterday's restaurant. The dishes were good. My main course was chicken that looked like a whole chicken, and we needed help to finish it, but it was tasty. Today we considered it an early farewell meal, and my companions treated us to red wine.
It was supposed to be a pleasant day, but bad news came in the afternoon: due to poor weather conditions, the stop in Ketchikan was canceled for tomorrow. Disappointed and frustrated, but there was no choice. I don't know if I'll ever have the opportunity to go to Ketchikan, see the "Salmon Capital," and visit the beautiful Creek Street.
In fact, there were signs earlier: we delayed departure from Skagway due to weather, and the Glacier Bay park staff boarded our ship later than scheduled. We could also feel the wind and waves at sea. Fortunately, the weather was good during the time we cruised Glacier Bay.
The weather was indeed not good, with wind and waves. After losing Ketchikan, the day at sea was just for rest, walking around, and picking some discounted items.
For dinner, we chose THE LOCAL BAR & GRILL on deck 7 midship. Today they served shrimp burgers. We ordered too many appetizers, and when we saw the large shrimp burger, we immediately asked to cut it in half, sharing one between two. As a result, we ate less of the best shrimp burger and couldn't have it the next day.
The last day of the itinerary; we return to Seattle tomorrow morning. Tonight, we dock in Victoria.
We basically didn't participate in the activities arranged by the ship during the day; we rested and walked around, waiting for the evening shore excursion to visit Victoria.
Today at lunch, we had rice noodles. Previously, at the buffet, I usually grabbed some Indian food for lunch and dinner, which was somewhat close to Chinese food. It was only yesterday that my companion mentioned there were rice noodles at lunch. I could only have them this once, so of course, I didn't miss the chance. The taste was good, and there were several seasonings to choose from.
The sky and ocean ahead of the cruise ship
