Alaska - Day Two - Heading North

We got up early - around 8AM. I think we were both excited about getting started. Phil ate a little breakfast but I didn't have much of an appetite.  We packed our things and called for a Uber. We met the driver on the corner and we all headed to the docks. It was too early for us to get on the ship but we were able to check our bags at the pier where the Norwegian 'Pearl' was docked. Since it was going to be several hours before we would be able to get on board, we took a long walk along the bay. There was a sculpture park that ran adjacent to the sidewalk and the bay. The morning was cool - around 65 degrees. It was clear skies all around. 

At around 12:30 we headed back to the pier where our ship was docked and checked in. By now, a large crowd had gathered to check in as well. Now the bag handlers at the pier were gathering the bags like bees in a bee hive. Carts were packed high with luggage, while other carts were being hauled to the ship. It was organized mayhem! And people were filing in to the check in line like cattle making their way down a cattle shoot. This is when people watching is at it's very best.  Of course there were photographers from the ship taking professional shots of each group or couple in order to later sell the same group or couple a picture of their check in experience.

As soon as we got cleared to come aboard, Philip and I headed to the fancy dining room to get some lunch. For some reason, regardless as to what I ordered. I would always get a platter full of food that would feed three of me. The dining room was called the 'Summer Palace'. There were paintings of what I assume were the Russian Romanov family and their wonderful, royal life. Well until their lives went horribly wrong.

After lunch, we headed up to the top deck to watch the activities for the sailing away party. We sat on some deck chairs and checked our phones for final messages. Around 4PM the ship started sailing out of the Seattle harbor. Philip and I both were drinking lemonade when suddenly, a lady accidentally kicked the table my glass of lemonade was setting on and I found myself with a shoe full of lemonade. She apologized profusely, stating that she was looking for her friend's lost pass card. I still had a shoe full of beverage

As the ship sailed past Seattle, a band started playing in the gazebo on the top deck. They were a great band and they played fantastic dance tunes. The cruise director came out and started introducing his staff and urging folks onto the dance floor.  Over a short time, folks started joining in the fun.

And then he announced a conga line challenge. He said that on the last cruise to Alaska, they had set a record of 100 people long conga line. "Can we break that record? Let's get 200 people in a conga line." At this point, Philip and I got to our feet and got in line. 

Our cruise dancers failed miserably in defeating the last cruise's conga line challenge but all who participated got a gift of a free dance lesson.  So the music played on. And the dancing continued.

Goodbye Seattle

and hello to our northern adventure!

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An additional tidbit:

Here's a couple of pictures of our room. The bathroom/office is compact - which matches the bedroom. Notice the little white square above the toilet? This is the flushing button. You have to close the lid to be able to push the button, which is a good thing. Once you hit that button it sounds like a great depth charge which is sending what you've deposited to the very bottom of the ship. It's loud and I can't even imagine what would happen if you held the lid open during the button pushing. You'd probably clear the room of every towel in this small space.

Here's our bedroom. I slept on the right and Philip slept on the left. It was comfortable enough. Here's a couple of things I could have done without. First off, this room and those in proximity of it were all located under the 12th floor dining area. So, late at night, in the depth of a darkened room, we could hear all sorts of repair and kitchen business sounds. First off there was this weird knocking on the pipes and I kidded Philip that it must be a stowaway trying to get out of a box. We could hear carts rolling across the ceiling/floor. An occasional dish would hit the floor upstairs or folks would be talking but the sound was so muted that I could only make out that it was human language. Then to add to the intrigue, a person to the left of Philip's side of the bed, could be heard snoring in another room/cabin. At times it felt like three people were sleeping in our room.