My Alaska adventure was the best trip I’ve ever taken, period. While I wasn’t ready to commit to doing a full cruise tour (it’s on the list, stay tuned), I didn’t want to wait to have my first Alaska experience, so I decided to go for it. I booked a one way southbound embarking in Vancouver and disembarking in Seattle. I decided to extend the trip a little bit, fly into Seattle and incorporate a train trip from there to Vancouver before getting on the ship. I had a few friends in the city and had not visited in quite some time, plus it’s home to Altura, a chef’s counter experience that I will never forget. More on that in a bit.
I spent a few days in Seattle and stayed within walking distance to Pike Place Market. I took in the Chihuly glass exhibit, the Space Needle and enjoyed great dinners out. My good friend and I ate at Place Pigalle, a quaint little French place above Pike’s Market. We had a phenomenal meal. The octopus was the best I’ve ever had and it was one of those experiences where you arrive for your reservation when the restaurant opens and your dinner ends when the place closes. It was magical. In addition to being able to see old friends, I really wanted to incorporate a train component to my trip and I had heard that the ride from Seattle to Vancouver is a worthwhile one. Indeed, it was! The Amtrak Cascades 4.5 hour trip was a great way to see more of the Pacific Northwest, and trains are cool!
I got to Vancouver and ended up staying at the Pan Pacific Hotel right at the port. It wasn’t where I had originally planned to stay, but the other hotel had very loud construction and their restaurant was closed, so I switched. Pro tip - during non-peak travel times, sometimes you can get a great deal on a hotel room the day of your stay. I got a corner king for $200 - the room was huge and I was right on top of the port so the views were incredible. Also, let me address the hotel shift, some of you may have thought, it’s just one night, the construction won’t be going on at night and just go to another restaurant. Both good points! My travel experiences are sacred to me. I vacation as hard as I work (if not harder), and don’t want to settle if I don’t have to. I wanted a nice hotel experience where I could hang out, listen to some live music in the lounge, and have a great dinner. Well, I got that while overlooking the water. A quick hotel switch to get what you want is worth the initial frustration and brief delay it causes. Don’t sweat the small stuff when you travel.
I boarded the Norwegian Jewel and did my traditional embarkation day ritual. I had a later boarding time so was able to go straight to my cabin and drop my bags off before venturing out to explore the ship. Pro tip - when sailing to Alaska, get a balcony cabin. It’s worth the additional cost and if you rely on the ability to see all of nature's glory from public outdoor areas, you might be sad when you realize that you can get the same views and have the coziness of your cabin (with room service) to retreat to when the balcony gets too cold and you’ll still be able to see all the beauty up close.
The ship was older and smaller than my preference, but I knew that going to Alaska meant a smaller ship, and it was well worth it given all that I would see. The cruise took me through Ketchikan, Sawyer Glacier, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Victoria, BC and disembarked in Seattle. Icy Strait Point was the best port I’ve ever been to - (see Seascape Spotlight for details - but think whales and bears galore). The White Pass Railroad excursion from Skagway was also quite memorable. A meal to not be missed in Alaska is at the Cape Fox Lodge in Ketchikan. You take a tram up the mountain to the lodge and can enjoy panoramic views from the dining room, while enjoying phenomenal seafood. Highly recommend! I would encourage anyone going to Alaska to embrace the experience and learn about the land and people by engaging in culture discussions, visiting totem displays, and seeing performances reflective of the rich history of the area. I look forward to going back for a cruise tour and exploring more parts of the state.
As usual, I stayed an extra night in my disembarkation port to enjoy one last night of vacation. I decided to end on a high note by partaking in the tasting menu at Altura in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy a number of exclusive experiences at certain restaurants either because I saved up for it, or have known someone or gotten connected to an opportunity through my restaurant background. My experience at Altura was my best dining experience ever, without a doubt. In short, 16 courses (the first course was 6 mini courses - so depending on how you look at it, it’s either 16 or 11 courses), delicious wine pairings, and the chance to watch renowned chef, Nathan Lockwood and his team prepare the amazing experience, literally five feet in front of you.
The trip was fantastic and one I see doing many more times. From what I understand, Alaska is a place you can cruise back to again and again and never get tired of it. Not a bad habit to form and there are plenty of different itineraries, so you won’t get bored. I could write about this cruise for five more pages, but I want to leave surprises for you when you “do Alaska.”
