With a strong, cold wind at our back we travelled north from Seattle to embark on another year of adventures. We boarded a sold-out Amtrak Cascades train in Everett and enjoyed the scenic views of Puget Sound and the golden hues of fall foliage. We walked off the train in Vancouver and made our way over to the port. Yes, of course we chose to cruise again. At this rate we are approaching the ultimate cruise loyalty status level: free laundry!
2022-2023 Recap
Our first year of travel was technically 14 months, with some travels around North America, across Europe, around New Zealand, around most of Australia, then up through Southeast Asia. That trip ended with a short stay in Japan and a rocky transpacific crossing back to Seattle. We visited 30 countries during that timeframe.
Five months zoomed by as we enjoyed long summer days around the Pacific Northwest, and stints in Las Vegas and Houston. Plus we enjoyed an amazing white water trip through the Grand Canyon and a cruise to Alaska. It was a busy summer!
We enjoyed our foray into pet sitting and met several good dogs and cute cats – and even took care of a Guinea pig. We met up with family, fellow travelers, and even some old friends.
We enjoyed eating teriyaki, attending Mariners games, ferry crossings, and continuing to drink our wine collection.
We felt a bit rusty as we packed our bags. Where does that thing go? Do we need a packing list? How many dry shampoos should I bring with me? Even my Osprey pack felt heavier than usual.
Crown Princess
Now fall is upon us and around us. In Seattle the rain had already started. But the sun shone brightly on our first sea day. We didn’t see much of it as we enjoyed peaceful naps and the idea that we had nothing to do. Sometimes it just feels good to do nothing.
If you’re not following our Instagram you might be wondering which exotic locale we are touring first…Alaska! We booked a heck of a deal from Princess so we started with an “Alaska Sampler” cruise. Leaving Vancouver, the cruise is four nights total with just one day in Ketchikan before heading back to Seattle.
Kichxáan (Ketchikan), Alaska
The morning greeted us with blue skies and sunshine. Not expected for this city especially in late September! While in port we walked through town and visited two of the towns museums: first the Tongass Historical Museum then the Totem Heritage Center. The combined ticket is only $9 USD per adult. The Historical Museum provided a great overview if it is your first time visiting this city. The place was filled with hundreds of old photographs which told the story of so many generations who have called Ketchikan home, and their cultures and industries. I enjoy looking at old photographs, so it was a real treat.
The temporary exhibit was a vibrant display of plants and animals from prehistoric eras. I had no idea they’d found dinosaur fossils in Alaska!
We then walked up Ketchikan Creek admiring the pleasant weather and the large amounts of coho salmon still swimming upstream for spawning. In places the creek was more fish than it was water!
We then arrived at the Totem Heritage Center and learned more about totem pole history and preservation. Plus there were some great short films about the resurgence of tribal traditions like weaving, dance, and language for the local Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian tribes.
As we crisscrossed back through the small downtown we spotted a distillery that was new to us, the Uncharted Alaska Distillery. They make a few different gins and flavored vodkas and have a medium-sized tasting area. We stopped in for seasonal cocktails made, respectively, with apple pie infused vodka and their citrus gin. The cocktails were sweet but delicious! We loved the open air vibe and the eclectic decor.
Alaska is so wonderful! And cruising is a great way to experience the beauty and nature in America’s last frontier. So stay tuned for a blog post about how to make the most of your Alaska cruise vacation!
Seattle
Yeah, that first trip didn’t take us far but the journey continues. Seattle was just a port day as we continued to stay on Crown Princess.
While in port for the day we met up for beers and snacks with our friends Krista and Robbie. They just got married and we stayed in Seattle to attend their beautiful ceremony and reception. Cheers newlyweds!
Hawaii
Now we are off to island hop around Hawaii! I am looking forward to the weather warming up each day as we sail farther south to reach the islands. It should be a fun cruise. Bon voyage, again.
Note
We booked our cruise direct through a Princess Vacation Planner. If you’re interested in booking a cruise with Princess, reach out to Melissa. She makes the booking process so easy!