Embarkation on the Norwegian Bliss at Pier 66 - Sat., July 28, 2018

We had planned ahead and made a reservation for a shuttle from our hotel to the pier. The shuttle left the hotel at 9:30 a.m., after our complimentary breakfast. It took about ten minutes to get to the waterfront, but Pier 66 was about halfway down. 

When we got to Pier 66, it was a total zoo. The Bliss was debarking the previous group of cruisers. We had our shuttle driver drop us and our luggage a block away because it was quicker to walk than wait in traffic.

Bob and I were very impressed with Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL's) efficiency. We asked cruise personnel where we needed to go. First they directed us to the porters, where we dropped our bags (hallelujah!). Next stop was the TSA to go through their detectors. From there, we were directed upstairs where we signed in for the cruise, picked up our room keys and a map of the ship, and put a credit card on file for any charges on board. We had to sign an affidavit that we weren't sick. We then went into a room to wait to board. We were so early, we ended up in Boarding Group 1. I estimate we waited an hour before our group was called.

It was smooth sailing from the porters to boarding the ship. However, it takes a few hours for your luggage to catch up to you. Our rooms would not be ready until 1:00 p.m. We did go up and peek at our room before we went to make restaurant, laser tag, and racetrack reservations. They were still cleaning the rooms. 

One of the packages we bought was dinner in three specialty restaurants. I had been able to make our reservations for Teppanyaki (Japanese) and La Cucina (Italian) online weeks before the cruise; however, I could not get us into a third specialty dining room. That meant we had to stand in line at The Social to make our final reservation. We were dying to try Ocean Blue, a fancy seafood restaurant, but it was sold out. Second choice for our last restaurant was Cagney's Steakhouse, and that was available. Bob wasn't thrilled about the steakhouse because he doesn't eat red meat, but the ship concierge explained the steakhouse also had seafood. That sealed the deal.

From The Social, we headed to "Q," the Texas BBQ restaurant where signups for the go-karts and laser tag were taking place. We made those reservations as well. 

We wandered around the ship. The Volkssporters planned to meet at The Cavern Club after the Life Boat Drill, so we found where that was. 

Where The Beatles got their start.

Here are more photos of where we went before the tour...

View of downtown Seattle from
the Observation Lounge.

Observation Lounge

Another view of downtown Seattle

If we ever wanted to know where we were,
we could come to the observation lounge.

Beautiful public areas to read and relax.

Another public area. Groups liked these.

Two-story atrium.

Sugarcane Mojito Bar

We also had lunch in the Garden Cafe Buffet because breakfast had been at 8:30 a.m. We were hungry...but not to worry, the buffet had so many choices! Our lunch was yummy!

At 1:30 p.m., we opted to go on the Guided Ship Tour of the public areas. The start point was outside Cagney's Steakhouse. Just a few stats:

• Largest cruise ship ever home-ported on the West Coast.
• 21 restaurants
• A two-level go-kart race track on the top two decks
• Outdoor laser tag
• 20 decks
• Largest ship to go through the Panama Canal

Cagney's Steakhouse (Specialty)

The A-List Bar

Los Lobos Mexican Restaurant (Specialty)

Below are a couple of walkers we met from Alberta, Canada. They stayed at the same hotel we did last night. 

Dallas and Sharon

Our guide was gregarious and called us his "all stars." We followed along and he'd clear the way by saying, "OK all stars, follow me." And "Make way for the all stars."

Polar bear at the pool deck.

This water slide goes right over the side of the ship.

A different water slide.

Movie screen over the pool.

The jogging track. (If we wanted to walk
10k on this, it would be 48 laps!)

Inside The Cavern Club.

View of Seattle from the ship.

By 3:00 p.m., everyone had to be on board or be left behind. After the tour, we read for a while until our Life Boat Drill at 3:30 p.m. 

I was disappointed by the Life Boat Drill. Usually, you find out where the life jackets are, take them to your part of the deck, and instructions are given loud and clear. On a ship with 4,000 guests and 1,700 crew, I would think a huge cruise ship would make it perfectly clear what to do. Our group was crammed into small restaurant with another group. I wear hearing aids and could not hear what was being said. I don't think they said where the life jackets were. They basically told us if there was a problem, to come to that muster station and they would tell us what to do. If there's a problem, I want my life jacket when I leave my cabin!! Life Boat Drill was a fail in my mind.

After the Life Boat Drill, the Volksmarchers were supposed to meet in The Cavern Club for packet pick up. But there was some confusion. It had also been said that the Life Boat Drill would be over at 6:00 p.m. About ten people went to The Cavern Club after the drill at 4:00 p.m., but the rest of the group didn't show up. We took a break in our stateroom and went back at 5:30 p.m. We had time to go out on the deck and take photos of our departure from Seattle. 

We slip away from Seattle.

An interesting tidbit about the Port of Tacoma: George Lucas's inspiration for the AT-ATs in Return of the Jedi were the cranes at the port.

Cranes at the Port of Seattle.

Looking up the decks toward the water
slide that goes off the edge and back.

Zooming in on downtown Seattle as we leave.

At the meeting, we received our packets, walk instructions, and AVA cruise shirts. Many people received door prizes as well. I won a carabiner clip.

We had a little time before our next activity so we watched the Olympic Peninsula scenery go by from the balcony of our stateroom on Deck 11.

A layer of fog along the strait with the
Olympic Mountains in back

New Dungeness Lighthouse in the strait!

Fading light, fog, and the Olympics.

Still snow on the Olympics!

At 7:30 p.m., we headed to Bliss Theater for the "Welcome Aboard Show: First Night." This show highlights all the entertainment on the ship with a smorgasbord of clips from the live shows on the ship: "The Jersey Boys," to comedians, "Havana," and "Happy Hour Prohibition: The Musical." We already had reservations with our walking group for "The Jersey Boys." Bob and I also got reservations to "Havana."

After the Bliss Theater presentation, we went directly to dinner at La Cucina. We were about 1/2 hour early for our reservation time, but no problem; they had plenty of room for us. We both sat facing the window so we could see the Olympic Peninsula as we cruised through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Strait is 108 miles long and 10-18 miles wide. It is the access route to the Pacific Ocean from Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia. Our dinner was very good!

The view from our table at La Cucina.

The Olympics in the fading light of day.

When we returned to our stateroom, our luggage was in the hall. The room had been turned down for the night already. It was time to unpack, settle in, and then read before bed.

Tomorrow is a day at sea. The ship is AWESOME. North to Alaska!