In September 2008, we had the opportunity to sail to Alaska aboard the beautiful Norwegian Sun.  This repositioning cruise gave its passengers a taste of Alaska while also experiencing the unique experience of docking in San Francisco Harbor. 

The Ship                                                           

The Norwegian Sun is not NCL's newest ship but you would never know it.  Part of the Sun Class of ships, this 78,000 ton beauty is impeccable maintained.  Its decor is just lively enough that you know it is not your grandmother's ship but is tasteful enough that your senses are not on overload. 

The Freestyle Experience

We were greeted with a glass of champagne or a a glass of juice for the kids.  What a wonderful way to step right into a feeling of celebration and relaxation.

Freestyle is the heart of what NCL offers.  They were the first to do away with set dining times in an industry that thrived on tradition.  Many said it could not work but not only has it worked, it has now become something many other cruise lines have adopted as well.  NCL really understands that its guests want the freedom to choose with whom and when they will eat.  Not only are there a variety of dining venues from which to choose, the menu is quited varied at each place as well.  Passengers on the Sun can enjoy two main dining rooms (The Four Seasons and Seven Seas) or try a smaller venue such as Pacific Heights or Las Ramblas tappas bar for appetizers.  All of these dining options are included in your cruise fare.  Keep in mind that passengers are allowed to wear jeans into any of these venues during the day but in the evening, Seven Seas' rule is no denim allowed.

For an additional $10-$25 per person cover charge you can indulge in one of the specialty restaurants.  IL Adagio ($10 pp) serves a fine Italian menu, Le Bistro ($15 pp) offers a lovely French menu, Ginza  ($15 pp) satisfies those who can't live without their sushi, East Meets West ($20 pp) is a steakhouse restaurant which offers exactly what you would expect.  The intimate Teppenyaki restaurant ($25 pp) had two trained chefs cook our meal on the table grill in front of us.  Reservations for specialty restaurants can be made only the day before in order to give every passenger ample opportunity to experience what they would like.  Be sure to make reservations as these options do fill up.   

More freestyling involved the dress code.  Formal nights on board are officially  called "Dress Up or Not" nights.  My estimate is that 50% of the people chose to dress in formal attire and half the people did not.  That is the beauty of Freestyle cruising - you decide what makes you comfortable since it is your vacation.

The Ports

Vancouver, Canada

We sailed from beautiful Vancouver, Canada.  If you have never been there, it is worth the trip by itself.  This multicultural city is as vibrant as it is beautiful.  Stanley Park is a jewel in the heart of the city and adjacent to the harbor.  With this 1000 acre evergreen park, it offers a peaceful and beautiful setting so close to the main city.   Vancouver is preparing to be host of the 2012 Winter Olympics and you can tell the city is excited.  All we met were friendly, helpful and welcoming.   If you sail from this city, make plans to spend an extra day or two just taking in the beauty of this remarkable town.

Ketchican, Alaska

We had the fortune of being in this quaint town when the salmon were running.   The creeks and streams were     teaming with them.  It was so much fun to just walk around the city and see them try to make their way upstream.  While the event definitely gives the town a distinct aroma, the beauty of this unique time made that a small price to pay. 

Creek Street is a healthy walk from the pier but worth it as you can imagine the history of this town as a early gold-mining town.  You can also visit the local fish hatchery ($7) or the Tongass Museum ($3-$5) to learn more about the history of the town.  An unusual and free way to see Ketchican is to hop on the Wal-Mart shuttle.  It picks you up at the pier and drives to Wal-Mart while you take in the town around you.

                                                    Creek Street                             Ketchican Creek

Juneau, Alaska

The state's capital has many attractions including whale watching tours and a mountain tramway on Mount Roberts.  Just in town, we picked up a city tour that included a drive to Mendenhall Glacier.  That excursion cost us $27, half what it would have had we purchased the same excursion on the ship.  If you  really want to save money, you can take a cab from town to Mendenhall Glacier for only $7. 

Along the way we saw the Governer's Mansion, and drove across to Douglas (which used to be Alaska's largest city) where we could take pictures of our cruise ships against the background of the mountains.  

Mendenhall Glacier has a visitor's center where you can see a short film about the glacier.  Of course the highlight is seeing this magnificent glacier up close.  When we first arrived, the area was fairly socked in with cloud cover and we were worried we might not be able to see anything.  However, we were lucky enough to see the luminescent blue of the glacier emerge.  Breathtaking is the only way to describe it.  Glaciers are something so special they really need to be seen in person.

Other highlights of the tour were seeing a black bear cub foraging in the woods quite close to the entrance to the park.  We also observed several bald eagles along our ride.

                                                                  Beautiful Mendenhall Glacier

Victoria, Canada

This picturesque and quaint city is an unexpected delight.

Getting into town is more challenging than other ports.  You can take a shuttle bus ride to the middle of town for $6 per person.  There are also pedicabs available for around $30 per hour on the pier for a unique guided experience.   We chose to walk into town along the harbor's edge which took about 20 minutes.

Many know about the famed Buchart Gardens which are some of the premier gardens in North America.  As an alternative, we walked down to Beacon Park, a lovely, flower-filled park on the East side of town.  We saw a lovely variety of hydrangeas, bleeding-hearts and thousands of flowers for free.  This park also has a band shelter, a playground, and beautiful fountains.  Its residents include wild peacocks and black squirrels.

From the park we walked to the Empress Hotel (it is the thing to do to have afternoon tea at the Empress).  Victoria's Parliment Building sits majestically along the Inner Harbor and is a lovely display of architecture.  Victoria also offers a Wax Museum, British Museum and a Miniature Museum.

                                                                                           Beacon Park

Sailing Under the Golden Gate Bridge

Because our sailing was a repositioning cruise we ended our trip in San Francisco.  On a gorgeous, clear and bright morning we gathered on the top deck where we spied the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance.  As we neared this massive bridge, it occurred to us that not many people get to experience the awe of sailing a cruise ship under this American landmark. 

As we floated under the Golden Gate, all the passengers cheered as we experienced this unique perspective under the bridge.  The ship passed by and we saw the bridge from the other side.  Soon we saw Alcatraz, another historical landmark,  visible on the port side.  What a glorious event we will never forget.

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