I didn’t expect the first story of this trip to happen before we ever saw the ocean.
Day 0: Seattle turned out to be its own little adventure — early alarms, unexpected moments, and the kind of surprises that remind you why travel stories start where they do.
This is how our Alaska trip really began.
✈️ Welcome to Our 7-Day Adventure
Welcome aboard! Our journey begins with Day 0 travel to Seattle, followed by seven unforgettable days at sea — boarding, scenic cruising, glacier watching, exploring ports like Juneau and Skagway, and ending with a sunny stop in Victoria before sailing home to Seattle.
Each day had its own surprises, and I’ve gathered them here so you can come along with us, one chapter at a time.
🗺️ Planning the Dream
This cruise didn’t start as a spur-of-the-moment getaway. The idea first surfaced last November during a casual conversation. A friend in Seattle, Scott, mentioned that Jerry had been talking about drink packages on cruise ships — how much they cost, whether they were worth it. Before long, Scott leaned in and said, “Hey, you want to go on a cruise to Alaska?”
At first, it felt like one of those adventures best shared — the kind where the company is half the fun. Eric signed on. Scott and his wife, Sue, were in. Colleen (HP) and I had to discuss it. Jerry and Hattie checked the temperature (literally) and bowed out. “No cruise unless it’s someplace warm,” they said. Fair enough.
Even so, I hesitated. Alaska sounded incredible, but a cruise? I turned the idea over in my head: should we even consider it? When HP and I talked it through, she lit up instantly.
“Are you kidding me? Of course we’ll go. When do we leave? Who’s coming with us? This is a great idea.”
Her excitement made the decision for me.
What began as idle chatter soon grew into months of planning — and eventually, the journey of a lifetime. We’d said yes to a huge adventure: setting sail for Alaska. It sounded like something from a dream, the kind of thing you’d scribble on a wish list or see on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Only this time, it wasn’t a fantasy. We were making it real.
Alaska has always had that pull. One of those bucket-list destinations. Glaciers that creak and thunder. Whales surfacing in silent bays. Mist-wrapped ports like Juneau and Skagway. Even a stop in Victoria, Canada. A place that feels both wild and iconic, stitched together by sea and sky.
To capture it properly—and to share it with friends and family who couldn’t come along—I decided to keep a blog. Each day brought something different: sometimes funny, sometimes breathtaking, sometimes just small moments that made us smile.
Day 0: Traveling to Seattle
Date: August 14, 2025
Route: Home → Pullman Airport → Seattle
🌅 Morning: Early Birds & Airborne Adventures
The alarm was set for 2:00 a.m.—but honestly, who needs alarms when you’re too excited to sleep? By 3:58, we were on the road. HP took the wheel, coffee in hand, navigating the dark highway like a champ. When we arrived it was cold, wind blowing and still dark.
By 5:00 a.m., we were checked in and waiting to board. At 5:30, we were nestled into seats 6C and 6D, right behind first class with just enough legroom to feel fancy.
Of course, no flight is complete without the cast of characters. Crying babies? Totally understandable. Nervous chatterboxes? A whole different endurance test. We drew the latter: a sweet but relentless young woman narrating her family tree like it was a true-crime podcast. Pilot announcements? Didn’t slow her. Safety demo? Ignored. Turbulence? Just added flair.
At the 20-minute mark, I surrendered. Noise-cancelling earbuds in, music up, sanity preserved.
That’s when HP struck. Now, my wife does not suffer fools… or chatter, quietly. I couldn’t hear the words, but I saw the look. The dramatic neck crane. The bug-eyed glare. The slow, surgical “Shhh.” Like a librarian in a Quentin Tarantino film. Miraculously, it worked. The girl and the grandma blinked, exchanged a look, and…pulled out books. I nearly applauded.
The flight attendants were a bit green (one looked like she’d just been handed a uniform that morning), but the ride was smooth. We touched down in Seattle at 6:45 a.m. to a damp, chilly 61°. Wearing shorts suddenly felt like a bad life choice. HP was freezing. I considered raiding my suitcase for jeans or a hoodie right there on the tarmac.
🏨 Check-In & First Impressions
After navigating Seattle airport, we caught the shuttle to the DoubleTree Inn—popular with pre-cruise folks. Our room wasn’t ready yet, but HP worked her usual magic at the desk and scored us a suite upgrade. Hero status: unlocked.
🍳 Breakfast: Buffet Blues
We hit the hotel buffet—a large dining room with cloth table covers, polished silverware, and a spread that looked promising at first glance. Let’s just say it brought back memories of GenCon trips in 2016 and 2018, but that’s where the similarities ended. The food was edible but forgettable, and the price tag? Steep. Thirty dollars a person for scrambled eggs, sausage, and house drip coffee. Ouch.
But the real story wasn’t the buffet—it was the penthouse.
HP worked her magic at check-in and landed us on the top floor, and this wasn’t just a room—it was a penthouse suite. Full kitchen. Huge living room. A wraparound balcony with a skyline view. And the bathroom—good grief. Bigger than our first house.
The tub was the crown jewel: deep, wide, built into a stone platform with enough ledge space for snacks, a book, maybe even a glass of wine (or two). HP slid in and stretched out like she’d just claimed new territory. From that moment on, she was queen of the penthouse tub, and the rest of the trip would have to work hard to dethrone it.
😴 Afternoon: Power Naps & Rainy Views
Running on fumes from our 2:00 a.m. wake-up, we collapsed into what we generously called a “nap.” Later, I stepped out onto the balcony. The skyline was misty, the mountains fading into clouds, and the drop straight to the street below gave me instant vertigo. Still—what a view.
🌙 Evening: Laughs & Low-Key Wandering
We didn’t do much more than wander, snack, and re-tell the story of HP’s legendary “shush” like it was some kind of war story. The kind of tale that grows funnier each time it’s told. Honestly, that moment alone made the whole day. The suite didn’t hurt either—soft lighting, wide windows, and the kind of quiet that feels like a reward.
Dinner downstairs was simple but perfect: a crisp Caesar salad with toasted baguette. I swapped the Caesar dressing for ranch—my little vegetarian twist—and it worked, creamy and cool against the crunch of lettuce and warm bread. Nothing fancy, just the right kind of comfort after hours on our feet.
When we finally drifted back upstairs, the night air pressed against the glass, carrying the faint scent of pine and city dust. It was a long day, full of small surprises, and somehow it felt like everything was building toward tomorrow. The air seemed to hum with it. By morning, we’d be boarding the ship, Alaska on the horizon.
⭐ Quick Ratings (1–5 stars)
- Food: ★★★★☆
- Service: ★★★★☆
- Cleanliness: ★★★★★
📝 End-of-Day Reflection
Best moment: The room upgrade—it turned a tired travel day into something unexpectedly cozy. There’s something deeply satisfying about stepping into a crowded elevator, everyone pressing their floor buttons—11, 10, 14—and then HP casually taps PH (penthouse). For a beat, the whole car goes quiet. You can feel the question hanging in the air: Who are we riding with? HA! (HP would say the real best moment was discovering the bathtub—“the best ever.”)
Most surprising moment: HP silencing the chatterbox on the flight. Not with words, just the look. The dramatic neck crane, the bug-eyed glare, the surgical “Shhh.” Miraculously, it worked. A whole row of passengers went from narration mode to quiet book club in ten seconds flat. I thought the whole plane was going to cheer.
Travel tip: Fly in the day before your cruise. Our plane sat on the tarmac for 30 minutes with “maybe cancelled” vibes. If that had been embarkation day, we’d have been toast. Arriving early gave us cushion, calm, and—bonus—a penthouse tub to recharge in before boarding tomorrow.
Day 0 was about more than travel — it was the quiet inhale before adventure, the moment when planning finally became real. By the time we turned out the lights in that Seattle penthouse, the bags were packed, the excitement steady. Tomorrow, the ocean.
At the Forge
Every great trip starts with a story you didn’t plan for. A shush that silences a plane, a room you didn’t book but somehow earned, a sunrise that feels like permission to step aboard.
If Day 0 taught us anything, it’s that adventure starts long before you see the ocean—it starts the moment you decide to go.
— Dennis D. Montoya
Stories Forged in Ink and Ash
Next up
We board the ship — our first glimpse of Anthem of the Seas, our first steps on deck, and the moment the planning finally gives way to open water. I’ll be sharing the next part soon.
Dennis D Montoya 