Date: Friday, August 22, 2025
Location: Seattle, Washington
The final morning arrived quietly — a soft light over Seattle, the kind that feels both calm and reluctant. After a week of laughter, glaciers, and endless sea, the ship no longer felt like an adventure; it felt like home. And now we had to let it go.
🌅 Morning: One Last Wake-Up Call
We traveled through the night and pulled into Seattle just as the sun was rising. The ship was already buzzing with activity — luggage rolling down hallways, passengers waiting for their group numbers to be called. We’d said our goodbyes to fellow travelers the night before, but the finality of it all settled in this morning.
Though we’d planned to skip breakfast, I ran into Eric at the elevator. He was heading for a bagel, and I decided to join him. We found a spot at Two70 Café on Deck 5 and grabbed a couple of bagels. Sitting together, we talked about how incredible the trip had been.I took the second bagel back up to HP, still warm — a small way to carry a piece of the ship’s hospitality into our last morning.
Afterward, I wandered the hallways one last time. The spaces that had felt like ours all week now looked as if they already belonged to someone else.
🎒 The Logistics of Leaving
Disembarkation wasn’t quite as smooth as expected. Luggage was handled efficiently, but there was still a small mix-up along the way. We navigated it calmly, though it added a wrinkle to an otherwise easy process.
It sounds convenient—and for many people it probably is—but here’s a pro tip: if you’re able, just walk your bags through customs yourself. If you can push them down the ship’s hallways, you’ll likely save yourself the wait, the drop-off shuffle, and the sorting process on the other end.
It’s funny how quickly it hits — a week at sea, and already the real world feels louder, sharper.
🌍 Back to the World
The real culture shock hit once we left the ship. Customs was loud, crowded, and impatient. Voices clashed in the echoing space — tired, sharp, all of us ready to get home. After a week of cheerful greetings and calm sea rhythms, it felt like stepping into another world.
I wasn’t immune. The disorganization of buses, the long airport lines, even paying for an afternoon snack or cocktail — all of it was a splash of cold water. A reminder that the cruise high doesn’t last forever.
Still, even in that jarring transition, the glow of the trip stayed with me.
⭐ Quick Ratings (1–5 stars)
- Food: ★★★★★
- Service: ★★★★★
- Cleanliness: ★★★★★
- Activities: ★★★★★
- Excursion Value: ★★★★★
📝 End-of-Day Reflection
Best part of today: Sharing one last quiet moment over bagels, carrying a little piece of ship life into our final morning.
Something unexpected: How quickly the ship shifted from being our home to being prepared for the next group.
Tip for future travelers: Be patient on disembarkation day. The crew has done this thousands of times — trust the process, and you’ll be on your way before you know it.
The trip was exceptional. My only wish is that more friends and family had been there to share it. For those who weren’t, these will only ever be stories. But for us, they’ll remain lived moments — laughter, kindness, glaciers, and the sea.
Reflections on Our Cruise
Royal Caribbean – Anthem of the Seas
August 14–22, 2025
🌊 Looking Back on Seven Days at Sea
From the moment we left home at 2 a.m. on Day 0 to that final e-bike ride through sunny Victoria, this cruise was a blend of early mornings, laughter, surprises, and more food than anyone really needs.
We saw glaciers, watched whales, rode mountain trams, and pedaled through Victoria’s streets. Each day brought something new — sometimes breathtaking, sometimes funny, always memorable.
🌟 Highlights of the Journey
- HP’s legendary “shhh” silencing a nonstop talker on the plane.
- Quiet balcony mornings, watching mist rise from the sea and listening to the hiss of water against the hull.
- Dawes Glacier in full sunlight — icebergs the size of houses drifting past like toys.
- Trivia nights and shows that made us laugh until our sides hurt (and sometimes tear up).
- Formal dinners where the food finally clicked — pasta, curry, or the perfect dessert.
- Victoria’s e-bike tour was the perfect finale, cruising under clear skies. Sunburned. In Canada. Who knew?
- Personal journal note: The Victoria e-bike tour felt like the right way to close the trip—sunlit streets, easy laughter, and the surprise of realizing I’d actually gotten sunburned on an Alaska cruise.
👨✈️ The People Who Made It Special
Yes, the destinations were unforgettable, but what truly made this trip stand out were the people who shared it with us.
Our friends were as much a part of the adventure as the ports themselves. Away from work, schedules, and daily responsibilities, we had the rare gift of uninterrupted time together. We shared meals, laughed through trivia, explored new places, and enjoyed conversations that might never have happened back home.
Then there was the crew. From Saif and Francis in the dining room, to Achmad with his jokes, to bartenders who remembered our names and poured a little stronger each night — they looked out for us. They worked hard, fed us well, kept us safe, and showed genuine care for our happiness.
By the end, they weren’t just serving us; they felt like part of our group. Their kindness and dedication became woven into the experience itself. When I think back on this cruise, I won’t just remember the glaciers and mountains. I’ll remember the laughter around the dinner table, the friends who shared the journey, and the crew who made us feel at home.
Saif (Head Waiter). Super kind and attentive, always making sure our needs were met, many times before we even knew what we needed.
Francis (Assistant Waiter). Quick to smile, quick to dance, and always ready with a song. His impromptu rendition of Aerosmith at our table is something I’ll never forget..
Achmad (Housekeeper). From the very beginning, he welcomed us with a card, promising to help anytime, day or night. You just call and I will be here. He left towel animals daily — ducks, turkeys, swans — even arranging them to watch TV with the remote, or wearing my hat. Creative, thoughtful, and always kind.
Andreo (Assistant Bartender at Brass & Bock Pub-Deck 5). Always charming and quick with a wisecrack. He has this talent for chatting up four or five people at once, mixing drinks like a pro, and still slipping in a perfectly timed joke. His signature send-off? Handing you a cocktail with a grin and a “drive safely.” Classic Andreo — a little wit, a lot of charm, and part of what made the bar feel like home.
On the final night, HP made the rounds, gathering photos of some of our favorite people from the trip. One of her favorites was Andreo. He always called her by name, and this time, he surprised her with an espresso martini — her name written across the foam in chocolate. A small gesture, but one that captured the kindness and care we’ll remember most.
Hennasee (Assistant Bartender at Vintages-Deck 5). A true card, always ready with a wink and a quip. He had a knack for reading the room and would catch me mid-sip with, “Sir Dennis, you look like you may need a refill?” or lean in with a conspiratorial, “Would you like that shaken, not stirred?” His humor and timing turned every stop at the bar into a little performance.
Erick – (Assistant Bartender at Vintages-Deck 5). Always greeted us warmly and mixed a sharp Tanqueray and tonic.
Amit (Head Bartender at Vintages-Deck 5). Attentive, consistent, and genuinely kind — with a playful streak. He sometimes teased Erick by calling him “tomato,” joking that when Erick got mad his head turned red, then laughing at his own joke. Amit always checked to see if we needed another drink, and on our last night he hugged us goodbye. The next morning, during customs, we spotted him helping with passenger transport. He paused, came over, greeted us by name — “Colleen, Ma’am; Sir Dennis” — and hugged us both again before returning to his duties. A small, unexpected moment of connection that meant the world.
Kingsley (Assistant Bartender at Vintages-Deck 5). He introduced several of us to the Macallan whiskey tasting and quickly became one of those familiar faces we looked forward to seeing each evening. Friendly, knowledgeable, and always welcoming, he helped make Vintages feel like our neighborhood pub at sea. While others filled the room with stories and jokes, Kingsley had a quieter gift—paying attention. He always seemed to know when a glass was running low or when someone needed another round, making sure Scott’s Manhattan was never far behind
📝 Lessons & Tips for Future Travelers
- Arrive a day early. Flights can be delayed; your cruise won’t wait. Fly in a day early, and you can get a good night’s rest before your ship sets sail.
- Don’t underestimate sea days. Trivia, shows, and deck views make them some of the best parts of the trip. Get to know the crew, they are in the adventure with you.
- Balcony rooms are worth it. The sound of the ocean at night is unforgettable. They became one of my favorite places — away from the crowds, with nothing but the hiss of the ocean for company.
- Take the tours. Whether it’s a galley walk-through, a tram in Skagway, or an e-bike ride in Victoria, these deepen the experience.
- Be flexible. Weather shifts, schedules change, and sometimes the best moments are the unplanned ones. One sea day, our afternoon was completely open. We talked about taking a nap, maybe playing trivia, maybe doing nothing at all. Then Sue mentioned a Queen musical was starting soon. It wasn’t on our schedule and wasn’t something we’d planned around, but we decided to give it a try. By the end, we were grinning from ear to ear and talking about it over drinks afterward. It’s funny how often the best memories come from the moments you never planned for in the first place.
💭 Final Thoughts
They say it’s the journey, not the destination — and this cruise was a vivid reminder of that truth. It wasn’t about checking places off a list. It was about slowing down. Watching glaciers crack, whales rise, and fog roll in. About laughter over trivia, naps in the cabin, and quiet balcony nights with one too many drinks from the package.
Most of all, it was about people, old friends, new connections, shared memories, and a crew who cared for us at every turn.
At first, the crew felt formal and professional — always polite, always asking the right questions. How did you sleep? How was your excursion? Did you enjoy your dinner? Their attentiveness was comforting, a small kindness in a new environment.
But as the days passed, those questions became something more — a rhythm, a comfort, a thread stitched through each day. Before long, it felt less like service and more like genuine care.
By the end of the voyage, they weren’t just crew anymore. They were family you never expected to find — dear friends on a boat who wanted nothing more than to make sure you had the best time possible.
We came for the views, but what we’ll carry home is the kindness. The memories that linger aren’t just of glaciers and mountains, but of conversations, shared laughter, unexpected friendships, and the feeling that, for one remarkable week, the world seemed just a little smaller and a little kinder.
From the whispered “shhh” that started it all, to the final cheers in Victoria, and finally stepping off in Seattle, this cruise proved that the journey matters just as much as the destination. This voyage gave us laughter, perspective, and memories I didn’t know I needed until we were back on land.
Cheers to you, Anthem of the Seas, for carrying us, surprising us, and reminding us that adventure isn’t just about the places we visit—it’s about the people who share the journey.
At the Forge
Day 8 wasn’t about leaving the ship — it was about carrying it with us. The laughter, the kindness, the rhythm of the sea — all of it folded quietly into who we are when we return home.
The voyage reminded me that adventure isn’t a place; it’s a way of seeing. And sometimes, the people who serve your dinner or pour your drink leave the deepest mark of all.
So here’s to the crew who made us feel like family, to the friends who shared the view, and to the ocean itself — patient, vast, and full of stories still untold.
Until the next horizon.
— Dennis D. Montoya
Stories Forged in Ink and Ash
⛵ Read the Journey
📖 Day 1: Embarkation – Leaving Seattle
📖 Day 2: At Sea – First Impressions
📖 Day 3: Juneau, Alaska – Glaciers & Gold Rush Trails
📖 Day 4: Skagway – Rails, Rivers & Wild Tales
📖 Day 5: Endicott Arm – Dawes Glacier & Awe
📖 Day 6: At Sea – A Day of Music, Food & Stars
📖 Day 7: Victoria, Canada – A Perfect Finale
📖 Day 8: Disembarkation – Back to Seattle (You’re here.)
Dennis D Montoya 