Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 61

An Awesome Alaskan Summer Cruise on the Marvelous Majestic Princess!

[image error] I absolutely loved being back onboard Princess Cruises! [image error]

I sailed on Majestic Princess from Seattle on August 29, 2021 to Alaska including Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Glacier Bay. I had a balcony on this Medallion class ship with room enough to hula-hoop in my room. I loved the pools, hot tubs, sports court, the many restaurants and all the activities on board like fruit carving and ice carving. I walked around the deck and watched movies under the stars.

Welcome to the Majestic Princess Alaska Summer 2021 [image error] See my videos below of Sail Away, the dancing fountains and Where to EAT onboard!Majestic Princess Seattle Sail Away August 29 2021–Princess Cruises for Alaska Summer 2021! #WeAreBack! [image error]

Enjoy the Majestic Princess Dancing Fountains!! Where to EAT? on the Majestic Princess

I absolutely loved being back onboard Princess Cruises for Alaska Summer 2021 #WeAreBack!

I loved my dinner at Crown Grill with Tina, Loyalty Ambassador. Thank you to Jelena and Ionut the only Texan Romanian I have ever met!

The other specialty restaurants on this ship are Harmony which is gorgeous and I heard the food is excellent and La Mer, which is French and I heard delicious. There are noodles and burgers by the pool and many places to eat around the ship.

Enjoy my videos of the locations! I LOVED the VIP Concierge team on deck 14. Thank you to Darko, Matthew and Rosendo. I appreciated their attention every day! They asked about my cruise experience and were ready to assist in all things CRUISE!

Thank you to the team in World Marketplace/horizon court. I particularly loved Edi from Indonesia and Jason who helped me with breakfast, Rajesh brought me excellent drinks and Alex helped me with my salads with no lettuce! Thank you to Manoj for the parmesan cheese! Jorge Antonio from Honduras on desserts was great!

The person with the best and friendliest personality on the whole team is Pranitha from Kerala India. She always remembered me, said hello and asked about my experience on the ship! THANK YOU!

[image error] [image error] Skywalk! Thank you to Captain Tony Draper and the entire crew onboard for an incredible week in Alaska on the Majestic Princess! Enjoy my videos of each of the ports and my two nights at Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle before joining my Alaska sailing on Majestic Princess Summer 2021 https://bit.ly/AlaskaCruise21

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More articles:
What to DO in Seattle?

Where to STAY in Seattle?

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Cruising Alaska’s Inner Passage with Princess Cruises #WeAreBack 2021

[image error] I absolutely loved being back onboard Princess Cruises! I sailed on the Majestic Princess to Alaska August 29, 2021. I sailed from Seattle to Alaska including Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Glacier Bay. [image error] What did I do?

In JUNEAU August 31, 2021: I saw humpback whales on the way in to port. I went to lunch with Mickey Richardson from Icy Strait Port and then to Mendenhall Glacier with Dirk Younk, a naturalist, for some awesome photos!

After that I went on the Ship Shore Excursion: “Taku Glacier Helicopter Landing & Airboat Tour – A Discovery Exclusive.” I loved flying over the glacier by helicopter with Pilot Adam. It was my first time in an airboat and I did not realize we would get so close to the glacier. It was very beautiful and Brian was a great captain. He has ear protection for you to wear because the airboat is loud. My tour did not land on the glacier as there was a tour participant who had a slip and fall and we needed to return to base. I loved the parts of the tour that we were able to do. I would go again.

In Skagway, Alaska, I took the ship tour: Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Rafting from Majestic Princess Sept 1, 2021. The scenery from the ferry ride from Skagway to Haines was beautiful. I loved floating in the raft. The guides do the rowing–you just enjoy the scenery and take photos of eagles. Chris and Tom were fantastic guides who knew everything about the area, eagles and Alaska. I loved this tour and they have waterproof boots for you to wear so your feet do not get wet. I would definitely go again. THANK YOU to Chris and Tom for a great day with the eagles and on the river. I took a similar tour 20 years ago when I worked onboard for Princess Cruises.

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Thank you to the entire team on the Majestic Princess for an amazing Alaska summer cruise in 2021. We sailed into Glacier Bay on Sept 2, 2021. It was quite foggy with liquid sunshine but at some moments it cleared up. The Park Rangers were on board to answer questions and explain about the glaciers we saw. The glaciers are giant and we could hear the pieces calving off! In the evening, I went to the Captain’s Circle Party hosted by Loyalty Ambassador, Tina, and Captain Tony Draper. I loved my cruise on the Majestic Princess!

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In Ketchikan, Alaska, I went on the Black Bear, Wildlife & Nature Walk – An Animal Planet Exclusive at the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary from from my cruise on the Majestic Princess on Sept 3, 2021 which I LOVED!! It was INCREDIBLE to be so close to so many bears! We saw 8 or 9 bears and a mother with cubs. The cubs were climbing up a tree. I loved every minute of watching these black bears catch salmon and walk in the river. I would definitely go again. 20 years ago when I worked onboard for Princess Cruises, I walked with bears with a naturalist. This was awesome to be almost next to them but be on the wooden platform above them.

[image error] MORE OF MY MAJESTIC PRINCESS EXPERIENCES–watch all my videos:

I had a balcony on this Medallion class ship with room enough to hula-hoop in my room. I loved the pools, hot tubs, sports court, the many restaurants and all the activities on board like fruit carving and ice carving. I walked around the deck and watched movies under the stars. I have separate videos of Sail Away, the dancing fountains and each of the ports as well as Where to EAT onboard! I spent 2 nights at Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle before joining and have separate videos of those as well.

Thank you to Captain Tony Draper and the entire crew onboard for an incredible week in Alaska on the Majestic Princess! See all of my videos from Alaska sailing on Majestic Princess Summer 2021 https://bit.ly/AlaskaCruise21

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Top Luxury and Perfect Location at Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle

I loved my stay at Fairmont Olympic Hotel Seattle in August 2021 before my cruise on the Majestic Princess. It is located in the heart of the city and walking distance to Pike Place Market, the Art Museum and other Seattle treasures!

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The hotel first opened in 1924 and during COVID, there was a $25 million dollar restoration project! The main lobby is fully renovated and the new Olympic bar is open! I loved the kinetic art installation above the Olympic Bar which was designed by Spanish design studio Lázaro Rosa-Violán (LRV) to resemble the the original historic logo of the hotel which is a ship that you can still see on the lobby elevator doors. The art installation is made up of over 400 handmade pieces, including metal poles, wooden pieces and decorative items, and it has eight motorized wheels.

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There is a hidden bookcase in the main lobby which is not open yet but will be specially for spirit drinkers! I loved the all-day dining and they also have Afternoon Tea on the weekend.

The hotel’s original Italian terrazzo flooring from 1924 was lovingly restored on the staircase and staircase landings. The historic 300-pound crystal chandeliers which presided over decades of celebrations were moved crystal by crystal to the foyer of the Spanish Ballroom. 

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The original American oak carvings can be seen on the second floor above the lobby bar and you can also enjoy the history walk on the Mezzanine level which includes old photographs, newspaper articles, historical documents and artifacts such as the first guest registry and guest correspondence letters!

DID YOU KNOW about FAIRMONT OLYMPIC HOTEL

1. The land where Fairmont Olympic Hotel now stands was initially deeded by Arthur Denny in 1861, when it was the original site of the University of Washington.

2. After the University outgrew its original home and moved to its present location, a theater known as the Metropolitan Theater was built on a portion of the site and opened in 1911.

3. In 1921, further plans were initiated for a proposal to build a grand hotel that would wrap around the theater on three sides, encompassing an entire city block.

4. In 1922, plans for financing the hotel were formulated by a group of nearly 400 prominent citizens known as the “Community Hotel Corporation.” A bond drive was organized so that anyone could take part by investing in the venture. Public response to the proposal was tremendous, and Seattleites purchased $100 bonds and raised $2.7 million dollars for the hotel.

5. The Seattle Times held a contest with a $50 prize to whoever submitted the best name for the hotel, chosen by the board of the Community Hotel Corporation. 3,906 entries were submitted and one name, submitted in several variations, pleased the committee the most. They settled on The Olympic, for which 11 entries had been submitted and the first submitted won the prize.

6. The Olympic Hotel opened on December 6, 1924. Total cost of construction was $4,574,000. The original architect was George B. Post & Sons, New York.

7. Opened during the Roaring ‘20s, the grand hotel began its presidential history by hosting President Hoover during his term. Since then, nearly every president and most presidential candidates have checked into the hotel.

8. The Olympic Hotel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

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9. The hotel underwent a full restoration in the mid-1980s to bring the original guest room count of 756 down to 450 rooms with nearly half of the rooms as suites.

10. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts assumed management of the hotel on August 1, 2003.

11. A $25 million renovation in 2016 by Parker-Torres Design Inc. refreshed all guest rooms and corridors.

12. The current $25 million renovation features a fully transformed lobby anchored by a new lobby bar and updated event spaces. Later this year, the project will unveil a new culinary flagship and introduce an intimate spirit drinker’s enclave. Spanish design studio Lázaro Rosa-Violán (LRV) created the interior vision and design for the hotel and worked in tandem with Parker-Torres Design Inc., who designed the meeting rooms.

Want to know —What to DO in Seattle? see my video for all the places I went on my guided tour with Mia.I loved my Alaskan cruise–Enjoy the videos with eagles, bears, glaciers on the Majestic Princess:

More articles:
What to DO in Seattle?

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Exploring Seattle: Altitude and Attitude: through History, Art and the Space Needle

[image error] Lisa and Mia in Seattle

I love to explore a city by foot. I feel like I understand a place better. I was thrilled when my friend, Mia, offered to guide me around her hometown and show me the sights. I hope you get to visit Seattle soon because there is so much to see and do.

At Seattle Center, we saw kids playing in the giant fountain in the middle of the park. It was a very sunny Saturday at the end of August and every one was happy to be enjoying the outdoors.

We bought tickets at the Space Needle for it as well as Chihuly Garden and Glass. It is cheaper to buy the combo ticket and the glass museum is Mia’s favorite!

We went to the Space Needle first. We stood in line to take the elevator up and up and up. There is no talking in the elevator for the 41 second ride which is a COVID precaution to minimize any particles spreading. The elevator gets fresh air from the outside which is very unusual for an elevator. There are far-UV-C lights inside the elevator which sanitize the air.

[image error] Space Needle observation deck. OHM!

The Space Needle officially opened to the public on April 21, 1962 for the Century 21 Exposition, a space age-themed world’s fair. It used to be that 1.3 million guests would visit the Space Needle per year, and nearly 60 million visitors have visited the tower since it opened in 1962. It is 605 feet tall and has 360-degree views from an indoor observation deck and open-air viewing area. We saw other people in the enclosed/indoor observation deck lie on the floor–I said–I want to do that too. I loved how the floor turned round and round! The views are spectacular!

If you or someone in your family is not sure about going to the viewing deck of the fourth tallest observation tower in the USA, you can test it out by watching the webcam: https://www.spaceneedle.com/webcam

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Chihuly Garden and Glass is an amazing indoor and outdoor museum of glass art creations. I really wanted to touch the art but you are not allowed to touch anything. I loved the art in the ceiling and the giant flowers and the enormous boat. It is all very unique and creative. It made me want to learn to blow glass and we did watch the glass blowing demonstrations outside. Mia took me to look at all the collections in the cafe. Next time, I want to go to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma!

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We took the monorail from Seattle Center to get back to my hotel, Fairmont Olympic! We could have walked but we were saving our steps for The “Beneath The Streets: After Hours Red Light District Tour” to learn about the underground city. We chose the adults only 18+ tour but during the day there is a family friendly version. The tour explores several sections of Seattle’s historic underground and discusses the history behind these passageways that were constructed in the 1890’s and then abandoned less than 20 years later. I was amazed to learn how the city evolved and to actually walk underground. I loved it!

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After the tour, we walked along the water at sunset. The ferris wheel looked beautiful all lit up.

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WHERE DID WE EAT?

We ate beignets for breakfast at the iconic Toulouse Petit, had afternoon tea at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel and marvelous Mexican for dinner in Georgetown at Fonda La Cantina!

I look forward to visiting Seattle again. I loved my stay before my cruise to Alaska on the Majestic Princess.

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THAN K YOU MIA

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See all of my videos from Seattle and Alaska:

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