We four drove up to Seattle from our home in Humboldt county, CA. We arrived on Friday and toured Seattle on Saturday. We stayed at the Best Western Executel in SeaTac, with easy access to 99 and the waterfront areas in Seattle and they stored our car while we were cruising. Our shuttle driver loaded the Town car up with our way over packed luggage and got us to Pier 91 in very short order.

Embarkation was fairly easy, it reminded me of boarding an airline flight. Things moved pretty quickly from unloading baggage to screening, filling out health forms to signing in and getting cruise cards. Approximately 45 minutes from drop-off to our cabins. Once on board we purchased a coffee card($30.00 with commuter cup $24.00 without) and a soda card($29.00). The coffee card costs the equivalent of 12 specialty drinks and is good for 15 and unlimited brewed coffee. The soda card is good for unlimited soda fountain refills in the cup that comes with the card. The card does not cover the cost of canned soda. We(the parents) had a balcony cabin on starboard Aloha deck and the kids were in an inside across the hall. Our luggage arrived not to much later. We set out to tour the ship and found the Horizon Court buffet to eat lunch. The weather was picture perfect for the sail away and set the mood for the week. We had good weather on our first sea day also.

Our cabin was larger than expected with enough drawer, shelf and closet space for both of us and room to put our empty bags away. The bed was comfortable without an eggcrate and we did not request one. My rented tux arrived not long after our bags and fit very well. We had very good wireless web reception also. Now to the Salmon story, my son and I went fishing in Ketchikan and did pretty good with him hooking 2 and boating one and me catching 2 for a total of 19 pounds of fillets shipped home. This was also the first of 3 days of intermittent light rain that followed us to Juneau and Skagway. The Star provided plenty of out of the weather places to enjoy the day with a covered pool and 2 hot tubs as well as 2 outdoor pools and hot tubs. Our kids watched a movie from one of the outdoor hot tubs during Movie's Under The Stars(MUTS). There are plenty of places to sit and watch the scenery or read as well as daytime activities like Trivia, Craft and Dance classes and Nature/Port talks. Read more