Wednesday, June 25, 2025

The Last Frontier- Alaska 2025

The Last Frontier- Anthem of the Seas to Alaska 2025
May 30 to June 6, 2025
Seattle, WA
 


We love ALASKA! 

It's hard to believe this was my TWENTY-FIFTH cruise but here I am... Killing it on the HIGH SEAS! While 25 cruises may seem a little extreme, this is our favorite way to travel and the easiest for our family. As we have taken many more land vacations recently to complete my MLB Chase for 30, we have also found this to be the overall most economic way to travel for our family.

Chris and I have sailed to Alaska before for our 10 Year Anniversary Cruise aboard the Carnival Legend but the kids have never been to Alaska. They each have milestone birthdays this year and when asked what they want, they decided an expensive Alaska cruise was their top choice so Chris and I obliged. I am a HUGE fan of experiences over presents, especially in the teenager years, so this worked out perfectly. 

 We have cruised 13 previous times with Carnival, 8 times with Royal Caribbean, 2 times with Norwegian and 1 time with Princess

This blog will contain entries of our day-to-day life aboard the Anthem of the Seas as well as a shore excursion details, port tips and tricks and so much more. We will also highlight our Pre-Cruise vacation to Seattle, WA as well. 

Throughout the blog posts, we will also share the lots of tips, tricks and insiders knowledge about cruising out of Seattle, WA, information about cruising to Alaska and Alaskan ports as well as great information about Anthem of the Seas

Check Out our Cruise: 

Pre-Cruise Vacation in Seattle, WA

Day 1- North to Alaska

Day 2- Too Much Wind in our Sails

Day 3- Eagles, Bears and Totem Poles

Day 4- A Mile Pulled by a Sled Dog

Day 5- A Whaley Memorable Day

Day 6- High Flying Fun

Day 7- Oh Canada!

Day 8- The Longest Day EVER!


We WILL BE BACK! We all LOVED Alaska!

I am so glad we got to celebrate the kids milestone birthdays with a cruise and trip such as this! This is a trip they will surely never forget. We love you Natalie and Luke... I hope you enjoyed Alaska! 

Up Next... Back to Back cruises on the Jewel of the Seas (no kids) Summer 2025!

God is Good... ALL THE TIME! 

Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
Independence of the Seas- June 2024







 


Carnival Conquest- 2006


The Last Frontier- Day 8

The Longest Day EVER
June 6-7, 2025
Seattle, WA and Houston, TX 


Alaska- It's been real... but it's time to GO HOME! 

Morning
Our alarm went off at 6:45AM and that meant the cruise was officially over. We got ready and packed our last few things before meeting the boys at the Main Dining Room for our last meal aboard the Anthem of the Seas. The service in the MDR was exceptional and the best we experienced at breakfast but you could tell this was because they were focusing on "flipping" the ship for the next sailing. Hats off to the staff as they work SO HARD the whole cruise but especially on "Flip Day". 

Once we finished breakfast we went back to the stateroom to get all our belongings and make our way to our lounge to wait for our disembarkation group number to be called (32) since we were doing the "luggage assist" disembarkation. While we were waiting for an elevator our number was called so we went all the way down to deck 4 to get off of the ship. The line to get off was VERY long but seemed a little more organized that we originally thought. 

We got in line to exit the ship around 8:28AM and we were off the ship and through customs with our luggage at 8:40AM. This process was flawless and so easy. The facial recognition software makes this whole process so much easier as well. Once out of customs and out of the terminal we walked way down to the Ride Share waiting area. TIP- This is about .5+ mile away from the exit of the terminal so be mindful if you have lots of luggage (we did) or have mobility issues. 

We had a 10:40PM nonstop flight home on Southwest Airlines so this meant a very long day of waiting for our flight and we were not looking forward to it. 

Once at the Ride Share waiting area we requested an Uber XL to take us to the Coast Hotel in Downtown Seattle for our dayuse.com room. The original Uber we requested was a Toyota Highlander with captains chairs and this would not accommodate our 8 suitcases and 4 bodies so we had to cancel once it arrived. I then saw a random man in a Suburban waiting so I asked if he could take us and he obliged and for about $25 less than Uber. 

The traffic on a Friday morning was a lot heavier than I imagined and I am glad we did not have to drive that ourselves. We arrived at the Coast Hotel at 9:40AM for our 10AM reservation. We used dayuse.com to book this Day Room for $139 (plus taxes and fees) which allowed us to use this room 10AM to 5PM. We did have to call the hotel once we got off the ship to confirm 2 bed as the reservation was technically only for 1 bed. The hotel was very accommodating and the room was just what we needed. However, when we arrived the HEAT was on and we had to adjust a bit to get it to blow cold air in the room. 


This was our 2 Double Bed Room at Coast Hotel. It was a very SMALL room but worked perfect for what we needed. 


The bathroom at Coast Hotel was well appointed. 


Another view of the 2 Queen room at Coast Hotel! 

We spent the rest of the morning taking naps as we were so tired from the trip. Once 11:30AM rolled around we decided to go downstairs and walk across the street to the ORIGINAL MOD Pizza. We love Mod Pizza and being able to dine at the very first one was an added bonus and a nice surprise for our day. After lunch we opted to go back to Pike Place to get a few of our favorites once again and buy some salmon to take home before going back to the room to try and get some rest before our late flight home. 


The ORIGINAL Mod Pizza in Union Square in downtown Seattle. 


I LOVE Mod Pizza and the specialties we can each order exactly what we want! 


Our last views of Pike Place! 
I seriously LOVE Seattle and could live there... The weather is PERFECT and I love the scenery! 
But these Houston babies were ready to be home!
 

Afternoon
We got back to the hotel room and laid down to try and fall asleep. Chris and Natalie were able to get some longer naps in while Luke and I barely dosed off but it was still beneficial to us for the long day of travel ahead. 

We checked out of our Day Use room at 5:20PM and then had the hotel concierge call us a "Van Taxi" to take us to the Sea Tac airport. Unfortunately, the taxi that arrived was a "large Prius" but believe it or not, we were able to fit all 8 suitcases and all 5 people in this tiny purple car. Luke had to hold a suitcase but it was worth it. The traffic was awful at 5PM on a Friday and what should have taken 40 minutes took about 1 hour and 15 minutes. This taxi was standard $60 and with tip cost $72. 


We "may" have overpacked! 
Thank you Gigi Shirley and Poppy- You gifted ALL this luggage! 


Making memoires... One Uber at a time! 
This was CRAMMED and a LONG ride but memories WERE made! 

Evening
We arrived at SeaTac at 6PM but we were not able to check in our luggage until 4 hours prior to flight time so we waited 40 minutes in the Southwest Check-in area until it was time to turn in our luggage. Once we turned in our luggage we went to find our gate and it was the furthest gate in a very dirty and trashy airport. We have flown in and out of here before and never noticed but the trash was out of control. Almost as if the trash had not been picked up or floor swept in many days. It was filthy and absolutely disgusting! 

We grabbed dinner at a Re'lish Restaurant (burgers) just to try and take up some of the time as we waited for our flight. These burgers were "good" but not worth the money we paid. This meal cost $128 with tip. 


Why on earth would ANY burger need to be priced this high? 

But of course, our flight was delayed and then our pilot and flight crew did not arrive on time so we did not depart Seattle until 11:10PM. 


We are locked and loaded... Ready to get back to God's Country! 
Houston we are headed for you! 

The flight was 4 hours 50 minutes BUT only had 71 passengers on board so we were able to spread out and try to enjoy this flight. We had early bird check in so we were in group A #31-35 and got to sit on row 6. Despite being exhausted, we couldn't really get comfortable to fall asleep so it was an anxious flight but we made it to Houston at 5:15AM. We grabbed all 8 pieces of luggage and got to our car around 5:45AM. We were back home and taking showers by 7AM. We all crashed for a few hours before getting our puppy, Rockefeller, back and facing the day!


Everyone was so happy... Back together again! 

If you missed Day 7, be sure to Check it out- Victoria, BC!!

This trip was so INCREDIBLE that we need another vacation from our vacation! 

I am so glad we got to celebrate the kids milestone birthdays with a cruise and trip such as this! This is a trip they will surely never forget. We love you Natalie and Luke... I hope you enjoyed Alaska! 

Up Next... Back to Back cruises on the Jewel of the Seas (no kids) SUMMER 2025!

God is Good... ALL THE TIME! 

Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
Independence of the Seas- June 2024







 


Carnival Conquest- 2006

The Last Frontier- Day 7

 Oh Canada!
June 5, 2025 
Sea Day & Victoria, BC Canada 


I personally LOVE Canada and the kids loved it too! 

Morning
Natalie and I woke up around 6:30AM but it was actually 7:30AM ship time as we lost an hour during the night due to time change. The boys must have been REALLY tired as they were not awake yet and when I called their room I woke them. We all went to the MDR for breakfast hoping the service would be faster than the first day and it was. The food options were great and we were in and out of the MDR in 50 minutes. Once again, our growing boy had 2 breakfast entrees and 2 orders of pancakes- and ate it all. 


The last day of the cruise always makes me sad! 


Deck 5 near the Middle Elevators. The messages changed daily! 


The MDR Breakfast menu! 


The Breakfast Burrito-4.0
This is really good and has lots of meat and eggs. 


Buttermilk Pancakes- 4.0
Traditional but yummy! 


On the floor in the American Icon grill- I loved this! 

We then went to the Royal Esplanade on deck 4 for our morning Starbucks before going to the Schooner Bar for morning puzzle and morning trivia. We did not win the general knowledge trivia but we stayed for the "Who Am I?" trivia and Chris actually won this trivia by a landslide. Natalie and I left a little early to go the Dunder Mifflin (The Office) trivia in the Music Hall and Chris joined shortly after. All 3 of us combined did very well and got 13/15 and took 2nd place. I was kinda bummed as I have won this trivia before but this guy chose practically every question from season 7 (the one where Michael leaves) and I am not as fresh on that one! 


The pastry offerings at the Café Promenade on Deck 4. 


Morning Trivia in Schooner Bar. 


It is getting warmer... Yay! 

Afternoon
We decided to try and make lunch "quick" by all going to the Windjammer. The kids LOVE this for lunch but I just don't enjoy scrambling for a table with 5K other people. But the food was not "terrible" so there's that! After lunch we went to walk around and ensure we have seen (and done) everything on the Anthem


I love the celebrations Royal Caribbean does with things like this! 


The Windjammer offered mussels and Luke took advantage. He had 4 plates! 


Lunch views from the aft of the Windjammer seating! 

We all went to the Star Wars trivia in the Music Hall around 2PM. Chris did very well and only missed one question but tied for the win. However, the OKLAHOMA Cruise Activity worker gave Chris a prize (Royal Caribbean keychain) anyway! #BoomerSooner Vincent! 


My heart is happy... This is my favorite place to be! 


This was the indoor pool at 4:30PM. 

For the rest of the afternoon we lounged around the indoor pool decks and tried to soak in the very last bit of the rest and relaxation before tomorrow was disembarkation day. The kids swam for nearly 2 hours while I tried to pack our suitcases to be put out in the hallway before 10PM. TIP- Royal Caribbean offers 2 styles of disembarking: Self Assist or Luggage Assist. Self Assist means you wheel your own luggage off the ship and it is called by decks. This is the FASTEST and EARLIEST way to get off a ship. If you have somewhere to be or a flight to catch, this is a must! Luggage Assist means you place your luggage out in the hall the night before and Royal will take it off the ship for you and you will retrieve it once back on land at the terminal. This allows a more relaxed disembark experience and our most recent 10-12 cruises we have opted for this service. But it really boils down to what you and your family need! 

Evening
The Anthem of the Seas was set to port in Victoria, BC from 6 to 10PM and arrived just after 5PM. It seemed as if everyone wanted to get off the ship in Canada and with a very short port window, the crowds came out. In fact, this is the ONLY time we felt crowds and all the people. However, the Anthem staff handled this incredible well and we were off the ship and on Canadian land by 6:15PM.

We did not purchase a Royal Caribbean excursion in Victoria as there is not much to do and the offers were VERY over priced for what you get. We opted to pay for the "Shuttle" into downtown Victoria where all of the shops and restaurants for $15/ per person (USD). This was CRAZY high and in hindsight we should have walked the 2.5 mile roundtrip into town but Luke was anxious about missing the ship and it just seemed more convenient. As my grandpa would say "that's how they get ya" and he would be right. $60 for a family of four to get to downtown is just too much but we paid it... They got me! 

Once in downtown Victoria we walked to the Victoria legislative building and the surrounding area before hitting up the souvenir shops for any and everything Canada! The kids LOVED being in Canada and we all wish this stop would have been longer than 4 hours. Before getting back on the shuttle we grabbed some rolled ice cream and it was delicious. This Ice Cream excursion cost $56 for all four of us and it was just "regular" ice cream. Canada is EXPENSIVE! 


Hello from the Canadian Legislative Building! 


They loved getting to see all the architecture. 


You could go in if you want but we opted to not since we were on a tight schedule! 


The Davis Family loves Canada. 


We loved Victoria! 


Walking to the Legislative Building is this "Welcome to Victoria" greenery. 


The Empress Hotel just north of the Legislative Building. 


Welcome to Victoria. 


This Orca greenery has been here since our previous trip in 2016.


Time for some ice cream... Expensive Ice Cream but it was yummy! 

Greetings from Canada! 


I really love this port and REALLY wish it was a longer port call! 
The Anthem of the Seas was only in port for 4 hours.
 

The shuttle got us back to the Anthem of the Seas around 7:45PM just in time to play the American Anthem Trivia at the Schooner Bar. There were hardly any people there and I actually WON that trivia on my own while the kids played cards. That would be our THIRD win of the day and FOURTH of the cruise- our highest EVER! 


The kids loved playing cards while we WON trivia!

We then went to our last dinner in the Chic Dining Room. The Main Dining Room looked like a forgotten place on this night as many were still in port. The service was once again EXCEPTIONAL and with so few people in the MDR, we were in and out within 45 minutes. We LOVED our waiter Remer and Shane- They were an excellent pair! 


The Royal Caribbean Bon Voyage Menu. 


Classic Shrimp Cocktail-4.0
This is always a winner and we all loved it! 


The Greek Tapas Plate- 4.0
We LOVED the Greek Salad. 


Seafood Cake-4.5
I REALLY liked this appetizer. 


Flat Iron Steak- 2.5
I don't know why I was expecting a Chops steak and this was anything but. 


Salmon Teriyaki- 4.5
This was cooked perfectly and very flavorful! 


Apple Crumb Cake- 3.5
This was rich! 

After dinner we went back to the room to place all of our suitcases in the hallway for disembarkation the next morning. Natalie and Luke went to play Ping-Pong while Chris and I went back to Vintages for an 11th hour cheers. We sat in Vintages too long but it felt GREAT. We called it a night shortly after midnight as we need rest for our terrible travel day to follow.

We loved this last day onboard the Anthem of the Seas and we all LOVED Victoria- in fact, it is Natalie's favorite port of this trip! 


Day 7 was a success and we LOVED Canada!

Did you miss DAY 6? Catch up HERE!

Up Next... Our 24+ hour journey back to God's Country! 

God is Good... ALL THE TIME! 

Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
Independence of the Seas- June 2024







 


Carnival Conquest- 2006