Sea bliss in Seattle
Dave Monk steps on land to reveal the top 10 sights to see in the Emerald City before you fly home
What better way to see the wonders of Alaska than on NCL’s new cruise ship Norwegian Bliss? Not only does the 4,000-passenger giant have a go-kart track, laser tag area and waterslides that loop over the side of the ship, it also has a huge observation lounge to view the majestic mountains, glaciers and fjords.
With 27 dining options, 14 bars, and entertainment including Jersey Boys and a Beatles tribute act, Norwegian Bliss is a hive of activity and fun.
And with premium all-inclusive fares, all your booze is covered as well as gratuities, so there’s no need to run up a large bar bill.
During the summer the 20-deck ship sets sail from Seattle every Saturday – and the week-long voyages mean passengers also have the chance to add on a few days post-cruise in the Emerald City.
The port in Washington state, northwest US, has much more to offer than a swift transfer for more than a million cruise passengers every year.
Less than 100 miles from the Canadian border, it’s packed with attractions such as the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. A 30-minute drive away is the Boeing aircraft factory and farther afield are wine valleys and mountains.
Here are 10 of the highlights:
1 PIKE PLACE MARKET
Famous for its fish-throwing displays, the century-old market is near the waterfront and a short walk from Pier 66, where Bliss leaves for Alaska. This colourful collection of stalls selling flowers, food and crafts is an easy place to spend a couple of hours (pikeplacemarket.org).
2 SPACE NEEDLE
The international symbol of Seattle has been given a $100million facelift to install glass barriers, glass benches and even glass floors. The 605ft tower, built for the 1962 World’s Fair, still gives a great panorama of the city and harbour. Get a 360-degree view without moving if you eat in the rotating restaurant (spaceneedle.com, from $32.50).
3 WINGS OVER WASHINGTON
Enjoy the sensation of flying over the Evergreen State on this ride that lifts you up into a large cinema screen so you see bays, forests and mountains rushing beneath your feet. Gasp as planes fly towards you or laugh as spray from a waterfall blasts your face (wingsoverwa. com, $17).
4 BOEING FACTORY TOUR
Have a poke around the biggest building in the world in Everett, where Boeing assembles aircraft on large assembly lines rather like a gigantic Airfix kit. Once finished, the airliners are tested, painted and parked on the nearby airfield ready for their new owners to arrange to have them flown away and put to work ( futureofflight.org, $25).
5 SEATTLE AQUARIUM
Marine life is featured in all its glory in this attraction on Pier 59, from absorbing displays of jellyfish swimming round a vertical glass ring to seals diving in enormous tanks of water. To ramp up the cute factor, have a look at the relaxed otters floating around on their backs (seattleaquarium.org, $29.95).
6 CHIHULY GARDEN AND GLASS
Beneath the Space Needle is this exhibition of glass sculptures made by Seattle artist Dale Chihuly. Visit the cafe too, where some of his collections of such diverse things as bottle openers, alarm clocks and plastic radios are put on show (chihulygardenandglass.com, $26).
7 MOPOP
The first thing you’ll notice about the Museum of Pop Culture is its unusual exterior – based on local superstar Jimi Hendrix’s exploding guitar. Inside are displays on sci-fi, horror films, video games and art, including an exhibition on Marvel superheroes with more than 300 artefacts, which runs until January 6 (mopop.org, from $34).
8 THE TROLL
As unusual tourist sites go, this is up with the strangest. The Troll is a big concrete sculpture (of a troll
holding a car!) hidden in an underpass beneath a busy road in the Fremont district. It’s a great place to visit if you want to get a quirky family photo.
9 STARBUCKS RESERVE ROASTERY
Starbucks began in Seattle and you can celebrate with a cup of cappuccino in this lively coffee brewery and shop. As well as the usual blends, why not try a sparkling citrus espresso, hazelnut bianco latte or cold brew malt? (starbucksreserve.com).
10 THE GREAT WHEEL
Relax after a day of sightseeing with a ride on this 300-passenger big wheel to see the city at night. You can buy a VIP ticket to get a private gondola to yourself. Like many of Seattle’s attractions, it is just a short walk from waterfront hotels (seattlegreatwheel.com, $14).