This was an eleven and half hour stop in Seattle, Washington. There were no protestors complaining that we were ruining their city by spending our money while we visit the city. Not that there were any protesters during the entire cruise, but some cities around the world have decided their are too many tourists. Maybe they shouldn’t have built that giant port facility for the giant cruise ships. Our ship, the MS Zaandam only holds 1400 or passengers.

Skyline sunrise view of Seattle Washington

A wonderful sky greeted us as we pulled into the Seattle Cruise port.

United States Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, Washington with fishing boat passing by.

Our trip to Seattle from Astoria, Oregon didn’t include a stop over at the US Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles about 125 miles from Seattle. But there we were anchored for about 10 hours. The open seas of the Pacific were going to be quite rough, so instead of cruising to Seattle at an energy saving 8 knots, we booked through the open seas to the Strait of Juan de Fuca where the water was much calmer. It turns out cruise ports are just like hotels, and they don’t allow early check in. So we spent 10 hours waiting before continuing to the Port of Seattle.

Passengers leave the Holland America cruise ship MS Zaandam.

It’s time to head out and about in Seattle.

View from Seattle Space Needle - Seattle, WA

I remember looking at this photo from the Space Needle and thinking, where is the guard rail?

The glass panels the viewing area of the Seattle Space Needle have an two inch opening between each pane.

Then I looked at this photo, and remember I made the previous photo through two inch opening between the quite thick glass.

Chihuly Garden and Glass - Seattle Center - Blue Blown Glass

You don’t know how amazing the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit is, until you walk in and see it.

Chihuly Garden and Glass - Seattle Center - Orange and Yellow Flowers

You can have your wedding reception or other private events in this location. I am quite sure the price to rent the venue is quite fair.

Chihuly Garden and Glass - Outside Exhibit - Seattle Center

The Seattle space needle and amazing art from the Chihuly Garden.

Whole cooked Dungeness Crab - Pike Place Market - Seattle Washington

Whole Cooked Dungeness Crab for sale at one the many seafood vendors in the Pike Place Market.

Frank's Quality Produce Co in the Pike Place Market - Seattle Washington

It’s not just fish at the Pike Place Market. In this photo you can see vendors selling Quality Produce, Giant Frozen Desserts, Oriental Groceries.

Pike Place Fish Market - Seattle Washingon

The fish vendors in Pike Place Market are famous for throwing the fish, but they only really want to throw them after someone buys a fish. Problem is, most people on cruise ship have no use for frozen fish.

The very first Starbucks which opened in 1971 - 1912 Pike Pl Seattle, WA 98101

There was a line with a least 20 people waiting outside of the very first Starbucks. From the looks of things, it seemed you placed your order outside in line, and then got the privilege of going inside to pay, and then you were shown the door. Then you could claim you had coffee at Starbucks #1.

Bell Harbor Marina Tribal Dock - Seattle, Washington

Bell Harbor Marina is right next to Pier 66 which is the nice cruise port right in the downtown area. Other larger cruise ships had to dock at Pier 91 in the middle of nowhere. Too bad, so sad.

Clouds and rain on the Seattle Washington skyline.

Goodbye Seattle. Next stop Vancouver British Columbia, Canada.

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