We Went on Our Honeymoon! (Norwegian Cruise to Alaska)

In June, Guillaume and I finally went on our honeymoon. Although we got married last September, he didn't have his green card yet, so we decided to hold off on our honeymoon. We wanted to give our friends, who were visiting from abroad, a chance to spend a week with us in New York before setting off on a trip of our own once he had his green card in hand. I didn't want to go on an incredible trip together only to have to say goodbye at the airport all over again.

So we waited, and eventually decided on a Norwegian cruise to Alaska. Our logic was simple: I wanted to go on a cruise, and Guillaume wanted to go somewhere cold. It was the perfect middle ground. Norwegian cruises to Alaska don't depart from New York, however, so our plan was to fly to Seattle and board the ship there.

On our way to the airport, I got an email that stopped me in my tracks. Our Airbnb host was canceling our reservation, the day before our trip, because the apartment had bedbugs. They apologized and issued a refund, but I was panicking. We were standing on the shuttle headed to our terminal, and suddenly, we officially had nowhere to stay once we arrived in Seattle.

I frantically searched for another place, but with World Cup games happening, prices were sky-high. With few other options, I called the La Hacienda Motel, located near our original Airbnb, and they told me they had a room available at a decent price.

I'd never stayed in a motel before, and the photos on Google were... less than promising. But the reviews were okay, and we only needed somewhere to sleep for two nights, so I decided to give it a shot. I didn't tell anyone our plans had changed, and Guillaume and I prepared ourselves for what we imagined would be a rather seedy motel experience.

And while it certainly wasn't the Ritz, it actually wasn't bad! No bugs, relatively clean, and easy enough to get to by bus. The man at the reception was chatty and kind, too. There was something about it that reminded me of a Lana Del Rey music video: the motorcycles lined up outside, the blinking "AVAILABLE" sign in the office window. I found myself looking at the whole place through an aesthetic lens, probably because Gui and I were just so giddy to be away together and finally be on our honeymoon.

We spent our only full day in Seattle doing a little sightseeing, popping into vintage stores and trying out different coffee shops. If you're ever in the Seattle area, I highly recommend Delusional Bird, a vintage and secondhand shop that also sells knickknacks and crafts from local artists. The owner was super cool, and photos of her and her sister's band are displayed throughout the store!

I got these cute sunglasses for $10!

The following morning, we got up bright and early to board the ship. We dropped off our luggage at the port and made our way onboard fairly quickly. Almost immediately, we headed up to one of the decks to grab some food at the buffet, only to find ourselves completely overstimulated as it seemed like everyone else had the exact same idea. That first day was definitely the hardest adjustment. We were suddenly sharing a boat with over 4,000 people, and for at least the first 24 hours, it absolutely felt like it. I remember having a pit in my stomach and wondering, Was it going to be like this every day?

Luckily, my fears were unfounded. One thing that was key in giving us a more intimate, almost "small boat" experience was purchasing a pass to the private spa. Allegedly, they only sell 150 of these passes, which grant access to the private spa and sauna facilities, including a free drink bar, pool, hot stone lounge chairs, a hot tub, and various saunas. Within the first 30 minutes of being onboard, we purchased a package for unlimited access, and it was the best decision we could have made. We paid something like $325 per person for this, but this was the ONLY upgrade we got on our trip so we felt okay splurging.

Reading a book with some hot tea on a stone lounge chair as we watch the waves? Every. Day.

We used and ABUSED that spa. Sometimes we'd go twice a day when it was a cold port day.

Pro tip: They WILL try to upsell you on the spa package. They'll tell you that it includes additional products, a deluxe version, etc. Do NOT fall for it. They're essentially trying to tack on unnecessary products to get more commission out of you. I caught on to the trick and demanded a refund for the additional charge, but the whole interaction left a sour taste in my mouth. I really didn't appreciate being deliberately misled.

Our boat stopped in several places in Alaska: Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Glacier Bay. We also stopped for a few hours in Victoria, British Columbia. Wherever we went, the nature was serene and beautiful. I think Juneau was my favorite place to walk around. We did a two hour "hike" (it was really just a long walk on a mostly paved area above the city) surrounded by lush greenery, then did a round of bowling at a place we stumbled upon. The game was only $5 per person, not a price you'd ever see in New York!

The weather in July was perfect. I usually wore thermal tights and a thermal undershirt, which was enough to keep me warm without needing a jacket most days! I brought one along just in case it rained, which it only did on one day. We didn't spend much time participating in the boat's activities outside of the spa. A lot of them didn't really feel catered to us, since we don't drink or gamble. Every now and then, though, we'd venture out to one of the fancier restaurants onboard just to break up the routine of buffet food!

Guillaume and I decided that we would be completely disconnected for our honeymoon, which meant keeping our phones on airplane mode the entire time. No scrolling on socials, no texting anyone (even family), no contact with the outside world. It was a rule we were both very strict about, and I'm SO glad we stuck to it. We were able to fully enjoy each day together, and I felt like the time seemed to pass much more slowly.

In our free time, we'd visit the spa, fumble our way through the daily Sudoku puzzles the ship's staff handed out, read books, or just talk to each other. We ate a lot, took naps, wandered around the ship, and watched the water crash against its sides. The weather was crisp and windy, and sometimes I'd take my coffee out onto the balcony or drink it while walking along the running track. It was all so peaceful and relaxing.

We didn't book much in terms of excursions as I found them all pretty overpriced, but I made a point of scheduling a bus tour while we were in Skagway, since the town is pretty tiny and we had a full day there to spend. We booked with Klondlike Tours, and it was $60 a person for a 3 hour tour that picked us up at the dock and dropped us back off at the end!

The tour was awesome and our tour guide was hilarious. He took us and a few others up into the mountains and towards the border of Canada, explaining the history of the town and local landmarks. He was also awesome at taking photos!

Fun fact: the water in the waterfall behind us is drinkable! We found out when our tour guide took out his thermos, shoved it in the stream and started CHUGGING it. Then he handed out small cups so we could try. It was delicious!

Our guide made a point of getting this shot for us; thanks Chris!

One of the Alaskan stops where we didn't actually disembark was Glacier Bay National Park, known for its glaciers. For one day, the crew opened up the front of the ship so passengers could get a better view of the scenery, and Gui and I knew that timing would be everything if we wanted a good spot. So, at 5 a.m., we bundled up in the freezing cold, wearing almost every article of clothing we had packed, all for the chance to get a front-row seat to the glaciers. We weren't alone, other people were huddling for warmth on the platform too! The woman standing beside me was kind enough to let me borrow one of her hats, saving my ears from frostbite probably. 

I was probably the coldest I've ever been in my life, but it was SO worth it.

Look at how red my fingers are in this photo, perhaps gloves would have been a good idea!

Two of our last stops were Ketchikan and Victoria, and Ketchikan was where I picked up the majority of my souvenirs. The downtown shopping area had so many fun things to browse, with shops selling more than just the usual magnets and keychains. I found lovely local paper goods and all sorts of unique little items that I knew would make great gifts for my friends. Despite the rain, I had a wonderful time wandering around and admiring the brightly colored houses and shops.

I'm not particularly outdoorsy myself, so in some ways, I wonder if Alaska was wasted on me. I didn't do much hiking, fishing, or go sledding with huskies on top of a mountain. Guillaume and I did attempt a hike, though, and I was woefully underprepared in my canvas sneakers and black miniskirt. Something about "You can take a girl out of the city but..."? Let's just say my favorite part of that hike was when we finally decided to STOP hiking and turn around. I spent most of the descent slipping and sliding over rocks, laughing my head off as Guillaume is cackling and desperately trying to keep me from falling.

Honestly, I had so much fun. I could have spent the entire week sitting on the boat, sipping tea with Gui in a lounge chair, and been perfectly happy. Having that uninterrupted one-on-one time together was everything. One thing the photos couldn't capture was just how at peace I felt throughout the trip.

Waking up in the morning and sitting beside Gui while he ate his French toast from the buffet. Cuddling up in my robe before heading down to the spa. Hearing Guillaume shout, "Balcony check!" every time we entered our room before scrambling outside to watch the waves and, hopefully, spot a whale. Those were the moments that made the trip for me. It was cold, wet, and sometimes exhausting with all the walking we did, but it was always fun. I was just happy to be there with him.

A memory I'll carry with me forever is the look on people's faces whenever we told them we were on our honeymoon. From the moment we arrived in Seattle, whenever we asked someone to snap a quick photo of us, we'd make a point of adding, "We're actually on our honeymoon!" The way their eyes lit up was something special. Suddenly, everyone was personally invested in getting the perfect shot for us. It made the experience all the more special, too. Telling people made it feel real. 

We had actually made it here. After years of dating long-distance and being kept apart by visa processing, we had finally begun a journey that would never see us separated again. Our excitement was practically bubbling out of us. We'd giggle to ourselves, smiling for the camera, and that joy seemed to be contagious.

On our last day in Victoria, while chasing the sunset, we spotted two older women riding their bikes toward us. I asked, "Could you take a photo for us? We're on our honeymoon!" and the two women were instantly super excited. One stood behind the other, grinning, and called out, "Now kiss! Do a kissing one!"

Guillaume and I looked at each other, a little embarrassed but overwhelmingly happy and in love, and posed for the picture.