As last summer was coming to a close, we headed to Seattle for the dual purposes of meeting with a new client and taking an Alaska cruise.
Pre-cruise, we stayed one night at a new hotel — the Sound Hotel Seattle Belltown, located in the first ten floors of the 41-story “Arrive” luxury apartment building.
The 142-room Sound Hotel, part of Hilton’s “Tapestry Collection,” is located on 4th Ave in the heart of downtown Seattle.
While there is a separate entrance from the luxury apartments above it, the Sound Hotel shares a ground-floor restaurant called Currant Bistro.
Everything is a little different at the music-themed Sound Hotel, including the key cards.
Great views from the 7th floor
Although the hotel is on the lower floors of the 41-story tower, the building designers managed to preserve some terrific views. The Space Needle view is from the 7th floor’s indoor-outdoor deck.
This seventh-floor haven is home to the Sound Bite lounge and the business center. It is also where the hotel servers Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond Members breakfast Sun – Thursday. (We stayed on a Friday night, so our breakfast was served in the Currant Bistro on the first floor.)
A Peek Inside Room 632
Rooms in the Sound Hotel are well-designed to make best use of their compact square footage. Above is the first view upon entering room 632.
Decor in the Sound Hotel places a strong emphasis on murals. One full wall of guestroom 632 displays line art of Seattle’s skyscrapers and the Space Needle.
There is a table for one and a small sofa tucked into the corner of room 632. Notice how the skinny table below the television provides storage while also preserving walkway space.
A barn door to the bathroom also saves space, making it easier for two people sharing the room.
The bathroom in room 632 is well organized to make the most of a small space.
Toiletries are nicely organized on the vanity and in a built-in niche in the shower.
A compact wardrobe offers clothes storage, a safe, a full-size ironing board and iron. Open the drawer to find hidden coffee supplies. Behind the other door you will find a small refrigerator.
The Sound Hotel has impressive technology — such as a bedside alarm clock and device charging station with four different types of plugs. There is no “this doesn’t work for my device” issue here.
We also appreciated the fact that you could print documents from your own device to the printer in the business center.
Finally, the Sound Hotel is in a terrific location in downtown Seattle, only two blocks from the Amazon Spheres at the company’s headquarters.
These buildings are all new since we lived in the same area of Seattle 12 to 15 years ago. From the Sound Hotel, you can easily walk to numerous attractions such as the Pike Place Market, the Museum of Pop Culture, or the Olympic Sculpture Park.
Have you visited Seattle? What is your favorite hotel in the downtown area?
In anticipation of an upcoming visit, we’ve been researching the city of Basel, Switzerland, a popular starting or ending point for Rhine river cruises.
Here are some interesting tidbits we’ve learned about Switzerland’s third largest city best-known for art, Fasnacht, and pharmaceuticals.
1. Located in northern Switzerland, the historic city of Basel straddles the Rhine River and borders both Germany and France.
The Münster (Cathedral) stands out in Basel, Switzerland along the Rhine River. Photo by Taxiarchos228
2. The Rhine River curves through Basel, dividing the city into two parts. On the south and west bank of the Rhine is Grossbasel (Great Basel) with the city’s medieval old town. Across the river to the north and east is Kleinbasel (Little Basel) — a newer section of the city with an active nightlife.
3. Six bridges cross the Rhine River in Basel. If you are walking, however, you can cross the river on one of Basel’s four wooden ferries call Fahri. Attached to a steel cable, these non-motorized ferries are silently drawn by the current between the two banks of the river.
The “Leu” fähri — one of Basel’s non-motorized ferries that transport pedestrians across the Rhine River. Photo by Pedelecs
4. Basel’s Dreiländereck monument marks the exact point where the three neighboring countries — France, Germany and Switzerland — converge.
5. While the German is official language of Basel, the majority of the 177,654 residents speak Basel German or Baseldytsch, as their mother tongue. The average Basler understands and speaks fluent Baseldytsch, German, English, and often French.
6. Basel’s international airport – officially named the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg – is only a 2.1 mile drive from Basel, Switzerland but is actually located in France. Due to its international status, EuroAirport has three IATA airport codes: BSL (Basel) is the Swiss code; MLH (Mulhouse) is the French code and EAP (EuroAirport) is the neutral code.
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg. Photo by Fanny Schertzer.
7. Almost one third of Basel’s residents were born outside of Switzerland.
8. The University of Basel, dating from 1460, is Switzerland’s oldest university, and today it is ranked among the world’s top 90 education institutions.
9. Basler Fasnacht — one of Switzerland’s biggest carnivals — takes place every year for three days starting on the Monday after Ash Wednesday. During Fasnacht, the city of Basel is filled with people in costumes. Dozens of fife and drum clubs parade in medieval guild tradition with fantastical masks and illuminated lanterns.
Fasnacht is a major event each year in Basel, Switzerland. Photo by Anirvan0419.
10. Some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and biotech companies — such as Novartis and Hoffman-La Roche — have their global headquarters in Basel.
Norvatis campus in Basel, Switzerland. Photo by Christian Richters.
11. Known as one of the world’s best places to commercialize new drug discoveries, there are 900 pharmaceutical and MedTech companies that employee 50,000 people in Basel and its surrounding suburbs.
12. Basel has a history of supporting public art since 1661, when the city purchased works by artist Hans Holbeing. The Basel Art Museum (Kunstmuseum Basel) houses the largest public art collection in Switzerland. Today the museum’s collections span from the early 15th century to the present, with paintings by Van Gogh. Cézanne, Picasso and Braque.
13. Once a year, the city hosts Art Basel, the world’s premier fair for modern classics and contemporary art. Started in 1970 by Basel gallerists Ernst Beyeler, Trudl Bruckner and Balz Hilt, Art Basel attracted 93,000 visitors over six days in 2019,as it exhibiting the work of more than 4,000 artists. In 2002, Art Basel expanded to Miami Beach, followed by Art Basel Hong Kong in 2013.
14. With its twin spires, diamond-patterned roof and red stone walls, the Munster Cathedral dominates the Basel skyline. Built between 1019-1500 in Romanesque and Gothic style, the Munster was originally a Catholic cathedral that was converted to a Reformed Protestant church in 1529.
The Basel Münster (cathedral) was consecrated in 1019. After an 1356 earthquake, the church was rebuilt along Romanesque and Gothic lines. Climb one of the towers for panoramic views of Basel. Photo by Wladyslaw Sojka (Taxiarchos228)
15. The Münster’s two towers are named after Georg and Martin, saints of the night. For a few CHF, visitors can climb St. Martin’s tower, which is 213 feet high and offers spectacular views of Basel as well as the Alsace and Black Forest in the distance.
16. While Basel boasts more than 40 museums, the Tinguely Museum is one of the city’s most unique. Dedicated to Swiss artist Jean Tinguely and other “kinetic” artists, the museum features animated mechanical works described as “looking like they were created by a mad scientist using laboratory leftovers.”
The Carnival Fountain by Swiss kinetic artist Jean Tinguely. Photo by Tobias Hoderlein
17. The Fasnachtsbrunnen (Carnival Fountain), another of Jean Tinguely’s poetic machine sculptures, can be seen at the former location of the stage of Basel’s theater at Klostergasse 7.
The Swiss artist created 10 mechanical figures — powered by low-voltage current — who appear to be playing in the water like the mime artists, actors and dancers that once occupied the stage at this spot.
18. Professional tennis player Roger Federer, who has won 20 Grand Slam titles, was born in Basel in 1981, and developed his tennis skills in the city and its suburbs. Federer is currently ranked world No. 3 in men’s singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals
Basel native Roger Federer has more Grand Slam titles than any other male tennis professional. Photo by Tatiana.
19. Established in 1874, Zoo Basel is Switzerland’s oldest and largest zoo, attracting more than 1.8 million visitors each year.
Young cheetas at the Basel Zoo. Photo by lucasuvu.
20. In return for paying city tax, every visitor who spends at least one hotel night at a hotel in the canton of Basel-Stadt is issued a free BaselCardat check-in.
This card gives visitors a one-time 50 percent discount on popular attactractions and activities such as an old town walking tour, admission to the Basel Zoo and entry to various museums, in addition to free use of public transport and free surfing on the guest Wi-Fi for up to 30 days.
Have you visited Basel, Switzerland? What fun fact can you add?
At the end of August, we sailed on Holland America’s Eurodam cruise ship to Alaska, departing from Seattle’s Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91.
Our 7-day sailing was over the U.S. Labor Day Holiday. It was the second time in two years thatwe sailed on this ship and this Alaska itinerary.
We think this cruise on Holland America’s Eurodam is one of the best ways for U.S. residents to explore Southeast Alaska when you have a limited amount of time. It’s convenient to fly in and out of Seattle, and this cruise itinerary gives you a day of scenic cruising in the awe-inspiring Glacier Bay National Park.
Views from the Eurodam in Alaska
As you sail to Alaska from Seattle, there are views of the shoreline in some places.
Even if you have an interior or an obstructed oceanview cabin, the Eurodam’s wrap-around teak wood walking deck is a great place to enjoy the views.
If the sun comes out, sailing in Glacier Bay is simply stunning.
On the bow in Glacier BayMargerie Glacier
On the Eurodam, the normally-off-limits-to-guests area on the bow of ship is opened for close-up views. Margerie Glacier is especially impressive, as is the commentary by National Park Rangers who join the ship for the day.
Even on the sunniest of days, you can feel the cold from the glaciers. Holland America offers Dutch split pea soup and hot chocolate on deck.
Even during lunch in the Eurodam’s main dining room, we enjoyed fantastic views of the 21-mile-long Margerie Glacier.
Other Views from the Eurodam
The interior hallways of the Eurodam are decorated with photos from various times throughout Holland America Line’s history. The cruise line was founded in 1873 as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company in Rotterdam.
You know you are having a good vacation when you can’t remember what day of the week it is; on the Eurodam, you just check the rugs in the elevators. Yes, they change every day.
Two other fun touches on the Eurodam: the fresh flower arrangements throughout the ship, and seeing what new towel animal your room stewards have left in your stateroom each evening.
One of our favorite spots to enjoy a cocktail on the Eurodam is at the Gallery Bar.
Have you sailed to Alaska on the Eurodam or one of Holland America’s other ships? What view did you most enjoy?
Would you want to sail to Alaska with this lifeboat in front of your window?
We did on the 7-Day Alaska Explorer Cruise on Holland America’s Eurodam cruise ship, sailing August 31 – September 7th over the U.S. Labor Day holiday.
Why did we choose this Category HH Obstructed Oceanview stateroom? Well, because we:
booked last minute (we needed an Alaska “fix”)
it was a deal: this “oceanview” cabin was nearly the same price as an interior cabin
if we can’t have a verandah, we like these mid-ship staterooms on deck 4 of the Eurodam
Should You Book an Obstructed Oceanview Stateroom in Alaska?
Take this photo tour of Obstructed Oceanview stateroom #4061, and see what you think.
This is the first view when you walk into cabin #4061 on Holland America’s Eurodam cruise ship. The photos (above) were taken when the ship was still in Seattle at the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91, so the view out of the window is of another cruise ship.
Cabin #4061 has many nice features, such as the largest flat screen televison that is also an on-demand entertainment system with a number of movies and television programs you can enjoy free of charge.
There’s a desk/vanity with plenty of US and European plugs and USB ports for charging phones, tablets, and other electronics.
Part of the desk is the mini-bar (you can add a few bottles or cans of water of your own.) Above is an ice bucket and glasses, and bottled water for sale.
Cabin #4061 also has a sofa and table — with space to enjoy room service breakfast if that is your thing. The silver bowl will be filled with fresh fruit if you fill out the card with your preferences.
Here’s the view of the cabin’s entry way, lined on one side with ample storage closets, and the door to the bathroom on the other side.
The bathroom features a shower/tub and a sink/vanity with relatively good lighting.
Other nice touches: bedside lighting and USB ports to charge your phone while using it as an alarm clock. Cruise ship cabins rarely have an alarm clock, so using your smartphone while it is charging is ideal. The customer service card was a new touch to make requests of your cabin stewards.
Bottom Line on Obstructed Oceanview Stateroom #4061 on Holland America’s Eurodam
We enjoyed our Alaska cruise on the Eurodam in stateroom #4061. We liked the cabin’s mid-ship location and easy walk down to the dining and entertainment amenities on decks 2 and 3.
Even though the view is obstructed by a lifeboat, the window still allows light into the cabin. This is particular important to Mr. Jones, who finds that his body wants to sleep all day in a interior cabin with no natural light source.
These Category HH cabins on the Eurodam are usually priced only slightly higher than interior cabins, and yet they qualify for “perks” that are sometimes only available to ocean-view and higher cabins.
If you are planning a once-in-a-lifetime cruise to Alaska, and can afford it, we’d recommend a verandah staterom or suite. But if your on a budget, the obstructed oceanview is a spacious cabin, and the Eurodam has many public areas from which to view the glaciers, wildlife and wilderness as you cruise to Alaska.
Have you sailed on Holland America’s Eurodam cruise ship? What’s your favorite stateroom?
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This espisode is about a couple from San Diego, California moving to Basel, Switzerland. 
