Steph and Rick: Unpacked
#17 CA
Our Journey Begins! Seattle Travel Day Before Holland America's NEW Great Bear Rainforest Cruise
Ketchikan PortHolland America Line Cruise LineHolland America Group Cruise CompanyPrince Rupert PortSeattle Port
Our Journey Begins! Seattle Travel Day Before Holland America's NEW Great Bear Rainforest Cruise Welcome to Steph & Rick: Unpacked! This is where our Great Bear Rainforest cruise adventure officially begins. We start the day bright and early in Edmonton, saying goodbye to our son (best airport drop-off ever, better than Uber and with love) before catching our flight to Seattle. You can practically feel the excitement and a touch of chaos as we juggle luggage, coffee, and pre-vacation nerves. For those who don’t know us yet — Steph loves vacations. Rick… not so much. He’s the “planner” and self-confessed vacation hater who somehow found peace at sea. Steph’s the fun, spontaneous half who sees magic in the small things. Together, we balance each other out and capture all the moments that make travelling together unforgettable (and sometimes hilarious). Once we land in Seattle, it’s go-time. The weather’s perfect, the city is buzzing, and we waste no time diving in. Here’s what we got up to: 🌆 The Purple Store – Yes, everything inside is purple. Shirts, mugs, even ketchup. You have to see it to believe it. 🌸 Pike Place Market – Rows of colourful flowers, the smell of fresh fish, and the kind of energy that makes you forget how tired you are. ☕ Coffee, cookies, and brownies – because exploring is always better with snacks. 🧱 The Gum Wall – famous, disgusting, and oddly mesmerizing. Definitely a must-see (and smell). 👷 The Hammering Man – a 48-foot kinetic statue hammering away four times a minute outside the Seattle Art Museum. Who knew art could be this tall? 🏙️ The Underground City – probably the coolest part of our day. We learned how Seattle literally built a new city on top of the old one after the Great Fire of 1889. Walking those old storefronts underground feels like time travel. This video isn’t just about the sights. It’s about what travelling means to us now that the kids are grown and the Yorkies are running the house. It’s about learning, laughing, and occasionally arguing over camera angles. We’re documenting our adventures, one port at a time, with real stories and imperfect moments — because that’s what makes it fun. We’re not here to be travel experts. We’re here to unpack life, one cruise, one city, and one laugh at a time. If you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe and come along for the full Great Bear Rainforest Cruise series with Holland America. We’ve got upcoming episodes featuring Ketchikan, Prince Rupert, Nanaimo, Victoria, and some incredible scenic cruising through British Columbia’s wild coastline. 🎥 ABOUT THIS SERIES This is Episode 1 of our Great Bear Rainforest Cruise series aboard Holland America. We’re Steph and Rick — married for 25+ years, parents of two grown kids, and proud Yorkie parents to Bella, Willow, and Luna (who sadly can’t cruise, but will definitely make appearances). We’re not luxury travellers. We don’t drink much or chase the fanciest excursions. We love good coffee, beautiful views, and the kind of memories that make you laugh later. Whether it’s a cruise ship, an RV weekend at our cottage, or a random roadside find, we bring our quirks and our cameras everywhere we go. If that sounds like your kind of adventure, subscribe and come along for the ride. 💬 CONNECT WITH US Instagram: @stephandrick_unpacked TikTok: @stephandrick_unpacked Subscribe for bi-weekly cruise adventures, laughs, and travel chaos made simple. 🎯 TAG KEYWORDS Holland America Great Bear Rainforest Cruise, Great Bear Rainforest cruise 2025, Holland America Line new itinerary, Seattle travel vlog, Seattle travel day, Pike Place Market, Underground Seattle tour, Hammering Man, Purple Store Seattle, Edmonton to Seattle flight, Holland America travel vlog, travel couple, cruise couple vlog, first Holland America Great Bear cruise, Steph and Rick Unpacked, cruise vlog 2025, Holland America Zandaam, Seattle attractions, Great Bear Rainforest itinerary, Holland America new cruise, travel day vlog, real travel couple, exploring Seattle before cruise, cruise vlog series, Holland America Great Bear Rainforest 2025, travel series 2025