VIDEO: Christmas Ship starts 2019 season with 2 West Seattle stops

| Holidays | Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(WSB photos unless otherwise credited)

7:28 PM: We’re at Lowman Beach Park, first stop of the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship‘s 2019 season. After about 20 minutes of live holiday music for those on board and on shore, the ship – and the boats sailing with it – will head to Alki Beach, with that stop scheduled for 8:10 pm. After tonight, you have two more chances to see and hear this holiday tradition – 8:40 pm tomorrow (Saturday, November 30th), by Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor), and then an afternoon stop on Saturday, December 7th, at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1220 Harbor SW), 3:05 pm (following a 2 pm visit to Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park). Video later!

8:41 PM: One boat accompanied the Christmas Ship off Lowman Beach – now that we’re home and getting a closer look at the photos, we can identify it as the Baltic Sea, which belongs to Husky Deli proprietor Jack Miller. Onshore – the traditional bonfire:

(added) Video, with two songs:

The Kirkland Choral Society was singing tonight.

ADDED 9:58 PM: Two photos received by email – thank you!

That one’s from a neighbor in the Lowman Beach area. Below, from David Hutchinson, during the Alki visit:

Steve November 29, 2019 (8:07 pm)

You mean ‘boat’ sailing with it. Only the lead boat and one other. Seems past years have had many more participants?

WSB November 29, 2019 (8:35 pm)

Yes, sorry, saw just one tonight. Depends on who decides to sail along. Many nights there’s an official follow-along boat plus whoever else shows up. MarineTraffic.com suggests this one was a private boat. (Update) Just looked at our images – the one accompanying boat off Lowman was the Baltic Sea, whose captain is Husky Deli’s Jack Miller. – TR

Christina November 29, 2019 (10:14 pm)

I see on their schedule that tomorrow night they have a performance at Saltys on Alki. Do you know if there is a spot for public viewing?

WSB November 29, 2019 (10:31 pm)

That’s listed in this story, as is the one scheduled for 12/7 afternoon at Don Armeni.
We’ve covered the Salty’s stop in previous years. It’s usually visible from the park shore immediately west of the restaurant.

Steve November 30, 2019 (8:15 am)

Thankfully Jack decided to join in ! WS’s unofficial mayor! ;-)

Carole November 30, 2019 (8:35 pm)

That stunk! Completely disappointed. We love the Christmas Ships parade and had a Christmas Ships get-together and no ships! Embarrassment Argosy! (But thank you Husky Deli.) Obvious suggestion: Don’t do it the night after Thanksgiving?!

WSB November 30, 2019 (9:19 pm)

Tonight several boats were along.

ROBERT GOULET November 30, 2019 (9:59 pm)

What a shame that it was crammed into the Thanksgiving weekend. This is such a fun event to witness, but with so many people traveling or just winding down from Thanksgiving, many probably missed it. I know we did. The fact that only Captain Jack was tagging along probably confirms it as well.

WSB November 30, 2019 (10:17 pm)

The Christmas Ship always starts its season right after Thanksgiving. Just happened that the first two stops this year were in WS.

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