Norwegian Jewel Review

Alaska Cruise on NCL Jewel was perfect!

Review for Alaska Cruise on Norwegian Jewel
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namastenana
2-5 Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Sep 2019
Cabin: Mid-Ship Mini-Suite with Balcony

Our previous cruise was on NCL and in booking a trip to Alaska, we choose it again and were not disappointed. The NCL Jewel was updated last fall and feels like a new ship. Our mini-suite was perfect with a little extra room and full bath. We were traveling with our adult children, so it was nice to have the extra space when they visited us or used our balcony for glacier viewing. The staff are exceptionally friendly and are committed to providing a high level of service. While we don't have another cruise line to which we can compare our experiences, we are usually very active on vacations and were hesitant to even consider a cruise. We enjoy the "freestyle" options on Norwegian. Dining hours are flexible, you can find plenty of healthy options and the upgraded dining options are excellent and worth the cost. The thermal spa is an add-on, but is something you might consider--a peaceful getaway and great place to read while enjoying the gorgeous scenery from the front of the ship. And there are plenty of night life options for all ages. The promenade on Deck 7 is great for walking while enjoying 360 views. We saw a number of whales while walking the morning we entered the inside passage. We chose the one way trip from Seward to Vancouver. We arrived early in Anchorage and spend four days in Denali with a rental car. We then took a bus from the Anchorage airport to Seward to board the ship. The Bike, Hike and Float excursion in Skayway was our favorite and a great value. In Juneau, we were disappointed in the kayaking near Mendenhall Glacier (only an hour on the water and seemed to go in circles), but also had time for a hike to the top of Mount Roberts (and then took the tram down). In Icy Strait we walked to the nearby town of Hookah. Overall, a great trip and would choose NCL again.

Cabin Review

Mid-Ship Mini-Suite with Balcony

Cabin MA

We appreciated the extra room with a mini-suite and the full bath did not feel cramped. Plenty of room for storage and one floor below dining, the pool, and fitness area, but quiet. Balcony was great for viewing the glaciers.

Port Reviews

Vancouver

We stayed an extra night in Vancouver before flying home. There is so much to see that it can seem overwhelming. We checked out bags at the dock and used public transportation to explore Stanley Park, Granville Island and the Chinese Garden in Chinatown. Fly Over Canada is at Canada Place and was our first stop (while waiting for the rain to stop). Highly recommend this theater experience as a great intro to Canada. Dinner at Cactus Cafe in Yaletown was excellent. Gastown is also a fun place to explore. Taxi ride to the airport the next morning was under 30 minutes.

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