We have now sailed to Alaska six instances, twice with Norwegian Cruise Line. Whereas we’ve loved our cruises with the model, an Alaska cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line isn’t proper for everybody. So, earlier than you place down that deposit, you have to know the professionals and cons of Alaska cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line. Armed with all the main points, you’ll be able to decide the proper ship, and your Alaska cruise can be easy crusing.
The Professionals and Cons of Alaska Cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line
Freestyle Strategy
Norwegian Cruise Line is the pioneer of versatile eating on a cruise ship. The model’s freestyle method to cruising means there are not any set dinner instances. Cruisers are free to dine every time and with whomever they need in the course of the cruise.
In Alaska, this freestyle method provides extra choices than the standard essential eating on different cruise strains. On condition that port of name instances can fluctuate every day, this flexibility turns into invaluable. For example, one morning, you is likely to be up for a 6 AM shore tour, whereas the subsequent day, the ship might be docking within the afternoon till 9 or 10 PM.
Throughout our voyage on Norwegian Bliss again in 2018, we had the pleasure of cruising with associates. All through the week, we shared some eating experiences as a gaggle of six, others as a desk of 4, and a few nights it was simply the 2 of us. Freestyle eating makes switching up the desk preparations in conditions like this quite simple.
But, for these of us who prefer to plan forward, there’s no want to worry. You continue to have the choice to pre-reserve eating instances. This implies you gained’t miss out on that coveted dinner at Cagney’s Steakhouse, otherwise you gained’t have to attend for a desk if you return from an extended day ashore in Skagway. Throughout our voyage on Norwegian Encore final 12 months, we had most of our dinners reserved earlier than boarding the ship. However we nonetheless had the pliability to regulate a few these instances when our plans modified.
Onboard Viewing Areas
We at all times recommend cruisers go for a balcony when crusing in Alaska. On all six of our Alaska cruises, we went with this improve. This was true on each of our Alaska cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line. However even if you happen to don’t wish to splurge, you gained’t miss out on the scenic cruising and Alaskan landscapes when crusing with NCL.
A number of Norwegian Cruise Line ships within the area provide quite a lot of viewing areas scattered all through the ship. Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore provide indoor and out of doors viewing areas for all sorts of climate.
The Remark Lounge on the entrance and prime of the ship supplies wonderful 270-degree views. There may be loads of comfortable furnishings to unwind, to not point out snacks and complimentary drinks all through the day. There may be additionally a bar for these premium drinks.
Outdoors, the multi-level pool deck provides loads of area for sightseeing, however there may be additionally the Waterfront which we expect is even higher. This out of doors promenade, which is nearer to water stage, wraps round a lot of the deck and has numerous seating choices. To not point out, there are a number of bars and eating venues only a quick stroll away.
Additional, the Vibe Seashore Membership provides an unique out of doors deck if you wish to improve your Alaskan expertise. With restricted capability, you’re all however assured a spot within the sizzling tub with a glacier view and a personal bar. We expect this upcharge deck is a hidden gem when crusing in Alaska. We had entry to this spot on our Norwegian Encore cruise final 12 months and cherished it.
Whereas smaller, Norwegian Jewel additionally provides a number of viewing spots all through the ship, together with indoor and out of doors venues on totally different decks. This helps to disperse the crowds and provide numerous vantage factors.
Visits Glacier Bay Nationwide Park
Whereas the assorted cruise strains provide totally different onboard experiences in Alaska, these journeys are actually concerning the vacation spot. For us, selecting the correct itinerary is extra essential than what’s on the cruise ship. So, we’re pleased to report that lots of Norwegian Cruise Line’s sailings provide scenic cruising to Glacier Bay Nationwide Park.
For first-time cruisers in Alaska, Glacier Bay Nationwide Park is a should.
Norwegian Cruise Line provides itineraries visiting Glacier Bay Nationwide Park on mega-ships and medium-sized ships. Whatever the dimension of the ship, the programming is similar. This consists of park rangers approaching board for the complete time within the park. Together with lectures within the theater, different rangers present narration because the ship glides all the way down to the primary attraction, the Marjorie Glacier.
Different informative periods happen contained in the ship with displays and literature concerning the park. Extra Q&A alternatives exist with rangers as they stroll the out of doors decks in quest of wildlife. This a number of hour-visit is one thing you don’t wish to miss. So, seize your gear and head outdoors for these spectacular sights!
Every go to is exclusive, given the climate circumstances and tides. Throughout our final go to on Norwegian Encore, we had been in a position to sail down the John Hopkins Inlet to get some incredible views of the John Hopkins Glacier, which isn’t at all times seen or allowed.
Free at Sea
Norwegian Cruise Line is commonly additionally a greater worth when cruising to Alaska. The model’s fashionable Free at Sea promotion consists of a number of add-ons which can be often an upcharge on different cruise strains.
Whereas the promotion can change, usually, it features a free drink bundle, WiFi credit, shore tour credit, and specialty dinner credit. Relying on if you e book, this promotion can embody 3rd and 4th visitors sail free and decreased airfare as properly.
Whereas cruisers nonetheless must pay the service expenses on a few of these objects, we expect this promotion is of nice worth. It’s a straightforward option to make your cruise extra inclusive. Plus, the cruise line enables you to improve to Free at Sea Plus, providing much more onboard perks, like limitless WiFi, Starbucks drinks, and extra specialty eating.
One other good thing about the Free at Sea promotion is it’s combinable with journey advisor perks. So, you may get much more financial savings and worth if you benefit from promotions run by your most well-liked journey advisor. These can embody further onboard credit score, free gratuities, and extra.
Solo Vacationers
Most cruise fares are based mostly on double occupancy for every stateroom. Since Heidi and I often journey as a pair, that is nice for us. Nonetheless, it isn’t so nice for these touring solo, because it means these people should pay double to cruise.
Fortunately, Norwegian Cruise Line is likely one of the cruise strains that has devised a means across the “single supplement.” On its mega-ships, it provides studio cabins designed particularly for events of 1.
So, these touring by themselves have devoted cabins which can be extra fairly priced. Whereas smaller than a typical cabin, these studios are thoughtfully designed and have every part vacationers must really feel at house on the ship.
Plus, on NCL’s bigger vessels, these studio cabins are clustered in sections of the ship. With a separate entrance and lounge, solo vacationers can meet and mingle with others touring by themselves. There may be even a devoted cruise employees supervisor for solo cruisers who hosts occasions and actions.
In fact, cruisers nonetheless have entry to all of the bars, eating places, and different areas of the ship. However, having this solo space and devoted area makes it simpler and extra reasonably priced for solo cruisers to see all that Alaska provides in fashion and class.
Specialty Eating places
As the primary cruise line to eschew conventional eating instances on cruise ships, NCL can also be identified for its specialty eating. Throughout its ships, there are a selection of eating places that includes global-inspired delicacies.
Signature eating places embody Cagney’s Steakhouse, a traditional American-style steakhouse with numerous chops and cuts on the menu. There may be additionally the French Le Bistro and the Italian La Cucina (or Onda by Scarpetta).
Different eating places can embody the full of life Teppanyaki Japanese-style steakhouse, which incorporates dinner and a present at this hibachi restaurant. There may be additionally Q-Texas Smokehouse, serving consolation meals with stay music and a few of the finest desserts on the ship. To not point out, cruisers can take pleasure in freshly crafted Mexican specialties and margaritas at Los Lobos relying which NCL ship they select.
Moreover, certainly one of our favourite eating places on any cruise ship is Meals Republic. This fusion restaurant serves small plates, tapas, and worldwide delicacies, combining numerous cooking types, elements, and signature cocktails.
With the Free at Sea, most visitors can dine at two specialty eating places at no cost. Extra eating packages can be found, or visitors pays a la carte for extra meals. Nonetheless, getting an add-on eating bundle is a a lot better and cost-effective possibility.
Vigorous Onboard Environment
Whereas different cruise strains would possibly provide extra Alaska-focused onboard actions than NCL, Norwegians know tips on how to celebration. Norwegian Cruise Line ships provide full of life and enjoyable actions day and evening. The ships have a number of well-themed bars and lounges providing stay music.
We’re followers of the drinks on the Sugarcane Mojito bar, particularly its signature drinks, just like the Jalapeno Cucumber and Raspberry-Guava Mojitos. The District Brewhouse has among the finest beer alternatives of any ship, with dozens on faucet and extra in bottles and cans. To not point out, it options stay piano music on most nights of the cruise.
The A-Listing Bar provides upscale cocktails, and the Maltings Whiskey Bar provides traditional drinks. Whereas sipping their favourite grownup drinks, cruisers can take heed to stay music or different cruise director employees occasions within the Atrium. Additional, the Native provides an ordinary cocktail menu and a complimentary pub menu that includes a few of the finest hen wings at sea.
The cruise line additionally has a number of events and nighttime occasions. There are silent discos within the membership, comedy reveals, recreation reveals, and extra. In the primary theater, NCL options manufacturing reveals and headliner acts every evening of the cruise. Certainly one of our favourite reveals on any ship, Choir of Man, is a should see on Norwegian Encore.
Undoubtedly, the nighttime environment is extra upbeat, enjoyable, and full of life than lots of the different cruise strains crusing the area.
Nice for Households
One grievance some cruisers have about mega-ships is that they’ve too many distractions. Nonetheless, we argue that there are undoubtedly benefits to having a big ship with quite a lot of onboard points of interest. For one, they will enchantment to a variety of vacationers and multi-generational households.
Ships like Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss are perfect for massive teams touring to Alaska. The youngsters will benefit from the onboard points of interest, just like the digital actuality video games within the Galaxy Pavilion, the go-kart monitor, and the laser tag. Though, as large youngsters, we expect these facilities are numerous enjoyable as properly.
With numerous eating choices, together with informal venues and sit-down eating places, it’s simple to make everybody pleased. The dad and mom and grandparents will take pleasure in venues just like the Remark Lounge in addition to the adult-focused leisure and late-night comedy. Whereas the children can hang around with associates in Splash Academy or Entourage.
Thermal Suites
Alaska cruises are full of lengthy days and nights. With early morning scenic cruising and lengthy days ashore in any respect hours of the day, you will have some relaxation and leisure. Fortunately, Norwegian Cruise Line ships function incredible spas and thermal suites. In actual fact, the thermal suite on Norwegian Encore is likely one of the finest on any cruise ship.
The thermal suite boasts a number of rejuvenating experiences. It has a hydrotherapy pool, steam rooms, a sauna, a salt room, and even a snow room. The very best half is that the thermal suite is all the way in which ahead, providing a few of the finest views on the ship. So, cruisers may even loosen up on a heated stone lounger whereas admiring glaciers.
There are a restricted variety of passes to the thermal suite. So, you understand it would by no means be overcrowded. Whereas the cruise line does provide week passes, you would possibly have the ability to rating a day go on a port day too. So, if you happen to want a break from all of the adventures ashore, a morning or afternoon within the spa would possibly do the trick.
To not point out, the spa provides quite a lot of different companies as properly. There are massages, facials, pedicures, manicures, and extra. So, you’ll be able to return out of your Alaska cruise well-rested and able to sort out being again on land.
The Cons of Crusing to Alaska on Norwegian Cruise Line
Not As Many Decisions As Different Cruise Traces
Whereas some cruise strains provide six or seven ships within the area, Norwegian Cruise Line solely provides 4 ships. Most of these ships sail from Seattle, WA on round-trip itineraries. So, in comparison with the competitors, there are fewer choices for crusing to Alaska with Norwegian Cruise Line.
Whille we’re followers of mega-ships and suppose the roundtrip route is great for first-timers to the area, it does imply that the majority ships provide related ports of name. Nonetheless, NCL Bliss and Norwegian Encore provide totally different glacier viewing spots, which suggests cruisers should select between scenic cruising of Dawes Glacier or Glacier Bay Nationwide Park.
In case you are not a fan of mega-ships, Norwegian Solar provides nine-night sailings. This smaller ship sails Glacier Bay and plenty of fashionable ports. However, given the additional days, this is likely to be troublesome and costly for households desirous to cruise to Alaska.
Or, cruisers can go for a one-way cruise on Norwegian Jewel. These southbound or northbound routes start or finish in Seward, Alaska, or Vancouver, British Columbia.
Lack of Alaska Centered Onboard Experiences
Many cruise strains crusing within the area promote their onboard programming. Princess Cruises has a North to Alaska sequence of lectures, themed occasions, and particular eating and drink choices. These occasions happen all through the journey and provide a extra immersive option to study and expertise the area.
Equally, Holland America Line has its We Love Alaska sequence of talks, shows, and region-focused enrichment. Whether or not it’s studying concerning the historical past of Alaska or extra concerning the well-known Iditarod race, these talks are well-produced and informative. This cruise line provides a number of eating choices and domestically sourced meals and drinks throughout its crusing as properly.
However, Norwegian Cruise Line provides little or no enrichment. In actual fact, apart from the standard Glacier Bay Nationwide Park ranger expertise, our final Norwegian Encore journey had no Alaska-specific programming. We had been stunned that there have been no regional visitors, nighttime talks, or Alaska-themed actions.
Even the food and drinks menus had been fairly customary. We have now sailed on the cruise line’s mega-ships within the Caribbean and the onboard daytime and nighttime lineup felt precisely the identical when in Alaska. We’d have appreciated NCL to supply some onboard edutainment coupled with the ashore excursions and excursions.
Time Spent Ashore
For us, maybe the most important downside of cruising to Alaska with Norwegian Cruise Line has to do with its itineraries. Whereas some NCL ships do get to cruise by Glacier Bay Nationwide Park, most 7-day itineraries provide much less time ashore in different ports when in comparison with competitor cruise strains within the area.
Whereas a number of cruise strains provide full day stops at many ports of name, NCL’s stops are sometimes shorter or the timing is just not best. Relying on the itinerary, you’ll probably have an early morning cease in locations like Ketchikan, Icy Strait Level, or Juneau. Some routes embody the afternoon in Juneau, with the ship docked till later within the night.
Additionally, Norwegian Cruise Line doesn’t have preferential berthing in lots of ports. This implies the ship docks additional away from the town heart. For example, the Ward Cove dock in Ketchikan is a bus journey away from city. Thus, you’ll be able to’t get off the ship and stroll to the close by points of interest like most cruise strains. So, attending to and from the ship, if not on an tour, could be a headache.
Likewise, relying on the time of 12 months and the variety of ships in port, the ship may not at all times dock in Juneau. So, there may be the potential to grow to be a young port, which is rarely enjoyable.
Who Ought to Take Alaska Cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line?
Whereas there are a couple of cons, we had a incredible time on each our Alaska cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line.
The cruise line is nice for these cruising with a big group. The six of us on Norwegian Bliss took benefit of the freestyle method to customise our journey. We had been in a position to do issues as a big group in addition to smaller teams all through the week. Our excursions of the Mendenhall Glacier and a float airplane within the Misty Fjords had been a few of our greatest excursions within the area.
Likewise, our journey final 12 months on Norwegian Encore was equally memorable. Our day in Glacier Bay was beautiful. We had been in a position to get a lot nearer to a number of glaciers within the park than ever earlier than, together with clearly seeing the John Hopkins Glacier from a personal sundeck. We took benefit of the cruise ship’s upgrades, just like the Vibe Seashore Membership and thermal suite. To not point out, we dined at primarily the entire specialty eating places, took benefit of our upgraded drink bundle, and loved the onboard points of interest all through the week!
In case you’re cruising as a household, NCL’s bigger ships within the area provide a lot to maintain the children entertained between ports of name. And there’s nonetheless loads of nighttime leisure for mother and pa too.
Though, NCL most likely gained’t enchantment to vacationers searching for a extra enriching expertise. In case you are searching for a extra culturally immersive expertise or extra genuine Alaska onboard programming, Norwegian would possibly allow you to down.
Additional, if there are particular routes or ports that you just wish to go to, then this cruise line may not provide the precise schedule that pursuits you.
However for these trying to make this trip a mixture of enjoyable and details, Norwegian Cruise Line is a superb selection. In spite of everything, it’s a trip, not a school tour!
Feedback
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