Thrilled with Alaska, not so much with NCL

Item: Norwegian Jewel
Rating: 3.6
Author: mbrewer36834123

Norwegian Jewel Cruise Review to Alaska - Inside Passage

mbrewer36834123

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 2

Overall rating:

3.6 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Alaska: Hubbard Glacier & Skagway (Seward To Vancouver)

Sail date: May 06, 2024

Ship: Norwegian Jewel

Cabin number: 8616

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 16 days ago

Review summary

Alaska is amazing. Going early in the season is colder but not brutal and really feels like Alaska as opposed to late in the season when its 80 degrees. We experienced snow and an amazing show by the Northern Lights and 5 days in sweatshirts with no coat. Give yourself some extra time in Anchorage and Vancouver but if you have to choose pick Vancouver. Many great things to see and do. We got TURO in Anchorage (host Fedosia was great with several cars to choose from) Day 1 drove an hour north to Palmer to Glacier and reindeer farm. Day 2 south to Seward with stop at Wildlife Conservation Center and side trip out to Kenai Penisula with many stops along the way for spectacular photos. The car one way and parked just steps from the ship cost about the same as the bus for 3 and added so much to the trip. In Vancouver car rental to ferry to Vancouver Island to see Butchart Gardens. We have visited botanical gardens around the world and this may be the most spectacular. Wish we had another day or two to see Victoria and other sites.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

Small and older terminal, but very efficient.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

2 out of 5

Days 1-4 in the main dinning room were terrible, days 5 and 6 okay, then poor.

Onboard Activities

2 out of 5

Limited activities and marginal entertainment. An older ship that lacks the amusement park like features which didn't bother us, but more activities and better communication are needed.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Comedian did a couple of shows and was pretty good. The rest was just okay.

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

We all know how long and hard these folks work to be accommodating to bring us a great experience and are grateful. Staffing in the main dinning was adequate but many bars and eateries were understaffed and the staff was rushed and at times a bit snippy. A lack of training and organization seemed obvious. One night the waiter led us on a grand tour all over the dinning room trying to find our table number, on several occasions we observed wait staff wandering around with drinks and food with no clue where it belonged. Every morning my omelet was prepared by a different cook with very different techniques and results.

Ship Quality

2 out of 5

The ship was nice with recent refurbishment and clean, BUT I did not look out one window all week that was clean and I never saw any attempt to clean them!

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Good.

Ship tip

Pay the extra for Princess, Royal, Celebrity or even MSC. My first two cruises were NCL on the Dreamward and Norway over 30 years ago and I have always held them in high regard. I have not sailed with NCL in the last 15 years and it is sad to see what has become of a once great cruise line. Maybe I shouldn't just by one cruise but if the quality of food and service is consistent across the fleet it's not good.

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