DaveH4

For our first cruise, we loved our seven-day Norwegian Star cruise to Alaska. Our mid-ship balcony room was very convenient to get to either end of the ship (and you do that trek constantly), and as a room was compact but with a larger bed than we expected. We enjoyed the balcony a lot for the private viewpoint away from crowds, and our room attendant was efficient and sweet, making fancy towel-animals every night to greet us. The best choice we made was to pay the add-on for unlimited use of the Barong Spa, with reclining jacuzzi, hot tub, lap pool, wet and dry saunas, and (the best) padded lounge chairs facing huge back-of-ship view windows. Best yet: few users meant heavenly quiet and a large space away from the crowds. The restaurants were unexpectedly high-quality. Versailles became our favorite, but we used the fee-applies Cagney's Steakhouse for an extra-special anniversary dinner; La Cucina Italian, and Endless Summer, a TexMex place. For instant food the Market Cafe had endless and wide varieties of entrees, breads, fruits, desserts, and also hosted special food events (Chocolate Festival night!) The ports we called at were well-equipped to receive us and off-loading was efficient. Excursion providers were stationed right off the boat; my favorite was being able to walk off the boat and get right onto the Skagway Railway which had a siding going specially near our boat. For add-ons: I recommend the Mendenhall Glacier bus ride and the Skagway Railway trip.