Would take a different cruise line.
Norwegian Jewel Cruise Review to Alaska - Inside Passage
7 Night Alaska Sawyer Glacier (Seattle Roundtrip)
Sail date: August 13, 2016
Ship: Norwegian Jewel
Cabin type: Suite
Cabin number: 11034
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 8 years ago
Review summary
So this cruise is billed as using the inland passage which you would think means going between Vancouver Island and the BC mainland. The route map on Norwegian Cruise Lines website actual shows this as the route. We specifically booked our baloney suite on the starboard side to see the coast line. We left Seattle 3 hours late for some unknown reason. The ship sailed straight out to sea and fog until our first port of call.
We went to the passenger services desk for an explanation and the fellow there acted like to were wrong to even question their route. He further pulled out a map showing the route as out at sea which is totally opposite of the NCL website, basically they lied.
The food on board was sub-par at best. Our cruise price included three "specialty" restaurant night dinners. Japanese steakhouse was ok, the other two were terrible. If you do book on this cruise don't waste your money on their specialty dinning. Main restaurants were ok, the buffet was also not good.
On the positive side our room was well cared for and in a timely fashion. We had three shore excursions and all were very good to excellent. We snorkeled at the first port of call and got to see much sea life. This excursion would not be for people with small children or people not in reasonable shape. Our 2nd excursion from Juneau was to see the Mendenhall Glacier and then by boat to whale watch. The whale part was great and we got many great pics.
Our last excursion was on a narrow Gage train ride up a mountain trail used by the gold rush pioneers to the Yukon. We chose the deluxe car and it was worth every penny. Good food, drinks and great scenery on a four hour ride. The final stop in Victoria was great too, but we chose to just walk or take taxi to anything we wanted to see. Cheaper and you can manage your own time.
Summary we would not use Norwegian again but the trip itself was very worth while.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
Unlimited drink package is a scam. They close half the bars or restaurants all the time so lines for a drink are terrible.
Ports of call
3 Comments
johncbone 8 years ago
rdavis123, we obviously know we cruised the inland passage. That is not the point. The cruise line puts a course outline (map) on their website that shows going between Vancouver Island and BC but doesn't. Basically, false advertising. Being from a far distance home how would anyone know this is just an area for BC Ferries? Really?
pamdecker525 8 years ago
I agree with the original post/review. I have the original map that was supposed to be the course and many people booked their suites and balcony rooms based on this. The course advertised and the course taken, we're not the same and many other passengers were aware of this too. I was on this cruise.
rdavis123 8 years ago