I would definitely take another cruise on this ship. Overall, I found the staff to be excellent and very friendly. I would have preferred less liquid sunshine, but the areas desperately needed the rain after a warm, dry summer. (Some salmon were dying because the streams they had been imprinted with had dried up.) However, the same trip would have been significantly more expensive over the summer, and likely more crowded as well. I did expect some rain, just not every port over two weeks (back-to-back cruises)!
Embarkation
4 out of 5
I didn't embark as this was the 2nd of a back-to-back cruise. However, my transition from one room to anohter was very smooth. The lines for embarkation seemed reasonable, and at times, minimal.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
I ate all meals at Tsar's (sit-down, complimentary) whenever they were open. Most of the staff were excellent, as were most of the meals.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
I enjoyed the stretch class, origami, napkin folding, and trivia activities.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
As I've found on previous cruises, the quality is a bit lower than on the larger ships. However, overall it was very good and very enjoyable. The comedian was better than the previous week, but that isn't saying much. Loved Velvet, which I considered to be a statement show about acceptance of others (obese, LGBTQ, etc.) which I believe is very much needed in our society.
Children's Programs
Solo, adult traveler.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Overall, service was very good. My room steward was excellent, one of the best I've ever had.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The layout could be a bit confusing, but was okay. Common areas were clean and well-maintained.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The cabin was smaller than others I've had on larger ships, but was perfect for me as a solo traveler. The cabin steward was excellent and significantly contributed to the enjoyment of my trip. The mattress wasn't great, but I had no problems sleeping.
Ship tip
Consider taking magnetic hooks to hang lights (makes room feel magical), papers or extra clothes/towels.
One of the highlights ... 8 forward was opened for guests. It was a bit crowded and some guests were a bit rude. They roped off a small lane for people to take photos, which was excellent.
I did a non-NCL excursion in Hoonah which was excellent. I loved learning about the culture of the area and did not find it commercialized like typical ports. A definite favorite despite the liquid sunshine. Saw a couple of bald eagles from the ship.
I did a non-NCL float trip. Although it would have been better without the liquid sunshine and the fog/mist which hid most of the Mendenhall glacier, it was still enjoyable. I enjoyed paddling and seeing my first bald eagle close up (about a yard away from the raft).
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