Amazing Itinerary ... ALASKA is Stunning

Item: Norwegian Jewel
Rating: 4.7
Author: KALHC

Norwegian Jewel Cruise Review to Alaska - Gulf of Alaska

KALHC

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 23

Overall rating:

4.7 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Alaska Glacier Bay Northbound (Vancouver To Seward)

Sail date: August 21, 2023

Ship: Norwegian Jewel

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 10102

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 1 year ago

Review summary

Overall we were content. The drink package is generous and many things to pick from. However, they charge you for water. Water is essential to life, especially if you are drinking adult beverages. Just seems tacky to me to have them charge for water. AND THE WIFI is HORRIBLE. Free minutes go flying by but there is no connectivity. NCL needs to up their game on Wifi. The food was good enough, but nothing spectacular. Could up their game a bit here.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

Food was hit and miss. Some really good, and a lot just meh. However, this purchase water package when you can drink yourself into oblivion with the beverage package feels like a nickle and diming. Just doesn't sit right. Water should be included with the alcohol beverage package.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

Pools and deck were great when the weather cooperated (all good). We didn't use the other.

Entertainment

4 out of 5

The band that played on deck when we sailed and in the Spinnaker lounge were amazing. The Cirque de Bajou was very good. Some of the lounge acts really need to up their game and that Rock the house thing was horrible, and we walked out of their performance. The comedian (Barr) was really good.

Children's Programs

no kids with us

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Our cabin steward was amazing, the overall staff was really good.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Clean enough.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

The bed could use a little more padding but overall good. Everything else was fine.

Ship tip

The Wifi DOES NOT WORK. They give you free minutes or make you pay. Connect and still nothing happens except you can see your minutes disappear. NCL needs to partner with something like Starlink.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Vancouver (Canada Place), British Columbia

4 out of 5

Cruise Inside Passage, Alaska

5 out of 5

Ketchikan, Alaska

5 out of 5

Juneau, Alaska

5 out of 5

Skagway, Alaska

5 out of 5

Cruise Glacier Bay

5 out of 5

Absolutely the highlight of the trip! DO not miss this!

Thumbs Up 0

Cruise Hubbard Glacier

5 out of 5

Just when we were amazed by Glacier Bay... then comes Hubbard. Incredible Beauty! I love the way they rotated the ship 360 degrees in both Glacier Bay and Hubbard so that we could see the entire view from our balcony stateroom.

Thumbs Up 0

Seward (Anchorage), Alaska

5 out of 5

Disembarkation

5 out of 5

12 Comments

Cruisers4Lyfe 5 months ago

Thanks for sharing

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

Gwbigdog 1 year ago

Thanks for sharing

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

ElaineTravels 1 year ago

Tap water is free and of excellent quality, there is no need to pay for water

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

InnocentDaz 1 year ago

If you request tap water it is free and can be requested from any bar on the ship.

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

AuntPinkie 1 year ago

Appreciate your detailed feedback. Good information about the drink package. Glad you enjoyed your Alaskan cruise.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

JimOhio 1 year ago

We upgraded to the Premium Plus drink package for our upcoming cruise. It does not follow the $15 per drink limit of the Premium package so we can drink more expensive wines. It also includes bottled water and the Starbucks package. Cruisers need to do their research on all these details instead of learning of the shortcomings and being disappointed after boarding the ship.

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

jallaway 1 year ago

Kd, they are proud of their water in renewable cartons instead of those flimsy plastic bottles. That pride also comes with a higher price, which likely has more to do with the fact they don't come with the booze package.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

kdlady 1 year ago

Hot tip: WATER IS FREE! Bring your own stainless steel water bottle and refill it at any bar or restaurant or water fountain for absolutely no $$$ There's no reason to buy or drink bottled water when the ship has free filtered water available throughout the ship.

Thumbs Up 4

Flag

cruising2004 1 year ago

Glad you had a wonderful cruise. Thank you for sharing your Alaska experience.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

javawoody 1 year ago

Thanks for sharing your experience

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

bubbles60 1 year ago

Glad you had a good trip. It may have been the area you were in that had wifi issues. We were in northern Europe on ncl and never had an issue with our wifi. The included drink package has worked for us. We would get the water from the buffet area. Having said that, we dont drink bottled water at home. Alaska is so beautiful!

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

cortneyb 1 year ago

wow. thanks for letting me know about the beverage package. I usually sail carnival and their package includes water. I have a ncl cruise in January and their package is double carnival's cost and doesn't even include that? makes me re think about the package now

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

Other reviews of this sailing

Beautiful Alaskan Cruise