Loved Alaska, Jewel was mediocre

Item: Norwegian Jewel
Rating: 3.3
Author: YYCnoobie

Norwegian Jewel Cruise Review

YYCnoobie

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 4

Overall rating:

3.3 out of 5

7 Night Alaska Inside Passage Southbound (Seward To Vancouver)

Sail date: August 14, 2023

Ship: Norwegian Jewel

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 9166

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 8 months ago

Review summary

I loved Alaska, the ship was mediocre. Surprisingly for service and food was not great.

Embarkation

1 out of 5

I took the train from Anchorage to Seward. To be fair this is my first cruise so maybe this is to be expected, but it was about a 30 minute lineup in Anchorage to check in, and then a further 45 minute lineup in the Seward to board. When I bought it, it was quite confusing figuring out where to go next. I did go to my muster station. And then went for dinner. And that was the beginning of a disappointments as they do not have cream for coffee…

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

2 out of 5

I only ate in the main dining rooms and the buffet. I found it very challenging to find any food that was hot. The main dining rooms were worse than the buffet. All of the food I found incredibly salty. Again the buffet seemed to be the better option. There you could have a hamlet me to order, you could have grilled salmon for lunch, freshly grilled every day, you could have pasta made to order as well. Those were generally hot. The pace of meals in the main dining room was very slow. I did not find the service good. They generally took my order and delivered my food. Kind of like at McDonald’s. There was certainly no extra

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

I had a weeklong pass to the spa, which I highly recommend. I do not, however, recommend purchasing any of the spa services. I purchased a massage, and I found it quite overpriced, and the massage therapist was not relaxing.

Entertainment

2 out of 5

I attended some of the musical events, and the circus events, they were OK.

Service and Staff

2 out of 5

I was fairly surprised that the service was really quite mediocre.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

The ship was immaculate. There is no issue whatsoever with cleanliness.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Nothing to complain about here, and I up graded by bidding to a balcony cabin.

Ship tip

Eat at the buffet. You can have smoked salmon and grilled salmon. You just have to request it. If you’re having breakfast at the buffet, bring your breakfast across to the Italian restaurant and sit there.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Vancouver (Canada Place), British Columbia

5 out of 5

If you have time rent a car for the day and download an audio app and do a guided tour of the city. It’ll take about three or four hours and it is very informative. If you organize yourself ahead of time, sign up with Evo (car share app). You step off the ship and literally 30 seconds away there are vehicles that you can just step in to, then drop off at the airport, $89 for the day.

Thumbs Up 1

Juneau, Alaska

5 out of 5

I loved Juneau because I rented a car using Turo and was able to drive around myself. I loved watching the salmon.

Thumbs Up 0

Cruise Hubbard Glacier

2 out of 5

Icy Strait Point (Hoonah), Alaska

1 out of 5

This is a place where you really need to do an excursion because otherwise there’s nothing here.

Thumbs Up 0

Skagway, Alaska