Seattle Begins Milestone Alaska Season With Norwegian Cruise Line Ship

Table Of Content

• Vacation Deals
• Day 8 Alaska Cruise Review: Ketchikan Must-Dos
• Norwegian Jewel12-Day Denali/Alyeska Explorer
• Day Alaska Cruise Review: Norwegian Sun Experience
• Norwegian Jewel11-Day Anchorage Denali Express
• Norwegian Cruise Line Alaska Cruises & Norwegian Cruise to Alaska
• Day 2 Alaska Cruise Review: Day at Sea Insights

We’ve breathed Alaska’s crisp air, marveled at its towering glaciers, and immersed ourselves in local cultures. We’re not just tourists but passionate explorers who have visited Alaska multiple times, by both land and sea. We’ve poured hours into selecting the best Alaska itinerary and are already planning our next escapade. But first, I want to mention that there are many different cruise lines and enticing port stops on an Alaskan Cruise. Our journey kicked off in the vibrant city of Vancouver, British Columbia, weaving through the picturesque landscapes of Alaska’s port towns, Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. And wrapped up with two scenic sailing days in Glacier Bay National Park and a captivating encounter with Hubbard Glacier.

Vacation Deals

The 11 Best Alaska Cruise Excursions in 2024, From Whale Watching to Glacier Tours Condé Nast Traveler - Condé Nast Traveler

The 11 Best Alaska Cruise Excursions in 2024, From Whale Watching to Glacier Tours Condé Nast Traveler.

Posted: Thu, 07 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Personally, we were most interested in seeing and experiencing Alaska’s natural beauty. For an Alaskan Cruise, the pools were barely touched, but the hot tubs are highly sought after. In the late evening, it was hard to snag a spot because they were often very full with other tourists. If you want to avoid the crowds, go at unique times, such as morning or lunch/early afternoon. You will also see two other hot tubs 2 decks above from the main pool deck, but you must be part of the Haven Club.

Day 8 Alaska Cruise Review: Ketchikan Must-Dos

Staff will direct you through the remaining steps, from the security checkpoint and collecting your room key, etc. First, you can check any luggage you don’t want to drag around the ship before your rooms are ready. Norwegian Cruise Line staff will place a tag on your bag with the correct room number to deliver to later. The Vancouver Cruise Port is located right in downtown Vancouver and is easy to get to by foot or public transportation. Once you make it to the port, continue walking toward the end of the pier. Here you should see signs guiding you toward the check-in point.

Norwegian Jewel12-Day Denali/Alyeska Explorer

From dodgeball to music mania, there are lots of activities offered for every age group. Plus kids can choose their activity while in Splash Academy and show off their artistic skills, burn off energy in the dynamic zone, or relax in the chill zone. They probably contain more pee than water on sea days, but you’ll be totally in charge of how much pee is in them on port days while everyone else is off the ship.

Try the Haven by NorwegianTM - a private enclave at the top of the ship, complete with private heated pool and courtyard, concierge and 24-hour personal butler service. With a wide range of stylish and convenient suites and staterooms on the youngest fleet sailing Alaska, you’re guaranteed a great place to rest. For kids, our Alaska cruise is like a theme park with the best rides. Only Norwegian offers Freestyle Cruising®, giving families the freedom to do their own thing on their own schedule.

Day Alaska Cruise Review: Norwegian Sun Experience

I would highly recommend the Norwegian Encore for an Alaska sailing as well as Alaska overall in terms of a once-in-a-lifetime family vacation experience. We would have liked to have experienced more shows on the ship, as well as wish the family-friendly activities (go-karts & laser tag) did not cost extra money and did not require reservations. In addition, the captain opens up the bow of the ship on Deck 8 for this day only, and passengers can enjoy coffee, tea, and hot chocolate while viewing Glacier Bay outdoors.

This is pretty much as dressed up as we get with rain boots mandatory from about October through May (hat is optional, but I hate being cold and this is Alaska in April, so I figure better safe). With Agnes and Chris, you're not just reading another travel blog; you're tapping into a treasure trove of insider tips, curated itineraries, and invaluable insights to make your Alaskan journey truly unforgettable. One of the standout features was the freestyle disembarkation, allowing us to exit the ship at our leisure. But what truly simplified our transition was Seattle’s Port Valet Service.

Our only other experience cruising together as a family was on a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise aboard the Disney Fantasy that we write about here. Norwegian Cruise Line knows the destinations you'll be visiting and what there is to see, do and experience. They offer a variety of excursions to choose from, in every port you'll visit. Even though the Perseverance Trail is part of a trail system I discovered a few years ago within walking distance of Ward Cove (where NCL ships dock outside of Ketchikan), the name has so far discouraged me.

Alaska is ready for another record-breaking cruise season - The Mercury News

Alaska is ready for another record-breaking cruise season.

Posted: Mon, 15 Apr 2024 16:00:24 GMT [source]

We also visited Totem Bight State Park, a cultural hub showcasing indigenous art and history. From its natural wonders like Port Frederick and Mud Bay to adrenaline-pumping activities and convenient amenities, this port offers a well-rounded Alaskan experience. The port is also home to the world’s largest ZipRider, starting from the mountain peak and descending 1,300 feet.

The day before our cruise our flight from Minneapolis, MN arrived at 8 AM in Seattle, Washington. Be sure to download and familiarize yourself with the Norwegian Cruise Line app. You can manage your entire trip from the app, and it does not require WiFii when being used on the ship. Then get comfortable with where the bars, restaurants, theater, spa, and casino are in terms of being in the front (fwd), or back (aft) of the ship.

This tour offers abundant marine wildlife viewing opportunities during the day boat cruise across Prince William Sound. One of our best value land tours for time-conscious guests offering an up close Denali experience, tour of Alaska’s largest city and moderate hotel properties. Watch out wolf, you’ve got competition from the Bliss whenit comes to being big and bad. Average-sized cruise ships hug the shoreline, hoping to blend in so theBliss won’t swallow them up and spit them back out into the ocean along withthe pulverized organic waste destined to become fish food.

They are connected by a doorway within the rooms, as shown in the photo below. There are 20 passenger decks with 2,043 staterooms for up to 4,903 passengers (served by 1,731 crew). The Norwegian Encore first launched in 2019 and is part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway Plus category of ships. Our sail dates were June 11th – 18th and we have an entire article on what to pack and what to wear on an Alaska cruise, as well as the 45 Alaska cruise tips that you need to know before sailing.