Seas2mountains

My husband and I were very fortunate to be able to take this additional time off this month after spending a week on the NCL Escape at the end of May/beginning of June with our now 8 year old granddaughter and our oldest son and his fiancée (Granddaughter's uncle and soon-to-be aunt). We all had a wonderful time! My husband and I are so excited to get to the cooler weather and the beautiful scenery of Alaska. We hear the Spirit is a great ship and a favorite for those who have had a chance to experience it. For this cruise, we will be back to cruising as a couple with no other family members and we are excited to get to follow our own schedule which includes trivia. Somehow, we did not make it to a single trivia event on the Escape and we love trivia even though we don't win very often. Our first ever NCL cruise was from Seward to Vancouver in June 2015 on NCL Sun and this will now be our sixth and seventh NCL Alaska cruise as we went back in 2017, 2019, 2021 (the second NCL restart on the Encore) and again last year in 2022. We've done Seattle round trips, Seward to Vancouver and Vancouver to Seward. I did go on a HAL Alaska cruise in 2007. I'll post some itineraries but want to add some photos from the cruise in 2022 where we went on a Major Marine tour in Seward before embarking on the Jewel. I highly recommend this tour. It was the 6 Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise. My husband got better camera shots of the whales breaching and I can't seem to find those at the moment.

I'm really sorry to hear that. We embark on June 21st. How is the cruise so far?

I know this post title refers to the Joy but on the 5/28/23 sailing on the Escape, door decorations were not allowed. This was the first cruise I remember walking down the halls and seeing no decorations. People on a cruise related social media group who had put decorations on their cabin door reported that they received a phone call telling them to remove it or it would be removed by the staff.

This is our fifth consecutive NCL cruise with port changes. Sept. 2022 -Getaway -Virginia Beach removed with little notice - no port added and no explanation given. March 2023- Gem. Bermuda removed due to weather. May 2023 - Great Stirrup Cay removed due to weather. May 2023- Escape - notified after boarding that Great Stirrup Cay and Dominican Republic would swap days and no reason given. I’m reluctant to book private excursions as you mentioned as there is no guarantee the funds would be refunded. I have previously booked private excursions in the Mediterranean without any issues. We would love to book exclusions for Sitka a week from now but it’s not available to book until we get on the ship as we are being told it won’t be available to book on the app prior to boarding.

It was a standard king room and even though we are Hilton Diamond status, we did not get an upgrade. It is a really nice hotel and we wished we had an earlier flight arrival time to use the pool and explore the area. We arrived close to midnight and left for the cruise port before 10am. We understated there are many good restaurants close to the hotel and a Publix grocery store, too.

I’m not an expert in vegan menus but know there was always a limited vegan option. I recommend going to guest services as soon as you board to inquire about how to order in advance in case the option in the main dining room isn’t appealing to you. I hear the vegan Indian food in the buffet is excellent when you choose to eat in the buffet.

Thank you. Oops, I did not notice that until you pointed it out.

We were on the Escape a few weeks ago and we often ordered the cheeseburger in the dining room for lunch as it was consistently really good!!!

Thank you, @cruiseny4life! I just received the official email communication from NCL. So the official communication on the itinerary change arrived BEFORE the 4-8 safety video emails. Alaska is amazing and I think you and your husband would enjoy it if you get the chance to go.

They had morning trivia and different options in the early and late afternoon. Yes, lots of games, too! If you look at one of the posted dailies, it should give you a good idea of what to expect. Alexa is on the Sky and she is an amazing pianist and singer. She plays in the atrium or in Spinnaker. We loved the entertainment options on this cruise. Have a wonderful cruise!!!

Yes, see this post. Northbound - swap dates for Hubbard Glacier and Icy Straight Point. Add Sitka. Southbound - go to Hubbard Glacier instead of Valdez and go to Icy Straight Point on day listed for Hubbard Glacier. On some cruises, it’s two hours more in Skagway on Sunday stops.

Wednesday, June 21st and 28th B2B. Thank you!

Yes, @quack2, the radio silence continues. Even an email from NCL to say there is a change and more information will be coming would be appreciated. We are now 6 days away from sailing. What will come first, 4-8 safety video emails or the notification of the port changes? My bet is on at least 1-2 safety video emails before seeing the email notification from NCL about the port changes. Our Icy Straight Point excursions appear on the new date but we can't see the new itinerary or book anything for Sitka yet. Who thinks we won't get notified until embarking on Wednesday? That is a possibility, too.

Here is the news release from the City of Valdez as of today: Norwegian Cruise Line Cancels the Remainder of the Valdez Port Calls for the 2023 Season For immediate release: 06/14/2023, 3:00 p.m. Valdez, AK - The City of Valdez profoundly regrets to announce the cancellation of all Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) port calls to Valdez, Alaska, for the remainder of the 2023 season. The City understands and shares the disappointment that may arise from this cancellation. We sincerely apologize to the passengers and all those who eagerly anticipated the arrival of the NCL ship in our picturesque port. The City of Valdez remains committed to supporting the tourism industry and fostering the growth of our local economy. We will work closely with Norwegian Cruise Line to explore alternative opportunities and future collaborations. The Port of Valdez remains an enchanting destination, and we are actively engaged in efforts to develop exciting new itineraries that will continue to showcase the natural beauty and unique experiences our city has to offer. About the Port of Valdez The Port of Valdez is a critical maritime gateway in Valdez, Alaska. It is known for its scenic beauty and strategic importance to Alaska's economy. As a vital hub for commerce, tourism, seafood, and marine transportation, the port supports local businesses and fosters regional economic growth. The Port of Valdez ensures the highest safety, sustainability, and community engagement standards. For media inquiries, please contact: Jeremy Talbott, Ports & Harbor Director City of Valdez, Alaska 907-202-0016 jtalbott@valdezak.gov

We have experienced the YC on Seaside and Divina and have two more MSC YC cruises booked in 2023 and 2024. We love the special treatment from the time you arrive at the white tent outside the port until disembarkation which included waiting comfortably and peacefully in Topsail to be among the last passengers to disembark. One thing that seems to happen more frequently in YC than we noticed in the Haven is the number of people who are not in the YC who make it into the YC areas like Topsail or One Pool or the restaurant and then get turned away. Some do get away with sneaking in a gate or door that doesn't lock properly but do get chased away eventually by the staff. You will see this often. Look at the current MSC YC live review on the Seascape. We have not tried a YC interior cabin but are considering this. We found that many people were allowed to go to dinner in shorts, tank tops, and flip flops and were not turned away. We did like the menu choices at both the Haven restaurant and in the YC restaurant. We do love the pool area of One Pool and the buffet options in that area if we didn't want to go to the YC restaurant. We did not find One Pool to be crowded and there always seemed to be some lounge chairs or tables with chairs available. The pizza on MSC is Ohhh so good!!!! You can order it from room service or get a slice from the main buffet. We did not care for the limited entertainment in Top Sail as it was really inconsistent but did like one duo who performed on Seaside. On Divina, a pianist came in occasionally for about 45 minutes. On MSC, if a performer was listed on the daily as performing at a lounge from say 6pm-10pm, you might arrive at 6:30pm to hear the performer mention at 6:40pm that they were taking a "15 minute break" only to not come back until 7:05ish and take 5 minutes to start performing and then the cycle would continue so they really actually performed about 30-35 minutes and found a way to stretch their 15 minute breaks to 20-30 minutes. We like the consistency of NCL and knowing a performer is scheduled and is there according to the daily schedule and you know exactly when they are on a break except in the District. If you go to the lounges on MSC to hear other entertainers, good luck on getting a drink as it may take awhile from servers who may or may not come to your table and you might need to wait at the bar. The one thing we LOVE about MSC YC is the stop at Ocean Cay. The restaurant there for YC guests is really nice and Ocean Cay being a dock and not requiring tender service is one of our favorite amenities of cruising MSC. We will continue to book NCL and will upgrade to Haven or Suites occasionally but are also happy in Club Balcony Suites. We also love the YC experience. Neither cruise line is perfect but we like many aspects of each choice. Please do report back on your experience.

No surprise as I expect NCL hasn’t prepared a communication for them yet.

I agree. Two ISP stops instead of one and a stop in Sitka should make this change okay. But, I’m hoping it’s worth a little on board credit. Yes, that is the website where I found the schedule changes. Sorry about the Meares Glacier cancelation with this change.

Oh no! Sorry to hear that! The whale watching in ISP is supposed to be among the best. We do have an excursion for whale watching in ISP but it is through NCL. I hope it works out to change the dates with the private excursion operator.

Yes, that is what I was seeing, too. We have only been to Sitka on one other cruise so will look forward to stopping again.

Using the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska website and assuming it is accurate, here is our old and new itinerary: Wed. June 21st - Depart Vancouver Thurs. June 22nd - At Sea - no change Fri. June 23rd - Was Icy Straight Point - now Sitka - 11:30am-6:00pm Sat. June 24th - Juneau - no change Sun. June 25th - Skagway - no port change but time was 7am-5pm, port schedule shows 7am-7pm Mon. June 26th - was Hubbard Glacier - now Icy Straight Point - 7am-6:30pm Tues. June 27th - was Valdez - now Hubbard Glacier - 7am-11:30am Wed. June 28th - Depart Seward Thurs. June 29th - was Valdez - now Hubbard Glacier- 2pm-8pm Fri, June 30th - was Hubbard Glacier - now Icy Straight Point - 7am-6pm Sat. July 1st - Skagway - no change Sun. July 2nd - Juneau - no change Mon. July 3rd - Ketchikan - no change Tues. July 4th - At sea - no change Wed. July 5th - Vancouver No word from NCL so far. We were excited to check out Valdez but are excited about stopping at Icy Straight Point twice and adding in Sitka - again if this information is factual.

I saw some posts on another internet location from people who are currently on the NCL Spirit as they reported that tour operators told them today was the last time NCL Spirit will stop in Valdez. We have a B2B booked on NCL Spirit starting in 8 days. The itinerary still shows Valdez but no excursions are available to be booked in Valdez. According to Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska website and calendar that was updated today, it appears to be true. https://claalaska.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/VDZ-Valdez-2023.pdf It seems we may have a stop added at Icy Straight Point. I have not seen any communications from NCL, yet. https://claalaska.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ISP-Icy-Strait-Point-2023.pdf Is there anyone on NCL Spirit today or anyone getting on tomorrow who knows why this port stop is being canceled?

In Miami, they did not check for our check-in time on our paperwork in May for two different cruises but in New York in March, they would not let people through the line if the check-in time did not match. I think you should be able to get reservations on the first day for Moderno or Food Republic but Cagney's will fill up much faster. Are you able to get a reservation for Moderno by trying to book online?

The staff will direct you to the muster station as soon as you board the ship. It takes less than a minute to scan your key card and you can then go to restaurant reservations. You could go immediately to restaurant reservations and then to the muster station but in some cases the muster station may be on the way anyways.

How many people are in your party for dinner reservations? If it is for 2 people, it will be much easier than for a larger group. On May 28th, we boarded a few minutes after 11am and were among the first to board from the priority group. After going to our muster station, we went directly to restaurant reservations. We had to adjust some specialty dining reservations and it was more challenging for the ones with a party of 5 people than the ones for a party of 3 people. There have been times I have booked online for a party of 4 or 6 for the time that I wanted but then let them know once I got onboard that we are a party of 2. When we were disembarking with 5100 people on June 4th, we didn’t step into the cruise terminal until 10:55am or so. They were people behind us in line to disembark so I expect the cruise happening now didn’t start boarding until after 11am. You won’t need reservations for Manhattan if they handle it the way it was on our cruise with one mixed line for those with and without reservations.

Actually, you are the lucky one as you will get to embark early and can either enjoy the extra time on the ship before many others embark or can use the time to explore Seward. Since it looks like you are coming from the Eastern time zone, 6:45am is 10:45am in your time zone unless you plan to come in several days prior to adjust to the time change. You can get some breakfast options (not great but okay) on the train. It is worth the early wake up.