ihate2cruise

@YVRteacherI always enjoy your reviews and insight. I am so sorry you had such a less than stellar experience on the Jewel.

We are on our last day on board and I have to say we have had a very different experience and aside from the loud drain issue in the spa all were very respectful of the space.

All dining venues had good service and food quality we thought was very good. The Buffet is a hot mess seating wise for sure. We tried to avoid when we can.

I thought of you often this week and was disappointed for you.

I hope your next cruising experience is much better.

I know you had mentioned what time you were able to disembark already, however, to save me searching through, would you give that information again. Also, will the train to the airport be running early am and is that a better option IYO then say a taxi/uber?

10 hours ago, libtrek said:

We’ve been sick with creeping nose/cough stuff all week. Not Covid. A few thoughts (some petty). Only one treat in Club Balcony, used to be 2. Fellow cruisers and staff very friendly. One night very rough, closet doors kept sliding and light would come on. Finally fixed by stuffing and wedging throw pillows (Dad would have been stuck). Then balcony door kept opening, lock did not work. Think food choices are fewer. Several nights I did not feel like anything. Alaska made up for all shortcomings, though. Mary Lou (Libtrek)

May I Ask what Cabin #? We board on Monday and are staying in a Club Balcony.

15 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes and kindness! I appreciate your words so very much!

 

We have limited internet today and the Cruise Critic “like” buttons aren’t showing up for me. Please know I ❤️ your messages!

 

We are heading to the thermal spa and I am getting a hot stone massage. 

Happy Belated Birthday!! Let's here it for May Babies. My dad's birthday was also in May, we shared many cruises and vacations together and I have those wonderful memories...I will be celebrating my(milestone) birthday on board in Juneau on the 23rd.

On 5/9/2024 at 3:06 AM, YVRteacher said:

Cookies in the Great Outdoors

 

please note that there is no shortage of cookies on the Jewel

Thank Goodness!!! I do not eat sweets at home, when I am on vacation I eat what I want and Cruise Cookies are a MUST for ME 😉  All the talk of vanishing cookies on NCL had me feeling disappointed. Please save me some 😉 We will be on the May 20th Cruise! BTW- did they have scoop hard Ice Cream at the buffet?

47 minutes ago, NikiPinkston said:

Just thought I'd jump in here with the webpage where you can check your dock and what other ships will be in port the day(s) that you're there:

 

https://claalaska.com/

 

Click on 2024 Schedules and then your port. Another kind CC member posted this awhile back and I've found it really helpful. Have an awesome cruise!

I don't see a where it tells me if we are docked or Tendered. I just see letters after the cruise ships w/o a guide to what they stand for.

43 minutes ago, NikiPinkston said:

Just thought I'd jump in here with the webpage where you can check your dock and what other ships will be in port the day(s) that you're there:

 

https://claalaska.com/

 

Click on 2024 Schedules and then your port. Another kind CC member posted this awhile back and I've found it really helpful. Have an awesome cruise!

Thank you!

8 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

We docked in front of the Ruby Princess at Railroad dock. No passengers are permitted to walk along this dock. We had to tender as it was forbidden to walk. It would be about a 20 minute walk to the helicopter place from Railroad dock. If you tell me the date you are in Skagway I can let you know which dock is yours.

If I may hijack...;-) We are going to be in Skagway on the Jewel May 24th. Where do I find where we will be docked or tendered? I'm concerned as we have an excursion and I'm afraid tendering is going to create an issue. Good thing we are flexible go w/the flow folks, we can always cancel.

On 5/1/2024 at 7:23 PM, YVRteacher said:

 

After dinner we went to the Great Outdoors for whale watching! Wow wow wow! 

Orcas on the port side, orcas on the starboard side, orcas in our wake! That was a treat and we were both enchanted!

 

I didn’t even try to take photos. I just enjoyed the moments. Every few seconds there would be a spout followed by the arcing of a glistening black back. The sun was still high at 6:00pm so the whales were almost sparkling. 

 

Magic.

May I ask what port this was?

4 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

More details.  Why not?

For the same reason people don’t eat the Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

2 hours ago, laudergayle said:

Instead of strawberries I would like something like this! Simple, probably less costly (excep maybe the caviar) and more variety than just chocolate 🍓.

This would not get eaten in our cabin.

16 hours ago, IrieBajan54 said:

Those certainly look like Chips Ahoy! Left in the oven too long (dried out) or several days stale.

 

NCL is playing footsie with the cookies on the Viva. There was a whole lot of pound cake as usual. So I was in the Studio Lounge about 2 hours ago when the waiter came in to freshen things up. ...  so I asked where are the cookies? She said she would have to go ask her boss. She came back with a tray (chocolate chip, oatmeal & raisin, and macadamia nut). Soft and fresh! 

My guess is you just have to ask....I will be doing just that next month on the Jewel 🙂

In May we are leaving from NY>Anchorage 6am departure w/arrival 1:20ish. Post cruise Vancouver>NY departure 11:30pm w/arrival next morning around 10am.

On 2/26/2024 at 1:17 PM, shof515 said:

 

flying is getting expensive. The average price i pay for airfare to Florida for a one way flight is about 275-300ish, roundtrip is about 600 or higher. Thats almost about half of what i pay for a cruise

We've been able to score some very reasonable flights thru NCL BOGO promo NY>Fl. 

1 hour ago, cruiser2015 said:

That's great.

But I'd have to say you're beating the odds.

From what I've read on this board, the vast majority of bids, at any price point, are unsuccessful. That's particularly true for higher end cabins.

Curious - what categories are you usually going from/to with your bids?

What some folks seem to assume on these boards,  is that every person who has ever cruised has posted their experiences here. Manny more don’t post then do.
So much skepticism….<THIS is exactly why (IMO) more people don’t post more about their positive experiences, because the self proclaimed “truth police”  come in and question your integrity.

I posted OUR experiences, take it or leave it. It’s obviously, not been yours.

I will continue to book what we are satisfied with and bid the “minimum” and expect nothing, but feel blessed when I receive the Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner email 😉

1 minute ago, IAcruising said:

 

If you are bidding from inside to OV, or *maybe* OV to Balcony, I might believe this. Otherwise, as daddy always told me, "Don't believe everything you read on the Internet".

 

Like my daddy always said, There's one in every group."  

On 1/7/2024 at 6:35 PM, cruiser2015 said:

If there's a way to help you not be a successful bidder, it's to bid the lower amounts.

Not true, we are 5/6 bidding minimum.

Have never had an issue with a guarantee cabin on NCL.

I have often had luck going to wherever on the ship they are taking reservation on day of Embarkation to adjust reservations or make new ones.

Have used Domestic and International w/o issues and the best part, it saved us $$$ each time.

$398.00/2person on Jewel in May 2024 Alaska.

On 2/10/2024 at 6:00 AM, MagnoliaBlossom said:

I am truly a Cookie Monster.  Would rather have cookies than most deserts, especially warm fromthe mid afternoon buffet.  But on the Prima last week I was told they no longer do cookies.  It’s no biggy but I remember from our very first NCL cruise years ago, they would set up a table at the entrance to the buffet with four types of cookies. All very good quality then, and still warm. 😋

On our November 2023 cruise on Prima, they were ONLY in the Observation Lounge during Afternoon Snack time. The line was looooooong............Good Cookies..... Nom, Nom, Nom 😋

Hoping they will be on our Alaska Cruise in May on the Jewel 🧐

On 2/9/2024 at 9:13 AM, mking8288 said:

Shrinken, petite strawberries with faked chocolate coating ... could smaller cookies be next, no frills & sugarless.  NCL's procurement must be continuously challenged with their bulk purchasing leverage in negotiating prices to keep it low.  

 

What's next on the chopping block ... just don't touch my smoked salmon in the MDR at breakfast time  😬   Actually, the size of the half toasted bagel and even the bakery items like white/whole wheat toast, buns for the burger, etc. have all gotten smaller lately.  Pennies saved, added together multipled by 50,000 serving units a week ... times X number of ships - sure, add up in substantial savings toward the bottomline for shareholders.  

 

 

They are really just looking out for your dietary health 😉 

Another question: We get a Behind the Scenes Tour, when I try to book it it charges 99.00/pp. Do we have to book this on board?

Just now, Russiamomm said:

Yes, you get two additional specialty dinners for 2, one with a bottle of wine.  The benefit is per cabin, not per Platinum passenger.  This is in addition to any FAS meals you get.  You will also each get a free bag of laundry.  That perk is per Platinum member, not per cabin.

Thank you 🙂