Never sailed Norwegian and need advice for Alaskan cruise

This my first post on this board and I need advice on an an Alaskan cruise for late May or early Jun 2019. I would like to take my family of four (son and daughter in their 20's) on a 7-day cruise leaving out of Seattle that goes through Glacier Bay. We have cruised the Caribbean on Carnival twice, RCI once and Disney twice. All were great cruises. We don't drink, smoke, pay extra for dining, use casinos, spas or do shore excursions (we just walk around the ports). We like to go to all of the shows and do any not for fee activities except maybe pay for Bingo. We don't like to dress up above causal. I'll wear a coat, if I must, but no tie.

It looks like the Pearl may be the only ship that does Glacier Bay and everything I've read says that this is the one place that you shouldn't miss on an Alaskan cruise. We will book a basic balcony room. I would love to here your thoughts and advice as to weather Norwegian would be a good fit for my family. The other options that I'm considering are Princess and Celebrity. Holland America sounds like it's too formal and a much older crowd. I appreciate any seasoned cruisers advice.

NCL is very casual. People can dress up if they want to but nobody really cares... well maybe a few people do. LOL.

A lot of people have fun on cruises without spending for extras. But there are a few that tend to complain that those things are not included. Myself, personally, I like paying for the cruise and then paying for the things I want.

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We have done 3 Alaskan cruises on NCL. The only Round Trip Seattle ship that will be doing Glacier Bay is the Pearl (at this time). However, if you can swing it, I would suggest the 1 way cruise that leaves Vancouver and ends in Seward as you get better port times. That said, we will be on the Pearl next September for our next Alaskan cruise.

As for NCL in general. No need to dress up if you do not want to. Of course in the Main Dining rooms they do ask that you are not wearing tank tops and flip flops but jeans and a shirt are just fine. Usually 1 of the main dining rooms is casual and the other is a little fancier in which men might be in slacks and a button up.

Alaska is a great place to walk the ports. Each port will have a visitor center near it where you can pick up a walking map. You can walk to many of the historical places and read about them all for free. In Skagway though, you can go to the National Park Service office on the main drag and get the map and even sign up for a free walking tour with a Park Ranger.

2019 Alaska sailings should be out in the next couple weeks if they keep with tradition. You can get a better understanding of what ship will be doing what then.

If you can find a rate on NCL that doesn’t include the ‘perks’ I think NCL will be a good fit. It’s a very casual line and the older ships, like the pearl, will have the normal nightly theater show you are used to. Celebrity is the best in terms of the smoking policy but they will have a dress code in the dining room with formal nights (similar to the other lines you’ve sailed).

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I think the ships are more alike than different.

Seattle RT is much easier for flights of course.

For even more about Alaska - check out the ALASKA subforum here in CC.

We tend to not book ship tours, or many tours for that matter. This is Alaska. Consider splurging on just one. Float plane or Helo Tour were both favorites on our past cruises. We booked them privately.

We were on the NCL Sun last summer in Alaska which sailed one way from Vancouver to Seward and absolutely loved it. I agree that Glacier Bay is special, though we also enjoyed our Disney cruise that went through Tracy Arm Fjord. Previously we had sailed five times on Disney and once on Carnival (years ago). Our son is nineteen and for there adults traveling together, we thought NCL was a great fit - so much so that we purchased four cruise next certificates while on board. We don't gamble, so we just didn't go into the casino except to pass through a couple of times going somewhere else.

We did enjoy the specialty restaurants very much, but found the MDR food to be more than adequate and frankly so much better than what we had experienced on Disney in the past. We are casual folks, and really don't enjoy dressing up when on vacation, so found NCL's "freestyle" vibe perfect for us. We do drink alcohol, so appreciated the drink packages, but you certainly don't have to choose that as one of your perks.

I will give you one piece of advice. I know you said you don't do shore excursions and just walk around the ports. If there is one place you really need to get out of the ports and explore, it's Alaska. The port towns have their own charms, for sure, but make no mistake - they are basically the same old cruise ship shops dressed up in an Alaskan theme. But a quick trip to the surrounding wilderness will make for some marvelous adventures. You don't have to go through the cruise line (we don't!!), as there are plenty of reputable tour providers in all of these towns.

Have fun! You will love Alaska. This was our second cruise there and third trip to Alaska overall, and I'm sure we will be back again.

regardless of line, do a smaller ship, and do glacier bay. ideally, go south to north and spend a week doing Denali after the cruise. if you are thinking NCL, ive done one way Sun and RT Jewel. but i only did Jewel as we wanted the other itinerary after seeing Glacier Bay on Sun. id avoid the Bliss as its too big for alaska (would love to sail her in caribbean or mexican riviera) and it doesnt do glacier bay.

I do think Glacier Bay was fantastic. However, I decided I could live without it after Googling more recent pictures. In about the 10 years since I was last there, it looks to have receded dramatically. If you Google pictures going back every 10 years or so, it's absolutely frightening. It's why we pulled the trigger now. I want my kids to see the glaciers before they look like little ice cubes. I was going to wait and see if the new Disney ships would go to Alaska, but decided not to wait any longer. We're going on the new Bliss.

Alaska is still my favorite cruise destination. And yes, I agree that it's the one place you should actually splurge and do an excursion or two. My preferences are exactly like yours, except I don't mind wearing a suit for a day or two. You can always skip the tie and wear a jacket and still fit in on formal days. Or just go to the buffet. I've been told on this board that I won't enjoy Norwegian because our preferences pretty much go the complete opposite of what Norwegian does.

So, my advice:

Do an excursion or two. Just book on your own and give yourself plenty time to get back to the ship. You'll save a ton that way and even if it's expensive, it'll be worth it in Alaska.

If you insist on Glacier Bay, go on Princess. Wear the jacket (and skip the tie) or just eat buffet those two days.

Yes, I'd also suggest a one-way cruise trip, even though it makes flights more complicated and you do need to also find transportation in Anchorage to/from the cruise dock. From what I've seen so far, the time in ports on the round trip cruises suck. Since I've done Alaska multiple times, I'm only planning on doing a whale watching excursion this time so the crappy port times don't bother me as much.

If you do try Norwegian for the itinerary alone, adjust expectations. Or try not to have any. Just budget in and expect to pay for some dining. Don't think about what it would cost compared to another line. Norwegian is a ripoff if you start comparing, particularly if you don't drink like us. The UDP seems like the great equalizer and primary reason to pick Norwegian over another line. Without that... That's why I did the Bliss. Brand new ship so no great sales. No comparison possible either (everyone else uses older ships) so the brand new ship will make me feel like my extra money went somewhere. It's going to be expensive as a new ship so I just budget accordingly. It's still cheaper than Disney though, so if service and food isn't as good, I'm still comforted knowing that it's still cheaper than Disney.

I would love to here your thoughts and advice as to weather Norwegian would be a good fit for my family. The other options that I'm considering are Princess and Celebrity. Holland America sounds like it's too formal and a much older crowd. I appreciate any seasoned cruisers advice.

We've done Alaska three times: once on Carnival, once on NCL, and once on Princess. The biggest difference between all of the lines was not the ports, it was the content of the cruise. NCL had the least Alaska-specific content, with Princess having the most.

All ships have NPS park rangers who come on board in Glacier Bay to narrate, but when you’re just sailing around Alaska there’s no one to narrate or explain anything on NCL. NCL ships in Alaska don't have a full-time naturalist on board, while Carnival and Princess do.

Our first Alaskan cruise on Carnival had a naturalist, who would do presentations on the biology and geology of the region. She would come on the PA regularly throughout the day to point out things visible from the ship. For example, while sailing up the inside passage, she spent an inordinate amount of time explaining what we were seeing, how to spot eagles, if whales were in the area, etc. If you missed something (northern lights from the deck, the juvenile orca who breached next to our ship in Glacier Bay), she would secure photos from someone on board, and include them in her next presentation.

Our second Alaskan cruise was on the Pearl, and it was more like Alaska-lite. We had a great time, but the most we got in terms of Alaskan content from NCL was the captain coming on board to announce "um, I think there may be whales on the port side" in his Scandinavian accent with pandemonium ensuing. With no naturalist to explain anything, it seemed like we were missing out on the prime reason you'd sail in Alaska.... it was pretty, but there was no one to explain anything. They did serve chowder in the Spinnaker on Glacier Bay day and bring Steve Hite (the singing conductor) on board in Skagway to do an afternoon show, which were both nice. Otherwise, the trip was identical to our other NCL trips... if there weren't glaciers and mountains outside the windows, you would have had no idea you were in Alaska.

The third time in Alaska was on Princess. They had a TON of Alaska content, special Alaska nights in the MDR with local seafood at the lido and in the buffet, and a full time naturalist who would regularly just be out on the decks pointing out wildlife she spotted. In each port they would also bring on lecturers (Iditarod winner Libby Riddles) and have activities on the ship for passengers (sled dog puppies, lumberjacks). We paid more for the Princess trip, but I think they did a great job of providing an Alaska experience at all times on the ship... and none of that cost any extra money. We would 100% sail Princess in Alaska again.

Alaska in general is going to be a much older crowd than cruising the Caribbean, so plan accordingly. My boyfriend and I were definitely one of the youngest couple on each of our Alaska trips, but we still met people under the age of 50 each time. Surprisingly, the disco was much more active at night on the Princess trip than on the NCL and Carnival trips.

Regarding formal and stuffy, in general all lines sailing in Alaska are super-casual. It's not uncommon to see people in a fleece and jeans in the MDR for dinner, unless it's formal night when people tend to clean up a bit. NCL doesn't really have an advantage there in Alaska, because it's so casual all the time... people dress for warmth and comfort.

We sailed on the Pearl to Alaska and we loved both the ship and the itinerary. We sailed the end of May going into the first week in June. The funny part was the weather which was warm except through the glaciers where I did have to bundle up to sit outside. We did book independent excursions but we also walked around the port cities. Some ports have more to see and do than others. We have not dressed up for a cruise in years which is why we love NCL. I felt that Alaska was more casual dress than the other NCL cruises. We dressed for dinner only on the nights we ate in the specialty restaurants (dressed for us no jeans). No jackets, no ties, and no dressy dresses are required with NCL. The trip through Glacier Bay was one of the highlights of the cruise and having a balcony to sit and enjoy the view is wonderful. I hope you and your family book and enjoy the Pearl.

I read a similar post written by you on the Princess threads.

My DH and I are planning a return trip to Alaska in the Summer of 2019.

We sailed with Princess from Seattle round trip several years ago with a visit to Tracy Arm. This time, we would like to have Glacier Bay on the itinerary. Therefore, we are looking at the Ruby Princess.

Princess has been the premier cruise line for Alaska for decades. As stated in a post here, the talks and presentations onboard extend the Alaskan experience.

Keep in mind, Alaska is about the Port experiences, not so much the cruise experience. Please,do get out beyond the Port areas to experience the beauty of Alaska.

There are public buses in Juneau that will take you to the Mendenhall glacier,a beautiful place.

In Ketchikan,I also think there is public transportation to the Totem Pole Park-you could also take a cab to the site.It is a very interesting place with beautiful scenery as well as totem poles on display ,each with a particular story to relay.

In Skagway,if you do not choose to take the Yukon -White Pass train ride following the gold rush trail, please consider taking a guided tour of this interesting town. Walking tours are avaialable at the tourist center.

Alaska is very different from some Caribbean islands. There is so much history, scenery and culture to absorb at the various ports.

We have sailed on NCL in the past to Bermuda several times.

IMHO, NCL pales in comparison to Princess regarding accommodations, service and overall atmosphere.

I do think Glacier Bay was fantastic. However, I decided I could live without it after Googling more recent pictures. In about the 10 years since I was last there, it looks to have receded dramatically. If you Google pictures going back every 10 years or so, it's absolutely frightening. It's why we pulled the trigger now. I want my kids to see the glaciers before they look like little ice cubes. I was going to wait and see if the new Disney ships would go to Alaska, but decided not to wait any longer. We're going on the new Bliss.

 

Alaska is still my favorite cruise destination. And yes, I agree that it's the one place you should actually splurge and do an excursion or two. My preferences are exactly like yours, except I don't mind wearing a suit for a day or two. You can always skip the tie and wear a jacket and still fit in on formal days. Or just go to the buffet. I've been told on this board that I won't enjoy Norwegian because our preferences pretty much go the complete opposite of what Norwegian does.

 

So, my advice:

 

Do an excursion or two. Just book on your own and give yourself plenty time to get back to the ship. You'll save a ton that way and even if it's expensive, it'll be worth it in Alaska.

 

If you insist on Glacier Bay, go on Princess. Wear the jacket (and skip the tie) or just eat buffet those two days.

 

Yes, I'd also suggest a one-way cruise trip, even though it makes flights more complicated and you do need to also find transportation in Anchorage to/from the cruise dock. From what I've seen so far, the time in ports on the round trip cruises suck. Since I've done Alaska multiple times, I'm only planning on doing a whale watching excursion this time so the crappy port times don't bother me as much.

 

If you do try Norwegian for the itinerary alone, adjust expectations. Or try not to have any. Just budget in and expect to pay for some dining. Don't think about what it would cost compared to another line. Norwegian is a ripoff if you start comparing, particularly if you don't drink like us. The UDP seems like the great equalizer and primary reason to pick Norwegian over another line. Without that... That's why I did the Bliss. Brand new ship so no great sales. No comparison possible either (everyone else uses older ships) so the brand new ship will make me feel like my extra money went somewhere. It's going to be expensive as a new ship so I just budget accordingly. It's still cheaper than Disney though, so if service and food isn't as good, I'm still comforted knowing that it's still cheaper than Disney.

I wouldn't mind doing the Bliss, but it only does Tracy Arm at this point and from everything I've read indicates if I only have one trip ever, then Glacier Bay is not to be missed. Your thoughts? Also, the reason we don't take tours is my daughter has severe IBS, so being far away from a bathroom is not an option:(.

We have done 3 Alaskan cruises on NCL. The only Round Trip Seattle ship that will be doing Glacier Bay is the Pearl (at this time). However, if you can swing it, I would suggest the 1 way cruise that leaves Vancouver and ends in Seward as you get better port times. That said, we will be on the Pearl next September for our next Alaskan cruise.

As for NCL in general. No need to dress up if you do not want to. Of course in the Main Dining rooms they do ask that you are not wearing tank tops and flip flops but jeans and a shirt are just fine. Usually 1 of the main dining rooms is casual and the other is a little fancier in which men might be in slacks and a button up.

Alaska is a great place to walk the ports. Each port will have a visitor center near it where you can pick up a walking map. You can walk to many of the historical places and read about them all for free. In Skagway though, you can go to the National Park Service office on the main drag and get the map and even sign up for a free walking tour with a Park Ranger.

2019 Alaska sailings should be out in the next couple weeks if they keep with tradition. You can get a better understanding of what ship will be doing what then.

I believe that the NCL BLISS will be replacing the PEARL on the closed loop*** cruises sailing out of Seattle.

The BLISS is one of those mega-deck something for everyone floating amusement park ships.

The dress code on NCL is basically the same on all ships - one MDR dressy the other FreeStyle only the

Le Bistro is so-so formal like the dressy MDR.

Plenty to do on any of NCL's ship - and as noted in the quote above - the ports are all open for walking

hiking and self-guided tours.

As for cabin space 4 in balcony cabin is pushing it - economically it may be a tough sell but consider an

a joining cabin or inside cabin across the passageway. Bathroom space will be a prime issue.

*** Closed Loop cruises depart and arrive back at the starting port i.e. Seattle - 7 day cruise - Seattle

With the Alaska cruises there are Northbound cruises originating at Vancouver BC and terminating in

Alaska at Seward (Anchorage) - the Southbound cruise reverse this. Both of these have ample opportunity

to have land tour packages of 3-5 days. You can plan your own for as many days as you like independently

but linked to the cruise.

Read on here - more of our esteemed members and giving you tons of useful information !

I believe that the NCL BLISS will be replacing the PEARL on the closed loop*** cruises sailing out of Seattle.

The BLISS is one of those mega-deck something for everyone floating amusement park ships.

 

The dress code on NCL is basically the same on all ships - one MDR dressy the other FreeStyle only the

Le Bistro is so-so formal like the dressy MDR.

 

Plenty to do on any of NCL's ship - and as noted in the quote above - the ports are all open for walking

hiking and self-guided tours.

 

As for cabin space 4 in balcony cabin is pushing it - economically it may be a tough sell but consider an

a joining cabin or inside cabin across the passageway. Bathroom space will be a prime issue.

 

*** Closed Loop cruises depart and arrive back at the starting port i.e. Seattle - 7 day cruise - Seattle

With the Alaska cruises there are Northbound cruises originating at Vancouver BC and terminating in

Alaska at Seward (Anchorage) - the Southbound cruise reverse this. Both of these have ample opportunity

to have land tour packages of 3-5 days. You can plan your own for as many days as you like independently

but linked to the cruise.

 

Read on here - more of our esteemed members and giving you tons of useful information !

However the Bliss is not replacing the Pearl, it is replacing the Jewel

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We did the round trip Seattle Alaska cruise at the end of August on the Pearl one year. It was very casual with even less people dressing up than the typical NCL cruise. We ate in the buffet (free) every night because we were tired from walking around the ports. I would recommend at least one item to pay for in Ketchikan. It is aprox. $5 per person. The Tongass Rain Forest Museum right next to the Lumberjack show (I am giving location because I am not quite sure of the exact name. There was an (almost) IMAX type experience of flying over the rainforest and it gave a history of the area. A bargain for the price. Not sold through the cruiseline, just walk over to it by yourself.

I wouldn't mind doing the Bliss, but it only does Tracy Arm at this point and from everything I've read indicates if I only have one trip ever, then Glacier Bay is not to be missed. Your thoughts? Also, the reason we don't take tours is my daughter has severe IBS, so being far away from a bathroom is not an option:(.

I may have IBS too. Not sure. I deal. Yes, I'm very aware of where the bathrooms are at all times and what I've eaten for the past few days (I knowingly eat stuff that will give me problems because I feel it's "worth" the pain and I know what hits me, how hard, and when so I can space things out). Maybe you guys can just find tours that will always have a bathroom nearby. Like whale watch on a bigger boat with a bathroom.

In any case, as I said, with this being your one trip, I'd do Princess. Even on one of their older ships. Or Holland. I don't think I could recommend Carnival or NCL as your one and only. And do the one way trips instead of the round trip routes.

Glacier Bay is pretty awesome. I vote the Pearl.

I may have IBS too. Not sure. I deal. Yes, I'm very aware of where the bathrooms are at all times and what I've eaten for the past few days (I knowingly eat stuff that will give me problems because I feel it's "worth" the pain and I know what hits me, how hard, and when so I can space things out). Maybe you guys can just find tours that will always have a bathroom nearby. Like whale watch on a bigger boat with a bathroom.

 

In any case, as I said, with this being your one trip, I'd do Princess. Even on one of their older ships. Or Holland. I don't think I could recommend Carnival or NCL as your one and only. And do the one way trips instead of the round trip routes.

I just wanted to chime in here about your having IBS. I’ve been dealing with it for 19 years and find avoiding gluten and dairy really helps. Have sailed NCL and they are really wonderful with gluten and dairy free food choices.

I too avoid tours with no bathroom stops. It’s a nightmare. I know you said you knowingly eat foods that trigger symptoms. It’s a personal choice. I have stopped doing so because for me it’s just not worth the agony.

We are looking to do Alaska in 2020. I am leaning towards Princess or HAL. Lots of research to be done. How they handle food issues is a big part of the choice.

I wouldn't mind doing the Bliss, but it only does Tracy Arm at this point and from everything I've read indicates if I only have one trip ever, then Glacier Bay is not to be missed. Your thoughts? Also, the reason we don't take tours is my daughter has severe IBS, so being far away from a bathroom is not an option:(.

One of our family members does too. There were quite a few things that had available bathrooms. You are right, some tours like Greatest Catch (on a boat) have minimal facilities. But The Lumberjack show has great bathrooms, Tongass rainforest museum has great bathrooms (both in Ketchikan and within a very short walking distance of the ship.) We did not go on the train in Skagway but there is a bathroom in every car. Just do the round trip to have continuous availability not the one where you have to be on a bus at the end. Let's see in Victoria it was a short ride on a bus into town and there were public bathrooms by the water. The Empress Hotel has bathrooms (just for patrons) but if you go into the bar area and get a sort drink you are covered.

One of our family members does too. There were quite a few things that had available bathrooms. You are right, some tours like Greatest Catch (on a boat) have minimal facilities. But The Lumberjack show has great bathrooms, Tongass rainforest museum has great bathrooms (both in Ketchikan and within a very short walking distance of the ship.) We did not go on the train in Skagway but there is a bathroom in every car. Just do the round trip to have continuous availability not the one where you have to be on a bus at the end. Let's see in Victoria it was a short ride on a bus into town and there were public bathrooms by the water. The Empress Hotel has bathrooms (just for patrons) but if you go into the bar area and get a sort drink you are covered.

Thanks for your insight, we will definitely check out your suggestions! Also, even though the Bliss is now doing Glacier Bay and they are running a special which would make this cruise in a mini-suite $2,000.00 cheaper, I booked a mini-suite on the Ruby Princess for my family of four. The cabin is over 50 sq ft larger and my balcony is about four times larger on the Ruby. After research on a couple of boards I felt more comfortable with traditional dining and Princess has more Alaska enrichment opportunities on the ship. We sail 18 May 2019.

Have a wonderful time. Juneau has bathrooms at the base of the tramway which is a short walk from the pier too.

I've done Alaska twice and actually really enjoyed HAL. Holland America is partnered with BBC Earth and the onboard Alaska talks are great! I am young and I didn't mind HAL at all, the food was great (big importance to me), Glacier Bay was amazing (fully narrated by the park rangers). I'll never forget being on the bow of the ship in the morning surrounded by glaciers, then a few hours later, enjoying a similar view from the thermal suite. I am doing NCL again this year to Alaska on the Bliss, but I know it's going to be a different experience, it's not cruising the inside passage at all (which is a highlight) and it's the biggest ship I've ever been on. Tracy Arm Fjord is great too, but Glacier Bay is better IMO.

. We don't drink, smoke, pay extra for dining, use casinos, spas or do shore excursions (we just walk around the ports). o .

Frankly- this is a big mistake. In my opinion, various tours are half the trip in Alaska. You get pretty much nothing, just doing an aimless port wander. Being this is likely more costly going to, it may be a cheap Caribbean sailing could offer more for your money? Just a general comment.

There is so much to see and do in Alaska, I think you may want to look further. Car rentals as example, can be an excellent lower cost choice and will at least give you much more than "nothing". :)

I' I am doing NCL again this year to Alaska on the Bliss, but I know it's going to be a different experience, it's not cruising the inside passage at all (which is a highlight) .

Sorry you are wrong. ALL Alaska cruise ships sail the "Inside Passage:, you can NOT get to Juneau or Skagway without doing so.

Inside Vancouver Island in not done, BUT going north most of this transit is at night, and frankly, I see few people making much effort to enjoy it, on the Southbound which usually is dinner time.

Frankly- this is a big mistake. In my opinion, various tours are half the trip in Alaska. You get pretty much nothing, just doing an aimless port wander. Being this is likely more costly going to, it may be a cheap Caribbean sailing could offer more for your money? Just a general comment.

 

There is so much to see and do in Alaska, I think you may want to look further. Car rentals as example, can be an excellent lower cost choice and will at least give you much more than "nothing". :)

I believe the OP didn't want to do excursions because of the medical needs of a family member specifically anxiety about bathroom use. I posted a couple of times with bathroom information so that they can expand their horizons a bit but would welcome any input you could give to them concerning those I did not mention I mentioned (train, tramway,lumberjack show Tongass museum) Thank you.