NCL Pearl 8-8-10: Pearls of Wisdom, Awe, and an Unforgettable Experience

NCL Pearl, Cruise to Alaska 8-8-10

Background:

My wife and children (son:15; daughter:12) took the NCL Pearl to Alaska on 8-8-10. I booked this cruise in July 2009. It was our 15th cruise and 8th with NCL. I like to plan vacations by doing some research about the area and read about the must-see places. There are many books to read and places on the internet to receive some opinions that it became overwhelming at times. There were so many things that we wanted to do and see that it was going to be impossible to do them all. We settled on three priorities, non-stop flights, at least a balcony/suite cabin, and Glacier Bay. After reviewing all of our options for Alaska (RCCL, Celebrity, Princess, Carnival, and Holland America) we chose the NCL Pearl.

An Alaska cruise has been high on my wife’s list for many years. I love to go on cruises but was resisting this one because I had let reports taint my impression that it would be cold, boring, and only for old people (not that there is anything wrong with this!). However, after reading Cubechick’s review from last June and seeing her pictures I was thinking that I was not being very open-minded about this. In addition, we try to be on a cruise for my wife’s birthday. I decided that it was time to do what she wanted because she supported me and kept the family running smoothly for the past 6 years while I finished another advanced degree. It did not take a doctorate to tell me that it was time for me to be smart in my marriage, well, maybe it did actually!

If anyone has ever read one of my reviews I want to first thank you. I do try to relay information that may be helpful to someone planning to take a cruise. I also have children and will try my best to provide information from their perspective as well. They get annoyed when I ask them their impressions about the ship, dining, activities, and excursions but they do come through with really good information. Also, I do appreciate the feedback. You are very brave. You also must have a lot of time on your hands because I can get really wordy and it can get very long.

Synopsis:

This was an amazing and unforgettable experience for me and my family. I am grateful for this cruise and everything worked out the way it was supposed to. The beauty of Alaska is there if you stop, breathe, and look. I do hope to go back again since there is so much to still do and see. Here is a brief listing of what we did. The complete review will get into the details.

Pre-cruise in Seattle: Stayed at Homewood Suites/Downtown. Very close to the pier. I love the city. We walked everywhere. Experience Music Museum-Sci-Fi Museum, Space Needle, Science Museum, Seattle Underground, exploring the city.

Pearl: My new favorite ship. Staff were great! We had dinners at Le Bistro, Cagneys, La Cuchina, Shabu-Shabu, Indigo, and the Garden Café.

Alaska:

Juneau: took the bus to Mendenhall Glacier and explored this area (rain and drizzle 60’s);

Skagway: White Pass RR train (60’s to 70 some blue sky and clouds); Glacier Bay (still no words to describe this amazing place early morning cool but became sunny with clear blue sky and 70);

Ketchikan: Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s tour (70’s to 80 and clear blue sky);

Victoria: stayed on the ship and enjoyed a sunny day of 88. However, we took the NCL Behind the scenes tour while at sea in the morning before our arrival.

Next: Seattle: The hills, the weather, and the things we did in this cool city!

That's it???? Where's the rest of the review???? I want more!:D

Which of the restaurants on the Pearl are pay extras???

Thanks

Part 2: Seattle: Pre-cruise

We flew into Seattle on Alaska Air Thursday morning 8-5-10. It was a non-stop flight. We arrived at about 11:30 am. We are tall people and we were pleaseantly surprised with the leg room! It was a hot and sunny day in Seattle. Our bodies and minds were still on East coast time so we arrived to the hotel and fortunately our room was ready.

The Homewood Suites Downtown is close to the port, about 1 mile actually. We unloaded 6 (yes 6!) heavy bags filled with clothes for warm weather and for cold weather. We had boots, hats, and gloves as well as swim suits shorts and t-shirts. We were prepared for whatever Mother Nature was to give us on this trip!

Free from the luggage we headed out to see what Seattle had to offer us. We began by exploring the waterfront and walked to Pier 66, the place where the Pearl would be in a few days. There is a nice bike and running path that we walked. There was also an outdoor art exhibit that placed large pieces in a park for all to see. It was a short walk up the hill to Pike Market so we decided to head there as it was on our list. The market reminded me of Boston’s Quincy Market in many ways but they do not throw the fish! I should point out that the fish were not thrown when we were at Pike Place Market either. However, my wife returned on Saturday and got to see this event! We walked around, bought some fresh berries for later, and decided to head back to the hotel for some dinner.

During the walk back to the hotel the time difference, the heat, and the lack of sleep seemed to impact all of us. Even our brand new camera became a victim to our rapidly deteriorating energy as my wife walked into a light pole! My wife was fine but the camera did have an injury, a broken cover for the memory card but it did not pose a problem. For a minute, I thought that the trip was going to get much more expensive but everything was fine. We made it back to the hotel and had a nice dinner. We arrived back in the room at about 6:00 pm. We were discussing what we should do next but we were all pretty tired and it was decided that we would stay in and take it easy tonight. By 7:00 pm we were all asleep!

Friday morning was overcast with a little drizzle. It was still warm about 70 degrees. After a nice breakfast at the hotel that is included in the price, my kids and wife went up the hill to the Science Museum and I met a friend for coffee with plans to connect up with the family a bit later. It was great to see my colleague again and to hear all the good things that he is doing teaching college students.

I met up with my family and we enjoyed the science museum. This is located in the same park area with the Experience Music Project, Science Fiction Museum, gardens, Visitor’s Center and Space Needle. We would get to know this area well. We hopped on the monorail and connected to a free underground bus (not like this in Boston) to Pioneer Square.

Pioneer Square is where the Seattle Underground tour is. This is one of the oldest areas in Seattle. We really enjoyed this tour as our guide, Forest, provided a history of the city, lessons learned, and how after the fire the city was built on top on the old rather than clearing. The underground area was formed because of this and we got to explore some areas of the city and see the original first floor and sidewalks of building we were just in. This was fun and I do recommend it if you are able to walk up and down stairs and uneven ground.

We returned to the Space Needle area to meet up with my in-laws who had just arrived from Boston to take the cruise with us. They were experiencing the same tiredness as we did the day before so we went for an early dinner near their hotel, The Hampton Inn. Dinner was delicious and many of us had salmon. It was cooked to perfection and was the first of many terrific meals to come. We celebrated the fact that the family was well enough to make this journey together. This is a dream come true for my father-in-law! We walked back to their hotel and we went down the hill to ours with plans to meet for brunch at the Space Needle.

Saturday morning was overcast and some drizzle again. I was up early so I decided to go for a run along the coast. I recently have started to run and since I live along the East coast and run along the Atlantic I had hoped to take a run along the Pacific. It was 6:30 am and I found myself running towards the pier to greet the NCL Star. I waved to the people eating breakfast thinking that I would be doing this on the Pearl soon enough. My second thought was that I had better get running because of my first thought. I ran along the shore and was heading towards Pier 91 where the Princess and Holland America ships were docked. This was a nice run and I made it back to the hotel as the rest of the crew was getting up to bet ready for breakfast.

We spent the morning at the Science Fiction museum and Experience Music Project. For one admission price you are able to tour both. This was interesting and informative. The kids were a bit bored by the science fiction part because they are not into that genre. They liked the music exhibit, especially the parts where you could play the instruments and record.

We met my in-laws at the Space Needle as it was beginning to rain. Our reservation was at 1:15 pm and I do recommend that if you want to eat at the Space Needle either for Lunch, brunch, or dinner as it is always full. The brunch includes the tickets to the observatory as well. It was a great meal with a fantastic view that changes since the restaurant turns 360 degrees. While we were there the Blue Angels were doing maneuvers for their show and did a fly by. It was pretty cool but did catch a few people by surprised given the loud screams heard throughout the restaurant! A cousin and her son also arrived today to take this cruise and had a later brunch at the Space Needle. After brunch we all went up to the observatory take in the views of Seattle. We could see the NCL Star getting ready to leave port to head to Alaska, the city’s business district, and the huge seaport with large vessels coming in and out.

We headed back to the hotel to do some laundry and get ready for tomorrow. The Pearl would be here to take us to Alaska. I had a few thoughts in my mind as I was getting ready. Would people on the ship as nice and friendly as the fine folks in Seattle had been? Would I like this ship as much as the others? Would the weather be a problematic for us to really enjoy this cruise? Did I hype NCL up too much to my in-laws who are experienced cruisers but never on NCL? Will my kids ever speak to my wife and I again for dragging them to a cold weather cruise? Could I really stay in the moment and relax by continuing to remain unplugged since I left my computer and I-phone back home? All of these thoughts swam in my head. I gave my prayer of thanks for getting us this far.

I was up early Sunday morning and looked out my hotel window to see the Pearl smiling back at me! I forgot to mention that our room did give us a slight peak of the ships that dock at pier 66. The ship was here and it was like Christmas for me! My wife and kids know the drill by now. Get up, get some breakfast, and get to the pier because Dad’s vacation really starts when the luggage is sent on-board and the room key is in his hand!

We left the hotel at 10:05 by the hotel shuttle. For $4:00 per person it was a bargain given the luggage. When we arrived, the porter suggested that he not take the bags because it would be better for us to bring them over to another spot. The pier offers an early luggage drop off and we took advantage of that option. By 10:25 we were heading through security and up to get checked in. The port agent took our cards and tickets escorted us to the area where we could sit and wait. We enjoyed waiting and talking to some of the other lucky passengers who were also on this trip.

At 11:30 am we were heading on-board and I was looking forward to seeing this ship. This was my first time on an NCL Jewel class ship. I have been on the Majesty, Dream, Spirit, and Dawn so I was not sure how the Pearl would measure up. We were told that the rooms were not going to be ready until 1:30 pm. We are used to this and our lunch plans and exploration of this ship would occupy our time until then. We only had a few carry-ons so this would be manageable.

Up Next: The Pearl, our home away from home and the adventures in port.

Jim, you are making me want to go to Seattle and Alaska again! Great, great travelogue so far. I'm looking forward to the next installation. Interesting that you saw the Blue Angels fly by; the sound of those jet engines always catches folks offguard here in San Francisco, too, when they do their airshow every year. We've never been able to do the Underground Tour, and that's a definite plan for our next Seattle visit. Keep it coming!

Jim, great review so far! Like, Cruise More Often, I too am looking forward to going back! A pre or post cruise stay in Seattle is a must. I could walk every where from my hotel, the hills were a little tough on me though, even walked down the hill on Sunday with our luggage right onto the ship! Looking forward to the rest of your review!

NCL Pearl, Cruise to Alaska 8-8-10

Background:

Alaska:

Juneau: took the bus to Mendenhall Glacier and explored this area (rain and drizzle 60’s);

Skagway: White Pass RR train (60’s to 70 some blue sky and clouds); Glacier Bay (still no words to describe this amazing place early morning cool but became sunny with clear blue sky and 70);

Ketchikan: Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s tour (70’s to 80 and clear blue sky);

Victoria: stayed on the ship and enjoyed a sunny day of 88. However, we took the NCL Behind the scenes tour while at sea in the morning before our arrival.

 

[F

Hey, this is exactly what we did on our cruise last month! Too funny!

Hey, this is exactly what we did on our cruise last month! Too funny!

great minds think alike:D! I hope you enjoyed each one like we did.

Part 3: The Pearl, The Cabin, My Organizational Skills, and The First Supper

After a wonderful sit down lunch I really felt like I was on a cruise. I have arrived home to my favorite vacation place, a ship. By the way, the dining options for lunch on embarkation day are up to the Garden Café for the buffet, Summer Palace for sit down service, or Cagney’s if you are in a suite or courtyard accommodations.

We went to purchase soda stickers for the kids (unlimited soda for them for the week, rate for 12 and under; 13 and above get adult charge: total: 82.51) and the man at the bar gave them NCL mugs as a nice gift! I also decided that since I have worked pretty hard to get back in shape I was going to purchase the Spa pass for the first time. For 99.00 I was able to use the spa and the thermal suite for the week. There is a limited number of passes so I went right away to get it. I will write more about this experience later in the review.

We headed down to Bliss Lounge to check out the famous bowling alleys. It was a neat place and we made a decision be sure to try this out later. As we waited for the rooms to be ready we created a list of the things we planned on doing this week. My daughter wanted to add the Rock climbing wall to the list along with swimming in the pool, hot tub, and going down water slide. My Father-in-law was hopeful that he could see a Glacier from his balcony. My wife wanted to go in the hot tub as well and continue our tradition of dining in Le Bistro for the first night. I thought that I had better find the time to use the fitness center and jog this week in addition to being out on the balcony for Glacier Bay regardless of the weather conditions as I wanted to see the glaciers up close and in the elements. We continued this list with the others in the party and before we knew it was time to check out the cabins.

Our cabin was an aft facing Balcony cabin on deck 10. I selected this for the large balcony and the fact that it also was quad occupancy. We have been lucky to cruise in insides, ocean views, and suites in the past on NCL. We have never booked a balcony. The cabin was a standard size but the balcony was much larger and had 2 lounge chairs, 2 standard chairs, and a small table. It was plenty big enough for us outside and we knew that we would manage OK in the cabin with the family togetherness. There were 2 beds pushed together, a pull out couch and a Pullman bed that dropped from the ceiling. It is not possible to get out to the balcony without climbing over and under the beds but it is doable! The pullout and Pullman were put away each morning and set up each night to allow easy access to the balcony during the day.

We had a nice view of the USS KIDD that was in port and heavily guarded. The Seattle sky line was also a sight to see as we started to unpack and get organized. My wife will admit that I am the only one in the family with organizational skills suited for a cruise ship where the space is limited. So, I started to get the closet, drawers, and shelves set up for the four of us. Each member of the family had a section in the closet and a shelf/drawer. Did I mention that there were 4 of us and 6 huge suitcases? Anyway, you may get the point that it took a bit to get it together but in the end we could walk in the cabin and actually know where are things were. The storage under the beds worked out nicely for the luggage leaving one accessible at all times to put the dirty clothes. I mention all of this in tedious detail because if you are a family of 4 and want a balcony cabin this cabin is great. If we were on cruise to a warm weather port then this cabin would have worked even better.

After the mandatory lifeboat drill (no life jackets needed anymore for this) and more time enjoying the ship it was time for our first dinner. We chose Le Bistro because it is a tradition in our family to start each cruise on NCL at Le Bistro. I also chose this because I am a smart man and I listen to my wife. It was on her list of wishes for this adventure. Janis was our waiter and she was superb. She took the time to explain the menu and the 20.00 pp cover charge. There were a few additional items on the menu with an additional charge and she made sure that we understood. The dinner was excellent and the service attentive. Many of us ordered the escargot, clam chowder, and French Onion soup for appetizers. The family main course orders consisted of the filet, salmon, and one lobster. The chocolate fondue and the Crème Brule were hits as well. My entire family felt well taken cared for and it was a great first supper!

We went to the welcome aboard show to find that David Naster (Comedian), Oh What A Night (singing group), and Shark Bait (Jugglers) were the entertainment along with the Jean Ann Ryan Company doing two shows. We walked around the ship a bit and headed back to the cabin for bed.

We settled in to the cabin nicely and I again said my prayers of thanks for being blessed to be able to be here on this ship with my family. I was on vacation and looking forward to adventures and time to enjoy each moment just as it is.

If you are still with me, thank you! It picks up a bit as I get into the ports and days on the Pearl.

Up Next: Sea Day, Spa, Service, and STYLE

we leave next Saturday for the Pearl with our two kids, and I am loving your review.... I too feel very lucky to be able to be sharing such a nice vacation with my kids and praying that it all goes smoothly (and everyone stays healthy and safe!)

Waiting for some more. We are on September 12, 2010. :p

Part 3: The Pearl, The Cabin, My Organizational Skills, and The First Supper

 

After a wonderful sit down lunch I really felt like I was on a cruise. I have arrived home to my favorite vacation place, a ship. By the way, the dining options for lunch on embarkation day are up to the Garden Café for the buffet, Summer Palace for sit down service, or Cagney’s if you are in a suite or courtyard accommodations.

We went to purchase soda stickers for the kids (unlimited soda for them for the week, rate for 12 and under; 13 and above get adult charge: total: 82.51) and the man at the bar gave them NCL mugs as a nice gift! I also decided that since I have worked pretty hard to get back in shape I was going to purchase the Spa pass for the first time. For 99.00 I was able to use the spa and the thermal suite for the week. There is a limited number of passes so I went right away to get it. I will write more about this experience later in the review.

 

We headed down to Bliss Lounge to check out the famous bowling alleys. It was a neat place and we made a decision be sure to try this out later. As we waited for the rooms to be ready we created a list of the things we planned on doing this week. My daughter wanted to add the Rock climbing wall to the list along with swimming in the pool, hot tub, and going down water slide. My Father-in-law was hopeful that he could see a Glacier from his balcony. My wife wanted to go in the hot tub as well and continue our tradition of dining in Le Bistro for the first night. I thought that I had better find the time to use the fitness center and jog this week in addition to being out on the balcony for Glacier Bay regardless of the weather conditions as I wanted to see the glaciers up close and in the elements. We continued this list with the others in the party and before we knew it was time to check out the cabins.

 

Our cabin was an aft facing Balcony cabin on deck 10. I selected this for the large balcony and the fact that it also was quad occupancy. We have been lucky to cruise in insides, ocean views, and suites in the past on NCL. We have never booked a balcony. The cabin was a standard size but the balcony was much larger and had 2 lounge chairs, 2 standard chairs, and a small table. It was plenty big enough for us outside and we knew that we would manage OK in the cabin with the family togetherness. There were 2 beds pushed together, a pull out couch and a Pullman bed that dropped from the ceiling. It is not possible to get out to the balcony without climbing over and under the beds but it is doable! The pullout and Pullman were put away each morning and set up each night to allow easy access to the balcony during the day.

 

We had a nice view of the USS KIDD that was in port and heavily guarded. The Seattle sky line was also a sight to see as we started to unpack and get organized. My wife will admit that I am the only one in the family with organizational skills suited for a cruise ship where the space is limited. So, I started to get the closet, drawers, and shelves set up for the four of us. Each member of the family had a section in the closet and a shelf/drawer. Did I mention that there were 4 of us and 6 huge suitcases? Anyway, you may get the point that it took a bit to get it together but in the end we could walk in the cabin and actually know where are things were. The storage under the beds worked out nicely for the luggage leaving one accessible at all times to put the dirty clothes. I mention all of this in tedious detail because if you are a family of 4 and want a balcony cabin this cabin is great. If we were on cruise to a warm weather port then this cabin would have worked even better.

 

After the mandatory lifeboat drill (no life jackets needed anymore for this) and more time enjoying the ship it was time for our first dinner. We chose Le Bistro because it is a tradition in our family to start each cruise on NCL at Le Bistro. I also chose this because I am a smart man and I listen to my wife. It was on her list of wishes for this adventure. Janis was our waiter and she was superb. She took the time to explain the menu and the 20.00 pp cover charge. There were a few additional items on the menu with an additional charge and she made sure that we understood. The dinner was excellent and the service attentive. Many of us ordered the escargot, clam chowder, and French Onion soup for appetizers. The family main course orders consisted of the filet, salmon, and one lobster. The chocolate fondue and the Crème Brule were hits as well. My entire family felt well taken cared for and it was a great first supper!

 

We went to the welcome aboard show to find that David Naster (Comedian), Oh What A Night (singing group), and Shark Bait (Jugglers) were the entertainment along with the Jean Ann Ryan Company doing two shows. We walked around the ship a bit and headed back to the cabin for bed.

 

We settled in to the cabin nicely and I again said my prayers of thanks for being blessed to be able to be here on this ship with my family. I was on vacation and looking forward to adventures and time to enjoy each moment just as it is.

 

If you are still with me, thank you! It picks up a bit as I get into the ports and days on the Pearl.

 

Up Next: Sea Day, Spa, Service, and STYLE

Got a dumb question for you. I know the bowling costs extra ($5 per game, I think) what about the climbing wall? Are there any age restrictions for this?

Which of the restaurants on the Pearl are pay extras???

Thanks

I just unpacked more from the suitcase and found the Freestyle Daily. I can now answer your question with confidence. The charges are per person:

Mambos (10.00)

La Cucina (10.00)

Lotus Garden (15.00)

Shabu-Shabu (15.00)

Sushi Bar (15.00)

Le Bistro (20.00)

Cagney's (25.00)

Teppanyaki (25.00)

Got a dumb question for you. I know the bowling costs extra ($5 per game, I think) what about the climbing wall? Are there any age restrictions for this?

Not dumb questions at all! I did not know the answers until I did both of these last week.

You are correct that the bowling is 5.00 per person per game(string).

There was no charge for the climbing wall. I needed to sign a waiver for myself and for my daughter for both activities actually. The Freestyle daily says age is 6 years and older to climb.

Thank you Jim ... another great read! I'm still enjoying your Spirit 2009 review, too!

Thank you Jim ... another great read! I'm still enjoying your Spirit 2009 review, too!

Thank you!:)

Thank you so much for posting your review! We are going next year and I love reading all the reviews that previous cruisers have posted!

Part 4: Sea Day, Spa, Service, and STYLE

I woke up early and decided to honor my word and get to the fitness center. Who would be up at 6:15 am to work out on a cruise? I should have plenty of choices for a treadmill so I thought. Well, on my way to the fitness center there were some people already in the hot tub. It was cold and cloudy. I wondered if they were there, frozen in place from last night. They were moving and seemed to be enjoying the morning so I guess they were used to the weather and early risers. As I walked in to the fitness center I noticed that it was packed. There was one machine open, a stair machine, so I jumped on. For the next 45 minutes I climbed, sweated, and raised my heart rate. My fellow fitness brothers and sisters were of all ages and dedicated to not let the cruise food pack on the pounds without a good fight. It felt good to get moving. As I climbed I thought that the problem with my logic was that in previous cruises I was the one not working out. They were here doing their thing. I was the new kid on the block and it was great to have some company!

I returned to the cabin to find that everyone was moving and getting ready for breakfast. I took a quick shower and we went for a nice sit down breakfast. After, we met up with my in-laws and cousins and planned out our day at sea. We decided to explore the ship some more, get some lunch, and then get out on deck to walk/jog some more. The weather was still a bit cold but after lunch I ran 2 miles on the jogging track on deck 13 while others walked and we again had good company. The promenade deck on deck 7 is a place that walking is allowed but no jogging. Since I was going to jog, the shorter track on deck 13 is where we went.

The views outside were of land with lots of trees and mountains. There were some whale sightings from the front and later from our aft balcony. The hope that we would be able to see some sea life was coming true since it was only Monday and we saw whales.

My wife and kids were going to relax a bit so I decided to check out the spa. I was surprised that the thermal suite was not too crowded. The heated tile loungers were occupied but there was space in the therapy pool. The sauna, Jacuzzi, and steam room in the men’s area were also not crowded. I was able to enjoy some pampering and got refreshed. I was definitely coming back here again this week. I showered to get ready for a party in the courtyard for Silver, Gold, and Platinum Latitudes members, VIP’s, and suite guests. I returned to the cabin to find my family. My wife informed me that she signed us all up for the Behind the Scenes tour which was 55.00 per person. The tour was to take place on Saturday morning while at sea heading to Victoria. I have always wanted to do this.

I enjoyed the party and met some nice people. In particular I met a couple who were retiring from their jobs and loving life and another who were cruising with their 9 year old son. The officers were present as well. The Food and Beverage Manager, Housekeeping Manager, Hotel Director, and the Captain were all there to talk to us. I spent quite a bit of time talking to the Housekeeping Manager since he too had worked on most of the ships that I have already been on. He gave me some nice information about the NCL Pearl and her sister, The Gem.

After this party we decided to have dinner at the Garden Café. This was a first for my wife and I but the kids do prefer this at times. I was surprised to see the selections offered at dinner. There was a lot to choose from and the food was very good. The attentiveness of the staff in the buffet was excellent. It actually made me feel like I was dining and not going for a quick bite to eat. They were helpful and ready to clear your plate away as soon as you were done.

We attended the 9:15pm show, Oh What a Night and these guys really put on a good show based on the music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. I really enjoyed it. From there we went to the Comedy show with David Naster up in Spinnakers. He was funny, looked like Danny DeVito, and I am glad that I went to this as well. The lounge was packed with people and it was a standing room only experience.

The other lounges had singing with the Sandy-Lyn Duo in one and music with Richard Rogers in another. There also was bowling, karoke, and later dancing with the Pearl stars at 11:15 in Spinnakers. There was something to do all over the ship.

We returned to our cabin and were ready for bed. I was grateful for the day and for time with my family. I was also thinking that all the staff we encountered today were friendly and made sure that we were satisfied. It was apparent that the teamwork training concept of NCL, the STYLE program was having a good success on this ship. I was remembered that this was also the impression that I received last summer on my Spirit cruise. I made a mental note to be sure that I went to the Reception desk in the morning to get some STYLE cards to recognize staff that go above and beyond to provide service. I have found reasons to fill out at least one of these cards on each of our 8 NCL cruises. It was only the first full day on-board and I already had a reason to complete one. I was hopeful that this was a good omen actually! Would this cruise be even better than our Spirit cruise last year? Would things continue to go this well? Stay tuned to find out!

Up Next: Juneau, Skagway, and Rock Climbing Adventures!

Part 5: Juneau:

I again woke up early but decided to sleep a bit more. We were not due to be in Juneau until 2:00 pm and I thought that I could get a run in on the track before we went ashore.

I noticed that the Tip of the Day on the Freestyle Daily was about planning ahead. Today was the day to sign up for the BAGS program. I heard that space was limited for this so I wanted to be sure to take care of it as soon as possible. This is a program in which you can pay a fee, 20.00 per person for NCL to print your boarding pass and bring your bags to the airport for check in leaving you without bags when you disembark the ship on Sunday. It is available for people who have booked their flights independently as well as through NCL. They work with most airlines and have a list of partners. If you have an afternoon flight you are eligible to do this. We had a 10:20 pm flight on Alaska Air back to Boston. I was happy to pay this (Reminder: we had 6 HUGE BAGS). We would receive our luggage tags and place them on the bags by Midnight Saturday/Sunday, the day of disembarkation just like everyone else. If the airline charges a fee for the bag, this is also taken care of by NCL. So, you may pay 20.00 to NCL for the BAGS program and additional fees to the airline but NCL takes care of that during the check in. I knew that by doing this program meant that I would not see my bags until I arrived in Boston. This made me very happy!

It was a cloudy day with some periods of drizzle along the inside passage to Juneau. We enjoyed another nice breakfast and got the day going. I did go for a jog on the track as it had stopped raining a bit. The track on deck 13 says 5 and one-half times around equal a mile. I was 2 miles into my jog when a fellow runner joined me. He was by far a better runner. He slowed down to my pace to talk with me. He did not realize that my limit is 2 miles and there was no way that I can talk and run! I thought, what the heck, give it a shot and talk to the guy, I may surprise myself. Through my gasps and grunts I learned that he was originally from Boston and now lives in the south, he was here with his family and in-laws, and he works in a similar field. Talk about coincidences! Then he tells me he went to college on a track scholarship and here is when I laughed because that when the similarities ended. We talked and jogged and he stopped to cool down while I finished my additional laps to clear 3 miles! I was feeling pretty good about meeting my new running partner, trading some stories, learning how to run and talk, and this accomplishment!

I went back to the cabin to get ready for our adventure in Juneau. It was in the high 50’s to low 60’s with a mostly cloudy forecast. I guess that this meant drizzle. There were only periods of this however.

We had planned to do the Mount Roberts Tram and/or Mendenhall Glacier. I was concerned that the fog would not lift and make the tram ride a bit pointless. So we went up to the bow of the ship on deck 14 to watch our arrival to Juneau. We saw a waterfall as we stood outside and noticed other ships at the pier including the NCL Star. We needed the Star to leave so we could dock in that spot.

Once docked we decided, through my wife’s thoughtful planning, that we should go to the Glacier first and if it clears, go up the tram after since the bus will drop us off right next to it. I married a smart woman! I am listening to her! I am noticing a pattern forming and I hope you men are too!

So we got off the ship and walked to town to catch the bus. It was a 15 minute walk to town and the bus to the Glacier was 7.00 per person one way/14.00 round trip. We were dressed in rain gear, boots, and had gloves and hats just in case.

The driver of the bus gave a nice history of Juneau. We saw the Governor’s mansion and learned about the town and life there.

Before we knew it we were at the Visitor’s Center. The blue color of the glacier is what struck me first! It was a huge piece of ice and there bits of all sizes in the lake. I was definitely walking as close as I could to that sucker! So, off we went to a trail that was for pictures and viewing. My son noticed that there was a water fall next to the glacier. There were people over there and they were closer to the glacier than we were. Yup, we were getting on the trail and heading over rocks and little rivers. We had boots on and once again my wife’s idea to wear these. We did leave the rain pants back on the ship and probably could have used them too but it really was not too bad.

Along this trail through the path, mud, water, and rocks we saw some bear tracks. They looked fresh. The driver told us that there very likely could be bears along the path. We did not see the bears but found out later from other passengers that they were there up in a tree. I did not think to look up nor did I remember the driver’s famous words until later, “if you look for the crowd of people, you will find the bear”!

The walk to the falls was a lot of fun. I spotted a big piece of glacier by the shore. My kids and I decided that this piece of glacier had to come home with us. So, I walked into the lake and picked it up! I carried it a bit. Yes, it was cold! Yes, the fresh Alaska air had seeped into my logic! This piece of glacier was going to melt and it was way too big to fit into our bags and definitely would not fit in the mini fridge in the cabin. So, I put it back. I think my kids thought I was really going to take it home with us! I know my mother-in-law was thinking that maybe she was wrong about me at that moment. Anyway, the walk in the lake, although shallow and brief was fun and gave my kids and I an idea to try to get as close to the falls as possible for a nice family photo. We were able to walk in about ankle deep and get a nice picture. The mist from the water fall and the glacier near us was quite an experience! We stayed there for a bit and took the higher trail back to the lot to catch the bus.

Once we arrived back to the pier area we decided that the 27.00 per person tram ride would be a waste since it was still so cloudy. We took the bus back to the ship and got changed to meet my Father-in-Law for dinner.

We chose to dine in Indigo since this was the restaurant on-board where jeans were welcome. I tried the lobster and grouper entrée. It was good but I thought that the lobster was a bit dry and over-cooked. I still ate it however and made a decision not to request another one. I am certain that I would have received another one but truthfully, I was full and the fish was very good so I was satisfied.

We had an early day tomorrow in Skagway so we decided it was a good idea to get to bed at a reasonable hour. I said my prayer of thanks for a wonderful day. The weather was really not an issue for us. We were prepared for any weather in Alaska. I went to sleep thinking of the beauty of Mendenhall Glacier.

Next up: Skagway and Birthday Surprises

Part 6: Skagway:

We arrived in Skagway at 7:00 am. This was Wednesday, August 11th, and my wife’s birthday. I was going to do whatever she wanted! We had discussed several options and concluded that the White Pass Rail Road train was the way to see lots of scenic Alaska. It was a partly cloudy day and the temperature was about 60 degrees. Again we wore our boots, fleece, and rain gear. We had breakfast with my in-laws and we all headed off the ship to board the train. This train picks you up right at the pier.

The 3 and a half hour trek up the White Pass route offered us beautiful scenery as we progressed up to the summit and into Canada before we turned around and went back down. This train climbs from sea level to almost 3,000 feet at the summit in just 20 miles and features steep grades of almost 3.9 %. We were given a guide book loaded with history about the significance of this route in the gold rush era in Alaska. There were amazing views of waterfalls and of the rivers and mountains as we headed up and down as guides narrated the entire tour with facts and stories. Do not worry about getting a good seat on the train. If you sat on the left going up a required seat swap at the top with your neighbor across the aisle put you on the other side going down.

We got off the train and explored downtown. There are plenty of shops and stores to see. We peeked in the famous Saloon downtown and it was very crowded. We walked around the town area and I found a spot to sit and take in the snow and ice capped mountains that surround this port. The sun was out and the blue sky was making its presence know through some cumulus clouds. This was a beautiful spot indeed! There were 4 ships in port and a train loading passengers for another run up the White Pass but it seemed, or I seemed, peaceful here. The hustle and noise was nothing like Boston or other large city yet there was a lot going on.

Back on-board we had some lunch and keeping to my promise to exercise, I went for another run. There were some very windy spots on the starboard side so I decided to take my workout to the fitness center to finish up. There was no one there! I was the only one in the fitness center so I had plenty of treadmills to choose from. The truth is I actually am not a fan of running on the treadmill. However, the wind really kept me from being outside so I made the best of it, finished my run, and went to the spa to unwind and clean up.

I arrived back to the cabin and my daughter announced that she wanted to go rock climbing. We looked at the Freestyle Daily and what do you know, the wall was open. I was hoping that it was not as windy for her. We ventured up to the rock climbing wall and my daughter admitted that she was not so sure about this. She said that she would go if I went first! I have never climbed the wall on a ship or gym before. I actually did not know if I could do it without making a fool of myself. However, my daughter wanted to try and I decided to suck it up and put my big boy pants (or in this case harness) on and do it!

Romeo, the staff at the wall, was great a coach. He told me what to do and promised that although he was smaller and lighter that I was, he could hold me up. Up I climbed and found it invigorating to be up next to the NCL smoke stack ringing a bell. He told me to let go and he would let me down. This was his test, to not let me go crashing to the deck below. He passed it with flying colors and as he unclipped me he told me that I was to take a break and let me daughter go and then I was to do the other two sections of the wall as they were harder. I was ready for the challenge after my daughter went up. She did great and climbed about half way up before she began to panic. Romeo was wonderful with her as he coached her up a bit more before she decided that she could not do it. She came down and he told her a few things to do and she was willing to try again after I went. I easily made the second wall but noticed that it was a bit more difficult. My daughter tried again and this time went up to the top and rang the bell! The smile on her face was all I needed! She had conquered the wall and her fear and won! I was so proud that she was able to get back on the wall and figure it out. It was now time for me to try the hard wall. Another kid who seemed to know what he was doing went before me and he did not make it up the whole way. This was not looking so good. It was my turn and as I climbed I was determined to get as far as I could. I was half way up and moving pretty well. It was then that my hands were not gripping the pegs so well and I seemed to lose some of my strength. I am not afraid of the heights. I actually thought it was kind of cool to be up on this big plastic wall surrounded by mountains, snow, and ice. I got to the ¾ mark and grabbed a peg and my hands could not hold on. Romeo, always the professional, was ready and guided me down. He continued in his coach role and said that sometimes when you do this a lot your hands just cannot hold on any more. He told me to come back again and start with the most difficult wall first! Thanks Coach Romeo!

We had dinner in Cagney’s for my wife’s birthday as it was her choice. The cover charge for this steakhouse is 25.00 per person. The service and meals were wonderful. The waiters sang happy birthday and Pearl, the Concierge, came over to make sure that everything was to our liking. It was a nice celebration and my wife was very touched even though she does not like to have happy birthday sung to her.

We returned to the cabin to find it decorated with balloons and streamers! The Room Stewards made the room festive for the birthday and my wife was really surprised. My NCL Guardian Angel once again outdid herself! It was a perfect evening! My prayers of gratitude and for being blessed with wonderful family and friends were abundant. There were and are lots of things to be thankful for.

Up next: Glacier Bay, WOW!

Thanks so much Jim for a wonderful look into your trip. Please keep them coming, I am packing right now for my cruise on the Pearl on Sunday!! First cruise and can't wait!

I'm actually looking at cruising on the Pearl next year, although not to Alaska. It is still very interesting to read your review. I really appreciate you taking the time to write it. Looking forward to reading the rest of it.

OceanDreams

Jim, am loving your review! You're bringing me right back to our wonderful cruise and making me want to go back!:)

I'll definitely need to carve out more time for Seattle next time. We didn't get there until Saturday and didn't do nearly as much as you!

Part 7: Blue Lagoon and Glacier Bay

I must go back and give mention to Claudia in the Blue Lagoon. We decided to eat at the Blue Lagoon for lunch before we left the ship in Juneau on Tuesday. Claudia came to take our order and made sure to mention to my son that he could have all the wings that he wanted. She also took the time to make sure that this was OK with us too! Claudia checked on him and us frequently to be sure that we were satisfied with our meals and that the kids were happy. She even made a special hot chocolate for my father-in-law. After our meal I told her that the Blue Lagoon has been a popular spot for our family on our previous cruises and that she was by far the most attentive and wonderful wait staff we had encountered. She thanked me for the compliment and told me that she hoped to see us at Mambos for dinner as that is where she is at night. We did see her again the next morning, at the Garden Café, for breakfast. She remembered that it was my wife’s birthday and quickly asked if my father-in-law wanted her special hot chocolate. She was special and if you go on the Pearl look for Claudia!

Now I will move on to Thursday and Glacier Bay. My wife and I decided to let the kids sleep in a bit and we got up for an early breakfast. I was out on deck first at 6:30 am. It was cool and breezy but the sights sure made up for it. The forecast called for mostly cloudy and 54 degrees. You will see in a moment that you cannot believe everything that you read. I had my map of Glacier Bay that was placed in our cabin the night before. There was also a flyer about throwing things over board and that no papers would be allowed on deck while we were in the park so we can do our part to preserve this beautiful site. I hoped that my neighbors above read this! I found this guide map to be easy to read and informative. Glacier Bay was a main reason that we booked this particular cruise. I was hoping that it would be a nice day. The seas were like glass and the majesty of the mountains at the beginning of Glacier Bay National Park were spectacular. I believe that we were about in the position of Drake Island to the port side and the Marble Islands to the Starboard when my wife joined me on deck and we went in for a nice breakfast.

We enjoyed talking to I Gusta and Joy, our wait staff who told us that we could have slept in a bit more. We were ready to take in all that we could and we could sleep when we got home! After breakfast we went to get the kids some breakfast at the buffet and the sun was coming out. It was time to get up and take this all in!

The Park Rangers were picked near at the Glacier Bay Lodge and Park headquarters early in the morning. The announcements seemed to start shortly after 8:00 am. We had the TV on the channel that shows the bow of the ship and the announcements can be heard on this if you put up the volume. The Spinnaker lounge was also available for viewing as was the Centrum/Atrium area. The big screen TV also had the pictures from the bow of the ship. The Ranger announced that at 1:00 pm they would be in Spinnakers for a presentation and that there would also be a Kids Program with a Ranger too. She was encouraging all to get outside though as it was turning out to be a beauty of a day.

The Ranger announced that the clear blue skies made it possible to see the peak of Mount Abdullah (5964 feet) on our Starboard side. It was a magnificent site and we could also catch glimpses of the Queen Inlet and Rendu Inlet with their glaciers in the distance.

The announcements continued as we were approaching Reid Glacier on the Port side as we made our way to Russell Island. We went out to our balcony and the sun was shining and the clear blue skies. The Reid Glacier was right there in its glory. What a sight it was! We entered the Tarr Inlet that led us to Margerie Glacier and Grand Pacific Glacier. We moved up to the pool deck area to enjoy this sight. The kids had their hot chocolate delivered thanks to a program offered by the Java Café. The sun was shining and it was warm, no need for even a jacket. I still am not finding the words to describe this beautiful site! The Blue, White, and dark colors of the glacier surrounded by the mountains and the crystal clear blue sky were breathtaking. We took tons of pictures and NCL did too!

As the ship turned, we headed back to our balcony. We were able to get up close and personal again to this beautiful area of the world as the ship turned to let the people on the starboard side get a piece of the action!

We stayed on the balcony and took in the mountains and the area as we left these natural wonders and headed to the Johns Hopkins Inlet. We went back up topside to view Lamplugh Glacier on the port side and we stopped just after Jaw Point. The Ranger explained that the seals were active in this area and the pups like to float on the pieces of glacier that are all over this bay leading up to the Johns Hopkins Glacier. The distance from the ship (at Jaw Point) to the glacier was 5 miles. It looked much closer actually. We took a few pictures and went again to our aft balcony to take in the sight as the ship turned.

We again took tons of pictures of this magnificent site. I am trying to post some for this review but I am having difficulty so you are going to have to take my word for it. It was simply amazing!

We sat out in the sunshine at marveled at this area. The mountains were so incredible and I sat in my chair on the balcony and did my best to take it all in. It was even warmer now and I could sit, breathe, and be in the moment without a jacket. I found myself quite emotional at times. I was speechless and in awe. The Ranger actually made an announcement about taking in the beauty of this place and finding a place for it in your mind and core. She probably used other words but this is what it meant to me. In Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction there is a meditation called the Mountain. It calls you to picture a mountain in your mind and through the breath and other core practices try to take the mountain in to you for strength and stability. I am taking liberties by simplifying this because this is a review about a cruise and not a meditation class. However, as I sat out on the balcony I told my wife to take some pictures of this site. The mountains that were before me were what I had been picturing for the past 2 years as I did this practice. I always have said that my mountain must have ocean around it and it must be tall with snow on the top. Up to this moment I had never seen that possible in reality. The glacier beside it just came with the package today. It was an awesome moment to really see what I had been imagining.

We caught additional views of the Lamplugh and Reid Glaciers, this time starboard side but we were aft and could see just fine. As we left this area we continued to see nature in its purest form. The Ranger announced the whale sightings, sea otters, and other animals as we made our passage out of this beautiful water park.

The Ranger left the ship at about 3:00 pm (maybe a bit later). I could still see the land and mountains as I took my afternoon jog out in the sunshine. It was kind of fun to jog in a water park! I had energy and the run was pretty easy for me today. Many were out by the pool enjoying this day. It was a warm and the captain announced that this may have been the most perfect day in Glacier Bay all season. Several more otters were spotted occurred as the seemed to float on their backs and wave to the people on the ship.

My kids really loved their day at Glacier Bay. The weather made a positive impact I am sure. They did not marvel in the beauty as much as my wife and I did. They had no desires to play with their DS games at all as they were too engulfed in the beauty of this land. OK, you know that I am totally full of it if you have teenagers! They did put down their games for a period of time. I was not expecting them to have a transformation (well maybe a small one would have been nice). There comments that it was cool and it was not a boring as I thought mean that they were wicked impressed! That was good enough for me and I accepted it. They did not want to go to the talk with the Rangers so they just chilled with us for the day.

Back at the cabin and more time on the balcony allowed me to see the whales following the ship. I enjoyed seeing this but I was not successful in getting a picture. We all got ready for dinner. We dined in La Cuchina. For 10.00 pp person cover charge we dined Italian style and Helen, our wait staff, took very good care of us. After the meal, it was still beautiful out so we decided to get some blankets and sit near to pool to enjoy the sights once again.

A bunch of whales were by the ship jumping in and out of the water. There seemed to be at least 6 all going along in a row as if they were playing a game with each other and with us. We decided to head back to the cabin. Tomorrow was an early day in Ketchikan. We were docking around 6:00 am and we had an excursion planned for 7:50 am.

My prayers today were around giving thanks for what I saw, finding some meaning and inspiration in this, and for my family, friends, and loved ones. It was truly a miracle day. I was glad to be of present mind and clear headed to take it all in. It was a gift and I am still truly moved by it as I write about the experience. I hope to continue to learn from the moments with the glaciers. I am certain that there was a reason for me to experience the day as I did.

Up Next: Ketchikan: Sea Lions, Crabs, Squid, Eagles, and Totem Poles

Jim, am loving your review! You're bringing me right back to our wonderful cruise and making me want to go back!:)

 

I'll definitely need to carve out more time for Seattle next time. We didn't get there until Saturday and didn't do nearly as much as you!

Thank you Cubechick! It was truly a wonderful trip. I do hope to return someday too:D!