Table Of Content
Following the comedy show, we made one more stop of the night at my favorite bar on the ship, the Sugarcane Mojito Bar. We had to start the cruise off right with a Raspberry-Guava and Jalapeno Cucumber mojito. Back to the cabin, we finished unpacking and got ready for dinner.
Restaurants On The Norwegian Jewel
If you want to avoid the crowds, go at unique times, such as morning or lunch/early afternoon. But first, I want to mention that there are many different cruise lines and enticing port stops on an Alaskan Cruise. Our journey kicked off in the vibrant city of Vancouver, British Columbia, weaving through the picturesque landscapes of Alaska’s port towns, Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. And wrapped up with two scenic sailing days in Glacier Bay National Park and a captivating encounter with Hubbard Glacier. It offers a wide variety of cruising options, including 9, 10 and 11 day sailings.
Day 2 Alaska Cruise Review: Day at Sea Insights
As an older ship, there are some excellent cruise fares, starting as low as $400 per person for week-long sailings. It runs at almost half the capacity of the Norwegian Bliss and Encore, which is great for those who like a smaller, more intimate ship atmosphere. Being a slightly older ship offers great value who want a budget-friendly option. With fares as low as $400 per person and with numerous inclusions, the Norwegian Jewel has a lot of appeal.
The 8 Best Alaska Cruises to Take in 2024 - AFAR Media
The 8 Best Alaska Cruises to Take in 2024.
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Ketchikan Port Day
During a cruise through Glacier Bay, there is the opportunity to typically see 5 glaciers depending on the weather. Thus, our first, and probably longest, glacier visit was Margerie Glacier around 9 AM. Following this set, we ended our evening in the Sugarcane Mojito Bar with some drinks and live Latin music. Tomorrow were were cruising through Glacier Bay early in the morning, and we certainly did not want to miss it.
Since today was a late port of call, the main dining room was open for lunch. Thus, we decided to grab a bigger lunch since we didn’t know how long we’d be out in Juneau or what our dinner plans would be. When it comes to dining, Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator of the Freestyle approach. Thus, Norwegian Encore features several specialty restaurants including the signature steakhouse Cagney’s, Onda by Scarpetta, Le Bistro, and more. There’s also three complimentary main dining rooms, The Local Bar & Grill, and the Garden Café buffet. When you get thirsty, there’s plenty of bars to grab a drink too, including two of our favorites, the Sugarcane Mojito Bar and the District Brewhouse.
Alaskan Itineraries
So while summer offers your best chance for better weather, you should still expect some rainfall and cloudy conditions. The menu was large, and we each got to choose an appetizer, soup/salad, main, and dessert. We were impressed with Jake’s meal, but my prime rib was cold when it arrived and overall pretty chewy. We felt flavors were lacking, and it just felt like they had dry meat mixed in with some already pre-mixed sauces to help fast production of food.
I tried the newest ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian. Here’s how they compare
The snow covered mountaintops and dense forests set the mood for an Alaskan cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line. Make the experience more than a great backdrop by riding with sled dogs, watching a lumberjack show and flying high above the Mendenhall Glacier. Agnes Stabinska is the creative force and co-founder behind the Alaska Itinerary blog. With a degree in Tourism Management and postgraduate studies in Journalism, Agnes combines academic expertise with real-world experience. Alongside her partner, Chris, she's your go-to guide for an authentic Alaskan adventure.
Day 4 Freestyle Daily
And if you’re short on time, our guide to picking the perfect 7-day itinerary will help you make the most of your trip. Embarking on a 10-day Alaska Inside Passage cruise aboard the Norwegian Sun was an adventure we’ll never forget. From the awe-inspiring landscapes of Juneau and Skagway to the cultural richness of Sitka and Ketchikan, each port of call offered something unique. Icy Strait Point was a standout, offering a less crowded experience and incredible whale-watching opportunities.
Norwegian Bliss
When you cruise with Norwegian, the awe of Alaska stays with you throughout your holiday. Anyway, the cruise I’m reporting on here was my second on the Bliss to Alaska, but was significant in that it was the very first Alaska cruise across all lines and ships of the 2024 season. It was also my first time cruising solo on the Bliss (last time I had my son with me).
I hope I don’t exceed my onboard spending budget of zero dollars. These were the days when you could tell everyone was onboard the ship because everywhere was busy. And because the temperatures were chilly, many people preferred to be indoors against the windows to take in the beautiful views (but there weren’t nearly enough seats for the number of people). (If you’re properly dressed, then the time outside can be enjoyable too). Some of my favorite days on the Norwegian Jewel Cruise Line were the scenic days at sea. We were able to explore Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Glacier via the cruise ship.
Which could be beneficial if you plan to get specialty coffees and bottled water daily aboard. We would have liked to have experienced more shows on the ship, as well as wish the family-friendly activities (go-karts & laser tag) did not cost extra money and did not require reservations. The musical performance Choir of Man was the headliner show while we were on our cruise. It plays 4 different times during the 7-day itinerary and requires reservations. Depending on which type of stateroom you’re staying in, you can make specialty dining and entertainment reservations 90 – 130 days in advance.
Along the way, we admired the beautiful vistas and other landmarks like the Trial of ’98, the steel bridge, inspiration point, bridal veil falls, and more. Around 1 PM, we re-boarded our bus to head back into town for our visit to the Red Onion Saloon. Here, one of the madams gave us a “quickie tour” of the former brothel along with some insight into what it was like living and working here during the gold rush times. After collecting our earnings, we had a few minutes to explore the area before it was time for the salmon bake. The included lunch consisted of a buffet of side dishes along with freshly prepared salmon.
I’ll be providing a detailed trip report from each day as well as highlighting some features I loved about the Bliss (and a few I didn’t) and some tips for those booked on or considering her. The first two are videos, one a full ship tour and one a cabin tour. The third takes you to all the dining menus (MDR, specialty, fast casual, room service, and more) I collected onboard. As always, feel free to ask questions or share your own experiences on the Bliss to the comments.
After our balcony, we ended up spending the rest of our glacier viewing time between the Vibe Beach Club and the pool deck. The Vibe Beach Club, while an up-charge, is a hidden gem even in Alaska. This outdoor space provided uninterrupted views with fewer crowds and great views from the hot tubs. What did throw off our timing a bit was the sequence this Captain took compared to our previous visits.
You also need to be connected to log out to save your minutes. I ran into connection issues many times, especially when trying to log out of my wifi package. Therefore, many minutes were lost not even using the internet, just simply trying to log out. In our Free At Sea cruise package, we were offered 100 minutes of complimentary wifi. If you are someone who has to stay busy all day long, there is always something going on.
Overall, we thought the meals were good, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say it was 5 stars. O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill was probably our favorite complementary restaurant overall. Their Reuben was really tasty, but their appetizers left much to be desired. We just enjoyed the vibe of this restaurant as it was casual and had nice booths with windows to enjoy the scenery. And there are also TVs which we enjoyed a few football games. The main cafeteria (Garden Café) was always SOOOO busy that it was very difficult to find an open table.
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