This meant another early morning for us. Why not stick around and play? Learn More Sign Up for Exclusive Email-Only Offers Unfortunately, the fudge store was closed and Starbucks was no longer in existence. 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. It was certainly more lively than our recent sail away on Princess Cruises. While you can't count on the upgrade fairy to pay you a visit after you've booked that low-tier cabin, you can look out for upgrade deals before you book. Get the latest cruise deals and select from our Alaska experiences long hours of daylight during summer, lasting up to 23 hours a day in June. This cabin looked in really good shape still considering the ship is a few years old now. We made our way ashore to meet our tour at the assigned location on the pier. Since today was a late port of call, the main dining room was open for lunch. For more cabin-selection tips and to ask questions of other cruisers, visit the Cruise Critic message boards. So, we had to wait until we got back to the ship for our afternoon dose of caffeine. However, aft cabin balconies are almost always stepped out, allowing passengers in cabins above yours as well as higher deck public space to see down onto your balcony. Suite amenities include pluses like a cappuccino machine, luxury bath products and a welcome bottle of sparkling wine, as well as fruit and bottled water, on embarkation day. Day 7 of this Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review was our final day with an evening call into Victoria, BC. Todays tour consisted of a visit to the Totem Bight state park and the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. Though, we actually enjoyed his material from the theater on the first night more. A concierge cabin comes with -- you guessed it -- easy access to a cruise concierge. Balcony cabins are a nice midway point when it comes to your vacation budget, but balconies range from those that barely hold two chairs to huge wraparound decks with hot tubs. Some barely fit two chairs while others come complete with loungers and cocktail tables. WebWhen you cruise with Norwegian, the awe of Alaska stays with you throughout your holiday. We started our day here, accessing it through a hallway on Deck 8 near the District Brewhouse. On a chilly-weather cruise to places like Alaska or the Norwegian Arctic, you might not be spending too much time outside. The 75-minute production is a high-energy singing and dancing spectacle. They are floating megaresorts, carrying thousands, and are big on The higher decks and cabins at the front (forward) or back (aft) of the ship will rock and roll the most. This thermal suite on Norwegian Encore is quite large and features several padded and heated stone loungers. There are various types of suites and rooms within The Haven and they vary by ship. However, there are essentially only five types of rooms on any cruise ship: Interior Rooms: Small interior rooms are the most budget friendly on any cruise ship. Knowing that Norwegian Cruise Line ships dock in Ward Cove, which is about a 20 minute drive from the Downtown area, we decided to book an organized shore excursion to avoid the hassle of taking the shuttle back and forth in this short amount of time. Passengers who end their trips in Anchorage or Fairbanks typically are scheduled to return home on late evening "red-eye" flights. He enjoyed all these selections and still stands by this being his favorite NCL restaurant. Both were great choices. It featured two teams of lumberjacks, Spruce Mill and Dawson Creek, competing in a series of challenges. Structural designs can lead to balcony cabins that are, in fact, obstructed-view cabins. During this time of year, cruise ships are not allowed past Jaw Point, meaning the John Hopkins Glacier is about 6 miles away. About 2 hours after the ship was cleared, there were no lines or waits to get off the ship or secure a shuttle to the downtown area. Welcome Aboard! The Haven allows passengers to enjoy everything from a private bar and lounge to a custom restaurant, secluded sun deck and calm courtyard, without ever leaving the suite complex. We decided to immediately proceed to our muster station to check-in for this mandatory safety briefing. The Haven has since become a Norwegian Cruise Line staple; youll find it on the Jewel-class ships, Norwegian Epic, the Breakaway and Breakaway Plus-class ships and the new Prima-class vessels, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva. Approaching 2 PM, and the cabins still not ready, we decided to grab some lunch at The Local Bar & Grill. So, we enjoyed the music, views of Victoria, and some espresso martinis. Securing the necessary photos and videos, we were finally ready to go ashore around 5 PM. Cabin Size: From the Cheapest Rooms to the Most Expensive on a Cruise, Benefits of Balcony Rooms and Views on a Cruise Ship, Tricks for Scoring Bargains on the Price of Your Cruise Room, A Guide to Cruise Ship Spa Accommodations, Oceanview vs. Balcony Cabins: A Cabin Comparison, The 7 Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers, Best Cruise Ship Inside Cabins and a Few to Avoid, The Guarantee Gamble: The Odds of an Upgrade When the Cruise Line Picks Your Cabin. If you luck out, you could get assigned to a higher-category cabin, like scoring a balcony for a standard outside cabin price. The layout of the room had the desk and sofa closer to the entrance and the bed closer to the balcony, which is our preferred layout. We had to start the cruise off right with a Raspberry-Guava and Jalapeno Cucumber mojito. The included lunch consisted of a buffet of side dishes along with freshly prepared salmon. WebLooking for Norwegian Jewel cruises to Alaska? But there's nothing like seeing the grandeur of Alaska from a helicopter or floatplane. Offers for onboard credits, prepaid tips or included airfare can free up some money to pay for that balcony view. Are you ready to embark on your journey to sea the world, one port at a time? While our meal was good, Le Bistro is probably our least favorite restaurant on the ship. A version of The Haven is available onboard the following ships: Norwegian Prima Unfortunately though, this was the worst meal we had all week and not worth an up-charge in our opinion. So if you don't want to listen to early morning revelers, daytime DJs or pool parties from day into night, it's wise to pick a room a few decks lower. We are Don and Heidi, the husband and wife travel team behind EatSleepCruise.com. Costa started the spa cabin trend, but many mainstream lines quickly followed suit. Besides Choir of Man, this is the other show that requires reservations. Travelers with mobility concerns may prefer a stateroom close to a bank of elevators. Another rule of thumb: youll pay between twice to eight or ten times as much for a Haven room as a regular cabin. By now, it was after 3:30 PM. It can also mean the difference between seasickness and noise that keeps you up all night -- or the sounds of waves lulling you to sleep like a baby or awesome views. Around 1 PM, we re-boarded our bus to head back into town for our visit to the Red Onion Saloon. You will then be stuck with whichever cabin they give you -- whether you agree it's better or not. What is the Best Room Location on a Cruise Ship? This venue is an up-charge, where you can either pay a la carte or use a specialty dining credit. We ventured along the Juneau Seawalk to The Whale Project which is just over a mile away from Downtown. Still, Don had work meetings beginning at 10 AM EST. It is important to note that guests still need to pay the 20% gratuity on these free perks at the time of booking. Like plenty of beach resorts on dry land, cruise lines also occasionally overstate the ocean views available in some of their oceanview cabins. Even so, there are a few ways you can save money before you book. Alaska cruise weather can be chilly (in the 40s to 50s) first thing in the morning and at night. Saving just a tiny bit of room for dessert, we finished off the meal with the butterscotch budino and tiramisu. Sometimes it means bringing you room service from hard-to-get-into specialty restaurants, curated minibars or in-cabin meals served course by course. You don't even have to leave for meals because The Haven (on Epic, Breakaway, Getaway, Escape, Encore, Prima and Viva) includes its own, sophisticated restaurant, serving its clientele with a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu designed just for suite passengers. Norwegian Cruise Line boasts a teen-only venue, Entourage, that caters to young adults 13 to 17 years old. This meant that we wouldnt be able to grab final drinks at the Sugarcane Mojito Bar this evening. Thus, our first, and probably longest, glacier visit was Margerie Glacier around 9 AM. You'll also find massive suites like the Royal Loft on Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class ships. A guarantee cabin is a room with a low rate that is a specific cabin type (inside, outside, etc.). Historically, we have not been very impressed with NCLs MDR, but this meal might have changed our mind. This feast did take 90+ minutes, so by now, we were in need of our afternoon coffee. Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean both sail some of their largest ships in Alaska. And you don't always have to book a huge suite; on Holland America, several inside cabins have been designated as spa cabins with all the associated perks. Web2023 Alaska Cruisetours Book a Princess Cruisetour & get up to $200 Cruisetour Cash From$799 Learn More Holiday Cruises 2023 2023 Holiday Deals! The best room location on any cruise ship can vary from person to person. You can find the most affordable rates in the off-peak periods of May and September. Enjoying our breakfast and doing a little morning work, we then headed out for the day. Cruise ship rooms, called cabins or staterooms, are akin to hotel rooms. However, on Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas, the main dining room, buffet, specialty restaurants, and kid-friendly attractions are at the back of the ship. She is always looking for the latest and greatest adventures onboard and ashore, enjoys researching top things to do in ports of call, and loves dressing up for formal nights. Upon arriving back into Skagway around 5 PM, we decided to walk back to the ship given the nice weather. While we usually do self-assist walk-off, we were in no rush tomorrow as our flight wasnt until 3:40 PM. What did throw off our timing a bit was the sequence this Captain took compared to our previous visits. While always a good time, a rather tipsy contestant made the show even funnier. Of the two, we thought Lucas was funnier and definitely the edgier comedian. Perhaps the highlight of the meal though was the aptly named OMG caramel-butterscotch cheesecake. The venue was actually pretty quiet so we were able to knock out most of the games during this one hour. We tried the Walk the Plank, Descendant, the car racing, the Jurassic Escape, two different games in the 7D cinema, and more. Another bonus: the sundeck spans two decks, with one being dedicated solely for passengers over 18, meaning that you can venture into the hot tubs without fear of kids and splashing. This was a short stop from 8 to 11:59 PM but mandatory for this roundtrip Seattle cruise. Looking for a view and fresh sea breezes from your cabin? In the end, price is probably the most important (and unavoidable) factor in the type of room you book on your cruise ship. Our guide gave us a brief tour of the grounds with some narrative about the poles, as well as visiting a replica clan house and a restoration building with some artifacts. However, Disney Cruises is known for offering larger standard rooms meant to accomodate families. So, needless to say, the ship did not depart Ketchikan on time today. This makes it a great dining option with friends as you can share multiple plates. Ocean View Rooms For those who want some sunlight and a glimpse of the ocean from their room, ocean views are a great compromise between the lower price of an interior room and the jump up to a full on balcony. Additionally, it included four ports of call: On most Norwegian ships, the exclusive sun deck is at the very top of the ship and typically forward, meaning it's the perfect place to sunbathe in peace or have a drink while you sail into a new port. Apr 1, 2014. The better deal is to book back-to-back, 7-night, one-way cruises, which are NCL's best Alaska cruise deals. Norwegian Cruise Line. Thus, it was back to the room to get ready for our final specialty dinner. However, the cruise line selects the actual cabin for you. We had placed an order for room service breakfast the night before to be delivered between 8 and 8:30 AM, but it ended up arriving a few minutes early, even before Don returned to our cabin. Penthouses are great for people who love to entertain. Surprisingly, Cagneys is one cruise lines steakhouse that does not offer any chicken or vegetarian option on the menu. We're talking $250 or more per person. Following the comedy show, we headed over to Q for Nashville Nights and Lights. The season for Alaska cruise and land tours generally lasts from May through September. NCL had provided us with priority disembarkation which meant that we did not have to leave the ship until around 9 AM, but we needed to be out of our cabin by 8:30 AM. We spent just under 1.5 hours here, alternating between the heated loungers and the experiences. If you're the kind of person who doesn't need a lot of space or amenities, and would prefer to save your budget for shore excursions, ship experiences, drink packages or speciality dining, these can be an economical choice. Wanting to see what the view was like from our balcony, we then hurried our way up to our cabin in time to catch the view on the starboard side. This change might seem simple but its a dream for sunseekers, as you typically have less wind at the back of the ship than in the front. While we have seen this show before, its always a good time. The peanut butter cheesecake dessert was also quite tasty. The 3-bedroom Garden Villa remain some of the largest suites at sea, measuring up to 7,000 square feet. Following this set, we ended our evening in the Sugarcane Mojito Bar with some drinks and live Latin music. This will give you time to rest and get oriented before boarding the ship. Sipping the signature smoked peach margarita, we stayed for a bit before calling it a night. Outside Rooms: These rooms feature a window or porthole with a view to the sea, often similarly sized to an inside cabin (or a bit larger). Given priority embarkation by NCL, we breezed through this process and were onboard in about 20 minutes. After all this gaming, we had worked up an appetite, so we headed to lunch at the American Diner. Taking the approximately six-minute trip up Mount Roberts from the lower terminal, we ascended toa height of about 1,800 feet. That's particularly true as today's megaships -- like Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas -- can mean long walks to your room throughout the day. Please change the date range and try again. A quick lumberjack photo later, we immediately took the quick walk back to our bus which got us back to Ward Cove around 1 PM. We highly recommend that you do see this show as it is a lot of fun. You'll find minisuites on many ships, which are a bit bigger than balcony cabins and more clearly defined sleeping areas and living spaces. Norwegian Cruise Line boasts a teen-only venue, Entourage, that caters to young adults 13 to 17 years old. Still, the Cavern Club was packed with fellow cruisers rocking out to Royal Flush. The two comedians, who would perform multiple sets over the course of the week in the more intimate Social Comedy Club, had an introductory show in the theater tonight. Still, on a clearer day, the views are fantastic. Day 3 of this Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review was our first port of call in Juneau. Oh well. If the Sugarcane Mojito Bar is my favorite, this is definitely Dons favorite. After the comedy show, we ended up running into a couple that we knew and grabbed drinks and chatted for a while before taking the conversation back to the Social for the nights GLOW Party. That can vary. Tomorrow were were cruising through Glacier Bay early in the morning, and we certainly did not want to miss it. Most cruise lines offer a dizzying array of cruise cabins that can be hard to decipher. FREE Specialty Dining She is a self-confessed thrill seeker, obsessive planner, and over-packer. This course covers over 1,100 feet with 10 turns and 4 points that extend up to 13 feet over the side of the ship. Don't forget to take your itinerary into account. Our chef served up the grilled veggies, garlic fried rice, and our entre of choice with a side of humor. Do you have plans to cruise to Alaska this year? Norwegian Jewel On Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, the Haven is at the back of the ship. Theres also three complimentary main dining rooms, The Local Bar & Grill, and the Garden Caf buffet. Your email address will not be published. On some ships (Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Epic), Haven guests are given a mobile phone that they can use throughout the ship. Set in The Jungle (also known as the local pub), the talented cast perform everything from classic rock hits to sing-a-long favorites. Do your research, though, as not all balconies are created the same. Small fees, like the charge for room service, are waived for passengers in suites on Norwegian Cruise Line. There is also a viewing area where bystanders can watch the race and provide a temporary speed boost to their favorite drivers. Another feature of the Haven on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva is that the suites and rooms are all in the same area of the ship, connected by an elevator. Spa cabin guests receive free access to spa restaurants (such as Celebrity's Blu or Costa's Ristorante Samsara), complimentary passes to spa pools and sauna/steam room areas, and may get free, discounted or priority spa treatments and fitness classes. Where else can you race family and friends with views like these? Thus, Norwegian Encore features several specialty restaurants including the signature steakhouse Cagneys, Onda by Scarpetta, Le Bistro, and more. Everything was well-prepared and flavorful. The fusion restaurant, Food Republic, was open for lunch on this sea day. On a chilly-weather cruise to places like Alaska or the Norwegian Arctic, you might not be spending too much time outside.