Alaska Cruise (not Disney)

[barbarossa_hoosier]

I agree about the price. We are going in 2021 also, but on the Jewel. I really wanted a one-way cruise that went to Glacier Bay. We are staying in a Haven Deluxe Owner's Suite. It has two full bathrooms, a wall of windows, and a hot tub on the deck. It is still less expensive than a non-concierge family verandah room with Disney.

Which week are you going? Just this week, I switched our itinerary from Roundtrip on the Encore to a Northbound on the Jewel, 30 August.

 

[ElizabethG]

Which week are you going? Just this week, I switched our itinerary from Roundtrip on the Encore to a Northbound on the Jewel, 30 August.

We are going May 24th. So excited!

 

[Intr3pid]

Entered the cruise terminal in Seattle and boarded the ship in what seemed like a hallway. No crew to welcome us aboard. There was a person that squirted us with hand sanitizer and yelled, “washy, washy!” We found our way to our rooms. Had lunch at the buffet and it was okay. Walked around the ship to get a lay of the land and went to room. They could not find our luggage and it was after 7. After many phone calls they finally located it and told my husband “you put the wrong tags on it.” We actually put the tags we were sent on our luggage. Our room steward delivered the luggage to our door and told my husband we had the wrong tags on it also. (I promise we did not print our own luggage tags at home and place them on our bags to confuse the cruise staff!). All restaurant staff had limited English language- nightly errors, no coffee refills, missing items, orders wrong or mixed up. No seafood on the Alaskan Cruise except shrimp and previously frozen salmon☹. No lobster, no crab legs or anything else crab either. No fresh Alaskan salmon☹☹. We could never see a comedy show as we were told there were no more openings but we could wait in a stand by line. We saw Jersey Boys which was very good but only other show in theater was Havana ( Latin music and dance). Theatre was ugly inside for being a new ship. The Walt Disney theatre is beautiful in comparison. Didn’t like all the cigarette cartons they had lined in the hallway as you entered the gift shops. Port times were too short in British Columbia and Ketchikan. (But we did know that before we booked.). Area where most activity took place was too small and they to put out folding chairs most days. Most of all is was truly the disinterest of the staff. Officers ignored us, no one spoke to us, no relationships built. On the last day of the cruise the breakfast server
Said, “we hope your cruise was fine”. And yes, it was, fine

You were expecting Disney service for half the cost? Something's gotta give!

 

[belle032]

I'll add also: I just can't justify paying double just to cruise Disney in Alaska. In other regions, the cost difference is more reasonable; but not so with Alaska. We'll be on the Norwegian Encore to Alaska in 2021. My only concern is the size of the ship (Breakaway Plus class). But, we get Glacier Bay, which is a must-see for an Alaska cruise.

I agree about the price. We are going in 2021 also, but on the Jewel. I really wanted a one-way cruise that went to Glacier Bay. We are staying in a Haven Deluxe Owner's Suite. It has two full bathrooms, a wall of windows, and a hot tub on the deck. It is still less expensive than a non-concierge family verandah room with Disney.

I think it's all relative. I've said over and over again that no cruise is bad, you just have to book the cruise vacation that is right for you and your family. My mom and a couple of her close friends sailed the Bliss to Alaska last year and had a wonderful time. Said it was definitely the most beautiful ship she's been on. But then again, she didn't sail with any kids, so someone who did may have a completely different opinion of the same sailing.

DH & I plan on sailing to Alaska next year and will definitely be considering the Bliss and some other cruise lines, such as Princess, as well. Price is a huge factor and we can get more for our money that way (in our opinion!). Bottom line: Reviews are helpful, but take them with a grain of salt and feel free to form your own opinions.