NCL Pearl Alaska cruise review
NCL Pearl Alaska cruise review.
This is the 7-night cruise round-trip cruise out of Seattle to Glacier Bay, Alaska. The ports include Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria, British Columbia. There were the added highlights of a full day cruising the inside passage and another full day cruising Glacier Bay.
NCL Pearl, 7-day Glacier Bay, Round-trip, Seattle, May 31 - June 7, 2009
NCL Pearl Review and Photos - Alaska Cruise Review and Photos. The NCL Pearl was launched in 2007. She carries 2,394 passengers and 1,154 crew. The Pearl is based in the Caribbean from October to April and in Alaska from May to September. This review covers the 7-night NCL Pearl sailing from May 31 to June 7, 2009. This was a round-trip cruise out of Seattle to Glacier Bay, Alaska. The ports of call included Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria, British Columbia. There were the added highlights of a full day cruising the inside passage and another full day cruising Glacier Bay.
Click on photos to enlarge them or jump to more detailed report information.
This review is VERY long - sorry! We are cruise specialists, so we look for as much helpful information as we can find in preparing our reviews. The review is divided into 12 sections so you can just click & jump to your areas of interest for a quick review. There are also 10 specific tips and a bonus tip included in our review. Sections Included:
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So, here we go!
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This was a spectacular cruise with exceptionally good weather. It was one of our favorite cruisesso far!
There was so much to do and see on this cruise that we actually had to edit this down to make it shorter.
The review is divided into 12 sections so you can just find those areas of interest for a quick review. There are also 10 specific tips and a bonus tip included in our review.
This review covers the 7-night NCL Pearl sailing from May 31 to June 7, 2009, This was a round-trip cruise out of Seattle to Glacier Bay, Alaska.
The ports of call included Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria, British Columbia.
There were the added highlights of a full day cruising the inside passage and another full day cruising Glacier Bay.
The NCL Pearl was launched in 2007. She carries 2,394 passengers and 1,154 crew.
The Pearl is based in the Caribbean from October to April and in Alaska from May to September.
Overall. This was our 6th cruise, our 2nd cruise on NCL and our 1st cruise to Alaska.
We booked a category AG (mini-suite guarantee). Our cabin was 11624 on the port side of the ship.
Last year, we sailed on the Norwegian Jade in the Mediterranean. That cruise was not our favorite. Since then, NCL has launched Freestyle 2.0 which is an initiative to improve the guest experience. We wanted to give NCL another try. So we picked the Norwegian Pearl Alaska itinerary and gave it a try.
In 2008, NCL committed $50 million towards the Freestyle 2.0 enhancements. Improvements have been made to staterooms, onboard activities and dining options. They have also committed to increased recognition, service and amenities for balcony, suite and villa guests. And guess what? It worked. NCL delivered for us BIG TIME on this cruise.
Before we even left, we checked in with Kitty Ruxton of NCL. We explained that we wanted to write another NCL review and we hoped the experience would be better this round. Kitty was very helpful at pointing us in the right direction for this cruise. She introduced us via email to Traci Bissett. This is Traci with Dan. Traci is manager of the Pearl's Group Services desk and she was very helpful and informative.
Captain Lars Bengtsson and his staff and crew on the Pearl did a wonderful job for us and all passengers on this cruise.
At Captain Lars' reception, we met Bill and Myrna from Azusa, California. They have taken over 60 cruises and NCL is their favorite cruise line. They have sailed with NCL over 30 times! As you can see from their warm smiles they are a wonderful couple and happy cruisers. It was fun spending a little time with our fellow cruisers Bill and Myrna on this voyage.
Bill says: "We really like Freestyle cruising, and that takes us to NCL. The other lines we have cruised recently include HAL, Princess, and Celebrity, and they are trying the unscheduled dining, but it doesn't work as well as on NCL. Another thing I want to mention is the pleasant personalities of the crew on NCL. We saw the personalities of Tony Lockett and Jorge Martinho permeate the crew on the Star, and they have done the same on the Pearl. I call it light-hearted professionalism. I sent an email to Kevin Sheehan at NCL to let him know what he has in these two guys."
SEATTLE
Airport to Cruise Terminal. Our flight arrived at the Seattle airport on Saturday, a day before the cruise departed. Mount Rainier was imposing on this beautiful clear day in Seattle.
Norwegian Cruise Line has made Seattle its home port for seven-day summer cruises to Alaska on the Norwegian Pearl and the Norwegian Star.
Passengers depart from the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 on Saturdays and Sundays.
The Seattle airport is a long distance from downtown and from the port. The airport taxi cost to a downtown hotel or to the cruise terminal is $40-$50. A shuttle is $35. The Port of Seattle Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 is just 4 miles from the hotel. Seattle is rated as one of the top 10 cities to live in the United States.
TIP 1: Fly to Seattle a day early and stay at the Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express both in the center of Seattle. These hotels are right next to each other and they share a parking lot. They are great hotels in a perfect location for exploring downtown Seattle - and the price is right. For any cruise it is always safest to arrive a day early so you know you'll make the cruise. Plus you can explore the Seattle highlights before you cruise.
Seattle. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Seattle Center on 211 Dexter Avenue North. Front Desk Manager Troy helped us out with a map and suggestions for downtown options.
Nicole at the front desk of the Holiday Inn was extremely helpful and informative. Her co-worker was equally helpful but was too bashful to have his photo taken - Dan can understand and appreciate that! Both Troy and Nicole (and others) delivered a great experience for us.
The hotel is centrally located and is a great base to see the Seattle highlights. It is 4 blocks from the Seattle Center where you can visit the Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center, the EMP and Key Arena.
Within a mile of the hotel, you can explore the historic Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square and the Seattle Art Museum.
There is shopping within a mile at the Westlake Center and Pacific Place. Safeco and Qwest Fields are within 2 miles. Other downtown highlights nearby include Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Ballard, Fremont, Seattle Pacific University, University of Washington, and Seattle University.
We had a glass of wine and a nice seafood lunch at Emmett Watson's in the Public Market. We had a smoked salmon appetizer and broiled salmon for lunch. It was a great meal at a reasonable price.
We explored the waterfront, viewed the Space Needle, rode the monorail, visited the historic district known as Pioneer Square and then wandered through the vibrant Pike Place Market with stops at the Pike Place Fish Market and the original Starbucks store.
We had an amazing seafood dinner the night before our cruise at Anthony's Pier 66 and Bell Street Diner.
Our server was Kelly. He suggested a tuna sashimi appetizer - which was wonderful. Janean had the huge grilled shrimp and Dan had the plump grilled scallops. Dinner was spectacular.
We will be back to Anthony's on our next trip to Seattle. See Anthony's web page here:
Anthonys.com/restaurants/info/pier66.html
Cruise Terminal. We arrived at the dock at about 10 AM. NCL provides a wonderful service at Pier 66 - you can check your bags as early as 10 AM and then explore the waterfront unencumbered by your bags
We took advantage of this opportunity and visited the Seattle Aquarium before boarding the Pearl. The Seattle Aquarium is a short 5 minute walk south of Pier 66.
The admission was $16 each. We spent a little less than 2 hours at the Aquarium. Look at the diver's hand behind Dan's head!
It was a fun way to end our Seattle visit and to transition to the beginning of the cruise experience. Dan had to tear himself away from the trout stream to get on the ship.
TIP 2: When cruising from Seattle arrive at the Pier 66 check-in terminal as early as 10 AM and check your bags. You are then free to explore the waterfront. Visit the Seattle Aquarium or have a great seafood meal at Anthony's right next to the cruise terminal. If you eat at Anthony's, ask for Kelly as your server - he will take great care of you.
Section 3: Embarkation & Cabin
Embarkation & Bubbly welcome. Upon boarding, the Pearl staff greeted us with big smiles and with champagne and orange juice.
Since we arrived just after noon, our cabin was not yet ready. The cabins are made ready by 2 PM. If you have a balcony or higher cabin and arrive after 2 PM, you will be personally recognized and escorted to your cabin upon embarkation.
This is Dan with Krisma Opeda of the Philippines in the Garden Cafe. The smiles and great service of the staff are contagious! The clearest benefit of Freestyle 2.0 is the service and attitude on the crew on the NCL Pearl. They illustrate the new commitment NCL has made to SERVICE onboard their ships. What a difference this makes for the guests!
After embarking, we were free to eat at the Garden Café buffet and to explore the ship. You get some great views of Mount Ranier while in port in Seattle.
Cabin. Just after 2 PM we were able to go to our cabin. Our mini-suite was 11624 - on deck 11 which is the highest deck with passenger cabins (unless you splurge for a Garden Villa or Courtyard Villa on deck 14). The mini-suite cabin is large. The bathroom was spacious with a separate toilet enclosure, a sink and a full-size bathtub. There is a large queen bed with 4 pillows. The extra pillows are nice. There was also a sofa, plenty of drawers and closet space and a small balcony. The balcony includes a very small table and 2 chairs.
Our cabin stewards were Levi Napoles and Neri Renato from the Philippines. They did a great job for us! Levi remembered our names and greeted us whenever she saw us. The advantages of the suite compared to a balcony are the full-size bathtub and the extra storage space. We brought plenty with us, but there was so much room, we didn't use all the storage space provided. The bathtub was nice!
Cabin choices. Freestyle cruising on the Pearl offers 32 different cabin categories ranging from an inside cabin on deck 4 up to an exclusive Garden Villa or Courtyard Villa on deck 14. There are also Ocean view, balcony, mini-suite and suite cabin options. Suites include a queen-size bed, a living area, dining area and concierge service. The inside and Ocean view cabins are about 150 square feet.
Balcony and mini-suite cabins are about 200 square feet and have private balconies. All cabins feature upscale cherry wood walls and furniture, flat screen TV, coffee-maker, mini-bar, safe and duvet. Also included for everyone are the Bliss Beds with their Euro-top foam memory atop a thick mattress. And everyone gets a pillow menu with six types of pillows. In the bathrooms, you will find Elemis shampoo, conditioner and lotions.
For guests in a category of balcony and higher, fruit baskets are included. At the top end, for guests in the Garden Villas and Courtyard Villas categories, there is a private courtyard with a swimming pool and recreation area and secluded breakfasts and lunches in the courtyard. Guests in the suite category receive exclusive access to Cagney's Steakhouse for breakfast and lunch. Suite guests can make restaurant reservations for the entire cruise on the first day.
Suite guests receive snacks in their room each day after selecting their choices from a daily menu and VIP disembarkation as they are escorted off the ship ahead of the crowd. Of course all guest receive the infamous works of art with towels.
Section 4: Dining, Wine & Spirits
The dining. The heart of NCL's Freestyle Cruising is the dining plan and options. We also love the dining options combined with the casual attire option, NCL's Freestyle Cruising provides a wide array of dining choices.
Main Dining Rooms. The new Freestyle 2.0 boasts of "Lobster Galore" with lobster served twice each week in the main dining rooms. The main 2 dining rooms are on deck 6
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They are the Summer Palace (with a traditional menu) and the Indigo (with a contemporary menu). We did not spend the money to eat in any of the extra pay restaurants. We still don't understand the draw when the food and service are so spectacular and abundant in the main no-charge restaurants.
We ate most of our dinners in the Summer Palace restaurant.
Our wine steward was Rodney Maglaque from the Philippines. He taught Dan several expressions in Philippine.
Our server was Muhammad Nurosyid from Indonesia. They were both extremely good at providing service and very personable to make our dinners an experience. And of course, they always flashed those contagious smiles!
Garden Café Buffet. The Garden Café on deck 12 is the main buffet option on the Pearl. The Garden Café has specialty stations where guests can make selections without standing in line for unwanted choices. The Garden Café also now includes table clothes and candlelight to enhance the ambiance for those dining at night.
If you walk aft on deck 12, you will find fresh outdoor alfresco wake view tables at the Great Outdoors buffet area. It is just below the basketball court aft. There are times when the crowds can get really chaotic at the Garden Café. If you plan well, you can avoid the crowds. Sometimes though, it will just be very crowded and busy. There were a few times we couldn't find a seat after we had our plates loaded from the buffet. See tip #3 below.
TIP 3: The Garden Buffet can get REALLY crowded at breakfast and lunch. When it is busy, load up your plate and head to the Italian Restaurant - La Cucina. It is between the Garden Café and the Great Outdoor Buffet aft and on the port side of the ship. The tables are available during lunch and breakfast hours and very few people discover this option.
Between the Garden Cafe and the Great Outdoors Cafe on the starboard side aft, you will find an espresso lover's dream.
One push of the button and in about 15 seconds, you have a fresh espresso, cappuccino or latte. Add another press of the button and you can have a double espresso.
Other free dining options. Mid-ship on deck 12 near the pools are the Star Bar and Topsiders Bar & Grill. The Bali Hi Bar & Grill on deck 13 serves great burgers and pizza. The Blue Lagoon on deck 8 is the 24-hour onboard coffee shop. Even the kids have fun passing through some of these venues.
Extra pay options. For a charge of $10 to $25 per person, you have these specialty dining options: La Cucina (Italian), Mambos (Mexican), Le Bistro (gourmet French cuisine), Lotus Garden (Sushi and Asian) and Cagney's Steakhouse (steak and seafood). Lobster dishes are on all specialty restaurant menus. Le Bistro and Cagney's Steak house both offer a 32-ounce premium Angus beef steak, Maine lobster and Alaska king crab legs.
Room service has been upgraded for guests in all staterooms, and there are expanded options for suite guests. Mini-bar options have been expanded, and guests can talk to their cabin steward to customize their mini-bar choices.
Beer, Wine & Spirits onboard. On Day 1 and 2 of this cruise NCL offers a 20% discount if you purchase 6-8 bottles of specific wines from a short wine list. We selected Berringer White Zinfandel, a Marlboro New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and a California Pinot Grigio.
The desk for the wine purchase on day one is in the Crystal Atrium next to the Java Bar. Ferdinand in the Wine Bar let us sample a few wines before we made our purchase.
TIP 4: If you think you will drink 6 or more bottles of wine during your cruise, the 20% wine discount will save you money. If you go to the wine bar and ask, you should be able to sample a taste of a wine or two you have in mind just to be sure before you purchase multiple bottles.
On this cruise there were daily tasting's - one for wine, one for beer and one for whisky and sometimes for mojitos and other drinks of interest. The cover charge for each tasting was $15. There were also days with 2-1 beer. Every day you could buy a bucket of beer - pay for 5 and receive 6. Otherwise, you just pick your drink of choice and order by the glass or by the bottle. If you do purchase a bottle and have it re-corked for your next meal, you just have to make sure you get your wine slip before you leave the restaurant so that you can have your remaining wine brought to your table at the next meal. If asked, NCL will allow you to bring wine onboard and they will charge you a $15 corking fee to open it and serve it to you or they will store it for you until the end of the cruise.
Section 5: The Ship
The ship. The Pearl will accommodate 2,394 guests. It is easy to find your way around this ship. Ours was a full-cruise and public areas were very crowded at times. Areas that can be crowded to the point of frustration and stress include the Garden Buffet, the Spinnaker Lounge (we missed at least 3 events here because we couldn't find a seat), the Stardust Theatre and the disembarkation lines at some ports. We've mentioned how to deal with some of those issues in other sections of this report. Below is a description of the Public areas From Top to Bottom on the Pearl:
On Deck 15, there is a small public sundeck aft on the starboard side and another Freestyle sundeck forward.
Up on Deck 14 aft is the rock climbing wall and the private garden villa and courtyard area.
On Deck 14 forward is another sundeck with great views in good weather.
On deck 13 forward is the Spinnaker lounge and the Sky High Bar. There are great forward views and views of the bridge. Many events including the ranger introductions, bingo and secondary shows are conducted here. Seats are hard to find during popular events so show up 15-20 minutes early if you want a seat.
Just aft of Spinnaker is the Chapel and then further back and just above the pool deck with a view of the pool is the Bali Hi Bar & Grill on deck 13. This is another good hide out away from the crowds. Next are the Star Bar and Cagney's Steakhouse.
Aft on Deck 13 is the Sports Court and numerous great views from the rails just above the Great Outdoors Buffet area.
There was usually an available table outside on deck 13 aft at the Great Outdoors buffet. It is a great place for your meal and for whale and shore watches during the cruise.
Deck 12 is the main hub for public areas. Starting aft on deck 12 is the Great Outdoors - alfresco buffet dining and a nice wake view. Moving forward, La Cucina Italian Restaurant and the Garden Café buffet are just forward of the Great Outdoors. Forward of the La Cucina on the port side is the Cinema, the Video Arcade and the Kids Club. Mid-ship on deck 12 is the the Star Bar and Topsiders Bar & Grill area with the 2 Tahitian swimming pool and deck chairs. The South Pacific Spa and Body Salon and the Body Waves Fitness Center are forward on deck 12 forward. Between the Spa and the pool area on deck 12 starboard side forward are the library and the card room.
Decks 9-11. These are all passenger cabins. Check out tip 5 below for a hidden "secret room" on passenger deck 11.
Deck 8 is mostly passenger cabins, but mid-ship you will find the Blue Lagoon 24-hour Food Court and the Mambos Tapas Latin Restaurant.
Deck 7 is the Promenade Deck with a wrap around walking path completely around the deck. Aft are the Bliss Ultra Lounge and Night Club and the Bliss Bowling lanes. Just forward of the Bliss are the Internet Café, the Art Gallery and the Photo Gallery. Next is the Crystal Atrium surrounded by the Java Café, the Reception Desk, the Shore Excursion Desk and the Port O' Call shop. Next are Tepanyaki, The Lotus Garden Asian Restaurant and the Sushi and Saki Bar. Next is the main store on the ship - the Trading Routes Boutique. Forward on Deck 7 is the Stardust Theatre Balcony section.
Deck 6 forward is the Stardust Theatre, middle section. The Vienna, Prague and Barcelona meeting rooms are just aft of the Stardust on the port side. Next is the Pearl Club Casino. Midship on deck 6 is Le Bistro French Restaurant and the specialty bars - the Corona Cigar Club, Magnum's Champagne and Wine Bar, Shaker's Martini and Cocktail Bar and Malting's Beer and Whisky Bar. Next moving aft is the Indigo Main Dining Room. Aft on deck 6 is the Summer Palace Main Dining Room.
Deck 5 forward is the Stardust Theatre, lowest section. All other parts of deck 5 are passenger cabins.
Deck 4 is all passenger cabins and non-public areas.
TIP 5: There is a hidden room on the ship worth visiting. From here you can see models of the Pearl and you can get a direct view of the bridge of the ship. Go to deck 11 to the port side of the ship where there is a corridor for passenger cabins. Go all the way to the front of the ship on deck 11 on the port hallway.
The ship model shows in detail all the exterior features of the Pearl.
Kids of all ages will enjoy this "secret room" on deck 11. It is worth searching out!
You will find it on the passenger deck 11 all the way forward on the port side of the ship.
Section 6: Onboard Entertainment
The entertainment. The Second City Comedy Club is the highlight here. Don't miss them! They are the comedy troupe from Chicago's famed Second City. They improv and sing and completely entertain. They were a favorite among passengers on our cruise. The group performs two feature shows in the Stardust Theatre and several second-feature shows in smaller venues. Another great show was the Garden of The Geisha. This is a dance and acrobatics display with an Asian theme and costumes. Afterward is a short presentation by Pearl crew members themselves complete with an introduction of some of the behind-the-scenes people who make the cruise fun. One night, Comedian Bill Hildebrandt was the headliner. He was fun, but not spectacular for us. Other headliner highlights include the Comedy Jugglers Sharkbait show. They are good. They have been on the Tonight Show, The Late Night Show and are featured at Universal Studios Japan & Ringling Brothers. They juggle, balance and perform amazing stunts. In the Bar City piano bar, look for Don Alexander who does a great impression of Neil Diamond. Other options include Monte Carlo Night with singing, dancing games and prizes in the casino and the White Hot Party with costumes and music. At the pool deck by the Tahitian pools on deck 12, the poolside experience includes relaxing music and a designated quiet zone. There are also onboard sports and kids programs including bowling, Xbox and Wii options, foosball, billiards and air hockey. No photos were allowed in the main shows so we have no photos to post here.
However, the crew show was another story. Passengers were encouraged to bring their cameras and take photos. The crew show near the end of the cruise was one of our favorites. These kids are really talented!
TIP 6: If the Pearl is full when you cruise, all of the seats will be taken well before some events starts. We missed 3 events in the Spinnaker Lounge because there were no seats by the time we arrived. We nearly missed 2 of the main shows in the Stardust Theatre because seats just were not available. If your cruise on the Pearl is full, then get to shows and events you really want to see at least 10-15 minutes early. For the Spinnaker seats fill up quicker - you will want to arrive 15-20 minutes early. If you show up right on-time, there may not be enough seats left.
In Juneau, don't miss the Alaska String band who boards after the day in port. They are family entertainers of the "Von Trapp" variety (they are actually the Zahasky family). They are talented musicians and storytellers. They are definitely worth seeing. Get there early to make sure you get a seat.
The Alaskan String band presents unique Alaskan music. The Zahasky family group performs with guitars, fiddles, bass, mandolin, ukulele, percussion and vocals. They are a fun show! You can learn more about them at their website: http://www.alaskastringband.net/index.html
Tip 7: South Pacific Spa: Watch for spa specials. Janean opted for a special "Head to Toe" spa treatment of 75 minutes which included a full body massage, a facial and a foot massage for $129. Important Note: The gratuity is automatically added for spa treatments. Janean didn't notice this when she signed and she left an additional gratuity. The gratuity totaled over 40% which was about double what she expected to leave as a gratuity.
Section 7: Inside Passage & Glacier Bay Cruising
Cruising the Inside Passage. Day 1 - we cruised the Alaska Inside passage. A balcony cabin is a real advantage on an Alaskan cruise. You will enjoy spectacular views from your own private balcony on the sea.
On the inside passage trip the views became spectacular about half-way from Seattle to Juneau - about 400 miles north of Seattle. Whales were spotted on both sides of the ship. This is a hump back whale full-body out of the water.
We spotted hump back whales and orcas numerous times in the Inside Passage. Here is a pair of orcas.
We also spotted several eagles flying over the ocean during our Inside Passage cruise.
There is coastline on both sides of the ship. We have read arguments about which side of the ship is better for north-bound cruises.
After taking this cruise, we're not sure the debate has a "right" answer.
Both sides have great views and sometimes you want to go to the other side of the ship to view something on the opposite side of the ship.
In Glacier Bay, the captain rotated the ship so that both sides had equal time to view the glaciers.
While cruising the Inside Passage, there are great views of land and whales on both sides of the ship.
The weather for our cruise the first week of June was great. It was very chilly - low 50s in the mornings and around 70-80 degrees in the afternoons. The starboard side of the ship receives the morning sunshine on the northbound leg. For the chilly mornings, that was an advantage of the starboard side.
The afternoon sunshine was also pretty hot on the port side of the ship. We're guessing that in July and August when the weather is warmer the direct sun on the port side in the afternoon would get very hot.
We would probably lean slightly in favor of a starboard side ship, but it really is a close call. Bottom line - get a balcony & toss a coin about which side will be best.
TIP 8: Which side of the ship on northbound Alaska cruises? We couldn't decide - but we do recommend a balcony for this inside passage trip. Public viewing areas get extremely crowded when whales or other points of interest are spotted. A private balcony is a great perch for Alaska viewing.
Cruising Glacier Bay. Day 4 cruising Glacier Bay.
On the Glacier Bay cruise, at about 6 AM, a National Forest boat with three rangers came aside the Pearl. Our ship did not stop, we slowed to a speed of 8 knots and the 3 rangers climbed a rope ladder to board.
They just introduced themselves as Ranger Kevin, Ranger Helen and Ranger Tim. Ranger Kevin narrates during the cruise. Ranger Helen does a brief outline of the day's events and then leads the events/discussion with the kid's groups.
Ranger Tim offers a slide show complete with outstanding photos and descriptions. But here is a tip (which we think Ranger Tim would follow himself) - stay outside and watch the real Glacier Bay during his presentation. Don't hang out in the Stardust Theatre when breathtaking views of Glacier Bay are just outside. If you must see the slides, watch them on the replay on your TV that night.
As we cruised up Glacier Bay, the narration was helpful and interesting. The scenery is spectacular. We spotted numerous seals, a few otters and some whales.
If you get cold, there are also great views from the Spinnaker Lounge forward on deck 13. We sailed past several other glaciers, including Rendu Glacier, Lamplugh Glacier, Johns Hopkins Glacier and Reid Glacier. This was a spectacular day of cruising - from both inside and outside the ship!
The weather was nice so our captain went around Composite Island. Our first up-close glaciers were the combined Margerie and Grand Pacific glaciers in the Tarr Inlet. The Margerie Glacier is one of the most active ice flows in Glacier Bay. Chances are good that you will see ice calving from the glacier. We arrived early (there were 2 other cruise ships behind us in Glacier Bay that day). The other ships went to other points first.
We saw and heard multiple small chunks of ice calving from the glacier. The pieces that fell when we were close were car and small house sizes. You could hear and feel the shock waves from these small ice breaks.
We could also hear constant deep rumbles of cracking in the glacier. We can only imagine the sight and sound of a large ice chunk calving. Some pieces are the size of high-rise apartment buildings when they break away. These are the largest glaciers for viewing - as high as 250 feet at the base plus another 100 feet below water. Compare the 250 above the water to the height of the Statue of Liberty at 307 feet.
The captain maneuvers the ship so that the port side has a view of the glacier for about 30 minutes and then the starboard side gets about 30 minutes. In this picture and the 3 photos below you can get an idea of the size of the glacier with 2 kayaks in front of the glacier.
There were 4 adventurous kayakers in 2 kayaks while we were at this glacier. They can get REALLY close in the kayaks. Catching them in our photos helped give a better perspective of the massive size of this glacier. Can you spot the 2 kayaks in these 3 photos below and the one above? You can click on any photo for a larger image to view.
We stayed and watched from our balcony during the port-side view. We went to the public viewing areas for the starboard views. Dress warmly so you can stay outside as long as possible. Next we made a short stop at Johns Hopkins Glacier. The Johns Hopkins Glacier is the only major tide-water glacier in the northern hemisphere that is advancing further into the water.
Ships have to be careful around this glacier because 90% of the glacier is below water. The glacial ice moves about 3000 feet per year.
TIP 9: There are great views of whales, glaciers and scenery on this cruise. Announcements are often made about where a whale has been spotted. Crowds fill up the rails for viewing quickly when these announcements are made, the crowds all run to decks 12 and 13. If it is crowded above, calmly make your way down to the promenade deck on level 7. Your view may even be better and there will be fewer people on deck 7.
Shore Excursions. Conveniently, you can walk off the ship for all ports. We're not sure why, but the disembarkation line at Juneau was painfully long and slow. We were in line for about 30 minutes to get off the ship at Juneau. The crew did a better job at getting us off the ship in the other ports of call.
Section 8: Juneau
Juneau. Day 2 - 2 pm to 10 pm. Juneau was established as Alaska 's capital in 1906 when the government was transferred from Sitka. Today, federal, state and local government employs one out of every two Juneau workers. Tourism is the largest private employer and continues to grow. Commercial fishing and mining continue to play a role in Juneau 's economy.
A must see for us was the Mendenhall Glacier. This is one of the only glaciers in the world that you can drive to and then walk up for even closer views.
For our trip to the glacier, we saved money and booked the City & Glacier Narrated Tour directly with Juneau Tours. The price is $27 each for a 2.5 hour tour. Kally Flynn with Juneau tours was very helpful and very informative about the tour they offer even before we left home. The exact tour time is set at check-in on the dock.
All tours pick up in parking lot left of the Mt. Roberts Tramway. There is a row of booths at the Mt Roberts Tramway. This is where you will check in with the dock receipt that you print out upon purchase of your tour. The tour starts at historic downtown Juneau.
You see the Governor Mansion, the Alaska state Capitol and the famous Red Dog Saloon. Here is a photo of Sarah Palin's second home.
You will drive past the Gastineau Wildlife Refuge to Mendenhall Glacier.
You have 45 minutes to explore the Mendenhall Glacier Park.
This is one of the few glaciers in the world you can drive to. The Mendenhall Glacier is a short 13 mile drive from Juneau. The glacier is 12 miles long and 1.5 miles across at its widest point.
There are walking paths and you can walk closer for great views of the glacier and the calved ice flows in the bay. This drive-up & walk-up experience is unique at Mendenhall Glacier.
There is an optional visit to the visitor center with a $3 entrance fee. The visitor center has great views of the falls and a few small exhibits. There is also a short film presentation. You won't miss much if you don't have time to stop at the visitor's center.
We finished our tour with stop on Douglas Island for panoramic view of Juneau & the cruise ships and great photo opportunities.
At the end of the tour, our driver dropped us in front of the Mt. Roberts Tramway, centrally located between all the cruise ships.
You will have plenty of time to explore the shops of downtown Juneau after this 2.5 hour tour. Don't miss the smoked salmon shop at the parking lot! Juneau Tours did a great job on this tour and a really good price. You can book this tour here: http://www.juneautours.org/index.html
If you have time, the tram ride to the top of the mountain looks like a fun option!
Section 9: Skagway
Skagway. Day 3 - 7 am to 9 pm. Fortunately, NCL gives passengers a full 14 hour day in this fun Alaskan frontier mining town. We took the White Pass Summit Excursion railroad journey on this shore excursion. The White Pass & Yukon Route was designated an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1994.This train ride is the hallmark Skagway shore excursion. You can save a little money if you book the way we booked. Our price for this option was $103 each + tax. The excursion is 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
This is a narrow-gauge railroad that served the mad rush to the Klondike in 1898. We boarded an old-fashioned parlor car for the 40-mile round trip rail ride from town to White Pass summit.
Bonus Tip: If you take the train ride, sit on the left side of the car going up the hill. Also, if there are 2 or more of you in your group, sit on the last row of the train. You can stand up for views behind the last seat of the train and you can quickly get outside for views from the exterior platform. On the way up, almost all the best views are on the left side. This reverses for the trip back. The rail operators ask you to trade seats with those across the aisle for the trip back. This gives everyone a fair chance to see all the wonderful views. From your warm & comfortable railcar, a panorama of wilderness unfolds.
We took the last departure of the day which is the 4:30 PM departure. This late trip is called the WHITE PASS EVENING SUMMIT with an approximate duration of 2 1/2 hours. The guide onboard the train tells you when you are approaching each point of interest and also tells you the unique story of this railway.
The late tour takes advantage of the long Alaskan summer days and if you hate crowds, the late train will help you avoid the bigger morning crowds. After about an hour of breathtaking views, you reach the end of the rail journey - White Pass Summit. The summit is the international boundary between Canada and the U.S. You get a short stay at the summit and then you begin your return journey down the White Pass and Yukon Route. There was still plenty of light when we reached the summit.
Whenever you leave, the rail journey gives you a unique photo opportunity with memories of waterfalls, mountains, gorges, tunnels, trestles and historical sites. You depart from Skagway and pass through two tunnels, sky-high trestles and remote valleys. Outside your large picture window, you will see Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point and Dead Horse Gulch.
During the ride we had a few nice views of the Skagway harbor and the cruise ships below.
We also saw a small black bear and 2 moose alongside the tracks, but we weren't quick enough with our camera to get the photos of them.
The track climbs nearly 3000 feet in 20 miles. Portions of the old track have been abandoned and new track rebuilt. This old trestle spanning Dead Horse Gulch with the tallest cantilever bridge in the world at the time it was built.
To save about $10 per person, book directly with the White Pass & Yukon Route (WPYR), at this web address: http://www.wpyr.com/index.html Their phone is: 800-343-7373 or 907-983-2217 (ticket office). You arrive at their train Depot downtown 15 minutes ahead of your departure to pick up your tickets.
City buses are available for $2.00 p/p. The walk from the dock is 5-25 minutes depending upon where your ship is docked. Our walk was the simple 5 minute variety.
Rotary Snowplow No. 1 was built in 1898 by the Cooke Locomotive and Machinery Company of Paterson, New Jersey for WP&YR. It helped the railroad face the challenges of heavy winter snows with accumulations of up to 12 feet. Pushed by up to 2 helper engines, the rotary's 10 huge blades sent snow flying out to the side of the tracks by centrifugal force. It was retired in 1965 but was used as recently as 2001 for a ceremonial clearing of the rails. Rotary Snowplow No. 1 has been restored and can be seen by the Skagway Depot.
Fortunately, there is plenty of time for the rail ride and for exploration of the Skagway train depot and the downtown stores. The town is an easy walk from the ship - just 5 minutes from the ship and you can start exploring.
There are actually 3 different trains that run in the morning and the 1 trip in the evening.
Skagway is home to 850 year-round residents and encompasses 455 sq.miles of land and 11 sq. miles of water.
The first non-Native settler was Captain William Moore in 1887, who is credited with the discovery of the White Pass route into Interior Canada. In July 1897, gold was discovered in the Klondike, and the first boatload of prospectors landed. By October 1897, according to a Northwest Mounted Police Report, Skagway "had grown from a concourse of tents to a fair-sized town with well-laid-out streets and numerous frame buildings, stores, saloons, gambling houses, dance houses and a population of about 20,000".
Downtown Skagway has historic 1898 buildings and notorious gold rush districts to explore. Skagway became the first incorporated City in Alaska in 1900; its population was 3,117 at that time, the second-largest settlement in Alaska. Skagway is now a restored gold rush town and headquarters of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. For more information on Skagway visit . www.skagway.com
At the Red Onion Saloon, you can step back in time with one of the madams of the saloon, which is a restored Brothel Museum. You can explore the halls and bedrooms of this infamous brothel to see original relics and images of the "ladies of the evening" who worked there. If you are lucky, you might see the resident ghost, Lydia. The women of the evening brushed shoulders with notorious characters such as Soapy Smith and Skookum Jim. You will hear stories of Klondike Kate, Cad Wilson, Pea Hull Annie and Diamond Lil who depict the adventurous, lusty, and sometimes tragic lives of thousands of women who stampeded north.
There are also many shops to explore in downtown Skagway. In the winter there are only about 850 residents.
But the place buzzes during the summer cruising season. Tourists show up on cruise ships looking for Alaskan fun, art and souvenirs. We found plenty of all of that in Ketchikan. Many shops had very unique and intriguing art and collectibles.
Section 10: Ketchikan
Ketchikan. Day 5 - 6 am to 1:30 pm. This was our favorite port! Ketchikan was Alaska's first city, established in 1883 as a fishing camp
Today it is known as the salmon capital of the world to sport fishermen. Dan is already investigating a trip back to Ketchikan to fish. This 70 pound Chinook Salmon is in the Taquan Air building.
Spotted at a shop on the boardwalk: From the looks of this 385 pound fish, halibut fishing is also really good in the Ketchikan water
In summer, Ketchikan gets numerous visitors from cruise ships plus the fishermen and tourist who enjoy the rustic boardwalk, the waters and the expansive rainforest.
Ketchikan was the largest city as a port stop for us in Alaska with a population of 14,500. This is the welcome sign at the boardwalk near the cruise terminal.
The town is named from the native term Katch Kanna which means spread wings of a thundering eagle.
We spotted several bald eagles during our visit. This one flew right toward us and posed for multiple photos.
Ketchikan is an island which is 679 miles north of Seattle and 235 miles south of Juneau. Ketchikan is the southern-most Alaska port for cruise ships. It is 3 square miles of land and 1 square mile of water.
We learned that they receive over 13 feet of rainfall per year and about 3 feet of snow. The snow usually melts quickly due to heavy rains. The surrounding Tongass National Forest is a rain forest - the second largest rainforest on earth. The heavy rainfall and the pacific location keep temperatures relatively mild - from low 50s to mid 60s in the summer and in the 30s during winter.
We booked an amazing shore excursion and highly recommend this option. We took the Float Plane and Crab Feast excursion.
Our excursion was early - we left at 6:35 AM. If you take this trip - do NOT eat breakfast. The crab feast will be breakfast because you arrive at the George Inlet Lodge very early. The tour may fly you there first or you may fly back on the return trip. Either way, you will be there and served a wonderful crab feast within an hour of leaving the ship. We rode the van from the ship to the George Inlet Lodge. Afterwards was the highlight - the float plane ride!
Our group was small - just 9 people. The van ride is narrated and the driver explains some of the history about the points of interest along the coast on your ride to the lodge.
We passed and learned about totem poles, the Ketchikan fish hatchery, and the coast guard station in Ketchikan. This is a photo of the Ketchikan fish hatchery taken during our flight.
After the short, scenic ride we arrived at George Inlet Lodge. There are 79 stairs to climb down to the lodge on the waterfront. A short car ride is available for those who cannot climb down the stairs.
The hosts at the lodge were very friendly. After a very brief tour of the lodge, you are treated to a very small portion of smoked salmon and then to all the crab you can eat. Beer, wine and soft drinks were also included in the tour price. The meal was great. Cheesecake with local blueberries is served for dessert.
After the crab feast, we took a short amount of time to walk around the lodge and visit the gift shop. We spotted an eagle outside the lodge. We also saw a salmon jump in the water by the dock.
You have great views by the railing at George Inlet Lodge.
Float Plane. The highlight of this trip is a short 30 minute flight on a De Havilland Beaver float plane. Our plane picked us up at the dock by the lodge.
Dan was thrilled when the pilot offered him the copilot seat.
The planes will accommodate up to 6 passengers.
Four of our group left on the first plane and other five of us left on the next plane.
You will fly over the lodge, the amazing scenery, mountain top lakes and bays.
Janean spotted a few mountain goats from the plane.
You also fly over Ketchikan and the cruise ship docks.
Ketchikan is all revealed below, along with panoramic views of the Tongass National Forest.
Check the weather before your trip. If Ketchikan will be sunny, you will definitely want to book a flight!
The mountains are expansive. The views are amazing. We loved this short flight over the Ketchikan wilderness. It's a perspective you can't get any other way.
After thirty minutes of spectacular scenery we landed in Ketchikan and were shuttled back to the ship. Our trip note warned that the flight path is subject to change due to weather patterns and the tour may run in reverse.
Taquan air is the flight plane service. Our pilot was Kevin Roof. At the end of the flight, he jokingly reassured us: "There were only a couple of scary moments up there" and "I'll be getting my pilot's license next week." Kevin is Taquan Air's Director of Operations. You can visit their website here:
At the Taquan Air terminal you will find a comfortable building with a gift shop, totems and a few wildlife exhibits.
This shore excursion also leaves you plenty of time to explore downtown Ketchikan along the boardwalk. We had multiple moose sightings in some of the Ketchikan stores. Here is a photo of Janean with a big moose.
And Dan found a moose posing outside another Ketchikan store near the cruise terminal.
We didn't check into the Ketchikan Duck Tour but their bright yellow land/sea vehicles will catch your eye.
Section 11: Victoria
Victoria. Day 6 - 6 pm to midnight. Due to the late 6 PM arrival in port, we decided to book the NCL shore excursion.
We checked other options, but the similar tours were not operating as late as we needed for this port stop.
We opted for the NCL shore excursion titled Butchart Gardens and Victoria City Tour. The cost through NCL was $109 each.
We enjoyed a narrated bus ride to Butchart Gardens with highlights of Victoria along the way.
Our guide on the bus explained how the Butchart Family transformed the gardens from a barren rock quarry to what is now - one of the world's best-known botanical gardens.
The gardens are a lush paradise of flowers, rare trees and winding paths. It was created over 100 years ago and the 32+ acres of varied horticulture in this once-private garden are impressive.
We were in the gardens just when it became dark and there was an evening spectacular with lighting displays throughout the gardens.
We enjoyed wandering around the cascading fountains and footbridges connecting the themed gardens.
The icon and highlight of the Butchart Gardens is the amazing Sunken Gardens. We also viewed the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden and the Mediterranean Garden. Maps are provided to facilitate your walk on a self-guided tour through the gardens.
We missed the fireworks, but on Saturdays in July and August there is also a fireworks display, choreographed to music.
Section 12: Disembarkation
Disembarkation. The disembarkation process was a breeze for us. We were offered an early disembarkation option, but our flight was at 1 PM so we slept in and had a leisurely breakfast. We packed our bags and took our time in the room. Dan heard a noise on the balcony and opened the balcony door only to get sprayed accidentally by the NCL Pearl cleaning crew. They spray down the balconies and windows in-between cruises. It was startling, but funny! We walked off the ship with our bags at about 9:30 AM. It only took us about 10 minutes to clear customs and to find a cab.
TIP 10: Taxi and limo drivers hang out on the south end of the taxi stop at Pier 66. They will wave their hands at you before you reach the taxi stand. We were offered and accepted a $35 flat-rate town car ride to the airport. We avoided the long taxi lines and locked in a flat fee for the trip back to the SEA-TAC airport. The return trip was actually $10 less than the first trip from the airport.
