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We had very little time in Seward before sailing… I’m guessing 2 hours before all aboard time. We were told each bus/tour group is given a scheduled time to arrive in Seward so all the buses (& train) do not arrive at the same time. I say this because your time in Seward could vary from ours. We also had our bus break down while we were in Anchorage and that affected our schedule by a couple of hours.

I was just going to post on our roll call! Thank you for the suggestion!! I posted on other social media site first and someone just shared their photo of the message on the TV. @mking8288 You can ignore my question above about getting the photo from my cruise!! I am all set now! to OP, sorry for hijacking your thread!!

Hi Henry. Yes, I think it would! I didn’t turn my TV on that day to see the message on our cruise that day. I would most definitely have taken a photo of it. Do you know someone who has a photo of it from our cruise on Tuesday, December 12th? I know you had to cancel and we’re not able to sail. Thank you!!

I expect to be reimbursed the amount disclosed in the travel insurance policy I purchased. I would have preferred to see the island but instead will try to pull the trigger on the policy clause! I was refunded for the excursions booked through NCL and was not expecting any other reimbursement from them. However, I was expecting NCL to provide a document indicating the captain cancelled the port of call. The insurance policy requires proof of the event… which NCL REFUSED to provide. Thank you for your support!! My policy for this cruise would provide $250 in this instance (travel inconvenience) with proof of the event.

Prima just skipped grand cayman a few days ago and didn’t refund any fees or give any OBC. Not a big deal in my opinion. However, They also wouldn’t provide a letter stating we skipped the port which I think my travel insurance will want when I submit my inconvenience claim. It’s what was provided when getaway skipped a port in March. More inconsistencies.

I did the 13 Day Denali/Talkeetna Explorer - Southbound this past Summer. We had most of the day to take excursions in Talkeetna after our arrival at the hotel. Our guide had a list of available excursions to purchase through their tour company. There is lots and lots of daylight so many tours were available in the afternoon and evenings! I pre-booked many of my excursions during the land portion on my own in advance. I was able to work out most of the schedule ahead of time. But you don’t have to. People in our group picked stuff to do while we were on the tour.If you have must do things, then I suggest booking in advance! On the travel days to each location, there is usually free time to do things after arrival at the hotels. Denali is a little tougher because we didn’t get our park tour time until a day or two before our arrival. I was lucky that it was a morning tour and I did not have to cancel or change what I had planned the night we went to Denali! (I had booked a tour with Denali Jeep Excursions that evening!) Our bus broke down while we were in Anchorage, so we spent a few more hours there than expected and we had less time at the last stop before getting to the ship/Seward. Our arrival time to the ship was also scheduled. Unfortunately, we did not have time to explore Seward on our trip. During the southbound cruise on the Jewel, I booked two excursions each day at most ports through the ship. I packed my days and nights to see and do as much as possible while in Alaska. It was exhausting but so worth it!! You might want to check out some of the past Jewel Roll Calls to ask about the schedule for your exact land tour. Someone might still see your post and be able to give you more details from their experiences! Enjoy your planning and have a wonderful trip!!

I was in a forward facing penthouse on the Jewel in August. It was amazing! The glacier viewing was one of the best experiences I’ve had on a cruise ship! I too wanted aft facing but it wasn’t available so I chose forward facing and I would do it again! Here’s our Hubbard Glacier view sitting on the balcony, wrapped in a blanket eating warm chocolate chip cookies and sipping hot cocoa!

I didn’t know about the Butler bringing cream for the fridge, but will be asking on my next cruise!! I mostly drink iced coffee. I make it at home with fresh brewed med roast in the Keurig. I have the ice bucket filled at all times and make it in the cabin with Nespress machine too! I find the iced coffee too weak when it’s made by the Haven Restaurant… but they do try!! I am not a Starbucks fan, but do like the iced coffee on the ship! I usually run down to Starbucks for iced coffee before I head to breakfast in the Haven dining room! Now I think I need an iced coffee!!

I did the 13-DAY DENALI/TALKEETNA EXPLORER southbound this past last week of July and first week in August. It was the best vacation I’ve been on. We had a great group. Our weather was amazing and we got lucky with animal sightings, as well as seeing Denali while in Talkeetna! I booked things to do after the pre-planned daily tours at each location. I have never taken an organized tour vacation and I wasn’t sure I would like it but I was pleasantly surprised! This tour has a combo of bus and domed train. Being on the bus didn’t bother me. I even nodded off a couple of times between locations. I was extremely happy with my choice and even would have liked more time on the tour because there is so much to see!

I took the St John beach Escape and snorkel excursion in March. I don’t recall the description details, but The ferry picked us up at the pier.

I sailed Jewel in Alaska in August in a forward facing Penthouse on deck 9. I used the balcony while underway. As others have said, if seated the wind wasn’t too bad at all. The views were amazing. I had the room steward bring an extra blanket that I used on the balcony on chilly Alaskan days/nights. I fell asleep out there more than once! I cannot speak to motion because it doesn’t bother me and I pretty much often wonder if we are still moving. The Butler service was excellent, but I did not have meals brought to the cabin at all. I did make sure the bulkhead door was closed before I went to sleep at night because it got chilly the first night with a draft coming through just the inside door. For me that was the only downside! The only better cabin for me is the Aft Facing Penthouse Suite on Deck 10 of the Jewel category cabins.

This is great news! I sail solo often and like the studios but prefer a balcony! Now if only NCL would add a solo haven cabin!!

All looks so good! I loved the escapes haven dining area. I sat outside as often as the weather would allow, and I was often the only one out there! Looking forward to my next Haven in December in Prima. I did notice a typo on the dinner menu… Prime rib was listed twice. I am not a seafood fan, so I ordered turf without the surf and then mixed and matched the various veggies and potatoes from the menu for dinner. for lunch, I order a dinner portion size of Caesar salad with grilled chicken. I’m going to add a hard boiled egg to it on my next trip!

Prima, 12/1, 14 day repositioning, Haven Penthouse -263 PP per night, $3688.75 PP plus taxes and fees with 35% deal.

Was once in Bermuda many many years ago when a couple left their minor child onboard alone. I imagine in Splash Academy, and they missed the last ferry from St George! We waited until they could arrive back to the ship. I know this because the captain told us, repeatedly, while we waited for them to taxi back to the port. It is because of people like the OP that think it’s all about them that things change for for the worse for the rest of us!!

Was on the Jewel in August in Forward Penthouse Suite. Had all amenities, except the Haven… the one’s I used: Breakfast in Moderno, Lunch in Cagney’s, Priority, escorted embarkation on day 1 and at every port (last hour before boarding time), priority disembarkation, butler, concierge. On Glacier days, I got an invite to go up to the Haven with up to 4 guests to view the glacier. Hubbard Glacier, we chose to stay on the balcony instead of go to the haven. For Tracy arm I was in a small boat excursion, so I never did get to see the Haven!

This was years ago on the Gem, but I had mine removed! I walked into it on the first night and that was it for me. Ha ha! The other side of the bed had the pull down bed, so there was only one way around the bed! It can’t hurt to ask for it to be removed. The worst thing that will happen is they say no!

We were on the Jewel and visited Hubbard Glacier on 8/1 in the afternoon. It was a beautiful sunny day. We were told this was the closest the ship had gotten all season at .6 miles from the glacier. The ship did not turn at all until it was time to leave. We were lucky enough to be on a forward facing balcony that day. The Bow and forward sun decks were packed! It was spectacular! The photo does not do it justice!

Every tour picked up from the hotels! You definitely could do the hot springs the second night! All pickups were free except the hot springs! It is a good hour to hour and a half ride each way! Look for moose!! We didn’t see any on my ride! Our weather was amazing! It was warmer than usual every place we went! Only rained the second night we were in Denali! If the sun sets while you’re there… you might get to see the northern lights!!

Hi. The schedule worked out just about what is in the brochure! On day 1, Fairbanks, I took the 6PM shuttle to Chena Hot Springs. I took the 10PM shuttle back to the resort. I booked everything in advance through Chena Hot Springs resort. On Day 2, our guide and driver (Autumn and Chris) added a stop at North Pole because so many had asked about it. They also stopped at Walmart so we could pick up provisions! We were back in time to have another excursion. I didn’t have one booked. I had drinks with some new friends and then dinner and went to bed! in Denali, I booked Denali Jeep excursion for 6PM pick up. Second night I booked Horse drawn covered wagon and dinner for 6:15 pickup. There was plenty of time for both. In Talkeetna, I booked Mahays Jet boat for 6 PM pick up. I felt a little rushed to try to grab dinner and enjoy the views of Denali, so if you can get a later time for your planned excursion then think about that. I hope you have an amazing trip!! Mine is nearly over and it was the best trip I have ever been on!!

I will be on the same tour leaving 7/26. I just got my edocs today. We are booked into the Bear Lodge in Fairbanks (2 nights); Denali Bluffs in Denali (2 nights); Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge in Talkeetna (1 night). I didn't get my edocs until today. I requested an updated confirmation last week after the 21 day online check-in and it had the hotel names on it. Prior to that, NCL had sent me a Cruise Tour brochure which had a good amount of information on all of the land tours. This is likely the same AK brochure bonvoyagie refers to.

Yes. I am in our roll call too! I thought I recognized your cc username! It is the Chena Hot springs Resort shuttle, not one through our resort.

Sounds like we’ll be on the same transportation to the resort. There is a shuttle to/from Chema Hot Springs Resort, but schedule is not great. Could take the 5PM shuttle there. coming back would catch the last shuttle at 10pm. It doesn’t allow for a lot of time at the hot spring, but may be what I do.

@YVRteacher. Unfortunately, I cannot stay longer after the cruise. I am already out of work two weeks for this trip during a busy time! I am going to try to get the most out of my day in Vancouver this time, and hope I can make it back again to spend more time!

Thank you for doing this research for us! 😉 I noticed they have luggage storage service too! I may have to rethink my Vancouver plans leading up to my red eye back to Boston in August! I am currently booked on the NCL post cruise tour because of the luggage issues, and my latitudes discount and $50 excursion credit too… but now I have other options!! Thank you for your awesome review too!! I’ll be on the Jewel SB from Seward after a six day land tour. This entire post and all the questions and answers was so helpful!!