laudergayle

3 hours ago, quillwercruisers said:

Marie was one of our Vacation Heroes! Such a beautiful person inside and out. 

I watched so many people come up to her the last evening.  She knew everyone’s name, they hugged…and they tipped.  She really is a standout.

3 hours ago, zqvol said:

Port times are so short, and at a couple of places docking is so far from town I would not cruise NCL to Alaska. 

Very true for cruises RT out of Seattle.  NCL has decent port times doing either the Northbound out of Vancouver or Southbound out of Seward, Whittier, or Valdez.

57 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

And it is always sad to watch those freshly made pizzas put out at 9:25 being thrown into a trash can at 9:30 along with all of the other foods on display. 

Perhaps the buffet crew could consolidate the remaining food items to a station or two to allow the buffet to remain open longer and reduce waste.  Call it a Grab snd Go, offer paper plates/utensils.  They could still publish Buffet close as 9:30.

WBTW, the morning and especially the lunch closing times are way short by at least 30 mins.  I definitely shared my thoughts on my NCL survey last week.

Just read the recent posts since returning from the Vancouver-Seward-Anchorage cruise on Monday. 
 

This is the first cruise where DH encouraged me to get/fill Vacation Hero cards…since he did watch a YT video which said you should…lol.

The staff and crew (mostly crew) were exceptional.  We filled out around 9-11 cards.  In reflection, most were wine stewards, bar waiters, Bev Mgr., waiters. I guess you could say we like to drink and eat.

but, we did go out of our way this cruise to recognize those who made our cruise even more special.

9 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

SPAM fried rice is great.

Lol…forgot I even posted that.  Yes, I actually agree a Spam fried rice would be tasty.  Now, I haven’t read the recent posts…but, don’t be surprised if NCL takes your endorsement to heart for a revised Teppanyaki menu…especially since the strip loin is such an unpopular protein.

3 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

@laudergayle and @GALSews how was your experience on the Jewel this last week?

Sitting in Anchorage right now.  I probably won’t be doing my own post review, but…since you asked…our experience and rating was similar to yours.  We also canceled an NCL cruise for February and have booked MSC in the Med in the fall, and Princess next April.  We’ll also be looking for other cruise lines to cruise late summer and in Jan/Feb next year. We still have a CF cert so we’re not abandoning NCL all together.

Ratings: 5 being best.

Embarkation/Disembarkation:  5

Cabin:  2 we were in a CBS under buffet galley (11616) with the sound of running water and rolling carts all day/all night. Location is awesome.

Guest service staff:  2. They didn’t care if guests were happy.  They use every excuse to minimize your issue and delay resolution.  It wasn’t until I said I would be there every four hours for the entirety of the cruise…7 days if that’s what it took.

Bar Staff:  5. Almost everyone were efficient, friendly, and seemed to like their job.

Dining staff:  3.  I think we may have had some newbies so a couple times we got food we didn’t order or they missed items. 

Food Specialty Dining:  4.  Portion sizes keep shrinking.  I don’t eat a lot but for those that do, you may need more.  LeBistro filet was very gamey tasting and I left it on the plate. They did remove the upcharge.  Cagney and LaCucina filet were great.  Teppanyaki sirloin was too tough but the shrimp were extra large this cruise.

Complimentary Dining:  3.5 We only ate in the MDR twice and one of those nights I ordered the two lobster tails for $25+20%.  They were EXCELLENT.  My favorite meal the whole cruise.  The rest of the menu items were nothing special.  Lots of seafood as others have posted. Again portion sizes are smaller, and sauces/dressings have been watered down.  Even the size of the wax paper liner in O’Sheehans has shrunk so much your food easily touches the table. If you have cruised NCL frequently, the cutbacks are noticeable.  

Buffet:  1.  The food choices made me feel like it was a school cafeteria.  But the 1 rating is due to the awful hours.  With the AK itinerary on Jewel, there were so many days where our excursion started early or ended around 2.  Early 6-7 am all that’s available is a continental breakfast, and the main buffet closes at 2:30…which is unacceptable IMO.  
 

Entertainment:  3.  Just nothing above average.  Rock performance good, but Broadway Hits flopped.  I guess NCL won’t pay the $$ for music rights to any top song.  There were very few musicals I could name the songs from. The same average comedian three nights and two movies.  Cirque Bijou was canceled due to weather the last night.  Why they schedule a cirque show for the night most likely to have rough water makes me scratch my head.

NCL Excursions:  

Bering Sea Crab Tour, Ketchikan:  5. Exceptional.  I found myself crying from the stories the crew shared.  And the sea life is so remarkable.

Discover Whale Watch, Juneau:  3.5. The excursion really is not as described but it was still fun and we did see a few humpbacks.  What I didn’t like is we originally booked a whale watch with seafood fest for $239 pp 5 hours long.  When we got on board we were told our tour was cancelled and the only available whale watch option was $269 pp, no seafood fest and only 3 hours long.

White Pass Rail and Gold Panning:  4.  The gold panning was a little hokey, but it was fun to try it.  The railroad ride was beautiful as there was new snowfall the previous night.  
 

Hubbard Glacier Small Boat:  5++. The up close look to the glacier is the only way to really see a glacier.  The cruise ship is about 5 miles away and the small boat gets you 1/2 mile away.  I’ll post a pic.
 

Here are a couple of my favorite pics.  The last one is one “really really want” to see.  Marie says to tell you hello and she misses you!

Thanks again for letting me tag onto your story!

4 hours ago, FFTB said:

 

Not that there was much doubt, but recently got back from a b2b where this worked very well.

 

Of Note:

- You can't go directly to the cashier to charge to your room for cash, you have to either sit down at a table (can charge up to $5k at one time) and get chips that then get exchanged by the cashier, or sit down at a slot machine (charging up to $1k at a time) and immediately "Cash Out" and take your ticket to the pay-out machine/ATM.  The first leg of the b2b I did the table route, and the second leg I did a slot machine 5x (which I preferred as it required no human interaction).

- I'm told it can vary from ship to ship (oddly) but because it was charged to my On-Board Account as "Entertainment", my $200 Non-Refundable OBC for each leg more than covered the convenience fee ($150/leg). So $10k + $300 fee came out to $9900.

- Everything was consolidated with all other charges/daily service fees in my end of cruise statement and charged to the card at 3x points (and already paid off, as I pre-located ATMs connected to my bank at one of the ports of call).

 

So for a little leg work, I exchanged $400 Non-Refundable OBC for $100 cash and 1x Meta upgrade (value TBD).

 

 

Thanks for your report back.  I’m sure your info will help a few of us trying to earn more credit.  The Entertainment charge reducing your NR OBC is unusual, and that may vary by ship, too.  Hope you enjoyed your B2B and whatever cruise you use your meta uograde for!

Currently on the Jewel.  I have to say that the menu choices are not as robust as they were when we started cruising in 2021.  Each cruise (8 so far) I have noticed changes.  While I won’t go hungry, the changes are noticeable and all designed to cut costs.  What I’ve noticed on the Jewel is that since they really can’t alter the menu much more, they are now cutting costs in other ways.  For example, salad dressings are watered down and tasteless.  If you happen to get full strength dressing, the little cups are now 1/4 full.  The sandwiches now use 1/2 the filling and spread it across the whole sandwich. The portion sizes have shrunk.  Smoked salmon bagels in MDR are now on mini bagels.  The serving of breakfast potatoes consist of 4-6 small pieces.  The sauces are using low cost ingredients like more flour.  The spinach and artichoke dip has very little spinach, no discernible artichoke and is in a flour forward bechemal sauce with little if any cheese.  Perhaps someone who doesn’t cook much wouldn’t notice the changes.  And…the slots are really tight.   I’m enjoying the cruise…heck, we’re on a cruise.  The staff and crew are mostly awesome.  But…the cuts are noticeable.

We are currently on Jewel on 11616, compliments of a winning upgrade bid.

DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE book a cabin anywhere under the empty space shown on the deck plan.  It is definitely under the buffet galley.  We have a water noise from the dishwasher running through our cabin wall nearly all the time.  You can hear the dishwasher cycling through.  And, at night you hear clanks, roller carts, more clanks along with clunks, and pots clanking clunking in the dishwasher….at least until 2 am. 
 

I had to be VERY persistent with the “trained clueless” Guest Services team.  It took me four visits in the first 24 hours to get an OBC that I felt was satisfactory.  It only happened after I said i would visit every 4 hours for the entirety of the cruise until it was resolved.
 

Besides that mishap, the cruise has been very enjoyable. 

Happy Birthday Yvonne!!  Looks like you had a fun-filled day.  

4 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

You will be charged tax while in Vancouver.  Alaska does not have a state sales tax, though some municipalities do, including some cruise ports, but I have not heard that they require that it be charged on the ship.

Thanks.  If I understand you correctly, after leaving Vancouver and going through the Canadian inside passage we wouldn’t be charged tax.

18 minutes ago, lepidoptera said:

I haven’t done Vancouver to Seward but I did Seattle round trip in 2021 and was only charged taxes in Seattle. And I had specialty dining right after sail away and was not charged taxes on drinks or food in Los Lobos. 

Thanks.  I think out of Vancouver we sail in Canadian waters…which it dawned on me that we may have drink tax.  If so, it takes a little of my planned fun away.  We’re dining in LeBistro first night and I had planned on getting the most out of FAS+ with Veuve.  🍾🥲🤣

I tried search and couldn’t pinpoint an answer.  When on a NCL cruise, Vancouver to Seward and reverse, via Canadian Inside passage, when are you charged tax on alcohol…and how much?

We have purchased the FAS+ drink package and I want to be aware of where my higher priced drinks are incurring tax.  Also, if you’re in an area where you are being taxed, are you taxed on the “free” bottle of wine you get with your Platinum dinner.

Thanks for he heads up yo scroll past Hubbard Glacier.  Looking forward to your return cruise!  

18 hours ago, umaine89 said:

I am operating with no dinner reservations so I appreciate the board telling me how busy things are. 

 

Dinner at Sushi 11/10. Couldn’t have been better. With the meal package you get to order any 4 things on the menu. I was stuffed. 

 

 

Yes that was all free for one speciality dining credit. 
 

For $210, I got upgraded internet, upgraded free drinks package and 2 more speciality dinners (3 total). I have had multiple calls and the reception is fine (I have t mobile WiFi calling). I have been able to drink whatever I want and they give me two at a time. And the two speciality dinners so far have been awesome. That is the best $210 I have ever spent. 

Sushi looks delish.  Question.  I have to use wifi calling at home due to a weak VZ signal.  If I have the unlimited NCL internet snd my phones wifi calling turned on…can I make wifi calls to anyone?  We will be in AK so it’s not considered international?  What do you think?

By far my favorite Bubble picture.  I’m trying not to look at the glacier pics as I’ve never been to Glacier Bay!!  A week and a day till we board.  Maybe we’ll see you and Dad getting off!

Also, if traveling with another person, they may be going yo that person’s email.  That has happened to me when I wasn’t listed as the First person in the cabin.

4 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

The Crêpe

 

The crêpe gets its own post.

 

How to Enjoy a Crêpe in Ten Easy Steps

 

1.  Approach the crêpe station with a smile.

 

2. Tell the crêpe chef what you would like on the inside and what you would like on the top. My Crêpe has the very sophisticated duet of marshmallows and blueberries

 

but you can make your own combination. Avoid the cantaloupe if it is offered. 

 

3.  Make sure you say please and thank you.

 

4.  Take photos of your crêpe cooking to a light golden brown on each side

 

 

 

 

5.  When the crêpe chef has folded your dessert into a neat little package (make sure you say thank you!) head to the soft serve ice cream station. You don’t want the ice cream right on top of the hot crêpe so a side placement is recommended to avoid a melting situation.

 

6.  Drizzle both butterscotch and chocolate sauce over the top layer of crêpe.

7.  Return to the crêpe station for additional toppings. If multicoloured sprinkles are available, they are the preferred topping. If not, something from the chocolate family will suffice. I like the crunch of M&Ms but you may prefer chocolate sprinkles.

8.  Make sure you take a photo

 

9.  Enjoy your crêpe!

 

10.  Go do deck laps

 

Note: I added too many M&Ms and they weighed the crêpe down. Don’t make that mistake! I needed to implement the M&M removal system tonight.

Yum!!  Have the crepes been available each day or a particular time of day?

21 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

After dinner we went to the Great Outdoors for whale watching! Wow wow wow! 

Orcas on the port side, orcas on the starboard side, orcas in our wake! That was a treat and we were both enchanted!

Oh my…what a beautiful addition to your cruise.  And, it was free, compliments of Mother Nature🥰.  Was this between Ketchikan and Juneau??  We just got notice today that our whale watching excursion in Juneau doesn’t guarantee whale sightings…so this would be amazing to see.  And…our cabin is really close to the Great Outdoors.  Tell Dad he has a fan club!  
 

Lol, I just got to your next post where you acknowledged it was free!  Yay!

13 minutes ago, natefish95 said:

When I was on the Jewel, the "relieving back pain" was written as "reliving back pain" I hope they changed that typo haha

Lol.  My favorite Freestyle typo is from the Bliss…the day after I slipped and fell from wet carpet to hard floor. BTW…four months later it was still a typo🙃

57 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Now we go to Cagney's for lamb chops too. 

 

Lol…I agree. We get the best filet in LeBistro and the best Lamb chops in Cagney’s.  Oh…I will add my favorite dessert in Le Bistro.  The Ile Flontante.  And in Cagney’s…the OMG Cheesecake.

Yes on LeBistro.  The French Onion soup is amazing and the Filet is typically better than what is in Cagney’s…but it is a $10 upcharge.   Worth it IMO.

Just now, yakcruiser said:

I would eat the yummy looking spread and the chocolate covered strawberries. And just about anything else left in my cabin that didn't belong to the vegetable family.

I guess I’m like you…lol.  But I would eat the veggies too!  

6 minutes ago, julig22 said:

Some of us are quite content with plain and simple and/or have food allergies or restrictions. I wouldn't eat it either.

4 minutes ago, ihate2cruise said:

For the same reason people don’t eat the Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

I guess I can see why they go generic.  Ok…cookies it is.  I like them too.

55 minutes ago, ihate2cruise said:

This would not get eaten in our cabin.

 

More details.  Why not?