shealea

Thanks for the replies. Dh and I will be checking on Saturday to see if we can get a yummy crepe!

Any "Hot" machines on the Jewel?????

I'm sure I'm going to be a big winner next week!!! ha!

Can anyone that has been on the Jewel this summer tell me if they still have the Crepe Station. We loved getting those crepes last summer on the Jewel. It was located by the Garden Cafe.

If they do have it, do you recall the hours it was open?

Wow, what fast planning. Clearly the cruise booking whent smoothly, but what about flights? Sometimes it is the flight (or the prices) that puts the kabash on last minute cruises. We had one sideways cabin, and I'd be happy to get one again. Your location sound convenient. Have a great time.

The cruise leaves from Seattle, and we live about 40 minutes from the waterfront. It would be tough to book a cruise so close because of having to coordinate flights. Plus, air is usually pretty high booking so to travel date.

I just booked Monday, for leaving to Alaska this Saturday.

As soon as I got off with my TA, I got on NCL and checked and had my cabin assignment. I booked a inside GTY. I was assigned a Floor 5 inside sideways cabin. Right by the elevator. Works fine for me!

I've read good things about the sideways cabins, so I'm anxious to try one. I like being right by the elevator. Go right out my door, and it's easy to hop right on the elevator or go right to the stairs. It's the first door off the elevator, so I shouldn't be getting lost and not able to remember which cabin is mine! ha!

So if you break the rules and someone calls you on it that falls under the category of busting chops? Perhaps there are better ways to spend a vacation THAN to think the rules do not apply to you and forcing those who abide by the rules to have to deal with it however they see fit.

omg....... I can just bet he/she was the one that always volunteered to be the hall monitor in grade school!!!

Cracking up big time....... he,he,he!

And, btw, I'm a non-smoker. But I sure ain't no hall monitor!!! Never was never will be. LOL!

Hi! I did exactly what you are trying to do last summer when cruising to Alaska on the Jewel. I would try calling again.

About 3 weeks before the cruise date, I bought an inside guarantee. The price dropped down some. I had hoped I could get some OBC. My TA called and they didn't want to give me obc, but they upgraded me for free to a porthole room. The price dropped again. My TA called and NCL wouldn't upgrade me again or give obc.

But they did let me pay the difference between the price I had on the porthole to a balcony. I paid $300 more for the two of us.

I had never had a balcony before on a cruise, and gosh, we absolutely loved it.

QueenShelley --- Thank you so much for telling me I can put my phone on airplane mode while on the cruise ship so I can still tell the time.

That will be great!

A rep from Norwegian called me today because he said he's noticed I've been on the website. We've been thinking of taking a last minute cruise up to Alaska.

I asked him if he had any good specials going on, maybe for obc??.....

He said no, nothing like that really going on now, BUT we do have a really good deal going on with an all-inclusive package....

I told him I knew quite a bit about that deal already. And that on cruise critic a lot of folks aren't thinking it's a very good deal for their particular circumstances. He kind of chuckled and said, "well for some people it's a good deal"!

Anyway, he said he would call me back later in the week too see if I've made any decision on going on that Alaska cruise. He was really very nice.

On our first cruise, our youngest son was under two. He was free. He's now 25, so it's been many years ago.

It was a cruise to the Bahamas on Disney's Big Red Boat. That ship is no longer in service. I was just reading up on the history of it last night.

We had dh and I, two sons, one daughter and mother-in-law. We had two inside rooms. I remember having a blast, but I can't remember exact details about the ship.

Watches. One each for myself and dh. We keep our cell phones off when not in port, so no way to tell what time it is.

Or is there a way to have my cell phone on so we have the time, but not take or send call off of the ship's tower?

I just today asked my dh if we should bring walkie-talkies on our upcoming cruise that we are bringing our granddaughter on.

Dh said she wouldn't want to drag a walkie-talkie around with her and she would pry lose it. I had to agree with him. We've had her on another cruise with us, and we did okay keeping track of her and meeting up with her without them.

But, I sure don't care if other families use them on cruises. The noise doesn't bother me at all. I've always gotten a kick out of seeing kids with them -- yes, maybe talking loudly. But those kids are having a blast and always have a huge smile!!! They love being on a cruise!!!!!!

Those people don't bother me in the least. Nor do loud people that have had too much to drink. I think some folks worry a bit too much about things in life that just aren't that big of a deal. I guess I'm just having too much fun to let things like that bother me!

I'm a non-smoker. I can't see any smokers on their balconies ever bothering me. I've been on a few cruises and never been bothered by anyone smoking. Not on balconies or anywhere else.

I think there are a lot of folks that just look for things to whine about because they can!

KSF = Kids Sail Free

I've booked 3 times through a big warehouse store, where you need a membership.

They were a bit cheaper than what NCL or online TA's were listing. Plus, they offered the better perks. One year, The big warehouse site offered payment of the per day gratuities. There were me, my husband, my two grandkids in a room, so that was a pretty good savings.

I was really happy with the service we got, also! So, I would say, yes, shop around.

I was on NCL Jewel last August 10th sailing. We could not go into see Sawyer Glacier. They said because of ice. So, we went up Endicott. It was pretty along the way, and we did get pretty close to the glacier.

We said out of Seattle since that's where we live. So our choices for cruising to Alaska are a bit different. We can go with NCL and do either Glacier Bay or Sawyer Glacier cruises.

I preferred Glacier Bay. I loved the fact that park rangers came aboard for the entire day. They were available on deck to answer questions. One ranger narrated the entire day, pointing out what you were seeing along the way. And letting you know when you needed to pay special attention to wildlife, etc. Plus, you do pass a couple of other glaciers, and we saw some awesome calving before we even made it to the end of Glacier Bay to the main glacier.

It was just an awesome day. We even saw some big bear along the beach at the end glacier.

I've sailed to Alaska 3 times, all three on Norwegian Cruise Line.

We did a whale watching excursion on our first time. I would say it is worth the money, especially for your son. We had a wonderful show from the whales. We also saw other wildlife.....sea lions on buoys, etc. It really was worth the money, dh and I thought. We did a tour combo that brought us to Mendendall Glacier and then down to our boat for our whale watching. We loved it!

We have done a few things that cost little to nothing, that we considered excellent! In Ketchikan you can take the city bus...$2 roundtrip....to Totem Bright State Park. The State Park is outstanding, and it is free. The bus ride took a bit of time, maybe 1/2 hour?????..Can't remember exactly.

You can walk through the park, viewing the totem poles along the way. There is an Indian long house you can go inside and view. My cousin and I followed a large group around. We can be a bit dumb.....lol. We followed this group around for the longest time, listening to the wonderful guide tell all sorts of interesting facts about the totem poles. Then we FINALLY realized we had joined a paying tour that had stopped in at the park. So, we actually got a nice tour for free. But, there are signs along the way giving explanations, and I think a little guide book. Also, it's on a nice little beach with great views across the water. Enjoyed that.

Ketchikan is great to explore by walking around. There's Creek Street that is a charming street with a wooden boardwalk that is set along the creek. We've always been in August, and it's awesome to watch the big groups of salmon going upstream to spawn. We have seen many sea otter hanging out there, and it's a good time to watch them.

We've walked up the trails and side streets up along Creek Street for quite a ways. It's a nice walk and very beautiful along the street.

In Skagway, there is a tram that takes you way up the mountain/hillside. Up on top you can see all over the bay, including your cruise ship. It's really cheap. Maybe a couple of bucks per person???? Well, well worth it. There is the Mt. Roberts tram in Juneau, but it's I think about $20 per person. It does have a learning center thing on top, which is nice. But, I like the really cheap one just fine in Skagway.

In Juneau, we walked along past where the buses let you off....past where the Mt. Roberts Tram departs......and there is a beautiful park like area. When the weather is good, it's so relaxing to walk along, sit for a bit, people watch, etc. We really enjoyed that. Kids may not, though!!! lol!

I hope I've been able to help some.

I have been on 3 Alaska cruises. Twice doing Glacier Bay and once doing Sawyer Glacier.

Because of ice, we weren't able to do Sawyer Glacier and went up a different arm. Can't remember what it was called.

But, we plan on doing the Alaska cruise again this summer. I will choose the Glacier Bay itinerary. Glacier Bay viewing begins at 6 am. Park rangers board the ship. They are available on deck to answers questions. One park ranger narrates the entire way, pointing out items of interest along the way. Also, you do pass a couple of other glaciers along the way, and we saw awesome calving a couple of times. The scenery is outstanding.

I was more in awe throughout the day on the Glacier Bay cruising than I was on the other. But, like I said. We were not able to go up the arm to Sawyer Glacier, and the captain had to change up the itinerary.

On both itineraries, when you get to the end/or as far in as they can go, and you are in view of the glacier, the captain stops and slowly turns the ship in a complete circle for outstanding viewing.

It is just breathtaking, the entire day. With Glacier Bay, you do have to be up very early, as the viewing starts first thing in the morning. With Sawyer Glacier, you start to head in later in the day/early afternoon.

I have cruised 3 times to Alaska. Twice on the Pearl and once on the Jewel.

Freestyle Dining is different than what most cruisers would consider the traditional dining. Most cruise ships used to or still do assign/let cruisers pick early or late dining for the main dining room. Then you would eat each evening at the same time, at the same table, with the same wait staff. Often you would share a table with others. Same people every night.

With Freestyle Dining, you can eat at any time the dining rooms are open. There are two main dining rooms. Both are nice, but one is just a bit nicer. With NCL's freestyle dining, things are a bit more casual than on many ships, and that does include dressing for dinner.

At dinner in the one dining room, you will see people wear anything from nicer jeans (none with holes and heavily distressed), to sundresses, men's dockers, to people dressed up in suit jackets and women in very nice dresses with very nice jewelry. In the other nicer dining room, casual dress is acceptable for breakfast and lunch. But, for dinner, it's a bit nicer dress required. NO jeans. And they WILL enforce this. Dockers and a polo shirt are fine. And you will see more people dressed up in suit jackets and nicer dresses.

It's very, very rare to see anyone dressed in long gowns and tuxes on these cruises. There are one or two formal nights. Forget which. But, you will still not likely see anyone in long gowns or tuxes. But, hey, if that is what you are into, you will fit in just fine.

That's why is called FREESTYLE! You really are free to cruise any way that you love. And that is why dh and I will cruise on no other line. We absolutely love, love, love freestyle cruising. Suits us perfectly.