Nilbog

There was a story on the local Jax news lasts night. There was a meeting yesterday where they were supposed to finalize the contract, but other agenda items pushed it back. They're now scheduling a meeting next week just for finalizing the NCL contract.

I'm IN Jax, I'd love to be able to do a quick weekend getaway on NCL, since that's where most of our points are.

@YVRteacher I seem to be following you around. I was in Alaska last year just after you and I'll be on the Star to Greenland & Iceland this August. 🙂

On the Pearl (and the rest of the Jewel class ships) there is a reserved seating area for Haven/Suite guests for the shows that is watched by the butler/concierge staff.

You are correct regarding the Jewel class ships, or at least the two we've been on. However, the OP is asking about the Norwegian Sun, which is a Sun class ship.

Please keep in mind, when sailing from Miami, Scootaround delivers the scooter to your cabin, so you won't have it until then. If you need help checking and and boarding, you will need to request wheelchair assistance for the terminal. Last time we left from Miami they told me I could pick up the scooter before going in the terminal, but that was not the case.

We've got this one scheduled for August 2024. What were the temperatures like? 14 days is an awful lot of sweatshirts, and lots of luggage.

We just got off the Seward to Vancouver cruise, and while on that one booked the Canada, Greenland, Iceland cruise. This was our third time to Alaska, and we really enjoy those cruises. Really looking forward to the Greenland/Iceland cruise. If you have the time, I would think the Greenland/Iceland cruise would be preferable. But if you've only got a week of vacay, then you'd be better off with Alaska.

We had that same person on the Pearl last November. Sneaky little ninja!

We've been on her sister ship, the Pearl, three times with my scooter, and we've never had an issue getting around, or finding restrooms. We've never had an accessible cabin, the smallest being the Club Balcony Suite, so I can't say whether there will be room in an inside. Although if it's an accessible cabin, they're built for wheelchairs and scooters. I'm sure the Jewel is laid out the same way, and we'll find out in 67 days, as we'll be on her going to Alaska.

It'd be a lot lighter if they used cardboard for the hull, though.

I'm curious, what do you trade the wine for that you would actually drink?

Three NCL cruises, and they've all been on the Pearl. We were on her last November for a Thanksgiving run to the Canal. Food was great every place we ate. The Great Outdoors is a nice place to sit during the day or evening and watch the water or coastline. O'Sheehan's has great pub grub late into the night (might even be 24/7, but those nights are done for my old a$$). We like the Pearl so much we're on her sister ship, the Jewel for our next Alaska trip in September. The staff was amazing everywhere we went.

@alackas which date in September? We're on the 25th.

I wouldn't say Diamond is a pretty low loyalty level. That's where you start getting a free photo.

She brings pills, patches, and bands on every cruise. They help her keep an even keel. All except one night on one cruise where the dining rooms stayed empty all evening. She's just not real comfortable on the small boats.

I've got even longer to wait, as we won't be there until Sept 25th! My wife just booked me the crab fishing expedition in Ketchikan, so that's another thing to look forward to. She doesn't do small boats well, so she'll spend the day walking around Creek Street. Thanks @YVRteacher!

If you're interested in history, at all, you'll love Ephesus. We used to go down there once a month. Our kids loved getting to see the "old, old buildings." We even found some familiar looking statues. If you get the chance, try to get on a tour of the Basilica of St. John, which is just around the corner from Ephesus. While at the market, if you like pistachios, look for a street vendor and buy a kilo of them. They'll be nice and warm.

I know the departure time leaving Seward is later than most cruises, but what time do they start boarding? We're getting into Seward the day before our cruise starts, instead of riding the train down from Anchorage the day of departure. Loving your review so far. Glad you're having a great time!

We've always booked our cruises online, on the cruiseline website. NCL always assigns us a PCC, but we get a different one every time I book or do a mock booking and they call within a day of me being online. Most times if I've done a mock booking to check something, a new PCC will call to "finish my booking", not even knowing I've already got a cruise booked. They always offer to help, but I've not been able to get any of them to do anything. I'm thinking of going the TA route for our next cruise booking, and I've had a couple of referrals to TAs, but I'm not real sure how to pick one other than trial and error, and I'm not sure I want to keep going through that hassle until I find a good one. Who knows, maybe I'll be lucky and get a good one on my first try.

That's the same carpet they put in the Pearl, too. I miss the fish. But I figured out the pattern is like seaweed being dragged along towards the front of the ship.

We'll be on the Jewel in the Haven for the southbound cruise in Sept/Oct. Our 3rd time to Alaska. We're going up to visit our daughter in Bethel before the cruise. Can't wait to read more about your adventure.

We just did the Amtrak to Miami for a cruise last November. Hopped on in Jax about 9:00am, spent that night in Miami, then boarded the cruise the next morning. Coming back we spent another night in a hotel then boarded the train the day after the cruise ended. We used Uber to go from train to hotel, then again to the port, and the same going the other direction. From PC it'll take about 4.5 hours to get to Jax so you'll probably want to come over the night before. So, for a Saturday cruise you'd best plan on leaving PC on Thursday.

There's also a Maple Street Biscuit Company on Bay Meadows, over by 295. Real easy to hop onto 295 to head to the port after breakfast. With either MSBC or Metro you can't go wrong. Southpoint area also has a Cracker Barrel.

I have two favorites: The last ship I cruised on, and the net one I have scheduled.