My wife and I were passengers on the last NCL Jewel trip into Alaska before the ship repositioned to warmer climates. We are experienced "cruisers" having enjoyed numerous trips into the Caribbean with Royal, Carnival, and Celebrity, and many years ago, a cruise line called "Admiral" - but that was a long time ago!

This was our first trip to Alaska, and our first experience with Norwegian. First the high points beginning with the itinerary and the Alaskan scenery. In a word, "Incredible!" Although as we left the port of Seattle we didn't realize at the time it would be the last time we would see the sun shine, the scenery on the inside passage is wonderful. Soaring snow-covered peaks, beautiful coastlines with mature hardwoods/forests and at least in late September, very little boat traffic make for spectacular photo ops. The standard three-town itinerary that defines the inside passage of probably all the major cruise lines - Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway - was not disappointing in the least as each town has its own charm, attractions, and while these places obviously live and die on the tourist trade, (so expect the usual line-up of touristy shops and souvenir stores) Alaska is so remote, so thinly populated, and so "frontier feeling" that you never get the feeling of being crowded, or even pressured by vendors who in some venues (did anyone say the Bahamas?) are shoving over-priced trinkets under your nose and on every corner assaulting the tourists.

If watching whales feed, dive, swim in the harbor, bald eagles nesting within yards of your boat, schools of dolphins and orca's swimming alongside the ship, incredible glaciers, and the possibility of seeing bears feeding on wild salmon in a remote river is your thing (and why else would you come to Alaska?) then an Inside Passage Cruise shouldn't disappoint. Added bonus? There are/were very few kids on a late September voyage, and personally, though a proud parent of grown kids, I don't miss having tons of kids running through the ship and just being kids. Great to have older more sophisticated ship mates who are there for scenery, shopping, and aren't on board to party or baby-sit. Read more