We enjoyed our first cruise and would recommend seeing Alaska with NCL. The destination was the most important element of our trip and it's unlikely we would cruise again. however we would recommend this NCL Sun cruise itinerary to Alaska.
Check In
Check in was chaotic to say the least. Luckily we had priority check in so avoided a lot of the queues, but the guy checking us in did not have a clue, and a 5 minute task took nearly half an hour. The VIP waiting area was a nice touch, and being escorted onboard was also a plus, and avoided the queues and the crowds. Even though our luggage was tagged as priority, it took a long time to arrive.
We stayed in Penthouse 9202, which is at the front of the ship with a large balcony. The stateroom is a very good size with lots of storage. The bathroom incorporates a large closet area. There is a baths as well as a separate shower cubicle, & twin basins. There is a sofa, table and chairs, and a small desk area. Despite several online descriptions, the sleeping area is not separate to the sitting area. Although the suite comes with a coffee machine, it would be nice to have a kettle to make a decent cup of tea!
Guests staying in Penthouses or Owners Suites can eat breakfast and lunch in La Cucina.
We also had priority disembarkation at all ports if we wanted, which was a real bonus.
Our penthouse came with a butler, which we're definitely not used to! He was ok, but didn't really do much more than deliver rom service. Our concierge was also on hand if we needed her, to make reservations, answer any queries, and arrange for our priority disembarkation. She was an asset to have.
You feel a constant vibration as the ship is moving, but on the whole movement and noise is minimal. The view from our balcony is pretty much the same as the ships webcam, so excellent for photos! It can be a little windy though!
An awesome trip with some amazing scenery. As we cruised up the bay, the sun was shining, the clouds lifted, and the captain said it was the best day for 2 seasons. As our suite was directly at the front of the ship we viewed the bay from our balcony, and listened to the commentary through our TV. The National Park rangers that came on board were very informative. We stopped at Marjory Glacier, where the captain did 2 complete turns so all angles were covered, & at John Hopkins Glacier, which also involved 1 whole revolution. Apparently the Rangers were on hand for questions, and gift sales
Vancouver is a nice city and worth a visit.