Norwegian Joy Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Family cruise to Alaska with family of seven with ages ranging from 20 to 80. We are the type of travelers that go with the flow and are going to make the best of any situation. That being said, we experienced both excellent and very bad. We were unable to travel a day ahead which I prefer because it makes the day less stressful. Our day began at 3am with a two hour drive to the airport and a 7:20 boarding time to Dallas then another flight to Seattle.
Checking luggage was a nightmare but the security was a breeze. (TSA Pre=approved). We were on a tight schedule but all went well and we arrived in Seattle a little early with all bags! We had NCL transfers and that went easy. Staff on hand at baggage claim to point you in the right direction to find buses. Quick bus ride to port. Then we encountered the worst check-in in over 25 cruises. Our luggage was supposed to be taken off the bus by NCL staff and sent to the cabins. Instead we had to unload the bus ourselves and the luggage handlers turned us away. Said they were done for the day. This was around 3pm.
Our family could handle this but I saw families with small children and multiple bags and elderly and disabled struggling with luggage. NCL staff would not even look you in the eye.
Cabin Review
Balcony Stateroom
Very nice room. We had plenty of room. We have been on a variety of ships and this was one of the nicer cabins.
Port Reviews
Ketchikan
We just walked around. Would have taken a tour if I had known Juneau was going to be a bust.
Juneau
Due to safety concerns all flights to glacier were canceled so our dogsledding tour was a no-go. Very disappointed but this is not NCL's fault by any means and I would not have wanted to fly in the fog..just too dangerous. Went into town and shopped and ate crab legs at Tracy Arm Crab Shack. Worth every bit of the $$$. Only a half day in Juneau so really not enough time.
Victoria
Walked from the ship to fisherman's wharf and caught a water taxi to Chinatown. Walked around there and downtown then just walked back to the ship. Not a bad walk at all. We were a little too early for the flowers so didn't go to the gardens due to $$$.