Celeste R.
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NCL’s Jewel is the sister ship to the Pearl, the Jade, and the Gem. It was launched in June of 2005. Its capacity is nearly 2400 passengers and 1100 crew. The ship’s Captain was Johan Stofling from Sweden.
Our itinerary was from Vancouver, BC to Seward, Alaska in September 2024. The embarkation process in Vancouver was horrible with much delay. The cruise terminal was large and cold, with few comfort measures, and as we waited to board, we were being solicited by people selling something.
Finally aboard, we waited again for our cabin assignment, which we still didn't have. When the cabins were ready, the luggage was nowhere to be found. The ship sailed from Vancouver at 4pm, without us receiving our bags. The cabin steward assured us they were aboard… I checked until the luggage areas were closed, when the stewards were tired of people checking. The problem was resolved at 8pm, but it caused an uncomfortable relationship with the steward. The timeframe was within the guidelines, so there was nothing we could do. The problem was widespread across the lower decks which seemed to receive lesser service than those on higher decks.
We ate in the Garden Café Buffet, despite having some Specialty restaurant credits. One night, we used a dining option. The food was excellent, but later, my husband had a gastric upset. Following this, we ate exclusively at the Garden Café Buffet, where there were adequate choices. We found the food to be OK, but never extraordinary.
This purpose of this cruise was for rest and an opportunity to enjoy Alaska, which never disappoints. There were fewer areas to do this, except the cabin. My husband spent many afternoons in the Library reading on sea travel days, and I walked the ship, on Deck 7, or took some afternoon naps. We took a shore excursion in every port of call, and were disappointed just once. The docking arrangement in Ketchikan was a 7-mile bus trip from town at a cleaned-up Superfund Site, which NCL purchased and was cleaning up. This was disappointing and a bit scary. All the docking arrangements in every port required a bus trip to town, as cruise ships must now dock farther away from town.
In Skagway, the ship docked at the Railway Dock next to the Ship’s Signature Wall, where there had been a recent history of rock slides. It was frightening to learn of this process afterwards. The excursion there was our favorite
On Day 6, we arrived at Glacier Bay. The weather was stunning, in the 60’s with sunny and clear skies. We were able to see long distances. The ship’s photographers used the best viewing spots for paid portraits, making for seeing ourselves harder. Our cabin’s Oceanview window was filthy, salt encrusted, paint-streaked, and dirty. It obscured the view, and was unable to be cleaned.
We found the ship to be clean, but showing it's age, with separating carpets in the guest quarters, and other private areas that wouldn’t be generally seen. Our cabin was adequate for the two of us, even though it could sleep four.
We had another spectacular day cruising in the Hubbard Glacier area. Great views and sunny, clear skies.
Disembarkation Day arrived at Seward in the early morning hours. Our luggage was taken the night before, and we reconnected with it after a bus trip from Seward to Anchorage. NCL was required to provide a safe and weather proof waiting area in Anchorage, for people awaiting late night flights. They rented the Egan Convention Center in city center. This is an older Convention Center, where restrooms, drinking water and tables with chairs were provided. There was no food service, so we had to go out on our own. The Convention Center is located right across the street from Town Square Park, which would have been lovely, with its blooming gardens and shade trees, except that it is a homeless gathering place. I did not feel safe there.
All in all, Alaska never disappoints, but we found our ship to be less than what we expected.
