I recently returned from an Alaska cruise on the NCL Bliss, a ship I’ve sailed on three times. It’s a beautiful, well-maintained vessel with exceptional crew and food service. However, this ship may not be for everyone. It felt quite crowded, with strollers, wheelchairs, and walkers everywhere, making it hard to find a quiet place to relax. While the observation deck offers lovely views and complimentary coffee, tea, and snacks, it was often noisy, with people not using their indoor voices.
I wouldn’t recommend cruising from Seattle, as it takes a day and a half just to reach the first port. The ports themselves were inconveniently located; for instance, in Sitka, it took over an hour after disembarking to get on a bus for our tour, which we almost missed. Since NCL is new to Alaska, they seem to have less desirable ports.
In Juneau, we didn’t take a tour to Mendenhall Glacier, and upon disembarking, we were disappointed to find mostly gift shops and jewelry stores—not what I expected from the city. We even missed out on visiting the Red Dog Saloon, a favorite spot from my previous trips since there was a line around the block!
On a brighter note, Icy Straits was wonderful! We enjoyed a gondola ride up the mountain, followed by a land tour, which made for a fantastic day. Ketchikan was another disappointment; it was a 20-minute ride to town. We did have a nice time on a “duck ride” sightseeing tour, and there was a shopping center called “The Ward” with great deals, specifically built for NCL passengers. However, the town felt overwhelmed with five cruise ships in port, bringing in over 15,000 people!
Our final stop was Victoria, but arriving at 8 PM and leaving by 11:30 PM felt pointless. The $98 tour ended up being just a bus ride, which was a waste.
Overall, from April to October, Alaska is inundated with cruise ships. I would recommend considering cruises from Vancouver or Anchorage for a better experience, or exploring an “Uncruise” land package. I enjoyed a land tour a few years ago and found it much more fulfilling. Just my two cents!