New to NCL and 1st time to Alaska

M

mrs. pinktoes

Guest
Hi! We have booked our first NCL cruise and our first Alaska cruise.....we booked an aft BA stateroom on the STAR. Would someone please list the restaurants indicating which are included in the cruise price and which have a surcharge? Is the food really as bad in the inclusive restaurants as many have indicated on various message boards and trip reports? What should we know about the STAR?

Our itineray is Seattle, Ketchican, Juneau, Skagway and Prince Rupert...I have done a little research but will admit it is confusing...my husband has wanted to see whales for years....where would y'all recommend booking a whale sighting tours? and if possible can you recommend someone? Is it possible to see whales when you are sailing? I guess I'd like to know what y'all have done in each of these ports as far as sightseeing....trips suggestions?....will we be able to see glaciers? I read and bookmarked a lot...then CRASH....everything is gone and now can't find, a train trip at one of the ports?....LOL...does anyone know what I might be talking about? I think it went to a glacier? Also read about a trip where one pans for gold?

Since we are going late in September next year...what type of clothing/footwear would y'all suggest taking?

Thanks to all you for answering questions from those of us who are new to NCL and or Alaska crusing.
 
D

Don Clark

Guest
That's a lot of questions for just one post.

Here's a list of restaurants aboard the Norwegian Star.

Versailles Main Restaurant (Main Dining Room)
Cuisine: Continental
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No

Aqua Main Restaurant (Main Dining Room)
Cuisine: Light Modern Continental
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No

The Soho Room
Cuisine: California, Hawaiian, Asian Fusion
Surcharge: Yes, $15 per person
Reservations Required: Yes

Ginza Restaurant
Cuisine: Asian (Sushi, Sashimi, Teppanyaki)
Surcharge: Yes, $12.50 per person
Reservations Required: Yes

Le Bistro French Restaurant
Cuisine: French
Surcharge: Yes, $15 per person
Reservations Required: Yes

Cagney's Steakhouse
Cuisine: Steak
Surcharge: Yes, $20 per person
Reservations Required: Yes

Salsa
Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex Tapas Bar
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: Yes

Market Café/Kids' Cafe
Cuisine: Assorted Buffet, Kid-Sized Buffet
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No

La Trattoria
Cuisine: Casual Italian
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No

Blue Lagoon
Cuisine: Food Court, Grill
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No

Sorry, I can't recommend a particular whale watching excursion. The vendor NCL uses is very good. The odds of seeing whales from the Star is remote, whales tend to live in shallow seas, while the Star will mostly sail in deeper channels.

The Star will attempt to get close to Sawyer Glacier. But, in recent years, the glacier has been calving heavily, the resulting iceburbs in the channel preventing it from getting close. You're best bet to see the glacier up close is to book the afternoon excursion from Juneau via NCL. You will reboard the Star not far from the glacier. Therefore, I suggest a short morning excursion in Juneau. I highly suggest, on a "clear" day, to take the Mt. Roberts tram. At the top, there is plenty of paths to walk with great views, a small restaurant, and an aviary hospice, you're best chance to see an eagle very close.
At Skagway you'll find the White Pass and Yukon Railroad. There are several options that include a ride on it. If you're not active, ride the train both up and down the mountains. If you are active, pretake several other excursions, then ride the train down the mountains. You'll be taking a bus up the mountains, pretaking in another activity, panning for gold amongst them, then riding the train down.
At Prince Rupert, I recommend riding the canoe around town. You'll be paddling the fairly large canoe with a dozen others, and was lots of fun.
Ketchikan has a lumberjack show, a totem pole tour, and tourist shops within a few blocks where the ship docks.
There's fishing or whaling boat tours available at almost every Alaskan port. There are tourist shops at every Alaskan port. You can't do everything on one trip, which is why so many cruise to Alaska more than once. Priortize what you wish to do, then book them as early as you can. The best excursions seem to book up fast.
 
M

mrs. pinktoes

Guest
[quote Don Clark]That's a lot of questions for just one post.

Here's a list of restaurants aboard the Norwegian Star.

Versailles Main Restaurant (Main Dining Room)
Cuisine: Continental
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No

Aqua Main Restaurant (Main Dining Room)
Cuisine: Light Modern Continental
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No

The Soho Room
Cuisine: California, Hawaiian, Asian Fusion
Surcharge: Yes, $15 per person
Reservations Required: Yes

Ginza Restaurant
Cuisine: Asian (Sushi, Sashimi, Teppanyaki)
Surcharge: Yes, $12.50 per person
Reservations Required: Yes

Le Bistro French Restaurant
Cuisine: French
Surcharge: Yes, $15 per person
Reservations Required: Yes

Cagney's Steakhouse
Cuisine: Steak
Surcharge: Yes, $20 per person
Reservations Required: Yes

Salsa
Cuisine: Mexican, Tex-Mex Tapas Bar
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: Yes

Market Café/Kids' Cafe
Cuisine: Assorted Buffet, Kid-Sized Buffet
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No

La Trattoria
Cuisine: Casual Italian
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No

Blue Lagoon
Cuisine: Food Court, Grill
Surcharge: No
Reservations Required: No

Sorry, I can't recommend a particular whale watching excursion. The vendor NCL uses is very good. The odds of seeing whales from the Star is remote, whales tend to live in shallow seas, while the Star will mostly sail in deeper channels.

The Star will attempt to get close to Sawyer Glacier. But, in recent years, the glacier has been calving heavily, the resulting iceburbs in the channel preventing it from getting close. You're best bet to see the glacier up close is to book the afternoon excursion from Juneau via NCL. You will reboard the Star not far from the glacier. Therefore, I suggest a short morning excursion in Juneau. I highly suggest, on a "clear" day, to take the Mt. Roberts tram. At the top, there is plenty of paths to walk with great views, a small restaurant, and an aviary hospice, you're best chance to see an eagle very close.
At Skagway you'll find the White Pass and Yukon Railroad. There are several options that include a ride on it. If you're not active, ride the train both up and down the mountains. If you are active, pretake several other excursions, then ride the train down the mountains. You'll be taking a bus up the mountains, pretaking in another activity, panning for gold amongst them, then riding the train down.
At Prince Rupert, I recommend riding the canoe around town. You'll be paddling the fairly large canoe with a dozen others, and was lots of fun.
Ketchikan has a lumberjack show, a totem pole tour, and tourist shops within a few blocks where the ship docks.
There's fishing or whaling boat tours available at almost every Alaskan port. There are tourist shops at every Alaskan port. You can't do everything on one trip, which is why so many cruise to Alaska more than once. Priortize what you wish to do, then book them as early as you can. The best excursions seem to book up fast.[/quote]

WOW...firstly let me apologize for not responding sooner....my computer crashed and we just got a new one.....thank you so much for all this information.....WOW, again THANK YOU
 
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