Norwegian Star Alaska Cruise Review

Whale watching is a wonderful side trip that can be prearranged

Plan your excursions beforehand. The excursions offered by the cruise line are expensive. Researching your stops and finding trips that you can take during the time you will be in port can help cut your costs while giving you a personalized Alaskan experience. For example, the cruise stops in Ketchikan and Juneau. Make arrangements for transportation to meet you at the dock and to have you back before departure.
NCL offers Freestyle cruising, which means you can do what you want when you want. This includes dining. The food is excellent and plentiful. To avoid weight gain, take advantage of the chance to walk around the deck of the ship. Four times around the ship is equal to 1 mile and can keep you in shape for excursions.
Choose your room to fit your budget. While the Garden Villas and larger staterooms are wonderful with the extra space and comfort, you aren't really in your room for any great length of time. A stateroom with an ocean view located in the middle of the ship provided a wonderful view, no rocking while at sea and all the incidentals you could hope for. The butlers are solicitous, and go out of their way to see to your comfort.

Sawyer's Glacier is only available by ship

Cruising allows you to see more of the scenery than you might be able to see otherwise. You'll spend a large portion of your trip at sea, but most of that time is at night.
On board recreation is plentiful and includes gambling, craft projects, broadway-like shows and much more. In some cases, almost too much. In order to get the most of the cruising experience, you should plan. Familiarize yourself with all the activities so you can pick and choose what you want to do.
Freestyle Cruising allows you to choose from many cuisines. Eating in the regular dining rooms is an additional charge, as are alcoholic beverages. This can become pricey with some of the specialty drinks and shots selling for $10 or more. The food in the dining room was good, but not any better than what was offered in any of the smaller buffets around the ship.
Not everything is covered in your cruising price. Activities such as spa treatments, casino gambling and some of the exercise equipment are fee-based and can be charged directly to your room. This can greatly increase the cost of your trip. Your initial cruise price covers food in the general areas, accommodations and most of the entertainment. Research what's included so you aren't surprised later.

Alaska is definitely the pot of gold at the end of this rainbow!

Cruising the Inside Passage with NCL is an amazing experience. The incredible service, food, friendly staff and friendlier ship-mates makes this a terrific way to see Alaska. Topping all of this was Alaska itself. From whale watching to flying over glaciers, from shopping in Ketchikan to exploring the eagle preserve in Hastings, nothing could have been better. Seven days is just not long enough to see and do everything there is to experience in Alaska. More than one trip may be needed. Watch for extra expenses for activities such as spa treatments and some dining options to keep your costs under control.