North to Alaska
Written: Jun 26 '02 (Updated Jun 28 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Wonderful staff, relaxed atmosphere, not your stuffy old folks type cruise
Cons: More time in ports of call would have been great, but that's it!!
The Bottom Line: The staff will do everything in their power to make sure your cruise with them is the fairy tale that you've always dreamed. Fun, relaxation, adventure...it's all there.
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| arnie25's Full Review: Norwegian Wind |
In July 2001 my mom, sister and I took the Norwegian Wind cruise to Alaska's Inside Passage. After 2 nights in Vancouver we boarded our ship to paradise. As a 20-something, first time cruiser, I wasn't sure what to expect. Sure the room was a bit small, but why on Earth would anyone stay in their room on a cruise like this? There were always activities: everything from talent shows to casino games/how to's and arts and crafts, plus enough onboard entertainment to keep everyone busy. Sometimes I found myself happy just sitting in a lounge chair wrapped in a blanket (which were always ready and waiting on deck thanks to the NCL staff) watching the beauty of Alaska approaching. The only downside was that the time in each port was not enough to really "see" Alaska. It kind of just teased us a little, making us want to book a return trip in the near future.
The staff on board was extremely helpful in making sure our port activities were best suited for us. During our first full day at sea we were invited to an activity presentation where we were told all of the various things we could do when we got to each port. There were a few things that sounded great, but I wasn't quite sure if it was for me. The staff members answered our questions and told us exactly what to expect on each adventure. I went on whale watch in Juneau, kayaking in Haines where I came face to face with bald eagles and had salmon jumping inches from my craft, mountain biking in Skagway where I had the most unbelievable views I've seen in all my life and I had the opportunity to drive a Jeep up the backwoods mountains in Ketchikan. I would NEVER have had these experiences without the people aboard the Wind that took the time to find out about my interests and desires.
The one thing I really enjoyed about this cruise was the freestyle dining. When I'm on vacation, the last thing I want to think about is dressing to the nines. It doesn't have the stuffy atmosphere I have always heard about with other cruise ships. I ate when I wanted, with whomever I wanted and I wore what I wanted. It's nice to have the option of when meal times are. Sometimes I liked to eat the BBQ on the deck other times I would have something in one dining room and go to another for dessert. The choice is yours. And if you're paying that much money, you should have some say in that sort of thing. The food was great and plentiful. Oh, and the chocolate buffet...I must have gained 10 pounds there alone.
I would highly recommend this cruise line to anyone that doesn't expect a formal atmosphere on vacation. If you are more interested in a good time and fun, this is the cruise line for you. My porter was wonderful, always asked us if we needed anything and always got it for us when we did. I will surely be on this cruise line in the future.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
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Epinions.com ID:
arnie25
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Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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