Cruising Alaska with Spencer Spellman, the Traveling Philosopher

Cruising Alaska with Spencer Spellman, the Traveling Philosopher

We sent Spencer Spellman, a.k.a. The Traveling Philosopher on an Alaska cruise on the Norwegian Jewel.  Get his full report here.

How am I supposed to fill up my time on a cruise ship? That’s typically one of the first questions most people first ask when thinking about their first cruise. As a relatively independent traveler, it was also my first question.  So for those new to the cruising experience, this can serve as a guide from the highlights of my cruise last week to Alaska on Norwegian Jewel.

Leaving Seattle

Norwegian Jewel

Sunset south of Kethikan

Accommodations

Similar to what you would find from your typical vacation hotel, the accommodations of a cruise vary significantly. The basic room is just that, and for those who want nothing more then a place to sleep.  I had a mini suite with a balcony, which made for a nice place to unwind every night, sometimes even enjoying a cocktail and slice of cheesecake on the balcony. Who knew that cheesecake tasted even better while watching mini icebergs float by.

Turn-down service

And then there’s The Haven, which I like to call the hotel within the hotel. The Haven brings a more luxurious experiences, coupled with more privacy. Some of the perks include features of the ship that no one else has access to, including a private courtyard, pool, and sundeck, invite to a VIP party, and personal concierge, just to name a few.

Private Pool at the Haven 

Dining

This here was my biggest point of reluctance going into the cruise. When cruise dining comes to mind, I typically think of set dining times and formal attire, which is far from how I travel. However, that’s what peaked my interest with Norwegian Cruise Line, that of what’s called “freestyle” cruising. Guests are more than welcome to dress to the nines, but it’s not a requirement. Guests can dine when and where they want. There are the typical main dining areas that are included in everyone’s cruise rate, but then there’s what is referred to as specialty dining, which is a more personalized dining experience at several different types of restaurants, including Asian, French, Italian, Brazilian, and American steakhouse.. These restaurants charge a cover fee, which is never over $25. This includes your appetizers, salads, soups, main entrees, and desserts. The only stipulation is that reservations are recommended for the more popular restaurants

And that leads into an even more specialty dining experience, known as The Chef’s Table Experience. By the end of course nine, this dinner has earned its name as an experience. Yes, that’s right, nine courses stretching over a time period of a couple hours. The Chef’s Table Experience included meeting the Master Sommelier, Andrea Robinson, and Executive Chef, Kevin Green, who walked us through every part of the meal. It introduced me to many foods I wasn’t even familiar with. It then comes as no surprise that dessert was my favorite part of the meal.

Nightlife

This was another facet of the cruise that I had no idea what to expect. Much of what I had heard about Alaska cruises was that it was an older demographic. Therefore I didn’t expect there to be any raging, youthful parties. While the first night was low-key with many people turning in early because of long travel days, the nightlife on Norwegian Jewel grew in excitement each evening, with the White Hot Party on the next to last night being the climax. Guests are encouraged to wear white and put their dancing shoes on. And dancing they did! The party started at 10:30 and continued well into the morning hours. Even if you’re not a night owl, this is a great party, because it sees a lot of the cruise staff in a more informal setting to get to know them better.

Entertainment

Each day featured a variety of different entertainers. The headlining shows happened at night, including stand-up comedian Dave Naster, juggler Charles Peachock from America’s Got Talent, and Cirque Bijou. Cirque Bijou was the cruise favorite, as guests had to arrive early to grab seats. The show happens twice on the next to last night of the cruise and features an array of acrobatics, gymnastics, bungee-jumps, dancing, and singing. Cirque Bijou is unique in that it was created specifically for the Norwegian Jewel.

While many of the activities I’ve mentioned have been for adults, there are plenty of things to keep your kids busy. Each day featured a variety of different Nickelodeon-centric events, such as eating with characters from some of the television shows. Nickelodeon’s Slime Time Live! took me back to my childhood, as contestants are picked from the audience to undergo Nickelodeon challenges; and if you know anything about Nickelodeon’s challenges, then you know it gets messy.

Excursions

Last, are the excursions. I really believe this is what makes an Alaskan cruise. What’s different about an Alaska cruiseis that it features scenery and wildlife that is hard to rival. Few places in the world can you get so close to bald eagles perched on an island or humpback whales rising for air and then diving back in.

My biggest recommendation for the shore excursions is to spend some time looking at your options. Many of the popular shore excursions, such as whale watching, are your typical group tour, where you’ll be transported around in a motor coach. If you’re traveling with a significant other or on your honeymoon, then you might want something more personalized and intimate, such as a seaplane ride or taking a helicopter to one of the glaciers.

Downtown Ketchikan

Whale watching near Juneau

Sawyer Glacier in Glacier Bay