Do to other conflicts, we weren't able to plan a vacation this year so I've been keeping my eye out for last minute specials. I ran across an Alaska cruise on the Norwegian Star RT out of Seattle mid May with balcony for only $120 more than the oceanview.

Here's the itineraries for the Star and the Pearl:

Star
Inside passage
7-3 Ketchikan
7-1:30 Juneau the Sawyer Glacier
7-5 Skagway
4-10 Prince Rupert
sea

Pearl
Inside passage
Juneau 2-10
Skagway 7-9
Glacier Bay
Ketchikan 6AM-1:30PM
Victoria 6PM-11:59PM

NCL Pearl has longer stays in each port (except Juneau) and goes into Glacier Bay (vs. Sawyer Glacier for the Star) but a balcony cabin on the Pearl would be $1100 more than on the Star and I'm having a hard time justifying that for this trip.

An Oceanview cabin on the Pearl would be $100 less than the balcony cabin on the Star so my question is, is it worth giving up the balcony in order to get the itinerary for the Pearl?

This is our first trip to Alaska and not my dream trip that will come with proper planning. We have never been on a cruise and I know that NCL has lower ratings than other lines but our main interest is getting a peek at Alaska and we only require basic accomodations.

It sounds like the cabin is your priority???

Do realize these are very different itineraries.

The Pearl is superior with Glacier Bay. The Star really needs also the add on Tracy Arm jet boat added to your costs $180++ pp. Otherwise you aren't likely to get any view of glaciers. A definately necessary tour in my opinion.

I have sailed both these ships to Alaska, along with NCL Sun.

Determine if you are going for Alaska or the cabin.

No, I don't care about the cabin at all. We just need a place to sleep. I'm asking because I've read many posts that say how important a balcony is for an Alaskan cruise. Some posts sound like the deck is too crowded to see anything. It seems like you may want a view other than from the balcony anyway but I've never been to Alaska OR on a cruise so I have no idea what to expect.

OK. We're booked on the Pearl but I can't get a flight back until Tue evening so I was thinking about going to Vancouver for a couple of days. Is it possible to get off the ship in Victoria and just not get back on? We only travel with carryon luggage.

I just wanted to comment that we sailed the Pearl in the Caribbean itinerary. It is the nicest ship NCL has IMHO. It is a pretty ship. nice and new, and the food was better than the other NCL cruise I was on. Do try and go to the specialty restaurants. They are worth it. I have never been to Alaska. Enjoy. I think you made a wise choice with the Pearl.

With the round trip Seattle itinerary, you essentially have two sea days and the roughest sailing potential of Alaska cruises. It's just about a given one of your sea days will be rough.

In the past, yes people could disembark in Victoria. But you need to verify current policy.

You DO realize this is nowhere near Vancouver?? To get to Vancouver you can fly or have to take a ferry, best with a car in my opinion, but there is a bus. Then you have to get back to Seattle for your flight home??? You do NOT have enough time, since you would be disembarking on a Saturday night, and flying home Tuesday evening?? You need to allow at least 5 hours for the drive Vancouver/Seattle. Get the point- time is more than you think.

I suggest you just spend your time in Victoria at least an overnight- 2 better, then take the Clipper back to Seattle and enjoy a sight seeing day there too. Forget Vancouver.


The Pearl does have crappy front deck viewing. It's all plexiglass and the front sides are obstructed with navagational equipt. You need a port side viewing cabin, if you get an outside.

Otherwise view Glacier Bay from the port mid open deck. Plenty of space, and many people are underprepared in their attire and don't stay out long.

Thanks for the reassurance Diann and for the info BQ.

What is the Clipper? A boat from Victoria to Seattle?

We are flying into Seattle Thur evening and visiting with a friend there before the cruise. I also have a friend in Tsawwassen, which is apparently right where the ferry from Victoria lands. Since we're so close I'd love to see her. I know that she frequently makes day trips to Seattle so I thought we could rent a car and visit with her after the cruise and drive back Tue to catch our flight. Then when I noticed that we would be in Victoria the last night, I started thinking about the possibility of disembarking in Victoria.

Obviously, I have to look into the logistics of all this but first wanted to find out if getting off in Victoria was even a possibility. How do I confirm that? Call NCL?

I suggest you wait until the season starts and see if disembarkment in Victoria is an option.

But your Tsawwassen reference isn't that close. You would ferry from Swartz Bay, about 30 minutes from Victoria. 1 3/4 hour ferry ride. But then you have to get back to Seattle. Are you looking at the ferry back?? Bus?? Rental car? fly? All this needs hours/days. I always have a car, just makes touring much more efficient, rather than all the waiting buses require.

BQ - how rough is rough? sea-sick rough? Is this throughout the year? We are looking at late June/early July on the Pearl.