Trip Report: 7-Day Alaskan Norwegian Cruise

We arrived in Seattle the day before our cruise left port and stayed at the Lotte Hotel Seattle. The hotel was clean, comfortable and only a few blocks from the NCL port. The morning of our port of call, we ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant and it was so delicious!

We took an Uber to our port, and although we were close to the port, my 80 year old grandmother was traveling with us, so this trip was very accomodating for her. The check-in process was fast and easy, but you will be walking a bit, so wear comfortable shoes! Once on the ship, we couldn't head to our room until after 3pm (checked in at 11am and onboard by 12pm), so we grabbed lunch and explored the ship to pass the time.

The day-to-day activities were great. NCL had a lot to offer everyone while aboard the ship. They also have plenty of all-inclusive and paid dining options. Since it was raining the entire trip, we didn't go above deck too much, but we did spend most of our time in the Observation Deck to whale watch or in the Atrium listening to the live bands.

The cruise was all-inclusive, so that entitled us to complimentary dining options. We didn't pay for any drink packages as we didn't see the need for it, but if you plan on drinking all day, I would definitely suggest adding it to your plan. The Norwegian Bliss had so many different food options for purchase, but the complimentary restaurants did not disappoint. I miss having an entire plate of bacon for breakfast and three-course meals for dinner.

My mom, grandma and I shared a stateroom, which was surprisingly enough space for the three of us and all of our luggage. I got to sleep on the top bunk, which was VERY comfortable and we all slept like babies. We didn't hear any of our neighbors unless they slammed their room door, so that was a plus as well. Some guests even decorated their doors to show they were celebrating a birthday or honeymoon.

The stops were fantastic, though it was raining every day except while we were in Canada (the last day). The ship stopped in Sitka, Juneau and Victoria. Because of a storm, we had to cancel two stops and were at sea for two days before we could port in Canada.

Most of the locals we talked to said it rains all the time, so I would definitely bring a rain coat and waterproof boots (that are comfortable to walk in!). A waterproof backpack or fanny pack would've been great too as my purse got soaked.

September is less busy than the earlier summer months, but I would try to go during July-August to avoid any more storms. This was my first time on a cruise, and I'm sad to say that I did not find the remedy for motion sickness (even the staff suggested ideas that help them out). Despite that fact, I enjoyed the amount of relaxation I indulged in and all of the food I consumed. I highly recommend a cruise to Alaska, and Norwegian did not disappoint one bit!

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Cruises page.