The cabins were very small. The one I had was about half the size of a comparable accommodation on Princess or Royal Carribean was about 160 sq ft. The cabin I had on NCL was about 80 sq ft. I was quite honestly clostrophobic. I tried to upgrade but was told that there were no other accommodations.

The stops at Ketchekan andJuno were only 4 hours each — hardly enough time to see much. We did get to the Glacier in Skagway and took the streetcar around the city in Juno — but that was all we could do in so short a time. In Skagway, we had a whole day — in a town of about 7500 people. The excursion that was the best– the railway cost $139.00US – so for three people that stop would have cost me almost $500.00.

None of the services offered were without upsells…you got a facial they wanted you to buy $500 worth of creams and cosmetics. You got a teeth whitening and you had to buy $50.00 worth of “maintenance” products.
Even worse, when I ordered my “favorite” wine for dinner, some snotty waiter insisted that I should get a wine I absolutely did not like merely because it was more expensive. I did not take the “recommended wine” – primarily because the one I chose was the one I liked and wanted.

Overall, my experience with NCL was negative — not worth what I paid and not pleasant. I have travelled on 5 other lines including Princess, Cuinard, Holland American, Royal Carribean and Carnival and would recommend any of them over NCL.

On the positive side — the food was good (not great) and it was pleasant to have free-style. On the converse, if you wanted lobster or crab which are standard fare in the dining room of every other cruise line, it was mandatory to get a reservation at one of the specialty restraunts and pay a surcharge of $15.00 -$25.00 or more.

The reality — NCL is the bottom of the cruise line selections and I would never again travel with them.