I recently returned from a cruise on Royal Caribbeans Jewel of the Seas to Alaska. Our itinerary took us from Seattle to Vancover, and included stops in Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria.
Alaska as a Cruise Destination: Alaska is a stunning place, and this cruise afforded us the opportunity to experience whale watching, glaciers, and wildlife. The seven day itinerary was short, and we missed the opportunity to do a land stay in a lodge. My advice would be to do an Anchorage to Seattle itinerary, and do a pre-cruise land tour for a few days to explore the beauty and wilderness before boarding the ship.
Overall Impression of Royal Caribbean: This cruise was a great value for the money, and offered a great kids program for families. The service staff was friendly and attentive and went out of their way to make us feel comfortable. This is a no-frills type cruise. Where Oceania was elegant and plush, Royal Caribbean felt more like a stay at 3-star hotel. If you are looking for luxury, this is not the line for you.
Dining & Wine: We sampled dining in all the venues onboard. The Windjammer Cafe is the buffet dining venue, and we only at there on the the of embarkation. It was decent, but nothing special. The Tides main dining is where we took most of our meals, which were good considering they were feeding 2500 guests. If you are foodie, you will not be excited by the dining options on the Jewel of the Seas. The specialty restaurants, Chops and Portofino, were nicer, and we ate four of our dinners there because the food was definitely a step up from the main dining. It still wasn't up to luxury fine dining standars. A surprising bright spot was the wine list. We purchased a wine and dine package on board, and the selections offered were actually surprisingly good for the price.
Shore Excursions: We booked our shore excursions through Shore Trips. In Juneau, we signed up for Glaciers, Whales and Ales, a full day tour that included the Meddenhall Glacier, a whale watching expedition, and a tour and beer tasting at the Alaskan Brewing Company. I loved this tour, and highly recommend it. The guides were great! In Skagway, we spent the morning walking around town on our own and then took an afternoon photography tour which we also booked through ShoreTrips. This excursion was just my husband and I with an expert photographer and he helped us take some great shots.
Post Cruise Stay in Vancouver: After our cruise, we enjoyed a wonderful stay at the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa in Vancouver. This hotel was lovely, luxurious and incredibly friendly. We also tried some of the local seafood at Rodney's Oyster House in Vancouver. Both of these are highly recommended!
Overall Conclusion: Royal Caribbean had great service, and is a very good option for exploring Alaska, particularly for families traveling with children. If you are looking for luxury or premium, consider Celebrity, Oceania, Silversea or Regent for your Alaska cruise experience.
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Topics: Reviews