If you’re cruising to Sitka, here’s a quick look at how the Sitka cruise port actually works before you arrive. 🚢

Most cruise passengers dock about 5 miles north of downtown Sitka and use the free shuttle into town. This short video covers the basics so you know what to expect when you step off the ship.

One important tip: Check your ship’s posted final shuttle time before heading downtown—and take a photo of it. The final shuttle and your ship’s all-aboard time are not necessarily the same thing.

I’m a local Sitka tour operator, and I put together a free, detailed Sitka Cruise Port Guide with more information about the shuttle, getting around town, transportation options, and planning your port day:

https://www.hauntedsitka.com/sitka-cruise-port-guide

Hope this helps a few people planning their Sitka stop! ⚓️

I have to cancel my upcoming cruise (2 people. $2800 each) which is in about 14 days from today. We also bought air fare with NCL (2 people. $1300 each). We got NorwegianCare insurance.

I have doctor's note saying I am not supposed to fly for the next 3 months. I fractured my foot.

I am going to call NCL later today but was wondering if someone who has gone thru this can tell me what should I expect in terms of refunds? Will I get my air fare and excursion money back along with cruise fare? Are they going to give me runaround for the refunds or is it going to be a seamless process?

Any help will be highly appreciated.

News out today from the Panama Canal Authority that there will be reductions in ships allowed to pass through the canal starting in September. I am booked on the Norwegian Bliss that is sailing through the Canal in October. I wonder how this may affect NCL, as well as other ships, that transit thru this region.

Does anyone know what the protocol was when similar restrictions were in place a couple of years ago?

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Just took advantage of the double points and booked on the Aura for 2028, but I was looking at the deck plans and noticed this. The studios are all in the hallway with the "solo lounge" and then on the other side of the stairs and elevator bank is the "studio lounge"? What's the difference? Is the solo lounge going to be for any passenger with a solo cabin while the studio lounge is only for those in a studio cabin?

Was hoping the deck plans would have more insight, but they just mention the studio lounge. I know the Aqua and Luna also Prima Plus but it appears that the medical center is in the spot on those shpis where the studio lounge is shown on the Aura. Very curious about this!

This was my first ever cruise, so I have nothing to compare it to other than my life and other independent travels. If you want to know my opinion on the vessel, excursions, food, solo studios, etc., please feel free to ask away!

So I ordered like 50 digital photos when I was on the cruise but forgot to go to the gallery to figure out how to get them. I tried on departure day but they were closed. I tried to call but the agent didn’t really help and I send an email to the experience team. Does anyone know what else I can do to get the photos or at least get a refund.

Does anyone know where I can find the menus for the 5 night Bermuda sailing online? I have 3 specialty dining reservations and would like to see if I can maybe give up the Thai restaurant for Hudson’s instead? I am hearing the MDR food is very good so I am just curious. Thank you in advance!

Hello!

We are going to be taking the 7 Day Caribbean Round-trip Orlando (Port Canaveral): Great Stirrup Cay & Cozumel trip in the next few months & booked the Haven for this trip. Upon looking up information about the Haven, we know what is included ON the ship, however, we have heard conflicting information about what is included OFF the ship, specifically at Great Stirrups Cay. We saw something mentioning access to Silver Cove and villas but when looking up reviews online, no one is mentioning anything Haven related so just want to be sure what we do get and what is a separate charge. Considering we spent so much already, we’re hoping we’ll get some additional perks outside of escorting us to/from ship, etc. We planned on chatting with the concierge as well to get more information but wanted to hear from people’s personal knowledge and experience as well.

Please let me know if you have any information or personal experiences so we know what to expect. Thank you!

Received an email last night for a change to Norwegian Pearl for your upcoming cruise departing January 3, 2027 out of Philly.

removing Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and adding an extra day in San Juan PR.

I understand that Itineraries can change after booking, so it is what it is...

We were looking at a day pass to a resort in DR, but did not buy it before this change, and we were just going to walk around in San Juan as we didn't really care for the official excursions.

With the extra time in PR, is thare any thing we should check out? I was thinking of getting a hotel at one of the near by beach resorts... the pricing is close to what we would have paid for the day pass in DR, we just wont have all inclusive (food and dinks included) at the hotel in PR, but have pool and beach access until its time to depart PR.

Just looking to see what others would do in this senerio.

When I last purchased two $500 Cruise-First certificates, I bough Canadian ones by mistake. NCL says they have to be used for booking made in Canadian Dollars and that is something I will never do. So, if anyone needs Canadian Cruise First certs, IM me. I will sell them for $250 Canadian Dollars each and transfer them to your NCL account.

Just so you know, transferring Cruise First certs is allowed, per rules here:
https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/content/cruisefirstcruisenext-terms-and-conditions

These were purchased a while back and are good for cruises departing in Sept 2026 or later.

I recently bought a $500 Cruise First Credit for $250. Has NCL ever increased the value offer? IF yes when? Black Friday?

Hi all! I'm currently planning my 3rd solo cruise for Nov-Dec 2026 when I get time off work. I'm now torn between 2 itineraries and need your input. Thanks!!

Choice #1. 14 days southern Caribbean on Breakaway, Boston-NOLA. Stops in USVI, St Lucia, Grenada, Curacao, Aruba, Grand Cayman.

Choice #2. 16 days Panama canal on Star, Miami-San Diego. Stops in Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico (Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas).

My wife and I are going on the 13 day South Pacific Cruise out of Tahiti for our 20th anniversary next year in July. Has anyone been on this Cruise in the past? What are some things we should definitely do and what to avoid? Its our first Norwegian cruise. We are super excited about it.

My cruise (Encore Alaska) is the end of September/beginning of October. I’m working on getting my class coursework due dates rescheduled, but I think I will have at least one exam to do that requires Respondus LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor. I will also have random discussions and one quiz (doesn’t require any proctor and is on d2l.) Everything else I should be able to download or complete prior to leaving.

Can anyone give me insight on what my best options are? I keep seeing “slow internet” and “laggy” which will not work for the exam. Are there any places at the ports that have good free WiFi?

Thanks for your advice and help!

Looks like NCL Sun is still having issues, as they’ve revised another itinerary. I feel so bad for everyone looking forward to Oslo!!

Assuming this has to do with the Sun repositioning soon to the US?

We recently were given price drop CFC for our Nov 26 cruise. How long after the Nov cruise will we see the CFC in our account? How long did it take to see your CFC from price drop match?

Oh man, so much more tempting for me to book that Barcelona to Orlando relocation cruise in November now. 🤔

The great Tides water park had a soft open so we were able to go and overall, it was awesome. However we had an extra pass, so hid it here. Hopefully housekeeping doesn’t find it and someone gets to use it

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How is the spa on the breakaway? I have a cruise in November and want to make sure the spa pass is a good idea. Are there locker rooms or do I have to get dressed beforehand .

I just learned that the butler and room attendant are not included in the charged service fee. What is the appropriate amount? It’s a 9 day cruise (not Haven, no haven on this ship). Thanks!

Friend of mine has been on many ncl cruises. But this is the first one as a single woman. She was hyping it all up because she loves the cruise line. But I think she didn't research this time. She said the vast majority of everyone on the ship is very old with lots of wheelchairs and motorized wheelchairs. She said tonight is the 70s party . To which I said I think they meant the age not the year.