🛳 Embarkation Day on the FIRST Alaska Cruise of 2024! NCL Bliss

[@myhomemovies55]

Starbucks package...booking through Chase. Were you able to use Chase points for this?

[@journeywiththejaneks]

@myhomemovies55 we used Chase points to book the cruise. When we booked they offered a few promotions and the Starbucks option was one of them. No additional cost!

[@genemoreland1660]

Love Piroshky Piroshky. We plan on getting some shipped home when we go on our Alaska trip in August. Thank you for the video.

[@journeywiththejaneks]

Agreed! Everything we had there was very good. We also went the day before the cruise as well.

[@darrellq6954]

Brian is a calm, relaxed dude.....and a good listener....LOL

[@journeywiththejaneks]

Yes he is!

[@brianj3070]

Why thank you! I learned over time when the wife is recording and when to put my two cents in 😂

[@krdiaz8026]

@@darrellq6954 It's a KZbin video. She's supposed to speak to describe what she's showing. It doesn't mean she's a chatterbox.

[@darrellq6954]

@@krdiaz8026 sorry about that...I can only imagine her nagging Brian to wash the dishes or take out the trash...my bad

[@brianj3070]

@@krdiaz8026 learned over time from watching other videos too

[@kittylam5401]

This is a really informative video, thank you for sharing! I'm looking to book an Alaska cruise for next year and I've read a lot of negatives about April cruises. How was the weather when you went? Were there a lot of excursion options to choose from? I was also debating about an aft balcony just because it's Alaska! The views you had there were amazing! Did you use the balcony a lot or was it better to be on the upper decks? Sorry for so many questions but any information will be super helpful!! 🙂

[@journeywiththejaneks]

April was great because we were the only cruise ship in any port, but most excursions were not open yet. The weather is hit or miss. The week we went was cruddy, but apparently the following week they had perfect weather. I think it really depends on your budget and what you really want to do in Alaska as to what time of the year to go. Having a balcony is non-negotiable, though. We spent more for the aft balcony because we planned on spending $0 on excursions, so that's where that money was budgeted.

[@kittylam5401]

@@journeywiththejaneks thank you so much for the information. Super helpful!

[@MyBlackBenz]

Awesome information🤩

[@journeywiththejaneks]

Thanks 🙂

[@drathen1556]

With the Starbucks package what is the expectation for tips? Would this be considered included with the overall gratuity?

[@journeywiththejaneks]

@drathen1556 There isn't even a chance for an extra tip, as there is no receipt to sign. They were one of the staff we gave a cash tip to at the end of the cruise since we visited them so often. But with the package any gratuity was included.

[@unbreakable2543]

Me and my wife are going to an Alaskan cruise thru Majestic Princess this coming June. My first cruise ever and I'm looking forward to it

[@journeywiththejaneks]

You'll love it. If you watch this whole series, just note that you won't have these same shuttle issues, as only NCL docks in these obscure places.

[@unbreakable2543]

@@journeywiththejaneks yeah I understand, plus we're doing 3 excursions!. Just subscribed to your channel by the way. Great job👍

[@tadfrehner2832]

We are going on the Bliss to Alaska in 2 weeks. Great video, we are platinum also and had no idea about the boat tour. We will definitely want to check it out..

[@journeywiththejaneks]

Yes, they did a great job for Latitudes members on this cruise. If you don't see the card with coupons when you arrive, just go to the Cruise next desk. They are the ones to see for anything Latitudes related. They will also tell you to visit them by 9 PM on the first day to give you the list of exclusive events.

[@DASHLEYOFFICIAL]

How was your cellular data roaming? Does it work on cruises?

[@deborahbarnum9423]

We will be traveling to Seattle for our Alaskan Cruise in September and we’ve booked the Crown Plaza as well.

[@journeywiththejaneks]

They are currently renovating the lobby... it should be beautiful by the time you get there in September! The renovations were looking great! I will have a video tour of our room at some point once we get through these daily cruise vlogs.

[@billkallas1762]

I'll be doing the same cruise, on the same ship, on 6-15-24, with "slightly" warmer weather. (10 days to go) I've done all of my booking, starting months ago, starting with excursions, then dining, and then, finally, entertainment, a week and a half ago. Nothing left to chance. I booked my own flights, because I have a ton of United miles. I decided to book a post cruise excursion, to see the city.

[@journeywiththejaneks]

Have a great time! Make sure to get off the ship as early as possible, as the ports with the shuttles have VERY long lines, which will really cut into your day.

[@billkallas1762]

@@journeywiththejaneks I've got all my excursions booked and reserved.

[@jenniferlee121]

Not sure if you mentioned it or i missed it, but what time were you at the port?

[@journeywiththejaneks]

@@jenniferlee121 I believe our boarding time was around 1 PM

[@teresasmith3366]

Our trip was June 1st -7th. Had a nice time. Same ship and trip.

[@journeywiththejaneks]

Awesome, how were the whale sightings from the ship when you went?

[@teresasmith3366]

@@journeywiththejaneks we saw several of them.

[@cruisecrazy7066]

Excellent video. But can you eliminate the selfies?

[@journeywiththejaneks]

@@cruisecrazy7066 yes let me go back and edit the video for you

[@cruisecrazy7066]

@@journeywiththejaneks LOL. Maybe in future. I think that it will improve them and therefore interest more people.

[@karlarriola2306]

Me and my? Wife went on the second week and we had perfect weather.No rain it was cold but there was no rain in every part that we went to in alaska and in canada on the norwegian bliss

[@journeywiththejaneks]

Yes, we were a bit bummed when we had great weather back in Seattle at the end of the cruise, and saw that the second week had perfect weather. You just never know in Alaska!

[@karlarriola2306]

@@journeywiththejaneks very yrue

[@FLPeach00]

Great video! What hotel would you recommend?

[@journeywiththejaneks]

We stayed at the Crowne Plaza downtown. It was reasonably priced, and a good central location to Pike Place as well as the Monorail. It was also only a few blocks away from the Light Rail Station on University, so it was very easy to get to from SeaTac. There is not a bad homeless population directly near the hotel, but the streets closer to Pike Place were horrible, with open drug use. We felt OK walking without our luggage, but when it came time to go to the ship, we did get an Uber to the port, which was about $15.

[@FLPeach00]

Oh my goodness, that is really very helpful information! 😳 Especially since I’m traveling solo. Thank you so much. 😊

[@journeywiththejaneks]

@carolrequet5465 You're welcome, glad I could help.

[@sunshineafrican6872]

There is a Marriott Water Front cross from Pier 66 just walking distance. We stayed there last time as I work for Marriott.

[@FLPeach00]

@@sunshineafrican6872 thank you 😃

[@druestafford4112]

How did you get the Starbucks offer through Chase?

[@journeywiththejaneks]

I booked the cruise using Chase Ultimate Rewards, which requires you to call them. When I called, they had two promo options to choose from - upgraded internet, or the Starbucks package. It was not advertised anywhere until I called.

[@sherismith513]

What deck were you on? Room number for reference

[@journeywiththejaneks]

Room 15280. There is a room tour at 6:30

[@pamelafrost1513]

Can you take fresh flowers on the ship?

[@journeywiththejaneks]

I'm not 100% but I don't think so, as they don't allow fresh fruits or vegetables on.

[@cywoods60]

TFS

[@journeywiththejaneks]

You are so welcome

[@vicki8042]

A sad band even!

[@journeywiththejaneks]

To be fair to the band, we didn't see the show. I only walked in to grab a quick video and walked out, as we got there late and it was packed. So this wasn't necessarily the best part of the show.