Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Review of our Norwegian Encore Alaska 7-Day Cruise

ncl cruise to alaska

Below I will include some of the best excursions offered at each port town. Cruise lines do prefer if you book through them so they can make sure you can safely and punctually get to your excursion and back to the ship. You also get unlimited still & sparkling bottled water, plus all Starbucks® coffee & specialty drinks included in the premium drink package. Which could be beneficial if you plan to get specialty coffees and bottled water daily aboard. Arriving to a line of other cruisers still waiting to get back onto the ship as well, it was about 20 minutes later when we actually got back onboard.

Explore Alaska by Land and Sea

As an older ship, there are some excellent cruise fares, starting as low as $400 per person for week-long sailings. It runs at almost half the capacity of the Norwegian Bliss and Encore, which is great for those who like a smaller, more intimate ship atmosphere. Being a slightly older ship offers great value who want a budget-friendly option. With fares as low as $400 per person and with numerous inclusions, the Norwegian Jewel has a lot of appeal. The biggest difference will come down to availability and price on specific sailings, as well as preferences for ports.

Day 6: Ketchikan, Alaska

This can provide you with some personal space away from other tourists. But sadly, you won’t be offered 360 views, so you could get FOMO for not being able to see the other side of the passage. These were the days when you could tell everyone was onboard the ship because everywhere was busy. (If you’re properly dressed, then the time outside can be enjoyable too). Not to mention, the ship features the forward-facing Observation Lounge perfect for Alaska, two pools and whirlpools, a spa and thermal suite, and the deck 8 Waterfront promenade.

Cruise Port Days (+ How To Get To Town)

The skies were clear, and the sun was out, making it a perfect day to lounge by the pool or take in the ocean views. But Sitka isn’t just about history; it’s a food lover’s paradise. Downtown is teeming with local food trucks offering mouth-watering crabs, salmon, and more. Many stores, including fur shops, offer locally sourced products.

Norwegian Encore Deck Plans

The trails were rather wet and muggy, so we decided not to venture far beyond the viewing platforms. Still, we spent about 75 minutes exploring before getting in line to take the tram back down. With the Not So Newlywed game show occurring at 9 PM and our Choir of Man reservation at 10 PM, we made our way to the Atrium after dinner for the first half of this game show.

Night Alaska - Seattle (Sea/Sea)

During your cruise, activities could range from a glacier and whale quest to an exploration of the great Misty Fjords. With this in mind, a comfortable, waterproof sneaker would be perfect. Above all else, if you don’t like the weather – no worries – as they say, wait five minutes and it is likely to change!

Ship Overview

Recommendations if touring downtown include Red Onion Saloon, Klondike Doughboy, Skagway Brewing Co., and Alaska Christmas Store. Recommendations if touring downtown include Red Dog Saloon and Tracy’s King Crab Shack. Any pre-booked shore excursion tickets are placed in your room on this day. I suggest first going to Deck 6 to make all dining reservations (at Teppanyaki), then all showtime reservations (at The Social Comedy Club). There is more than 1 cruise terminal in Seattle, so it is important to know that the Norwegian Encore ports at Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66. Terminal 66 is literally right across the street (you can see the Encore directly outside the hotel windows!) and you simply walk there the morning of your cruise.

ncl cruise to alaska

Norwegian (NCL) Cruises to Alaska

The Norwegian Sun, part of the Sun class of ships, set sail in 2001 but was refurbished in 2018. Extensive refurbishments to modernize the ship has given it fresh appeal, which adults will love. The cruise ship is known for its great good, atmosphere and helpful staff.

Only Norwegian offers incredible culinary experiences with this much freedom and flexibility on a fleet of ships specially built with restaurants from bow to stern. Next on our list was to finally spend some time in the thermal suite beyond just taking photos and videos of it. We spent just under 1.5 hours here, alternating between the heated loungers and the experiences.

It’s a quick but thorough process, setting the tone for the organized efficiency that follows. The most complete tour of Denali and Alaskan life in the past and present. Learn why our ships are uniquely designed for the best glacier experiences. Pay airfare for one guest, and you'll automatically lock-in roundtrip flights for two.

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If you did not receive your tickets and you booked through the cruise line, you can visit their excursion desk for more information. Or if you booked an excursion, they will have a separate shuttle to take you directly on your tour. There will usually be important information printed on your ticket about where to meet up.

Once you reach the end of the short Frog Pond Trail, you’ll see a sign for a campground. Hang a left to reach the lake trail (it goes all the way around the lake). With a little planning and a lot of love, lifelong family vacation memories can be made at all ages, stages – and places both near and far. You don’t have to wait until your kids are more grown up or you have a ton of money saved to start traveling. A prominent content creator and influencer on Instagram, Jen has over 150K unique monthly blog readers from countries all over the world. She has spent the last 16 years planning fun, and hassle-free family vacations for her family of 5.

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In summary, Victoria serves as a fitting finale to an Alaskan cruise, offering a mix of natural wonders and historical landmarks. Whether you’re an adventure seeker or a history buff, this port has something to captivate you. Surprisingly, the weather was on our side, even though it was the beginning of September—a month that can be hit or miss in Alaska.

ncl cruise to alaska

For this Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review, we flew into Seattle a day early as we always recommend. Booking a hotel stay at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront, we were in a prime location to get to Pier 66 on embarkation day. Having just returned from Alaska on Princess Cruises, we were eager to explore more of the region on this trip. It had been a while since we sailed on a Norwegian Cruise Line Breakaway-Plus Class ship.

This thermal suite on Norwegian Encore is quite large and features several padded and heated stone loungers. So, even though it was fairly busy, we had no issues finding a spot to call our own. Even in the sauna and salt room, there were only a few other cruisers with us.

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