We Just Returned from a Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise
Table Of Content
We needed our passports on this day’s excursion as our tour entered Canada. 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). All of the information regarding the next day’s activities and showtimes can be found in the daily newsletter called Freestyle Daily. Then get comfortable with where the bars, restaurants, theater, spa, and casino are in terms of being in the front (fwd), or back (aft) of the ship.
Skagway Port Day
You will be asked to attach a credit card or debit card before boarding the ship. I can’t really suggest paying the extra cost for specialty dining. I just think it is way overpriced, service was slow and too similar to the food already offered complimentary.
Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review – Day 1
For Glacier Bay National Park, the ship onboarded National Park Rangers to give narration about the area. They would point out any wildlife and information about how the area has changed over the years. (I will say, the prices do tend to be slightly higher if you book through the cruise line, than if you book through a third party). And there are plenty of shops with souvenirs and a nauseating amount of jewelry stores at each stop. But if shopping is your thing, you will find plenty of stores to check out.
Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Review – Day 7
With add-on land tours, there is lots of opportunity to explore Alaska, with a number of fantastic itinerary options. Back onboard, it was straight to Starbucks then back to our room to relax for a few minutes and change up for dinner. Tonight, we were dining at one of our favorite Italian specialty restaurants as sea, Onda by Scarpetta, at 7 PM. To dinner right on time, tonight’s specialty dining experience also lasted just about 2 hours.
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Readers recommend booking your own flights when cruising - Roanoke Times
Readers recommend booking your own flights when cruising.
Posted: Tue, 22 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Heidi’s “Mezzelune” was equally delicious, which was ravioli served in a rich butter truffle sauce. While there, you should try the pizza too, but can’t go wrong with selections like the “Burrata” or “Fritto Misto” either. The central location also makes it a prime viewing spot for some of the onboard activities and events occurring in the Atrium. Even with a rather busy itinerary, we found time to attend a few activities–we pressed our luck at Deal or No Deal and tested our knowledge with Alaska trivia.
Disembarkation instructions are placed in your room on this day. This was, by far, the most scenic day of our Alaska Cruise as Glacier Bay National Park is absolutely stunning. 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. We’ve written an entire article on how to spend 1-day in Seattle that will show you what you can realistically do and see in Seattle before your cruise.
Again 2 are family-friendly, and two are located in the adult-only area (ages 18+). 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. We did hear that the shuttle back to the ship was a bit of a disaster as well. So, needless to say, the ship did not depart Ketchikan on time today. A quick lumberjack photo later, we immediately took the quick walk back to our bus which got us back to Ward Cove around 1 PM. This is one of the benefits of booking shore excursions with the cruise line.
Exploring Creek Street in Ketchikan: A Traveler’s Guide
We know the destinations you'll be visiting and what there is to see, do and experience. We offer you a variety of excursions to choose from, in every port you'll visit. We liked the modern conveniences like USB outlets near the bed for charging phones and the “make up room” and “do not disturb” buttons in the room. Overall, this cabin had a premium feel with adequate space for a week-long cruise. The closet included a clothes bar with hangers along with a series of shelves.
Once again, Norwegian Bliss will be sailing out of Seattle on 7 day itineraries from April through to September. There is also a 12 day itinerary, which includes a pre-cruise land tour of Fairbanks, Denali, and Anchorage. A week-long cruise to popular ports filled with glaciers and marine life.
When it comes to other onboard activities, Norwegian Encore offered a daily list of events that you would expect on a mega-ship. The cruise director, Tiara, and her staff hosted regular sessions of trivia, games, and more throughout the day. During our Alaska cruise, the go-karts were open various times depending on the port of call.
Exclusive to Norwegian, all Cruisetours are led by local Alaskan guides to provide you with an authentic Alaska experience. Did you find our Norwegian Encore cruise ship scorecard review helpful? Drop us an anchor below to share your experiences sailing on this NCL cruise ship. Whether dining at a specialty restaurant or a complimentary dining venue, service was also friendly and they always inquired about food allergies. Further, at least one supervisor stopped by our table each night to ask how things were and if we needed anything. This small attention to detail is often lacking on larger ships.
With the fjord views behind us, Heidi and I donned our helmets in a race to the finish line. Let’s just say Heidi tried to blame her loss on the unskilled tween driver in front of her. Along with offering fantastic views from the top of the ship, this space was ideal for glacier viewing. Everyone we talked to with passes agreed it was well worth it, even for this cold-water cruise. Think less crowds, uninterrupted views, and hot tubs all to yourself. Hawaii and Alaska in one trip is an unusual pairing, but a reality on the Norwegian Spirit.
It’s also worth noting that a passport may be necessary for an Alaska cruise depending on your citizenship and itinerary, so it’s advisable to check this in advance. Given Norwegian Encore was sailing with 3,800 guests, or about 90% capacity, we hardly felt the crowds. The only time the ship felt busy was in the buffet at peak times, and when returning to the ship after a short port of call.
In search of the best spot on the ship, we walked back to the Waterfront. From here, we were able to walk around this 1/3-mile long promenade keeping up with the glacier as the Captain made his first 360′ turn. Following this set, we ended our evening in the Sugarcane Mojito Bar with some drinks and live Latin music. Tomorrow were were cruising through Glacier Bay early in the morning, and we certainly did not want to miss it.
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