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Review of our Norwegian Encore Alaska 7-Day Cruise

This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy .

Are you looking for a real-life review, testimony, and photos of a Norwegian Encore Alaska cruise?

We recently had the amazing opportunity to take a 7-day Alaska cruise aboard the Norwegian Encore.

In this article, we share all of our thoughts (the good & the bad) on our Norwegian Encore Alaska cruise as well as give our honest opinion on the Encore ship and its Alaska itinerary.

We’ll also share the Norwegian cruise tips that we wish we knew ahead of time, as well as share our day-to-day experiences on shore excursions and aboard the ship.

With over 15 personal photos included, this is the ultimate Norwegian Encore Alaksa review you’ve been looking for!

Table of Contents

Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise

We chose Norwegian Cruise Lines for our much anticipated Alaska Cruise due to its 7-day, 8-night itinerary that included a day in Glacier Bay National Park (a place that not all Alaska cruise itineraries include) .

We chose to sail on the Norwegian Encore as we were referred by friends who had a great experience, and the fact that the sail dates aligned with our summer vacation week.

Further, we were largely impressed by the enormous amount of family-friendly activities found on the ship that we knew our kids (ages 11, 14, & 16) would love.

Our only other experience cruising together as a family was on a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise aboard the Disney Fantasy that we write about here .

Disney Cruise Line exceeded our expectations in terms of its elegant design, high-end services, and enchanting entertainment and set the bar high for our future cruises.

Keep reading to learn our thoughts on Norwegian Encore Alaska and if we loved it just as much.

Alaska cruises are expensive and involve a lot of scenery and sightseeing versus attractions, character, and thrills.

Though we saw children of all ages on our cruise, I recommend that kids be at least 10 years old for an Alaska cruise- or mature enough to fully appreciate the experience.

Norwegian Encore Alaska Itinerary

For comparison purposes, we took a 7-day cruise on Norwegian Encore that featured 5 ports of call.

Our sail dates were June 11th – 18th and we have an entire article on what to pack and what to wear on an Alaska cruise , as well as the 45 Alaska cruise tips that you need to know before sailing.

Do note that the Norwegian Encore also hosts a 13-day “cruisetour” (land and cruise combo) that includes 6 land tours, and 5 ports of call if that is of interest to you.

Our Norwegian Encore Alaska Itinerary & Map

• Sunday: Embarkation from Seattle , Washington
• Monday: At sea
• Tuesday: Juneau , Alaska
• Wednesday: Skagway , Alaska
• Thursday: Glacier Bay (cruising)
• Friday: Ketchikan (Ward Cove) , Alaska
• Saturday: Victoria , British Columbia
• Sunday: Disembarkation in Seattle, Washington

Other cruise lines, including Norwegian, offer itineraries with varying ports of call.

Different ports of call on a cruise to Alaska include Sitka, Icy Point Strait, Dawes Glacier, Valdez, Seward, Whittier, and more.

*Stick around until the very end of this article for a look at what we did, where we ate, and what excursions we took on each day of our Norwegian Encore Alaksa cruise.

Norwegian Encore Cruise Ship

The Norwegian Encore first launched in 2019 and is part of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway Plus category of ships.

There are 20 passenger decks with 2,043 staterooms for up to 4,903 passengers (served by 1,731 crew).

As a side note, the ship was near capacity during our 7-day Alaska cruise at a whopping 4,850 passengers!

While much information can be found on the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) website regarding the Norwegian Encore ship, we find the NCL website somewhat difficult to navigate.

For that reason, we are including a brief overview of our thoughts on the Norwegian Encore cruise ship in terms of the rooms, deck plans, restaurants, and entertainment.

Norwegian Encore Rooms

Norwegian Encore rooms, also referred to as ‘cabins’, are available in various sizes and price points.

Generally speaking, the larger, more luxurious the room, the higher the price.

Standard options include interior, oceanview, and balcony cabins, and upgraded options include The Haven spa suites, penthouse suites, and 2-bedroom family villas.

Hidden at the top of the ship, The Haven suites also feature 24-hour butler service and a private sundeck.

Most Norwegian Encore Rooms, excluding The Haven family villas that sleep 6, only accommodate 3 – 4 guests.

Because we were sailing with our family of 5, we opted for 2 adjoining Balcony staterooms. (There are a limited number of adjoining staterooms on the Norwegian Encore that make a perfect option for larger families and groups.)

They are connected by a doorway within the rooms, as shown in the photo below.

Norwegian Encore balcony room review:

• We stayed in rooms 10220 and 10222 (Deck 10, mid-ship).
• Modern, spacious, clean, and adequate storage.
• Super comfortable beds and luxurious bedding (We all loved the beds and slept wonderfully – in addition, we did not feel the ship’s motion.)
• A large bathroom that includes toiletries; powerful toilets.
• The balcony was larger than expected and includes 2 chairs and a table.
• Could opt in or out of daily room cleaning via a wall switch.
• Overall impression: Exceeded our expectations, would recommend to others.

Norwegian Encore Deck Plans

As you may know, the Norwegian Encore is a HUGE ship.

In order to not feel overwhelmed by the size of the Norwegian Encore, I highly recommend that you study the ship’s deck plans prior to departing on your Alaska cruise.

Familiarize yourself with where your stateroom is in relation to the complimentary dining, main atrium, Observation Lounge, and pool deck.

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.

Cruisedeckplans.com allows you to make and print a custom map (pdf) of up to 5 decks on the Norwegian Encore. (Personally, we printed off 2 separate sheets, one with Decks 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 on it, and the other with Decks 6, 7, 8, and 10, where our stateroom was.)

We found this incredibly helpful and used our custom deck plans as a ‘map’ that we carried with us at all times on the ship to help us get around. (Use these sheet protectors to keep your deck plans intact.)

When you first embark on the ship, you enter Deck 7 of the Norwegian Encore. (Immediately proceed to Deck 6 to make dining and showtime reservations – more on that coming up in ‘Tips’)

The decks we visited the most were Deck 6 (main atrium, guest services, and Starbucks), Deck 7 for the Encore Theater and The Local Bar & Grill (our favorite complimentary dining venue), and Deck 16 (main pool deck and the Garden Cafe buffet).

Norwegian Encore Restaurants

The Norwegian Encore has plenty of complimentary dining options including the Garden Cafe main buffet, a 24-hour eatery of classic pub fare at the Local Bar & Grill, and sit-down meals at Taste, Savor, and the Manhattan Room.

Taste, Savor, and the Manhatten Room all feature the same daily, rotating menu. (These are all “Freestyle dining”, meaning no reservations are needed.)

Specialty dining  (that is priced per person and often times included in cruise promotions) includes seafood at Ocean Blue, Italian at Onda by Scarpetta, Asian at Food Republic, Japanese at Teppanyaki, Mexican at Los Lobos, French at Le Bistro, BBQ at Q Texas Smokehouse, and Cagney’s Steakhouse, as well as Dolce Gelato and Coco’s for sweets. (Reservations required.)

There are also numerous  bars and lounges , including The District Brewhouse, Cellars Wine Bar, Sugarcane Mojito Bar, and Maltings Whiskey Bar, among others! 

The Observation Lounge on Deck 15 has several drink and snack stations making it a wonderful place to relax during the day.

It is also a good alternative for those looking for a light breakfast or lunch. Food items include danishes, mini quiche, fruit, bread, cheese, fruit, and desserts.

You have to get to the Lounge very early in the morning to find a good seat, however. It is a very popular lounge, and people tend to ‘save seats’ as well as ‘camp out’ there for an entire day. Head to the back and you’ll almost always find a table near the bar.

Specialty Dining Reservations

Depending on which type of stateroom you’re staying in, you can make specialty dining and entertainment reservations 90 – 130 days in advance.

Be sure to check this page as to when you can make reservations, and book your selections ASAP. Only a certain percentage of reservations open ahead of time, and popular restaurants and dining times book up fast,

If you fail to get the restaurant or reservation time of your choice, head to Deck 6 (in Teppanyaki) immediately upon boarding the ship as this is when the remaining reservations are released.

Thoughts on the Norwegian Encore restaurants:

• The Garden Cafe buffet is very busy during breakfast. We prefer a more relaxed atmosphere and ate breakfast at The Manhatten Room on most days.
• The Local Bar & Grill has a fun atmosphere that overlooks the main atrium. We had consistently good food, service, and drinks there. Our favorites were the chicken wings, loaded nachos, and burgers.
• The Manhatten Room is very busy during evening dinner hours. We mostly ate dinner at Taste or Savor for dinner- although all 3 have the same menu, so it’s just a matter of where you can get a table.
• Our cruise promotion included 2 specialty dining meals per person. We ate at Cagney’s Steakhouse and Q Texas Smokehouse.
• We LOVED and highly recommend Cagney’s Steakhouse (had filet mignon – Yum!), however, would not go to Q Texas Smokehouse again. The food at Q was good, but the service was mediocre and the ambiance was casual and dark – needed our phone flashlight to read the menu.
• Overall impression: Exceeded our expectations; the food on the ship was tasty and delicious.

Norwegian Encore Dining Tips

• When going to the Garden Cafe , have 1 person from your party search for and reserve a table while the others get their food. It is always busy and can be hard to find a table there. Your best option is to find a table in the back of the cafe.
• Complimentary soft-service ice cream machines are in the Garden Cafe. They are very popular! There is also hand-scooped ice cream in the Garden Cafe at a station.
• If we had to choose again, we would go to Ocean Blue instead of Q Texas Smokehouse.
• If the 2 specialty dining restaurants were not included in our cruise promotion, I personally would only pay out-of-pocket to visit 1 specialty dining restaurant (Cagney’s) . We found that there was plenty of variety in the main, complimentary dining.
• If you don’t mind eating early, get to the main dining rooms for dinner 5 minutes before their evening opening time. This will ensure immediate seating and quick service.
• The District Brewhouse beers, Sugarcane’s mojitos, and Maltings specialty cocktails and whiskies are awesome. Ask the bartenders for a ‘snack mix’ as all of the bars have small containers of nuts/corn nuts if you ask for them.
• At random times during the cruise, there is an additional tax on alcohol (something due to international waters/regulations) that you may or may not be warned about.
• I felt that the restaurant attire was much more casual than I anticipated.

Norwegian Encore Entertainment

The Encore offers dozens of onboard  activities , including a go-kart track (singles and doubles), laser tag, VR arcade, outdoor pools, hot tubs, and water slides, as well as a fitness center, jogging track, casino, and spa.

( NOTE: Go-karts, laser tag, the Galaxy Pavilion VR arcade, casino, and spa all cost an additional fee. Go-karts, laser tag, and the spa require reservations.)

There are also stand-up comedians, karaoke, and magic shows, as well as live music, trivia, and fun presentations in The Atrium.

The musical performance Choir of Man was the headliner show while we were on our cruise. It plays 4 different times during the 7-day itinerary and requires reservations.

All of the information regarding the next day’s activities and showtimes can be found in the daily newsletter called Freestyle Daily.

A paper copy of Freestyle Daily is placed outside of your stateroom each afternoon, and can also be found on the NCL app , or at Guest Services.

Thoughts on Norwegian Encore Entertainment

• Reservations are required for Choir of Man and can be booked ahead of time online per this chart , and then again when on the ship.
• Choir of Man was absolutely amazing, however, we wished there had been an additional main-stage production. We ended up going to Choir or Man twice both because we loved it, and because there were no other options for nighttime shows.
• Go-karting ($15 per person) at Encore Speedway, and laser tag ($9.95 per person) also require reservations, which we feel is a bummer and makes it hard to be spontaneous. Reservations filled up fast on sea days, and we ended up only being go at random ‘off times’ and were not able to go as often as we had planned.
• Encore Speedway closes unexpectedly due to weather. If you have a reservation during a weather delay, you are reimbursed but have to rebook on your own. In our case, there were no reservations left, which meant we were not able to rebook.
• There are always fun activities going on in The Atrium . Grab a seat in between performances as the seating area is limited. The Atrium Bar has quick, friendly service.
• We don’t have any tips on the casino or spa as we did not go there.
• Overall impression: Met our expectations, however, wished there were more shows as well as onboard movies shown on the big screen.

In order to avoid having to micro-manage the onboard activity fees during our sailing, we purchased each of our 3 children a set amount of onboard credit.

The onboard credit was applied to their keycards for them to use at their leisure.

This allowed them to plan ahead of time which activities they wanted to spend their onboard credit on and prevented overspending.

Norwegian Cruise Tips

Be sure to download and familiarize yourself with the Norwegian Cruise Line app. You can manage your entire trip from the app, and it does not require WiFii when being used on the ship.

NCL is not very forthcoming on when and how to make dining and show reservations, so mark your calendars accordingly . Once onboard, make reservations at the Guest Services on deck 6, or at the electronic touchscreen kiosks located at each elevator bay.

Also, on the Norwegian Encore, note that the fish on the hallway carpet always swim forward pointing to the front of the ship.

Knowing this will help you maneuver around the ship better.

Last, watch for NCL cruise promotions! We were able to get a “Free at Sea” promotion that includes unlimited open bar, 2 free specialty dining restaurants per person, free WiFii, and $100 off per shore excursion per stateroom. (For the first 2 people on the reservation.)

Tips for Online Check-in and Embarkation

• You choose your port arrival time at the time of online check-in which begins 21 days before your cruise.
• The sooner you do online check-in, the earlier you’ll be able to secure a port arrival time. (I did online check-in at 8 AM, 21 days prior to our cruise, and was able to secure the earliest port arrival time of 9:30 AM.)
• Your NCL luggage tags are mailed to you ahead of time. Place them on your suitcases (after your flight) before boarding the ship.
• Luggage delivery to staterooms is around 3 PM on the day of embarkation. Have a day bag packed of items you’ll need on the ship before your luggage arrives (i.e. passport, medications, swimsuit, sunglasses, etc.)
• Your muster station number will be on your keycard. The initial muster drill is quick and can be done in small groups, at your leisure.

Our 7-day Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise

The day before our cruise our flight from Minneapolis, MN arrived at 8 AM in Seattle, Washington.

Our early flight allowed us to have an entire day to explore Seattle, which we highly recommend leaving or finding time to do.

Upon arrival, we were able to store our luggage at our hotel, Seattle Marriott Downtown , and walk around the city from there.

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.

Though a bit pricey, I highly recommend staying at Seattle Marriott Downtown before your Norwegian cruise!

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.

The hotel will also store your luggage for you before and after your cruise based on your flight times and if you’ll be walking around Seattle.

Day 1: Seattle, Washington

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.

At your port arrival time, enter the cruise terminal, go through security, check-in, and you’ll be given a boarding group number.

Passengers are then held in a waiting area (coffee/tea/juice are provided) until the captain signals that boarding may begin. (Exact boarding time varies by the day and is at the captain’s discretion.)

Boarding for boarding group #1 typically begins anytime after 11 AM (ours was at 11:30 AM).

Have a plan for when you initially get on the ship. I suggest first going to Deck 6 to make all dining reservations (at Teppanyaki), then all showtime reservations (at The Social Comedy Club).

Then head to your muster station for a brief safety overview.

Afterward, I recommend going to The Local for lunch. It is very laid back and overlooks the activities in the main atrium.

• 9:15 AM: Got in line (which was already 30 people deep) for our 9:30 port arrival time.
• 11:30 AM: Boarded the ship
• 11:40 AM: Made dining and show reservations, did muster station drill, made go-kart and laser tag reservations at a touchscreen kiosk
• 12:15 PM: Lunch at The Local Bar & Grill
• Toured the ship and took photos
• 5:00 PM: Departure. Went to the Sail Away pool deck party.
• 6:30 PM: Dinner at Taste
• 7:30 PM: Comedian in the Encore Theater

Day 2: Day at Sea

Any pre-booked shore excursion tickets are placed in your room on this day.

As on every day of the cruise, we spent our downtime relaxing, playing cards and cribbage in The Atrium, attending presentations & shows, eating, drinking, and enjoying the ship.

• 8:00 AM: Breakfast at The Manhatten Room
• 11:30 AM: Lunch at The Local
• 6:30 PM: Dinner at Cagney’s Steakhouse
• 7:30 PM: Choir of Man performance in Encore Theater
• 9:00 PM: Adult-only comedy shows at Social Comedy Club

Day 3: Juneau, Alaska

• 11:30 AM: Lunch at Garden Cafe
• 3:30-9:00 PM: Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Quest shore excursion
• 9:30 PM: Late-night snacks at The Local before going to bed

Recommendations if touring downtown include Red Dog Saloon and Tracy’s King Crab Shack.

Day 4: Skagway, Alaska

We needed our passports on this day’s excursion as our tour entered Canada.

• Morning hot tubbing
• 11:30 AM: Light lunch in the Observation Lounge
• 12:30-5:30 PM: White Pass Railway and Suspension Bridge shore excursion
• 6:45 PM: Reservations at Q Texas Smokehouse (specialty dining)
• 8:00 PM: Encore Speedway go-kart reservations
• 8:30 PM: Laser tag reservations
• 9:30 PM: The Beatles Invasion performance in Encore Theater

Recommendations if touring downtown include Red Onion Saloon, Klondike Doughboy, Skagway Brewing Co., and Alaska Christmas Store.

Day 5: Glacier Bay (Cruising)

This was, by far, the most scenic day of our Alaska Cruise as Glacier Bay National Park is absolutely stunning.

National Park rangers come aboard the ship and narrate about the glaciers and wildlife you see, as well as share stories about the park’s history.

The narration can be watched live in the Observation Lounge and is simultaneously broadcasted on your stateroom TV and on a large screen in The Atrium.

In addition, the captain opens up the bow of the ship on Deck 8 for this day only, and passengers can enjoy coffee, tea, and hot chocolate while viewing Glacier Bay outdoors.

• 8:00 AM: Went out to the bow of the ship to view Glacier Bay
• 9:30 AM: Breakfast at The Manhatten Room by the windows overlooking Glacier Bay
• Listened to the park ranger talks throughout the day
• Watched the views, glaciers, and wildlife sightings from our balcony stateroom
• 12:30 PM: Light snacks in the Observation Lounge
• 7:30 PM: Comedy Show in Encore Theater

Day 6: Ketchikan, Alaska

• 7:00 AM: Breakfast at Garden Cafe
• 8:15 AM-12:00 PM: Backcountry Jeep and Canoe Safari shore excursion
• 12:30 PM: Lunch at The Local
• 5:00 PM: Encore Speedway reservations (canceled due to rain)
• 5:15 PM: Dinner at Taste

Day 7: Victoria, British Columbia

Disembarkation instructions are placed in your room on this day.

• 12:00 PM: Lunch at Garden Cafe (ate on the pool deck as it was a beautifully sunny day)
• Afternoon: Sat outside around the pool all day enjoying sunshine and live music; kids went on waterslides
• 4:00 PM: Magic show in Encore Theater
• 5:00 PM: Dinner at Savor
• 8:00 PM: The ship arrived at the port in Victoria. We did not get off the ship as the timing was too late for us and we did not want to do an evening shore excursion.

Day 8: Seattle, Washington

• 9:00 AM: Disembarked the ship
• 1:30 PM: Flight home

Norwegian Encore Alaska Cruise Conclusion

With an Alaska cruise having been on our bucket list for quite some time, I feel such happiness having gotten to take our family on this epic Alaskan adventure.

Overall, our experience on our Norwegian Encore Alaska cruise exceeded my expectations in our ship choice, itinerary (that included Glacier Bay), shore excursions, stateroom comfortability, and food quality – as well as Alaska in general.

We would have liked to have experienced more shows on the ship, as well as wish the family-friendly activities (go-karts & laser tag) did not cost extra money and did not require reservations.

I would highly recommend the Norwegian Encore for an Alaska sailing as well as Alaska overall in terms of a once-in-a-lifetime family vacation experience.

Happy travels!

*Before leaving, be sure to check our  Travel Resources Page  to find our exclusive travel discounts and to book hotels, rental cars, and guided tours.*

Jen Brommer is a family travel expert. She has been featured as an authority on several notable travel websites and is a member of the Family Travel Association (FTA), Midwest Travel Network, and TravMedia global media network.

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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Norwegian Encore

Cruise line Norwegian Cruise Line

• Seattle (Washington)
• Miami (Florida)

Norwegian Encore current position

Norwegian Encore current location is at North America West Coast (coordinates 50.13903 N / -128.39905 W) cruising at speed of 22.5 kn (42 km/h | 26 mph) en route to VICTORIA, CA. The AIS position was reported 35 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Norwegian Encore

Norwegian Encore current cruise is 7 days, round-trip Alaska Glacier Bay, Skagway Juneau . Prices start from USD 1149 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 14 Jul, 2024 and ends on 21 Jul, 2024 .

Specifications of Norwegian Encore

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Norwegian Encore Itineraries

Norwegian encore review, review of norwegian encore.

The 2019-built Norwegian Encore cruise ship is the fourth (last) Breakaway Plus-class NCL vessel, with sisterships Norwegian Escape (2015), Norwegian Joy (2017) and Norwegian Bliss (2018). Encore is NCL's 13th vessel built by Meyer Werft (Papenburg Germany) .

The vessel (IMO number 9751511) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311000879) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)  is a subsidiary company of the shipping corporation Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). NCL was founded in 1966, headquartered in  Miami (Florida USA)  and publicly traded (NASDAQ) company listed on NYSE ( NYC ). NCLH's major shareholders are the corporations Apollo Global Management (American), Genting Group (Malaysian) and TPG Capital (American). In 2017, the brand NCL had a worldwide cruise market share 8,7% (passengers) and 8,4% (revenue). NCLH (shipowner) owns the brands  NCL ,  Oceania  and  RSSC (Regent) .

In comparison to NCL Breakaway-class, the 4000-passenger ship Norwegian Encore has an expanded The Haven - "ship within a ship" leisure concept. This is area an exclusive accessible only by keycard. There is an outdoor terrace, private restaurant, courtyard area covered with a retractable roof, swimming pool, whirlpools, spa treatment rooms, sauna, private sundeck. Other differences from the Breakaway-class are more Haven Suites, Penthouses, Spa Suites, Studios (single cabins).

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Encore staterooms  (2043 total, in 42 grades) include 1587 outside, 374 Inside, 82 Studios (single cabins). Most staterooms are sized 160-170 ft2 (15-16 m2). Balcony cabins are 1112, Oceanviews 111, Inside 374. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 47. The largest accommodations are The Haven Deluxe Owners Suites (970 ft2 / 91 m2, with wraparound terrace sized 490 ft2 / 46 m2).

The 82 Studios (designed for solo travelers) are with virtual views and exclusive access to Studio Lounge. The ship also features many family cabins (connecting staterooms) across most categories.

The boat has  20 decks , of which 16 are passenger-accessible and 11 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Norwegian Encore's à la carte specialty dining at the signature specialty restaurants onboard provides passengers with the freedom to savor gourmet dishes, various tastes and the flexibility to choose the number of courses to enjoy during the meal. On Norwegian Encore, guests can choose between 11 complimentary dining options. They can also experience new flavors at signature specialty restaurants, such as Le Bistro, La Onda, Cagney’s Steakhouse and Bayamo by James Beard Award-winning chef Jose Garces. Norwegian’s signature specialty restaurants feature enhanced menus including favorite dishes and new tastes. Whether passengers prefer a light meal of a favorite soup or appetizer, or indulge in a dinner featuring Maine lobster, with the new à la carte options, they have the opportunity to create their own, desired dining experience.

The shipboard dining options feature a Texas steakhouse (barbecue eatery named Q), with live country music. The menu includes brisket, chicken, ribs and sausages smoked over oak, pecan and hickory woods. A modern Mexican restaurant is named Los Lobos (2016-debuted on Norwegian Dawn ). Adjacent to Los Lobos is The A-List Bar, serving handcrafted cocktails, premium spirits and wines.

Norwegian Encore also boasts a full-service Starbucks Shop. The first Starbucks at sea was opened in 2010 on Allure of the Seas ( Royal Caribbean ). Another new for NCL is the chocolate-themed dessert outlet Coco’s, serving handmade pralines, crepes, truffles and other treats paired with brand teas and coffees.

In June 2019, NCL announced the partnership with LDV Hospitality for Encore ship's "Onda by Scarpetta" - a new Italian specialty dining concept to be gradually implemented fleetwide.

• The new "ship restaurant" joins Scarpetta's land-based venues in NYC New York (Long Island's The Hamptons), Las Vegas, Miami FL , Newport RI , Philadelphia PA , and London UK . The brand name Scarpetta is derived from the Italian expression "fare la Scarpetta" (to savor a meal to the last bite).
• La Onda (“wave” in Italian) restaurant's menu showcases dishes that the modern Italian restaurant chain is popular for, including seafood and signature items like Yellowtail Crudo, Branzino, home-made daily pasta and some of Italy's best-known desserts.
• The new specialty dining venue is cozy, with stylish atmosphere, contemporary design and provides expansive sea views from both within the restaurant and alfresco (on The Waterfront).

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Encore restaurants and food bars.

• Savor Restaurant (forward Main Dining Room /complimentary)
• The Manhattan Room (aft Main Dining Room /complimentary, Freestyle dining, dinner-only) has a dance floor for the evening dance show.
• Taste Restaurant (forward Main Dining Room /complimentary)
• “Private Room at Taste” (group private dining, 100 seats capacity, with a separate lounge area)
• The Local Bar & Grill is a complimentary eatery designed as an updated version of O’Sheehan’s Pub. The menu showcases similar offerings, such as Fish and Chips, Chicago Style Hot Dog, and some new additions (like Tortilla Bowl). The Grill is open 24 hours per day serving up different menus depending on the time of day guests choose to dine).
• Q Texas Smokehouse is a BBQ restaurant featuring live country music. It serves authentic Texas-style barbecue including smoked meats, pulled pork, brisket, beef and pork ribs, and side items.
• Teppanyaki is the Japanese Hibachi specialty restaurant (reservations’-only, at surcharge US$29 pp, kids charged a full cover). The Teppanyaki restaurant is open for Lunch (12-1:30 pm) and Dinner (5:30-10 pm). It features live cooking demonstrations and traditionally prepared (a la carte priced) specialties, including sushi, fruit sashimi, Yakitori grill, a sake menu.
• Food Republic is a new and exclusive dining concept (via a partnership with the Pubbelly Restaurant Group). This specialty restaurant is open lunch through dinner, offers international cuisine with a la carte menu and iPad ordering system.
• "Onda by Scarpetta" is an Italian restaurant (reservations-only, cover charge, kids charged a full cover). The Onda restaurant is open between 5:30-9:30 pm and has large tables. The ship’s Italian dining experience is marked by a casual atmosphere and large portions (perfect for family dinners) and traditional Italian fine wines and gourmet cuisine specialties – pizzas, pasta, seafood, classic salads, freshly baked bread, desserts (including ice cream). Onda by Scarpetta additionally has a separate outdoor seating terrace (waterfront) area.
• Ocean Blue (seafood restaurant, reservations-only, with cover charge US$39 per person, kids are charged a full cover) is open for lunch and dinner. It is run by the Michelin Star chef Geoffrey Zakarian, who personally picked the 4-course menu and each of the wine pairings. “Ocean Blue on the Waterfront” is the restaurant’s outdoor seating/alfresco dining area.
• Cagney’s Steakhouse is a specialty dinner-only restaurant (open 5:30-10:30 pm) serving prime steaks (Certified Angus Beef) and gourmet seafood. The Cagney’s restaurant is reservations-only, with cover charge US$30 per person and a free Kids Menu. At Cagney’s, kids are charged a full cover. Additionally, the steakhouse is open for suite-guests only serving Breakfast (7:30-9:30 am) and Lunch (12-1:30 pm).
• Le Bistro French Restaurant (reservations-only, cover charge US$20 per person, kids charged a full cover). The intimate and romantic Bistro restaurant is dinner-only (open between 5:30-10:30 pm) and offers some of the NCL Encore ship’s best luxury dining experiences with its upscale amenities, superior white-glove service, sophisticated cuisine with a vintage wines selection and classic French gourmet specialities in the menu. During the day, Le Bistro hosts food and wine tasting events.
• American Diner is a speciality American Bar & Grill restaurant (outdoor seating, at a surcharge of US$9 pp) which offers complimentary fast food choices and live music performances during the day.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Encore vessel features an expanded 55-suite Haven, a spacious sundeck, 2 whirlpools, private dining and specialty restaurants, expanded courtyard, outdoor terrace, Thermal suite, treatment rooms (14 – suite Heaven SPA) and a fitness center.

NCL Encore is the world's third cruise ship (together with NCL Joy and NCL Bliss) fitted with a Ferrari racetrack (deck 19). The racetrack is built by RiMO Supply (RiMO Germany Group) and operated via a partnership with Scuderia Ferrari Watches. This is also the first-ever branded Formula 1 race car track.

• The 2-level track spans on 2 decks and offers incredible sea views at height of 60 m (200 ft). It has a capacity up to 10 racers at a time on electric go-karts (Ferrari branded).
• The GoCars can reach speeds up to 40 mph (65 kph). In comparison to the sister-ship Norwegian Joy, Encore's racetrack is 40% longer and has 10 turns (Joy has 8), two of which are cantilevered over the ship's side.
• Passengers booked in Concierge and The Haven staterooms enjoy complimentary rides with bookings. The used by RiMO technology ensures optimal usage under intensified UV conditions and saltwater exposure.
• In comparison to NCL Joy, the racetrack on Norwegian Encore is larger (extending 4 m / 13 ft off ship's both sides) and upgraded with a covered open-air viewing area (in the center). There, passengers can measure go-karts speeds by tagging the passing race cars with a laser beam.

NCL Encore also features an open-air laser tag course (deck 18), Aqua Park with Double Aqua Loop (two multi-deck waterslides - one hull-extending loop, one with transparent loop section stretching down to the below deck) and 2 racing slides (high-speed inner tubes with length over 110 m / 360 ft) both with a transparent section.

Pool Deck 16 has 2 swimming pools (located away from midship) and cantilevered whirlpools (hot tubs over the ship's sides). A top-deck water fun kids zone has splash pads, tipping buckets, water cannons and slides.

Entertainment options also include the NCL's FIREWORKS show (on each voyage), "Rock of Ages", "Cirque Dreams", "Illusionarium" (magicians show).

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Encore lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Encore Theater (900 seats; features Broadway-style musical productions; two grand shows per night). Theater's signature programming features the ship-exclusive “Kinky Boots" (Tony Award-winning musical with original Cyndi Lauper songs) and "Four Seasons" musical (NCL exclusive production show by Warren Carlyle / themed on Cuba’s culture - dancing, music, costumes).
• Atrium “678 Ocean Place” is a 3-decks high, open-floor designed midship area with live entertainment and a big-size LED screen for movies. The Atrium is served by Atrium Bar.
• Coco's is a chocolate-themed dessert outlet/patisserie serving handmade pralines, crepes, truffles and other treats paired with brand teas and coffees.
• Chess & Card Room, Library, Internet Cafe (open 24 hours), Meeting Rooms; Photo Studio & Shop; Art Gallery
• Reception (Guest Services Desk- assistance, reservations, information); Shore Excursions Desk (information, planning, booking)
• Starbucks Coffee Shop features the full Starbucks menu on offer.
• Social Comedy and Night Club (103 seats) has a large dance floor and offers live entertainment by stand-up comedians and DJs.
• Maltings Whiskey Bar (56 seats) serves a rich variety of premium whiskies and beers; live music. The Maltings lounge also doubles as Library( books, board games, cards playing).
• Mixx Bar (piano bar) is a modern pre-dinner gathering spot.
• Encore Casino is a premium gaming lounge with both smoking and non-smoking areas, large-size LED screens, a separate Encore Casino VIP Room (high-stakes gambling room) and is served by Skyline Bar.
• Skyline Bar offers cocktails before dinner. Guests can meet friends after a show or press their luck with the bar-top poker screens.
• Promenade Deck’s best feature is the Waterfront Promenade (1320 ft/402 m long, open-air area with multiple alfresco dining and entertainment venues). It offers a unique open-air deck experience by several seaside venues with outdoor seating. The list of the venues features shops, bars, restaurants, a 1/4-mi-long boardwalk (outdoor area with shaded seating) located 8 stories above the water.
• The District Brew House has a keg room and offers a selection of 50 bottled beers and 24 draft beers on tap (including the new Wynwood brew). The venue is operated via the NCL partnership with Miami’s Wynwood Brewing Company.
• The Humidor Cigar Lounge & Bar is the ship’s smoking-allowed bar lounge.
• The Cellars Wine Bar is operated via NCL partnership with Mondavi and offers premium wines and tapas-style a la carte menu. The Wine Bar has a separate room for wine tastings (with sommelier service) and outdoor seating area on The Waterfront.
• Sugarcane Mojito Bar features live Latin music performances.
• Dolce Gelato (Italian ice cream bar, a la carte)
• Carlo's Bake Shop is a premium patisserie/bakery by ‘the “cake boss” Buddy Valastro.
• Tradewinds Tax & Duty-Free Shops are duty-free retails selling alcohol, tobaccos, NCL-logoed merchandise, jewelry, watches, perfumes and cosmetics, brand fashion and accessories, special occasion gifts. The shopping complex includes Tides Boutique, Cartier, Omega, Bvlgari, Fine Watches, The Time Zone, Salvatore Ferragamo, Versace, Bally, Godiva (gourmet sweets, including truffles, premium chocolates, soft-serve ice cream), also Beauty Shop.
• The Cavern Club Lounge (replica of Liverpool's music club) offers Beatles music, tribute bands performances and "The Choir of Man” crew show (dynamic performances with live percussions, high-energy music, dancing and foot-stomping by 9 crew performers).
• Photo Gallery & Shop (photo-video services by professional onboard photographers)
• The A-List Bar serves handcrafted cocktails, premium spirits and wines.
• Observation Lounge & Bar (deck 15) is a VIP lounge exclusive for Concierge Level passengers with a delicious buffet available for light breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks.
• Garden Cafe (708 indoor seats, 280 outdoor seats) is a complimentary, buffet-style casual restaurant, plus an Open-Air Garden Cafe (outdoor seating area). It offers traditional Asian cuisine as well as specialty dishes from all around the world.
• Waves Pool Bar (15 seats) is a casual outdoor bar serving beverages, including popular cocktails.
• Aqua Park (3-decks high, with 2 pools, 5 multi-level waterslides / Ocean Loop; 2 racing-slides, “Free Fall” drop-slides; 4 Whirlpools, poolside bar, Sun Deck area); Kids'Aqua Park
• Splash Academy (kids 3-12 yo, is 2-story high, offers themed activities, with a light-up floor (for interactive dancing), circus school (with a resident clown), Nintendo and PS3 console games, kids-only cinema, crafts-arts, pirate parades. The area hosts also the Guppies Nursery (toddlers 6 months to 2 yo) and the Kid’s Aqua Park (splash pool, Nickelodeon characters entertainment).
• NCL Encore ship’s Mandara Spa & Fitness (wellness complex) consists of Thermal Suite (heated loungers, sauna, steam rooms, solarium), Salt Room (halotherapy room), Beauty Salon, Foot Clinic, Barber Shop, Medi Spa (teens), Aerobics Studio (classes).
• Entourage Teen Centre is a teens-only club lounge for kids 13-17 yo (complimentary, supervised by certified counselors). The teen lounge has Video Games Arcade, large TVs for movies, PlayStation 3 gaming consoles, game tables (pinball, foosball, air hockey). Here are hosted themed parties (dance, pool, pizza) and teen discos in the evenings.
• Galaxy Pavilion is an indoor complex for virtual-world and multi-player gaming, equipped with interactive video walls and virtual reality technology. 
• “The Haven” complex is for Villa- and Suite passengers only, and consists of “The Haven Courtyard” (has a retractable roof, adults-only pool area, 2 Whirlpools), spa, steam room, gym room), “The Haven Restaurant” and “The Haven Lounge & Bar” (offering a delicious limited buffet for breakfast and lunch with delicious traditional Chinese and Western cuisine).
• Spice H2O (lower level 1 of 2) is an adult-only relaxation area, with 1 pool, 2 Whirlpools, huge outdoor LED screen, Poolside Bar, Grill.
• Pulse Fitness Centre features Technogym equipment and a separate Aerobics Studio for classes, among which Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, boxing, TRX).
• Sports Complex has a Bungee Trampoline, Spider Web (climbing wall with spiral slide), Mini Golf and Ropes Courses, Zip Line, The Plank (walking platform); combined sports court (basketball/volleyball), Race Track (Ferrari TM go-karts), Rock Climbing Wall, Jogging Track.
• Race Track is operated with 10 electric carts and 5-6 min race sessions. Go-Karts are decorated with different companies' logos.
• Laser Battle is an open-air Laser Tag Course (deck 18) with obstacles and a large-size touch screen for kids.
• Vibe Beach Club (99 seats, deck 19) is an adults-only relaxation area (surcharges per day apply) with cantilevered whirlpools, sunbathing area with sun loungers and luxury chaise lounge chairs, outdoor bar, private cabanas.

Next are listed the NCL Encore ship's venues by deck location.

• On deck 20 are the Laser Tag Course, Ropes Course, Aqua Racer Waterslide (entry-level), Vibe Beach Club (upper level).
• On deck 19 are located The Haven Courtyard (sundeck with 2x Jacuzzies), Vibe Beach Club (sundeck with 2x Jacuzzies), Encore Speedway (Race Track), Mini-Golf Course.
• On deck 18 are located Ocean Loops Waterslide (entry-level), The Haven complex (Courtyard, Lounge, Restaurant, Outdoor Restaurant, Horizon Lounge), Encore Speedway (Race Track), Laser Tag Course, Sports Complex (Bungee Trampoline, Spider Web, Zip Line, Rock Climbing Wall).
• Forward on decks 17-18 are located two 2-level bar lounges (exclusive for The haven passengers) - Horizon Lounge and The Haven Lounge.
• On deck 17 are located The Haven Courtyard (Sundeck, Jacuzzi, Swimming Pool), Sundeck (with 4x Jacuzzies), Speedway Jogging Tracks, Le Bistro French Restaurant, American Diner, Galaxy Pavilion.
• On deck 16 are located Garden Cafe, swimming pools, Sundeck, Kids' Aqua Park, wellness facilities (Fitness Center, Mandara Spa, Beauty Salon, Barber Shop).
• Forward on deck 15 is the Observation Lounge & Bar (444 seats, size 2723 ft2 / 253 m2). This is a VIP lounge (exclusive for Concierge Level passengers) with a delicious buffet (available for light breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks) and offers 270-degree ocean views (from floor-ceiling windows) and full Bar service.
• On deck 13 is the Infirmary/Medical Center.
• On deck 11 is the Studio Lounge (exclusive to Studio/single cabin passengers).
• On deck 8 are Cellars Wine Bar, Maltings Whiskey Bar, Cavern Club, Humidor Lounge, Sugarcane Mojito Bar, The A-List Bar, Onda by Scarpetta Italian Restaurant, Ocean Blue, Los Lobos Cantina, Cagney’s Steakhouse, Food Republic, Maltings Whiskey Bar, Dolce Gelato, Carlo's Bake Shop, Tradewinds Shops.
• On deck 7 are the Box Office, The Local Bar & Grill, Encore Casino, Manhattan Restaurant.
• On deck 6 are Shore Excursions, Internet Cafe-Library-Card Room, Perspective/Photo Studio, Meeting Rooms, Reception/Guest Services, Art Gallery, Atrium Bar, Q Texas Smokehouse, Teppanyaki, Taste and Savor restaurants, Mixx Bar, Starbucks Bar, Social Comedy Nightclub, Coco's.
• On deck 5 are located childrens' venues (Splash Academy, Guppies, Video Arcade, Entourage).

Encore is NCL's first liner with the new "Onda by Scarpetta" - specialty restaurant offering dining premium experiences (planned to be introduced fleetwide). In June 2019, NCL announced the company's exclusive partnership with Scarpetta Restaurants via LDV Hospitality (USA-based boutique hospitality company specializing in unique restaurant and bar experiences). The new "cruise restaurant" joins Scarpetta's land-based restaurants in NYC , The Hamptons (Long Island NY), Miami FL , Philadelphia PA , Newport RI , Las Vegas NV, and London OH. "Onda by Scarpetta" restaurant's menu showcases the unique flavors of modern Italian cuisine featuring a selection of beautifully presented seafood and signature dishes, including daily handmade pasta and traditional gourmet desserts. The new NCL Scarpetta restaurant is similarly designed to the land-based venues, with an interior featuring walnut wood and Calacatta marble.

Galaxy Pavilion (930 m2 / 10,000 ft2 sized gaming center) is equipped with interactive video walls and Oculus virtual reality technology. The equipment includes three XD Dark Ride Motion simulators (with 3D real-time graphics, 3D Virtual Surround Sound, multi-sensory effects), six Xbox stations, Star Wars Battle Pod (arcade game), hovercraft bumper cars.

Itineraries

Norwegian Encore itinerary program is based on homeport Miami (Florida USA) roundtrips (Sunday departures) on 7-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries with call ports San Juan Puerto Rico , St Thomas USVI and Tortola BVI .

Previously (in 2017), NCL announced that the liner will be deployed in Asia and homeported in China.

Photos of Norwegian Encore

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Other Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ships

• Norwegian Aqua
• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Breakaway
• Norwegian Dawn
• Norwegian Epic
• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Gem
• Norwegian Getaway
• Norwegian Jade
• Norwegian Jewel
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Pearl
• Norwegian Prima
• Norwegian Sky
• Norwegian Spirit
• Norwegian Star
• Norwegian Sun
• Norwegian Viva
• Pride of America

Norwegian Encore Wiki

On January 31, 2018, was held the vessel's steel-cutting ceremony at Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg Germany , with which officially started its construction. The ceremony was attended by NCL executives gathered at the yard's laser cutting hall.

On November 28, 2018, was the vessel's keel-laying ceremony. The special event was a construction milestone and featured the traditional “commemorative coin” placing (within the keel blocks) and a surprise “Kinky Boots” live performance by “The Choir of Man” (9 crew show).

The vessel was launched (floated out from drydock) on August 17, 2019. The float-out started at ~8 am. Once removed from the drydock hall, it was berthed at the shipyard's outfitting pier for funnel cladding and further outfitting works. Then followed the passage through Ems River for the North Sea trials (testing the machinery and performance). NCL Encore's crewed conveyance to Eemshaven Holland started on September 30 and finished on October 1. The ship was officially delivered to NCL from Meyer Werft on October 30, 2019, in Bremerhaven Germany . The ceremony was attended by Andy Stuart (NCL's President and CEO) and Tim Meyer (one of Meyer Werft Papenburg's managing directors).

NCL Encore's hull artwork was created by the Spanish painter Eduardo Arranz-Bravo (1941-born in Barcelona , first exhibition in 1961). NCL ship's namesake is the 2016-launched Seabourn Encore ( Seabourn ).

Cruise liner's christening ceremony was on November 21, 2019, held in NYC New York . Ship's godmother is Kelly Brianne Clarkson - 1982-born (in Burleson, Texas USA) singer, actress, author and TV celebrity. She became famous in 2002 when won American Idol's first season and signed a deal with RCA Records (a Sony subsidiary). Kelly Clarkson's best-selling song is "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" (2011). As godmother, Kelly Clarkson performed live at the naming ceremony in PortMiami. The event was attended byFrank Del Rio (NCLH's CEO), Andy Stuart (NCL's old President and CEO), Harry Sommer (NCL's new President and CEO) and 3500+ VIP guests including US Government officials, travel agencies, media representatives, investors, NCLH partners.

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2019

On March 22, 2018, were opened the NCL Encore bookings on all Caribbean 2019 voyages. The inaugural season (November 2019 through April 2020) offers Miami roundtrips (Sunday departures) on 7-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries with call ports San Juan Puerto Rico , St Thomas USVI and Tortola BVI .

Next tables show the ship's "Inaugural Cruise" itineraries with call ports times and prices per person (USD, based on double occupancy Inside Cabin rates).

Initially was scheduled (but later changed) an 11-day maiden voyage (Europe-USA repositioning Southampton-Miami) priced from USD 1200 pp. The cruise (departing Southampton on Nov 2) included a visit to Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island, Azores (Nov 6, port stay 9 am - 6 pm) and arriving in Miami on Nov 13.

Following the delivery (Oct 30), on October 31 started a "preview cruise" from Bremerhaven to Southampton (November 2). This voyage was not opened for booking but only for industry and media representatives, travel agents and VIP guests. A second preview cruise (2-day) was scheduled for November 11-13 (roundtrip from NYC). 

9-day "Inaugural Cruise" (Transatlantic repositioning crossing from Southampton to NYC) - from USD 600 pp

7-day Inaugural Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami - from USD 900 pp

(special) 4-day Inaugural Bermuda cruise from NYC - from USD 630 pp.

The regularly scheduled 7-day roundtrip itinerary is priced from USD 880 pp and includes 2 overnights in King's Wharf (Royal Naval Dockyard).

7-day Inaugural Western Caribbean cruise from Miami - from USD 650 pp

12-day Inaugural Panama Canal cruise from Miami - from USD 1600 pp

7-day Inaugural Alaskan cruise from Seattle - from USD 1050 pp

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7 Night Alaska Cruise

Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered freestyle cruising with a variety of specialty dining restaurants, entertainment and onboard activities, including go-kart racing!

The scenic beauty of an Alaska cruise will brighten your spirit—from breaching whales to snow-capped peaks.

Known as The Emerald City, Seattle is a beautiful, luscious city with incredible views of the Cascade Mountains and Elliott Bay. The city is full of activities for both water lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

• Norwegian Encore - Passenger Capacity: 3,998 (double occupancy) Year Built: 2019 Last Refurbished: N/A

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7 Night Alaska Cruise sailing on the Norwegian Encore

Departure dates: jul 2024 - aug 2025, stateroom prices for jul. 28, 2024.

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Why We Loved Norwegian Encore For An Alaska Cruise

We just came back from our second Alaska cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line. Our first was in 2018 aboard Norwegian Jewel but this time we were on Norwegian Encore, the newest (at the time) ship in their fleet and one that we knew that we loved sailing on in the Caribbean. However, I was a bit nervous about cruising in Alaska on such a huge vessel when my "Alaska Cruise Expert" friends all said that smaller vessels were better and as a new-comer that NCL wasn't going to be the best option. Well ... all I can say is that Heather and I had an absolutely incredible time on both of our Alaska cruises but Encore really surprised me with how good it was for cruising in this part of the world!

Everyone is entiteld to their own opinion about different things and ultimately that's why there are so many different options when it comes to cruises. For me personally, I have no loyalty to any indvidual cruise line and at different times I like different expereinces.

This is an important thing to remember since I would hate for someone looking for a fun, freestyle cruising experience to book an Alaska cruise on Princess thinking that the only good options were Holland America Line and Princess Cruises. I'm sure they have a fantastic experience and in the case of Holland America Line, more than 75-years of expertise cruising those icy waters. 

However, a cruise is about having fun! Please don't select a ship just because someone tells you that they are the experts or you will have just spent an enormous amount of money on an experience that isn't right for you or your family.

Now to be clear - I'm not bashing Holland America Line. I love cruising with them. In fact, Heather and I just booked a cruise on Koningsdam for Christmas next month. They offer an excellent experience... but one that is much different than what we enjoyed about sailing in Alaska on Norwegian Encore. Similarly, sailing on Carnival is a great option for an Alaska cruise with the family .

Plenty Of Food & Beverage Options

This is something we love about Norwegian Encore (as well as sister ships, Norwegian Blis and Norwegian Joy as well). There are just so many fantastic food and beverage options that we never felt compelled to have the same thing twice - though we did end up dining in Food Republic multiple times.

Just like any Norwegian cruise, their Free at Sea deal makes it so that virtually everyone has the drinks package and at least one premium dining option included.

While Norwegian's beverage package really isn't free once you pay for taxes and gratuities, the fact that it is included vs making it look like a massive bonus charge does create a different atmosphere on board the ship. While everyone can enjoy a drink without thinking about it, this thankfully hasn't created issues like it has on some cheaper lines such as Carnival.

For me though, it does create an environment that is fun and relaxed as I enjoy a cocktail or some craft beer while looking out at the ocean searching for whales.

Plenty Of Spaces To Enjoy The Outdoors

This is where Norwegian Encore really shined. While there's no debate that this is a huge ship, that also means that there were plenty of places to enjoy some time alone outside with priceless views of Alaska passing by.

From the waterfront where - on warmer days - you can enjoy dinner at Cagney's, Los Lobos, Ocean Blue, or La Cuicina alfresco to  simply relaxing in one of the many comfortable couches this was something that made an Alaska cruise on Encore unique.

On those days where you don't want to be outside but still want to enjoy the visual splendor of Alaska, Encore once again offered some fantastic options. 

For example, both The District Brew House and Food Republic offer a glassed in space where you can relax in warmth while getting an excellent view of the water as well as islands that are passing by. The same is true upstairs in the Observation Lounge as well as the Haven-exclusive Horizon Lounge.

Even if all you wanted was simply an outdoor space that was protected from the wind, they had those spaces like the one above that you could relax in and enjoy the world go by.

Freestyle Cruising Works Well In Alaska

Alaska is a different cruise environment than the Caribbean. Here, most people will be wearing jeans and long sleave shirts and when they get back from shore excursions it usually isn't following a day of relaxing on the beach where you have to change out of wet swim wear. 

As a result, I feel like the general dress is already more "smart casual" and there isn't really a need to change into something fancier just to go to dinner. Some folks may disagree with that and I respect others desire for dressing up just to go to dinner but that's what I love about sailing on Norwegian ... there is far less discussion over what is or isn't acceptable for the dress code.

Similarly, sometimes you want to eat earlier and other times you want to eat later, cruises in Alaska sort of lend them selves to being a more casual affair where we like to base our dining times around if the sunset is going to be exceptional that night or if there happen to be a bunch of whales around at the moment and you don't want to stop watching for them.

Heck, there were some nights where all I wanted to do was just eat chicken wings and drink beer in The Local instead of doing dinner at all.

Those kind of things are perfectly ok when you are on a Norwegian Cruise!

Cruising Glacier Bay On Norwegian Encore

Getting back to my thoughts earlier regarding programming, while there are certainly things that Norwegian could have done to be more immerseve as an Alaska cruise experience, our day spent cruising Glacier Bay was an absolutely fantastic experience. I had been told that bigger ships couldn't get as close as smaller ships to the glaciers and that some other lines would have better guides to show guests different things to look out for.

I can't comment on other cruise lines but when we entered Glacier Bay, a National Park Ranger did join our vessel and narrated the entire passage.

Throughout the entire day the ranger would be sharing stories, trivia, and history of the space through the ships's PA system. This meant that no matter where you were enjoying the view, you wouldn't be missing out on anything. Additioanlly, they allowed guests out on the bow and even provided hot chocolate, coffee and other snacks to enjoy during this time so that we all kept nice and warm.

Our ship got closer to the glaciers than i would have expected for such a huge vessel and spent plenty of time for everyone to get more than enough photos. In fact, I have litterally hundreds of photos across my different cameras that will probably never be shared but that's ok ... it was an incredible day filled with wonderful sights and opportunities to meet new friends who were sharing this experience with us.

What We Didn't Love About Encore In Alaska

The biggest thing that I didn't like about our Alaska cruise with Norwegian Encore was going to Ward Cove instead of downtown Ketchikan like we did previously. This is a new port that Norwegian has built since Ketchikan was getting simply too crowded.

To be completely fair, we had a great time and simply treated it as if it was a new port ... and not "sorta Ketchikan". Other folks that were looking forward to Ketchikan though found this visit an inferior option compared to what they had experienced on previous Alaska cruises.

No matter what cruise you take, it is very important to consider your itinerary and if there is a port that you don't want to miss - consider other options. However, in most parts of the world there's really only one port for a destination. In Ketchikan though - there are two options. The first is located right downtown where you can easily walk to shops, restaurants, and attractions. The second is Ward Cove - which will almost certainly develop into a great port with plenty of options at some point. 

However, let's face it ... when you go to Ketchikan you want to go to Ketchikan and here it means that you need towalk through a gigantic gift shop and then wait to take a 20-minute shuttle bus ride to downtown. From a practical perspective, this takes an hour of time away from the prescious moments you have to explore this fantastic town.

The other option obviously is to treat this as "not Ketchikan" and pick one of the many excursions that leave right from here. This is exactly what we did. The Lighthouse, Eagles and Totems tour was an excellent tour and there are many other fantastic options as well.

The second thing we didn't like about sailing with Norwegian in Alaska was that they didn't do a good job at offering special expereinces on the ship the way some other cruise lines do. For instance, Norwegian generally isn't focused on lectures or enrichment and the ship is too big to source local salmon for dinner like I've heard Princess and Holland America Line both do.

If that is important to you then it is something important to consider. However, those lines aren't going to have Broadway shows like Kinky Boots or the same relaxed "Freestyle Cruising" atmosphere that attracts us to continue sailing on Norwegian.

Thanks for reading. We hope this was helpful!

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author bio info

James is an avid fan of all types of cruising but especially enjoys exploring the Pacific coastal regions since it perfectly captures the elements that he is passionate about, including natural beauty, conservation, opportunities to explore new cultures, and meeting some fantastic new people too. 

Family speaks out after getting stranded in Alaska mid-cruise

Plus, the cruise line said it will offer a discount on a future voyage.

A cruise vacation through Alaska turned into a travel nightmare for one Oklahoma family who got stranded without their belongings after a mishap with a local excursion caused them to miss their ship's boarding window.

The Gault family, including six young kids and a 78-year-old grandmother, are now safely back home from Ketchikan. They had disembarked from the Norwegian Encore on Friday, July 12 to see a lumberjack show that they booked through the cruise line.

"When you talk about cruise nightmares this is the definition of it," Joshua Gault told "Good Morning America" of the incident.

He said when they tried to get back to the ship, the local tour operator had told them to wait for the next bus. But that bus never arrived. The family said they called the local port agent who rushed them to the ship, only to see it already pulling away from the dock with their belongings, including some of their passports.

"I was in shock, like utterly shocked," he said, recalling thinking at the time, "Are they really doing this right now?"

The Gaults said they quickly reached out to Norwegian. His wife, Cailyn Gault, told "GMA" that "the people that I was speaking with were so empathetic, they were apologetic -- they're like, what do you need?"

The family said they had to cover the cost of their own food and hotel and find their own way back to Oklahoma -- a journey that included sleeping on airport floors.

"It was completely overwhelming," Cailyn Gault said.

The family said they estimate the unplanned change cost them more than $21,000 just to get home, which included nearly $9,000 in customs fees for missing a stop in Canada. They said Norwegian is working with them to make it right.

"I think we are on a right path as far as both agreeing that something bad really happened here," Joshua Gault said.

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line told ABC News in an emailed statement that the company "will be reimbursing the family for all of the out-of-pocket expenses they incurred over these two days, as a result of missing the ship in Ketchikan, including meals, accommodations, etc. Reimbursements will be processed once receipts for these expenses are provided to us."

NCL said it has "initiated the process to refund the family for the fee imposed by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, as a result of the guests not visiting a foreign port prior to returning to the U.S., as required when an itinerary originates from the U.S. in accordance with the Passenger Vessel Services Act."

Additionally, the cruise line representative told ABC News that "these guests will be receiving a pro-rated refund for the two cruise days they missed."

"As a gesture of goodwill, the company will also be providing each of the nine guests with a Future Cruse Credit in the form of a 20% discount of their cruise fare that can be used towards their next voyage," the spokesperson said.

Experts say if you leave your cruise ship for an excursion, always bring a government-issued photo ID and the name and number of the port agent, who is the best person to help travelers who may run into trouble.

"The port agent is the cruise line's representative in that port," Stewart Chiron, founder of The Cruise Guy, said. "In this case, contacting the port agent was the best move because they would be able to contact the ship."

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Family of nine left behind in remote alaska, charged $9k by norwegian cruise lines.

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An Oklahoma family of nine was left stranded in remote Alaska after their Norwegian Cruise Lines ship left them behind — and then charged the desperate family $9,000 in customs fees.

The Gault family was traveling with six young kids and a 78-year-old grandmother on July 12 when they disembarked from the Norwegian Encore in Katchikan, a small town in a string of south Alaskan islands, so they could watch a lumberjack show together.

But on their way back, the local tour operator transporting passengers to and from the vessel failed to properly check who had tickets and who didn’t — merely conducting a head count — and told the Gaults there was no room and to wait for another shuttle.

“We see the chaos getting onto the buses. We go to get on the bus and one of the attendees is like, ‘The bus is full, and you know you got to wait for the next bus,'” Joshua Gault told 2 News .

However, that bus never came, and after frantically calling the port authority to arrange transportation, they finally arrived back at the docks to see the Norwegian Encore sailing away — taking with it their passports, medication and clothes.

“Six kids on board, minor children, and a 78-year-old mother-in-law, all on medication. We all had to quit cold turkey medication these last few days because it was all on the cruise ship,” Joshua said.

From there, the chaos only deepened.

The family, which had already spent about $30,000 on the trip, was immediately hit with nearly a $9,000 charge from the cruise line — $971 per passenger — for missing the boat.

That fee stemmed from the US Customs and Border Protection’s Passenger Vessel Services Act, which they violated by not visiting a foreign port before they returned to the US, as their itinerary planned.

But they were unable to catch up with the vessel at its next port of call in Canada because nearly all their passports had sailed away from them.

With no choice but to find their way home, the Gaults had to arrange new lodging within hours, book flights home, and feed their many hungry mouths — with the costs piling up the longer it took them to get home.

“All the flights for nine people, all the food for nine people, all the hotel stays,” Gault told 2 News, counting off the accommodations they had to arrange — and pay for — on the fly.

After days of travel — which included stops in numerous cities, canceled flights, and more than one overnight airport stay — the family finally arrived home in Tulsa, strung out, tired, and having picked up exhausting cases of COVID along the way.

“So yeah, we’re beat down right now. We’re unhealthy and beaten down,” Joshua said.

The family is working with Norwegian to rectify the situation, but after their ordeal, they feel the cruise line has a lot of slack to pick up to make things right.

“‘We’re still looking into it, we haven’t forgotten about you,'” Cailyn Gault said Norwegian kept telling them as they battled their way home.

“And I was like, ‘No, we feel like you pretty much forgot about us when you left us in port and told us to go figure it out,'” she added.

Norwegian Cruise Lines told The Post it has begun the process of refunding the Gaults the nearly $9,000 in fees they were charged, and will reimburse them for all their travel expenses once receipts have been received.

The cruise line also said it tried to contact the Gaults after they missed their bus due to “a misstep by a local tour operator,” and when they were unable to reach them, worked with the local port authority to help the family arrange lodging for the night before they were able to make a flight to Seattle the next day.

“In addition, these guests will be receiving a pro-rated refund for the two cruise days they missed,” a Norwegian Cruise Line representative said.

“As a gesture of goodwill, the company will also be providing each of the nine guests with a Future Cruise Credit in the form of a 20 percent discount of their cruise fare that can be used towards their next voyage,” Norwegian added.

The incident was just the latest to put Norwegian Cruise Lines under the spotlight for leaving passengers behind.

Back in April, eight passengers were left behind in Africa after an independent tour they took was late to arrive at the boat — leaving them cobbling together an itinerary across the continent to catch up with the boat.

It is well-known policy on most cruise lines that passengers who fail to return to the ship within a strict deadline will be left behind so the vessel can maintain its schedule — but exceptions are generally made if tardiness is the fault of the cruise line or an operator provided or recommended by it.

Though the passengers in April had been using an independent tour when they missed the boat, their ages and handicaps sparked controversy over the rigidity of the cruise line’s policy.

Norwegian ultimately agreed to partially refund those passengers for their expenses incurred catching up with the boat.

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Encore or Bliss for Alaska?

By zackarykeef , May 2, 2022 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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The deciding factor for me would: which is easier for you from your hometown:(1) A Saturday- Saturday cruise or (2) A Sunday cruise- cruise.

Which is better: workwise, travelwise, cost wise?

I thought the Bliss was doing Icy Straight Point and Sitka while the Encore was doing Skagway and Glacier Bay this year. In addition to  both will doing Juneau and Ketchikan. 

7 minutes ago, gknep said: I thought the Bliss was doing Icy Straight Point and Sitka while the Encore was doing Skagway and Glacier Bay this year. In addition to  both will doing Juneau and Ketchikan. 

Exactly, it's about the itinerary, not the ship. 

BirdTravels

1 hour ago, zackarykeef said: Hi, all!   Question for those of you who have been on both Bliss and Encore…preference for Alaska? I know they are ALMOST the same, but wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts. Looking at the same itinerary, same month, both about the same price, so...it all comes down to ship. It would be in the Haven.   I just got off Encore in the Caribbean and LOVED it. Thanks!

Which ever ship goes to glacier bay. The ships are identical for all practical purposes. 

42 minutes ago, BirdTravels said: Which ever ship goes to glacier bay. The ships are identical for all practical purposes. 

For every person that says that, there is another that says a glacier is a glacier. If the things in Icy Strait and Sitka are something someone want's to see/do, then they should book Bliss. If it's all about Glacier Bay and Skagway, then Encore. Research is needed by the person cruising to decide what is right for them. 

The answer is yes.

As I mentioned, they’re the same itinerary. In October, both ships are doing the Glacier Bay route. I’ve done this route before, and it was great! That’s why I’m really just deciding between the ships. Maybe if there’s not much of a difference, I’ll choose bliss, as I’ve already been on encore 🤷🏼‍♂️

1 hour ago, zackarykeef said: As I mentioned, they’re the same itinerary. In October, both ships are doing the Glacier Bay route. I’ve done this route before, and it was great! That’s why I’m really just deciding between the ships. Maybe if there’s not much of a difference, I’ll choose bliss, as I’ve already been on encore 🤷🏼‍♂️

Encore is newer. The differences are Bliss has Spice H2O, which you probably wouldn't use in Oct. Encore has a specialty restaurant Bliss doesn't have...Onda. The shows are different. Bliss is known for Jersey Boys and the latest Alaska sailing had a new one I can't remember the name of right now. It is hard to answer you. We don't know you, what you like, what you like to do. Both are very similar and the newest 2 in Breakaway + class fleet. Pick your poison.   The Bliss is very nice. I haven't been on Encore.  You also need to keep in mind a lot can change between now and October, including shows.

Noticed that the price for a Haven Penthouse stateroom have dropped twice since we took a look at the Bliss earlier this year for October. 

15 hours ago, FM said: Noticed that the price for a Haven Penthouse stateroom have dropped twice since we took a look at the Bliss earlier this year for October. 

Bliss is usually a little less expensive than Encore. 

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Family of nine left stranded in Alaska after cruise ship leaves without them

A family of nine was left stranded in Alaska after a misunderstanding with their tour operator saw them missing their scheduled cruise departure.

The family, originally from Oklahoma, comprises two parents, six children and a 78-year old grandmother.

They were all travelling on cruise ship Norwegian Encore, which docked in Ketchikan in Alaska.

After watching a lumberjack show, the group returned to the bus stop to catch a bus ride back to the port, which was organised by a local tour operator.

But they were mistakenly told the bus they were trying to get on was full, and were instructed to wait for the next one.

No other bus arrived, so the family frantically called the port authority to arrange alternative transportation.

When they finally made it back to the docks they realised Norwegian Encore had already sailed away – taking with it their passports, medication and personal belongings.

This marked the beginning of a nightmare day for the family, who were also hit with a fine of almost $9,000 by Norwegian Cruise Lines for failing to board the vessel.

That fee was issued in accordance with the US Customs and Border Protection’s Passenger Vessel Services Act, which they violated by not visiting a foreign port before they returned to the US.

‘We go to get on the bus and one of the attendees is like, “The bus is full and you know, you got to wait for the next bus”,’ a family member recounted to Oklahoma news outlet KJRH.

‘We all had to quit cold turkey medication these last few days, because it was all on the cruise ship.’

Stranded in a remote port located 300 miles from Alaska’s capital of Juneau, the family tried to arrange transport back to their hometown of Tulsa, only to find out their credit card had already been charged a customs fee of almost $9,000.

The family’s return journey to Tulsa took several days and was marked by flight cancellations and airport overnight stays, during which time some family members even caught Covid. 

Upon their return to Oklahoma, family member Joshua said the group felt ‘unhealthy and beaten down’. 

Cruise line officials said they would reimburse the family for the expenses they incurred while travelling, as well as the fee issues by US Customs and Border Patrol, alongside a partial refund for the two cruise days they missed.

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Lines said: ‘On the afternoon of Friday, July 12, a family of nine guests missed the ship’s all aboard time in Ketchikan, Alaska due to a misstep by a local tour operator. 

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‘When the guests did not return to the ship at the published time, we attempted to contact them but were unable to reach them. As such, we alerted the local port agent in Ketchikan and requested that they assist the family with booking a hotel for the night.

‘As the guests would be unable to downline in the next port of call, Victoria, British Columbia, the port agent also helped the guests with securing flights to Seattle the following day, July 13.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

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Norwegian Cruise Line® Announces Port of Philadelphia as a New Homeport with its 2026 Spring/Summer Season

The Company Will Be the First to Commence Cruising in Philadelphia with Voyages to Bermuda, as well as Canada and New England Beginning April 16, 2026 

The Company Also Unveils Nearly 250 New 2026 Spring/Summer Voyages to the Caribbean, Bahamas and Alaska From Nine Major Cruise Ports Across the U.S. and Canada, Including Miami, Seattle, New York City and Quebec City, Among Others 

• NCL Jewel in Philadelphia Norwegian Jewel with Cityscape of downtown skyline in Pennsylvania comp
• NCL Maine Norwegian Gem aerial - Canada & NE, Maine

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel with a 57-year history of breaking boundaries, today announced its 2026 spring/summer itineraries to the Caribbean , Bahamas , Bermuda , Alaska , and Canada and New England , as well as a new season of voyages from the Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) for the first time in many years.

On April 16, 2026, Norwegian Jewel ® will commence seven-to-nine-day cruises to Bermuda , launching the city as a new cruise destination. Departing from the SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex, where plans are currently underway with the local government to develop a facility to welcome cruisers in 2026, Norwegian Jewel's Bermuda itineraries will feature overnight calls to Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, providing guests more time to enjoy and discover the island's turquoise blue waters and pink-sand beaches. This new homeport for NCL will provide residents in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region more access to cruising, as it will be the only cruise line sailing from Philadelphia through Oct. 17, 2026.

“We remain committed to delivering more experiences for our guests to create unforgettable memories, so they can vacation better with us,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “We are particularly proud to partner with PhilaPort to launch cruising in the area, making it even more accessible to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region.”

"The Port of Philadelphia is extremely excited to partner with Norwegian Cruise Line, one of the world's premier cruise lines," said Jeff Theobald, executive director and CEO of PhilaPort. "Philadelphia has so much to offer, as the birthplace of freedom and the home to much of our nation's history, we look forward to connecting cruisers with our world class city. This new service rounds out the portfolio of services offered at PhilaPort, and we look forward to this next phase of growth."

The Company's new 2026 spring/summer season includes nearly 250 itineraries for nine of its soon-to-be 20 ships. Embarking from U.S. and Canadian ports between April and November 2026, these voyages will call to 30 unique destinations across the Caribbean, Bermuda, Bahamas, Canada and New England, as well as Alaska. With an average of 10 hours in port, guests can choose to enjoy the picture-perfect beaches, colorful cities and vibrant culture of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda; enjoy the rustic fall foliage of Canada and New England; or dive deep into the pristine nature and abundant wilderness found in Alaska.

We remain committed to delivering more experiences for our guests to create unforgettable memories, so they can vacation better with us. We are particularly proud to partner with PhilaPort to launch cruising in the area, making it even more accessible to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region.

Herrera continued, “Our new 2026 spring/summer deployment further meets the vacation demands of our guests with more shorter cruise offerings to fun-in-the-sun destinations, such as the Bahamas and the Caribbean, as well as a variety of longer itineraries to bucket-list destinations, such as Alaska.”

Itinerary highlights from NCL’s spring/summer 2026 deployment include:

NEW BERMUDA, CANADA AND NEW ENGLAND HOMEPORTS AND ITINERARIES

Following Norwegian Jewel’s first-ever season of Bermuda voyages from Philadelphia from April 16, 2026 to Aug. 27, 2026, it will sail immersive 10- and 11-day Canada and New England itineraries, alternating embarkation ports between Philadelphia and Québec City. Guests will enjoy quainter ports in the region like Saguenay, Charlottetown and Halifax, Canada in addition to well-known ports, such as Bar Harbor, Maine and Boston.

On April 19, 2026, Norwegian Breakaway ® will become the largest NCL vessel to offer regular turnarounds in Boston with seven-day Bermuda voyages through November. Throughout the peak summer season, voyages will feature an overnight stay at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda and a day in Halifax, Nova Scotia, one of the highest-rated ports in Northeast Canada. From late August through mid-October 2026, the ship will embark on seven-day Canada and New England itineraries calling to the most picturesque ports, including Bar Harbor, Maine, as well as Saint John, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Moreover, Norwegian Aqua, will return to New York City for its second Bermuda season sailing a selection of five- and-seven-day itineraries with overnight stays at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda.

LONGER CONTINUOUS BAHAMAS SEASON

Due to popular guest demand, NCL is expanding its short-cruise offering with nearly 40 voyages to the Bahamas from Miami in spring/summer 2026 aboard Norwegian Getaway ® for a continuous season of cruises to the island-chain nation. The three- to four-night cruises will visit Nassau, and Great Stirrup Cay , Bahamas, the cruise line's private island and best guest-rated port in the region. As of late 2025, it will feature a newly constructed multi-ship pier, enhancing the overall guest experience to this exclusive destination. 

CRUISE TO THE CARIBBEAN ABOARD NCL’S NEWEST VESSEL

Norwegian Prima's sprawling outdoor space allows for some of the best island-hopping itineraries in the Caribbean. The ship will extend its season in Port Canaveral, Fla. and sail seven-day sailings to Eastern and Western Caribbean , visiting the most sought-after ports in the region, including Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Cayman Islands and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. For an extended vacation in the tropics, guests can book back-to-back sailings to create a 14-day voyage to maximize their fun-in-the-sun experience.

THE YOUNGEST FLEET IN ALASKA

Alaska remains a bucket-list destination for travelers and explorers worldwide with its rugged coastal landscapes, majestic glaciers, and local marine wildlife on display. The 2026 season will commence in late April and deliver breathtaking voyages through October from Seattle; Whittier, Alaska and Vancouver, British Columbia. Guests can enjoy a variety of experiences with some of the newest ships in the region, Norwegian Encore ® , Norwegian Bliss ® and Norwegian Joy ® , all of which feature unmatched onboard activities, including the industry’s only racetracks at sea. Custom-built for the Alaska experience, these ships feature expansive outdoor and indoor spaces to marvel at the iconic beauty of the destination.  Embarking from Seattle’s Pier 66, Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss    will sail seven-day voyages, while Norwegian Joy will offer longer and more immersive nine- to 10-day itineraries .

Norwegian Jade ® will cruise a series of seven-day open-jaw sailings between Vancouver, British Columbia and the new-to-NCL homeport Whittier, Alaska with no days at sea. Guests aiming to immerse themselves even more in "The Last Frontier" can add a NCL Cruisetour to their reservation, and explore the interior of Alaska, take a ride on the narrow tracks of the Alaska Railroad or fish halibut and salmon in the cold waters of Kachemak Bay.

In addition to the newly opened spring/summer 2026 deployment, NCL cruises to more than 450 destinations worldwide giving guests the chance to plan and book their upcoming cruise vacation well in advance.

For B-roll of Norwegian Cruise Line ships, please click here.  

For more information about the Company's award-winning 19-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com .

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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Alaska Glacier Bay from Seattle, 16 June, 2024

Cruising from: Seattle, Washington ;

Departure Date: 16 June, 2024 ;

Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) ;

Cruise Ship: Norwegian Encore ;

Duration: 7 days ;

Ports of Call: Seattle, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, Victoria, Seattle ;

7-day Alaska cruise on board Norwegian Encore.

Day 0 seattle, washington.

Seattle is a popular departure port for Alaska cruises, offering convenient access to the stunning natural wonders and unique cultural experiences of the region....

Day 1 At Sea, At Sea

Wonderful day at Sea....

Day 2 Juneau, Alaska

Juneau is a popular cruise port for Alaska cruises, located on the Inside Passage of Alaska. It is the capital city of Alaska and the third largest city in the state. ...

Day 3 Skagway, Alaska

Skagway, located in the Upper Lynn Canal is a place in Alaska where the past lives on. The Port of Skagway is the northernmost ice-free, deep-water port in North America, and serves as a year-round transportation hub between Alaska, the Yukon Territory, Northern British Columbia, the Northwest...

Day 4 Glacier Bay, Alaska

Glacier Bay National Park is a pristine wilderness area in southeast Alaska that is famous for its stunning glaciers, towering mountains, and abundant wildlife. A cruise through Glacier Bay is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that offers visitors the chance to witness the raw beauty of this...

Day 5 Ketchikan, Alaska

An Alaskan cruise from Ketchikan is an unforgettable adventure that will take you through some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the world....

Day 6 Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria, British Columbia's capital, is an occasional Cruise Port during the Alaska cruise season, especially at the beginning or the end of the cruise season, when cruise lines have unique itineraries as they reposition their ships from the south to the north, or vice versa....

Day 7 Seattle, Washington

Experience wildlife, wilderness, and native culture on this Alaska cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). Visit Seattle, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, Victoria, Seattle. Norwegian Encore leaving Seattle, Washington, for 7 days from 16 June, 2024.

Alaska cruise from Seattle June 2024

Please note that port orders, dates, and itinerary details, including content, are subject to change. Verify specific details for your chosen sailing date on the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) website.

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