Norwegian Encore Full Review: What we loved, didn't love, and hated

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Just in time for Alaska cruise season to resume, we're sharing our complete review of our Norwegian Encore cruise to Alaska! We share what we loved about the ship and experience, what we didn't love, and several things that we absolutely hated. In fact, we point blank ask Norwegian Cruise Line to fix several things in this video.
When cruising to Alaska, you want to pick a ship that gives you access the beautiful Alaskan scenery and wildlife, and Norwegian Encore did not disappoint. In this full review, we unpack the food on board, the drinks and drinks packages, the entertainment, and overall ship design.
I sailed NCL Encore as a solo cruiser and there was a lot to love. I had Free At Sea Plus which I talk about in the video and give several tips and tricks and an important warning.
We have multiple other Norwegian Encore videos on the channel - from food reviews to our stateroom tour. Be sure to check them all out via our complete playlist:
• Norwegian Encore
As always, thank you for watching and the tremendous support of the channel. If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below and we'll be sure to respond.
And have an AMAZING Alaska sailing! We always love to hear about your experiences!
-Mark and Rocky
#cruise #norwegianencore #cruisereview #shipreview #alaska #alaskacruise #nclencore #ncl #norwegiancruise #nclencore #breakaway

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26 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 117

@1noyk 2 месяца назад

Masterful review, bravo!

@thiscruiselife 2 месяца назад

That means a lot; thank you so much for your kind words!!! We spend a lot of time putting these together in hopes of helping other cruisers - so we appreciate you watching and sharing your support!! -mark

@icedteamama176 17 дней назад

Agreed 👍

@monicavantassel7594 3 месяца назад

Coordination is My JAM! Thank you for being AWESOME!

@thiscruiselife 3 месяца назад

And it shows; you're amazing. So glad we got to sail together - and I can't wait for the reunion! -m

@tracyclarke6072 2 месяца назад

Thank you for the information about this cruise 🎉I’m excited, prepared and know what to be on the look out for.

@thiscruiselife 2 месяца назад

Awesome! So glad to hear it. It was our hope to help anyone preparing to set sail (especially to Alaska) what to expect. Hope you have an amazing time!

@Pessimistic-Gambler 2 месяца назад

Thank you for finally saying the drink plus package is worth it!!. No one else says this. I got it last year and it was so worth it.

@Pessimistic-Gambler 2 месяца назад

I also agree with all your view Mojitos and the cigar bar

@thiscruiselife 2 месяца назад

I’ve seen some people claim Free At Sea Plus is a scam. I wonder if they were just trying to get something free from Norwegian as I definitely got my money’s worth! 😜 Glad you did, too!!

@bradcolby3624 3 месяца назад

Great review for sure. I have never sailed NCL. Thanks

@thiscruiselife 3 месяца назад

Thanks for watching! It was truly an awesome experience!

@amyspellman9128 19 дней назад

We are going next year but I loved your review. So honest and down to earth. Gave us some great things to consider before our trip Hope to meet someone like you all. thanks

@thiscruiselife 17 дней назад

I'm so glad to hear that the review was helpful and enjoyable for you; thank you for sharing! If you have ANY questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to either myself or Rocky (just either of our first names at thiscruiselife.com). We've got a Must Have Packing List for Alaska on our website and I'm working on an article on how to get to Pier 66 from the airport without spending nearly $200 (that's what the roundtrip Uber was last time we were there!) Thank you, again, for watching and sharing your comments across the video. It's a small cruise world out there, so hopefully our paths shall cross!! -m

@Pessimistic-Gambler 2 месяца назад

This is the most realist video... so spot on!

@thiscruiselife 2 месяца назад

Thank you, again! Soooo glad it resonated! -mark

@ellao.2433 Месяц назад

Good advice for "headquarters to ship" communications!!

@thiscruiselife Месяц назад

Having visited NCL HQ, the disconnect is something I got to experience first-hand on my sailing. Hopefully, some of the new things they've rolled out at HQ will help address these gaps. :)

@callingallports 3 месяца назад

Great review! Agreed with many of your loves. Surprised to not see A-List and District on your list of positives - those were two of our favorite places on the ship. And the service in those spots were great, too - one of the few places where we were constantly addressed by name.

@thiscruiselife 3 месяца назад

Hey there! Thanks so much for watching and your kind words. :) It is a CLEAR sign I must go back; I never drank at the A-List bar even once! I Just had to pull up the deck plans to confirm it was even the bar I was thinking about. I mention District Brewhouse briefly in my first 24 Hours video (we shut it down night one), but we never ended up getting back there. Again, just more proof that I need to go back.

@callingallports 3 месяца назад

@@thiscruiselife A-List just has a luxury feel to it that sets it apart from the other spots on the ship. So yeah, you need to go back on Encore again. We're thinking the same. Even though we've taken some fabulous cruises lately, Encore is often the cruise we think about. And we never thought we'd enjoy it being more small ship people.

@tammybaker8168 2 дня назад

We are heading out on this cruise in July thanks for the information. I’m so excited to be celebrating are 20 th wedding anniversary on this cruise

@thiscruiselife День назад

What a great choice to celebrate your anniversary! We're glad you enjoyed our video and hope you have an amazing cruise!

@Cruisingwithbrandy 3 месяца назад

As a solo cruiser I need to check it out…let me know when you do anymore solo cruises lol

@thiscruiselife 3 месяца назад

We think you’d love it! We’ll keep you posted when one of us hits the seas solo with NCL!

@andreawagner6479 Месяц назад

Looking at Encore for a Caribbean cruise in 2025. Two things that make or break a cruise for me….service and food. Thanks for reviewing that the food is great.

@thiscruiselife Месяц назад

We agree with you that food and service and very important! Norwegian definitely did a great job with their menus and the variety across the ship!

@DR-fr7ur Месяц назад

WOW Thank you so much for this. I had a fully refundable cruise (first sailing with NCL) with the free at sea package booked, your hates section would have driven me so crazy it would have ruined my cruise and wasted my money. I had a feeling it was going to feel like a nickle and dime experience which is NOT what I want on vacation, your video convinced me to just pull the trigger and cancel the cruise. I can't believe how consistent rude staff and cabin stewart is for this cruiseline! Rebooked on Virgin for a similar price super excited!

@thiscruiselife Месяц назад

Hey there! I'm glad that you found the video helpful and informative. We're going to give NCL another try soon to see if any of the things I hated have changed/gotten better. I really think the Encore has a TON of potential and I'm curious to see how other ships in the fleet compare. With that said, a Virgin Voyages sailing for a similar price... I'd also be sold. ;) We hope that you have an amazing time sailing the Virgin way. Truly, one of the best new-to-us cruise lines we've tried. Let us know what you think! -Mark

@judyklock7597 Месяц назад

Great info!! Did you do any excursions? We’ll be on NCL Bliss in Alaska this July.

@thiscruiselife Месяц назад

Have so much fun - and remember to dress like an onion in layers! :) July should be beautiful in port, knock wood. For this particular sailing, I went back to some of my favorite spots in the various ports versus an excursion. Highly recommend Jellyfish Donuts if you can make it there: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CcKWpWApWaU.html We've done multiple Alaska excursions over the years and will be doing several more at the end of the month. If you have any questions, let us know! -Mark

@jenniferziemak6026 16 дней назад

Great information! Will be on the Encore in Alaska this summer. Did you book Choir of Man, and any other shows, in advance?

@thiscruiselife 16 дней назад

Hi there; thanks for watching. I did not pre-book any shows in advance as I booked my cruise soooo late! Good news: I didn't have an issue getting in to see any of the entertainment I wanted to see (in fact, I went to Choir twice and was front row for one of the viewings). With that said, if there's a specific show you really want to see, I would recommend pre-booking to guarantee your spot as I would hate for you to get on the ship and have a different experience than I did!! :) -Mark

@moniquereneemanners4629 Месяц назад

I recently cruised on NLC's ENCORE -(Caribbean) I had a blast. I agree with every thing LOVED. I never ate at the buffet or the Food Republic. I will say every cruise member I connected with called me by name no matter where they saw me on the ship. Note most of the crew will be the same in Alaska after a repositioning cruise (end of beginning of a season). The premium package is a plus. I went to several restaurants each (with the solos I would have an appietiere at the Manhattan and then 2 hour later go to specialty dining restaurant. Thus ordered a bottle of wine or champaign (Le Bistro) and was never charged. I left the ship with a ZERO $$$ bill.

@thiscruiselife Месяц назад

Thank you for watching and sharing your experience! I hope watching brought back some fond memories of your own voyage. I’m so glad to hear you also enjoyed and had a great experience - and that the crew was fantastic. I’m excited to get on my next NCL ship here in just a couple months - this time Rocky will be joining for his first NCL sailing!! 💙 -Mark

@dustin3094 2 месяца назад

I was on the Bliss for the last Alaska sailing in 2023 and had a very similar experience to you. The only big negative is how the crew so slavishly follows the rules, which becomes absurd when they don't even know the actual rules. In most hospitality situations they would at least ask a supervisor, but on NCL it's like they're terrified of going above and beyond. I feel bad for them, management must be brutal. I will say I preferred the specialty dining over the included food on the Bliss, so much so that I'm having most of my dinners in specialty restaurants on my next cruise.

@thiscruiselife 2 месяца назад

I do think NCL is an interesting culture. Having had the opportunity to spend some time in their corporate setting, I can confirm they are a “buttoned up” organization. I don’t necessarily mean that in a negative way, but I agree that things trickle down to the ships. I’m soooo curious to get to experience another NCL ship this summer to compare. I really enjoyed the food on Encore - so it’ll be fascinating to see if they are consistent. I also am excited to try the specialty on board in August. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience!! -mark

@fongcubano4354 17 дней назад

I'm going on a trip on the same boat to Alaska in August, something I recommend at every stop...

@thiscruiselife 17 дней назад

I'm envious that you'll be experience Encore to Alaska! Truly, it's a great ship and sailing. What does your itinerary look like? Do you have anything booked already? Happy to give some ideas based on the ports you'll be visiting! -Mark

@fongcubano4354 16 дней назад

@@thiscruiselife Greetings and thanks for responding, it won't let me send you the photos of the ports we will visit here. I haven't booked anything because apart from being expensive I have to see which one to choose...

@mikeg2003 2 месяца назад

Very much appreciate your video! Were going on this cruise in June with a family of 5. Do you think my teenagers will have things to do on the ship?

@thiscruiselife 2 месяца назад

Absolutely! Thanks for watching. There’s going to be plenty of activities for them from the go kart track to the simulators inside. Plus the scenery there is stunning and hopefully they’ll enjoy all that Alaska has to offer! There’s also some kids clubs where they’ll get to meet other passengers their age to hang out with. We’re sure the whole family will enjoy!

@yvettel.5981 5 дней назад

I always address with customer service the issues I encountered. Like the missing paper towels.

@thiscruiselife 4 дня назад

That’s always great advice! In the event of the bathroom issues, they did send someone, but, unfortunately, it just kept happening. I’m excited to introduce Rocky to that ship which will give us the chance to see how things have changed!! :) -mark

@Pessimistic-Gambler 2 месяца назад

Lol sorry for all the comments but damn this is spot on from my experience on the bliss last year everything.. Including public bathrooms always had a problem paper towels and soap dispensers. I am actually going in the Encore in July. Did you find the atrium was abnormally hot? It was a common complaint on the Bliss.

@thiscruiselife 2 месяца назад

Hey there! No need to apologize at all; love seeing your comments come through - and soooo glad to hear the video resonated on so many points! I can’t believe the public restroom paper towel is an issue on more than one ship; assumed it was just ours. Wild. I did not notice the atrium hot - but it was Alaska at the end of October and some of the coldest cruising I’ve ever done. So maybe that’s why it didn’t feel hot to me. Enjoy Encore!! We’re on Norwegian Sky in August… curious what an older ship will be like!

@MBLIFTS 3 месяца назад

At the buffet my favorite Is the paratha it’s so good 😆

@thiscruiselife 2 месяца назад

Mmmmm! I’m so excited that we’ll be back on NCL in a couple months. Cruise food really is the best food!!!

@MBLIFTS 2 месяца назад

@@thiscruiselife oh wow! I’m going on the encore in may so excited 😆

@vanessasoto3819 13 дней назад

Thanks for all the good info! Question we just booked September do you think I will be able to see whales and or bears since is late in the season? And what really does the free at sea includes in terms of alcoholic drinks and food, since complicated is there a list???

@thiscruiselife 12 дней назад

You’re very welcome!!! And that’s a great question! While there’s never a guarantee, we sailed in October and saw whales and lots of eagles. We didn’t see bear, however. Our naturalist on board shared that to see bear you really have to go look for them as they prefer to mostly keep to themselves. ;) You’d likely want to see if there are any excursions that take you out deep if that’s on your bucket list (just keep in mind, still not guaranteed). Have soooo much fun!!

@nathanielhenkel9178 14 дней назад

Great review! I just filled out the Port Valet online form for a cruise in a few days. Since I am a SkyMiles member, and everyone in my party gets their 1st checked bag free, will NCL be able to look that up in their system so I am not accidentally charged for checked bags? Thanks in advance!

@thiscruiselife 13 дней назад

Thanks for watching and commenting! The Port Valet bag fee waiver is such a great question - and something that I was worried about myself! I have free bags and it worked seamlessly. With that said, it was just me traveling, however, as long as the reservation shows a free bag, you should be good as the Port of Seattle is simply the go-between of the cruise ship and the airport/airline. If you’d like to triple check, you can reach out to Port Valet at the following email address: commandcenter@maketraveleasier.com Have so much fun - and enjoy Seattle bag-free!!! -Mark

@feelosophy1921 Месяц назад

Definitely agree with MDR, Le Bistro and The Local as great dining options. We have compiled email lists every time I've stayed in a studio cabin. I don't know if it was just luck or what, but such great groups that want to sail together again. I don't mind the charge for some restaurants and activities; I do believe NCL could add an activity voucher to the Free At Sea so those areas are experienced. With that said I think it's FOMO that upsets cruisers about extra charge items because once you experience some of them you don't care about going again.

@thiscruiselife Месяц назад

Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts! Sounds like you've also had amazing solo experiences with NCL. Honestly, it's one of the biggest reasons I'll go back; they impressed me that much. Love that you've also met folks you've stayed in touch with - what a cool experience! And I LOVE your idea about including a voucher, or even a discount, in the Free At Sea. Or maybe make it exclusive to the Free At Sea Plus as one more reason to pay the money to upgrade to the higher tier? Something that gives folks a chance to try. But... I think you are spot on. If I try bumper cars once for free, I'm likely not ever going back to pay for them. ;) Hope to see you on the sea! -Mark

@shaunrouse3757 3 месяца назад

And lastly are the mojitos made on the spot or are they part of a big batch that they just pour it out of. Lastly, watched the whole video last night as we are planning to book today…! I want an Irish coffee now!

@thiscruiselife 3 месяца назад

From experience throughout the week, it seemed to be mixed. Some cocktails were pre-mixed, but other times, I'd watch them make it fresh right in front of me. That's what was so confusing! ;) Trust me, as I was working on this review, it had me craving a Norwegian Encore Irish Coffee so bad!

@bluebloodreaper529 2 месяца назад

FYI, if you book a Haven room, a lot of the premium spirits are included in the free at sea drink package. It's kind of weird how some whiskeys are 8 dollars in the Haven and 23+ everywhere else. This upcoming cruise I am taking on NCL Encore is with three other friends and we have decided the free at sea plus upgrade is not worth it since only one of us wants internet and the spirits provided in the Haven are enough since they are premium spirits.

@thiscruiselife 2 месяца назад

That’s good to know - and your decision makes a lot of sense; definitely doesn’t sound like you’d get the money’s worth. We are on MSC Meraviglia now- the Yacht Club covered us on all drinks across the entire ship. There were one or two special bottles that had an upcharge apparently, but we never found them! Hope you have an amazing sailing on NCL Encore and enjoy an Irish Coffee for me!!!

@icedteamama176 27 дней назад

I hope you submitted a review to Norwegian after the cruise about your experience, especially the restrooms.

@thiscruiselife 21 день назад

Thanks for watching and commenting; we did complete our post-cruise survey and recognized the folks who made an impact and shared what could have been even better. I hope they resolve some of the challenges as I was a fan overall of the experience! -m

@gregballendine5099 2 месяца назад

The Local, albeit simple, was my favorite. Cobb salad, wings and the rueben! Onda was VERY loud and not that special. 100% agree. Food Republic was fun but the value for the cost isn't there. A few of the upcharges on Encore are quite silly. Nailed it!

@thiscruiselife 2 месяца назад

Wow! Sounds like we are completely in sync with our thoughts on the ship!! Thank you sooo much for watching and sharing your own perspective. I just wish we could order from The Local right now!!!! lol -m

@shaunrouse3757 3 месяца назад

This is a dumb question, but is the local part of the regular food package? I don’t think I can swing the plus drinking package

@thiscruiselife 3 месяца назад

Not a dumb question at all; a great question actually! From a food perspective, the local is 100% included for all cruisers!! There is no cost. As for the drinks... If you have the Free At Sea package, that includes drinks $15 and under. Most every single drink at the local met this criteria. :) Enjoy!!

@juliechats2000 Месяц назад

Can you tell me in more detail what the solo activities were and where they mostly meet up at night?

@Tumladar2007 2 месяца назад

My GF and I are headed out on my first cruise in a few weeks. We noticed that sushi mark up (yikes!). Do you happen to recall if Starbucks pricing is the same as on land since they are a franchise, or are their prices marked up on the ship as well?

@thiscruiselife 2 месяца назад

You’re going to have SO MUCH FUN!!! If you have any questions or last minute panic attacks, don’t hesitate to reach out! As for Starbucks… The prices definitely are inflated. Reminds me of an airport Starbucks. Still the same brand, but a higher price point. A grande iced chai was $5.95 in October. That’s about 20% more than what I’m used to paying.

@markdingess4692 3 месяца назад

Agree the top deck space is too small. In the Caribbean, it was horrible. Hard to find chairs and the pools were over crowded.

@thiscruiselife 3 месяца назад

Just as we had suspected. Such a shame for that large of a ship! Vacation on a cruise should be all about de-stressing and not having to worry about paying more for things.

@buckbo1967 Месяц назад

I heard negative feedback about the unnecessary saving of seats on the observation lounge. Did you by any chance see or experience that?

@thiscruiselife Месяц назад

We didn’t experience that in our sailing. It was always full it seemed, but plenty of space to hang out and pull up a chair. Most of the time the bar, but other lounge spaces as well! 😉 Hopefully you have a great time!

@brian_wanderlust 8 дней назад

I've never been on a cruise before. Will have to go solo as no friends want to join. I battle slightly with motion sickness on planes and trains, I suppose a cruise is way way worse. Did you experience any motion sickness? Does one get water in Buffet areas or does one have to purchase all water?

@thiscruiselife 8 дней назад

There are water fountains throughout the buffet that are included. As for motion sickness, if you’ve never sailed before, we suggest bringing Dramamine and/or seasick bands, both of which can be found In our Amazon store (follow our LinkTree in our channel description). We usually only need the seasick bands and they work wonders!

@ruffriffing247 Месяц назад

What month did you go to see the Northern Lights??

@thiscruiselife Месяц назад

I did the very last sailing of the season in late October. The later you go, the more likely you'll get a great show. With that said, the later you go, the colder it gets!! :) -Mark

@ruffriffing247 Месяц назад

Ty! I hope I get to see it in my Sept trip!!

@Mejias07 15 дней назад

Is the Local restaurant included? Or you have to pay extra?

@thiscruiselife 14 дней назад

It is an included option in your cruise fare! I'm looking forward to introducing it to Rocky on our Norwegian Sky sailing later this summer!! :) Enjoy! -mark

@fatsandtre 3 месяца назад

When did you go to Alaska? Month and year 😊

@thiscruiselife 3 месяца назад

We’ve been in September 2019, July 2022, and on the NCL Encore in October 2023!

@japatel23 3 месяца назад

Do u think aug will be good time

@thiscruiselife 3 месяца назад

@@japatel23 we haven’t experienced a bad time to visit Alaska. It’s always beautiful. At least in August it’ll still be warmer than it was in October!

@icedteamama176 27 дней назад

Indian section at buffet everyday? Gotta try Encore. We love Food Republic on Prima and also enjoyed The Local. We miss Mudslides and Mojitos! Would you book the same (interior) cabin or cruise ship again? Thank you!

@thiscruiselife 17 дней назад

Mmmm. That Indian section at both breakfast and lunch was soooo good! I'm excited that Rocky will get a chance to try NCL for the first time this coming August. Sadly, we don't have a Food Republic on board since it's an older ship, but we'll have The Local! Whether or not I'd book the same again... Several folks have posted that they're booked on this ship to Alaska and I want to JOIN THEM ALL!!! lol ;) I would 100% book this ship and even that same stateroom again. While there were some things that I didn't love and even hated about the experience, overall, there was a LOT to love about NCL Encore to Alaska. Thanks so much for watching and commenting! -mark

@icedteamama176 17 дней назад

@@thiscruiselife thanks so much for the response! Waiting for a good enough sale on Encore 😅 for late May.

@thiscruiselife 17 дней назад

@@icedteamama176 Very welcome! And if you find a good sale, keep us posted! ;)

@icedteamama176 16 дней назад

@@thiscruiselife for sure!! 🙏

@jedivboy5419 Месяц назад

I am going on the Alaskan NCL next Sunday and was curious about the Port Valet. I looked it up and it says they drop off your airline ticket and baggage tag the night before. It then says to “set your bags outside your cabin that evening and the ship’s crew will pick them up”. Does that mean you have to pack all your toiletries and whatnot the night before and have nothing to get ready with in the morning? You know, the stuff that usually going in your checked baggage?

@thiscruiselife Месяц назад

Great question. Anything you check and put out in your bag will be gone until you get to your home airport. I kept out my essentials (medication, travel-size toothpaste, etc) that I then packed in my laptop bag on debark morning. Hope that helps! It’s a great service that we highly recommend if you have some time in the port - and even if not! One less thing to worry about sending out your bags. :)

@jedivboy5419 Месяц назад

@@thiscruiselife ah got. So they really do pick it up the night before. Good to know. A lot of my toiletries are not travel sized as they are usually checked, but if I need them for the morning my checked luggage will already be gone. And if not sleeping in the buff then that will need to go in a backpack or laptop bag as well. Great tips. Thank you.

@amyspellman9128 19 дней назад

We want to get off in Seattle and stay a few days so how do we handle the luggage in the morning? Just curious as I am sure they will tell us. Do you know if there is a place by the Seattle pier where you can rent a car?

@jedivboy5419 19 дней назад

@@amyspellman9128 Iused the Port Valet and it worked beautifully. Left out luggage outside our room the night before and the next time I saw it was when I got back to my home airport. Spent the day exploring Seattle. For you, if you are staying a few days, I am not sure. I didn't rent a car, so I didn't look. The hotel I stayed at wasn't far from the pier. A quick 4 minute Uber to the hotel. They will be able to storage your luggage until you check in, but I don't know where the closest car rental place is.

@thiscruiselife 17 дней назад

@@jedivboy5419 Glad to hear that Port Valet worked well for you!!! How was your time on your NCL Cruise??

@dobetter9390 2 месяца назад

I heard someone passed away on the Encore during spring break... anyone know about this? 😕

@thiscruiselife 2 месяца назад

We haven’t heard anything, but it’s not that unusual. Cruise ships not only have a medical center, they also have a morgue.

@atomicrancher3745 28 дней назад

You’ll never know unless gossip gets going, but people die on cruises all the time. This is nothing unusual.

@thiscruiselife 20 дней назад

@@atomicrancher3745 that’s very true! Most ships have a morgue onboard for that very reason!

@splashgolf6302 Месяц назад

What you said about Ketchikan and the port and reasoning is completely incorrect... They built a pier in Ward Cove because the normal port doesn't support mega ships so they're the only cruise line that can take mega ships to Ketchikan.... Not specifically to avoid port fees and such.

@thiscruiselife Месяц назад

That's not what the locals say. ;) Whether it's to avoid port fees or to bring other ships in, the experience was terrible. Something that I truly hated about the sailing and want to make sure folks are aware. Thanks for watching and commenting! -mark

@splashgolf6302 Месяц назад

@@thiscruiselife that's fine if the locals don't say it.... But the only 1000 foot ships that currently sail into Ketchikan dock at Ward Cove. No cruise line wants to take a 1000'+ ship with a 162' beam into a passage that narrows to 650' when they can go into a cove that has 1100'+ everywhere. Mega ships have different requirements. Until 2025 Norwegian is the only company with mega ships in Ketchikan. I do agree the amount of time in Ketchikan was not sufficient though 😅

@amyspellman9128 19 дней назад

@@thiscruiselife So at Ketchum it is best to be ready at 7 AM to get off the ship by the gate so you can be in the first line to the bus?

@thiscruiselife 17 дней назад

@@amyspellman9128 100%! While I never like to tell anyone to be ready at 7am on a cruise ship, in this port, I highly recommend it due to the shuttle operation. Now, you might get lucky and not have any other ships with you that day; however, with how busy Alaska is this season, I wouldn't chance it. ;) Have soooo much fun in Ketchikan and please have a Jellyfish Donut for us! -Mark

@kjean86 3 месяца назад

OMG... I so agree about Sugarcane's. Do not like that bar. I so miss Shaker's from other NCL ships... the Martini bar.

@thiscruiselife 3 месяца назад

Thank you for confirming I am not alone on this one. I just think we're in the minority. :) We're sailing on the older NCL Sky later this summer and so I just looked... Sadly, I won't get to try out Shaker's yet. A martini bar sounds right up my alley!!

@kjean86 3 месяца назад

@@thiscruiselife I did share your video with the May 19 NCL Encore group. Hope my roomie (first time cruiser) reads it and wants to change from Onda's. I would so much rather go to Food Republic but she gets to choose for her first cruise. But they all hope you have a future good Cagney's visit as they are all giving them praises. I'm more.. eh.. it's okay. 😛

@thiscruiselife 3 месяца назад

@@kjean86thank you for sharing! I’m glad to hear my experience and thoughts resonated with you!!! 💙 We are actually going to go back to Cagney’s in August to give it another try on NCL Sky. I’m bummed they don’t have a Food Republic, but the do have a sushi spot, so we’ll definitely have to try it! Thanks, again, for watching and sharing your thoughts. Here’s hoping your roomie has a great first cruise!

@atomicrancher3745 28 дней назад

Being onboard for the shoulder season you didn’t encounter the ignorant masses of people making it unpleasant at times. Especially the Garden Cafe at meal times. To have a seat in the Observation Lounge you have to get there at 6am with all you need for the day. “Move your feet, lose your seat”. If your cruise had been in July, your review might have been rather different?

@thiscruiselife 27 дней назад

We’ve sailed in July as well and, thankfully, did not experience what you speak of. We were on board Carnival Splendor and had a fantastic cruise! It was my first time to Alaska and I became hooked. Currently responding to you from Juneau on board Celebrity Solstice! :) This sailing has felt busier in the buffet and lounges, but manageable if you tweak your dining schedule a little bit to avoid the chaos and masses of people. Hopefully, the next time you’ll have a better experience!! -Mark

@thefozzybear Месяц назад

You can not tip the steward, you can get a partial refund on the gratuities.

@thiscruiselife Месяц назад

That's true. As I reflected on it at the end of the week, I realized I still had towels, my bed was still made, my room was mostly kept up.. It was just a different experience versus what I'm used to. I'm excited to try NCL again to see if it's just the norm for them or if it was a one-off. Also, it really struck me as ironic that they have some of the highest gratuity rates out there. ;)

@paulbrown3180 21 день назад

Norwegian Cruise ships all suck , i was always so disappointed when getting , but travelling with groups of other that made the arrangements and excursions , had no say in the matter - will stay on Royal Caribbean ships from now on , just won't travel with all those same people again

@thiscruiselife 21 день назад

What about your experience with NCL ships didn’t go well? Always like to hear other perspectives? I would pick NCL Encore over Harmony of the Seas in a heartbeat based on personal experience with both ships. We felt like we were in the way the entire sailing on Harmony; you definitely knew you were a guest on their ship. I also didn’t like the fact that it felt like we were at a shopping mall (Kate Spade, Johnny Rockets, Starbucks, etc). Curious to get your perspective/opinion. Thanks for watching and sharing! -Mark

@user-ez4jy6jj4g 2 месяца назад

Do you even know anything about sushi? Quality fish is used and other fine ingredients as well as specially trained staff, so your idiotic remark about paying too much alla card just 🤯

@thiscruiselife 2 месяца назад

Hey there! Thanks for your comment. We love sushi and have enjoyed it across many ships and many sailings. However, the a la carte pricing on Norwegian is by far the most expensive of any of the cruise lines we’ve experienced. In reality, it’s more expensive than many of the land restaurants as well. Food Republic was by far my favorite of the upcharge venues on NCL - I’ll just use my Free At Sea voucher there in the future. And, as a cruise tip, I’d likely recommend others do this as well. Thanks for watching! -mark