Norwegian Encore | Do's and Don'ts | Tips and Tricks | Is it REALLY worth it?

[@lydiawilson2723]

Of all the NCL Encore reviews on KZbin, I found yours to be the most helpful. Thank you for putting it together and posting it

[@judysmith9552]

what did you order at ocean blue? i had the halibut on a caribean cruise but they do not offer it on the alaska cruise

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

The fishermans platter was good. (fried) and the Seafood Linguini was not what we thought. We should have gotten the beer battered fish and chips instead....

[@tomseekins1627]

You guys lost me during the time frame of pregnancy and now, videos and everything seemed to have lost what I first started watching. But this video you guys are on point, you both seemed to be very excited and up beat....

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

I guess you arent the only one that is lost. Your comment is confusing. But thanks...

[@tomseekins1627]

@TravelingwiththeLs sorry all my comments for other vloggers have landed in others' posts? I'm not sure what happened..

[@markanthonyborg2468]

Thank you for the tips. Going first week of September, hope it is not always raining and super cold.

[@ulyanagor867]

The Local?! If that is the same as the one in Lake Union area in Seattle, then, yes, that place is great )) we are going on an Alaska cruise soon as well )

[@HealthToday99]

We went on this cruise July 2023 and we are scheduled to go again Aug 2024, same ship same itinerary. Loved it that much! It is so worth it!!!!!

[@dennisbrown8301]

We go Aug 18 , with our daughter and her husband ❤️ , can't wait

[@joesp812]

Thank you for the video. This will be our first cruise scheduled for August 2024 celebrating our 25th anniversary...

[@KrisG397]

Going in Aug as well for our 30th!! Enjoy

[@susankale1201]

We will also be on the encore in august

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

Happy Anniversary! Have a great trip!

[@norwegiancruiseline]

Thank you for the review, and happy to hear you loved Q Texas Smokehouse!

[@Optunity]

Metal water bottle, fill water at Buffett, free.’

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

We didn't even think of this. This is a great idea!

[@sportsMike87]

you can refill your water anywhere on the ship. It all comes from same source

[@emmak8255]

What about using a travel sim card that should work for mobile internet shouldnt it?

[@lavickateaster7059]

Thank you for this information! We are taking this cruise next month and this was so helpful. We were waffling on whether to do the train or not and now I feel confident to book it. Thanks again!

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

You're very welcome. It was probably our favorite excursion

[@judysmith9552]

glad you enjoyed the thermal spa.we bid on the upgrade and got the spa balcony.

[@sportsMike87]

Yeah I do agree NCL can do a better job with souvenirs

[@MtnSnowflake]

RC isn’t any better

[@TEWAdventures]

Great info. We took this trip in June of 22 had the most beautiful weather possible, not one rainy day and temps got up to 80 at one port. It was a fantastic trip. Except we didn't get to stop at Skagway because of the rock slide so we didn't get to take our 1 and only excursion, the WPR train ride, it was refunded though. Soooo what'd we do? We've booked the same exact trip this year. Got 7 more days till we leave. HOPEFULLY we'll get to the Skagway port and the WPR excursion this time. Thanks for your tips even though I've done that been there your info was helpful. ~Blessed travels to ya!

[@wbrown2481]

I’m Canadian and will be going next June on this ship. I can’t wait. Nice info for me, thank you

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

You’re welcome, if you have any questions feel free to ask. Enjoy your trip!

[@jackymccurdy867]

Great video! At what time should we purchase the thermal suite? We purchased that when we went to Western Caribbean, but I don’t recall if we got it when we boarded, or online prior to boarding! Thanks for the information!

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

Hello,, sorry for the late response. We purchased it before our cruise through the NCL app

[@jackymccurdy867]

@@TravelingwiththeLs thank you!

[@sswan9689]

Thanks for the review. I was on the Encore 3 yrs ago right before the pandemic. And Im going back on for Christmas. Can the magnetic hooks be used on the doors for putting up decorations?

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

We saw doors that were decorated although we didn’t do that ourselves.

[@barbaraangeloni7762]

I had a great time, the ship was kept immaculate, we enjoyed the food, drinks and entertainment. We saw Mendenhall Glacier and actually used public transport. I'm from England originally so it was second nature to me. Its a pretty long walk to and fro the bus stop though so might not be good for everyone but also a great option to anyone on a budget. I highly recommend Chilkoot Charters for the Yukon Pass excursion! Train ride up and into Canada, bus ride back. Our driver was amazing, she stopped at many scenic spots for pictures and lunch is also provided. Ketchikan we went to the totem place, that was okay, then we walked around town. You don't get much time in Canada, it's a pretty long walk from the dock to the town so I'd recommend a taxi if you want to spend more time there​, its a hopping place, tons of people and shops etc, the Palace is neat, all lit up at night. Hope that helps! Also, fyi plan on retuning with Covid! Everyone I've met that went on an Alaskan cruise came back with it, that was the only souvenir I wish I hadn't picked up!! Lol @meenalpa

[@ObieRoberto-gb6wq]

Hi. Thank you for your very helpful video. Could you please let me know where I can i buy ticket for the White pass? Is it possible to buy on the day you want to try it or we need to book it in advance? Any other excursions you tried in Norwegian Encore? Thank you in advance.

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

We booked through the NCL app. We highly recommend booking in advance because this is a very popular excursion. Our train was full. We also enjoyed the whale watch/Mendenhall Gacier tour in Juneau.

[@tammyjohnson6822]

We are going to Alaska on the Encore last week of May 2024. Thank you for this video!! We are more excited now!

[@stellahesseling7351]

So are we. Have fun!

[@meenalpa]

How was it ? I’m scheduled to go in October

[@carmeng3884]

Scheduled for the same cruise in September , very excited. Did you do anything in Victoria for the short stay? Also, where did you stay before your flight out of Seattle?

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

We got off and walked around Holland Point Park for a couple hours. We did hear that downtown is historic and beautiful. We chose to stay close to the ship. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt before our cruise. We highly recommend this hotel. We had an early flight home the day we returned to Seattle

[@user-kk4cy9me8l]

Thanks for your review! I'll be sailing on this ship in a few days, and seen a lot of mixed reviews about NCL Encore, and your positive review is helpful. As for dining at the buffet, did you run into issues with finding seats? Do you happen to have a recommended time to go to the buffet when it's not overly crowded?

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

We did have trouble finding seats at some points however we noticed that if we went towards the front of the ship to find a place to sit we had better luck. Also you can always go to any of the sit down restaurants for any meal and they always have seats there. The busiest times at the buffet are the normal breakfast, lunch, dinner hours. Have a great trip!!

[@paddlegal3097]

You guys have really done a great job at helping me feel at ease as our family looks forward to our Alaska trip next June. I'm on that likes to do their research. I've watched many videos but yours answered so many practical questions. Thanks so much!

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@gopher401]

Nicely done video. Question, I thought I heard they give you a lanyard at check-in. Not so?

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

Norwegian does not give out lanyards. You will have to purchase your own. We got ours off of amazon. Heres a link- a.co/d/88hauJq

[@juliechats2000]

So you can’t book the comedy or the shows on the NCL app? You have to physically walk to the cavern club and where is the cavern club? Do you know what deck or area it is?

[@travelingfool9096]

great tips, this is my cruise next week, thanks

[@cynthiabrown4509]

Was it very cold when you docked at the ports?

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

No, we went the end of May and temps were in the upper 50"s

[@p-s.]

Thanks for sharing all the details. Which month did you go? We will sail in early May (going NJ to Seattle) for Encore and wondering if it would be very cold? And would May be already crowded although we chose off-season to beat the crowd. Also, how bad was disembarkation? We had very bad experience in other NCL during disembarkation. And from Seattle, we will have to catch the flight back home

[@timmoore3666]

Hey Guys Good day to you. Just wanted to say Thanks for your awesome video. We have neen on the fence about going to cruise in Alaska. I think after watching your video we are leaning towards going!! Anyway, we will be watching your other Alaska videos.. Thanks for the Great Info. Cheers 🍺🥃🍺

[@tanishaw8628]

I'm going on this same Alaskan NCL Encore cruise in May. I've really enjoyed all of your videos.

[@stonesgrma]

Going on Alaskan Cruise in October I have been trying to find the train in Skagway do you book thru cruiseline or seperatley. I can see it but cant book it

[@Optunity]

Nice video, good job

[@tonyleonardo2108]

Love the review

[@rajul739]

For Encore ,upgrades are available to Haven class,is it worth spending more to avoid the crowds?Or is the crowds in restaurants manageble

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

We were not in the Haven and didn’t have any issues. The Haven does look pretty awesome though. I guess it depends on how fat your wallet is. 😁

[@lourdesgonzalez5551]

Hi thank you for your video, VERY HELPFULL! My husband and I are planning a cruise on May, Neither of us drinks a lot of a alcohol but we love coffe and hot tea. What do you recommend on beverage package?

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

When we went drink package was offered as a free comp. We were happy to have it for soda.

[@rozellebenson7967]

Great video and love the tips (esp where to sit on the Yukon trail), thank you! What time of the month did you sail (I missed that if it was mentioned)? We are considering either Encore or Discovery Princess. Itineraries are identical but we have 3 teens, so leaning on Encore for more age appropriate entertainment for them. Your review is very helpful, thanks again

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

We went the end of May.

[@Optunity]

Lol, I live in Sea7, I only want to go on encore to be on s ship, not for sightseeing

[@TcOkie57]

Yes this is Mr AV last name Rico I enjoyed all of the information that you gave on the trip to Alaska but I have some questions when you were in Seattle for the trip where did you guys stay at was it close to the port for the for the Norwegian in Coral was going to be at and what port number would it be. Did they have shuttle from the motel or hotel where you stayed at to go to the port twin bark Dot? We will be going on the Alaskan cruise on May 4th on the Norwegian encore but we are new at this so we don't know very much of anything any ideas will be very helpful for us to do the train ride that you guys took where do you sign up for it or I can tell you more about it how much was it for two.?

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt on Pine st. They have a shuttle to pier 66. The shuttle was $17 per person. You could walk but this is super convenient. We booked the train ride through Norwegian. This is a very popular excursion. I suggest that you book it early. And side on the left side of the train.

[@joannematzuka1592]

Thanks for all your tips. What time is the Beatles Show as I am trying to figure out times for dinner tia

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

Times vary so check as soon as you board.

[@judysmith9552]

we made reservations every night even for the dining rooms.

[@judysmith9552]

what time should i get off in ketchican?just going to walk around. my husband is on an NCL excursion

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

We waited until first push was through. There is a large shopping area right at Wards Cove. We boarded a bus and took a ride into Ketchikan. There are alot of cute shops and we enjoyed the walk up to the park. If you watch our Ketchikan video it may help you out.

[@Cowboyfromfrance]

Hi, can you tell me if it was pretty quick to get off the ship in each step ? thanks

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

Don’t expect it to be quick make sure you pack your patience. Tip use the back of the boat to exit!

[@sportsMike87]

you can book entertainment from any of the kiosks as well

[@PenelopeA-y3h]

Do you mind sharing what month you cruised in?

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

It was end of May.

[@CindyLiptak]

I love you guys! Thanks so much for the great information!!! ❤️

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

Thanks for watching!

[@darcydominick5018]

We leave Oct 1st to Alaska on the Encore. I’m worried about disembarking? I have a flight for 11am. I heard the lines are horrible. Is that true?? Thank you

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

We avoided the lines by taking our own luggage off with us. They do not, however let you take the luggage down any of the steps I would suggest using the elevators in the back of the ship because they are less crowded

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

You can have them collect your luggage the night before disembarking but the lines to pick up your luggage the next morning are where the problem is. They get really long

[@Onewithsausage]

Great video, thank you!!! Looking forward to the BBQ.

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

Hope you enjoy

[@joycepage5154]

To book speciality dinning early …. Is that booked on-line??

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

Yes it is booked through the Norwegian app. Do it as early as possible because the desirable times book up quick.

[@elyplmber]

This is a fairly new cruise ship? We will be sailing with them soon, how are the rooms?

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

Yes! If you go to our channel we have a room review where you can see all the room amenities .

[@joycepage5154]

Did y’all ride the bus back from the train ride up the mt. ?

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

No, we took the train up the mountain and then back down it leaves from right near the dock.

[@barbarakroth6855]

I hope to cruise on the Encore next May! Did u get off the ship in Victoria?

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

There was not alot of time at the port. So we got off did very little sightseeing and got right back on

[@barbaraangeloni7762]

Cruising with NCL to Alaska next month on the Encore, so excited! I'm looking for recommendations on excursions. We are definitely doing the White Pass train but I'm debating just doing the back and forth or the longer one into Canada?? (We have passports) Any input greatly appreciated. Also we'd like to do a Juneau excursion too. I like the idea of the combo Glacier/salmon bake experience but neither of us like salmon lol Do they offer a different protein, chicken or whatever?

[@meenalpa]

How was it with the excursions. Were going in October and I’m finding we have such little time in the port towns

[@barbaraangeloni7762]

I had a great time, the ship was kept immaculate, we enjoyed the food, drinks and entertainment. We saw Mendenhall Glacier and actually used public transport. I'm from England originally so it was second nature to me. Its a pretty long walk to and fro the bus stop though so might not be good for everyone but also a great option to anyone on a budget. I highly recommend Chilkoot Charters for the Yukon Pass excursion! Train ride up and into Canada, bus ride back. Our driver was amazing, she stopped at many scenic spots for pictures and lunch is also provided. Ketchikan we went to the totem place, that was okay, then we walked around town. You don't get much time in Canada, it's a pretty long walk from the dock to the town so I'd recommend a taxi if you want to spend more time there​, its a hopping place, tons of people and shops etc, the Palace is neat, all lit up at night. Hope that helps! Also, fyi plan on retuning with Covid! Everyone I've met that went on an Alaskan cruise came back with it, that was the only souvenir I wish I hadn't picked up!! Lol @meenalpa

[@allanhoward]

No offense, but in what universe did you cruise in?! The food was WELL below average. The morning breakfast buffet was a nightmare! If you were lucky, you'd find a seat. That's after scouring the entire room looking for a table for up to ten minutes oftentimes. Then, you have to place something personal there laying claim to that seat. The food on the buffet was warm at best- often cold. The only hot food you got was by ordering an omelet or fried eggs. Then you needed to be a juggler to get your food to the table. That's after standing in line to make toast, get juice, get coffeee, etc. They desperately needed trays to carry your food to the table and there were none. By the time you served yourself, whatever was once hot (if you waited to get fresh eggs), was no longer. We went to The Local twice and in addition to an unacceptable wait, the food was limited in choices and very modest in quality. All dining venues on the ship were a challenge at best and even the specialty restaurants if you were lucky enough to have made a reservation, were run of the mill. We did have a good meal at The Smokhouse and a fun meal at Teppanyaki. In addition, there were dining venues that were not open at all? The American Diner we tried to eat at three times but it was NEVER open?! With 4000+ people, they should have had everything available. While the crew were friendly, I never even heard from them nor did I even know one of them during our cruise. Totally agree about the impersonal nature of the service. The onboard entertainment was awful! One choice- The Choir of Man- which in my opinion was as bad as it gets. I would rate it a a 1 on your scale. Nothing to take our grandchildren to see and every other "choice" was in a bar room environment. The excursions were a total ripoff in terms of price. The train ride was great, but the whale watching was a joke! We saw a spout or two and maybe a tail once. And all of these excursions are really expensive. I was a party of six: myself and wife, daughter and son-in-law, and two grandchildren ages 10 and 15. So everything we did was times 6 the cost- which I expected. The lumberjack show was "fun" but really very mickey-mouse. We booked this cruise through NCL's in-house travel department and I can honestly say it was the WORST experience I have ever had. They hustled me into purchases I didn't need or want and then offered terrible service after the fact. I was sold beverage packages for all of us and that's the biggest joke in thwe world. Unless you drink nonstop, you're better off paying by the drink. I also purchased the unlimited internet that was another joke unto itself. It was spotty at best and forever going down. The speed was slow and most of the passengers onboard were constantly complaining at guest services. Speaking of which, they were nice people there, but because they were constantly charging our account with incorrect charge that were included in our packages, I had to visit them at least 4 times during the cruise. More of my time wasted but important because there were over $300.00 of incorrect charge they had to take off. Finally, dealing with NCL travel department was the absolute WORST experience I have ever been through. I booked the cruise for the six of us to experience a family reunion because my son-in-law had been deployed to The Middle East for a year due to the war in the Ukraine. I thought, what a wonderful way for us all to be back together. Once I made the deposit for the six of us, the nightmare began. I discovered I could not book anything, change anything, or modify dinner reservation, excursions, etc. unless we had a three way call with either my daughter or son-in-law on the phone so that they (NCL) could protect their privacy. Since my son-in-law was in the Middle East and my daughter was living on base in Massachusetts while we were in Florida, it was an impossibility! Now mind you, I booked everything, paid the deposit, and would be making the final payments and other choices without any of their involvement. I booked our air travel from Boston to Seattle, hotels rooms, ground transportation, etc. after making the down payment. That's when they blocked me and created a servicing nightmare. It took me three weeks doing some super sleuthing to finally pierce their corporate shield in Miami to finally get someone to help me. After they added permission to their computer files giving me access, it still posed a problem to so many of the inept reps manning their phone lines. If I hadn't gotten so deep in committing travel, hotels, etc. I would have canceled. At the end of the day, having invested over $30,000.00 in this family reunion, I can say NCL did everything to ruin it. I loved being together as a family, and the sights were beautiful, but that's the extent of it. I would ramk NCL's customer service worse than Comcast-one of the most belittled companies in the world today. At least Comcast has been trying to get better. NCL won't. Reply

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

No offense taken, but also sounds like the issue should be taken up with NCL not this video. Thank you for your opinion. Obviously, we had 2 very different experiences.

[@juliechats2000]

They are stone loungers that heat up

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

Yes in the spa. They are amazing!

[@sportsMike87]

On my first alaskan cruise on the encore in October!

[@michellingoutcoin5269]

Me too! See ya there! 💃

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

Hope you both have an amazing time!

[@hollisrobinson60]

Hello all,I'll be on the Encore Oct 1st sailing. Hope to see you there.🎉 Can't wait for the silent disco.

[@sswan9689]

For the souvenirs. That ship alternates from the Caribbean to Alaska. The 1st time I was on the Encore it was the inaugural sailing in Jan. 2020, and we went to the Caribbean. Then a couple of years later (when you were on it) it went to Alaska. Now its back in the Caribbean. So NCL wouldn't make special souvenirs for where the ship will cruise. Who knows it that ship might be sailing from Australia after its tour in the Caribbean. 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@iandean1112]

I absolutely hated this ship. The cruise was nice because of the destination, but I'm not booking with NCL after that experience. Here are some things that bothered me. 1. The staff was out and about taking up space meant for passengers. I remember a Kinky Boots actor making a huge mess in the buffet and not doing anything to try to fix it. 2. The free food was sub-par at best. The best thing I ate was the Caesar salad in the MDR. 3. On the first day of the cruise while exploring, the crew were rude about things not being open. We walked around the VR room before being told to get out. 4. The balcony was very small. We paid for a Club Balcony Suite, but we couldn't sit in the chairs comfortably because the balcony was SO short. 5. The Vibe Beach Club was a scam. We paid for it day 1 of the cruise. We'd gone up there the whole week, but the bar was never open and nothing was taken care of. On the last day (even with the wristband to prove we paid for it), they tried to tell us to leave. That was $250 per person for something that was never available for use. 6. We paid for breakfast to be delivered to our room daily, but we could only get basic food that you could grab at a cheap motel (anything heated besides coffee/tea added the typical room service fee). 7. Our priority boarding and check-in wasn't honored even though it was on our cruise cards. Tldr; NCL disappointed me severely, and I'll never give them more of my money.

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

Thank you for your comment. We understand that everyone can have a different experience. Sounds like our two experiences differ greatly. Hopefully, your next cruise, if there is one, will be a more enjoyable experience

[@patriciajeter2088]

Dear L’s , FYI IT IS A SHIP NOT A BOAT!

[@Collie1228]

Lighten up Pat - I lived on an aircraft carrier in my earlier life, and always called it the boat.

[@lawrence5039]

When will a youtuber just be quiet, and show the outdoor scenery?? Who cares about your personal like and dislikes? I don't.

[@_r_mck]

Look at their other videos where you can see all the scenary. YOU CLICKED on THEIR video, KZbin didn't magically do it for you. Why wouldn't they talk about THEIR likes and dislikes. Its in the title. You might be one the dumbest people on the internet. Boy oh boy. There is a lot of them too. You though might take the gold medal. Quite the accomplishment. Here is a novel idea, why don't you go on the cruise and show us the scenary, oh it causes you probably cant afford it. Nor would any of your subscribers care to watch something that they could watch on Nat Geo.

[@sswan9689]

Umm, You might want to look at the nature channels for outdoor scenery Lol!! 😅😅

[@denisecarberry1950]

This is a SHIP, not a boat. Please please change your verbiage.

[@_r_mck]

Who cares about the verbiage? The information that they provided was important and informative. How about you make a video explaining the difference between the two?

[@rc1411]

@@_r_mck According to my WW2 veteran grandpa who used to flip out on me if I dared used the word "boat" when asking about his experience in the Navy......"I served on a ship, a boat has oars".

[@wow1983]

The mixed reviews on entertainment make me wish I was in state to do actual research on this cruise before my family booked it last minute 🫣 Imagine just getting a text saying "we're going on an Alaskan cruise!" out of no where from people who will constantly forget their ship's name

[@TravelingwiththeLs]

Oh no! Im sure it will all work out well for you! Enjoy your trip!