Norwegian Encore Review
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Additional details
We had a cruise planned for May, it was canceled. When I heard they were going to open cruising I jumped on it. We love cruising to Alaska on NCL. This was our 9th time, it's never the same, never know what you will see or what the weather will be. The covid testing wasn't as bad as we expected. Took about 45 minutes from entering the testing building to existing. It seemed to be well organized, just pack your patience. Then you go to through loading process, again be patient, for us it seemed to move pretty steady. Show paperwork and passport, then go through scanner, walk a little ways then get temperature tested. Your almost there, if you pass temperature test you get into a line to show passport, get room keys, they give you a loading card which tells when you can get on ship which they announce.
We ate at the Garden Cafe Buffet, Savor, The Local Bar & Grill, Observation Lounge and the Manhattan they were all great and complimentary. Cagney's Steakhouse and "Q" Texas Smokehouse were excellent.
Our room was a mini suite deck 15, which we enjoyed, being almost fall not many tried the pools or stayed out long on the pool deck. Seattle was the warmest spot for the whole trip. Did talk with a couple from Florida that did not like the cold.
Cabin Review
Family Mini-Suite with Balcony
Great, mini suite, little more room in cabin and bathroom was larger which my husband liked.
Port Reviews
Glacier Bay
We love seeing the glaciers and how much they are receding. This year there were 3x the sea otters in groups, so cool. We also seen a bear, mt. goats, seals and whales. One year seen wolves. Don't forget binoculars (his and hers) or you have to share. Didn't get to close to Margerie glacier which was disappointing but there was to much ice in the water for the ship to rotate, maybe next trip.
Icy Strait
This first trip to Icy Straits, it had a new dock, easy access, short easy walk to old fish cannery showing what they did there and how it was done, it was interesting. It does have a great looking zip-line. Hubby says he is going to try it the next time we visit there, I will think about it.
Ketchikan
Was worried this would be a headache from what I was reading but it really wasn't. When we got off ship it was early, no waiting got on bus driver gave us a mini tour with history of route. Bus was free. Took about 20 minutes. 30 minutes to return cause of a stop sign and traffic. We walked over to the stream by the bordello part of town, seen fish and a seal, glad I had a mask it smelled bad. Easy walk. When we got back to port there was a line waiting to go to town, they had lots of buses.