Cruising Alaska: What it’s like to sail right now with Norwegian Cruise Line

Editor’s Note: Lori A. May was a guest of Norwegian Cruise Line which covered the cost of the cruise.

As leisure travel continues to rebound, cruise options are once again becoming available to eager voyagers.

On August 7, Norwegian Encore was the first ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) fleet to return to cruising from any U.S. port in over 500 days.

NCL chose Seattle for its great cruise comeback, embarking on week-long voyages to Alaska. To ensure safe sailing for all, NCL has a 100% vaccination requirement, no exceptions. All guests must also take a pre-cruise COVID test the day of embarkation, which takes place in Seattle outside of Pier 66.  

With a strict vaccination policy for all guests and crew, once onboard ship guests may enjoy every single venue without social distancing. Guests can also opt to remove their masks on the vaccinated cruise, which arguably makes the lengthy line of vaccination verification and pre-cruise testing at the pier worth the wait.

With NCL’s Sail Safe policies and heightened safety measures in place, what is it like to sail with this cruise line? Keep reading to discover what you can expect right now aboard Norwegian Cruise Line.

The Alaska itinerary

Norwegian Encore, the cruise line’s most recent ship, debuted in late 2019. The ship is designed with family and fun in mind including endless entertainment and activities, bountiful dining options, and contemporary staterooms ranging from well-appointed interior cabins to spacious balcony suites.

The Alaska roundtrip itinerary from Seattle includes port options ranging from Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway, to scenic cruising through Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier. While guests aboard the ship can go without masks, it’s worth noting that the ports in Alaska commonly require mask-wearing with additional social distancing measures. This also means port excursions are operating at reduced capacity, so it’s best to book ahead. Land attractions, like museums and dining venues, will request guests wear their masks and ensure space between others when waiting in line.

Port of call: Icy Strait Point

In Icy Strait Point, guests will see an incredible new gondola that transports visitors for free from the cruise arrival area to a restored cannery and museum, sharing local history and the Tlingit native culture. Here guests can peruse arts and crafts, savor local salmon, and tour the Hoonah Packing Company facilities of 1912.

For adventure seekers, Icy Strait Point is also home to a brand-new zipline course. As the world’s largest zip ride, guests will take in a scenic mountain descent of 1,330 feet with speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. There’s also an adventure park with ropes course, ATV and kayak adventures, whale watching excursions, and hiking trails.

Guests opting to explore the area without an excursion will want to stroll the Hoonah Veterans Memorial Sea Walk which offers a pleasant 1.3-mile route into the small town of Hoonah. Once in town, there are independent shops to peruse, a brewpub, seafood restaurant and the Yaakw Kahidi Cultural Center where visitors are invited to learn about traditional canoe and totem carvings. In lieu of walking, Hoonah also offers an affordable shuttle to and from town.

Port of call: Juneau

In Juneau, families can explore the capital city with a walking tour of public art or pop into the Alaska State Museum to peruse exhibits and collections sharing ancient native culture onward into contemporary art works. The shops along Front Street share a wide range of local arts and crafts, and a strong cup from Heritage Coffee Roasting Co. will keep your hands warm on an overcast day.

Another espresso hot spot to hit is Glacier Coffee Co. in the Historic Merchants Wharf. Guests here can explore former Alaska Coastal Airlines Hangers history and take in waterfront dining or peruse an independent bookshop.

For more natural scenery, take a ride up the Mount Roberts Tramway to access hiking trails, visit a nature center, take in a film on Tlingit history and culture or simply enjoy sky-high views of the city while enjoying a mountaintop lunch. Official ship excursions in Juneau include whale watching, Jeep tours, salmon bakes and gold mining.

Port of call: Ketchikan

Norwegian guests will find a new arrival port about seven miles outside of the town of Ketchikan. The new facility, The Mill at Ward Cove Welcome Center, offers ticketed shuttle buses into town, while many adventure excursions embark at this facility providing quicker access to Tongass National Forest and other wilderness areas.

When planning your own day trip, be sure to allot extra time for the shuttle ride into and out of town. Particularly with social distancing requirements on land, the bus system can add quite a bit of time to your day in Ketchikan.  

The welcome center is a wonderful place to explore in its own rite, either before or after an excursion. The space is a former pulp mill renovated into a modern facility with Wi-Fi, restrooms designed out of train cars, and a host of artisanal shops and quick bites. There’s also a bit of history and culture to explore here and, on the inaugural visit by Norwegian Encore, the local tribe shared a blessing and cultural performance celebrating the new facility.

In downtown Ketchikan, there is plenty to do for free including strolling the historic Creek Street district. Here the boardwalk and shops are built over water and guests can explore countless boutiques, local history and a salmon ladder and river. For a more scenic stroll, the Rainbird Hiking Trail offers some elevation challenges rewarded by a scenic overlook of the town.

Additional family attractions in town include the Totem Heritage Center and Tongass Historical Museum, two venues with one modest admission fee, though military and children 17 and younger enter for free. Possibly one of the most popular attractions in town is the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, which can be booked on your own or as part of an official ship excursion.

While in Ketchikan, it’s highly recommended to stroll the waterfront and take in the incredibly fresh seafood. A top recommendation is to head straight to Tracy’s King Crab Shack for buckets of meaty crab, crab bisque, crab cakes and crab sliders. Tracy’s is a memorable experience for its superb fresh food and jovial staff. Visitors and passersby equally enjoy pausing here to watch giant crab legs being steamed to perfection.  

Dining onboard Norwegian Encore

Without a doubt, the dining selection onboard Norwegian Encore is something to celebrate for food enthusiasts and casual diners alike. It’s entirely possible to stick to the complimentary options and enjoy fine dining alongside casual bites without ever getting bored.

The Local Bar & Grill is a 24-hour venue with classic pub fare in a relaxed environment. There are also three main dining rooms included in the cruise fare, with contemporary menus and stunning décor, ideal for family gatherings. Guests in The Haven suites also have complimentary access to The Haven Restaurant, home to signature dishes like lobster deviled eggs and surf and turf, alongside a curated wine list.

Since NCL is running 100% vaccinated cruises, it shouldn’t be a surprise the popular cruise buffet is not only available but most definitely thriving on this ship. The Garden Café buffet offers rotating menus breakfast through late night, making it an ideal venue to pop in for an unscheduled meal or snack. Here there is also unlimited coffee, tea, water and non-carbonated beverages at all hours of the day. And every family member can find their own buffet interests with a pasta bar, carving station, barbeque and pizza favorites, as well as international options ranging from Italian to Indian.

During the inaugural return to seas for this Alaska journey, buffet guests were also surprised with a featured lunch highlighting all the missed holidays and celebrations of the pandemic shutdown. There were food stations dedicated to birthdays and anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and more.

There are nine other full restaurant experiences onboard Encore, along with a handful of specialty coffee and dessert options. For the upcharge specialty restaurants, guests may opt for an a la carte add-on or purchase a specialty dining package to save on multiple reservations.

Specialty dining ranges from a barbeque smokehouse to lively teppanyaki, though the real stars of the show are the fine dining options of French cuisine at Le Bistro, premium cuts at Cagney’s Steakhouse and the artisanal Italian dishes at Onda by Scarpetta, featuring yellowtail crudo, beef carpaccio and a divine branzino.

While complimentary beverages like coffee, lemonade and iced tea are found all day in the buffet, guests interested in alcohol or soda should look at the premium beverage package offerings to bundle savings. Options include soda and water packages, a beer and wine package, and a premium package that includes soda, beer, wine, and a world of handcrafted cocktails.   

Activities on Norwegian Encore

Beyond nonstop food and drink, guests can expect to be entertained day and night.

Encore’s onboard entertainment includes popular Broadway favorites, with daily performances on the big stage and throughout the ship at intimate venues. One main stage performance that shouldn’t be missed is The Choir of Man, which will also be offering a U.S. land tour in the new year. Guests always end up singing along to this heartwarming, energetic story of a local pub and its pubgoers. Tickets are included in the cruise fare and the performance is offered several times throughout each voyage.

Additional activities on Encore include an all-ages Aqua Park with a dedicated kiddie zone alongside adrenaline-inducing waterslides for the older set. The Ocean Loops enclosed waterslide hangs over the side of the ship, while a more leisurely tube slide is ideal for just about every family member. Of course, nothing beats taking in some sunrays lounging by the pool with a fruity cocktail.

While NCL is limiting minors at this time in alignment with their 100% vaccination policy, families in the future will also find a wide assortment of age-appropriate programing for kids of all ages. Dedicated facilities with supervision come by way of the Entourage Teen Club, tween Splash Academy, and a Guppies program for babies and tots.

For adults, there is a 24-hour casino, fitness center with ocean views and an amazing Mandara Spa for a la carte wellness services. Offerings include aromatherapy sessions, massage and specialty suites like a Himalayan salt therapy room and steam rooms. For the ultimate in quiet relaxation, a week-long spa pass provides guests a limitless option for dipping into the heated vitality pool or relaxing in thermal suites.

Other family activities on the ship include laser tag, virtual reality experiences in the Galaxy Pavilion and the Norwegian Encore Speedway – the largest racetrack at sea, suspended 13 feet over the side of the ship. Then there are rows of duty free and specialty shops, wine tastings and parings, and interactive entertainment like Deal or No Deal, where the audience has as much at stake as the main contestant.

Planning your trip

As part of Norwegian’s Sail Safe policies, guests will need to provide proof of vaccination prior to boarding. Be sure to also allow extra time for the day of embarkation as pre-cruise testing is required.

Norwegian Encore sails weekly from Seattle, with the final Alaska cruise this season embarking October 16 with an October 23 return date.

When the Alaska cruise season wraps up for winter, Norwegian Encore will sail the Caribbean with roundtrip Miami voyages November through April. Ports of call on the Caribbean sailing include The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Encore will then have a few Panama Canal cruises before returning to Seattle for the 2022 Alaska cruise season.

To learn more about Norwegian Encore and upcoming sailings, visit their website.