Norwegian Encore 2024 Review (Podcast)

Doug interviews Matt about his recent seven-day cruise to Alaska on the Norwegian Encore.

Matt shares his background, reasons for choosing this cruise, and details about his trip, including pre-cruise preparations, embarkation, ship features, cabin details, and dining experiences. He highlights the smooth embarkation process, the ship’s modern amenities, and the stunning views from the observation lounge.

Aerial photo of Norwegian Encore — Aerial view of Norwegian Encore (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

The conversation also touches on Matt’s dining experiences, onboard entertainment and memorable excursions in ports such as Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. Matt praises the quality of the food onboard, the improvement in entertainment and the breathtaking Alaskan scenery.

This episode is brought to you by TripInsurance.comgiving you three levels of travel protection: Good, Better and Best – a travel insurance policy to suit every budget.

Norwegian encore in Alaska — Norwegian Encore in Alaska (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

Timestamps:

Guest Introduction: Matt (00:00:35)
Matt, the guest, expresses his appreciation for Doug’s work and his enthusiasm for the cruise.
Thoughts for the cruise (00:01:05)
Discussion of the reasons for choosing the Alaska cruise and the family’s involvement in the planning.
Travel experience to Seattle (00:02:35)
Matt shares their travel experiences, including stops and hotel accommodations in Seattle.
Seattle’s Seafood Experience (00:04:51)
Matt compares Seattle’s seafood to Louisiana’s, indicating that he enjoys the local cuisine.
Embarkation process (00:06:03)
Matt describes the embarkation process, noting that the staff was efficient and helpful.
First Impressions of Norwegian Encore (00:07:45)
Matt shares his first impressions of the vessel and its features.
Cabin overview (00:10:26)
Matt discusses their choice of an inside cabin and the reasons for the downgrade due to the balcony.
Family cabin connections (00:12:13)
Matt explains how the family cabins are furnished and how comfortable they are during the cruise.
Experience in the Inner Room (00:12:45)
Matt describes the size and amenities of the room, noting that despite the limited space, there is still plenty of comfort.
Discussion about the size of the bathroom (00:14:46)
Matt humorously compares the size of the bathroom to the cabin, emphasizing the spaciousness.
Oceanview Café Experience (00:15:19)
Matt shares his thoughts on the buffet experience, focusing on the quality of the food and his dining preferences.
Here are the extracted timestamps and their titles from the podcast episode transcript segment:
Rating of the dining experience (00:16:29)
Matt discusses seating availability and table turnover during dining experiences.
Experience in the main dining room (00:16:47)
Matt shares his thoughts on Norwegian’s main dining rooms and their seating policies.
Eating quality assessment (00:17:02)
Matt reviews the quality of the food in the main dining rooms and notes improvements from previous experiences.
Dining Room Challenges (00:17:26)
Matt talks about the issues with group assignments and restaurant hours after excursions in Alaska.
Specialty Restaurant Highlights (00:19:52)
Matt praises the food and experience at specialty restaurants, including French and hibachi restaurants.
Group Dinner Fun (00:21:01)
Matt talks about how much fun it is to dine with a group, compared to as a couple.
Breakfast at The Local (00:21:25)
Matt describes their breakfast experience at The Local because of the availability of the large dining room.
Improvements in entertainment (00:22:10)
Matt discusses the entertainment enhancements onboard Norwegian Encore.
Comedy Show Experiences (00:22:41)
Matt shares experiences with comedians and the popular show “Choir of Man”.
Cancellation of magic show (00:24:53)
Matt is disappointed about a canceled magic show during their cruise.
Go-Kart Track Experience (00:25:13)
Matt says he witnessed the go-kart track but chose not to participate.
Casino Smoking Situation (00:26:05)
Matt praises Norwegian for effectively controlling smoke in the casino area.
Crowd management on Sea Days (00:27:54)
Matt discusses crowd dynamics and the hustle and bustle of cruise days at sea.
Lack of public solarium (00:29:47)
Matt criticizes the lack of a public solarium on the ship, especially for Alaska.
Overview of ports of call (00:30:42)
Matt talks about the ports they visit, including Juneau, Skagway and Victoria.
Juneau Excursion Highlights (00:31:48)
Matt describes an unforgettable private whale watching tour in Juneau.
Skagway Railroad Experience (00:32:25)
Matt shares his surprise at the beauty of the White Pass Railroad excursion in Skagway.
The train experience (00:34:09)
Matt talks about his fun train ride in Skagway, despite the cold weather.
Glacier Bay Day (00:35:32)
Matt describes the breathtaking views and wildlife he saw during his day in Glacier Bay.
Ketchikan Experience (00:38:04)
Matt talks about his visit to Ketchikan, where it rained but he enjoyed the local shops and the totem museum.
Visit to Victoria Harbour (00:40:31)
Matt recounts their short but sweet visit to Victoria, highlighting the friendly locals and the city’s charm.
Disembarkation process (00:42:35)
Matt explains how smoothly disembarking went and how the transfer to the airport after the cruise went.
Air Travel Experience (00:45:32)
Matt talks about their long flight back to Tampa and the challenges of booking through the cruise line.
Tips for a first time cruise to Alaska (00:47:09)
Matt advises first-time visitors to Alaska, emphasizing the importance of making the most of the experience.
Cruise Highlights (00:51:29)
Matt reflects on the biggest highlight of the cruise: spending time with his wife’s family.
Family Bonds Through Cruising (00:51:33)
Matt shares how his Alaska cruise strengthened family bonds and left lasting memories of stunning views.
Final Thoughts on Norwegian Encore (00:52:30)
Matt discusses the boat’s versatility and performance in Alaska and would like more outdoor space.
Recognizing Matt’s Experience (00:53:52)
Doug thanks Matt for sharing his insights from his seven-day cruise on the Norwegian Encore.