NikiPinkston

I'll be happy to do that! At this point, though, based on recent reports of random cancellations, I'm a bit worried that we may be canceled. We did the 11-day POA explorer in 2016 and had an amazing time so, hopefully, this cruise will go as planned.

We were booked on the POA using NCL air at the end of March, 2020 and they had us going from San Diego to Denver for an hour layover & then to Honolulu. We're now on our 6th rescheduling of this cruise for this November and we booked our own flights with Hawaiian Airlines. We're flying into Honolulu 4 days early and it's worth it to us to pay the fare for the convenience & our peace of mind. BirdTravels is right - it's hard to tell where they may route you!

No snow in Mexico, either, but that would be so cool!

Last year, during Christmas week, there were also Christmas movies on our stateroom TV, as well as many festive food sculptures in the buffet.

Thank you, @YVRteacher I recall your funny story about retrieving your undies from the laundry and I love your reviews! I feel like both you and your Dad are my dear friends.

A little off-topic, but we've always passed on the free bag of laundry as some of my things need to be washed on cold and gentle-dried, so I worry about those garments shrinking. Has anyone had experience with this?

We were also grateful that the Encore had religious services on tv all day Christmas day, and the music onboard included religious as well as secular selections, even in the Christmas show in the theater.

We boarded on 12/21 last year and the ship was completely & beautifully decorated. I especially loved the gingerbread village, which was easily 20 feet long. It was amazing! I've read on previous posts here that they start decorating the ship right after Thanksgiving.

@OrcaGirlWe were on the same cruise and I second everything you said. There was such a festive atmosphere all over the ship. We loved the Christmas show in the theater - the talent and graphics were amazing & the music was wonderful! There was even a part where everyone sang along. @DanniroseYou'll have a fabulous time and have some great memories.

Growing up in Southern California, I spent my wayward youth at the beach and, in my 40's, I had melanoma, so we avoid the sun deck like the plague. We do enjoy sitting on our balcony, with spf50, of course. (I always forget about watching for those pier runners, darn it!)

Your dad is a hoot! And you both have a wonderful sense of humor!

Yay! So excited to follow along with you again! We were on the Encore to Alaska last August and it was fabulous. You're going to have a wonderful time. (Sorry to hear about your bad experience at the Waterfront Marriott. We stayed there last year, and they let us check in early & we had a water-view room, so it was great for us. I guess it's just the luck of the draw.) Also, a little too late, but maybe for the next person, there's an elevator on Alaska Way in the parking garage between the Marriott and Pier 57 that will take you up to Pike Place. It goes up to the next street (sorry, I don't know the name), where you cross and enter another elevator. Go up and you are there! (We discovered this too late for us, too, but next time.) Thank you for sharing your cruise with us!

Thank you so much, @vacation44. Are you still booked on the POA in March? Hopefully, by then, things will be much more normal. I hope my posts were helpful. 😊

Thank you so much for your well wishes, @BermudaBound2014. You make some very valid points. We booked with "new money" so, hopefully, that's in our favor. So far, I've heard of NCL canceling individual POA cruises through July, so November is only a few months away. I know there are much worse things in life than having your cruise canceled, so we'll just have to wait & see, and maybe make some alternate plans. It's always great to hear your take on things.

Amid ongoing POA cancellations this summer, something just occured to me & I'm wondering what others think. (We're booked on the POA in November after 5 cancellations & I'll be very sad if our cruise is canceled again.) Since PCC's receive a commisssion on bookings they arrange, do you think NCL is canceling bookings made directly online by individuals first rather than those made through a PCC? I'd be very interested to hear from POA cruisers who've been canceled. (I really feel for you.)

Hi, @shadowmeboy, I'm new to your reviews but I'm loving this! Great photos, too! Appreciate your sharing your adventure.

That must be new since last August. We took the elevator up (was still recovering from surgery) and then went down a short hallway to the door at the top of the stairs where we went into the check-in area.

There's also an elevator on the front of the bulding for those who can't climb the steps.

We stayed at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront before our Encore cruise last August and walked across the street & had dinner at Anthony's Fish Bar. They have a takeout window and we took our food and sat at one of the tables that they have set up outside on the waterfront. I got salmon chowder & the hubs got fish & chips; both were quite good. There's also Anthony's Pier 66 right next door if you want something a little nicer.

On the Encore last summer, the crew member at the x-ray machine asked me if we had a knife. I replied that, yes, we had purchased an Ulu knife as a gift, and she just told me to take it to our cabin & leave it there.

I love your writing style and sense of humor, @YVRteacher! ❤️ We cruised to Alaska on the Jewel in 2015 and, more recently, on the Encore last August, and your review brings back so many great memories. 😊 I agree with you about Ward Cove - I thought debarkation was easy & well organized and we enjoyed the bear stories that the local bus driver told us on the way into town. What a blessing to be sailing with your dad and I thank you for sharing your vacation time with us! 😎