I have done Alaska 13 times in the last 10 years, all on NCL. I have personal experience on the specific excursion done in May 2023 on the Encore. The Jewell was docked there as well that day. We lined up at 8:30 a.m. at the Ketchikan port and were given yellow circles with a number on them (guessing shuttle we took) and transported downtown and dropped right across from the lumberjack show building. We had to line up because we were 15 minutes early. The show was to be from 10:00am to 11:30am.
We finally got out around 11:50 with all the crowds and were directed by the employees to wait across the street near a visitor center to catch the shuttle back. When we crossed over to wait, there were already about 100 people standing around and no shuttles. I asked if this was the pick up point for the shuttle back to Ward Cove, and someone said yes.
We waited for about 10 minutes and then I saw a shuttle (kind that holds 30 people and has handicap ramp) with a NCL logo across the top, turn our way and pulled all the way forward. The guy got out and said there will be more shuttles coming and to be patient. As he said that another shuttle and a bus showed up, all saying NCL at the top.
People started pushing their way onto the 1st shuttle but the guy pushed back and took the elderly, handicapped and 1 wheel chair person. The line cleared enough that we moved forward, and for what ever reason, he pointed to us and said I will take you 3 now, and the rest have to board the other shuttles. I did see people with yellow stickers and those that did not have any stickers. We ended up sharing a seat in the rear where the wheel chair was, and 1 person sat on the floor. Upon returning to Ward Cove, it took over an hour to get back on the boat due to the sheer number of guests going back. The Encore left late that day.
My opinion was this excursion lacked any coordination to return to the ship and those folks who took the bus to town and ended up near the show thought they could just take those shuttles back not aware they were for an excursion. Also, due to zero excursion personnel present to guide ticket holders at waiting area, it became a huge mess as everyone was trying to push their way onto these shuttles.
I have decided to never ever take an excursion from NCL while at Ward Cove and have since taken a private excursion from there in May of this year.
I have done Alaska 13 times in the last 10 years, all on NCL. I have personal experience on the specific excursion done in May 2023 on the Encore. The Jewell was docked there as well that day. We lined up at 8:30 a.m. at the Ketchikan port and were given yellow circles with a number on them (guessing shuttle we took) and transported downtown and dropped right across from the lumberjack show building. We had to line up because we were 15 minutes early. The show was to be from 10:00am to 11:30am. We finally got out around 11:50 with all the crowds and were directed by the employees to wait across the street near a visitor center to catch the shuttle back. When we crossed over to wait, there were already about 100 people standing around and no shuttles. I asked if this was the pick up point for the shuttle back to Ward Cove, and someone said yes. We waited for about 10 minutes and then I saw a shuttle (kind that holds 30 people and has handicap ramp) with a NCL logo across the top, turn our way and pulled all the way forward. The guy got out and said there will be more shuttles coming and to be patient. As he said that another shuttle and a bus showed up, all saying NCL at the top. People started pushing their way onto the 1st shuttle but the guy pushed back and took the elderly, handicapped and 1 wheel chair person. The line cleared enough that we moved forward, and for what ever reason, he pointed to us and said I will take you 3 now, and the rest have to board the other shuttles. I did see people with yellow stickers and those that did not have any stickers. We ended up sharing a seat in the rear where the wheel chair was, and 1 person sat on the floor. Upon returning to Ward Cove, it took over an hour to get back on the boat due to the sheer number of guests going back. The Encore left late that day. My opinion was this excursion lacked any coordination to return to the ship and those folks who took the bus to town and ended up near the show thought they could just take those shuttles back not aware they were for an excursion. Also, due to zero excursion personnel present to guide ticket holders at waiting area, it became a huge mess as everyone was trying to push their way onto these shuttles. I have decided to never ever take an excursion from NCL while at Ward Cove and have since taken a private excursion from there in May of this year.
