It's time for some Mojitos - NCL Encore Live Review Sept 4th 2021

[jcscv]

Thank you so much for taking time out of your vacation to report to us about everything.  I'm another one boarding Encore Saturday, and your report has made me more excited for my trip (even though it's hard to believe I could be even more excited 😄). 

 

I will be silently toasting you when I have my first ginger mojito (notice I said first because we know there will me more 😉 )

[The Traveling Man]

17 hours ago, aubreyc1988 said:

Yes in the buffet 🙂

We were on the Aug 28 - Sep 4 cruise.  We had breakfast on the last morning in Taste.  The Local also was open.  Each of them have slightly limited menus on the last day, though.  No Eggs Benedict in the MDR, for example.

[aubreyc1988]

7 minutes ago, The Traveling Man said:

We were on the Aug 28 - Sep 4 cruise.  We had breakfast on the last morning in Taste.  The Local also was open.  Each of them have slightly limited menus on the last day, though.  No Eggs Benedict in the MDR, for example.

Unfortunately they did not have  these open at  the time when I was looking for breakfast. I think it may just depend sailing to sailing. 

[Jenjohncourt]

17 hours ago, jcscv said:

Thank you so much for taking time out of your vacation to report to us about everything.  I'm another one boarding Encore Saturday, and your report has made me more excited for my trip (even though it's hard to believe I could be even more excited 😄). 

 

I will be silently toasting you when I have my first ginger mojito (notice I said first because we know there will me more 😉 )

Have a great time!! Go have a drink in the Observation Lounge. Paul is a fantastic bartender. 

[Mintgreen]

I think it was a timing thing, I ate at Taste or Savor on the last morning of 9/11 around 8-830. It was pretty busy. I don't believe the Local was open though.

[aubreyc1988]

3 hours ago, Mintgreen said:

I think it was a timing thing, I ate at Taste or Savor on the last morning of 9/11 around 8-830. It was pretty busy. I don't believe the Local was open though.

I was looking for breakfast around 6am so that could be true!

[NikiPinkston]

You've inspired me, Aubrey, we just booked the Bliss for December!  Can't wait to hear about your October cruise.  (Would have been fun to go with you, but we couldn't go that soon.)  I really enjoyed this review - you write so well and I love your sense of humor.  Bon Voyage!

[aubreyc1988]

23 minutes ago, NikiPinkston said:

You've inspired me, Aubrey, we just booked the Bliss for December!  Can't wait to hear about your October cruise.  (Would have been fun to go with you, but we couldn't go that soon.)  I really enjoyed this review - you write so well and I love your sense of humor.  Bon Voyage!

I actually sailed the Bliss in 2019 on my first trip to Alaska (almost same itinerary as this review)  It's a beautiful ship, has Spice H20 which Encore does not, and has a MUCH better chandelier than Encore haha! Also, I think Bliss has La Cucina which is kinda of MEH to me, ONDA was better...but you will have a FABULOUS time I am sure! 

[jcscv]

On 9/15/2021 at 12:27 PM, Jenjohncourt said:

Have a great time!! Go have a drink in the Observation Lounge. Paul is a fantastic bartender. 

 

Thank you! I plan to spend lots of time in the Observation Lounge! Comfy couches, huge windows, food at hand, and drinks..how could I go wrong! 😁

[Drews_Cruise]

It's so nice to finally start seeing live reviews again.  I've missed them terribly.  This one was very nicely done and I appreciate all the time you took from your cruise to do it.  Well done.    Drew

[ChiefMateJRK]

On 9/13/2021 at 10:00 PM, aubreyc1988 said:

I was watching some youtube video that wasn’t cruise related today, and the couple were talking about how they were working on their “gratitude” even when in bad situations and I’m totally working on that myself. I think we did pretty good this cruise and will continue working on this for cruises to come.

Welcome to the sunny side of the street! 😎  If only everybody on the forum could find their way over here.....

[charliepenrose]

On 9/9/2021 at 3:21 PM, aubreyc1988 said:

We got a letter 2 days prior to sailing I believe about some crew testing positive and isolating onboard. We were given the opportunity to cancel for refund or FCC. Nothing has been said by crew onboard about those cases, but plenty of passengers have been asking the crew about it and it's very cringe-y. We feel very safe onboard, that is really all I can say about it. I hope the crew members who tested positive and are in isolation have a speedy recovery. 

I find it inappropriate for people to ask about specific cases - seems like NCL has been very good about quarantining and informing there are cases - but violating individuals asking for specifics is not right

[charliepenrose]

On 9/14/2021 at 1:00 AM, aubreyc1988 said:

FINAL RECAP:

 

SERVICE: AMAZING, only negative I can think of is the delayed response of 911.  Crew all worked incredibly hard and even without the shows, they tried their best to make sure we all had a great vacation.

 

FOOD and DRINKS: Good to Above Average. Some hits and misses, but I find this on any cruise. We really enjoyed ONDA over La Cucina and loved Food Republic.  But I am no foodie, I’m just happy to not be cooking and cleaning haha. Drink service was AMAZING, even in the casino bar where it normally sucks

 

ENTERTAINMENT: While not seeing Kinky Boots/Choir of Man was a disappointment, I totally understand that the health and safety of the crew comes first. They probably don’t have understudies and it is what it is. I did attend the magician/comedian, as well as MANY game shows, trivia events, decade parties.  The cruise director team was great, love the new way they are doing trivia with teams and interactive buttons instead of writing stuff down on papers. Least fav event was the Eliminator, I won’t tell you why, you have to experience it for yourself HAHA

 

PORTS: Icy strait point was a little boring, but we opted to not take an excursion which was probably why. I liked how Hoonah was more of an embodiment of a true Alaskan town, talked to this guy who was making an awesome totem pole. It was a nice scenic walk, very nice day. Didn’t wait long at all for the gondola.

 

Glacier Bay was great, as usual. Scenic, beautiful, park rangers informative.  We hung out in observation lounge, the waterfront, and popped out on the helipad area for a bit.  In the morning, they were serving drinks, especially hot ones with liquor 😄

 

Juneau was gold panning day, which was SO cool. We went to a creek, did some seeded gold panning, then we were given a shovel and told to dig our own gold, which we found! Then after that, we spent the afternoon at Red Dog Saloon drinking with new friends from Cruise Critic

 

Ketchikan/Ward Cove was totally fine. I think Ward Cove is going to be a pretty cool place once it is developed more. I did an NCL excursion, kayaking toe Eagle Island. Saw one eagle which was cool, but the rest was pretty ho hum. Beautiful, but MAN am I out of shape!  Was so sore afterward!!!

 

OVERALL EXPERIENCE: We went into this cruise with the BEST mindset we have ever had, and we had the BEST time.  You know, this pandemic sucks, but we are still ALIVE and that is what my husband and I were celebrating.  Sure, there was some bummers, but the positives far outweighed the negatives and we are just SO glad to be back to cruising again!  I was watching some youtube video that wasn’t cruise related today, and the couple were talking about how they were working on their “gratitude” even when in bad situations and I’m totally working on that myself. I think we did pretty good this cruise and will continue working on this for cruises to come. I will admit, I was pretty shook up  about  the “girl outside the balcony” situation, but I firmly believe we saved her life and so that makes the trip totally the best ever.

 

I’ll be sailing on NCL Bliss on October 24th and hope to do another semi live review, if you guys are interested 🙂 Until next time, cheers!!! 

 

THANKS!!  I'm on the Oct 16 sailing and also doing the Eagle Kayak and Gold Tour (mine version)  Love the great positive perspective  - will have a mojito toast to you !

[aubreyc1988]

Not sure if I mentioned this, but I did write about my 911 experience in my cruise survey. They contacted me back asap and apologized and forwarded my concerns to the Captain of NCL Encore.