An encore cruise on the Encore August 27-September 3 2023. A live trip report!

[azappraiser]

@justhappy Loving your posts and pics.  We're not sailing for quite a while, but your thread is enough to curb my appetite for now.

 

Would you mind posting a pic of the "Disembark" letters/paperwork... I haven't been able to find anything online regarding them for NCL Encore, Alaska.  Just curious.

 

Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

[durberville]

21 hours ago, justhappy said:

I’ve been told by several crew we have 4500 passengers!

😳😳😳 I see Norwegian lists guest capacity as 3,998! We’re booked on the Oct 15th sailing (last minute, against my preferences because huge ships don’t appeal to me). NOW I’m worried. 😟 

 

That said, enjoying your trip report! Thank you! 😆

[azappraiser]

1 hour ago, durberville said:

😳😳😳 I see Norwegian lists guest capacity as 3,998! We’re booked on the Oct 15th sailing (last minute, against my preferences because huge ships don’t appeal to me). NOW I’m worried. 😟 

 

That said, enjoying your trip report! Thank you! 😆

 

I believe it's 3998 at Double occupancy... several cabins/suites accommodate 3, 4 or even 6 passengers; plus crew.

[justhappy]

4 hours ago, azappraiser said:

@justhappy Loving your posts and pics.  We're not sailing for quite a while, but your thread is enough to curb my appetite for now.

 

Would you mind posting a pic of the "Disembark" letters/paperwork... I haven't been able to find anything online regarding them for NCL Encore, Alaska.  Just curious.

 

Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

I’m so sorry I would post them but I’ve already packed and there in my suitcase!

I can post them when. We get to our hotel tomorrow night.

[cruiseny4life]

1 minute ago, justhappy said:

I’m so sorry I would post them but I’ve already packed and there in my suitcase!

I can post them when. We get to our hotel tomorrow night.

Tonight's your last night? How did that possibly happen? I know you've got the cruise ending blues going on...but I've got the live ending blues happening here...I thought you'd be on until at least November to keep me going until my next cruise.

Safe travels to your hotel and hope disembarkation goes smoothly!

[durberville]

1 hour ago, azappraiser said:

 

I believe it's 3998 at Double occupancy... several cabins/suites accommodate 3, 4 or even 6 passengers; plus crew.

Oh! Is that what that means? yikes!! Certainly doesn’t  make me feel any better! Hahaha! 😬 I’m going very, very… like RIDICULOUSLY late in the season so hoping for a tad fewer. 🤞🏻

[justhappy]

I was going to finish up this trip report while on the ship but the ships internet was almost nonexistent in Victoria.

So I’m now in the Mojito Bar waiting for disembarkation 🙁.

 

  After watching the sail away from Ward Cove we made our way to the Observation lounge to meet with our friends and have a drink and compare notes.

 I had to have a guava pastilito when I saw it offered as an afternoon snack.

 

[justhappy]

Dinner tonight was back at Los Lobos, this time with our friends.

lesson learned from the previous visit I ordered the Carne Asada. It was perfect as was my side of elotes. We all shared the queso fundito and the Guacamole Molcajete.

 Our friend didn’t care for his verdes enchiladas, he said the chunks of pork were not good.

 After dinner we listened to the band in the Atrium for a while

We then headed to the District Brewhouse where Archie was at the piano and enjoyed another drink.

Off to bed with plans to sleep in for the only morning of the cruise. I put in an order for room service for 8:30-9am.

[justhappy]

Last day of the cruise! It goes by so fast 🙁

Woke up to the news that Jimmy Buffet had passed away. It’s always 5 o’clock in Heaven with Bubba there.

We ran down to Starbucks for the usual.

We didn’t make much use of the upgraded drink package except for the Starbucks portion. I figured it would have cost us $150 to purchase all the drinks we ordered.

Our room service arrived at 8:45 am and we feasted on omelets, fruit, pastries and shared an order of French toast.

[www3traveler]

Have a safe journey home.

Thank you for all your wonderful pictures.

[justhappy]

3 hours ago, www3traveler said:

Have a safe journey home.

Thank you for all your wonderful pictures.

Thank you! I hope all the wildfires subside soon and the area gets just enough rain.

[justhappy]

After breakfast we spent a bit of time in the Atrium where I filled out some vacation hero cards and dropped yhem

off.

There was a cupcake decorating demonstration going on and the crews served everyone in the room a cupcake.

 

[justhappy]

After meeting up with friends we walked a few laps around the Waterfront. The coast of Canada looked smoky and hazy and we hoped that they weren’t having wildfires on Vancouver Island.

  We then went for lunch at Taste. The service wasn’t very prompt but the food was good.

[justhappy]

We spent some quality time after lunch  in the Observation Lounge and had a few drinks. My drink total for this cruise was less than one dozen. I’m definitely a lightweight.😬

 We had packed our luggage in the morning after breakfast so we decided to see the comedy show in the theater at 4pm.

 The comedian Landry was really good and I’d go see him again.

[justhappy]

By the time the show ended we had a little time to finish the last of our packing before dinner at Teppenyaki at 5:45pm.

 Our chef was funny but the best part was the 2 year old at the table who was wide eyed and excited about everything the chef was doing.

Our food was very good, I requested medium rare steak and I got it medium rare 👍

We declined dessert and good thing because by the time it was being served we were pulling into Victoria.

[justhappy]

We must have arrived a bit early because we were headed down to deck 6 when they announced we could head off the ship and we were off at 7:55pm

We decided to skip the guided tour we had booked that met at 8:30 so we could go ahead and head out before sunset.

We have been to Victoria twice before, once via a ferry from Vancouver so we were content just to walk to the inner harbor and admire the city lights.

Edited September 3, 2023 by justhappy

[justhappy]

It’s a very easy walk as usual and this year there were folks at the crosswalks stopping traffic so we pedestrians could safely cross.

We took a short detour through Fisherman’s Wharf because we find it so charming. I love all the houseboats.

[justhappy]

We continued to downtown and slowly walked by the Marina. This is the second year in a row that the Classic Boats were there. So many beautiful wooden classics, I’d have loved to be able to see the interiors.

[justhappy]

The Parliament Building and Empress Hotel were beautiful as always and the street performers and vendors are fun to admire.

 The area is filled with beautiful flowers and interesting statues and historic items.

So even if it’s a short port stop it’s totally worth it to visit this for a few hours.

we were off the ship at 7:55pm and back on the ship at 9:50pm. No speed walking just a good steady pace, and stopping for photos.

 

Edited September 3, 2023 by justhappy

[justhappy]

Back on the ship we put our Port Valet tags on our luggage and set it out in the hall. This service is so wonderful and makes it so easy to get through Sea Tac 

on Sunday without having to haul your bags off the ship. If you qualify for it do check it out. It’s Free!

  I had 19,978 steps on my Fitbit when we got back to our cabin. I’m sure not feeling guilty about those high calorie Starbucks frappes!

  We woke up just before our alarm at 6am. We dressed and headed down to Starbucks for one last indulgence and said to goodbye to the great baristas who took such great care of us all week.

  The Local was being used as a departure route for disembarking so we went up to the buffet for a small bit of breakfast. It was  crowded at 7 am but tables were available if you headed to the back of the buffet which is the front of the ship.🛳️

No breakfast pics, picture scrambled eggs ~ here~

Edited September 3, 2023 by justhappy

[justhappy]

We met our friends ( how gracious of them to forgo the escorted private Haven escort off the ship)  to join us at the Mojito bar to wait for our departure at 8am. 
 We were in line at 8 am and off the ship at 8:15. The line moved slowly but steadily though the Local on the port side, across the hall through the Theater to the starboard side, out the same doors we had entered 7 short days ago.

 

[justhappy]

We walked past all the luggage Yay Port Valet! And out past the taxis and locals offering $20 rides. Rides to where I do not know.

We walked down the sidewalk to the Edgewater Hotel and had an Uber ride in 

2 minutes. 
We were at the airport by 9:15am.

 

DH asked me could we get right back on the ship 😁

He said he’d like to do this cruise again next year! 
We’ll see 🤨

It was a great cruise with good weather and just a few minor service hiccups.

Thanks for following along and your kind comments.

We have a short flight to Denver where we will spend the night, hopefully meet our daughter and her family for dinner then head on home early tomorrow morning. 
Miss Daisy will be waiting for us to spoil her again, miffed I’m sure😂

[amygutman]

3 hours ago, justhappy said:

We walked past all the luggage Yay Port Valet! And out past the taxis and locals offering $20 rides. Rides to where I do not know.

We walked down the sidewalk to the Edgewater Hotel and had an Uber ride in 

2 minutes. 
We were at the airport by 9:15am.

 

DH asked me could we get right back on the ship 😁

He said he’d like to do this cruise again next year! 
We’ll see 🤨

It was a great cruise with good weather and just a few minor service hiccups.

Thanks for following along and your kind comments.

We have a short flight to Denver where we will spend the night, hopefully meet our daughter and her family for dinner then head on home early tomorrow morning. 
Miss Daisy will be waiting for us to spoil her again, miffed I’m sure😂

Thank you for taking us along on a wonderful adventure.

The pictures were wonderful and it was fantastic hearing all your tips and reading your commentary I suppose the best review is the fact that your husband wants to get back on the ship which certainly is a glowing recommendation. Safe travels on the way home enjoy seeing Miss Daisy!

Warmest Amy

[NW Pacific]

Thank you for your great trip report, read every word.  We are on the Encore Oct 15, so hoping our cruise as great as yours.  Our daughter lives in Colorado, hope you have a good get-together with yours in Denver!

[NW Pacific]

duberville:   we also on Oct 15th sailing , last minute for us also, well actually booked in August, so hoping for a not at capacity sailing!!!!  Price so right and we can drive to Port