Norwegian Encore - Alaska Glacier Route
Experience the breathtaking glaciers, wildlife, and pristine wilderness of Alaska's Inside Passage aboard one of Norwegian's most innovative ships.
Price Range
$$
Mid-Range
*Prices vary by cabin type, sailing date, and availability. Confirm rates with Norwegian Cruise Line before booking.
Ship Details — Norwegian Encore
View full Norwegian Encore details
Year Built
2019
Tonnage
169,116 GT
Passengers
3,998
Crew
1,735
Decks
20
Class
Breakaway Plus
Itinerary & Route Map
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Where this cruise calls, day by day
7 ports and 1 sea day over 7 Nights.
- Day 1Seattle, WA port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Seattle, WA
United StatesDepart Day 2 · At sea
- Day 3Juneau port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Juneau
United StatesPort - Day 4Skagway port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Skagway
United StatesPort - Day 5
Glacier Bay
United StatesPortGlacier Bay is a 3.3-million-acre national park and UNESCO site where, 250 years ago, the entire bay was still filled by a single glacier. The ice has since retreated more than 60 miles, exposing a fjord system that scientists use to watch a landscape rebuild itself from bare rock. Cruise passengers see all of it from the deck; there is no port, and the only settlement, Bartlett Cove, is not a cruise stop.
- Margerie Glacier, the reliable centrepiece at the head of the west arm
- Lamplugh Glacier's blue face, often passed on the way up the west arm
- Spotting brown bears, mountain goats on the cliffs, sea otters and puffins from deck
- The Park Service ranger station set up on board, with a bookstore and cultural presentations from the Huna Tlingit
- Getting ashore
- No dock and no going ashore; the park limits entry to two cruise ships a day and rangers ride aboard for the visit.
- Best months
- May-Sep (peak season Jun-Aug; permits run roughly May through September only)
- Day 6Ketchikan port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Ketchikan
United StatesPort - Day 7Victoria, BC port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Victoria, BC
CanadaPort - Day 8Seattle, WA port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Seattle, WA
United StatesArrive
Onboard Amenities
Cruise Highlights
About the Ship
What Travelers Say About Norwegian Encore
Reviews of the ship itself — the same for every Norwegian Encore sailing. Distilled from 402 traveler threads, Cruise Critic member reviews and travel blogs.
Norwegian Encore is a 2019-built, 2024-refurbished Breakaway-Plus megaship for roughly 4,000 guests, with an energetic, activity-packed, slightly party-leaning vibe. Its calling card is the largest go-kart racetrack at sea, backed by two waterslides, open-air laser tag, and the Galaxy Pavilion VR arcade — there's always something to do regardless of weather. The 2024 refit gave it a modern, upscale look across cabins and public spaces.
What People Love
- Largest go-kart track at sea (~1,100 ft, two levels) that extends over the ship's edge — the signature thrill draw
- Broadway-caliber entertainment: Choir of Man and the Tony-winning Kinky Boots are rated among the best shows afloat
- Huge all-weather activity lineup — two waterslides, open-air laser tag, and the Galaxy Pavilion VR/4D/escape-room complex
Common Complaints
- Heavy nickel-and-diming: go-karts, escape room, specialty dining, drinks, Wi-Fi and spa all cost extra and add up fast
- New $5-per-extra-entrée fee in the main dining rooms (one included entrée per person) drew widespread cruiser backlash
- Feels crowded at ~4,000 guests, with ~10-minute waits for a buffet table on busy Caribbean sailings