Our Honest Take on Our First Norwegian Cruise Line Cruise (NCL Encore, Alaska)
This was our first cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line after 20+ years of cruising with other lines — and it taught us a lot. Here's our honest, balanced take: what genuinely impressed us, what surprised us, and why we ended up canceling over $26K in future bookings. These tips aren't just for NCL Encore Alaska cruisers — whether you're looking at this exact itinerary or planning a completely different cruise, the lessons on deck plans, port timing, and knowing your own travel style apply no matter which ship or cruise line you're considering. ⏱ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Intro 0:28 Top Things We Wish We Knew Before We Booked 0:42 The Noisy & Crowded Observation Deck 0:46 Check the Deck Plan 3:06 The Go Kart Track, Worth It? 3:51 Where & When Your Ship Docks Matters 6:06 Why We Canceled $26K in Future NCL Bookings 7:01 The Cruise Line That Caught Our Eye 7:30 The Unmanaged Chaos Frustration 8:31 Would We Sail NCL Again? 9:15 Outro 🚢 Watch the Full Alaska Cruise Series: 📍 Seattle — https://youtu.be/qZbGlsMwzlo 📍Juneau —https://youtu.be/24u21gEyJPY 📍 Skagway - https://youtu.be/Hoj-g23jJ8U 📍 Glacier Bay — https://youtu.be/7IuDmkFXpEw 📍 Ketchikan — https://youtu.be/2UDTd5Zq87U 📍 Victoria, BC — https://youtu.be/BXR0N5PXetQ #AlaskaCruise #NCLReview #CruiseTips