Why You Might Regret an NCL (Norwegian Cruise Line) Encore Alaskan Cruise.

To be fair, this is just part one of a two-part series. The follow-up—“Why You Should Definitely Go on an NCL Encore Alaskan Cruise”—is coming soon. And to be fully transparent: yes, we absolutely plan to do this cruise again. We just believe in sharing both the highlights and the potential drawbacks so that you can make the most informed decision possible about whether an NCL Alaskan cruise is right for you.

1. Time in Port Feels Rushed

You may only get 3–4 hours in some destinations (like Ketchikan or Victoria). It’s enough for a quick excursion, but not enough to really explore or soak in the local vibe.

2. Cruise-Only Access Can Limit What You See

Unless you book private excursions or plan strategically, you’re at the mercy of the cruise company’s schedule—so you may miss out on deeper or more authentic experiences inland.

3. Wildlife Sightings Aren’t Guaranteed

Yes, Alaska is known for whales, bears, and eagles—but seeing them depends on timing, weather, and sheer luck. If you go in expecting a National Geographic documentary, you might be disappointed.

4. Crowds and Congestion in Port Cities

When multiple ships dock at once, towns like Juneau and Skagway can feel overrun. The charm of a small Alaskan town gets lost in the sea of tourists and matching lanyards.

5. Excursion Costs Add Up Fast

The cruise fare may seem affordable, but excursions are where the real costs kick in. Glacier tours, dog sledding, and whale watching can easily run $150–$400 per person, per port.

6. Weather Is Unpredictable and Often Gloomy

Rain, fog, and chill are common—especially in May and September. If you’re picturing sunny deck views and glowing mountains, you may be met with cloud cover and drizzle instead.

7. You Miss a Lot Without a Balcony

While balcony rooms offer incredible views, they’re also more expensive. If you're in an inside cabin, your experience of Glacier Bay or scenic cruising days is limited to public decks (which can be crowded and cold).

8. Victoria Stop Feels Like a Checkbox

If your cruise includes Victoria, it might be a late-night 2-hour stop. You dock, walk the harbor, and leave. It can feel more like a border requirement than a destination.

9. Not Enough Water Bottle Refill Stations on the Ship

On the NCL Encore, there’s no simple way to refill a water bottle. You’re forced to go to one of the restaurants with a drink dispenser and fill your bottle one small cup at a time. It’s awkward, inefficient, and slows down the line—especially when people behind you just want to grab a drink with their meal. For a cruise line that emphasizes sustainability, not having a few dedicated water bottle refill stations is a surprising oversight.

10. Menus Aren’t Posted in Advance

If you like to plan your meals or avoid restaurants with repeating menus, you’re out of luck. Menus aren’t posted in the app or on screens—you have to physically walk to each restaurant to see what’s being served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner that day. To make it worse, say you visit a restaurant for breakfast, the lunch and supper menus are not available until those times. So, you walk back again to see the menu.

11. The App Isn’t Very Helpful

While the NCL app is good for basic scheduling and reservations, it lacks features that would make the trip smoother. There’s no interactive map of the ship, no detailed itinerary path, no list of recommended things to do in port, and no restaurant menus. For a tech-savvy experience, it falls short.

12. The In-Room TV Has Outdated Info

Your stateroom TV is preloaded with generic cruise information that doesn’t update with your current travel path, port arrival times, or onboard events. It feels like a missed opportunity to enhance the guest experience with real-time updates.

13. Ketchikan Port Location Is Inconvenient

The ship docks at Ward Cove instead of the main downtown port in Ketchikan. While Ward Cove is scenic, it’s about a 20-minute shuttle ride each way into town. When your total time in port is already short, losing nearly an hour just getting in and out makes it harder to book excursions or explore the town properly.

Again, we will definitely be doing this again. And we know that some of the items on this list seem trivial or petty. But we hope this provides information on expectations for NCL Encore.