🚢 Alaska Cruise: Let’s Set Sail!!!

What You Need to Know Before You Go

Thinking about setting sail but not sure if cruising is your vibe? Whether you're dreaming of serene ocean views and endless buffets or feeling unsure about motion sickness, this post will help you navigate the possibilities and plan a smooth, unforgettable journey.

Cruise vacations offer a unique blend of adventure and relaxation, with curated experiences both onboard and at stunning ports of call. New to cruising? Here's everything you need to know. Happy reading! Share your feedback and experiences with us!

🌊 Choosing the Right Cruise Line & Itinerary

My friends and I had been talking about a cruise vacation for years. After countless conversations and calendar coordination, we finally made it happen and I’m excited to share our insights. We chose an Alaska cruise for its natural beauty and the convenience of sailing from Seattle, which meant no flights were needed.

🗓️ The Planning Process

Traveling with friends who have kids around the same age meant syncing schedules was our first challenge, it took a few years to overcome 😄.

Booking Tips:

• We explored direct cruise line websites and travel agents but ultimately booked through Costco Travel for similar pricing and attractive cashback benefits.

• For a more personalized experience, consider working with a reliable travel agent who can assist with excursion planning and special requests.

  
  

Add-ons & Packages:

• We opted out of beverage packages, choosing to purchase drinks as needed.

• Received $50 shore excursion credits but didn’t use them since we booked excursions independently.

• Included a specialty dining for 2 and 150 minutes of free internet.

🏔️ Destination: Alaska

Alaska was an easy pick for its stunning landscapes and wildlife. The cruise offered glacier views, scenic ports, and a peaceful escape from the everyday.

Best Time to Sail:

• The cruise season runs April–October, with June and July being peak months.

• We sailed in August, just before school started, and found it to be slightly cheaper than June and July. And the ship was fully packed.

• Alaska’s weather is unpredictable, so we packed ponchos, umbrellas, and rain jackets. Thankfully, it only rained one day!

  
  

🚢 Ship Selection: Norwegian Encore

We chose the Norwegian Encore over the Bliss for its glacier itinerary, newer amenities, and modern design. It was slightly more expensive but worth it.

Onboard Highlights:

• Flexible cruising: No strict schedules, dining times, or particular dress codes.

• Kid-friendly activities: Go-karts (~$15), water park, Galaxy Pavilion (~$15/ride), escape room (~$20/per person).

• Games room: Limited games, but enough seating. Our kids brought their own.

• Pools: There were separate pools: a smaller kids' pool and a larger adult pool and 2 waterslides - one thrilling and one regular. The water temperatures were comfortable, thanks to the good weather.

• Kids’ club: Our kids (ages 7–12) preferred hanging out together rather than attending the club, which felt small and underwhelming. There was also a teens’ club for older kids.

  
  

🧭 Other Cruise Options to Consider

Depending on your family’s interests and budget, here are a few alternatives:

Disney Cruise Line: Families with younger kids, pricier but magical

Royal Caribbean: Wide range of activities & excursions and it’s known for having great port access

Holland America: Budget-friendly & scenic routes. Plus, I recently heard they have great Indian food available daily, similar to Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

🛏️ Room Selection

Choosing the right room can make a big difference, especially if you're prone to motion sickness.

• We booked rooms on mid-decks (11–12) for easy access to amenities like the Garden Café (Deck 16) and guest services/kids club (Decks 6–8).

• Even when booking a year in advance, family rooms for 4+ people were limited. An alternative option is booking two rooms for 2+ people, although this might be more expensive.

• We found that when booking, rooms for families of 4 weren't next to each other or connected, so our 3 families ended up on the same deck but in separate, distant locations

• To reduce motion sickness, we chose mid-ship rooms based on feedback from other cruisers

• Also, our rooms were on the starboard side, and the ship's docking side varied, but when it came to glacier views, it didn't matter – the ship would rotate 360 degrees to offer everyone the scenic views

• Disembarkation was from Deck 4 for all passengers.

📲 Pre-Cruise Checklist

Before You Sail

• Download the NCL app or use the desktop site to manage your booking

• Create a login and link it to your cruise confirmation number

• Keep an eye out for important requests, such as Passport and visa uploads

• Excursion bookings and dining reservations

Check-In Process

• As your departure date approaches, NCL will send instructions to help you prepare:

  • Choose your check-in time slot (released a few days before sailing)

  • Upload a photo (optional; can be done on cruise day)

  • Print and attach luggage tags to all checked bags

• We selected the first available check-in slot at 11-11:30 am and arrived an hour early. NCL limits the number of guests per time slot, and boarding typically closes 2 hours before departure, for our cruise it was by 2:00 pm.

• Consider Priority Line access (available at an extra cost only up to 2-3 days before sailing), which may reduce disembarkation time, especially helpful if you’ve booked multiple excursions

  
  

Day-of Boarding Experience

• Luggage Drop-Off: NCL staff greeted us at the port and collected our tagged luggage’s. If you don't pre-tag your luggage at home, expect more time at the port

• Check-In Process: Took about ~20-30 minutes, depending on how prepared you are.

• Boarding Lounge: We waited approx. 1 hour before boarding began.

• Key Cards Issued: Each guest receives a key card used for:

  • Boarding and re-entry

  • Room access

  • Onboard purchases

• Credit Card Linking: We linked the same card to our keys but asked them to skip this for our younger kids to avoid accidental charges.

• Day Bag Essentials: Pack a small backpack with items you'll need until your luggage arrives later in the evening.

• Lunch & Exploration: We had plenty of time to enjoy lunch and explore the ship before our rooms were ready around 2:00 pm and suitcases arrived later that evening

  
  

🎒 Packing & Room Prep Tips

• Luggage: 2 suitcases per person were allowed. We packed light and had enough space to store our suitcases under the bed. There was also ample closet space for our cloth bags

• Room Choice: Our balcony room was worth the upgrade, less claustrophobic and perfect for glacier views and whale watching

  • Whale Watching was great from our balcony and various viewpoints on the cruise. Binoculars can also be helpful for whale and glacier viewing, but not necessary as they can be seen with the naked eye as well

• Storage: Use room safe for documents and valuables. Waterproof pouches are also great for rainy excursions, keeping essentials dry while off the ship.

• Medications: Bring nausea meds, probiotics, and any essentials

• Motion Sensitivity: Rooms at the front or back of the ship tend to experience more movement, while mid-ship rooms are generally more stable. However, it wasn't a major issue for us or even for our friends with motion sickness.

• Amenities included hair dryers, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and a cloth drying string in the shower. The room also had USB ports and both US and EU sockets.

• We used wrinkle-release spray from Amazon, which worked great for our clothing ironing needs as needed since there were no irons in the rooms. We didn't look into the onboard laundry and press services, knowing they'd be pricey

• Entertainment: Pack games, Kindles, books, and snacks for downtime

• The Observation Deck lounge on Deck 15 is an excellent spot to unwind, read, play, or simply enjoy the views. Snacks were also available here, particularly during late afternoons on most days

🎡 Onboard Activities & Entertainment

• Arcade & Casino: Small kids arcades and adult casino available (we skipped both)

• Go-Karts & Galaxy Pavilion: ~$15 per ride, fun for kids and adults

• Kids’ Club: Our kids (ages 7–12) preferred hanging out together; the club felt small and underwhelming

• Teens’ Club: Available for 13+

• Shows: Free comedy and music shows were enjoyable and easy to book even last minute

• There were always a fun events happening near the Guest Services area (Deck 8)

📶 Staying Connected

• We bought the internet package with streaming on Day 1, and it worked great for us

• Text-only packages are cheaper option and works well too!

• Tips for families:

  • Get text packages for kids

  • Consider spare phones with SIMs

  • Set meeting points or stay together

  • Use lanyards for kids’ key cards and teach them how to return to the room

    
    

🏞️ Excursions and Shore Days

• We didn’t pre-book excursions, which gave us flexibility based on weather

• Skagway Glacier Train: Booked independently for half the price of NCL’s offering

• NCL excursions guarantee return to ship, but we had enough buffer time to manage independently

• The shuttle lines to and from downtown can be long, but purchasing Priority Line access earlier may help reduce wait times

• Everyone needs to show their key cards for both entry and exit to the cruise

💆‍♀️ Spa & Relaxation

• We initially skipped spa treatments due to the high cost but later took advantage of onboard deals. Keep an eye on the daily papers delivered to your room for special offers!

• Worth exploring once onboard if you're looking to unwind

🍽️ Dining Experience

• Garden Café Buffet: Our go-to spot, great variety and kid-friendly options

  • Indian station (rotating menu)

  • Pizza, pasta, Mexican, sushi, crepes, desserts, and ice cream etc.

• À la carte restaurants: Good but limited vegetarian options

• Specialty Dining: We skipped due to limited veg choices

• Starbucks (paid) available onboard

• Free amenities: Water stations, machine coffee, and tea bags available all day

• Tip: Bring empty water bottles to refill onboard

  
  

💸 Gratuities & Beverage Packages

• Daily tips (~$20 per guest/day) auto-added to your account

• Additional gratuities may apply for certain packages

• We opted out of the soda package, buying drinks à la carte was more cost-effective; Keep in mind that drink packages are required for all the guests in your stateroom.

🛳️ Departure Points & Itinerary Tips

• Seattle was ideal for our group, but Vancouver offers:

  • Extra Alaskan port stops and potentially cheaper packages

• Consider flying in a day early to avoid stress and for morning boarding

• For return, evening flights might work well, especially if your cruise docks in the morning

• Holiday breaks like Thanksgiving often have cruise deals

• Consider trip insurance which may be available while booking directly, as refund policies are strict and mostly non-refundable within 4 months of cruising

🌴 Tips for Solo Travelers & First-Time Cruisers

• A shorter cruise is great for testing the waters

• Even on longer cruises, there’s plenty to do:

  • Solo meetups

  • Flexible room types

  • Activities for all ages

🧳 Final Thoughts

We loved the freedom to explore different ports without worrying about logistics like food, parking, and planning. The cruise let us relax, work, play, eat or do whatever we wanted, and the kids stayed busy too. Plus, everyone was so friendly and in a great mood - even small talks in the elevators were awesome :)

The NCL Encore, being a larger cruise ship, experienced less bumpy conditions, and we didn't encounter any seasickness. Although we haven't taken other cruises for comparison, friends who've sailed with NCL have reported similar positive experiences. We've also heard that cruises from Vancouver tend to be even better, navigating calmer waters and offering more immersive views. It's definitely on our bucket list for our next cruise trip!

Even with cruise lines like NCL promoting hygiene practices, like handwashing before buffet meals, sailing with thousands of people in close quarters always carries a risk of illness. On our recent cruise, many passengers fell sick towards the end, reminding us that a health-conscious mindset and a well-stocked travel kit are essential. Having necessary meds, immune boosters, and mental prep may also help in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable trip.

If you’re considering an Alaska cruise, I highly recommend planning early, packing for all weather, and choosing a ship that fits your family’s vibe. Whether you go with Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, or another line, cruising offers a unique way to explore the world, one port at a time!