Norwegian Encore – The Great Cruise Comeback Live

[suzieq2cruise]

2 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Bell Street Terminal Pier 66 was its normal chaotic self for a turnover. This was complicated by the fact that there were people waiting for testing adding to crowds. Our late arrival does not help the mob of people. 
 

Half the lanes on Alaskan Way are closed, filled with semi trailers and tankers, bringing food and beverage to this week’s passenger.  
 

People trying to catch an Uber are having to walk several blocks to get out of the crowds. Both Uber XL and Lyft XL were $63+tip at the time we got out.  NCL transfers were $25 pp. 
 

Ma’am, I am not sure where you are from, so please consider my comments as someone who remembers  being on Alaskan Way at Ivar’s  outdoor seafood bar with my dad as early as 1969…. Dad also worked for the Seattle Water Department for nearly 4 decades and does he have stories about water main breaks on Alaskan way!!!!  So here we go… There’s Chaos on Alaskan Way?  NO way!  Who would have guessed..  Alaskan way in freakin Chaos… they closed lanes while ppl were trying to get there for a cruise?  In Seattle?   What?  

 

And again for real, your blog here really helped me and logistics guy I married 23 years ago to feel like we made a great decision between to do this!  Thank you!  If I do run into you on a cruise…. I’m buyin! 

[suzieq2cruise]

1 hour ago, OrcaGirl said:

Thank you Bird! Truly a saint among birds, which I guess makes you St. Francis? Not sure.

 

As a result of your exciting-yet-straightforward capture of the sailing, we decided just last night to swap our November Joy sailing to an October sailing of the Encore.

Perfect! 

[suzieq2cruise]

2 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Since we were late arriving, the lines to get off the ship were long and slow. The Bird got a private escort to security via a crew elevator, to avoid the lines on the ship.

 

Baggage hall is small, but less chaotic than years past. 

 

There was no immigrations and customs check (as expected). 
 

There was a line for the cruise line transfer to the airport, but they were loading multiple buses at the same time and sending them as soon as full. 
 

8:45 left stateroom 

9:27 arrive airport (about 25 min drive)

10:09 checked in bags and through security. 

The logistics guy will be happy to hear this!   Thank you!

 

[BirdTravels]

2 hours ago, SciFiCruiser said:

How late was late getting in.  You seem to have made it to the airport hopefully on time.  Even with the late arrival would I have made an 11:30 am flight? (planning to do luggage valet) for our debarcation in a few weeks. 
 

and as many people have said, thank you so much for the information you’ve passed along. Absolutely invaluable for us future cruisers!

The “plan” was to have disembarkation start as early as 6:00 for self walk off. We docked around 6:30 and it was around 45 minutes later that they invited people to disembark. 
 

The Bird thinks that NCL should buy the Captain a new watch cuz even after totally missin one port, he managed to be [very] late to all other ports. 

[Nclgetawaymenhoney]

Thank you again for taking us along on your adventure, genuinely appreciate all the info.

[QueenDoOver]

On 8/7/2021 at 5:27 PM, BirdTravels said:

Standard Bar Menu

Are the shaded items premium?

[All-ready2cruise]

Yes, anything over $15 would be Premium Plus items. 

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, QueenDoOver said:

Are the shaded items premium?

Items exceeding $15 cap on the beverage package. You would pay the difference. 

[BermudaBound2014]

@BirdTravels wishing you a safe voyage home. Like others, many thanks for sharing. I especially appreciate the unbiased reporting. You have made me realize how much I miss being onboard. I do have a question. I have always referred to you as a male. Yet several posters here have referred to you as female. If you are female please accept my apologies as I meant no disrespect. 

[Shidah]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Your trip reports are always so helpful and informational!

[Trimone]

Review of the year 

NCL should give you a free cruise X

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

@BirdTravels wishing you a safe voyage home. Like others, many thanks for sharing. I especially appreciate the unbiased reporting. You have made me realize how much I miss being onboard. I do have a question. I have always referred to you as a male. Yet several posters here have referred to you as female. If you are female please accept my apologies as I meant no disrespect. 

As I said a few pages back, it’s not “Mr. Bird”. Just Bird is fine. 

[gknep]

The tax on the drink while in Seattle is something NCL has been doing for several years. I experienced it in 2016 which was the first time I had a drinks package. What I find more interesting is that Holland America does not collect the tax while in Seattle. We went to Alaska on the Eurodam in 2019 with a drinks package and it was swipe and go from the moment we boarded. Thanks for the reviews and all the bar menus Bird.  My wife and I sail on September 11 and I've about got my drinking all mapped out. 

[MsTabbyKats]

@BirdTravels

 

From the bottom of my heart.....thank you for giving us hope!

[goofy4mickey]

Thank you for taking the time this week to allow all of us to follow along on your trip.

[Shellbelle28]

3 hours ago, suzieq2cruise said:

Ma’am, I am not sure where you are from, so please consider my comments as someone who remembers  being on Alaskan Way at Ivar’s  outdoor seafood bar with my dad as early as 1969…. Dad also worked for the Seattle Water Department for nearly 4 decades and does he have stories about water main breaks on Alaskan way!!!!  So here we go… There’s Chaos on Alaskan Way?  NO way!  Who would have guessed..  Alaskan way in freakin Chaos… they closed lanes while ppl were trying to get there for a cruise?  In Seattle?   

If it's been more than 5 years since you were last on Alaskan Way, it ain't what you remember. Sea wall construction had most pier businesses closed or barely accessible for at least a year. Demolition of the viaduct has changed the landscape. The industrial buildings are  slowly being replaced by apartments and condos. The Wheel is a giant new attraction. The Bell Street terminal is gorgeous, but there is no pull in space for drop offs, it all happens on the street. Chaos indeed! 

[jaja]

Bird...I thank you for letting me take this cruise with you. 

[Shellbelle28]

3 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

The Bird thinks that NCL should buy the Captain a new watch cuz even after totally missin one port, he managed to be [very] late to all other ports. 

Maybe all the brass on board were trying to "help." 

[greatestvalue]

2 hours ago, gknep said:

I've about got my drinking all mapped out. 

This is our first cruise using the drinks package.  Please share, how does one get all their drinking mapped out? 

[suzieq2cruise]

1 hour ago, Shellbelle28 said:

If it's been more than 5 years since you were last on Alaskan Way, it ain't what you remember. Sea wall construction had most pier businesses closed or barely accessible for at least a year. Demolition of the viaduct has changed the landscape. The industrial buildings are  slowly being replaced by apartments and condos. The Wheel is a giant new attraction. The Bell Street terminal is gorgeous, but there is no pull in space for drop offs, it all happens on the street. Chaos indeed! 

I stayed a few days actually down in that area (in one of those rehabbed apartment buildings!) for the first time in my life in 2017 (when you grow up 40 miles away, why would you stay in town?)   Maybe with the viaduct actually gone, it will feel different.  I know in 17, the chaos was different than in my childhood, but it was still chaos… and I imagine the cruise terminal just adds to it!  

[QueenDoOver]

On 8/9/2021 at 2:44 PM, BirdTravels said:

If you have not had enough to drink, try a tasting event. (Big Bird sized flights)
 

Fee for all wine events is $22?  Should read fee for each wine event is $22, and is it really each tasting event?

[Shellbelle28]

8 minutes ago, suzieq2cruise said:

I stayed a few days actually down in that area (in one of those rehabbed apartment buildings!) for the first time in my life in 2017 (when you grow up 40 miles away, why would you stay in town?)   Maybe with the viaduct actually gone, it will feel different.  I know in 17, the chaos was different than in my childhood, but it was still chaos… and I imagine the cruise terminal just adds to it!  

I avoid going to Seattle if at all possible currently. I know the city-dwellers say it's fine, but the situation with people living on the street everywhere is scary to this small town gal. 

[BirdTravels]

2 minutes ago, QueenDoOver said:

Fee for all wine events is $22?  Should read fee for each wine event is $22, and is it really each tasting event?

It’s $22 each. And a sommelier leads the group and teaches you about the wines being sampled. It was moderately popular on our cruise. 

[QueenDoOver]

On 8/9/2021 at 5:01 PM, Shidah said:

Veuve is covered, but by the glass.  Previously, when premium plus first came out, it was available by the bottle too, but NCL started making that change to exclude it from the bottle list a while ago.  We would order bottles and take them back to our room,  oh, the good ole days!   But still available by the glass, so we will order it that way now.

Can you take the remainder of your dinner bottle back to your room?

 

[debenson0723]

11 minutes ago, QueenDoOver said:

Can you take the remainder of your dinner bottle back to your room?

 

Yes.  Or they will label it and store it for you to use at dinner another night.