What can I say? First time cruising and first time traveling with Matt and Nat. Exceeded my expectations. I had a blast. Plenty of fun, food and friends. I’d do it all again next week!!

We had an amazing experience on this trip! Incredible, wonderful, welcoming people! Matt and Nat are amazing and so kind! It was absolutely incredible!!

What more can I say than… WOW. We had an absolutely incredible time on our first group trip. The cruise, the ports, the activities — all fantastic, and I’ll get to those in a minute. But first and foremost, it was the people who made this trip unforgettable. Going into the trip, we knew a few people. We’d crossed paths with some at previous meetups and had spent limited time together, but nothing like this. It’s hard to imagine making lifelong friends in the span of a single week, but somehow, that’s exactly what happened. The Norwegian Encore was certainly the perfect setting for it. With so much time together, there were endless opportunities to talk, laugh, explore, eat, drink, and just hang out. And I honestly can’t imagine a better group of people to have shared it with. Our hosts were beyond accommodating. Warm, gracious, funny, organized, genuine — those are just a few of the words I’d use to describe them. Getting to know them and their families is something I’ll never forget. From the moment we arrived, everyone was incredibly welcoming, and it made for one of the most joyful weeks I can remember. Vacations come and go. Cruises come and go. Ports and excursions come and go. What sticks with you are the memories — the thoughtful conversations, the unexpected laughs, and sometimes the downright silly moments that you’ll still be talking about years from now. And this trip gave us plenty of those. The Ports This was my second Alaska cruise, with essentially the same destinations as my first, with the exception of the glacier experience — Glacier Bay this time versus Tracy Arm on my previous cruise. The first trip was with Princess, this one with Norwegian, and despite being 17 years apart, the experiences were surprisingly comparable. The ports themselves remain largely unchanged, and honestly, that’s part of their charm. If I find myself taking another Alaska cruise 15 years from now, I have a pretty good idea of what I’ll find waiting for me. There’s plenty to do in every port, even if you skip some of the big-ticket activities like the Skagway train or whale watching. There’s shopping, dining, sightseeing, and plenty of opportunities to simply wander. Skagway was a particular highlight for me because I was able to break away from the group for a while, lace up my hiking boots, and hit some of the local trails. At one point, I made my way to Smugglers Cove and had the entire area to myself — not another person in sight. Just mountains meeting the water, waves rolling against the rocks, and complete quiet. It was nothing short of magical. After the nonstop crowds of Seattle and the busy port stops, that little bit of solitude was exactly the detox I needed. The fact that some of these trails are within walking distance of the ship was an added bonus. My only real complaint about the ports was Ketchikan. The distance between the ship and town, combined with the relatively short time in port, would have been frustrating if it had been our first visit. Since we’d already been there, it wasn’t a huge deal for me, but I can certainly see how first-time visitors might feel rushed. That said, I don't want to leave the port portion of this review on a negative note. Victoria was an absolute blast. It’s a beautiful, thriving city with plenty to see and do, and the Saturday night Sights and Bites tour was the perfect way to wrap up our port experiences. We got a little history, sampled some fantastic local favorites, and saw parts of the city we probably wouldn’t have discovered on our own. There may have been a few moments where we questioned the navigation — particularly the dark alleys and mysterious, unmarked paths — but hey, we made it! And by the end, it turned out to be a fantastic way to experience the city. The Norwegian Encore Norwegian does a lot of things right. And, like every cruise line, there are a few things they could do better. Specialty Dining: 10/10 After eating at Cagney’s twice, I can honestly say that if I cruised Norwegian again, you might find me there every night. Le Bistro was a very close second, with excellent preparation, service, and flavors. But at the end of the day, I’m a sucker for a good steakhouse, so Cagney’s wins that battle for me. The standard dining rooms, on the other hand, could use a little help. Nothing was bad — far from it — but overall, I’d describe the experience as average. On our first night, I joked with a first-time cruiser that we should probably expect the main dining room to be about a 6.5/10, and by the end of the meal, everyone seemed to agree. Again, nothing was wrong with it. When you’re feeding that many people night after night, there are obviously some challenges. But there was just something missing — that little extra something that turns a meal from “perfectly fine” into memorable. Thermal Spa: 8/10 I had high expectations for the Thermal Spa, and overall, it delivered. I mean, I can’t give everything a 10, right? The saunas, steam room, ice room, jetted tubs, heated loungers — all fantastic. And I managed to use it every single day, which probably says something. My biggest issue was consistency and crowd control. Given the price of admission, I expected access to be a little more tightly controlled. There were several occasions when we walked right in without anyone checking, and I have to believe there were others doing the same who hadn’t purchased the package. There were also times when the sauna was barely warm or the pool felt too cold. So there was definitely some inconsistency. Still, I enjoyed it every day, and that alone makes it worth mentioning. Stateroom: 8/10 Compared with other ships offering a similar class of room, I’d give Norwegian the edge. The bathroom was a pleasant surprise. Having a full-size shower rather than the typical corner “phone booth” was fantastic, and the dual sinks were another welcome feature. Overall, the room felt spacious, although the placement of the bed seemed a little… questionable. We were constantly bumping into each other, which made the room feel smaller than it actually was. The balcony was a great size for two, and for an Alaska cruise, I’d consider a balcony an absolute must. The little extras were also a nice touch — champagne, sweets, chocolate-covered strawberries, extra pillows, a mattress topper, extra hangers, refreshed ice, and so on. None of these things individually make or break a cruise, but together they added up to a room that felt a step above. And then there was the storage. So. Much. Storage. That’s especially important on an Alaska cruise when you’re packing everything from shorts and semi-formal clothes to rain gear and cold-weather layers. We never once felt like we were running out of places to put things. Activities & Gathering Spaces: 10/10 There’s never a shortage of entertainment on a cruise, and Norwegian is no exception. The headlining show was interactive, funny, and genuinely entertaining — and it was unlike anything I’d experienced on another cruise line. But for me, the real strength was the variety of gathering spaces. The Observation Lounge, Brewpub, Whiskey Bar, Mojito Bar, and all of the open spaces throughout the ship gave our group plenty of places to congregate. Whether it was 8 PM or 2 AM, there was always somewhere to sit, talk, laugh, and continue the evening. And when you’re traveling with a group like ours, that matters. Glacier Bay: 11/10 Yep. I’m turning the dial to 11. Glacier Bay was easily the highlight of the cruise. We started the morning with the group’s unofficial Glacier Bay 5K — a run/walk that was such a fun and creative way to get everyone out of bed and onto the deck early enough to experience the incredible scenery as we entered the bay. Since Glacier Bay is a national park, Norwegian brought a Park Ranger aboard to narrate our journey in and out of the bay. That added an entirely different dimension to the experience. We saw bears, mountain goats, seals, and, of course, the main attraction: Johns Hopkins Glacier. Everyone was completely captivated. When the glacier cracked, it sounded like thunder. When huge pieces of ice finally calved into the water, cheers erupted from people all around the ship. It really was nature at its most raw and spectacular. And no photograph can truly capture it. You have to experience it in person, and I honestly can’t imagine a better way to do it than the day we had. Final Thoughts Ultimately, though, the ship and the itinerary are only part of the story. The biggest takeaway from this trip is the people. I’ll be forever grateful to our hosts, Matt & Nat, for having the vision — and the courage — to put together a trip involving a bunch of people who, for the most part, barely knew one another and somehow turn it into something that felt like family. Their kindness, generosity, organization, and genuine hospitality made this trip what it was. We arrived as a group of people who knew some of each other. We left as friends. And hopefully, lifelong ones. Our hearts are full.

I had an amazing time. Great people, experiences and sights. Matt and Nat are wonderful!

This was a trip of a lifetime! We had a great time and everyone was so kind and courteous! I will definitely give 5 stars to traveling with Matt and Nat! Great hosts! Also check out their YouTube channel The Adventures of Matt and Nat!