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Norwegian (NCL) Encore: Review, Trip Report, and Ship Tour 2024

by Prof. Cruise · May 17, 2024

Introduction

First off, a confession.  I don’t like big ships and I cannot lie.  Actually that’s a lie, at least a partial one.  Let me try that again without the overused 90’s rap reference.  I love all cruise ships, but I prefer the smaller, understated ones to the big, flashy ones.  So why did I book the Norwegian Encore for a second time, you ask?  Because I could walk to it from my apartment in downtown Seattle for one.  And I paid a $50 out-of-pocket cruise fare for two.  And my kid was out of town for the week on a school trip, for three. And I was eager to sail as a newly minted Sapphire Latitudes member on NCL for four.

But does one ever need a reason to book a cruise?  Any cruise?  On any ship, big or small? 

If there’s one thing you should learn from reading this, even if you have no interest in the Encore, it’s that it’s always a good time to book a cruise, any cruise on any line on any ship going to any port.  Go ahead, tell your husband or wife or partner that Prof. Cruise made you do it.  And if they push back, put your hand out and do a dramatic 180 degree turn as you threaten to take me with you instead of them.  And then take me with you!

Now that we have that settled, read on if you actually came here with the intention of learning more about the Encore and didn’t accidentally land here after googling “horrible 90’s rap references you should never use in blog posts.” 

Norwegian Encore Ship Review

The norwegian encore: the facts.

This section is the equivalent of the CDC version: the facts as they exist today.  Then we’ll move on to my opinion which is the equivalent of your cousin Chet swearing that 30 consecutive hours on the leg press machine sprint pumping the maximum weight, followed by a Clorox enema and a dinner of grass-fed beef and organic broccoli cured him of Covid.

Speaking of Covid, the Encore, the fourth and last breakaway-plus class ship in Norwegian’s fleet, debuted in November 2019 just a few months before Covid hit and shut down the cruising industry for over a year (my first cruise on her was right after the cruising re-start and even though she was over a year old by then, she looked practically brand new).

She has 20 floors with a guest capacity of 3,998 and a crew of 1,735.  She is 1,094 feet long and weighs in at 196,116 gross tons (with all that dessert onboard, it’s no surprise).  She currently sails from Miami to the Caribbean in the fall, winter, and spring and to Alaska from Seattle in the summer, with a few 21 night repositioning cruises in between.

Encore Menus, Freestyle Daily Schedule of Events, and Complete Ship Tour

Before we get to all the things I loved about the Encore, a few things I didn’t love, and my day-by-day trip report which includes approximately 4 million food photos (WARNING: STOP READING NOW IF YOU’RE HUNGRY!), you can see all the Encore dining menus I collected, the Freestyle Daily schedule for each day, and my complete deck-by-deck narrated ship tour by clicking below:

Things I Loved About the Norwegian Encore

The observation lounge.

I spent more time in the Observation Lounge reading, working, snoring loudly in a lounger (sorry about that), and eating than in any other location on the ship.  This beautiful and comfortable space offers everything you’ll need for a relaxing morning, afternoon, or evening at sea.  There is a bar, a buffet that serves a small selection of items for breakfast and afternon tea (from 3-5pm), comfortable seating, and amazing views from huge windows at the front and sides of the ship.

Pro-tip #1: This is a perfect spot to watch sail-away or for scenic sailing days if it’s too hot or cold to sit outside or if you have an inside cabin like I did.  Get there early though – prime seats fill up fast!

Pro-tip #2: The desserts on the small buffet in the observation lounge are sometimes better than those in the regular buffet and often have an international twist. 

Pro-Tip #3: If the Observation Lounge is too crowded, try the District Brew House. It’s rarely crowded and also offers some great views and comfortable seating.

Indian Food on the Buffet

The Encore offers a large selection of both hot and cold and vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian selections on the buffet.  It’s authentic and flavorful and is my go-to second lunch on every NCL cruise (I usually enjoy a first lunch in the dining room).  You’ll be hard pressed to find better Indian food in major cities on land – that’s how good it is!

While the Indian selections were by far my favorite, a quick word about the food in the main dining rooms: It was typical cruise food – good, but not outstanding (which is fine by me, I’m not picky). I also ate in two specialty restaurants, Onda and Ocean Blue, which I’ll discuss in more detail in my daily trip report to come.

Well-Equipped Gym with Okay Hours

The gym was a bit small for the size of the ship, but was well-equipped with posted hours from 6am-11pm (but every day people snuck in earlier than 6).

The service on the Encore was the best I’ve experienced in quite some time. Every crew member was friendly and professional and went out of their way to accommodate guests. On the last day, I passed out these cards * with an extra cash tip inside to crew members who had made my cruise extra special:

The Waterfront

The Waterfront is always one of my favorite spots on NCL’s Breakaway and Breakaway Plus class ships and I enjoyed it on this sailing aboard the Encore as well.  I love all the comfortable seating and outdoor bars and dining areas.  If you’re worried about not having a balcony booked on the Encore, don’t – the Waterfront served as a wonderful alternative for me. Many times I had it almost completely to myself.

Contemporary Design

This ship looks nearly brand new and the furnishings reflect that.  But that chandelier is more controversial than human cloning.

Hard Ice Cream on the Buffet

The buffet includes hard ice cream you can have served in a cup or a cone.  Standard flavors are available daily along with a number of rotating flavors like green tea, pistachio, rocky road, coconut, and butter pecan.   

The Choir of Man

I’ve provided more detail about The Choir of Man in my daily trip report below, but this was one of my favorite features on the Encore.

There was a wide variety of live music available at different venues every afternoon and evening.  Performers were talented and entertaining. My favorite was the Beatles cover band, Beatles Invasion, and their performances in the intimate Cavern Club (they also performed several shows in the main theater which were also very good). 

Cleanliness

The ship was spotlessly clean, with crew constantly clearing dishes, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, disinfecting, and singing the “washy washy” song to remind guests to clean their hands.

Things I Didn’t Love About the Norwegian Encore

No 360 degree promenade deck for walking.

I love walking the Promenade deck on a cruise ship – listening to a book or podcast while I breath in the clean ocean air and watch for wildlife.  My favorite ships have Promenade decks that wrap all the way around the ship.  The Encore does not have such a deck.  However, I mostly made do with a few alternatives:

I walked around on The Waterfront on deck 8 when the weather was good (passing through a brief inside area at the front of the ship to make the full loop) and I used deck 7 (where the life boats are located) when it was raining (as it’s fully covered).  The public area of deck 7 does not wrap around either the front or back of the ship, so you’ll have to go out and back on either the port or starboard side.

Narrow Hallways

The stateroom hallways on the Encore are extremely narrow.  When cleaning carts are lined up along them and room stewards are working around them, passing can be tricky, especially for anyone with mobility issues. 

Pro Tip: If you use a walker or scooter, have mobility issues, or have an infant or toddler in a stroller, book a cabin as close to elevators as possible. 

Size of the Ship

I guess this was both a plus and a minus.  Unfortunately, the walk from the elevator to my cabin was approximately 6 miles.  On the plus side, I felt justified ordering that second dessert in the MDR each evening.

Extra Charges

Cruise lines (and especially NCL) have a reputation for nickel and diming passengers once onboard.  And the Encore is no exception.  Those that point to this class of ship as great for families may forget to mention that much of the fun stuff your kids will love costs extra.  Leave room in the budget for the Norwegian Speedway, the Galaxy Pavilion, and the arcade.  If you have multiple children or a bored husband, these activities can get quite pricey. 

No Naturalist Onboard

As a veteran cruiser to Alaska, I was really disappointed that there wasn’t a naturalist onboard, offering lectures about Alaska and other programming.  We did have park rangers board the ship for our scenic cruising day through Glacier Bay National Park, but they were only onboard for that one day. And we did have some presentations about Alaska given by the CruiseNext department, but again, it didn’t compare with having a naturalist with years of professional training and experience.

See my “Top Tips For Maximizing Your Day in Glacier Bay” HERE

Lack of programming for nerd types.

And really, there was an overall lack of programming for us nerd types (except for trivia which I’m not really a fan of).  No book club.  No lectures by experts in various fields.

NCL Alaska Piers

NCL has spent millions building new piers for their ships in Alaska.  And let me tell you, from a passenger perspective, they suck.  No way around it.  They are further away from the action and require a bus or gondola ride, wasting valuable time you could be spending in port.  Honestly, I would no longer choose NCL for Alaska for this reason alone (unless the price and timing were too tempting – which they still often are).  If this is your one shot at Alaska and you don’t need all the bells and whistles of a mega ship, pick a different line.  Holland America, Princess, and Celebrity all do Alaska so very well and you’ll avoid the hassle of these new NCL piers.  It pains me to say this, I’m Sapphire on NCL and generally love the line, but alas…I want to always be candid and honest with you. 

Small Cabins Without Much Storage

Cabins on the Encore run small and offer very limited storage. You can see a tour of my inside cabin here:

Frequently Asked Questions From My Cruise On The Encore

Here are some of the questions I was asked most frequently while onboard the Encore:

Q: Are there spin bikes in the gym on the Encore?  Or, do I need to sign up for a class to use the spin bikes on the Encore?

A: yes, there is a large spin room, but you really aren’t supposed to use it unless you take a class. that being said, i arrived early each morning and used it with no problems..

Q: Can I change my dinner reservation for specialty dining to an earlier time onboard?

A: yes.  while all the times available to book online in advance were later than 8pm, i was easily able to change my reservation to an earlier time by visiting dining reservations at embarkation., q: is starbucks included in any of the drink packages, a: yes, in the premium plus package., q: are there free drinks at the latitudes officer’s reception, a: yes.  free and plentiful.  waiters will walk around with trays of pre-made drinks or you can request something (they won’t be able to accommodate every request due to what’s available at the bar – but it can’t hurt to ask for what you like)..

Despite the things I didn’t love, I still had a wonderful cruise onboard the Encore. Now keep reading for my detailed daily trip report (diary)!

Norwegian Encore Trip Report: May 5-12, 2024

Day 1: Embarkation Day

Hello from the Encore en route to Alaska!  Those of you who followed along on my Bliss cruise a few weeks back are probably thinking, “wait, wasn’t she just on an NCL cruise to Alaska?”  Yes, yes I was.  And what’s your point?  Can one ever really get enough of cruising?  And Alaska?  Plus on debarkation day on the Bliss I was flooded with messages demanding an “ENCORE, ENCORE!” from those I can only assume were upset at being cut off from the prolific daily food porn I provided.  Well I took that encore thing literally and will be eating 12 meals per day for the next 7 days which I will post here for your viewing pleasure.  You’re welcome.  In the meantime, here are some embarkation day scenes from around the Encore.  This is my second time onboard, but first time sailing her solo (last time I had my mom with me).  As usual, feel free to post questions to the comments or chime in with your Encore tips and experiences.  Now excuse me, lunch is calling (more like SHOUTING)!

Lunch in the MDR

After a delicious first lunch at Taste, one of the three MDR’s on the Encore (the other two being Savor, also open for lunch, and the Manhattan Room which is only open for dinner), I’ll be eating gravy for the remainder of this cruise.  Let me explain.  An equivalent four course lunch at almost any sit-down restaurant in my home city of Seattle would have run me at least $50. At. Least. And since my fare for this cruise only cost me $50, I figure from here on out everything is…gravy.  (You can read about how I scored such an unbelievable deal here ).

Anyway, here are photos of what I ordered. If you followed along with me on my Bliss cruise a few weeks ago, many of my meals are going to make you feel like you’re trapped in a time loop ala Groundhog Day (or Russian Doll if you’re under the age of 40 and require a more contemporary reference).  Hey, I like what I like and being trapped on a repeating cruise for 33 years is hardly the worst thing that could happen. Shrug.

Photo 1: Risotto primavera with pesto Photo 2: Orange chocolate mousse Photo 3: Sweet corn hush puppies Photo 4: Five spice mango tapioca pudding Photo 5: Roasted tomato soup

Remember that all the menus I collected, including all the MDR lunch menus can be found posted HERE .

Dinner at Onda You know how parents of newborn identical twins usually dress them in matching outfits to maximize the adorable factor so they get more gifts and offers of help, but put them in different colored socks so they can tell them apart?  Well that’s pretty much how it is with the Encore and the Bliss, but they have different Italian specialty restaurants instead of the socks. The Bliss has La Cucina and the Encore has Onda.  Otherwise, they are nearly identical.

Onda by Scarpetta is the newest Italian specialty restaurant on NCL. It was created in partnership with LDV Hospitality and was inspired by their acclaimed Scarpetta restaurants located in the Hamptons, Las Vegas, London, Miami, New York City, Newport, and Philadelphia. It’s a step up in my opinion from La Cucina. (Any parent who’s being honest will tell you which child they really like best – mine’s Henry because he has a tail that wags when he sees me instead of pretending like I’m a creepy stranger he’s never met before at school pickup.  And I slightly prefer the Encore to the Bliss.)  Onda is also available on the Spirit, Prima, Viva and Aqua.  I’ve dined at Onda twice before, both times on the Spirit.  My meals, including tonight’s, have always been excellent, although, like all specialty dining, I don’t think I’d pay retail for it. I used a Sapphire voucher, so it didn’t cost me anything.  Without the voucher I would have paid 71.  Here’s what I ordered: Photo 1: Interior of Onda Photo 2: Mezzelune pasta Photo 3: Bread basket Photo 4: Creamy polenta (highlight of the meal) Photo 5: Fingerling potatoes (underwhelming) Photo 6: Butterscotch budino (fabulous) Photo 7: Rosemary lentils

More Food More food (excellent buffet Indian and some emergency desserts I procured from the Observation Lounge on deck 15 forward). And yes, I still had room for dinner. It seems that instead of a single hollow leg, I was born with a complete set of hollow extremities (and some would argue a hollow head, but I dispute that).

Beatles Invasion

Tonight I saw Beatles Invasion, not to be confused with The Beatles Experience which I saw a few weeks ago on the Bliss, in the main theater. They were like a cover band of a cover band, but still very entertaining. The best part though was the two little girls in the front row dancing their hearts out. To them I say, whatever this crazy world throws at you, never NEVER stop dancing. And cruising! And for everyone else, if somewhere along the way someone made you feel insignificant or silly or insecure, make full use of your drink package and get back out there. Hands in the air, busting a move, not a care in the world. Because life is short. Dance! And keep cruising! Goodnight from the Encore!

Day 2: Sea Day

Breakfast at The Local

I love so much about NCL, but why do they use raisin bread for all of their French toast? Honestly, there are a lot of things I’d rather find in my French toast than raisins. A hair, too short and coarse to have come from a head, for one. Arsenic residue for two. And a thumb tack for three. But for some reason, even knowing it comes with raisins, I still occasionally order French toast at The Local (complimentary pub restaurant open from 6am-3:30am) and contemplate going back to school to become a real doctor after precisely removing every trace of raisin prior to consuming.

Anyway, everything else was delicious and this remains one of my regular and favorite breakfast spots. Here’s what I ordered and the menu:

Photo 1: French toast Photo 2: Post surgical French toast Photo 3: Breakfast sandwich (hold the ham) Photo 4: Seasonal fruit salad photo 5: Menu

This is my first cruise since turning Sapphire on NCL (meaning I’ve spent roughly 150 days onboard) and I was eager to inquire about my new perks, including a special “dinner with officers.” So I stopped by the CruiseNext desk and asked my only burning question: “will the Captain be at the dinner?” to which I was told, “probably not, it could be anyone in a management position” to which I replied, “well in that case, I’ll pass. I don’t want to spend my dinner making small talk with the manager of the internet cafe while he complains about the 400 old ladies who are MY AGE who approached him at the desk that day inquiring as to why they need to turn on something called airplane mode on a cruise ship and doesn’t this place have a rotary phone they can use to call home to speak to their dog who suffers from anxiety. All while I’m wondering if I’ll ever have an opportunity to invite the Captain back to my swanky inside cabin to drink boxed water and snack on some buffet pizza from my mini-fridge.” To which the guy at the CruiseNext desk responded, “it seems like maybe you could benefit from the wine tasting event instead.” He also handed me this pin and tried to sell me some CruiseNext deposits which of course I purchased because, knowing me, I’ll probably be back on an NCL ship in like two weeks. Anyway, here’s some information about the Latitude events.

Pool Day Vibes + Hot Tip

Pool deck vibes on a sea day en route to Alaska. Hot tip: On a ship that sails to Alaska you want to be a hot tub. Why? Because you’re getting ALL the action. There’s probably also a lot of pee involved though, so I dunno. Maybe the thermal spa instead. For those wondering, even though it’s very cold outside, the pools and slides are open and they are running all the outdoor activities (Speedway, etc). They WILL close them for wind and rain though.

Behind the Scenes Tour

This afternoon I attended a complimentary Behind the Scenes ship tour offered as a loyalty perk to those Platinum and above. It was especially enjoyable for me, as we visited the largest galley onboard where a team of dedicated chefs work practically 24/7 preparing enough carbs and dessert to keep me satiated (there are several smaller galleys for the other 4,000 guests). Pictured here are my afternoon snacks and a Prof. Cruise-sized portion of pasta.

We also visited the laundry facility where I snapped some photos for those of you stuck at home, low key pissed at me for posting all of these cruise photos. To you I say, it could be worse, your laundry pile could look like this:

In all seriousness though, images of my fellow humans working 10-12 hour shifts below sea level at miserable, repetitive tasks like loading laundry machines gives me pause. I don’t have anything very profound or helpful to say about it other than simple luck of birth has allowed me this life where I get to travel the world, doing what I love and I will never take that for granted. And I hope I can pass along some of my good fortune where I can.

Dinner at Ocean Blue While change is rarely good when it comes to cruising (because it usually involves cost saving measures), I was thrilled with the fairly recent change to one of the loyalty perks on NCL.  Latitudes members Platinum and above receive two free meals at specialty restaurants, one of which includes a bottle of wine.  However, it used to be limited to the steakhouse and usually (depending on the ship) a choice between the Italian restaurant or the French restaurant.  However, now you can use the vouchers at almost any restaurant, so tonight I opted for a new one to me: Ocean Blue.   

Ocean Blue is primarily a seafood restaurant.  However, there are also a few land-sourced entrees and my meat eating friends will be shocked and elated to learn that tonight I ordered a steak.  Wait for it…

…a  cauliflower  steak.  

While as a vegetarian I’ve always found specialty dining on NCL especially frustrating (as quite a few of the restaurants don’t offer a single vegetarian entree on the menu), I was excited to see that Ocean Blue did.  And it was delicious!  Butchered and cooked to perfection (is it weird that I asked for a crucifer “good and bloody?”). However, as someone who equates blue cheese with toe jam-filled moldy gym socks, I was disappointed to see that the only vegetarian starter course came with a blue cheese.  You win some, you lose some.  But Ocean Blue fought her way back into my heart with her chocolate on chocolate (with a few pieces of caramel corn to make it Instagram worthy) Valrhona dark chocolate mousse cake.  Here’s everything I ordered:

Photo 1: Roasted cauliflower steak Photo 2: Steamed asparagus with hollandaise sauce Photo 3: Valrhona dark chocolate mousse cake Photo 4: Bread service Photo 5: Roasted beets (hold the blue “cheese”) Photo 6: Potatoes au gratin

Remember that all the menus I collected, including all the specialty restaurant menus, can be found posted HERE .

Production Show: The Choir of Man

Tonight I saw the Encore’s production of “Choir of Man.” This British musical created by Nic Doodson and Andrew Kay is set in a pub called “The Jungle” and features a cast of nine supremely talented musicians and vocalists. While short on plot, it couldn’t be more entertaining. From fresh arraignments of popular pop and rock songs to monologues written by performance poet Ben Norris to the working on-stage bar used before the show to serve up beers to those of us in the audience too cheap to purchase a beverage package, I’d have stayed for the second show at 10pm if I didn’t have to pee (note to self: go lighter on the free beer next time) and it wasn’t already an hour past my bedtime ( #oldandlame ).

In addition to being licensed by NCL to be performed on the Escape and Encore, it’s been seen at well-known venues around the world including the Sydney Opera House, the Arts Theater on the West End, and at the Moore Theater in my home city of Seattle. Speaking of which, I would have paid more to see this one show in Seattle than I paid for my entire cruise fare! And I hardly would have enjoyed it as my stomach slowly ate itself because I couldn’t afford dinner. I love cruising! And I LOVED this show. If you’re booked on the Encore, don’t miss it! You can make reservations in advance via the app, book once onboard, or join the standby line 15 minutes before show time (it wasn’t a full house tonight).

Day 3: Juneau

Buffet Breakfast

I decided to practice portion control at breakfast this morning, so I hit the buffet.  And by portion control, I mean none of those “reasonable” portion sizes served in the main dining rooms.  I subscribe to the Texas philosophy when it comes to breakfast: bigger = better. A few words about the breakfast offerings at the buffet.  You’ll find all the standard American favorites: breakfast meats, eggs (scrambled, cooked to order, and custom omelettes), breakfast potatoes, pancakes, French toast, waffles, toast, bagels, English muffins, fruit, packaged yogurt, individual-sized boxes of cereal, hot cereal (oatmeal, cream of wheat), and pastries.  But here are the items I especially love: 1. Asian offerings Before I “retired,” approximately 30 years before a respectable retirement age, to cruise with abandon, I worked as a college professor and used to take my students to China each summer where I grew accustomed to our daily breakfast feasts including garlic rice with egg.  So I was thrilled to see garlic rice this morning on the Encore’s buffet (it was a glaring omission on my Bliss cruise a few weeks back).  Not only is it delicious (mix it with a bit of scrambled egg and some extra scallions and fried onions), but it will guarantee you have your own row on your tour bus later in the afternoon (or in my case, my own tram car to scale Mt Roberts in Juneau: “Okay dragon breath, this one’s all yours – enjoy the views and hit the pharmacy for some Listerine later or risk being declared a biohazard and required to roll around in some sawdust before re-boarding your ship). There are also several delicious Indian breakfast options (although the selection is more limited than what it was on the Bliss). 2. Hot iced cinnamon rolls These are only available in one spot on the buffet (in the middle area), so be sure to look for them!  Think of it as a delicious scavenger hunt! 3. Yogurt bar Top some plain yogurt with granola (praise be, there were NO RAISINS I had to sift through like I was panning for gold), walnuts, frozen berries, and honey (available near the coffee stations).  Way better than those yogurt parfaits you spend $45 for at the airport.

Lunch at Savor (complimentary MDR)

Today I enjoyed the 3rd of 3 rotating lunch menus on NCL. Somehow I missed it on the Bliss a few weeks ago, which I used to justify asking “how many portions of corn chowder do you have back there because that’s how many I plan to order.” Be sure to arrive to lunch early enough to be first in line if you end up on a ship with me or risk hearing, “I’m so sorry, but we’ve run out of the chowder” at 12:01pm.

Here’s what I ordered:

Photo 1: Raspberry panna cotta Photo 2: Mocha pot de crème Photo 3: Spanish frittata Photo 4: Corn chowder

The Bliss Joins us in Juneau

OMG, this is SO awkward. I was all torn up parting from the Bliss a few weeks ago and now she catches me onboard her SISTER like what we had meant nothing. In my defense, I caught her in an intimate moment with Holland America’s ms Noordam (I enter photo #2 into evidence).

Anyway, we’ve arrived at our first Alaska port, Juneau, and despite the cold temp and drizzly rain (last week’s cruise had blue skies and sun – be prepared for ANY conditions cruising to Alaska), the excitement is palpable. I love, love, love watching people experience this magical place for the first time. It’s one of the many, many things that keep me coming back over and over (and over) again.

Some scenes from my port day in Juneau. I hiked the Mt Roberts trail and used my Goldbelt excursion voucher (free with my $50 excursion credit) to ride the tram back down.

Photo 10: Ship peeping. Illegal in 49 states, but thankfully they don’t believe in government overreach here.

Fruit and Vegetable Carving

Fruit and vegetable carving, because sculptures are the only thing fruit and vegetables should be used for on a cruise ship.

Day 3 MDR Dinner

Tonight I dined in the MDR for the first time on this sailing, opting for Savor because it opened the earliest (5:30pm – we were at port late into the evening so the dinner hours for the main dining rooms were different from usual). While some fight against Father Time by acting younger than their biological age, I can’t wait to be of an appropriate age to dine at 4:30 without drawing any eyebrow raises or sarcastic comments like, “I think you left your walker back at your cabin.” Which I actually don’t take offense to, because I’ve been eyeing one of those walkers with a built-in seat for years – in fact waiting in line to disembark in Juneau yesterday I added it to my packing list for my next cruise in June (my kid will probably try to steal it though, so I’m hoping they sell them in a two pack).

Anyway, tonight I ordered a Waldorf salad which, while delicious, always reminds me of a dish you’d throw together with the remaining few items in your fridge just prior to a move – hmmmm, I’ve got lettuce, an apple, a celery stalk, some walnuts, and a nearly empty jar of mayo.

Here’s everything I ordered:

Photo 1: Rigatoni primavera with pesto Photo 2: Waldorf salad Photo 3: Brownie s’more Photo 4: Bananas foster Photo 5: Where is everyone? Oh right, the garlic breakfast rice.

Remember that all the menus I collected, including all the MDR dinner menus can be found posted HERE .

Buffet Snack

Day 4: Skagway

Stabbing and Skagway Part I: “Summit Scenic Drive” Excursion

First, regarding the stabbing that occurred onboard the Encore on Monday and the arrest of a crew member in Juneau yesterday, I know nothing beyond the news articles I’ve received. As isn’t uncommon in my regular life, you all know much more than I do! I haven’t seen anything unusual and, so far, there has been no talk of it onboard. I deeply appreciate so many of you reaching out to make sure I’m okay though – thank you for that. And my heart goes out to the woman who was injured and her travel-mates and family and friends back home.

Hmmm, not sure how to transition from “woman stabbed” to “here’s what I did in Skagway today.” It’s probably best to just cut and paste a description of the excursion I did from the app, so I won’t accidentally say anything insensitive like “the wind was cutting” (it was though). So, here’s the description of the “Summit Scenic Drive:” Travel a picturesque highway that follows a trail created during the Gold Rush of 1898. Snap pictures while pausing at scenic lookouts with views of glaciers and waterfalls. Stop at the summit of White Pass, which marks the U.S. and Canadian border. Hear enlightening commentary that describes the area’s history and attractions.

While I almost never book cruise ship excursions anymore (they’re overpriced and often not that great), this one was 100% worth the price I paid for it: $0! I had a $50 per port shore excursion credit and this excursion was priced at $49. And it actually turned out to be a fairly enjoyable tour, one I would recommend as an inexpensive (or FREE) alternative to the White Pass Scenic Railway. It was a small bus (instead of a giant coach that takes half the allotted tour time to load and unload), our guide was informative and friendly, the scenery was beautiful (especially once we reached the tundra where it was snowing), and I enjoyed the company of my seat-mate who turned out to live near Seattle and recognized me from the blog. Best of all, it ran on-time and was over in 1.5 hours so I had plenty of morning left to explore a new trail system. Stay tuned!

Skagway Part II: Hiking Skagway

I spent the rest of my port day in Skagway exploring a new (to me) trail system within walking distance of the cruise ship piers. On my many prior visits here, I’ve covered the Dewey Lake trail system extensively and have hiked both upper and lower Reid Falls. Today I headed in the opposite direction toward Yakutana Point/Smugglers Cove/A.B. Mountain/Pet Cemetery.

Photo 1: Pedestrian Bridge. I was so thankful for my “cruise 15” because it saved me from blowing off the pedestrian bridge (one must cross in order to access this trail system) and into the Skagway River. I’m not sure the temp of that thing, but it’s glacial fed, so I’m assuming it’s not my preferred 101 degrees.

Photo 2-4: Views from Smugglers Cove.

Photo 5: A sketchy cave I ventured into in search of a bear to spoon (what, it was cold).

Photo 6: The outhouse I found five minutes after squatting down to pee behind a boulder before realizing I was in full display of two cruise ships on the other side of me. If you caught the show, I blame my attentive waiter at breakfast who kept offering me more juice.

Photo 7-8: The Pet Cemetery where I paid my respects to Patches, Muluk, Boomer, Chelsea, Jenny, and Hobbes.

If you accidentally find yourself at the ice cream station in the Encore buffet after a chilly port day in Skagway, warm up with some hot made-to-order noodle soup.

Night 4 MDR Dinner

I’m neither an NCL loyalist/cheerleader nor am I a complainer – I’ll give it to you straight, but I’m nearly always happy just to be at sea with unlimited carbs and dessert. So, while I noticed some pretty significant cuts to the MDR dinner menu last night, new since my cruise on the Bliss just a few weeks ago, I didn’t bother mentioning them because I still enjoyed a great meal. But tonight? Some plan their specialty restaurant nights around prime rib or lobster, well I plan mine around skillet cornbread. And tonight was supposed to be skillet cornbread night! My waitress expressed concern that perhaps I’d lost a contact when she noticed me rooting around under my table to which I responded, “I see just fine, but for some reason I can’t find the skillet cornbread anywhere!”

I’ll continue to sail on NCL like 8 million times a year, but they WILL be hearing from me in ALL CAPS on my post-cruise survey and I’m thinking about calling in a tip to CBS. Yes, there’s that “other story” that all the networks are covering, but the real scoop? Cornbread!

Photo 1: Not skillet cornbread Photo 3: Not skillet cornbread Photo 4: Not skillet cornbread Photo 5: Not skillet cornbread Photo 5: An empty Manhattan Room. Because…no skillet cornbread!

Day 5: Glacier Bay National Park

Guess what today is? No, it’s not my birthday, but I accept gifts of chocolate and cruise credit 365. It’s Glacier Bay Day! And I’m giddier than a kid on Christmas morning waiting for the adults to finish their cigarettes and vodka/O.J.s out in the garage so she can open her presents (hopefully chocolate and cruise credit…I’m just going to keep dropping those hints). But seriously, speaking of gifts, I do accept chocolate and cruise credit. And also, I’m going to gift myself a day of quiet reflection to soak up the ethereal beauty of this spectacular place and won’t be posting again until this evening. In the meantime, for those lucky enough to be booked on an itinerary that includes Glacier Bay, here are my 17 tips for maximizing your day there.

Cruise Alaska: Top Tips For Maximizing Your Day In Glacier Bay

Glacier Bay

From the glacial-carved mountains formed over hundreds of years to the glaciers themselves, continuing to change the landscape little by little in front of our very eyes. From the mother otters riding babies on their bellies to the mountain goats using cloven hooves to scale cliff sides, causing observers to speculate that they must be attached to invisible safety ropes descending from rafters in the sky. From graceful sea birds to thundering humpback whales. From quiet moments of solitude and reflection to the collective gasps of ship-mates gathered together from all over the world, briefly putting aside their differences to share with each other a place so few will ever be lucky enough to experience. From the smell of winter to the bite of cold on cheeks to the snowflakes landing on outstretched tongues. From the hot chocolate warming hands to the enriching commentary challenging minds. Today, despite my having been here over a dozen times before, was nothing short of…magic. John Muir, in “Travels in Alaska,” perfectly captures how I feel about Glacier Bay and why I’ll continue coming here again and again: “So abundant and novel are the objects of interest in a pure wilderness that unless you are pursuing special studies it matters little where you go, or how often to the same place. Wherever you chance to be always seems at the moment of all places the best; and you feel that there can be no happiness in this world or in any other for those who may not be happy here.”

Photos 1: Park ranger morning introduction (7:30am in the Observation Lounge) Photo 2-3: Margarie Glacier (arrival time approximately 9am) Photo 4: Park rangers transferring to their smaller vessel to head home Photo 5: Park ranger presentation (1:30pm in the main theater) Photo 6: Lamplugh Glacier (covered in freshly fallen snow) Photo 7: Sailing through the Tarr Inlet

Lunch at The Local

While my goal is always to spend 25/24 hours outside on Glacier Bay day, I did venture inside to marathon eat lunch at The Local and to thaw my fingers and knock the icicles off my nose.

Because my brain was also half way toward a full cryogenic freeze and not capable of its usual introverted restraint, I went bold and ordered a “veggie burger” off-menu which they happily accommodated. So I decided to accept a challenge from my friend David, who’d heard there might be an off-menu hot fudge sundae available at The Local. My waitress responded to this second request by saying, “now you’re pushing your luck. What can I bring you next, some king crab and caviar?” to which I responded, “no thanks, I’m a vegetarian, just the sundae please.” Suffice it to say, I didn’t receive the sundae (I went with the best carrot cake at sea, or on land for that matter, instead) and will undoubtedly be a topic of conversation (consternation?) at the crew bar tonight.

The Best Dessert on the Encore

The best dessert on the Encore (so far – there’s still time for others to step up): Room service chocolate cake. There’s a $9.95 fee for room service delivery ($4.95 at breakfast) or you can mooch off your neighbor like I did (when I asked what they were doing for lunch upon seeing them in the hall, they said they were ordering room service and I was like, sooooooo…).

Night 5 dinner in the MDR

Photo 1: Fig and apple cobbler Photo 2: Carrot cake (sugar free) Photo 3: Potato gnocchi Photo 4: Mozzarella and plum tomatoes Photo 5: Hello? Anyone? I’m not much of a conversationalist, but at least I remembered to pack deodorant for once.

Day 6: Ketchikan

Port Day in Ketchikan (Ward Cove)

This morning I celebrated my 18th birthday out on the trails near the Ward Cove cruise ship pier wondering why I have the endurance and wrinkles of a 40-something-year-old. I also signed up for a wine tasting later, but now I’m wondering if they’ll turn me away for not being of drinking age. Anyway, it was a gorgeous day, overcast and cool in the morning (perfect for hiking), with blue skies and sun arriving just in time for a spectacular sail away. Here are some photos and highlights of my last port day in Alaska:

Photo 1: The Spirit docked next to us at Ward Cove. I love her both because I enjoyed an epic voyage on her through Hawaii AND Alaska a few years ago and also because I understand what it’s like to be towered over by much taller relatives.

Photo 2: While it’s a long-ish walk from the cruise pier to the trail system I hiked today, you could always just photograph the lovely views from the road and *pretend* you hiked.

Photo 3: Me to this slug: “You’re the whitest slug I’ve even seen.” Slug back to me: “I could say the same thing about you, lady.”

Photo 4: If a tree falls on Prof. Cruise in the forest, will her fellow passengers be thrilled with the sudden abundance of fried rice and desserts?

Photo 5: Perseverance Lake. There wasn’t any sun, but I donned the rainbow mirrored sunglasses for this photo because all the cool and successful cruise content creators wear them. I’m anticipating an increase in followers of at least 5, probably because they can’t see my face and think I’m someone else.

Photos 6: Nature’s stair stepper. I may actually have the ass of an 18-year-old after that!

Photo 7-9: Some additional scenery from the Frog Pond Trail —-> Perseverance Trail —-> Minerva Mountain Trail.

Photo 10: Sail away from Ward Cove.

Wines Around the World

I know less about wine than nuclear physics; I care less about wine than NFL football (even though I live within walking distance of the Seahawks stadium, I can’t name a single player); and I’d rather drink the juices of a wrung out mop after a weekend shift at Waffle House. Even so (and please forgive me for everything I just said, having managed to once again offend 100% of my readers), I always really enjoy Wines Around the World, which is a complimentary wine tasting for Latitudes members (that’s NCL’s loyalty program) who are Platinum and above.

There were four different stations set up at Cellars/Onda, representing four different countries: Italy, France, Argentina, and the United States. We tasted two wines, a red and white, from each country, for a total of eight wines. For each wine we learned about where the grapes were grown and how the location affected the characteristics of the wine. Information about acidity, tannins, sweetness and alcohol content was also provided. We were able to rinse our wine glasses out after each pour and crunchy breadsticks were provided as a palate cleansers. Pours were generous, so while I’m normally a cheap drunk, today I was a free drunk!

While Wines Around the World is complimentary for those Platinum and above, it’s required that you register in advance. Stop by the CruiseNext desk on embarkation day to find out when and where it will take place and to sign up (today it was at 1pm).

Night 6 Dinner in the MDR

Dinner, normally my most anticipated and pleasurable time of day (because it’s the largest meal), began tonight with an ugly episode of hives, triggered by my fear of seeded bread (which I love, but which also usually brings the “scrapper of shame”) and olives (which belong on the fingers of 4-year-olds, not anywhere near a tastebud).

When the section supervisor noticed my distress, she validated my concerns and agreed to personally inspect my puttanesca for olives and hold my hand and play some serene music through headphones for me during the crumb removal procedure.

While that last paragraph was a poor attempt at fiction writing, the service I’ve received in the MDR so far this sailing has been almost that outstanding. Tonight the section supervisor stopped by my table no fewer than 3 times (maybe because I was pretty much the only person in The Manhattan Room again, so making her rounds basically involved a continual loop around my table) and my waitress never let my water glass get below 90% full.

Turns out there was only 1/4 an olive in my entire entree and the crumbs were removed from my tablecloth before I even had time to caste my eyes down in shame. All’s well that ends well and tonight ended with Snickers pound cake and eclairs.

Photo 1: Snickers pound cake Photo 2: Eclairs Photo 3: Bread of shame Photo 4: Baked Brie salad Photo 5: Spaghetti puttanesca Photo 6: 1/4th an olive too many Photo 7: Zombie apocalypse?

Aurora Borealis

Only two things will get me up in the middle of the night on a cruise. A midnight buffet (RIP) and this…

Day 7: Sea Day/Victoria

Beatles Invasion: The Later Years

Mystery Solved!

Photo 1: Roasted vegetable salad with (no) goat cheese Photo 2: Spinach and ricotta stuffed pepper Photo 3: Nutella crème brûlée Photo 4: Warm chocolate lava cake Photo 5: Bread service

Victoria, B.C.

Yes, cruise ships on closed-loop Alaska sailings from US ports (mostly Seattle and San Francisco) are required to stop in Victoria, BC in order to comply with the Passenger Vessel Services Act. And yes, most 7-night itineraries don’t arrive in Victoria until later in the evening (most around 8pm). But you should NOT consider this a wasted port stop or elect to stay on your ship. I WILL travel from my home in Seattle to drag you off. But I shouldn’t have to, because you should be lining up hours early in the stairwell (prompting multiple announcements to “please make yourself comfortable in one of our public spaces until the ship is cleared”) to feast your eyes on these views (all these photos were taken on a short walk from my ship, but downtown Victoria is also gorgeous at night and easy to get to via shuttle bus or a long walk)…

Earlier this afternoon, we had the opportunity to acknowledge and thank officers and crew from each department as part of NCL’s traditional farewell event. While my eye was on the Captain and his humble, shy manner (or maybe he was just trying to avoid eye contact with me so I wouldn’t pass out, causing a “code alpha”), it was the “washy washy” guys who stole the show.

While I’m not sure how much crew members actually enjoy this event, I always find it quite moving, especially this time. There was a deluge of media attention around the stabbing that took place on our sailing, but the real story of every cruise is how crew members from dozens of different countries (65 on the Encore) leave their homes, families, and communities to work long hours for months at a time in order to make a better life for themselves and their loved ones. And they bring the richness of their stories, experiences, and traditions to those of us lucky enough to be onboard as passengers. I’m thankful to every one of them and hope the cruise industry is a net positive in their lives (it certainly isn’t perfect).

I also want to acknowledge all the wonderful fellow passengers and locals I met on this sailing. From the pair of first-time cruising sisters I sat next to at embarkation day lunch to the woman celebrating her 90th birthday to those who recognized me from my blog or social media sites and took the time to introduce themselves and offer some (far too) kind words about my content, to those “online friends” I finally met in person. I know we don’t all see eye to eye on everything in our “real lives,” but out at sea all that falls away. With the vast ocean below us and the vast sky above us, we bond over a shared passion, a good meal, a whale spout, a glacier calving, and ribbons of light dancing around us in the quiet dark of night.

And finally, for those of you who followed along with me at home, thank you for making me laugh and laughing at my dumb jokes, sharing your amazing experiences and photos, calling me out when I got something wrong, and teaching me far more than I could ever teach you.

So with that, cruise on and…

Class Dismissed.

Homework (10 points): Go here to check out all my posts related to the Encore and be sure to follow Prof. Cruise on social media:

Bonus Cruising Pro Tip

Never purchase cruise insurance through NCL. You’ll pay more and get less than if you purchase it on your own. Use a site like TravelInsurance.com * to compare rates and plans and get exactly what you want for the least amount of money. Savings can be significant and mean more to spend onboard, at port, or on another cruise!

Carnival Takes An Ax To Popular Seaday Brunch Menu (See The New Menu Here)

October 2, 2022

 by Prof. Cruise · Published October 2, 2022

Carnival Pride Ship Review

April 25, 2019

 by Prof. Cruise · Published April 25, 2019 · Last modified June 26, 2019

5 Packing Tips for a Christmas Cruise

December 2, 2022

 by Prof. Cruise · Published December 2, 2022

6 Responses

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I was on this same cruise with you. I laughed until I almost wet myself. Thank you for this!

Hahaha! I’m always happy when someone gets my weird sense of humor. *high five!* Hope you had a fabulous cruise! Too bad we didn’t get the chance to meet.

Congrats on Sapphire level. How many desserts per Latitude point does it take to reach sapphire? Our sense of the Encore sister ship the Getaway was that the rooms, balconies and hallways were smaller. At first I thought I had gained 50 pounds just thinking about all the food onboard, then we measured. Do you think this was a way to increase capacity without having to increase ship size?

That’s an interesting calculation regarding dessert. I’m a little scared of the answer. lol. Yes, I do think it has everything to do with increasing passenger capacity.

On the NCL Encore, if you have connecting rooms, will you be able to open the balcony partition to enjoy a larger space?

I found the food on encore subpar! Seriously I don’t want to see Turkey medallions on the main dining room menus! They could cook seafood to save their lives. Everything was cooked till rubbery! I had chicken Madeira one night and it was rubbery and the sauce tasted like flour. The only thing good in mdr was breakfast. Breakfast at the buffet was horrible!we actually had better meals at the the local and American diner. I’ve never seen such poor food choices!

• Next story Princess Alaska Dinner Menus 2024
• Previous story NCL Encore Menus 2024

About Prof. Cruise

Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. With a concentration in cruising.  Home port: Seattle.  Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human.  Lover of books and dessert.  Fancies herself a bit of a comedian – you’ve been warned.

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20 Ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet

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Norwegian Joy Overview

The innovative Norwegian Joy cruise ship offers tasty buffet options, choice cuts of Angus beef, delicious pasta, French cuisine, grills, on-the-go choices, a variety of casual cafés and other exciting culinary pleasures on board. Race your friends on Norwegian Joy's iconic electric go-kart track, or take a day at the AquaPark; and that's just where the fun starts! World-class entertainment is also on board, featuring ELEMENTS, a triple threat performance that captures the essences of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Whether you're in it for all the activities, or simply looking for a place to relax, Norwegian Joy has it all.

• Passenger Capacity: 3,852 (double occupancy)
• Year Built: 2017
• Last Refurbished: 2024

• Mandara Spa & Salon Located on Deck 16, this rejuvenating, invigorating and relaxing haven is the best place to nourish your body and soul with a luxurious massage, revitalizing skin treatment, mani-pedi and other full-service salon-style treatments. You will thank yourself later for this heavenly pampering session.  

• The Waterfront Connect with the ocean like never before on Norwegian Joy's quarter-mile oceanfront promenade as you bask in the world around you while enjoying signature dishes from specialty dining venues. It is one thing to enjoy nature, and another thing to relish in the simplest things we hardly embrace. Take in this great panorama for a lifetime of memories.  

• Race Track Challenge friends and family to a thrilling race right on the two-level race track, which is the first ever at sea.  

• Aqua Park Race down the thrilling Aqua Racer, slide down the exciting Ocean Loop, or both multiple times!  

• Mini Golf Challenge friends and family to a game on this 5-hole mini golf course, which has obstacles designed for all skill levels.  

• Splash Academy The kids will have an amazing time in the Splash Academy, where they will participate in creative play, sports and more. The kids will have a blast in their own area and the adults will enjoy some much needed alone time.  

• Elements This dazzling show has a little bit of everything! It has mesmerizing magic, flying, exciting music and dance. Plus, it was inspired by the four elements of Earth, Air, Water & Fire. Elements is a visual delight that you don't want to miss.  

• Ocean Blue This specialty restaurant serves the freshest seafood at sea! Whether you choose to dine inside or oceanside on The Waterfront, you are guaranteed to enjoy fresh, locally-sourced seafood prepared in delicious and flavorful ways.  

• Teppanyaki Don't miss out on this authentic Japanese restaurant! Gather round a lively shared table and watch as the skilled chef slides, chops, and grills steak, seafood and chicken right before your eyes.  

• American Diner Craving some classic diner food? Thankfully the American Diner on Norwegian Joy is there to satisfy your craving! Choose from a diverse menu of classic comfort foods, including burgers, fried chicken, pot pies and more!  

• The Haven The Haven is truly a hidden gem on Norwegian Joy. Located at the top of the ship, The Haven features Norwegian's most luxurious accommodations, complete with a 24-hour butler service, concierge service, private sundeck and exclusive restaurant.  

• Concierge Ideal for guests who enjoy the finer things in life, the concierge staterooms feature elegant touches, spacious and luxurious accommodations, concierge service and private dining.  

• Mini-Suite Perfect for families or a couple looking for a bit more room, the mini-suites feature luxurious accents and enough to space to make lifelong memories.  

• Balcony You've never had this kind of view before, floor-to-ceiling doors will open to your very own private balcony where you can enjoy the sea breeze rustling through your hair. The staterooms themselves will have stylish and sophisticated elements to make your cruise comfortable and elegant.  

• Oceanview You'll enjoy a comfortable and stylish stateroom with plenty of natural light!  

• Inside The most affordable option still has plenty of style and sophistication. Let the waves gently rock you to sleep each night.  

Norwegian Joy Cruise Destinations

Travel the world on Norwegian cruises! This fantastic cruise line boasts over 120 different ports of call, located in countries all over the world. Norwegian Cruise Line is always breaking new ground in their itinerary offerings. You can choose from over 145 different itineraries, each of which has been carefully chosen to present the destination in a unique and exciting way. Kick back on the beautiful beaches of the Bahamas. Become a culinary expert in the Mediterranean. Golf on professional links in Bermuda. Explore the wonders of South America. Enjoy the colors of New England in the fall. Or even sail the Panama Canal!

The scenic beauty of an Alaska cruise will brighten your spirit—from breaching whales to snow-capped peaks.

Tropical treats lie ahead: snorkeling, sunbathing, soothing breezes and more on a Bahamas cruise.

Luxurious tropical days can be spent on the white-sand beaches or on the links during your Bermuda cruise.

Colonial. Clam Chowder. Colorful Vistas. Cruise to Canada and New England for all of this and more.

Eastern Caribbean

Magnificent days at the beach, tasty fare, and sun-soaked excursions lie awaiting you in the Eastern Caribbean.

Mexican Riviera

Culinary excellence, romance, and some shipwreck adventures—Mexico cruising.

Panama Canal

Experience the overwhelming sight of the Panama Canal and its surrounding attractions for your next cruise.

Western Caribbean

Mayan ruins will astound you and Jamaican fare will delight you on a cruise to the Western Caribbean.

Norwegian Joy Departure Ports

Looking for a getaway without the need to fly far, then Norwegian has options for you. The cruise line has ships leaving from New York, Boston, Miami, New Orleans and Seattle. If you do want to travel abroad they have ships in Europe leaving from ports like Venice, Barcelona and Copenhagen. Isn’t it time for you to cruise with Norwegian. Check out all of their itineraries on our site and then call us to discuss the best vacation option for you with our expert cruise consultants. 

The possibilities are endless when cruising to or from the City of Angels. Let your inner rock star shine as you explore the many wonders of Los Angeles, California.

In Miami, you’ll enjoy a small taste of the tropical weather many of you will experience during your cruise, and you’ll see why Miami is one of the most popular places to live in America.

Take in the incredible art scene of New York City, expand your cultural horizons in the city’s diverse neighborhoods and marvel at the architectural wonders.

The seafood is fresh, the sun is shining and there’s a whole lot to do, so get out there and explore the city before, during and after your cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Quebec City, Quebec

It’s easy to be wowed by Quebec City as Old World Europe is mixed with North American cultures alongside breathtaking landscapes and the flowing Saint Lawrence River.

On a cruise from San Francisco you can experience all that the ‘City by the Bay’ has to offer, from its artistic, forward-looking culture to the beautiful coastline.

Known as The Emerald City, Seattle is a beautiful, luscious city with incredible views of the Cascade Mountains and Elliott Bay. The city is full of activities for both water lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Norwegian Joy Deck Plans

Deck eleven, deck twelve, deck thirteen, deck fourteen, deck fifteen, deck sixteen, deck seventeen, deck eighteen, deck ninteen, deck twenty, norwegian joy staterooms.

Balcony (BT)

Balcony (bb).

Enjoy easy access to all the delicious dining and exciting activities on board from your stateroom that includes two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and additional bedding for up to 2 guests.

Balcony (BF)

Balcony (bx), balcony (bc).

Enjoy easy access to all the outdoor fun on the top decks. Your stateroom includes two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and some feature additional bedding for up to 2 guests.

Balcony (B4)

Ideal for the whole family, these staterooms include two lower beds, with additional bedding for up to two guests.

Balcony (BA)

Balcony (MC)

Located mid-ship with easy access to everything, these Mini-Suites feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed, sofa bed, some feature additional bedding for 1, and a private balcony.

Balcony (CC)

Located mid-ship with easy access to everything, these Villas feature two lower beds that convert to a queen size bed, a double sofa bed, and private balcony.

Balcony (B8)

Perfect for families or groups, these staterooms offer adjoining stateroom options and include two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and additional bedding for up to 2 guests.

Balcony (CF)

Perfect if you want to bring the kids, these Family cabins include two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a living area with double sofa bed and bathtub.

Balcony (B1)

These staterooms include two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and are aft-facing, so the view from your private balcony is amazing.

Balcony (B6)

These staterooms offer incredible views from the large balcony, two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and additional bedding to sleep one or two more.

These staterooms offer incredible views from the private balcony. Some include additional bedding for one.

Balcony (BD)

Inside (IT)

Inside (ix), inside (i1).

An affordable family option, these staterooms include two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and two pullman beds.

Inside (I4)

Inside (ia), inside (ic).

These staterooms include two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed.

Inside (IF)

These staterooms include two lower beds. Some connect.

Inside (IB)

Inside (id).

Oceanview (OT)

Oceanview (o8).

Located mid-ship and connecting with another oceanview stateroom, you will have easy access to everything and room to spread out. These staterooms feature a large picture window and two single beds that convert to a queen-size bed.

Oceanview (OX)

Located mid-ship, you will have easy access to everything. These staterooms feature a large picture window and two single beds that convert to a queen-size bed.

Oceanview (O1)

Perfect for families, these staterooms are near the kids' area and include two single beds that convert to a queen, a bathtub and additional bedding that can accommodate three guests. Sleeps up to five.

Oceanview (O4)

Oceanview (o5), oceanview (oa).

Perfect for families, these staterooms include two single beds that convert to a queen-size bed, a bathtub, and additional bedding.

Oceanview (OB)

These staterooms feature a large picture awindow and two single beds that convert to a queen-size bed.

These staterooms feature a large picture window and two single beds that convert to a queen-size bed.

Enjoy a private balcony with amazing views from these Mini-Suites which feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed.

Featuring a king-size bed, sofa bed and some include an additional pullman bed. With a private balcony, these Mini-suites also offer amazing views.

Featuring two lower beds that convert, a Murphy bed and private balcony.

Located forward or mid-ship , these Mini-Suites feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed, sofa bed, some feature additional bedding for up to two, and a private balcony.

Located in The Haven, these Suites offer amazing ocean views, a wet bar and spacious balconies. They include a king-size bed, two bathrooms and additional bedding.

Perfect for groups for families together, these staterooms connect to another mini-suite or balcony stateroom. Located mid-ship with easy access to everything, these Mini-Suites feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed, sofa bed, some feature additional bedding for 1, and a private balcony. Some connect with M8, others with B8.

Perfect for the family, these Villas are located in The Haven and feature two bedrooms, one with a king-size bed, the other with a double sofa bed, plus additional bedding and two bathrooms.

Perfect for the family, these Villas have a convenient mid-ship location and feature a separate bedroom, double sofabed and Murphy bed. Hang out with the gang and enjoy the view from your own private balcony.

Take in breathtaking forward-facing views. These Penthouses have access to The Haven and feature a king-size bed plus dining and sitting areas.

These Family Mini-Suites include a pullman bed, single sofa bed and bathtub. Hang out with the gang and enjoy the view from your own private balcony.

These Penthouses are located in The Haven and include a king-size bed and single sofabed, plus a private balcony with a fantastic view.

These Penthouses have access to The Haven and offer a king-size bed and additional bedding for three, as well as living and dining areas. With a convenient mid-ship location, they offer a fantastic view from the private balcony.

These Penthouses located in The Haven feature a king-size bed and additional bedding to accommodate up to three guests. Admire the spectacular ever-changing views from the balcony.

With access to The Haven, these Penthouses feature a king-size bed plus dining and sitting areas. They offer unforgettable aft-facing views.

With enough room for the entire family, these spacious suites offer amazing forward-facing views and are close to the action of the upper decks. These suites feature a king-size bed and have access to The Haven.

With forward facing views and connecting to a balcony stateroom these staterooms are the best way to experience the luxury and amenities of The Haven and bring the whole family along in an adjoining balcony stateroom.

Photo Gallery for Norwegian Joy Cruise Ship

Before you experience “Freestyle Cruising” with Norwegian check out this photo gallery which features many of their ships, specialty dining options and innovative staterooms. 

Aerial view of Norwegian Joy

Go Carts aboard Norwegian Joy

Pool Deck aboard Norwegian Joy

Casino aboard Norwegian Joy

XD Theater aboard Norwegian Joy

Top 10 Norwegian Joy Cruises

• Norwegian Joy 8 Night Canada & New England - New York (NYC/QUE) Departing From New York, New York (Sep 2024 - Sep 2024)
• Norwegian Joy 7 Night Canada & New England - Other (QUE/NYC) Departing From Quebec City, Quebec (Sep 2024)
• Norwegian Joy 5 Night Bermuda - New York (NYC/NYC) Departing From New York, New York (Oct 2024 - Oct 2024)
• Norwegian Joy 4 Night Bermuda - New York (NYC/NYC) Departing From New York, New York (Oct 2024)
• Norwegian Joy 3 Night BAHAMAS - SHORT (MIA/MIA) Departing From Miami, Florida (Oct 2024 - Nov 2024)
• Norwegian Joy 7 Night Western Caribbean - Miami (MIA/MIA) Departing From Miami, Florida (Oct 2024 - Mar 2025)
• Norwegian Joy 15 Night Panama Canal - Miami (MIA/LAX) Departing From Miami, Florida (Nov 2024 - Mar 2025)
• Norwegian Joy 7 Night Mexican Riviera - Los Angeles (LAX/LAX) Departing From Los Angeles, California (Dec 2024 - Apr 2025)
• Norwegian Joy 16 Night Repo - Panama Canal (LAX/MIA) Departing From Los Angeles, California (Jan 2025)
• Norwegian Joy 16 Night Panama Canal - Miami (MIA/LAX) Departing From Miami, Florida (Jan 2025)

Learn More About Norwegian Cruise Line

Accessibility

Learn about Norwegian Cruise Line's handicap accessible cruises and accommodations for guests with special needs or disabilities, including service animals, Braille and special rooms.

Savor Freestyle dining aboard Norwegian Cruise Line, including the specialty restaurants like Ocean Blue, Cagney's, Le Bistro, Moderno Churrascaria, The Haven Restaurant, the main dining rooms and several pubs, bars, grills and cafes.

Entertainment

Enjoy Norwegian Cruise Line's onboard entertainment, including Broadway productions, comedy clubs, dueling pianos and much more.

Onboard Activities

Engage in Norwegian Cruise Line's onboard activities, including water parks, casinos, dance clubs, arcades, ropes courses, sports courts, duty-free shops and more.

Service & Awards

Learn how Norwegian Cruise Line takes care of your every need with an extensive list of onboard services. Plus, view Norwegian Cruise Line's awards.

Spa & Fitness

Participate in Norwegian Cruise Line's fitness centers, training programs and relax at spa treatments, including massages, body wraps, acupuncture, facials and more to relax and soothe.

Special Events

Learn about Norwegian Cruise Line's special themed cruises, including popular rock music themed cruises through a partnership with Sixthman.

Learn about Norwegian Cruise Line's staterooms, including suites, mini-suites, balconies, oceanviews, interiors and solo-traveler Studio rooms.

Youth Programs

Learn about Norwegian's Splash Academy youth programs and cruising with children of all ages.

Cruise Type

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Norwegian Jade

Cruise line Norwegian Cruise Line

• Miami (Florida)
• Vancouver (BC Canada)
• Whittier (Alaska)
• Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida)
• Tampa (Florida)

Norwegian Jade current position

Norwegian Jade current location is at North West Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 46.89833 N / -60.21216 W) cruising at speed of 17.3 kn (32 km/h | 20 mph) en route to CA SYD > CA CHA. The AIS position was reported 3 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Norwegian Jade

Norwegian Jade current cruise is 7 days, round-trip Canada New England Halifax Sydney . Prices start from USD 1450 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 29 Aug, 2024 and ends on 05 Sep, 2024 .

Specifications of Norwegian Jade

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Norwegian Jade Itineraries

Norwegian jade review, review of norwegian jade.

The 2006-built Norwegian Jade cruise ship is the 2nd of NCL Jewel-class liners, with sisterships Norwegian Gem , Norwegian Jewel , Norwegian Pearl .

The vessel (IMO number 9304057) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 308416000) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a subsidiary company of the shipping corporation Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). NCL was founded in 1966, headquartered in Miami (Florida USA) and publicly traded (NASDAQ) company listed on NYSE ( NYC ). NCLH's major shareholders are the corporations Apollo Global Management (American), Genting Group (Malaysian) and TPG Capital (American). In 2017, the brand NCL had a worldwide cruise market share 8,7% (passengers) and 8,4% (revenue). NCLH (shipowner) owns the brands NCL , Oceania and RSSC-Regent .

The 2200-passenger ship Norwegian Jade has a similar exterior appearance to the Norwegian Star (operational since 2001) and the Norwegian Dawn (2002). However, the interior design and amenities are quite different and merit Norwegian Jade having a Jewel Class design. All dining and entertainment options are almost the same on all ship owned by NCL. The unique thing on Norwegian Jade is that the vessel is definitely international. There are people from different countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Mexico, Japan.

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Jade staterooms (1201 total, in 36 grades) include 181x Suites, 360x Balcony, 243x Oceanview and 417 Inside cabins. Most staterooms are sized 140-160 ft2 (13-15 m2). The largest accommodations are the 3-Bedroom The Haven Garden Villa (2320 ft2 / 216 m2, with terrace sized 1035 ft2 / 96 m2).

The boat has 15 decks , of which 12 are passenger-accessible and 8 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

All meals are open seating and the choice of food is quite unrivaled, including from a steakhouse and Tepannyaki to French, Italian, tapas, sushi, buffets and even a 24-hour cafe, complete with English breakfast. Alizar and Grand Pacific are Norwegian Jade's main dining rooms. Open seating breakfast and lunch are provided in one of the two, both are open for dinner, and walk-ins are welcome in the evening. An electronic system onboard Norwegian Jade cuts down on wait times and lines in the restaurants. Monitors throughout the corridors reveal how busy the eateries are, with a bar ranging from green (come on in) to red (crowded). This screen acts as an electronic hostess and lets guests know how long the wait is for a table for four, for example, and where parties are being accepted.

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Jade restaurants and food bars.

• Alizar Restaurant (forward Dining Room, complimentary, with Your Time dining)
• Le Bistro (French speciality dinner-only restaurant; reservations-only; US$20 cover charge)
• Jasmine Garden (Asian restaurant, dinner-only, complimentary since 2015)
• Sushi Bar (10-seat Jasmine Garden restaurant, a la carte); Sake Bar (inside Jasmine Garden)
• Teppanyaki (Japanese Hibachi speciality, reservations-only restaurant; US$25; open for Lunch and Dinner; features live cooking demonstrations)
• Grand Pacific Restaurant (aft-location Dining Room; complimentary; Freestyle dining)
• Blue Lagoon (buffet restaurant for fast food; complimentary)
• Bali Hai Bar & Grill (complimentary fast food bar)
• Cagney’s Steakhouse (speciality dinner restaurant for prime steaks and gourmet seafood specialities; reservations-only, US$30 cover charge per person and free Kids Menu)
• Bali Hai Bar & Grill (complimentary burgers and grills)
• Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse; reservations-only; US$20 per person cover charge; with outdoor seating waterfront area; moved to deck 13 during 2017 refit and outfitted with floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass door entrance)
• La Cucina (Italian speciality restaurant; reservations-only, US$15 cover charge; with outdoor seating waterfront area); Papa's (Italian)
• Garden Cafe (complimentary buffet restaurant with various cuisine stations); Kid's Cafe
• The Great Outdoors (outdoor buffet restaurant, complimentary)
• Topsiders Bar & Grill (poolside, complimentary)
• O’Sheehan's Bar & Grill
• The Pit Stop (poolside grill).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The 2-level Stardust Theater is the main venue for Broadway- and Vegas-style reviews. The entertainment options range from the standard song and dance review or cabaret to the more offbeat sing-along. There is a nightly variable 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. show, with one comedy or variety act and one standard Vegas or Broadway revue. One of the most exciting experiences is the crew variety show, always held on the final evening. High atop the ship is the secondary showroom, Jade's Spinnaker Lounge. It serves different purposes during the day. In the afternoon, passenger participation games take place. At night, The Second City troupe features a mixture of comedy, lounge music, and cabaret. The ship also has 7 jacuzzis and 3 pools (Sapphire Kid’s Pool). Entertainment options also include the NCL's FIREWORKS show (on each voyage), "Rock of Ages", "Cirque Dreams", "Illusionarium" (magicians show).

Additional amenities include: Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("NCL Kids"), Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry. NCL Jade tipping/gratuities are US$12 pp per day. Norwegian Jade cruise ship not only allows weddings on board - she has a chapel.

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Jade lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Stardust Theatre (1042-seat; features Broadway-style musical productions; two grand shows per night)
• Bar City complex (Tankards Beer & Whisky Bar, Mixers Martini & Cocktail Bar and Magnum’s Champagne & Wine Bar); Cigar Bar; Topsiders Bar; Star Bar
• Medusa Lounge & Nightclub
• Spinnaker Lounge (394-seat, with floor-to-ceiling windows; serves as disco & night club); Java Cafe
• Aloha Atrium (2-deck midship hub area with a big-size LED screen, dance area and live entertainment)
• Atrium Cafe & Bar (speciality tea & coffee bar)
• Internet Cafe (24-hour); Art Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop
• LifeStyles Room; Library; Card Room;
• Jade Club Casino
• Galleria Boutiques/Shopping Alley (tax and duty-free shops)
• Ying & Yang Spa complex (Thermal Suite, Snow Room, Salt Room, Medi Spa, Smile Spa, Treatment Rooms, Beauty Salon, Barber Shop); Body Waves Fitness Centre; Waikiki Beach Pool; Sapphire Kid’s Pool
• Tree Top Kid’s Club; Wipe Out Teen’s Lounge & Disco Club; Video Games Arcade
• The Haven area Courtyard Fitness & Spa complex (Villas-guests only, Steam Room, Gym)
• Rock Climbing Wall; Combined sports court; Jogging Track; Golf Nets; Shuffleboard, Giant Chess
• During drydock 2017 refurbishment was added O’Sheehan's Bar & Grill, Sugarcane Mojito Bar, The Cellars (Mondavi Family Wine Bar), Los Lobos Cantina (Mexican restaurant), The Pit Stop (poolside grill), Bliss Ultra Lounge.

Itineraries

Norwegian Jade itinerary program is based on Mediterranean cruises from Civitavecchia-Rome and Venice to Turkey, Greece and the Greek Isles, and also to ports on the French and Italian Riviera coasts in the Western Mediterranean.

In 2017, for the first time ever, NCL homeported a ship (Jade) in Hamburg Germany . The itineraries were 6- and 8-night Western Europe, 8- and 9-night Norwegian Fjords, 11-night Norway and North Cape , and one 13-night Norway, Iceland and UK. Alternatively, roundtrip departures were offered from Amsterdam Holland and Southampton England .

In summer 2018, the ship had scheduled Norway, Iceland and North Cape cruises from Southampton and Hamburg. In 2018-2019, the ship offered Southern Caribbean itineraries from homeport Miami (Florida USA) - 11-day and 14-day roundtrip Panama Canal cruises from Tampa and Miami.

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in early-April 2021, NCL announced new schedules for the ships Jade (7-day Mediterranean-Greek Islands from Piraeus-Athens /starting July 25), Joy (7-day Caribbean from Montego Bay Jamaica /starting August 15) and Gem (7-day Caribbean from La Romana Dominican Republic /starting August 15). Previously, the boats were planned to restart as follows - Joy (October 19, 2021/Caribbean from Miami ), Gem (Oct 29, 2021/Bermuda from NYC ), Jade (January 2, 2022/South Africa from Cape Town).

The ship's winter 2021-2022 program (December thru February) was canceled. It featured NCL's first roundtrips from Cape Town South Africa . A 12-day "Extraordinary Journeys" included visits to Namibia ( Luderitz , Walvis Bay ) and Durban , with overnights in Richards Bay and Cape Town. NCL Jade restarted operations on March 3, 2022, in the Mediterranean.

Photos of Norwegian Jade

Norwegian Jade ship related cruise news

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Other Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ships

• Norwegian Aqua
• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Breakaway
• Norwegian Dawn
• Norwegian Encore
• Norwegian Epic
• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Gem
• Norwegian Getaway
• Norwegian Jewel
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Pearl
• Norwegian Prima
• Norwegian Sky
• Norwegian Spirit
• Norwegian Star
• Norwegian Sun
• Norwegian Viva
• Pride of America

Norwegian Jade Wiki

Between 2006 and 2008, this vessel served in the NCL America company’s fleet under the name "Pride of Hawaii". In NCL America's fleet, it had as a fleet mate the sistership Pride of Aloha (now Norwegian Sky).

The NCL Jade ship was christened on May 22, 2006, in a ceremony at San Pedro Pier in LA, California. The selection of Senator Inouye as "Godfather" of NCL Pride of Hawaii, was an innovative step by Norwegian since this role is traditionally played by women.

JADE is of the Jewel-class Norwegian vessels. Her sisters in the fleet are the NCL ships Gem , Jewel and Pearl . The initial intent was JADE to have a design similar to that of Pride of America but later was decided to be enlarged (NCL Jewel-design).

In 2007 the NCL company announced they will permanently relocate the vessel from Hawaii due to substantial revenue losses. In early 2008 NCLH deployed the ship in Europe. Its last Honolulu departure was on Feb 4, 2008. The vessel went to dry-dock for some changes (new livery, casino, new name) to become "Norwegian Jade". However, she still keeps her Hawaii-themed interior decor (many flowers and landscapes throughout onboard venues and public spaces).

JADE's Inaugural Cruise (Maiden Voyage) was on February 16, 2008 ( Panama Canal from Los Angeles to Miami ). The ship's first Captain was Frank Juliussen.

NCL Jade refurbishment 2017 review

Ship's 2017 drydock (March 7 - April 3) was in Freeport Bahamas and resulted in the following deckplan changes:

Atrium's décor was changed. The old chandelier was replaced with a new one.

Over 2250 new artworks were installed throughout the ship (including in all cabins).

All staterooms were updated and upgraded with new furniture, carpeting, flat TVs, bed headboards (with USB outlets for device charging).

The Haven suite complex' Haven Courtyard was refurbished (new finishes on outdoor deck areas, swimming pool, hot tubs). New deck furniture and cabanas were added.

Main pool deck areas were also updated.

Spinnaker Lounge (deck 13) was upgraded, as well as the Fitness Centre (deck 12, new TechnoGym equipment).

The Haven suites and villas were all renovated with new furniture, finishes, wallpapers, carpeting, drapery, artworks.

2 new restaurants were added - O’Sheehan's Bar and Grill, Sugarcane Mojito Bar, The Cellars (Mondavi Family Wine Bar), Los Lobos Cantina (Mexican restaurant), The Pit Stop (poolside grill, deck 13).

Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse restaurant) was moved from deck 8 to deck 13. The restaurant was redesigned and outfitted with floor-ceiling windows and glass-door entrance.

Bliss Ultra Lounge (nightclub) was added on deck 7.

All other onboard eateries were updated (new carpeting, artworks, upholstery, window treatments), including La Cucina (Italian restaurant, deck 12), Cagney’s Steakhouse (deck 13), Teppanyaki Room (deck 7), Jasmine Garden (deck 7), Garden Cafe (deck 12). Cagney’s Steakhouse now has additional seating and a new virtual fireplace. La Cucina has a new wine wall.

During drydock 2017, NCL Jade was retrofitted with new "scrubbers" (exhaust gas cleaning systems). The new scrubber technology reduces the equivalent of approx 1500 tons of the poisonous gas Sulfur Oxide. NCL was the first cruise company to retrofit with a scrubber hybrid system vessels while in service. The new in-line scrubbers (5 units) are lightweight and able to operate in a dry mode, as well as in open and closed loops.

Drydock 2017 was part of NCL's "Norwegian Edge" program for fleetwide upgrades (2-year project budgeted USD 400 million). Each drydock costs around USD 35-40 million.

NCL Jade refurbishment 2011 review

The list of deck plan changes after the ship's 2011 drydock refurbishment includes:

• (Deck 8) the new "Moderno" restaurant replaced the old “Paniolo’s”.
• Stardust Theater was renovated and technically updated and enhanced.
• All passenger and crew cabins were upgraded with new flat TVs. Wheelchair-accessible rooms were also updated.
• The onboard Wi-Fi coverage was upgraded to shipwide.
• A new aerobics room was added in the Spa-Gym complex.
• Among the other renovations are new carpeting and tiling, silk plants.

Norwegian Dawn - July 25, 2024

July 25, 2024.

Jul 25th - Aug 5th

Norwegian Dawn

Norwegian Cruise Line

British Isles: Ireland & Scotland

from Southampton (London), England

The July 25, 2024 cruise on the Norwegian Dawn departs from Southampton (London), England. On this British Isles: Ireland & Scotland sailing, the ship will visit a total of 12 different cruise port destinations, including its departure port. The Norwegian Dawn sets sail on Thursday, Jul 25th and returns on Monday, Aug 5th.

Norwegian Dawn - July 25, 2024 - 11 Nights

The Norwegian Dawn was built in 2002 and is amoung Norwegian's 19 ships in it's fleet. The Norwegian Dawn is included in the cruise line's Dawn class. In the cruise ship stats below you'll find the Norwegian Dawn vs all other Norwegian ships.

Southampton is the gateway to the immensely civilized city of London. There are museums to visit, pubs to try, and shops to browse, ranging from Harrods to open-air markets. There are more parks and green belts here than in any other city in the world. There are also caches of stately squares and noble monuments, holdovers from a time when the island ruled a significant portion of the globe.

Le Havre is the gateway for optional tours to Paris, the "City of Light." See the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Champs Elysees. In Le Havre itself, cruise visitors can explore at leisure and learn something of the French "art de vivre." Visit fish and vegetable markets, public parks, modern architecture, a long seaside promenade and a vast beach.

Located along the North Sea, Zeebrugge is located ten miles north of Brugge (Bruges) and serves as its port. The Brugge-Zeebrugge Canal connects the seaside resort with the cultural mecca that is its sister city. Visitors to Brugge will see stunning representations of gothic and roman architecture and collections of Dutch and Belgian art.

One of Europe's leading cities, Amsterdam's rings of canals and traditional Dutch architecture are unmistakable. Rich in art, history and culture, Amsterdam is home to the Van Gogh museum, Anne Frank's house, and the Rijksmuseum, which houses many works by Rembrandt and Vermeer.

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

A town of churches, bridges and pubs, Cork is best known for Blarney Castle where you are invited to kiss the famed stone to acquire the "gift of gab." St. Patrick Street, the town's main thoroughfare, is good for shopping and people watching. See the Shandon bells in St. Anne's church. Those who are willing to climb the 134 winding steps to the top of the steeple will be rewarded with a wondrous view of the city, harbor and hills.

Climb the hill beyond Belfast Castle for a stunning view of this charming city. Soak up the nine thousand years of Irish history at the Ulster Museum in the Botanical Gardens. Sit on one of Belfast's many benches and watch the street musicians or head to the pub for a pint. Stroll the streets and marvel at the city's Victorian and Edwardian architecture.

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