Suggested meeting location for groups on the Encore?

[radiochick]

HI, new to NCL Encore and also coordinating a group for our wedding.  Do you have suggestion on where we should direct 25 people to meet before they exit the ship together to board our own transportation?  I can't tell from the maps where the actual exit is when the ship docks.  We have a bus waiting for the group near the dock in Juneau to pick up 25 people. We'd like them to gather together on the ship first so that one person can guide to the bus.

 

Second question, do you have any suggestions for a sail-away party for 28 people to have a fun view of Seattle as we embark on our journey to Alaska?  I was considering the District Brew House but can't tell if the view is reasonable, or if it feels more like a cave? I'm hesitant to do an outside venue in case its raining (it is Seattle in May after all).  Ive also considered the Observation deck, but worried it will be hard to get everyone to the same section since its such a large venue, and wondering if it will be too crowded anyway.

 

Thank you! Bride and First time Cruiser on NCL Encore

[valleyvillage]

Welcome to Cruise Critic anc congratulations! The Encore is one of our favorite ships. The atrium on Deck 6 has space as well as some meeting rooms.

[mking8288]

With such a large group, you should've already be in touch with - and, if not, contact NCL's Group Events to "connect" you with the Encore (ship's) Group Events Coordinators - they are usually based and stationed at Guest Services ... to help facilitate your party's logistics and perhaps.  

 

We do hope that you will become a "regular" to CC and contribute and pass along feedbacks afterward as to how things go, etc. etc.  

 

Ditto on welcoming from the CC community of cruisers and congrats on a life milestone ahead.  

 

P.S.  This is a very recent review of the Encore this month - which you should read and gain additional ideas, perhaps useful information about the ship and what's unique & special, etc. 

 

Edited March 31 by mking8288

[radiochick]

Thank you Valleyview! 

 

MKing8288 I've been working with NCL Group Events for months now. They are less than helpful unfortunately. In fact we ended up canceling our onboard wedding plans and moving it to Juneau (saving that story for another day). You can only contact them via email, and it takes up to 7 days to get a response. They are the middle man as only they can speak to the onboard team.  They also wont give any recommendations, just process requests.  A group is unable to reserve space at any of the bars so for those two reasons they won't be any help for my last two questions.  I was really hoping to get suggestions from you experienced cruisers. 

 

I've read lots of reviews on the boat and this itinerary, but I'm excited to read yours being so recent. Thanks for sharing!

[IAcruising]

6 minutes ago, radiochick said:

I've been working with NCL Group Events for months now. They are less than helpful unfortunately

 

Yeah, no surprise. 25-28 out of 4000 isn't going to get a lot of love. The Encore has a couple of meeting rooms and a library. My guess is they are already booked. There are dozens of places that a few dozen people can meet and find each other. It's just a matter of getting everyone the message and on the same page.

 

Good luck and keep trying. You've got time.

 

[mking8288]

1 hour ago, radiochick said:

... been working with NCL Group Events for months now. They are less than helpful unfortunately. In fact we ended up canceling our onboard wedding plans and moving it to Juneau (saving that story for another day). You can only contact them via email, and it takes up to 7 days to get a response

... excited to read (not mine - I just happened to read it earlier) being so recent. Thanks for sharing!

Hmmm ... that's a bummer & what a disappointment, now with that context - 

a) we haven't been to Juneau in a while, but generally speaking - cruise ship will use just 1 gangway with these busy seasonal Alaska port.  Unless yours ?? is the first sailing for the 2024, you might have better luck asking the on the roll calls before yours this May.   Unless someone in your group has mobility issues, easiest is probably to meet together in the atrium lobby or perhaps mid-ship near the Art Gallery, restrooms nearby (looking at deck plan # 6) as the gangway to go ashore is likely on the lower deck, possibly 4 and not a good place to stand & wait.   

 

Sailaway, District B.H. is port (left) side of the ship facing away from the port of Seattle & skylines ... maybe consider just going out to the Waterfront, Deck 8 starboard (right side of ship) and enjoy the sailaway, part of the outdoor section is covered with an overhang ... it might just work for a group of 25 to 30.  Weather "cooperating" some will be on the upper decks watching the sailaway (pool deck, typically with band/music play ... as it party time) Deck 8 AFT - between Cagney's & Lobos is the A-List Bar, it's fairly wide open inside space, that's generally not packed on embarkation or during sailaway (true with other NCL ships w similar design/layout) - can't really watch the outside but safe "shelter" if it's wet outside. 

Last by not least, Deck 17 AFT is Spice H20, another possibly and also nearby, the American Diner on the deck plan - possible alternate to watch & enjoy the outdoors while departing from Seattle.  

 

Upon boarding on embarkation day, once other matters are taken care of, see if you can get a hold of the onboard Group Services "officers" to say hello anyway, and see if they can do a little for your "small" group - while they can't and won't be able to help with requests, maybe & hopefully find a way to make it up.  Don't give up - go above them to ask for the Guest Services Manager, and last but not least, leave a written note/comment with the GM (General Manager) at the mail drop-box, as comments & issues submitted do get their attention and delegated members of the junior team to follow-up and act upon.  

 

Good luck & best wishes, please do come back & tell and share the journey afterward, however short & brief - mentioned your "association" with CC appropriately that we, the curious minds are paying attention, it might just like a spark under their ... 

[debenson0723]

Welcome to Cruise Critic. For your sailaway from Seattle, I think the Observation Lounge would be your best bet. I have sailed Encore from there twice and it was practically empty, as some cruisers don't even discover it until day 2 or 3. You can grab some food and drink, park yourself on the starboard side and will have a great view. If wanting to be outdoors (it did not rain either time I was there) the Waterfront is a great place but might not work well with 25 people. 

 

The Encore does not have a Spice H2O. 

[KansasTexan]

The Casino on deck 7 might be a good place to meet. I'm pretty sure it will be closed while in port and there are plenty of chairs there. It's more-or-less midship so your group could proceed to whichever end of the ship is being used for disembarking at the port. 

[hallux]

9 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Deck 17 AFT is Spice H20,

Not on the Encore.  Deck 17 aft is laser tag...

[bluesea777]

When’s your cruise?

 

So I can give you some pointers.

 

 

[radiochick]

15 hours ago, bluesea777 said:

When’s your cruise?

 

So I can give you some pointers.

 

 

Thank you! May 19th

[bluesea777]

11 hours ago, radiochick said:

Thank you! May 19th

 

Welcome to CC!

 

We were in Juneau twice in June 2023 as we were on two Back to Back cruises (Seward - Vancouver - Seward) on Norwegian Spirit. The first time we anchored and tendered in to Cruise Terminal in Downtown Juneau, and the second time we docked at the AJ Dock where there were continuous shuttles ferrying the passengers between the dock and Downtown Juneau (drop off was close to the Goldbelt Tram).

 

I checked the 2024 Alaska cruise ship schedule and can see that Encore will dock at the AJ Dock at 14:30 to 23:00 on Tues May 21st. 

 

 

 

The ship shown in the picture is NOT the Encore, and it is likely your ship will dock port side (not starboard side as shown in picture). If this is true you'll be exiting the ship via deck 5, if not 4. I would suggest you all meet in the Atrium on deck 6 as a group - there are chairs, bar, Starbucks galore there - suggest you arrange to meet 30 mins before the time you plan on getting off ship. 

 

As for the sailaway gathering spot, I would suggest you all meet up in the Sugarcane Bar on deck 8 - great spot for sailaway drinks and there are seating outside on the waterfront. But if it's too cold - go up to the Observation Lounge (deck 15) - there is a nice sized bar up there and great views.

 

Be aware, not all the indoors bars are open at sailaway but the Sugarcane and Observ Bars are open. Check the dailies for the opening hours of bars.

 

Wishing you all the best for the forthcoming nuptials and hope you all have a great cruise!

 

May is a wee early for cruising in Alaska, but hey, the schools will still be in so perhaps the ship won't be 100% full.

 

ENJOY!!