NCL Encore vs. DCL Alaska Cruise Pros and Cons

[BWV Dreamin]

I have just booked a seven night Alaskan cruise on NCL ( Encore) for next May. I have only sailed DCL. Other than the fact that NCL sails through Glacier Bay, is there anything different between the two itineraries? TIA!!!

 

[Intr3pid]

Itineraries? No. In ports, it won't matter which ship you arrived on. As you note, you won't get to experience Glacier Bay on DCL - instead, Disney's own glacier day - but the rest of the itinerary is more or less interchangeable.

Unless the NCL cruise is a one-way trip between Vancouver and Anchorage.

Onboard experience, on the other hand, major differences. One is a themed Disney vacation, and the other a floating resort. Whether you like all things Disney will make a difference. Whether you are traveling as a family will make a difference. Price will make a difference.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

This is a 7 night cruise Seattle to Seattle. Club balcony suite, Free at Sea promotion, 2nd person free air. Comparing pricing, NCL sailing ( with promotions) was still $2500 savings over DCL. Just couldn’t pass it up. But this will be our first NCL cruise, so I have No comparisons to DCL. Hoping we will love it as much as we love Disney ( FYI this is an adults only trip).

 

[iivye]

We did NCL when we went to Alaska and all of our other cruises were Disney. We did miss the Disney touches on the ship but the Glacier Bay day made it all worth it. We also took the money we saved from choosing NCL and did amazing excursions. The helicopter flight to the glacier was one of the best excursions we've ever done.

 

[Pens Fan]

We have done both DCL and NCL in Alaska and enjoyed both for different reasons. Our DCL one was when our son was younger and we really were just looking for a Disney cruise and the location was secondary. Our NCL one was a one way between Vancouver and Seward with stops in Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay. It was amazing, and we then extended our trip another week and explored mainland Alaska. Yes, we missed the Disney touches but it you really want to see Alaska, sadly DCL has some of the weakest itineraries. Glacier Bay is spectacular (DCL's glacier day is nice but it doesn't compare) and DCL doesn't have a permit to go there. Hubbard Glacier is also really special, though DCL does occasionally go to Hubbard, I believe - or at least they used to - maybe once or twice a season. Unless you really want the characters and stuff (don't ever underestimate the cuteness of Mickey and Minnie in their Alaskan gear!), I'd stick with NCL if you want a better Alaskan itinerary.

I will offer one other unsolicited suggestion. Our DCL cruise was a round trip out of Seattle. I would not do that again - on any cruise line. I'm not sure what your route on NCL would be, but we sailed out into the open ocean for a day or two with very rough seas and nothing much to look at. We then entered the inner passage at the top and sailed back down to Seattle. I think most of the Vancouver r/t routes you sail up the inner passage and then back down, so you have scenery the entire way. Also, our time in ports seemed very short. They also had to throw in a stop in Victoria that was just a few hours during dinner time - so basically useless. If you don't want to do a one way, I'd at least try to find a round trip out of Vancouver. JMHO.

I was nervous about trying NCL after sailing on DCL for so long, but we enjoyed it - so much so that we've taken several more NCL cruises and are leaving tomorrow to board the Joy on Wed out of NYC. I still love DCL - and NCL is very different - but we quite enjoy their product, especially as our son is grown and and it's usually just my husband and I.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We have done both DCL and NCL in Alaska and enjoyed both for different reasons. Our DCL one was when our son was younger and we really were just looking for a Disney cruise and the location was secondary. Our NCL one was a one way between Vancouver and Seward with stops in Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay. It was amazing, and we then extended our trip another week and explored mainland Alaska. Yes, we missed the Disney touches but it you really want to see Alaska, sadly DCL has some of the weakest itineraries. Glacier Bay is spectacular (DCL's glacier day is nice but it doesn't compare) and DCL doesn't have a permit to go there. Hubbard Glacier is also really special, though DCL does occasionally go to Hubbard, I believe - or at least they used to - maybe once or twice a season. Unless you really want the characters and stuff (don't ever underestimate the cuteness of Mickey and Minnie in their Alaskan gear!), I'd stick with NCL if you want a better Alaskan itinerary.

I will offer one other unsolicited suggestion. Our DCL cruise was a round trip out of Seattle. I would not do that again - on any cruise line. I'm not sure what your route on NCL would be, but we sailed out into the open ocean for a day or two with very rough seas and nothing much to look at. We then entered the inner passage at the top and sailed back down to Seattle. I think most of the Vancouver r/t routes you sail up the inner passage and then back down, so you have scenery the entire way. Also, our time in ports seemed very short. They also had to throw in a stop in Victoria that was just a few hours during dinner time - so basically useless. If you don't want to do a one way, I'd at least try to find a round trip out of Vancouver. JMHO.

I was nervous about trying NCL after sailing on DCL for so long, but we enjoyed it - so much so that we've taken several more NCL cruises and are leaving tomorrow to board the Joy on Wed out of NYC. I still love DCL - and NCL is very different - but we quite enjoy their product, especially as our son is grown and and it's usually just my husband and I.

Thank you!!!! I have heard the seas are rough going up the coast. I chose Seattle to Seattle for cheaper airfare ( is what I’ve been told, can’t book until Southwest opens up). I take Bonine for motion sickness the whole trip so hopefully that will help with the rocky seas. Glad to hear you were satisfied with NCL. Cruising on the Encore in a club balcony suite. So hopefully will feel as big as the Disney staterooms.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We did NCL when we went to Alaska and all of our other cruises were Disney. We did miss the Disney touches on the ship but the Glacier Bay day made it all worth it. We also took the money we saved from choosing NCL and did amazing excursions. The helicopter flight to the glacier was one of the best excursions we've ever done.

This is why we chose NCL. Had to go into Glacier Bay!

 

[Pens Fan]

Thank you!!!! I have heard the seas are rough going up the coast. I chose Seattle to Seattle for cheaper airfare ( is what I’ve been told, can’t book until Southwest opens up). I take Bonine for motion sickness the whole trip so hopefully that will help with the rocky seas. Glad to hear you were satisfied with NCL. Cruising on the Encore in a club balcony suite. So hopefully will feel as big as the Disney staterooms.

Yeah, the downside of NCL is you have to move up a category or so to get a room as nice as a regular balcony on DCL, though it usually is still less expensive. One thing NCL does is roughly 3 months or so before your cruise you will be able to bid on an upgrade if you so desire. We had never done that before until this cruise. We put in a bunch of bids for the Haven, but then a month ago the Haven prices dropped dramatically, so we ended up upgrading directly and are staying in the Haven for the first time. We are really excited about that. This room would have cost us about $4K more had we booked it a year ago - just something to watch.

Enjoy your cruise! NCL isn't Disney, but it does have its charms. I actually prefer the food on NCL by a pretty wide margin over DCL, but food is subjective and not everyone feels that way. The entertainment is definitely more adult oriented as well, but as we are a family of adults, we like that. I'm just so stinking happy to be getting back on a cruise ship in two days, I can't stand it. The last time we cruised was Oct 2019 on the NCL Jade in the Med. I can't believe it's been three years!

 

[Chemist]

We just booked a club class mini-suite on Princess. We were supposed to go on the Wonder to Alaska in 2020, you know how that went.

While I KNOW we will miss some of the Disney touches, the trip is literally HALF the price as Disney AND it goes to Glacier Bay.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We just booked a club class mini-suite on Princess. We were supposed to go on the Wonder to Alaska in 2020, you know how that went.

While I KNOW we will miss some of the Disney touches, the trip is literally HALF the price as Disney AND it goes to Glacier Bay.

Absolutely have to get into Glacier Bay. I hear Princess is a great cruiseline for Alaska. As much as I love Disney, just couldn’t see paying the upcharge to sail Disney and not get into Glacier Bay.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Yeah, the downside of NCL is you have to move up a category or so to get a room as nice as a regular balcony on DCL, though it usually is still less expensive. One thing NCL does is roughly 3 months or so before your cruise you will be able to bid on an upgrade if you so desire. We had never done that before until this cruise. We put in a bunch of bids for the Haven, but then a month ago the Haven prices dropped dramatically, so we ended up upgrading directly and are staying in the Haven for the first time. We are really excited about that. This room would have cost us about $4K more had we booked it a year ago - just something to watch.

Enjoy your cruise! NCL isn't Disney, but it does have its charms. I actually prefer the food on NCL by a pretty wide margin over DCL, but food is subjective and not everyone feels that way. The entertainment is definitely more adult oriented as well, but as we are a family of adults, we like that. I'm just so stinking happy to be getting back on a cruise ship in two days, I can't stand it. The last time we cruised was Oct 2019 on the NCL Jade in the Med. I can't believe it's been three years!

I have heard about that ability to bid up for an upgrade. LOVE THE HAVEN! Lucky you! I heard those emails are random, but if we get one I’ll probably bet the minimum and see what happens. Thanks for that tip!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Itineraries? No. In ports, it won't matter which ship you arrived on. As you note, you won't get to experience Glacier Bay on DCL - instead, Disney's own glacier day - but the rest of the itinerary is more or less interchangeable.

Unless the NCL cruise is a one-way trip between Vancouver and Anchorage.

Onboard experience, on the other hand, major differences. One is a themed Disney vacation, and the other a floating resort. Whether you like all things Disney will make a difference. Whether you are traveling as a family will make a difference. Price will make a difference.

My next sailing in the future will be the Panama Canal. I see you sailed Disney for the PC. I know there is a tremendous price difference between DCL and NCL for that cruise. Was Disney worth it?TIA!

 

[Intr3pid]

My next sailing in the future will be the Panama Canal. I see you sailed Disney for the PC. I know there is a tremendous price difference between DCL and NCL for that cruise. Was Disney worth it?TIA!

Yes, as long as the itinerary and dates are similar, we will sail with DCL. It's our wholesome family cruise line with all things Disney. And if price is an issue, we will give up the verandah for, say, an oceanview or inside cabin.

That said, we have always enjoyed our NCL cruises. Most recently, one in Southeast Asia and another in the Eastern Med. We are eyeing their Africa sailings next.

 

[DCLMP]

Itineraries being equal and price not a factor I'd choose DCL. I've run out of itineraries on DCL so I've had to start looking at other options. Encore is a new ship, correct? That sounds like a win.

 

[RAD]

For Alaska the question is do you need Disney or are you going to see Alaska? If it’s Alaska other lines can do the same trip and save you money. We did Celebrity in The Retreat class (suites), $600 OBC, WiFi, premium drink package and tips included for less money than a 4A on the Wonder.

 

[Cheburashka]

A lot of it depends on how important certain sights are to you, like Glacier Bay, which DCL doesn't go to, and how important it is to have lots of activities available on sea days. If Glacier Bay is your top priority, then full stop, you don't want to sail DCL. If having great onboard experiences is important to you, and you prefer Disney shows, activites, characters, etc., then DCL is the way to go. If you're sailing a standard 7 night Alaskan itinerary, that will have 3 days at sea including the glacier day, so that is a lot of time to spend onboard, not just a little. So it's important to really like the ship you're on, whichever line you choose.

Another part of it is, how important is the room type to you? On DCL to Alaska there is a huge price difference between an oceanview and a full verandah. Even more difference between a full verandah and an inside stateroom. That is where families with kids who would really appreciate the Disney part of DCL can compromise on their Alaska cruise. If you're adults and don't care much about the Disney side of things, then you can certainly get better deals elsewhere- just don't expect DCL-quality entertainment during all of your onboard time.

Another consideration is stateroom quality. You can buy more for the same money on another line. But beware of trying to save money by getting the same stateroom type on another line for less. The same stateroom types on other mass market lines tend to be smaller and not the same quality as on the Wonder. The stateroom is smaller, the bathrooms are smaller, and if they're oceanviews, the window isn't as big, etc. Some posters like to point out that you can go suite level on other lines for the cost of a verandah on the Wonder, but if you would never have paid for a full verandah on the Wonder to begin with, only an oceanview or inside, then that comparison doesn't matter.

My son and I sailed the Wonder to Alaska in 2018 and I'm glad I settled on DCL for that. I'd considered Holland, but after experiencing the cruise and how much onboard time there actually was, and how special it was to sail with the characters in their Alaska gear and be fully entertained while we weren't at ports, I wouldn't have it any other way. We got a navigator's verandah, so got a significantly better price than for a full verandah but still had a fantastic view from our stateroom, which did matter to us. An inside or even an oceanview wouldn't have given us the same experience. We were only a party of 2, which made the price difference between DCL and Holland less of an issue.

There are a lot of factors to weigh, and depending on priorities, different cruisers will make different decisions that are right for them. There is no one best answer for everyone. Enjoy your cruise!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

For Alaska the question is do you need Disney or are you going to see Alaska? If it’s Alaska other lines can do the same trip and save you money. We did Celebrity in The Retreat class (suites), $600 OBC, WiFi, premium drink package and tips included for less money than a 4A on the Wonder.

Good to know! Yes we are booked on a free at sea promo, free drinks, two specialty dining dinners, 300 minutes Wi-Fi, and $50 credit towards excursions per day. We too are booked in a Club Balcony Suite. This cruise was at least $4000 cheaper than cruising on DCL. And to answer your question, we are sailing to see Alaska!!!!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

A lot of it depends on how important certain sights are to you, like Glacier Bay, which DCL doesn't go to, and how important it is to have lots of activities available on sea days. If Glacier Bay is your top priority, then full stop, you don't want to sail DCL. If having great onboard experiences is important to you, and you prefer Disney shows, activites, characters, etc., then DCL is the way to go. If you're sailing a standard 7 night Alaskan itinerary, that will have 3 days at sea including the glacier day, so that is a lot of time to spend onboard, not just a little. So it's important to really like the ship you're on, whichever line you choose.

Another part of it is, how important is the room type to you? On DCL to Alaska there is a huge price difference between an oceanview and a full verandah. Even more difference between a full verandah and an inside stateroom. That is where families with kids who would really appreciate the Disney part of DCL can compromise on their Alaska cruise. If you're adults and don't care much about the Disney side of things, then you can certainly get better deals elsewhere- just don't expect DCL-quality entertainment during all of your onboard time.

Another consideration is stateroom quality. You can buy more for the same money on another line. But beware of trying to save money by getting the same stateroom type on another line for less. The same stateroom types on other mass market lines tend to be smaller and not the same quality as on the Wonder. The stateroom is smaller, the bathrooms are smaller, and if they're oceanviews, the window isn't as big, etc. Some posters like to point out that you can go suite level on other lines for the cost of a verandah on the Wonder, but if you would never have paid for a full verandah on the Wonder to begin with, only an oceanview or inside, then that comparison doesn't matter.

My son and I sailed the Wonder to Alaska in 2018 and I'm glad I settled on DCL for that. I'd considered Holland, but after experiencing the cruise and how much onboard time there actually was, and how special it was to sail with the characters in their Alaska gear and be fully entertained while we weren't at ports, I wouldn't have it any other way. We got a navigator's verandah, so got a significantly better price than for a full verandah but still had a fantastic view from our stateroom, which did matter to us. An inside or even an oceanview wouldn't have given us the same experience. We were only a party of 2, which made the price difference between DCL and Holland less of an issue.

There are a lot of factors to weigh, and depending on priorities, different cruisers will make different decisions that are right for them. There is no one best answer for everyone. Enjoy your cruise!

Thank you so much for your insight. And that was the real concern was the activities and shows on board. Glacier Bay is a must, so sadly it ruled DCL out. This will be our first NCL cruise I guess we will just have to experience it to. Thank you!

 

[vacay77]

This thread is perfect timing! After looking at the cost difference, I booked a NCL Encore cruise to Alaska for the end of May. I was previously looking at DCL - but the price was much more expensive. And while I'd like to explore Vancouver, I've heard that Canada has strict rules in place (I'm not sure if that's changed recently). My family can use Southwest points to fly in/out of Seattle, too (so flights wouldn't be as expensive).

Ultimately, the NCL itinerary was the clincher for me since it sails to Glacier Bay. I'm not looking forward to a bigger ship, though - I love that DCL cruises are smaller in general. However, my family has sailed NCL several times previously and it's always because of the itinerary. The biggest drawback for NCL is the food that's included - we took an Iceland/Norway cruise pre-pandemic and the general food was awful. Not sure if it was just that cruise ship, though. For our NCL Alaska cruise, we are going to have to budget in the speciality dining restaurants (we also booked the offer which includes 2 specialty dining meals). And of course, most of the activities that my son will enjoy - like the arcade, laser tag, etc - will also be additional expenses. So while NCL at first glance seems a lot cheaper, there are are a lot of additional expenses that my family has to consider.

My husband and I took an NCL Alaska cruise before we got married and we loved it, though. And it didn't have as many things as the Encore does. I figured we would give it a try this time around. I always book for itinerary and NCL seems to usually have better itineraries overall.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

This thread is perfect timing! After looking at the cost difference, I booked a NCL Encore cruise to Alaska for the end of May. I was previously looking at DCL - but the price was much more expensive. And while I'd like to explore Vancouver, I've heard that Canada has strict rules in place (I'm not sure if that's changed recently). My family can use Southwest points to fly in/out of Seattle, too (so flights wouldn't be as expensive).

Ultimately, the NCL itinerary was the clincher for me since it sails to Glacier Bay. I'm not looking forward to a bigger ship, though - I love that DCL cruises are smaller in general. However, my family has sailed NCL several times previously and it's always because of the itinerary. The biggest drawback for NCL is the food that's included - we took an Iceland/Norway cruise pre-pandemic and the general food was awful. Not sure if it was just that cruise ship, though. For our NCL Alaska cruise, we are going to have to budget in the speciality dining restaurants (we also booked the offer which includes 2 specialty dining meals). And of course, most of the activities that my son will enjoy - like the arcade, laser tag, etc - will also be additional expenses. So while NCL at first glance seems a lot cheaper, there are are a lot of additional expenses that my family has to consider.

My husband and I took an NCL Alaska cruise before we got married and we loved it, though. And it didn't have as many things as the Encore does. I figured we would give it a try this time around. I always book for itinerary and NCL seems to usually have better itineraries overall.

Good to hear, Southwest to Seattle is what I’m airing to book from BWI. Doesn’t open up until 10/27 . Hoping there are some direct flights. Also we will fly in a day earlier.