Our Alaskan Adventure: Smooth Sailing & Unforgettable Experiences

Trip overview

Cruising through Alaska is the best way to see this beautiful destination, and doing so in a Haven Suite on the Norwegian Encore is the very best way to do it!

Haven dining room

The Haven

The Haven is Norwegian Cruise Line’s ship within a ship concept and it has changed how I feel about cruising! Think private yacht with all the amenities and options of a big cruise ship! We had a huge two-bedroom family suite, with two bathrooms, living room, and a large private balcony. I’m still dreaming of the rain shower in our room and the luxurious sheets on our bed!

Haven guests have a private area with its own pool, lounge, restaurant, and concierge service, which was so nice when the ship felt crowded and we craved some down-time.

Everyone in the Haven lounge knew our names (and drink orders!) by the end of the first day! If you’re thinking about a cruise (especially to destinations like Alaska and the Mediterranean…), Haven is really worth the extra spend.

HAVEN=HEAVEN

In port

Our cruise departed out of Seattle and stopped in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Victoria, BC. We planned an excursion for every port except Victoria, which was only a brief evening stop.

In Juneau

Juneau was the highlight of our trip because the experience we were most looking forward to was the dog sledding adventure on Mendenhall Glacier. Because you need to helicopter to the glacier, this particular excursion gets canceled 50% of the time due to weather. It was touch-and-go for most of the day, but by the grace of God, we were able to go!

Dog sled ride

We flew for about 20 minutes and watched the season literally change from spring-like weather to the dead of winter. It was snowing pretty hard when we landed and it was freezing! We arrived at the dog camp and learned all about these impressive animals. We went on a private dog sled ride and all took turns driving the sled. It was the most incredible experience looking around us and realizing we were in the middle of nowhere being pulled by a team of race dogs! It was the quintessential Alaskan experience that we all dreamed of. We pet the beautiful animals and thanked them for this magical experience.

The fog was dense, but we flew back safely, took in the incredible views of the glacier below us, and made it back to town with plenty of time for a stop at Tracy’s Crab Shack for a giant bucket of crab legs! It was the perfect day.

In Ketchikan

We also absolutely loved our excursion in Ketchikan. We went out on a fishing boat, fished for a few hours, and then took what we caught (eight fish in total!) to a remote island where a team of people cleaned and cooked our catch! It doesn’t get any fresher than this! We all agreed that it was the best fish we ever ate (and by far the coolest dining experience ever!).

Our catch!

Food prepared by the camp fire!

In sum

Alaska is so special—and cruising through it offers a front-row seat to some of the most dramatic and pristine landscapes on Earth: glaciers, fjords, whales, and endless forested coastline. Everyone needs to add Alaska to their bucket lists!

And if you can swing it, there is no better way to sail than in a Haven suite on the Norwegian Encore! Bon Voyage!

• Pack lots of layers! We sailed to Alaska in July, and some ports were sunny and warm, while others were rainy and cold. Wear layers and pack comfortable shoes.

• Don't forget your binoculars, too—Glacier Bay National Park is a treasure!

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Alaska page.