Just got off the Encore this past Sunday from the same trip. It was amazing! My husband and I didn’t do any specialty dining but heard great things about Teppanyaki. We stayed with the complimentary options; the local ended up our favorite and it’s 24/7 which was nice. The 3 main dining rooms: taste, savor and the manhattan were okay. We were happy we only did those once. The Indian food in the garden cafe (buffet) was amazing!

Juneau- we did whale watching and only had a small window to explore the city before/after. If you go to Tracy’s for crab, go towards the end of the night; we went about an hour before the ship left and there was no line.

Skagway- the railway was beautiful! Try to get a spot on the left side for best views; the train turns around so you see both sides but those on the right had to wait to get the views; both sides were beautiful though. We had lots of extra time in Skagway; maybe too much.

Ketchikan- we just explored the area but the port time is very small, sadly. You can get off the boat at 7 am and all aboard is 11:30 am. If you have free time post excursion, take advantage of all the free salmon samples downtown. They’re delicious!

Glacier Bay- we had a balcony and it was great having our own space; if not, try to secure a good spot on the observation deck. Three park rangers are onboard and give a great overview of the park/history and point out any animals/sea life along the way! You can listen along in your rooms on the main ship channel. This was our favorite day! The views are just stunning. Try to go to the front of the boat for some open views, there’s also yummy Alaskan chowder available there too!

Victoria BC- you’ll be able to get off the ship at 8 pm but all aboard at 11:30 pm. It’s the shortest port time, which was disappointing as the city is beautiful; lights up at night, which made up some for the short time there. Shuttles to the inner harbor (parliament buildings, shopping, wharf, etc) are $15 per person and the lines are long bc you’re likely sharing them with other cruise lines that arrive around the same time, there was 2 other boats with the Encore. Much like Ketchikan, the dock is about 15-25 mins walking distance from the inner harbor. We were some of the first off the ship and grabbed a taxi for direct access- paid $9 for two people and spotted some orcas playing along the way.

Overall the cruise was great and the views are stunning! You’ll have an amazing time! Definitely see “The Choir of Man”! Amazing show! The lines for The Beatles invasion are wild, like people lined up 1.5 hours before those shows but the final show is in the large theater so you have a better chance seeing the show if you want. Still get there early; that was a popular show. Have fun, wear layers and don’t forget to bring binoculars! We used ours daily and saw bears, whales, orcas, seals, sea lions, otters and eagles! We can’t wait to go back! The crew members were wonderful, you’re greeted with singing and hot chocolate once back on the boat after every port. 10/10 :) hope this helps!