A Norwegian Encore cruise typically costs $699–$1,200 per person for a 7-night Alaska sailing in an inside cabin, rising to $2,500–$4,500+ per person for balcony and suite categories — before you factor in gratuities, drink packages, and specialty dining that can add $100–$200/person/day.
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Norwegian Encore is one of the newest and most feature-rich ships in the NCL fleet, which means the sticker price looks reasonable right up until the moment you start clicking "add to cart." Here's the real cost breakdown so you can budget honestly before you book.
What a Norwegian Encore Cruise Actually Costs
Encorre sails predominantly Alaska itineraries out of Seattle (7-night roundtrip) and occasionally repositions or sails Caribbean routes. The prices below reflect 2025–2026 Alaska sailing rates — the ship's bread-and-butter itinerary.
| Cabin Category | Per Person (7 nights) | Per Night PP | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Cabin (Budget) | $699 – $1,100 | $100 – $157 | No view, solid space, access to all public areas |
| Ocean View | $900 – $1,400 | $129 – $200 | Window, no balcony |
| Balcony (Mid-Range) | $1,200 – $2,200 | $171 – $314 | Private balcony — worth it in Alaska |
| The Haven Suite (Splurge) | $3,500 – $7,000+ | $500 – $1,000+ | Private complex, butler, priority everything |
| Mini-Suite | $1,800 – $2,800 | $257 – $400 | Extra space, partial Haven-lite perks |
Key alert: NCL prices are per person based on double occupancy. Solo travelers get hit with a single supplement — typically 50–100% more. Use NCL's solo studio cabins on Encore to avoid this, priced around $900–$1,400 for 7 nights.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
The Add-Ons That Blow Up Your Budget
This is where Norwegian's "Free At Sea" promotions do their sneaky work. Yes, you can get a "free" drink package — but you'll pay $20–$25/day in gratuities on that package alone. Here's what the real extras cost:
| Add-On | Cost Per Person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuities (auto-charged) | $20/day ($140 total) | Unavoidable — added to your onboard bill |
| Deluxe Beverage Package | $89–$109/day + 20% grat | If not included in Free At Sea promo |
| Beverage Package Gratuity (even if "free") | $17–$22/day | You pay this even on the "free" package |
| Specialty Dining Package (3 meals) | $69–$99/person | Worth it if you want Cagney's or Ocean Blue |
| Internet (1 device) | $29–$35/day | Slow in Alaska; buy port WiFi instead |
| Shore Excursions (Alaska) | $80–$350/person/excursion | Glacier tours, whale watching, floatplanes |
| Parking at Seattle Pier 66 | $25–$30/day | Factor in if driving |
| Specialty Coffee / Spa / Casino | $15–$200+/day | Variable, your willpower decides |
Real-world total for a 7-night Alaska Encore cruise:
| Traveler Type | Cruise Fare PP | Add-Ons PP | Total PP | Couple Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget (inside, no extras) | $799 | $200 | ~$999 | ~$2,000 |
| Mid-Range (balcony, drink pkg, 2 excursions) | $1,600 | $750 | ~$2,350 | ~$4,700 |
| Splurge (Haven suite, all packages, excursions) | $5,000 | $1,500 | ~$6,500 | ~$13,000 |
Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line
Key Factors That Drive Norwegian Encore Pricing
1. When You Book Early booking (6–12 months out) typically saves 15–30% versus last-minute. Alaska season runs May–September, and July sailings on Encore are consistently the most expensive. Shoulder season (May, early September) can cut fares by $200–$400/person.
2. What's Included in "Free At Sea" NCL's Free At Sea promotion bundles up to 5 perks (beverage package, specialty dining, shore excursion credit, internet minutes, friends/family sail free). The catch: gratuities on the drink package ($17–$22/day) are mandatory even if the package is "free." A 7-night cruise with the drink package gratuity adds ~$120–$154 per person before you've had a single beer.
3. Balcony vs. Inside in Alaska — This One Matters Alaska is one of the few destinations where paying up for a balcony is genuinely worth it. You'll be sailing past glaciers, fjords, and wildlife at 6 a.m. when the hallways are empty. An inside cabin saves you $400–$600/person but costs you the best views on the planet. Factor that trade-off seriously.
4. The Haven Premium Norwegian's Haven suites on Encore come with a private pool deck, restaurant, lounge, butler, and concierge. It's essentially a ship-within-a-ship. At $3,500–$7,000+/person, it's not for everyone — but it's genuinely transformative if you can afford it and hate crowds.
5. Port Charges and Taxes Expect $150–$300/person in port fees and taxes on top of the advertised cabin rate. These are mandatory and non-negotiable.
Practical Tips to Save Money on Norwegian Encore
Book Early or Book Late (Nothing In Between) The worst pricing is typically 4–8 weeks before sailing. Either lock in your rate 6–12 months out, or watch for last-minute deals within 2 weeks of departure — NCL does discount unsold inventory, especially on inside cabins.
Decline the Drink Package If You're a Light Drinker At $89–$109/day plus mandatory gratuities, the Deluxe Beverage Package only pays off if you're drinking 6–8 alcoholic beverages per day. If you have 2–3 drinks daily, you'll save money paying as you go. A cocktail runs $12–$16, so do the math for your actual habits.
Use Your Shore Excursion Credit Wisely If you get the Free At Sea shore excursion credit ($50 per port), stack it on your most expensive excursion. Don't blow it on a $45 bus tour — save it for the $250 whale watching or glacier flight.
Book Third-Party Shore Excursions in Alaska NCL's Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan excursions carry a 20–40% markup over local operators. Companies like Alaska Shore Tours and Harv & Marv's Outdoor Alaska offer the same (often better) experiences for significantly less. The risk: if your ship is delayed, third-party operators won't wait. Budget excursions get the NCL safety net; expensive ones don't always need it.
Consider the Solo Studio Cabins Norwegian Encore has dedicated Solo Studios — small interior cabins with no single supplement and access to the Studio Lounge (a social space exclusive to solo travelers). At $900–$1,400 for 7 nights, it's the single best deal on the ship for anyone traveling alone.
Skip the Internet Package in Alaskan Waters Satellite internet in Alaska is genuinely bad — slow and spotty. Don't pay $29–$35/day for it. Download what you need before boarding, grab free WiFi in port towns, and embrace the disconnect. You're watching glaciers. You don't need Instagram.
Is Norwegian Encore Worth It for Alaska?
For an Alaska cruise, Encore is an excellent choice — but it's one of the larger ships sailing the route (4,004 passengers at full capacity), which means it can feel crowded in popular spots like the observation deck during glacier viewing. Here's how it compares to alternatives:
| Ship | Line | Passenger Capacity | Alaska Price Range PP (7-night) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwegian Encore | NCL | 4,004 | $699 – $7,000+ | Families, entertainment lovers, The Haven |
| Celebrity Edge/Solstice | Celebrity | 2,918 / 2,850 | $1,000 – $5,000+ | Upscale experience, smaller feel |
| Ruby Princess | Princess | 3,080 | $799 – $4,500+ | Classic Alaska experience, MedallionClass app |
| Coral Princess | Princess | 1,974 | $1,100 – $4,000+ | Smaller ship, transiting the Panama Canal |
| National Geographic Quest | Lindblad | 100 | $6,000 – $12,000+ | Expedition-style, remote ports, all-inclusive |
Encorre wins on entertainment (racetrack, laser tag, massive waterslide complex, Broadway shows). It loses on intimacy. For Alaska specifically, if watching wildlife and glaciers is your primary goal, a smaller ship will serve you better. If you want Alaska scenery AND a resort-style ship with a go-kart track, Encore is genuinely unique.
The bottom line: budget $2,000–$2,500 per person all-in for a realistic mid-range Encore Alaska experience in a balcony cabin with a drink package and one or two excursions. Budget travelers can do it for under $1,200/person in an inside cabin with minimal extras. Haven guests should plan for $8,000–$12,000 per couple when everything is said and done.
Before you book, run your specific sailing through CruiseMutiny to see exactly what you'll pay with all the add-ons calculated — because the fare NCL shows you on day one is rarely the number you'll see on your final statement. If you're ready to book, compare live Encore availability and pricing through our cruise booking partner at CruiseHub.