Vacation Day 9 ~ May 18, 2025 ~ Cruise Day 1

I first want to wish my niece Christi

and can’t wait to celebrate with her this evening on the first night of our cruise!

So excited for today! Can’t believe we are really going on a cruise to Alaska! Having the opportunity to spend time with my niece and her sweet hubby! Life can’t get much better.

Up early even though we could have slept in since we didn’t have to board until Noon! Suitcases, backpacks and snack & coat bag are packed. First look at the Norwegian Encore!!! This was taken out of our room window.

We went downstairs for breakfast. This was the sign that welcomed us to the restaurant:

Breakfast was eaten and excitement kept brewing! We went up to our room and gathered our things and headed down to the lounge to check out the ship from the other side of the street. And eagerly await the arrival of my sweet niece & her hubby ~ Christi & Doug!!!

And then Christi called and they were walking towards the hotel lobby! I left Ron and went outside and gave them both a great big hug!!! We had not seen Christi since September 2008 ~ way too long!!!

We visited for about an hour and then it was time to make our way to the ship.

This is all I could get in one picture as we were walking towards the ship!
It was huge!!!

The following two pictures were taken later in the evening on 5/18/25 with the balloons/decorations by the grand staircase! It was

We went and met Christi & Doug for lunch. Here is a sign from the bar we walked by and my first drink!

After walking around the ship for about an hour we heard the call that we could go to our cabins. I was excited to see our cabin and hoped it wasn’t as small as a postage stamp.

Stay tuned for the afternoon and evening of our first day on board the Norwegian Encore.