Pandemic Cruise on NCL Encore, Round trip Seattle
September 20, 2021 -- Icy Strait Point
Our third day on this Alaska cruise. We will be docking at Icy Strait Point at around 1:00 PM today so we had a whole morning enjoying our time on the ship. Somehow we grew to enjoy our relaxing time spent on the ship without having to rush into ports.
After breakfast at the Garden Cafe, we just walked around on deck and see if there was anything interesting that's going on.
Passing by the casino on deck 7.
Oh, they had a small snack bar at the casino also. There's no way anyone would go hungry on this cruise!
Table games at the casino.
Here is Local, where people can watch what's going on down at the atrium while enjoying their food.
Or, they can go inside the restaurant for a quiet snack at this 24-hour restaurant.
Another gloomy day!
Lunch at Manhattan
We decide to have a quiet sit down lunch at Manhattan today. This ended up to be the only time we had lunch in the main dining room because of the limited menu. There were much more choices at the buffet to choose from which each of us can enjoy.
Caprese Salad
Shrimp Fritters
Fish Tacos
Poached Boston Bluefish
Mocha Pot de Creme
A sale was going on with excellent prices.
I should have gotten something that I liked right then because they were sold out pretty quick!
Icy Strait Point
This is the second time we visited Icy Strait Point. Our first visit was in 2018 when we took the transpacific cruise on NCL Jewel from Yokohama to Seattle with many of our family members and friends. I fell in love with this port then and I was looking forward to a return visit. Not that many cruise ships dock here and it is not like your regular Alaskan ports that are full of souvenir shops and jewelry shops and ready to take money from tourists. It's more a place for nature, wildlife, and quiet time. Unfortunately, it's a rainy, gloomy day and with husband staying on the ship, I felt kind of sad being there without our loved ones like the last time.
We knew we will not go to Hoonah this time around in this weather but it would still be a nice, short visit near the dock. I was hoping to see some whales like last time but no such luck on this day.
A new sculpture of a beautiful whale was built since the last time we were here.
Houses with the million-dollar views of the bay.
Part of the cannery museum/crab house.
Looking back at the dock from the crab house.
Oh, they took down the big "Icy Strait Point" sign where we had the group picture!
Cannery
Inside the Crab House where many people were enjoying their crab feast. Prices was not bad, like $35 a whole crab.
Son and I just wanted to walk a little bit on the path to town and take in the sights.
Our ship back at the dock.
Back at the cannery museum.
Trail leading back to port.
We would have to take these gondolas if our ship docked at the new pier on the other side of the bay. Fortunately, it docked at the same place as last time, near the Adventure Center where we could just walk off into port. Much more convenient.
A camp fire was built at the back of the Duck Point Bar and Restaurant, but no one was enjoying it because of the rain.
Inside the Adventure Center where there is a shop and information center.
It was quite crowded earlier but it's quieter now.
Shop inside Adventure Center.
Absolutely beautiful!
Duck Point Restaurant
Trail that wraps around the waterfront. Son walked on that trail for a bit as I waited anxiously for him to come back. We were told that there could be bears or other wildlife nearby.
Getting back on the ship after our visit.
NCL new pier all the way on the other side.
Los Lobos
As for dinner, we have booked our first specialty restaurant using one of the complimentary Platinum vouchers at Los Lobos. This voucher was either for the Texas Smokehouse or Los Lobos. I think we made a good choice in going to Los Lobos. This could be the best Mexican meal that I have ever had. Everything was exceptionally delicious.
Chips with salsa
The place was quite empty though so we had good service.
Cheese Fondue
Seafood Ceviche
I believe this was the tortilla soup that husband ordered.
Veracruz-style Snapper, wonderful!
Grilled Skirt Steak
My only disappointment, the refried bean that was too watery.
Slow roasted pork in bitter orange.
This was the best, Mexican Street Corn.
Dessert
Avocado Ice cream
Our ship stayed in dock until late that evening like around 10:00 PM. We had a good day visiting Icy Strait Point even though we did not get to see whales or bald eagles this time around. This is the place where I have lots of good memories when we were here with family and friends. I would love to come back on another trip in the future, hopefully in better weather. Next, we will cruise Glacier Bay, which is just a short distance from Icy Strait Point. For video of our visit at Icy Strait Point, please click here.
