Frequently Asked Questions

Once you provide your basic information here, we will reach out and contact you personally to gather the required information. If you’d like to join us, we’ll help find the perfect room category and location, create a booking for you, and collect a refundable deposit.  

NCL features refundable deposits! This gives you flexibility to cancel all the way up to the final payment date and receive a refund of your deposit.  Understanding the unpredictable nature of chronic illnesses, you’re covered should some unexpected issue arise. Trip insurance may provide additional provisions for medical related cancellations.

Entry into Canada is solely determined by Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) officials in accordance with Canadian law.

Anyone with a criminal record may be excluded and denied entry into Canada – including Canadian waters – due to heightened security and enforcement. For this reason, more people with past criminal charges or convictions are refused entry into Canada. Almost all convictions (including DUI, DWI, reckless driving, negligent driving, misdemeanor drug possession, all felonies, shoplifting, theft, etc.) make a person inadmissible to Canada, regardless of how long ago they occurred.

It is recommended that persons who have been charged in the past or who have past convictions obtain the necessary documents before attempting to enter Canada. A waiver of exclusion may be issued but several weeks are required and a processing fee must be paid.

To learn more about applying for these documents, guests may visit the following website: www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/inadmissibility/index.asp.

This regulation applies to our sailing since we’re scheduled to visit Victoria, BC

For additional details, visit the Canada Border Services Agency website at www.cbsa.gc.ca.

We are traveling on the Norwegian Cruise Line ship, Encore. There are included food and beverage options, as well as the kids’ club, entertainment on board, and several amazing opportunities like the Encore Speedway, laser tag, Galaxy Pavillion virtual reality, and other activities at additional cost. If you would like, you can add on unlimited drink packages, or dine in one or more of the specialty restaurants for additional fees. Some of these items may be included with your group amenity options.

Being experienced cruisers, we have an intimate understanding of T1D needs while on board a ship. We will work with each participant to ensure that their unique needs are met, as well as working with Norwegian. We can:

• Help coordinate sharps containers and spare insulin storage (subject to availability)
• Ensure that shoreside security is aware of the group and associated medical equipment during processing
• Negotiate free access to CGM cloud servers for CGM wearer and one follower to continue receiving alerts
• Meet with ships medical staff to make them aware of our group
• Meet with ship’s kids club staff to help them understand the unique care required
• Meet with ship’s culinary staff to review specific dietary needs
• Arrange a group seating for dinners (you can also choose alternative options)
• Arrange casual gatherings

We have specifically chosen not to have a heavy medical focus, but rather provide an opportunity to just be “normal” around others going through a similar adventure.

We are Jennifer and Mike Griffin. We are the organizers, participants and travel agents responsible for all aspects of the cruise. Our teenage daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was 2 and we have been avid volunteers and supporters of numerous T1D organizations in Colorado, California and Idaho in that time.

YES PLEASE! Having people who have made it to the other side can be a inspiration to the parents dealing with stubborn teenagers or snack sneaking seven year olds.

We have access to all cabin categories onboard, which includes:

• Studios for single passengers
• Inside staterooms w/ virtual balcony
• Ocean View 
• Balcony – highly recommended for Alaska!
• 5+ passenger staterooms – limited quantities, so you’ll want to book these early!
• Suites – NCL’s Haven suites are some of the best for Alaska!  Haven guests have an amazing private observation lounge, as well as observation deck across the front of the ship.
• Connecting staterooms – Encore has several configurations of connecting staterooms, however they tend to sell out very quickly. If you’re needing/wanting connecting rooms, we suggest booking those sooner than later.

Alaska in July (or any month for that matter) can be tricky. It can be raining or it could be beautiful. Plan for an absolute high of 70, and lows can be in the 40’s. Days near the glaciers are typically cold, while days in towns can be sunny. We can provide you with a packing list when we get closer, and we will provide you with a weather forecast for each port as soon as it’s available. In short, prepare to dress in layers due to unpredictable weather.

As part of our group amenities, a per cabin donation will be will be provided to The Children’s Diabetes Foundation (CDF) (and potentially other T1D specific 501(c)(3) organizations). We are not a non-profit organization, and the cost of your trip does not qualify as a tax deductable donation.

Following are the cancellation charges associated with the cruise as of 1/25/24.

NCL deposits are refundable. You can cancel up until final payment date and receive a full refund. Beyond final payment date, following are cancellation fees:

• 120+ days No charge
• 119-91 days 25%
• 90-61 days 50%
• 60-31 days 75%
• 30 days or less 100%

Optional insurance is available and may affect what is refundable, and under what circumstances.

Generally, the base cruise fare includes a cabin, a selection of complimentary restaurants and non-alcoholic and non-soda beverages (self-serve water dispensers, juices, milk, tea, etc.). Additionally, a selection of onboard activities will be included. In addition to these included items, prepare for the following fees:

• Gratuities. Suggested gratuities can either be pre-paid or are automatically added to your onboard account and charged to your card prior to disembarkation. The automatic daily gratuity currently charged is $20/pp per day for standard staterooms, and $25/pp per day for suite staterooms. Note that these rates are current as of 1/2024, however are subject to change. The gratuities are shared among dining services staff, stateroom attendants and other housekeeping services personnel. You can modify gratuities by visiting Guest Services while onboard. Prepaying gratuities through us at time of reservation can avoid any increase in these fees. 
• Beverages: soda, alcohol, bottled water. All paid beverages are available a la carte, plus you can select from multiple alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage packages.
• Onboard Activities. NCL charges for many of their onboard activities, including Encore Speedway, laser tag and Galaxy Pavillion.  You can generally pay ala carte or purchase a pass for the week.
• Onboard gambling. Like most cruise ships, Encore includes an onboard casino and Bingo games, which are available when at sea.
• Onboard shopping. Like most cruise ships, Encore includes a selection of tax and duty free shopping while at sea.
• Specialty Dining. You can either pay a la carte, or purchase a specialty dining package. A large selection of complimentary restaurants are available, so specialty dining is purely optional.
• Photos. Cruise lines are renowned for taking pictures throughout the cruise. Packages and a la carte pricing is available.
• Shore excursions. We expect to offer a group-specific shore excursion, however you can choose from a variety of additional excursions as well. Most Alaska ports will have a small town/tourist area for shopping and wandering if you choose not to purchase excursions. Be aware that tours purchased from third parties at the docks will not guarantee your timely return to the ship, nor will the ship wait for you unless you are on an approved excursion. 
• Transfers to/from hotels, airports, etc. We are offering to book airfare, hotel and transfers as additions to your trip, just ask Mike or Jennifer about them when you book.
• Arcade. Like many ships, Encore includes an arcade, which is available at additional cost.
• Pre/Post cruise activities. If you would like to come into Seattle early or stay an extra day or two to tour, we can help with those arrangements.
• Travel Insurance. We highly recommend travel insurance, particularly when traveling with medically sensitive passengers. We will offer insurance options through our partners. We offer travel insurance to all clients. 

This is not an exhaustive list and will not include all possible additional expenses. All prices subject to change and are not guaranteed.

We are in the unique position of owning a Cruise Planners franchise, which will be the exclusive travel agency associated with this cruise. We are not only the travel agents, but also the group organizers and participants, so we have a vested interest in making this an exceptional event, and will be looking after you each step of the way. We have been cruising for over 25 years and Cruise Planners franchisees for over 5 years. Details of our travel agency are as follows: Cruise Planners | www.clearlycruising.com | 208.505.8191 and we are based in Boise, ID. FL ST#39068, CST# 2034468-50, HST# TAR-7058, WA ST# 603-399-504

Yes! Our objective is to change itineraries yearly to visit a variety of destinations.

All reservations automatically receive our group amenity package, and one of our unique services is to track pricing and automatically request any price reductions all the way up to final payment. 

One of our unique services is to monitor pricing and promotions all the way up to final payment, and if we identify a lower rate is available, we’ll request a price match.

Absolutely! We’d be happy to help organize a similar fundraising event, and we specialize in group travel. There are opportunities for local / regional events, particularly near cruise ports. We can also help coordinate land based group events. Please contact us for more details.  If you’d like to plan a similar event for your non-profit organization, please visit Plan A Fundraising Cruise.com

We have two recommended shore excursion vendors – NCL, and Cruise Planners preferred shore excursion partner, Shore Excursions Group.  You can find the current Shore Excursions Group options for our sailing here. (for full disclosure, we do receive a nominal commission on SEG excursions) NCL excursions can be booked either onboard or through their guest portal.  A listing of NCL excursions can be found here

Airlines have not worked with travel agencies for several decades now, so for domestic air, a travel agent can actually be more of a hindrance than help, while adding little to any value. As such, we generally recommend that guests book their own air.

Absolutely!  Here are a few hotels close to the cruise port.  We can help book these and other pre or post cruise hotels for you!  Hotels can be booked approx. 1 year out.

• Edgewater Inn: By far the closest hotel to the cruise port – it’s literally adjacent and just a few minute walk. 
• Seattle Marriott Waterfront: Also very walkable, the Seattle Marriott Waterfront is only about a 3 minute walk away from the port.
• The Westin Seattle: The Westin is approximately a half mile from the port, with around a 15 minute walk.  Note that this is walk will involve a hill.