Norwegian Encore Makes Her Debut
Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship will be deployed to the Caribbean, Bermuda, New England/Canada and Alaska
The Norwegian Encore was recently christened by Grammy Award-winning artist Kelly Clarkson, who performed for the dignitaries and other guests gathered for the event in Miami. The last Breakaway Plus class ship brings new features along with ones Norwegian Cruise Line is well known for. On November 24, 2019, the Norwegian Encore set sail from Miami on her first seven-day voyage to the Eastern Caribbean.
Updates and Features Onboard Norwegian Encore
The Norwegian Encore is nearly 1,100 feet long, accommodates nearly 4,000 guests and is approximately 169,000 gross registered tons. Her stunning abstract hull artwork was done by Spanish artist Eduardo Arranz-Bravo. The Norwegian Encore also has go-karts at sea (the only cruise line to offer this) and the Galaxy Pavilion, a 10,000-square-foot indoor virtual reality complex that features interactive gaming with cutting-edge technology.
Dining Options
New specialty dining options onboard include Onda by Scarpetta, which features the rich flavors of Italian cuisine. Other specialty dining choices are the American Diner, which has all-American classics; Le Bistro, which serves French cuisine; Los Lobos, which serves Mexican cuisine; and Q, which serves authentic Texas barbeque. Ocean Blue features fresh seafood creations, and Teppanyaki offers an entertaining hibachi-style dining experience.
Complimentary dining for guests includes the main dining rooms – Savor and Taste as well as the Manhattan Room. The Local Bar and Grill offers 24-hour pub fare, while The Garden Cafe provides a three-meal buffet.
Guests staying in The Haven by Norwegian® can dine at The Haven Restaurant, which is exclusive to them.
Entertainment
The Norwegian Encore has new entertainment onboard as well as featuring popular productions on some of the other Norwegian Cruise Line ships.
The Broadway hit “Kinky Boots,” with songs by Cyndi Lauper, is new and exclusively onboard the Norwegian Encore. “Happy Hour Prohibition: The Musical,” which first debuted on the Norwegian Bliss, and “The Choir of Man,” which debuted on the Norwegian Escape, are also on the Encore playbill.
Another fun entertainment experience is The Cavern Club, which takes guests back to the legendary Liverpool club, with musical performances by a Beatles cover band.
The Cellars Wine Bar
The Cellars Wine Bar on the Norwegian Encore continues the partnership Norwegian Cruise Line has with Michael Mondavi. The Norwegian Escape was the first ship to have The Cellars Wine Bar by the Michael Mondavi Family Estate. The wine bar is on the Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy.
The Cellars Wine Bar features seven different wines from the Michael Mondavi Family Estates and some from Folio Fine Wine Partners. Wines from the Michael Mondavi Family Estates include Isabel Mondavi Chardonnay, Isabel Mondavi Pinot Noir, Emblem Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, M by Michael Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon and Animo Cabernet Sauvignon. Wines from Folio Fine Wine Partners include Spellbound Chardonnay, Spellbound Petite Sirah and Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cellars features a few wine tastings each cruise.
The Mondavi family participates in at least three of Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Meet the Winemaker Cruises” each year. These are hosted by Michael, Rob or Dina Mondavi, who participate in meet-and-greets, wine tastings and wine dinners.
Folio Fine Wine Partners is a marketing and sales agency founded and owned by the Michael Mondavi Family. It was created with the vision to represent some of the finest family-owned and family-managed wine producers.
Cocktail Experiences
Guests onboard have some terrific options when it comes to cocktails. The District Brew House has 24 beers on tap and 50 bottled beers along with favorites from Miami’s Wynwood Brewing Company.
Vibe Beach Club is an adults-only lounge with its own sun deck. Other bars include the Skyline Bar, Sugarcane Mojito Bar, Mixx Bar, The A-list Bar and Maltings Whiskey Bar.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Sail & Sustain Initiatives
The Norwegian Encore is the first ship in the fleet that is plastic water bottle-free, and by January 2, 2020, Norwegian will be the first major cruise line to eliminate plastic water bottles throughout the fleet. This will eliminate 6 million plastic water bottles.
Mark Fine, director, beverage buyer, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd. shared details about the NCL Sail & Sustain Initiatives when we spoke. He said, “Much of what we’re doing within the beverage area is really under the radar, so to speak. We’re the first cruise line that’s been removing plastic straws, and now we’re offering paper straws on demand.” Another area Mark mentioned was the recent partnership with JUST Goods, Inc.
Mark and I then talked a bit more about the Sail & Sustain initiatives and the new sustainable cocktails on the Norwegian Encore. As far as cocktails on tap, the Norwegian Encore now has a “Drink of the Day” that offers a sustainable cocktail using products made from watermelon rind, the outer parts of pineapples, limes and more. One example is “Pineapple Fusion,” in which pineapples used in buffet areas and in garnishes have found a way into the drinks. Boiling the outer parts in water creates a pineapple syrup used in the new sustainable cocktail.
Mark also mentioned more “Drink of the Day” recipes are being developed and will be added to the menu in the near future. He said, “It’s fun, exciting and also eye-awakening for us.”
Where the Norwegian Encore Will Be Sailing
The Norwegian Encore began her seven-day voyages from PortMiami to the Eastern Caribbean in November, and these will continue until April 2020. Beginning April 22, 2020, the Norwegian Encore will be offering itineraries to Bermuda, New England and Canada from New York City.
Then she’ll be sailing to the Western Caribbean from Miami beginning December 12, 2020. In the spring of 2021, the Encore will sail to Alaska from Seattle.
More about Norwegian Cruise Line
The debut of the Norwegian Encore is a special milestone for Norwegian Cruise Line because she is the last of their Breakaway Plus-class ships. The class began in 2015 with the Norwegian Escape, which was followed by the Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Bliss. These four Breakaway Plus-class ships have elevated cruising experiences in new ways, with the world’s only racetracks and open-air laser tag arenas at sea, world-class entertainment, creative culinary offerings and virtual reality complexes. The Norwegian Encore is definitely one to consider for a future group cruise.
