Whether in chilly Alaska or toasty Caribbean, this elegant space is one of the most popular places to quietly relax and savor the scenery. Encore was built with Alaska in mind, and its 2,723 sq ft indoor Observation Lounge boasts floor-to-ceiling windows that span two decks, allowing guests to take in incredible panoramic vistas. Specialty restaurants Onda by Scarpetta, Los Lobos, Cagney Steakhouse, and Ocean Blue have outdoor seating along the deck known as Waterfront. To wit: Encore has numerous outside dining options and indoor dining with views. The latest ships recognize that guests want to enjoy the outdoors. Contemporary artwork and light installations jazz up public areas. Each bar, lounge, and restaurant has a distinct style, aesthetic, and sense of place. Unlike a vessel that has gone through refurbishment or retrofit, Encore’s interiors feel cohesive and well-defined. Accessibility is greatly improved there’re no random steps or stairs, which tend to be a rampant feature on old ships. Modern ship designs ease congestion, allowing seamless flow both inside and outdoors thanks to wide walkways and automatic doors. Though impersonal, sailing on a new ship has its perks, especially in terms of layout. If you are looking to get to know your servers over the course of a 7-day cruise, and expect them to remember your preferences let alone your name, this is not the ship. It has also embraced high-tech self-service, such as tapping your keycard and getting a glass of wine from a dispenser at the buffet, or ordering different Asian bites from a tablet on the table at hip food court Food Republic. It has hopped onto trends like craft beer the District Brew House has around 20 draft beers on tap and 50 different bottled. Encore has 41 places to eat, drink, and be merry. Norwegian has done away with traditional seating completely and only offers free-style dining, though reservations for the full-service restaurants are a must as they can fill up even when the ship isn’t full. However, there is a bounty of choice and flexibility when it comes to food and beverage. Expect the pools to be overwhelmed on at-sea days. It doesn’t take a mathematician to foresee an issue. The experience on a nearly 4,000-guest ship is all about choice-except when it comes to the swimming pools.

Of course, Encore also has conventional entertainment options, though amped up: Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Kinky Boots, a dedicated comedy club, The Cavern Club featuring a Beatles cover band, shopping, and a large casino with an enclosed smoking section. For a family, the expenses can quickly rack up. The ship is not all-inclusive-even drinking water for the room requires buying a package. Just keep in mind that all that fun comes at a cost. The whole family can bond in the escape room. Grandma can soar on a virtual reality hang-gliding simulator at Galaxy Pavilion. Dad gets a pro-collagen shave at the barber shop while mom burns off steam on the go-kart track. Children can splash around Aqua Park while teens zip through the Ocean Loops waterslide that hangs 11 feet off the side of the ship, a teeth-chattering 159 feet above the sea. The ship is a floating resort, mall, water park, and amusement park rolled into one where adults can become big kids.

They are grouped together and the wing includes access to a private lounge where solos can meet and mingle at hosted happy hours. Instead of treating single rooms as an afterthought, the 82 tiny studio rooms have been specifically designed and priced for one. Both Prima and Viva are smaller than Encore, so for now, Encore represents the company’s maximal vessel.Įncore is for couples, families, kids, groups, and even solo travelers. Namesake ship Prima launched in August 2022, joined by Viva in 2023 four more have been ordered. Both classes have The Haven, the boutique ship-within-a-ship concept where guests of the best staterooms enjoy perks such as an exclusive pool, lounge, bar, and restaurant. In this class, bigger is better and Encore is loaded up with culinary experiences, trendy bars, and jaw-dropping amusements.īreakaway Plus Class now sits a notch below Norwegian’s newest Prima class, the brand’s attempt to compete with the likes of Celebrity and Princess. Joy followed in 2017, Bliss in 2018, and finally, Encore. Escape (2015) was the first and remains Norwegian’s largest in terms of guest capacity (4,266). Though Royal Caribbean’s 6,000+ passenger ships are the largest in the world by a hefty margin, Breakaway Plus Class ships still rank within the top 30. Encore is the latest addition to Norwegian’s Breakaway Plus Class, the cruise line’s competitor in the world of floating mega resorts, where each new ship tries to outdo the last with over-the-top attractions.

Encore norwegian cruise line