Flights booked through Norwegian Cruise Lines (Alaskan Airlines Direct Flight SNA-SEA) as well as the transfer to the Cruise Terminal. Embarkation was seamless and took less than thirty-minutes after getting off the bus, going through security, and checking in to get my keycard.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The food in the main dining rooms (Manhattan Room, Savor & Taste) was delicious morning, noon and night. The chef did a wonderful job keeping the daily menus updated with new and different choices. Specialty Dining Restaurants on Norwegian are always a treat and I was able to experience many of them on this cruise: Cagney's Steakhouse House (3), Los Lobos (2), Le Bistro (2), Ondo (1), Q BBQ (1), and Teppanyaki (1). Service is always first rate and the food quality and portions are well worth the additional costs.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
On board activities offered a variety of options for passengers throughout the day. Go-Karts, Laser Tag, and Video Arcade games. Pool, Jacuzzis and Watersides. The Mandarin Thermal Spa was large and relaxing. Trivia Games, Bingo, Game Shows and live music took place throughout the ship and throughout the day. Passengers could do as much as they wanted or as little as they wanted which is what a vacation is all about!
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Entertainment was outstanding. Choir of Man was the one Broadway show at the moment, as the cruise ship is in the process of replacing Kinky Boots that was canceled last January 2023. The Beatles cover band did a great job in both The Cavern and in the main Encore Theater. Passengers said that "the juggler kept dropping his balls," but I never got around to seeing his show. The live bands and piano players did a great job as well with their multiple sets throughout the course of the day. The comedians all put on funny entertaining shows both for their general audiences as well as for their "f-ing" adult audiences. Norwegian Cruise Lines does an outstanding job in providing quality entertainment for cruise passengers to enjoy.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Absolutely outstanding service provided by the ENTIRE CREW throughout the ship especially in the food and beverage area. The hosts/hostesses, wait staff, food runners, bartenders, and bar servers were all friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, polite, prompt and extremely attentive. My cabin steward went above and beyond in fulfilling any number of special requests in a timely manner and did a marvelous job keeping the cabin clean and amenities fully stocked.
Cruise Staff (Braian and Andrea) were fantastic game show and Karaoke hosts. Braian also did a fantastic job as the host for the single travelers on the ship by coordinating activities, diners and events for them, as well as providing a nightly gathering spot in the studio lounge.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The Encore is the final addition of the Breakaway Plus Class ships commencing service in 2019. The ship is still in near pristine shape and layed out very similar to the Bliss. Common areas are clean. Cabins are nicely kept up.
There are no obstructed balcony views. The waterfront adds to the outdoor space that passengers can use to enjoy the wonderful ocean views and refreshing sea breezes.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Used my one-time cabin upgrade to go from a standard balcony to a Deluxe Balcony Suite, which had a spacious bathroom that included a bath/shower combination, a double sink, and plenty of counter storage space. Cabin #9234
Ship tip
The ship has a lot of different venues to explore and to enjoy. Take time to explore the ship and find the spots away from the crowds for you to enjoy the sea breeze and beautiful ocean views.
Seattle is a great City to visit either before or after a cruise. Wonderful sights to see and neighborhoods to visit. Delicious food and friendly city dwellers and dog owners to mingled with and get to know better.
The jewel of the entire 21 day cruise was going through the new locks in the Panama Canal. Managed to grab a front row lounger in the Observation Ddck to enjoy the passage through the locks and avoid the heat and humidity that day.
Norwegian Shore Excursion Beach Resort Getaway. Spent a wonderful day enjoying the beach, the pools, and the delicious Mexican Buffet lunch along with refreshing beverages while getting a bronzed base suntan.
A chance to see why Tony Bennett Left His Heart in San Francisco. An international city that offers visitors a chance to see the Golden Gate Bridge, or visit Golden Gate Park and it's many museums, or ride a Cable Car to Ghirardelli Square and taste some delicious handmade chocolates. Passengers wishing to shop can visit Union Square and those wishing to enjoy some of the delicious international cuisine there is Chinatown, North Beach's Italian dining, and daily fresh caught seafood along the wharf or across town.
On an open end lopp cruise that includes Colombia and/ or the Panama Canal there are always some delays due to customs and immigration clearing the ship. We met in the Encore Theater at 8:15 AM for a 9:00 AM city tour with airport drop off that didn't leave the terminal until 10:30 AM, which honestly isn't that bad for Miami regardless of the cruise line. Just a reminder to ALWAYS book your flights home for afternoon (preferably later than 1:00 PM). Yet, there were still some people complaining that they were going to miss their 10:00 AM flights because of the delays, which the cruise lines have no control over since it is the US government that is responsible for allowing passengers into the country.
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