Beautiful ship and great experience

Item: Norwegian Encore
Rating: 4.6
Author: brent824

Norwegian Encore Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

brent824

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 2

Helpful Votes: 27

Overall rating:

4.6 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: March 17, 2024

Ship: Norwegian Encore

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 9266

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 1 month ago

Review summary

Having sailed this ship and itinerary before, we knew what to expect and thoroughly enjoyed our vacation. We would recommend this to others.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Being a Platinum Latitudes member, I was able to use the priority check in line, which allowed us to check in and board quickly. Otherwise, the port terminal was beautiful, spacious, and accommodating.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

The main dining room (Taste, Savor, and The Manhattan Room) all had high quality, tasty food. We dined at Cagney's, Teppenyaki, Q, and Onda by Scarpetta and had wonderful experiences at each restaurant. While Cagney's was our favorite, we felt we enjoyed the alternate Italian restaurant that is available on other NCL ships (La Cucina) rather than Onda. La Cucina had better tasting food and more options on their menu.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

There were many activities available, some of which we didn't use. For example, we're not 'pool people', so we didn't use the pools or waterslides. There were several activities such as trivia and various games. The reason I rated as 4 instead of 5 was due to the limited production shows compared to past cruises and the limited options for activities on a sea day where we had to skip a port stop. The fitness center was well equipped and not very busy, allowing for a solid workout. The spa was exceptional, offering many services including the Thermal Suite, which we found to be very relaxing and a great value.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

The 'Choir of Man' show was exceptional. The various live music options were enjoyable.

Children's Programs

There were no children in our group.

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Service has always been exceptional on NCL. While this cruise was similar, there was room for improvement. The vast majority of staff went out of their way to be friendly; however, some staff on this cruise seemed to be less welcoming than we have experienced on past cruises. Examples include dining room hosts that were not welcoming or friendly and a couple of bartenders that seemed as if they weren't interested in serving customers. Again, 99% off the service was exceptional, only a few outliers, which can be expected in any service environment.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

The ship was beautiful and well-maintained.

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

The stateroom size was ample. The only thing that could have been improved was the bed. The single bed (two beds pushed together, which is typical) was uncomfortable. There was an obvious gap down the middle which made the bed uncomfortable for a couple. Lastly, the pillows were some of the worst we have ever used in any ship or hotel setting.