Norwegian Deserves An Encore

When planning a vacation, there are numerous options to consider, but why is a cruise so special and how has one cruise company hauled up the anchor to give their customers the best the market has to offer? To find out, the Florida Coast team was thrilled to be invited as guests on 2019 built Norwegian Encore’s inaugural trip to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

Weighing a humongous 167,800 tons with a length of 1,094ft, and the capacity to carry 3,998 people, this ship truly is a sight to behold. Towering over the Port of Miami, the Encore has an immediate aura of superiority and opulence. 

Breaking with cruising tradition, the Norwegian Cruise Line offers customers the flexibility to have the vacation they want. Dining is not assigned and there isn’t a formal dress code, although we did note that some people still liked to put on the glitz come evening time. It really was an ‘anything goes’ kind of relaxed feeling.  

There were so many attractions onboard to keep people entertained, including a race track on the top deck, which had us flying around corners with karts in the excess of 20 mph. It was both thrilling and surreal. We also enjoyed the Galaxy Pavilion, with its immersive virtual reality simulators and interactive video walls. 

The kids will love the pool and the outside splash park while adults and kids alike will enjoy the rush of whizzing down a double-loop water slide, which hangs 11ft over the side of the ship and 159 feet above the ocean. If you have had enough of the wet stuff, there is a massive open-air laser tag to keep all entertained for ages. With a younger kids camp (Splash Academy) and a teen club (Entourage) in addition to a games room, the kids will always be amused. 

There are a variety of accommodations including solo-traveler staterooms, mini-suites, and spa-suites.   The exclusive ‘The Haven’ (a zone with special access only) has butler service, its own dedicated restaurant, and a private pool, where the glass roof can open and close for the sun rays to flood in.  There is also a tranquil spa where all the latest treatments are available and even an MD to administer fillers or Botox.

The dining options were immense with six complimentary dining choices, all covering different culinary tastes from fusion to burgers. Our team loved the lunchtime seafood extravaganza held in the Garden Café. The food was so fresh and the choice was overwhelming. There was also a vast selection of specialty dining options like Le Bistro for a classy special dinner and Teppanyaki where the hibachi chicken at was the best we have ever tasted. The staff was highly trained and friendly and with 1,735 crew members, there was always a member of staff close by to help answer any questions. 

There was an abundance of evening entertainment with our personal favorite being the musical ‘Kinky Boots’ which had us laughing out loud and dancing in our seats. Many bars and restaurants in the ship had live music, all performed to a very high standard. We were blown away by the talents of country singer Camille Rae and her four-piece band the Raebans.  

We had the pleasure of taking part in ‘Meet the Winemaker series’, which as the name suggests features the opportunity to listen and taste wine from accomplished experts. On our trip, we met and listened to winemaker Michael Mondavi and tasted his wonderful wines and absorbed interesting wine facts from master sommelier and three-time James Beard Award winner Andrea Robinson.

The destination of Great Stirrup Cay, is a private tranquil island oasis, exclusive to Norwegian guests. We were excited to have the use of one of the private villas at the new Silver Cove. Each Villa offers A/C, in-villa TV with complimentary on-demand movies, access to the upscale Silver Cove buffet, full private restroom, a retractable glass wall providing unobstructed views and access to the beach. The villas offer the extra luxury and a chance to get out of the sun for a siesta. These villas should be pre-booked and are bound to be in demand, so be sure to ask about booking one if Great Stirrup Cay is on the itinerary. 

Whether you are relaxing by the water, snorkeling, kayaking or zip-lining across the island, there is something for everyone.  There are also some incredible shore excursions like the ten-minute boat ride to Treasure island where you can meet the famous ‘swimming pigs’, or how about a stingray encounter? 

There are three restaurants and three splendid bars on the island, with our favorite being the Bacardi bar. Along with the great view and the excitement of the entertainment for our return journey, the mojito’s kept on flowing. We all agreed that this cruise had delivered above and beyond anything we could have imagined. Not only was there an appeal for all age groups, but the choice of food, entertainment and luxury destination also converted us all into ‘Future Cruisers’.

For more information or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional; call Norwegian at 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784); or visit  www.ncl.com