coriemarie

I would certainly say that the pool area looks like it will be 'spice' at night, judging on those lights and speakers in the 4th photo. (assuming that is the pool area)

4 hours ago, First_Time_Cruiser85 said:

Sorry to burst everyone’s bubble regarding the laser tag but I suggest you all go back and watch the float out.

At the back on the ship where the Norwegian Encore sign is lit up blue, above it you can clearly see 2 huge white pavilions with huge round circles on top which is clearly for the laser tag.

Its on the YouTube video float out at the 43 second mark.

If it had been changed to a sun deck those 2 white pavilions would kinda look embarrassing.😂

those are on every cruise ship. 🙄

38 minutes ago, TheDougOut said:

It’s possible that Vibe will be released with a $29 or $49pp cover charge, and it’s so perfectly-designed to handle the masses that this will become a big non-issue.

 

Well, other than the fact that the highly sought-after aft views are never coming back.  

They should put a grotto in there or something, anything. A place that is meant for sunbathing, but no where to cool off doesn't make sense.

But, if the price is that low, I would definitely try to get one.

Can the first sailing happen already?!

I am going to call and complain, thanks for the push, i've had the number ready to call.

one area really is NOT enough for a ship as large as the Encore (and bliss, and joy) - I am waiting for sailing and waiting to hear back, but my final payment is due 12/28 and if I am not happy I am going to have to switch ships. My BF and I agree we want the new ship, but we also don't want to be confined and unhappy.

17 hours ago, GamblingHabit said:

I just got off of the NCL Joy. There is no cigarette smoking allowed in the Cigar Lounge. NCL has signs up in the Cigar Lounge that say “Cigarette Smoking Is Prohibited”.

There is a glass enclosed area in the casino to smoke and one small area within Spice H2O - deck 17 Aft. The Spice H2O area measures about 8 feet by 25 feet and has 18 chairs. There is no cover when it rains.

When the casino is closed you can’t smoke in the casino area.

My cabin was in the very front of the ship. Right under the bridge. It was a great cabin but I counted 800 steps to get from my cabin to the back of the ship (where the smoking area was). I got lots of exercise during the week but probably wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Another thing that smokers should be aware of is that Icy Straits Point is a non smoking tourist area. They allow smoking only where there is a yellow butt bucket. I counted 3 as I wandered all over the area.

I’m on a cruise in December on the Encore. Does anyone have any information about smoking areas on that ship?

Well the Encore doesn't even have a Spice - so that leaves no where to smoke.

I'm cruising in April - Looking forward to first sailing to hear where the smoke areas are. I'm really bummed.

On the font for the 'C' - I think its the same font used for JOY and for BLISS  - which appears different from the regular NCL logo font. And this font just has an odd looking C?

I believe you can see this area in a youtube tour.

2 hours ago, steamboats said:

No more rumors... undocking will take place on Saturday, August 17th starting by 8 am (German time).

 

https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/meyerwerft_de/medien/presseticker/pressemitteilung_detail_33473.jsp

 

Of course weather permitting...

 

steamboats

Is there usually a video of the float out we can watch?

2 hours ago, tomk3212 said:

Two incidents; one on the Breakaway back in October where some pax with an "emotional support" dog who pooped all over the floor in the Casino!  To their credit, however, they were highly embarrassed and made every effort to clean up the mess until a crew member showed up to assist & close off the area until it could be thoroughly cleaned.

 

On the Gem a number of years go DW & I left our stuff at a table in the Garden Cafe while we went to get our food but when we returned found it occupied & our stuff pushed to the floor!  The folks didn't speak English & pretended they didn't know our stuff was there until we got a ship's officer who happened to speak their language.  I dunno what the officer said to them but they got REALLY red & embarrassed and, literally, fled the scene!

 

@DominicAUS That is a GREAT line!!!!  Can I please borrow it the next time I encounter rude behavior? lol 

I am now wondering where those with service animals are supposed to take their dogs to relieve themselves? A cruise ship seems like a horrible place for a pup.

12 hours ago, reeinaz said:

OMG. This ship is huuuuuge. Seeing all of the equipment in the bottom pic really established the scale for me. 

Wow.

Nothing compares until you're standing next to it. I saw a cruise ship for the first time two years ago and it completely stunned me. I had no idea how big they were, then I knew I had to cruise!

ugh - so much concern for the Encore, with Bliss only having one single area and no talk on the Joy.

Thank you for this thread. Being a smoker is hard these days, huh?

I am following to find out where I am going to be able to go on the new Encore. There was only 1 on Bliss (in spice) according to your charts, and the Encore doesn't even have a Spice H20.

I was on the Getaway last October and there were 3 open places to smoke, and we still felt cramped. I can't even imagine 1. I think smokers are a decent % of the population seeing as how the smoking areas were packed at ALL hours on my last cruise.

Very annoying coming here to see everyone posting negative about smoking - go somewhere else - you opened the smoking thread weirdo. Also many of you talking about smokers like were animals.

Anyways, this sucks. I know Bliss is a sister to the upcoming Encore, and there is no Spice on Encore so I am wonder where they are going to have a smoking area now.

This is a vacation for everyone, smokers too. And drinking all day, I want to smoke. We need options as well.

I've been wanting to see this show so bad! The "Don't lose your head" number is amazing - might have to keep an eye on this!

Random but not ... is there a weight limit on the go karts? If you have been on previous cruises with a track? My BF is a beefy (hunky) man and was embarrassed when he was weighed at the TOP of the slides in front of everyone. There was also a limit on the ropes course he wanted to do. 

We we both have diet goals but, ya know, in case? 

13 minutes ago, Beardface said:

Took me a day but I think I am calming down a bit from this.

 

In reality, my wife and I don't spend much time at all near the pools.  We were attracted to this ship because of some of the other things associated with it (go karts, laser tag, galaxy pavilion, Waterfront) and especially because it was one of the few or possibly only itineraries that went on a 7 night cruise to Bermuda out of NYC on the time we were looking to go.  If we want to go to the pool, we'll hop in, enjoy ourselves, hop out and move on.  Sunbathing does nothing for us, it never has nor ever will, and if we want relaxation, we'll just head to the Thermal Spa.

 

I really like some of the features they have brought to this ship regarding dining and entertainment.  It seems like the perfect place to have a nice fun, relaxing trip.  I don't like the nickel and diming, but all cruise lines are pulling this nowadays.  People complain about the UBP on NCL but when we went on RCCL a couple years ago those plans literally doubled the cost of our trip, so NCL's looks like a bargain comparatively speaking, even if I have to pay for premium drinks on the ship.

 

All in all, we're still very much looking forward to our trip.  I hope you are still looking forward to yours as well.

Sigh, Thank you! Calming down as well. (can finally comment on this thread, been watching for weeks, just made an account.)

I am feeling the same way. I have been watching this cruise for a long time and finally booked it last week. We wanted to leave from NYC, wanted to stay in Bermuda a few days, my BF loves gaming and racetracks, ETC. I do enjoy laying in the sun and having some drinks, but I think I will be able to manage. its not like there is NO pool or chairs. I really can't do Vibe because the BF does NOT enjoy laying in the sun or swimming much and I don't want to be separated by a $210 wall like that.

My concern is smoking though. I have only cruised the Getaway and there was a decent amount of places to smoke, but I know that ship was a few years older. There was a pool smoking 'room', a corner of h20, the cigar lounge and an area outside of the cigar lounge, include the outdoor sunset bar. This was perfect.

I am wondering if on any of the newer ships, there was a pool smoking area, or an area outside the cigar lounge on deck 8. Looks like Malting's replaced The Sunset Bar, but it has the same set up. We basically ended every night here drinking and smoking so losing this spot would be a bummer. I mean, there has to be somewhere for us to smoke.