Back from Encore

[Joc123]

Whilst on this cruise I made comments on several posts so if I repeat myself, I apologise.

 

This was the longest cruise (26 days) we have taken and the first B2B which we found an interesting experience.

We left from Sydney which was a real treat. Instead of facing a flight of 23 - 26 hours, we were on board having lunch 3 hours after closing our front door! ( I have always been envious of people living near embarkation ports).

Embarkation was a breeze, and for Diamond members (not us) there was a separate area. Has this always been the case? We had not noticed it before and it seemed a little unnecessary as there wasn't a hold up at the "plebs" check in.

 

First impression of Encore - she is big!

At the top of the gangway we were greeted by familiar faces and escorted to the Colonnade for a buffet lunch. This looks lovely with a much larger outdoor area and chairs with cushions. The food is set out on 3 separate areas - hot food, salads and desserts.

 

Then it was the usual routine, eat, sort out internet in the Square, find room and muster. It all looked familiar (except deck 8 is now TK Grill, Sushi and card rooms) but for some reason we kept turning the wrong way and felt quite disoriented. It took several days to realise the stairs, lifts and O Bar are portside not starboard!

 

We liked the decor although there are already some stains on the carpet deck 5 and on chairs in the square. The Restaurant is much nicer (IMO) with the arches which helps to dampen the noise.

Love the look of the Grill and Sushi - great additions but soooooo cold. It seemed the warmer it was outside,the colder it was inside. Why do they do that? By day 24 they had warmed up the Grill but not Sushi.

 

Enough has been said about the lack of laundry facilities and this will be rectified.

 

The Retreat - if we hadn't read about this on CC, we would not have known it existed. There was no mention of it at all, no flyers (unlike other spa services) nothing in the Herald. We did have a look and could hear that someone was there (couldn't see them) but our impression was it's horrible!

It is completely enclosed, not even a glimpse of the sea. Each to their own I guess but why would you use it?

We did wonder if this space is rented and run by the spa company and therefore their decision as to wether it's viable or is it run by Seabourn? Either way, a complete waste of space and as the pool deck gets very crowded in nice weather (counted 23 people in the pool one day) I think another pool up there would be lovely, they already have plumbing for the hot tub.

 

Another design fault which I don't think has been mentioned. There is an outside area at the back of the Grill Restaurant which is the same size as outside the Colonnade. It is set up with tables, chairs and serving areas but NOT USED AT ALL! We asked why? We were told "because Thomas Keller will not allow his food to be served outside" I guess no one has told him about Ad Hoc evenings. Who missed that on the plans? Let's hope they reassess that area on Ovation.

 

The Club is the other area they have got wrong but we loved and used the pool at the back of the Club. It's only suitable for floating in due to the size (the other pool is too crowded to swim in anyway) but it's quiet and shaded.

 

We didn't choose this cruise for the itinerary (done it all before) we just wanted to try the ship. It did feel crowded around the pool, and one day at breakfast it was a zoo when the seas were too rough to open the outside area but overall we didn't notice the extra people. There are problems on this ship and when we had dinner with HD he said they had a list a mile long of things that need attention. I just wish the woman who was complaining loudly to the Captain (while he was trying to have breakfast) about the lack of walking space knew they are well aware of these problems.

We loved Encore, crew were wonderful, food good, wines ho hum, entertainment ok, but they now have shows at 8:45 and 10:15 which suited us. We will be back.

[Laylam]

Whilst on this cruise I made comments on several posts so if I repeat myself, I apologise........

..............................................We loved Encore, crew were wonderful, food good, wines ho hum, entertainment ok, but they now have shows at 8:45 and 10:15 which suited us. We will be back.

Thanks Joc123, very informative. Pleased you enjoyed your cruise (and escaped the cyclone - just!!)

[frantic36]

(snip)

The Retreat - but our impression was it's horrible!

It is completely enclosed, not even a glimpse of the sea. Each to their own I guess but why would you use it?

We did wonder if this space is rented and run by the spa company and therefore their decision as to wether it's viable or is it run by Seabourn? Either way, a complete waste of space and as the pool deck gets very crowded in nice weather (counted 23 people in the pool one day) I think another pool up there would be lovely, they already have plumbing for the hot tub.

 

Another design fault which I don't think has been mentioned. There is an outside area at the back of the Grill Restaurant which is the same size as outside the Colonnade. It is set up with tables, chairs and serving areas but NOT USED AT ALL! We asked why? We were told "because Thomas Keller will not allow his food to be served outside" I guess no one has told him about Ad Hoc evenings. Who missed that on the plans? Let's hope they reassess that area on Ovation.

 

Joc123 I hope you don't mind me quoting certain parts of your excellent and balanced review.

 

Your idea is a good plan for the Retreat regarding putting in another pool area and would also put back some of the now reduced public access area.

 

It is interesting they closed of outside Deck 8 again for your sailing. They have utilised it on earlier cruises. A friend who was on the Athens to Dubai section said it was used for a short while on the start of that cruise. They also used it for the 10 day inaugural cruise which we were on, for breakfast and lunch, as an overflow area for when the Colonnade was so busy. It was a nice quiet place to have breakfast and lunch.

 

There weren't as many staff to serve up there and the buffet selection was reduced. However, you could still order your meal and it was easy enough to use the internal stairs to go up and get something from Deck 9 buffet if you wanted to.

 

Our Dubai to Singapore cruise it was not used and a similar excuse given.........it made it seem like a wasted space. I wish they would just keep it open. As far as I know they had he same amount of staff on from Athens to Bali.

 

Totally agree the crew are wonderful and work really hard.

 

Julie

[lincslady]

We were on Quest; last spring, when the small version of the TK grill was opened. TK and Mr. Tihany were both on board - amazed that the outside area of the Encore TK Grilll was not discussed and ironed out!! What a sad underuse of an attractive area. There have, sadly, been too many badly thought areas on this ship.

[Isklaar]

Thanks for your review Joc.

I'm still not convinced about Encore, although right at this moment my finger is hovering above the keypad to call my TA to book a 7 day Med cruise on her in about four weeks. Still not certain and anyway, 7 day cruises are never the best, in my experience at least.

Not good to hear of outdoor dining space going to waste. I'm from Northern climes and live in England so I relish every opportunity to eat outdoors.

I very much like the idea of the later show. I tend to dine at 8.30pm and it's often a rush to get to the shows.

Thanks again.

[oregon50]

Nice review. Retreat is owned and operated by SB. Agree, a normal person would not know it is there. Walking outside, as in walking for exercise, is impossible.

[RustyRollock]

We were on the Sydney-Singapore trip too and agree with Joc's review 100%. I don't need to write my own now!

 

I think we all understand there are always things that need fixing or re-thinking on a new ship but some of the design decisions on Encore are baffling. This isn't a case of "all change is bad", in fact I embrace it when it makes sense, but I didn't meet a single person who liked, let alone used, the Retreat and the unused outside terrace behind TK Grill is indeed a shameful waste of precious space. I also heard that Mr Keller doesn't like his "culinary vision" to be served outdoors - purleeze. He's a chef (who I'd never heard of BTW), not the CEO. We dined at the Grill twice and it was good but not any better than what's available in the MDR. But then again we aren't foodies so maybe the finer points eluded us anyway. Loved the Dover sole.

 

Anyway, use the unused outdoor terrace as a wine/tapas bar? I floated this idea to several people who all agreed it would work, certainly better than leaving it empty and abandoned.

[Sunprince]

 

 

 

Another design fault which I don't think has been mentioned. There is an outside area at the back of the Grill Restaurant which is the same size as outside the Colonnade. It is set up with tables, chairs and serving areas but NOT USED AT ALL! We asked why? We were told "because Thomas Keller will not allow his food to be served outside" I guess no one has told him about Ad Hoc evenings. Who missed that on the plans? Let's hope they reassess that area on Ovation.

 

 

 

OMG! What a gross mis-management of valuable space. Where is the HD? And why would someone in a position of authority on the ship not rectify this immediately, regardless of what the "TK" standards are. Sometimes I fail to understand why common sense does not prevail. Alternatively, could this be an issue of not having enough trained crew to service that outdoor restaurant space?

 

 

 

 

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[RustyRollock]

Insufficient staff is a possibility as overall there seemed to be fewer of them. But that could be deceptive due to the larger ship with more pax on board. But whoever makes these decisions should have factored this in. It seems to me that between Mr Keller and the "celebrity" and no doubt very expensive Italian designer whose area of expertise is 5* hotels, not ships (different beasts), Seabourn is allowing the tail to wag the dog?

[Stefan_Cruise]

Hi!

 

I am on the Encore at the end of may 2017! This will be my 7th Seabourn cruise - I hope it is a good one! BTW the cruise was about € 2.500,-- cheaper than the similar cruise on the Oceania Riviera!

[Able Seaman H]

When we were on Encore the deck 8 outside dining area was in use for breakfast and lunch. It was closed for dinner.

 

I can imagine they might limit when it is used based on expected numbers. For instance on a Med port day the Colonnade is not going to be busy.

 

I will say that it was never busy when ever I poked my nose in. We always managed to find a space on decal 9.

 

Henry :)

[Joc123]

On our cruise (Sydney- Singapore) we were told the space could be used when Colonnade deck area was full. The only time Colonnade was full for breakfast was when the seas were rough and the outside could not be used so having an extra deck space doesn't help. People were asked to go the Restaurant and when that was full (they only have a certain number of tables available for breakfast) they were sent back to the Colonnade and had to wait for a table. On the O Class ships they would open R2 on these occasions. This only happened one day but people were not impressed!

This was an itinerary with several sea days and hot humid weather and apart from that 1 day the Colonnade was never full so they have to find another use for the deck space outside TK.

[lincslady]

It just seems odd to me to have this space outside the TK grill, apparently meant for outside dining, when the great man refuses to have it used to serve his food. He and Tihany were on board Quest at the same time for long enough for this to have been discussed and sorted, surely.

 

I imagine that the only way to get to the outside area on grill deck is via the outside stairs, during the day? And have they managed to serve food and drink there?

[secoma4]

We sailed on the Encore from Athens to Dubai, and then again from Singapore to Bali, and dined in this area for lunch from time to time, especially when it was busy in the Colonnade. An array of cold dishes and desserts were available, and any of the hot dishes from upstairs could be ordered. We liked it there as it was well shaded and quiet. It is a pity if the area is not utilized. Perhaps it was not promoted well as an alternative.

[frantic36]

I imagine that the only way to get to the outside area on grill deck is via the outside stairs, during the day? And have they managed to serve food and drink there?

 

Lincslady as I mentioned we used that outside area when they opened it on the inaugural cruise. We ate there for breakfast and my husband and other friends would order their eggs, French Toast etc from the waitstaff and the food would be brought via internal stairs of the Colonnade, which lead to the downstairs outside area on Deck 8 through an automatic door. I know that probably sounds confusing but that is how it worked.

 

We didn't eat lunch there but we saw people going down the stairs with plates of food from the buffet and I imagine the crew would also take any lunch orders down the same way from the Colonnade kitchen.

 

The buffet selection set up was only in a small serving place for breakfast and I imagine lunch as well. For me, as I am fine with a light breakfast, the selection was fine.

 

We enjoyed using the area.

 

Julie

[RustyRollock]

But surely it's too large a comfortable, shaded area to be used as an occasional "overflow". We used to take our pre-dinner cocktails out there from TK Bar to watch the sun set in blissful peace and quiet.

[Joc123]

Wish we had thought of that

I maybe wrong, but they may have used it on the first few cruises just to find a use, but found it to be too hard or not viable to staff so closed it. I would love to hear if it was used on the NZ cruises.

[Able Seaman H]

I think it's worth putting into perspective the relationship between Thomas Keller and Seabourn. Whilst he is currently flavour of the month that may not be the case for the life of the ship.

 

The hard architecture of Encore lends its self to an outside dining area on deck 8. The actual useage of which can be fine tuned. If it's there you can choose not to use it, if it's not there you have no future scope.

 

The deck 8 aft dining and kitchen arrangement is deliberately flexible.

 

Henry :)