Everything... Norwegian ENCORE! Launch Nov 2019

[Steff79]

5 minutes ago, david_sobe said:

.  C'mon now.  We all know NCL is built for extra fees  

For me the escape is the best ship. I have nothing about a little nickel and dime as long as I can have all things without. 

Compare deckspace between escape and encore? You see the change what ncl is going. 

no aft view, now front view? Why i‘m Cruising on a ship? The race track makes no sense at a cruise ship and laser tag was better inside the ship like rcl is doing this. 

The good thing is I can chose what ship I book. The bad thing is that I like ncl and so the way they are going hurts a little bit. 

[JohnIreland]

There is more outdoor space on the Jewel class ships.

[packercruising]

2 hours ago, Steff79 said:

le bistro is on a upper deck like 17 or 18 aft

Deck 17.

[Rummblestrip]

8 hours ago, GA Dave said:

I suspect that they did this because of the upcoming Virgin Voyages line, which will be adults only.  NCL does not want to lose everyone to Virgin who wants an adult-only experience, so they probably thought expanding Vibe would take care of that.  However, since the fares I have seen for Virgin are very competitive with NCL, and you do not need to pay extra there for the adult only experience, I think NCL missed the mark.

The price on Virgin is more than NCL. I have booked the April 1st sailing on Virgin (4 night) and the NCL Encore on April 5th (7 night). The Virgin solo ocean view was about the same as the NCL balcony price, and NCL includes the drinks, ect. I have stayed in the Haven many times and I will also pay for the Vibe pass. It is a great place to relax and meet like minded people.

[TheDougOut]

2 hours ago, Steff79 said:

For me the escape is the best ship. I have nothing about a little nickel and dime as long as I can have all things without. 

Compare deckspace between escape and encore? You see the change what ncl is going. 

no aft view, now front view? Why i‘m Cruising on a ship? The race track makes no sense at a cruise ship and laser tag was better inside the ship like rcl is doing this. 

The good thing is I can chose what ship I book. The bad thing is that I like ncl and so the way they are going hurts a little bit. 

 

EXACTLY how I feel.  Every statement.

[TheDougOut]

Today’s reveal, in a nutshell... 

 

 

 

[js]

Hi. 

 

Is OSheehans gone?  My dh and I enjoy going there at 2 am. I NEVER eat like that at home and loved going there after being out. 

 

I looked on Decks 5-8 and didnt see it. 

 

Thank you. 

[Cruising89143]

Way too much “extra cost” venues on this ship and not enough deck space for guests just looking to be able to enjoy normal deck space. Looks as though NCL is going to force guests to pay to gain extra space. I realize that cruise lines want to expand “on-board” revenue but this is ridiculous. 

[QueenOfZoom]

3 minutes ago, js said:

Hi. 

 

Is OSheehans gone?  My dh and I enjoy going there at 2 am. I NEVER eat like that at home and loved going there after being out. 

 

I looked on Decks 5-8 and didnt see it. 

 

Thank you. 

 

Is that what's called The Local  now on deck 7?

[MechE31]

6 minutes ago, js said:

Hi. 

 

Is OSheehans gone?  My dh and I enjoy going there at 2 am. I NEVER eat like that at home and loved going there after being out. 

 

I looked on Decks 5-8 and didnt see it. 

 

Thank you. 

The description of the local sounds oddly familiar

 

The Local offers classic pub fare in a relaxed atmosphere 24-hours a day. With popular dishes like Chicken Pot Pie and Fish n’ Chips, to daily dinner specials like Prime Rib, The Local has all your favorite comfort foods. So try a few of our many beers, while you catch a game on a two-story TV screen.

[SailBreakaway]

2 hours ago, TheDougOut said:

 

EXACTLY how I feel.  Every statement.

 

Ditto Doug.  

 

I'm not a bit surprised.  I won't get on my pedestal about NCL, Frank Del Rio, and profits.  I will sum it up in two thoughts..

 

1.  The balance is gone--> I truly do get it, public company with lots of shareholders to satisfy that only see one aspect, the quarterly profits.  That being said, what's happened here is the balance of profit and providing a nice, valued, and enjoyable product with your loyal customer base in mind is GONE, it's just shareholders and profit. If customer value and enjoyment was 10-20 percent of the decision equation in 2014-2015, it's now officially zero.  You might as well sell a widget. Kevin Sheehan might have been an HR nightmare for MIA and the HQ staff, but he had the customer in mind, and wasn't 100% only concerned about the profits and shareholders.

 

2.  Push Push Push until it breaks -->NCLH will continue to push prices up and up and up, create an entire a la carte experience, and take away the things we've enjoyed as loyal customers, until the profitability meets the point of diminished returns, and we the consumer say, we've had enough and we will go elsewhere to a better value and product with our interests in mind.  Until then, NCLH will follow the airlines and their pricing strategies - Want a seat cushion? that's costs 20$.. tray table? 20$.. reading light? 20$... Why? Because they can and we, the consumer, say it's ok, I'll book again next year.  

 

So, the 200$ deck chair (bye Spice and ample sun decks), the 16$ burger (anyone remember Uptown Grille?), the $9,999 bid vs $10,000 full price Haven bid 'deal' everyone is obsessed with and chases (bye bye reasonable upgrade offer phone calls), the fancy cars and laser tag pay to play (bye bye free ropes courses and grottos, etc), the new 'Premium' drink package upgrade (bye bye old friend UDP and the extensive cap it came with) it marches on and on and on my friends... 

 

Frank loves to talk about NCLH's 'First to market' concepts, and touts them on the reports heavily.  These concepts, for us the CONSUMER and loyal guests, are the drive to the bottom for us, they are leading the industry with.  

 

If you're a Shareholder I know, you're happy.  I would be too, however most of us, are cruisers, lovers of NCL, save all of our extra pennies to do this, and count the days, months, and hours until we walk up that gangway again, that is my audience in this post, not the Shareholders.  

 

Mom and dad told me a long time ago, everything in balance and moderation and you will win by longevity.  Slow and steady wins the race.  This is truly applicable here, as balance and moderation are GONE.  I believe NCL will eventually burn themselves out, the flash in the pan will die down, and the pendulum will begin to swing back the other way.  

 

Having said all that, I'll be on the TA Innaugural, to be there to send off the Breakaway Class.  The screename was chosen a while back and there's a lot of history there for me. This class of ships for me will be my first and my favorite, and a lot of good good friends along the way that worked on her, brought us guests a lot of joy, piloted her, navigated her through epic bomb storms, and were in command of her.  For us, it will also be our sendoff to NCL, and my screename will sunset with my loyalty to NCL when we arrive here in NY.  We've found a new love, (a privately held one!) one that loves us back (for now at least).  If and when the NCL pendulum comes back the other way, I'll be there to jump on it.

 

I'll leave you with a pic which should resonate with my fellow legacy NY NCL cruisers, the good ole days...

 

Safe voyages my friends..

 

 

 

 

Edited June 12, 2019 by SailBreakaway

[BlueLineGal]

4 hours ago, js said:

Hi. 

 

Is OSheehans gone?  My dh and I enjoy going there at 2 am. I NEVER eat like that at home and loved going there after being out. 

 

I looked on Decks 5-8 and didnt see it. 

 

Thank you. 

It is gone, but they have a replacement called, "The Local Bar and Grill."

All are listed at this URL:  Norwegian Encore Dining, Bars & Lounges Revealed

[dopeyngrumpy]

8 hours ago, JohnIreland said:

There is more outdoor space on the Jewel class ships.

Absolutely, I cannot tell you how disappointed I am by the lack of imagination shown here, especially no outdoor viewing space, observation longe great, but who wants to do sail in on a warm weather cruise indoors for goodness sake. 

 

I can’t live without a go kart at sea said no one ever , especially I would suggest after they have done it once, meanwhile physical activities we are all meant to encourage, gone.  

 

In the evening as well, howl at the moon packed on every sailing I have ever done, gone.. sigh

 

David

[gatorchinsky]

3 hours ago, dopeyngrumpy said:

Absolutely, I cannot tell you how disappointed I am by the lack of imagination shown here, especially no outdoor viewing space, observation longe great, but who wants to do sail in on a warm weather cruise indoors for goodness sake. 

 

I can’t live without a go kart at sea said no one ever , especially I would suggest after they have done it once, meanwhile physical activities we are all meant to encourage, gone.  

 

In the evening as well, howl at the moon packed on every sailing I have ever done, gone.. sigh

 

David

 

I totally agree!  This ship will be a nightmare in the Caribbean.  After our Bliss cruise last Thanksgiving my teen begged us to cancel our Encore cruise and rebook on the Escape.  He much prefers the basketball court and ropes course to the go karts and laser tag.  I am so glad we listened to him.

[LMaxwell]

10 hours ago, TheDougOut said:

Today’s reveal, in a nutshell... 

 

 

 

 

Is this a joke?

[TheDougOut]

31 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

 

Is this a joke?

 

I wish.

 

The only complimentary space on the upper decks is now the madhouse pool deck.  Everything forward is either Haven or Vibe, and everything aft is upcharge carnival rides.  

[MrsTabs]

Ok firstly I do NOT want to start a debate on this (lol) it is mearly a question - anyone know where the smoking area will be??? I think on the bliss the only one was in SpiceH20???  So if no Spice H20 where will the smokers go?  Anyone know ( puts tin hat on and runs)

[Kingkonig]

3 minutes ago, MrsTabs said:

Ok firstly I do NOT want to start a debate on this (lol) it is mearly a question - anyone know where the smoking area will be??? I think on the bliss the only one was in SpiceH20???  So if no Spice H20 where will the smokers go?  Anyone know ( puts tin hat on and runs)

I know on the Getaway part of the main pool deck was a smoking area.  Also if you want to go to the casino, there should be an enclosed area where you can gamble and smoke.

[JamieLogical]

7 minutes ago, MrsTabs said:

Ok firstly I do NOT want to start a debate on this (lol) it is mearly a question - anyone know where the smoking area will be??? I think on the bliss the only one was in SpiceH20???  So if no Spice H20 where will the smokers go?  Anyone know ( puts tin hat on and runs)

 

I am guessing it will have to be near the Waves or Surf bar on deck 16? I don't see any seating area/bar on 17 that would accommodate it.

[bkrickles1]

Is The American Diner a specialty/fee restaurant? 

Didn't have that on Escape and it seems interesting.

[Sup_Devil]

Honestly after experiencing some of the rudest adults known to man on the Epic, I'd rather be around playing kids having fun then people that yell at bartenders, hog chairs for 18 hours a day and have the look of displeasure on their faces for being on a beautiful ship for vacation of all things. People need to chill out and realize that they are part of the most fortunate people in the world that get to sail on ships like these. Anyways.... We booked the Haven for our Encore sailing a couple of weeks ago as a 1 time splurge and it looks like it will provide more value than expected here possibly. 

[Steff79]

American diner is a la carte. pay for food that you get at other places for free.

 

one is at joy too. not sure if someone post a menu here?

Edited June 12, 2019 by Steff79

[deliver42]

Our cruise isn't until Dec, 2020, so I'll wait to see the ship before staying or cancelling. Right now, it seems to be conjecture.

[TheDougOut]

7 minutes ago, bkrickles1 said:

Is The American Diner a specialty/fee restaurant? 

Didn't have that on Escape and it seems interesting.

 

It displaces Margaritaville...

 

 

[packercruising]

1 hour ago, Kingkonig said:

I know on the Getaway part of the main pool deck was a smoking area.  Also if you want to go to the casino, there should be an enclosed area where you can gamble and smoke.

On Breakaway, the smoking area was not enclosed. It was open to the decks above and below it and there was basically no way to avoid it.

 

Maltings might have a cigar lounge where people can smoke. Usually one side of the pool deck is for smokers.