Everything... Norwegian ENCORE! Launch Nov 2019

[RedwingHockeyFan]

10 hours ago, smplybcause said:

 

I agree. I didn't go in the pool much on other away classes because of the water features in spice, but I'm just having a hard time looking at encore and thinking it'd be fun on a sea day. 

 

I might end up on it if prices end up dropping if there's bad reviews, but it'd have to be cheap compared to the sister ships. I'm bummed because even though I was underwhelmed with the racetrack, I really loved Bliss when I was on it and was hopeful for encore. 

 

I'm intrigued to see what happens. 

 

I can see having either the racetrack or the laser tag but not both taking up deck space.  Especially since they took deck 19 in the front for the Vibe. 

 

Anyone know what the "Galaxy Pavilion" is on deck 17 between the spa and the racetrack?

[Son of a son of a ...]

21 minutes ago, bkrickles1 said:

Since you brought it up, I'll add on.

Sailed Escape in July, 2018. I like to go to the gym every morning at 5:45, so I'd finish up at around 7am, head up to Margaritaville to grab a cup of coffee and then find a few lounge chairs for me and my girls on deck 17 overlooking the pool deck.

At this time there would already be many chairs reserved around the pool area on deck 16, but nothing up by where I chose.

I'd leisurely drink my coffee and when I finished, I'd leave towels and my backpack on the chairs for me and my girls and go back to my cabin to shower and change into a bathing suit. I'd be gone maybe 30 minutes (well within the 1 hour rule) and return to enjoy my time up on deck while my girls are getting ready to join me. I love hanging out in a whirlpool around 8:30 in the morning, while it's still quiet and getting myself ready for my first bloody mary at around 10. It's a rough life, but I'm up for the challenge!

While this is technically "chairhogging", I'm comfortable with what I do as I never leave chairs and my stuff unattended for more than an hour, so it's not much different than me leaving my stuff while I spend 30 minutes in a whirlpool or getting a drink at the bar. I'm sure I will utilize a similar strategy for my Encore sailing in January. 

It is amusing how many people come up as early as 6am to reserve chairs and then not come back until 10am or so. It's pretty ballsy and I've only rarely seen ncl people remove stuff after an hour. 

 

 

I put the couch mattress and throw pillows on the balcony so the DW can get her sun while I go to the casino.  

[bkrickles1]

3 minutes ago, RedwingHockeyFan said:

 

I can see having either the racetrack or the laser tag but not both taking up deck space.  Especially since they took deck 19 in the front for the Vibe. 

 

Anyone know what the "Galaxy Pavilion" is on deck 17 between the spa and the racetrack?

Yep. That was my other go to area on Escape. Deck 19 outside of Vibe and I learned about it right here on these forums before my July, 2018 sailing.

It was a great spot!. It had a bar, whirlpools, misting station and it was all of a 60 second walk down to the pool area if you wanted to take a dip.

It'll be missed but we'll adjust.

[PelicanBill]

I look at the pictures of the racetrack and I wonder two things.

 

How much noise comes off that track to the pool area?

 

How much wasted blue space there is around the curves... how many deck chairs could fit if the activity space were a more rectangular thing.

[smplybcause]

1 hour ago, PelicanBill said:

I look at the pictures of the racetrack and I wonder two things.

 

How much noise comes off that track to the pool area?

 

How much wasted blue space there is around the curves... how many deck chairs could fit if the activity space were a more rectangular thing.

 

They're electric, so pretty much no noise except whatever noise the people make. I'm guessing the pool area with way more people and music will be louder. 

[CruisingSince1982]

On 9/14/2019 at 4:12 PM, GA Dave said:

Just a quick note about the smoking thing.  My DW and I just visited WDW for a day since it was my granddaughter's first trip there.  There are NO smoking areas anywhere within the parks at WDW.  When we were in MK on Thursday, my wife had to walk out of the main gate of the park, outside of the security zone, and then to the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon in order to have a cigarette (see bottom/right of attached picture).  I do not smoke, but I just thought this was ridiculous.  If they are going to prohibit smoking in the park, then they also need to reject people wearing way too much cologne/perfume, those that have not bathed in days, etc.

After seeing this, walking to the aft end of the ship does not seem as bad.

 

 

 

Best decision they ever made. Pollute your own lungs, not others. 

[CazV]

4 hours ago, RedwingHockeyFan said:

Anyone know what the "Galaxy Pavilion" is on deck 17 between the spa and the racetrack?

 

" Step inside the Galaxy Pavilion and explore a virtual reality world unlike anything you've ever seen. Immersive VR experiences and thrilling simulator rides are just the beginning. Use your wits to solve the puzzles of an escape room featuring holograms and enchanted artifacts. Then come back and experience the excitement all over again. "

https://www.ncl.com/uk/en/cruise/norwegian-encore/activities

[Son of a son of a ...]

4 hours ago, RedwingHockeyFan said:

Anyone know what the "Galaxy Pavilion" is on deck 17 between the spa and the racetrack?

 

Robot exotica 

[PelicanBill]

2 hours ago, smplybcause said:

 

They're electric, so pretty much no noise except whatever noise the people make. I'm guessing the pool area with way more people and music will be louder. 

oh good. I had no idea. they must have to rotate cars to keep some charging.

[coriemarie]

Do not quote me and I do not want to say anything wrong here but ...

 

Looking at the Encore deck plans, it looks like they modified them to take back some public deck space from vibe.

 

*fingers crossed*

 

check decks 19-20

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/encore/deck-plans/the-haven

[Two Wheels Only]

6 hours ago, bkrickles1 said:

While this is technically "chairhogging", I'm comfortable with what I do as I never leave chairs and my stuff unattended for more than an hour, so it's not much different than me leaving my stuff while I spend 30 minutes in a whirlpool or getting a drink at the bar. I'm sure I will utilize a similar strategy for my Encore sailing in January. 

 

Check your dailies. I've noticed that the dailies sometimes list 30 minutes instead of 60 (newer ships especially). With the limited space, Encore might/probably will have 30 minutes listed.

 

 

[coriemarie]

Looking back at the deck plans screen shot on page 55 of this thread - we got back some deck space!

[TheDougOut]

4 minutes ago, coriemarie said:

Do not quote me and I do not want to say anything wrong here but ...

 

Looking at the Encore deck plans, it looks like they modified them to take back some public deck space from vibe.

 

Guess what? I’m quoting you!

 

Also, I’m not sure what you’re seeing...

 

 

[coriemarie]

I must have had some sort of glitch on the site???

 

[coriemarie]

OH - that shows up if you hit AFTER August 2020!

[Two Wheels Only]

The "after Aug. 2020" deckplans are the old/incorrect ones that show port side as public. I don't expect it to be.

 

(VIBE isn't even shown).

[worktocruise610]

4 minutes ago, coriemarie said:

OH - that shows up if you hit AFTER August 2020!

weird that after August 2020 it doesn't show any Vibe... and what's happening in August that this will change? Strange that they put that on there

[worktocruise610]

Two Wheels Only replied showed up after I hit send - now it makes sense. Yeah, they're not changing anything, less free deck space

[bkrickles1]

1 hour ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Check your dailies. I've noticed that the dailies sometimes list 30 minutes instead of 60 (newer ships especially). With the limited space, Encore might/probably will have 30 minutes listed.

 

 

You may be right but on the Escape in July 2018 it was 60. In fact they had some signs poolside that said the same. 

TBH 30 minutes would be kind of ridiculous. You'd have to be nervous that your stuff would be removed even if you just went in a whirlpool or sat by the pool. 

It wouldn't be reasonable. 

 

[js]

Thank you again for all the updates!

I was away at the Happiest Place on Earth the last nine nights and just came back to the cruise boards 🙂
Have MSC Seaside YC in February and NCL Encore Haven in August and cannot wait for both but really looking

forward to the Encore since I will also be sailing with my family!

 

Cannot wait until the first sailing and I appreciate all the updates.

 

[Cruisercl]

On 9/17/2019 at 7:46 AM, bkrickles1 said:

Since you brought it up, I'll add on.

Sailed Escape in July, 2018. I like to go to the gym every morning at 5:45, so I'd finish up at around 7am, head up to Margaritaville to grab a cup of coffee and then find a few lounge chairs for me and my girls on deck 17 overlooking the pool deck.

At this time there would already be many chairs reserved around the pool area on deck 16, but nothing up by where I chose.

I'd leisurely drink my coffee and when I finished, I'd leave towels and my backpack on the chairs for me and my girls and go back to my cabin to shower and change into a bathing suit. I'd be gone maybe 30 minutes (well within the 1 hour rule) and return to enjoy my time up on deck while my girls are getting ready to join me. I love hanging out in a whirlpool around 8:30 in the morning, while it's still quiet and getting myself ready for my first bloody mary at around 10. It's a rough life, but I'm up for the challenge!

While this is technically "chairhogging", I'm comfortable with what I do as I never leave chairs and my stuff unattended for more than an hour, so it's not much different than me leaving my stuff while I spend 30 minutes in a whirlpool or getting a drink at the bar. I'm sure I will utilize a similar strategy for my Encore sailing in January. 

It is amusing how many people come up as early as 6am to reserve chairs and then not come back until 10am or so. It's pretty ballsy and I've only rarely seen ncl people remove stuff after an hour. 

 

I believe last time I saw a sign on a NCL ship the chair hog time was 30 minutes. When did it change? The big issue, IMHO, lots of passengers make up their own rules or actual time gone from the chairs and NCL never enforces anything.

(Sorry for the OT post, now back to the regular discussion.) ☺

ETA-just read further down the thread. IMHO, 60 minutes seems a long time to prevent others from enjoying something because others are doing something else. 30 minutes not unreasonable at all.

Edited September 19, 2019 by Cruisercl

[QueenOfZoom]

1 hour ago, Cruisercl said:

I believe last time I saw a sign on a NCL ship the chair hog time was 30 minutes. When did it change? The big issue, IMHO, lots of passengers make up their own rules or actual time gone from the chairs and NCL never enforces anything.

(Sorry for the OT post, now back to the regular discussion.) ☺

ETA-just read further down the thread. IMHO, 60 minutes seems a long time to prevent others from enjoying something because others are doing something else. 30 minutes not unreasonable at all.

 

Signs on Sun earlier this month were still 60 minutes. 

[bkrickles1]

1 hour ago, Cruisercl said:

I believe last time I saw a sign on a NCL ship the chair hog time was 30 minutes. When did it change? The big issue, IMHO, lots of passengers make up their own rules or actual time gone from the chairs and NCL never enforces anything.

(Sorry for the OT post, now back to the regular discussion.) ☺

ETA-just read further down the thread. IMHO, 60 minutes seems a long time to prevent others from enjoying something because others are doing something else. 30 minutes not unreasonable at all.

I do hate to hijack the thread, but I could not disagree more.

30 minutes is completely unreasonable. 

My wife and I love to grab a drink and sit in a whirlpool or by the side of the pool while lounging on sea days. Many, many, many times we end up sitting with some very nice people and socialize a little. We are often away from our chairs for 30 to 45 minutes. With a 30 minute rule, we'd have to drastically change the way we enjoy our days. Heck, it can take 10+ minutes just to get drinks and get to a whirlpool. 

I have no intention of changing and will similarly enjoy myself on my upcoming Encore cruise. And since the rule has been 60 minutes on all the cruises I've been on, it's a moot point.

 

[RedwingHockeyFan]

I think the issue has more to do with those that reserve the chair without ever using it with the intent of returning at some point and not those that are using the chair and get up to enjoy the bar/pool/hot tub with the intent of returning.

[bragstarr]

13 minutes ago, RedwingHockeyFan said:

I think the issue has more to do with those that reserve the chair without ever using it with the intent of returning at some point and not those that are using the chair and get up to enjoy the bar/pool/hot tub with the intent of returning.

Exactly. I often will get up and go into the buffet for lunch and then return to the chair. 60 minutes is plenty. 30 is pushing it. I’d never hold a chair for hours.