Norwegian Encore – The Great Cruise Comeback Live

[BirdTravels]

29 minutes ago, RumRunner2021 said:

It is a great question.  I'm guessing (hoping?) that the number of positives are so low that they can have some guy just track down the luggage wherever it may be.

 

ETA: I'm sure that if they didn't think about this, after one cruise they'll have a better plan.

By 4 pm, your luggage will be at the door to your stateroom where a hazmat team will bag your luggage and remove it from the ship. 

[BirdTravels]

Need some mommy and daddy time on the cruise? Send the kids down to the Entourage Teen Club on Deck 5. (This is a fully vaccinated cruise, so there are no guppies or Splash Academy members onboard). remember to register and attend the first night where friendships

are made. 

[BirdTravels]

[BirdTravels]

Good Night

 

[suzieq2cruise]

14 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

We dropped our bags first. Then walked across the street to the Marriott. If you look at the photos from inside the facility, you reeeeaaallly don’t want to have bags with you there. Even people with roll-aboard size bags were struggling. 

Thank you so much from me and the logistics guy 🙂 

[drvmywifecrzy]

How is the Casino?

 

[Sailing12Away]

16 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Go and get your test done early. They opened at 8:30 today. Then check out of the hotel and walk across the street. 

So your testing time is irrelevant of your boarding time? Can you do the Covid testing at any time before going to the pier at your selected time?

 

We're staying at the Marriott with a selected time of 11am. So you think it's possible for us to walk downstairs around 8:30 to get our tests done, and have our pink wristbands by 9ish and can gradually make our way over to the pier at the 11am selected time?

[Cruiser021421]

25 minutes ago, Sailing12Away said:

So your testing time is irrelevant of your boarding time? Can you do the Covid testing at any time before going to the pier at your selected time?

 

We're staying at the Marriott with a selected time of 11am. So you think it's possible for us to walk downstairs around 8:30 to get our tests done, and have our pink wristbands by 9ish and can gradually make our way over to the pier at the 11am selected time?

A previous post said they were trying to keep everyone at their appointment time. Seems like they are a bit overwhelmed with the testing and it is taking longer than expected so having people arrive for testing before their appointment would be even worse. You can board the ship once you have your negative test result in hand. 

[Two Wheels Only]

SUN LOUNGERS : Reserving lounge/sun chair is prohibited. If any chair is left unattended for longer than 15 minutes, the items will be removed and handed to the Guest Services Desk, Deck 6, Mid. 

 

[NikiPinkston]

@BirdTravelsI was so excited to get up this morning and follow along on your journey!  
Thank you especially for posting the menus and the Freestyle Daily.  You rock!

[BirdTravels]

48 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

SUN LOUNGERS : Reserving lounge/sun chair is prohibited. If any chair is left unattended for longer than 15 minutes, the items will be removed and handed to the Guest Services Desk, Deck 6, Mid. 

 

It’s about 55 degrees out with a gale force wind across the deck at the moment. Not much demand for loungers.

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, Sailing12Away said:

So your testing time is irrelevant of your boarding time? Can you do the Covid testing at any time before going to the pier at your selected time?

 

We're staying at the Marriott with a selected time of 11am. So you think it's possible for us to walk downstairs around 8:30 to get our tests done, and have our pink wristbands by 9ish and can gradually make our way over to the pier at the 11am selected time?

So,,, If you want to go early, go at opening. 
 

At 9:30, they were trying to enforce checkin time as a way of metering people getting in line. 
 

Yes, Eurofins failed yesterday with a combination of capacity and IT server crashes. That’s when the line crew to over 1/4 mile long. 
 

They are the same company that does the treating for Royal Caribbean,,, where we had no problems. 

Edited August 8, 2021 by BirdTravels

[BirdTravels]

Guess what’s back on the Buffett????

 

[Jenjohncourt]

How hard is it to make dining reservations onboard? Are things booked up? 

[JC5240]

THANK YOU for doing this! My cruise isn’t until November 27th on the Escape and it is getting me super excited. Enjoy!!!

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, drvmywifecrzy said:

How is the Casino?

It was typical Alaska. Not extremely busy. Some empty tables. Lots of people who have enjoyed their beverage package too much.
 

The casino was scheduled to open at 8:00. Because of our late departure and probably a little to do with the winds and weather, we did not get into international waters until 10:20 and the casino opened. (Also, we kept getting charged the 10.1% Washington State tax on drinks and purchase until then). 

[zerooveride]

@BirdTravels Question: I have seen on videos on YouTube for past NCL Alaska Cruises (like back in 2019) that showed Crab legs in the Buffet at dinner (it looked like both Snow and King), is this a normal thing on an Alaskan cruise and can you let me know if it becomes available on your cruise. I am 2 weeks behind you and can't wait!

Edited August 8, 2021 by zerooveride
fixed spelling error

[PhillyTravelBug]

I am loving every bit of this!!!! Thank you for putting in the time and effort.

[BirdTravels]

42 minutes ago, Jenjohncourt said:

How hard is it to make dining reservations onboard? Are things booked up? 

Tonight

 

[BirdTravels]

34 minutes ago, zerooveride said:

@BirdTravels Question: I have seen on videos on YouTube for past NCL Alaska Cruises (like back in 2019) that showed Crab legs in the Buffet at dinner (it looked like both Snow and King), is this a normal thing on an Alaskan cruise and can you let me know if it becomes available on your cruise. I am 2 weeks behind you and can't wait!

No. It is not normal. It is something that NCL does for their non-revenue Media / Public Relations / Travel Agent / VIP cruises. So, the TA and press will put that in videos (and NCL), but the “regular” cruiser would never see it. 
 

That being said, there are often “left over scraps” that NCL will put out on cruises following the VIP cruises. We have “benefited” from that on our inaugural Bliss and Encore cruises. We never turn down “left overs”. 
 

November 2019 Encore

 

[BirdTravels]

4 hours ago, drvmywifecrzy said:

How is the Casino?

 

BTW. Christina Bica is the Executive Host. She took a corporate gig a couple of years ago, but has been brought back to restart the Encore for a month or two. Her brother Adrian is the concierge. The pair have launched most of the new ships from the shipyard to inaugural voyages. (That’s why I said earlier that NCL has brought in some of their most senior and corporate department managers to ensure a successful restart.)

[ziggyuk]

7 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

 

 

I don't see many of the normal entertainment activities throughout the day, are they happening?

Things like shuffleboard competitions, origami, dance lesson, trivia, music trivia, hangman, giant Jenga competition, ring throw competition, bean bag throw competition, crafts etc etc.

There are normally a dozen or more activities a day at various points on the ship, with the exception of a dance lesson & dollar bill folding (not heard of that before), I'm not seeing these.

[FlGoodShips]

List of officers, please.

Thank you.

[BirdTravels]

19 hours ago, coastcat said:

That’s what I was thinking during the post-testing wait. “This is, like, the worst game of Bingo ever…”

 

And then I got so engrossed in my phone game that I missed my number popping up! Luckily you’ll also get a text message & email to notify you that the results are available. 

We got our text message and email around 6 pm. 6 1/2 hours after our bingo number was called. Not the best day for Eurofins. 

[zerooveride]

43 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

No. It is not normal.