Vibe Beach Club on Encore

[hydro1570]

Does Vibe on the Encore have a pool? How many hot tubs? Does it ever seem crowded in there? Trying to figure out if it’s worth getting since we will already have the thermal spa passes. TIA 

[sking65]

No pool. If I remember correctly they have 2 hot tubs. Was on the Encore in Feb 2020 and having Vibe passes was totally worth it. Would not hesitate to spend for it again!

[rbalfour]

 

[PATRLR]

13 hours ago, hydro1570 said:

Does Vibe on the Encore have a pool? How many hot tubs? Does it ever seem crowded in there? Trying to figure out if it’s worth getting since we will already have the thermal spa passes. TIA 

Seems to me that if you enjoy hanging out in spa, then there wouldn't be need for Vibe.  But Vibe is different (outside vs in, it's own bar) so I can also imagine liking both.

[zackarykeef]

2 hot tubs, no pool, never crowded. Definitely worth it. Vibe’s vibe (🤣) is a 180 from the spa…typically high energy, lots of alcohol, top-notch service. Depends on what you’re looking for, honestly, but…you wouldn’t catch me on that crowded deck during sea days. I’ll stick to Vibe 😎

[styxfire]

Is the advantage of the Vibe that you can probably get a chair, and hot tub access, whereas if you’re relegated to just the normal deck you may never get a chair or hot tub space?

 

I’m asking because if a person has a weeklong spa pass, then they can get in the spa hot tub whenever they want…, so then the only advantage of the vibe would be a guaranteed sundeck chair?

Edited August 21, 2022 by styxfire

[Montanagirlalways]

57 minutes ago, styxfire said:

Is the advantage of the Vibe that you can probably get a chair, and hot tub access, whereas if you’re relegated to just the normal deck you may never get a chair or hot tub space?

 

I’m asking because if a person has a weeklong spa pass, then they can get in the spa hot tub whenever they want…, so then the only advantage of the vibe would be a guaranteed sundeck chair?

reread the previous short post by Zachary. Describes Vibe pretty good

 

[styxfire]

1 hour ago, Montanagirlalways said:

reread the previous short post by Zachary. Describes Vibe pretty good

 

I read his.  Is it correct then that for a person with the spa pass, the advantage of vibe is narrowed down to just better chance of chair availability?  Trying to make sure I’m not losing something in the comprehension.

[hydro1570]

5 hours ago, styxfire said:

Is the advantage of the Vibe that you can probably get a chair, and hot tub access, whereas if you’re relegated to just the normal deck you may never get a chair or hot tub space?

 

I’m asking because if a person has a weeklong spa pass, then they can get in the spa hot tub whenever they want…, so then the only advantage of the vibe would be a guaranteed sundeck chair?

 

2 hours ago, styxfire said:

I read his.  Is it correct then that for a person with the spa pass, the advantage of vibe is narrowed down to just better chance of chair availability?  Trying to make sure I’m not losing something in the comprehension.

I guess kind of, but also you will have a bar that isn’t crowded and servers you get to know throughout the week. Also, I think I read they pass out fruit Kebabs and popsicles but I’m not 100% on that. You can also rent a cabana within the vibe for the week. 

[styxfire]

1 hour ago, hydro1570 said:

…also you will have a bar that isn’t crowded and servers you get to know throughout the week…

May be worth it for that alone, as I am thinking back to my last cruise which was during Covid:  ship was less than 50% capacity, and my whole party was able to sit at the pool on deck (the regular included pool deck).  And it was fun!  Yet in my previous decade + of cruising, we’ve NEVER been able to do that before, as a group of 4 together.  Can’t wake up early enough to get 4 adjacent chairs before they’re taken.

 

Regarding getting more personal touch from the servers (like what you used to get in the main dining room through a full week encounter), one would certainly get a better value in Vibe for that than from Haven.  
 

Thanks for helping me think this through.  While it wouldn’t have made sense during covid, I can definitely see the draw as we start sailing 100% capacity again.

Especially now that a couple ships have converted even MORE of the free chairs into Vibe chairs.

 

I feel a bit sad though that everything which used to be free — meals, desserts, coffee, classes, performances, hot tubs, water and now chairs — has a pay version of it.  God help us when they start charging for toilets.

Edited August 21, 2022 by styxfire

[Sand and Seas]

Do people find it worthy to purchase Vibe passes when you are on an Alaska cruise in September?

[Montanagirlalways]

I like the spa and the vibe but to me they offer very different services. The spa is tranquil, promotes relaxation. There isn't a bar in the spa. Its totally focused on relaxation.  But it can get crowded and lounge chairs can limited. Vibe-generally has more activity. There is a bar and you get to know the bar tenders and the servers pretty well. Drinks are well made -well at least in the past. We have joined groups at the bar and have had fun. There are generally plenty of lounge chairs! And as someone said the servers come around with fruit and other things. 

If you have the extra  money and want to try it then go for it. Then you know. Same with the spa passes. I have enjoyed both the spa pass and the vibe but as I said they offer different "vibes"

[TheycallmeDrew]

I have only done the Vibe once and it was on the Encore. I chose to try it on the Encore because Encore does not have a Spice H2O adult area and has less free deck space because of Go carts and laser tag. I am the type of person who likes to sit for like 30 mins take a loop around deck, grab something to eat and come back to sit again. On Encore to do that I would have had to get up early and be a chair hog something I hate. My impressions of Vibe were this.

 

1) plenty of seating. I never had trouble finding a seat.

2) great service. Bar staff were great but then again I have always found the bar staff fantastic everywhere

3) hot tubs. There are 2 hot tubs. 1 of the hot tubs was full all week though the group that was there all day did seem friendly. I just didn't want to crowd in there

4) on my walk abouts on deck I could not see a free seat if I had wanted one and the hot tubs around pool were overflowing

 

On other ships I have been able to find seating and when not travelling alone I would leave my wife and her book knowing I could return to my seat. Travelling alone on a ship with limited free deck space I did enjoy the Vibe. If you enjoy the spa like my wife does I would not get Vibe and vice versa as you then worry about getting your money's worth trying to split your time between both. I would choose one or the other.

 

The one thing I did not like is it looks like they took away free deck space on Encore to increase the pay for space of a bigger Vibe on that ship. Kinda irks me.

 

[MCMC100]

15 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

Do people find it worthy to purchase Vibe passes when you are on an Alaska cruise in September?

We did the Encore in July to Alaska and found the Vibe to be worth the cost. Even though Alaska is not a “beach day” type of cruise the Vibe still offers a lot. With limited capacity you can come and go as you please knowing you have a lounger to sit in and a private bar to relax. I was in the hot tub during sail away (80 and sunny) and while cruising Glacier Bay (55 and not so sunny). The other advantage is the ability to move around while sightseeing (particularly in Glacier Bay). We had whales near the ship and we could get to the railing and easily watch them and take photos. I looked down to the pool deck below us and people were packed 2-3 at the rail jostling for a picture. You can easily move port to starboard in the Vibe and see everything around the ship. We were a group of 5 and even though the ship was not full we would have struggled to find seats together on the pool deck - and the hunt would be repeated every time we left the deck for lunch or just to walk around.  The Vibe is a private area that always offers you a lounger, a private bar, easy access to restrooms, friendly staff, occasional snacks, hot tubs not filled with babies in diapers, and the knowledge that you can leave your book, sweatshirt and sunglasses on your chair while you go to lunch and they will still be there when you return.
 To us, the Vibe offers an experience that is not destination driven. We enjoy the ability to station ourselves in one spot at the beginning of the day and come and go as we please.