Staff Journalist GEMMA WEIR was on board NCL Encore for her Inaugural journey…
It had been a long day! A 6am flight from Dublin is always tricky enough for someone as inclined to a snooze as I am – but this was a journey worth making! Encore sent a little tickle up my spine as I walked through the doors, she is the fourth and final ship to grace NCL’s Breakaway Plus Class, with 16 passenger decks and an almost 4000 passenger capacity.
Cruising has grown massively in popularity over recent years, but there are still a few sceptics floating about out there – I believe that if anyone, or anything could convince the non-cruisers to experiment with a rendezvous with the ocean, it’s Encore! Encore is lush, modern, stylish, sophisticated – everything a sea fairing lady should be; but she has a sharp edge that’s difficult to ignore. She’s also relaxed, unpretentious and confidently cool; she knows she has it all going on.
And she really has! I enjoyed the comfort of a mini-suite with a large balcony. I appreciate having views and fresh air on demand, so this spacious cabin was perfect. I was ever so delighted to find white dressing gowns in the wardrobe and a coffee maker with ‘real’ coffee waiting for me. The beds are pretty awesome, I felt like I was snoozing on a cloud – a cloud in the ocean – now there’s a scene from a fairytale if there ever was one.
The smart tv in my room which was complete with my online calendar to keep on top of my plans during my stay was super handy – especially when one is inclined to go AWOL and is distracted easily! Cruise ship food can be a bit of a hot topic at times and is one of the aspects of cruising that is often reviewed as hit or miss. Encore has hit it again! With 11 complimentary dining options that cater for every taste imaginable; not to mention the specialty dining options that include Le Bistro, La Onda and Cagney’s Stakehouse.
I was more than happy to take up the wonderful invitation of a tasting menu lunch, that allowed a little taster of some of the best on board. The variety is huge, the food is fresh and flavourful. I loved how the variety on board catered for those who like to stick to their usual traditional steak and chips if they want to, but there are so many opportunities to break the mould and try something a bit more trendy. I’m a parent, but I’m not a fan of the idea that when on holiday, I might be swarmed with other peoples little bundles of joy – cute as they might be to their own doting parents of course, I thinking more ‘no’… Unless they’re mine and I’ve brought them with me. Cue Encore with the answer!
From tiny tots, to the awkward tweenie stage, right through to the almost adults, Encore’s got them all covered! Kids clubs run for the age of three upwards, there are also services in the evening where the little tots all plod down to the kids area in their wee Jim-jams for movies and games while the Mums and Dads can get a bit of breathing space. The kids areas are fantastic, so well equipped and the offerings make it so much fun, you’ll need to persuade them to leave for family time! For the ultimate family fun, the Encore Speedway is the place to go! I drive like my Dad, so I was taking the Highway Code very seriously, but the more irresponsible drivers enjoyed whizzing past as I held a firm grip at 10 to two!
Take the family to laser tag, or let the older kids loose in the games arcade, the waterslides and pool or just let them chill out and be awkward teenagers in the onboard Starbucks! For the travellers who want even more luxury, as if there isn’t enough of that flying about all over the ship in the first place, the Haven suite is designed with exclusivity in mind. The staterooms are fabulous, the exclusive Haven deck offers ultimate luxury. NCL have gone for a multi-generational aspect, something for everyone.
For the Grandparents or those who maybe have a little bit more spondoolics to splash, the Haven is the place to go! There are a lot of adventures still on my to do list of travels – many of them I have had to designate to the ‘when the toddler is old enough’ list, but the Encore offers no such excuse. She is ready, equipped and abundantly able to give the holiday of a lifetime to whoever walks through her doors. The only downfall? Disembarkation in Southampton. In November. In the rain. I think I’ve got pneumonia. Next time I’ll make sure I get off in Miami!
