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yatemde

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    Everything... Norwegian ENCORE! Launch Nov 2019

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    On 9/30/2018 at 10:49 AM, BirdTravels said:

    The thermal suite on the Bliss (now located aft to make way for the observation lounge) is smaller than other -away class ship (bad). While the Escape made improvements to move the saunas to the outside with windows (which would have been ideal for Alaska) the saunas have moved back to the interior and are smaller.

    The changing rooms are about the same size. Don’t recall loungers in the Escape changing rooms.

    So,,, the important fact is that the Bliss has a lot fewer passengers than the Escape. Hence a smaller Thermal Suite.

    My big gripe is that they moved the Thermal Suite aft. But they forgot to move the Spa rooms aft (they are still up near the forward elevator lobby). So you have to traverse the ship to get to the spa. The “selling point” of spa rooms was that they were right near the spa,,,, not. This same “error” was repeated on the Encore. We have a spa mini booked on the Encore, at the opposite side of the ship from the spa.

    Escape - April 2018
    https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=55846143&postcount=52
    https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=55846157&postcount=53

    Bliss - June 2018
    https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=56234643&postcount=190

    My Spa balcony for Vancouver - Los Angeles was towards aft right around the corner from the stairs going up to Deck 16 and the fitness center/spa, loved it! There is a relaxation room with additional drinks there just before going into the thermal suite.

    Everything... Norwegian ENCORE! Launch Nov 2019

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    On 9/21/2018 at 9:05 PM, taylortime05 said:

    We were just off Bliss 9/15 and my friend who was also on Escape said Bliss spa was smaller and not as nice as on the Escape. Hope this helps.



    Yes, thank you. I was looking to book a cruise in summer of 2020 so I went for the Encore. We were on our 1st NCL cruise in Nov 2017 on Escape and won bid for Aft Haven. We had access to the SPA area. The Haven and the SPA were so nice. So we booked a 2 bedroom Haven on Encore but the prices in 2020 seem very high. So a little disappointed if the SPA area is not as nice as the escape. But 2020 is a long way off and we'll get trip reports before my final payment.

     I got off the Bliss just over a week ago and I loved the thermal suite. However, I have not been on Escape, my previous experience with thermal suites are on NCL Star. I'm looking forward to being on NCL Encore.

    Everything.. Norwegian BLISS! - launch April 2018 -

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Does anybody else seem the least bit concerned about the fact that they have not opened up the shows for reservations yet. That is typically done 90 days out and they are still not out for the June 2nd cruise. I am on June 23rd, now within 90 days and I am getting the same info from my PCC. Seems odd that we are this close and there is still a question on the show details. Kind of frustrating that they were not out when the dinner reservations came out because it makes it very difficult to plan dining without show times, yet if you wait around for show times to come out all the good dinner times are gone. One worry about a new cruise is having all the bugs workout and appears to me we are having a bug on the show details.

     

    This is totally different for me. This will be my first time on this size of a cruise ship so I have never booked shows or restaurant reservations in advance. With Pride of America, NCL Sun and Star, I made restaurant reservations the first day on the ship. I never even though about having to book shows.

    Cuban Cruise Review - May 1st, 2017 - The very FIRST Norwegian sailing!!!

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    So, as for the rest of the review, do you remember the day we got on the ship and made a beeline to the excursions desk? That was to try and book any cabana’s left on the island. Since they were sold out, we added our names to the wait list – at the top of the list! – but never received a call from the excursions desk that they had a cancellation.

    Since we had been to GSC so many times before, we decided not to bother with getting off the island and take the last day of our cruise to get some R&R from all the walking in the sun we did the previous two days. Four days really goes by pretty quick!

    As for the Sky, she is an older ship and doesn’t have all those bells and whistles that some people like. For us, that is OKAY! – We much prefer smaller ships, which are becoming more a rarity these days of the huge ships being built by cruise lines.

    Overall, our time in Cuba was great. We were very happy to be a part of the 1st sailing to this new destination and are already talking about when we might return. I want to wait in hope that Norwegian will add new ports around Cuba so we can see more of the island itself. We really had zero issues with customs or getting money exchanged which was our worry. We were also worried about finding safe food to eat, but it was really no different as if we visited another major city.

    If you are still thinking about going, stop thinking and book your cruise right now! Cuba is changing rapidly and I anticipate things are going to start moving at a more rapid pace as the old generation gives way to the youth of Cuba who yearn for change.

    Don’t miss your window to step back in time and see how things used to be…This trip and some of the things we saw and did will stay with me for a lifetime.

     

    Thanks for staying with this review and waiting for me to finish it. I will go back to the beginning to read through and try to answer any questions not already answered. I know there is a lot of confusing information about Cuba, and a lot of unknown – I went through the same feelings and am happy to try and share what we experienced. I am thankful for all other others who have taking the time to comment and answer questions as well – Thank you all! Happy sailings!

     

    This has been a wonderful review and commentary of a unique trip!

     

    Thank you! I believe I will be seeing you next year on Norwegian Bliss! I can't wait for that trip!

     

    Diane

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