*LIVE* Norwegian Encore – 7-Night Eastern Caribbean March 31, 2024 – April 7, 2024

[BirdTravels]

If you make “The List”, there is a thank you reception thrown by the senior officers. 

[BirdTravels]

4 minutes ago, PATRLR said:

 Eliminating beef options from the MDR menus has nothing to do with "contemporary cruisers"

Thank you for your comment. 
 

Offering a wider variety of “foodie” (word used by a very astute poster above) is exactly what NCL is trying to do. Get rid of the past-it’s-time beef stew and offer more contemporary items like Chicken Madeira, Almond Crusted Hokie, Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp, BBQ Mixed Grill, Chicken Cordon Blue, Asian Tilapia, Hawaiian Pork Belly, Pecan Crusted Turkey, Lemon-Peppered Coalfish, Chicken and Seafood Paella, and Braised Lamb Shank (a Bird favorite). 

 

Those are exciting menu offerings. Meatloaf and roast beef… not so much. 

[BirdTravels]

The Atrium is the heart of the ship, and the Atrium Bar is the place to hang out. 
 

Edited April 5 by BirdTravels

[BirdTravels]

The A-List Bar is a nice bar, hidden between Cagney’s and Los Lobos. 
 

[PATRLR]

21 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Thank you for your comment. 
 

Offering a wider variety of “foodie” (word used by a very astute poster above) is exactly what NCL is trying to do. Get rid of the past-it’s-time beef stew and offer more contemporary items like Chicken Madeira, Almond Crusted Hokie, Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp, BBQ Mixed Grill, Chicken Cordon Blue, Asian Tilapia, Hawaiian Pork Belly, Pecan Crusted Turkey, Lemon-Peppered Coalfish, Chicken and Seafood Paella, and Braised Lamb Shank (a Bird favorite). 

If you say so.  Of course to the best of my knowledge, "variety of foodie" and beef aren't mutually exclusive.  Except apparently in NCL's MDRs.

[BirdTravels]

The Bake Shop sells sweets (same sweets are available in Cocos). 
 

[david_sobe]

18 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Tortola, British Virgin Islands. 

You brought back memories of my Encore cruise in 2020 right before the shutdown going to Long Bay Beach.  It was the best beach day I ever had.  I had never been to Tortola before and was not thrilled about going.  This beach is in my top 3 beaches in all of the Caribbean.  

[BirdTravels]

Running out of Clothes? The ship offers a fill-a-bag bulk laundry service. As much as you can put in laundry bag for $34. Or you can pay by the piece. 
 

Edited April 5 by BirdTravels

[BirdTravels]

Day 6 Main Dining Room

 

 

[BirdTravels]

Day 6 Main Dining Room Breakfast 

 

[BirdTravels]

One interesting thing is that CruiseNext is offering escorted priority tendering for top tier Latitudes members. Not exactly sure what that means, but it is better than “join the back of the line”. 
 

The Birds have two other offers for escorted tendering, so The Bird has picked the one with the highest probability of being on one of the earliest tenders. 
 

 

 

 

Edited April 6 by BirdTravels

[BirdTravels]

Oh No!

Say it isn’t so. 
It’s time to go 😮

 

 

[BirdTravels]

The Birds have a long history with Choir of Man on NCL. The Birds were in the Supper Club on the Norwegian Escape as the first Choir of Man set was being built. A small rolling bar and piano. As the show became one of the most popular across all NCL ships, the show was moved and installed in the main Escape Theater. 
 

When the Encore was built, the Choir of Man took to 3 dimensions as a second floor was added to the set and a live band was added to the show. 
 

Tonight was opening night on the Encore. This Choir of Man cast boarded the ship in Miami with us. They had rehearsed the show together in the NCL studios in Tampa for the past month. Some of the performers are first time stage actors making their professional debuts tonight. #choirofman

 

 

 

 

Edited April 6 by BirdTravels

[BirdTravels]

A 7-day Arcade pass will cost you $175. And works on a portion of the games (non-prize winning games). 
 

[BirdTravels]

Another side note on Choir of Man,,, The Birds were on the Encore on Opening night after the pandemic shutdown. And watched the first live stage production with social distancing modifications to keep germy passengers away from the cast.  
 

[BirdTravels]

[swmichigan cruiser]

6 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Another side note on Choir of Man,,, The Birds were on the Encore on Opening night after the pandemic shutdown. And watched the first live stage production with social distancing modifications to keep germy passengers away from the cast.  
 

My favorite NCL show. Saw it 6 times on the first two Encore cruises out of Miami in 2019. Got to know the guys and they were great guys. Also saw the Choir of Man 4 times on the Encore Panama Canal cruise in the fall of 2020.

[BirdTravels]

Good morning Great Stirrup Cay

 

[BirdTravels]

Right next door is the Royal Caribbean private island CocoCay. The Freedom of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas are already docked there. 
 

 

 

Edited April 6 by BirdTravels

[swmichigan cruiser]

1 hour ago, swmichigan cruiser said:

My favorite NCL show. Saw it 6 times on the first two Encore cruises out of Miami in 2019. Got to know the guys and they were great guys. Also saw the Choir of Man 4 times on the Encore Panama Canal cruise in the fall of 2020.

Should have said the 2022 cruise. Old age is catching up with me I guess.

[JayS]

8 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

The Birds have a long history with Choir of Man on NCL. The Birds were in the Supper Club on the Norwegian Escape as the first Choir of Man set was being built. A small rolling bar and piano. As the show became one of the most popular across all NCL ships, the show was moved and installed in the main Escape Theater. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My first Choir of Man was extra cost with beer included. The second was in the main theater free and they gave free beer😄. Where was this held? Any charge for beer? Both on the Escape.

On 4/4/2024 at 10:13 AM, schmoopie17 said:

That is the prevailing opinion on this board. When we were on the Jade last month, I warned Mrs. Schmoopie and our traveling companion not to order it. I said, "You'll be sorry".

 

As usual, Mrs. Schmoopie didn't listen to me. Imagine my surprise when their steaks arrived and they both raved about them. I thought this had to be an early April Fools joke. So I tried a bite, and they weren't kidding. Absolutely fantastic, and cooked perfectly. The next night I decided to go out on a limb and order one for myself. Again...perfection. Maybe the Jade is an anomaly when it comes to MDR strip steaks. But it was as good as the Cagney's filet we had earlier in the cruise.

 

I have had MDR steaks from good to poor sometimes on the same cruise. Maybe the luck of the draw of the chef determines the meal.

Edited April 6 by JayS

[BirdTravels]

The Birds tender with the crew to get the beach party started. 
 

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, JayS said:

My first Choir of Man was extra cost with beer included. The second was in the main theater free and they gave free beer😄. Where was this held? Any charge for beer? Both on the Escape.

Encore Theater. 

Prior to the show, guests are invited on stage to a cup of [free] beer with the cast. 
 

Guests are served Heineken beer. Cast are drinking Heineken Zero (non-alcoholic beer). 

[BirdTravels]

A beautiful day at Great Stirrup Cay. 
 

[Seanair]

Loving all of this! Looking forward to being on the Encore later this year.

 

Bird, any rumblings of what might be in store during the drydock later this year?  We are doing

the west-bound transatlantic right after that.