Norwegian Encore Pros and Cons: Who Should Book It?

Norwegian Encore is a strong Breakaway Plus choice when the Observation Lounge, The Choir of Man, Spice H2O and a deep mix of family technology matter more than a relaxed pool deck or simple all-in pricing.

It is especially well suited to scenic and cool-weather itineraries, but the Speedway, Galaxy Pavilion, crowded forward spaces and paid extras are important tradeoffs on any route.

Short version

Before booking, browse the activity rules, access guide, and fare inclusions so the ship, cabin, and fare match your priorities.

Encore is strongest on scenic and weather-variable itineraries

Encore now includes complimentary Spice H2O for guests 18 and older, expanded Cagney’s and Teppanyaki, Palomar, selected refreshed Haven suites and additional balcony inventory. Treat those as specific venue-and-cabin changes rather than evidence that the entire ship was rebuilt.

The most important tradeoff is that those new balcony cabins used part of the forward Observation Lounge. Encore still has a very large scenic lounge, but a ship carrying more people now has less of the exact public viewing space that makes it so attractive in Alaska.

Still choose Encore for Alaska before many warm-weather-oriented mega-ships because indoor scenery viewing is built into the ship. Simply arrive earlier for Glacier Bay or any marquee scenic passage instead of assuming the best loungers will remain available all morning.

Pro: the Observation Lounge is one of Encore’s best spaces on any scenic route

The forward Observation Lounge gives you floor-to-ceiling glass, comfortable seating, a bar, light food at selected times, and a protected place to watch scenery without standing outside in drizzle. On an Alaska ship, that is not decorative square footage.

Use it for early scenic mornings, rough weather, and relaxed afternoons rather than treating it as a reserved seat for the entire day. The lounge is much more pleasant when people rotate through instead of turning the best chairs into private real estate with jackets and coffee cups.

For Glacier Bay, arrive early or create a multi-location viewing plan. Start in the Observation Lounge, step outside when conditions improve, use the Waterfront, and return to your balcony if you have one rather than spending the morning defending one window.

The lounge also matters for travelers with limited mobility because excellent views are available without fighting wind or standing for hours. Cabin placement near the forward bank can help, but that comes with another tradeoff: the forward elevators are among the busiest on the ship.

Pro: Spice H2O finally gives Encore a useful free adult retreat

Spice H2O is a complimentary 18-and-older outdoor area with hot tubs, daybeds surrounded by cooling pools and a large bar. Use it on a warm day before paying for another outdoor retreat.

Use Spice H2O on warm sea days before paying for Vibe Beach Club. It gives adults a calmer deck without immediately adding another line item to the cruise budget.

In early or late Alaska season, the outdoor setting can be much less useful when the weather is cold. That is why Encore’s best adult plan is itinerary-dependent: Spice for warm days, Observation Lounge or thermal-suite time when the weather is gray.

Spice H2O’s atmosphere can change with the entertainment schedule, and Alaska weather can reduce its value. Confirm hours rather than assume a quiet afternoon arrangement continues into the evening.

Pro: the thermal suite is especially valuable on cold or rainy sea days

Encore’s Mandara Spa thermal suite wraps relaxation facilities around large ocean views, with heated loungers, hydrotherapy features, steam and sauna spaces, a salt room, and other hot-and-cold experiences. On an Alaska itinerary, this is one of the paid upgrades you should consider before buying several specialty dinners.

A thermal pass can improve every cold or rainy sea day, especially when the Observation Lounge is packed. Budget for it if the adults in your group value quiet more than go-karts or nightlife.

If the itinerary is port-heavy and everyone plans to be ashore from morning until dinner, the pass becomes much harder to justify. Spa access is only a bargain when you have enough ship time to use it repeatedly.

Pro: The Choir of Man gives Encore a real entertainment advantage

The Choir of Man is Encore’s strongest theater production, built around a pub setting, live vocals, percussion, familiar songs, and an energetic cast. It works for adults, teens, and multigenerational groups without requiring everyone to care about the same movie franchise.

Reserve the show as soon as the booking window allows or make it a first-day priority if reservations open onboard. This is not the place to test whether “Freestyle” means strolling into a popular prime-time performance five minutes before curtain.

Encore also offers comedy, live music, Beatles-themed programming, game shows and smaller entertainment. Choose one or two priorities because early port mornings can make an overfilled evening plan feel like work.

Con: Speedway is fun, expensive and weather-dependent

Encore’s two-level Speedway is longer and wider than the tracks on earlier Norwegian ships, with more room to pass and a layout that feels like a legitimate attraction rather than novelty laps around a deck. Older kids, teens, and adults can have a ridiculous amount of fun racing at sea.

Norwegian’s activity rules set Encore Speedway at 55 to 82 inches and a 300-pound maximum, with closed shoes required. The attraction costs extra and can be weather affected, so book an early suitable window without making it the only reason for the cruise.

Never choose Encore over Bliss solely because the track is bigger. Observation Lounge quality, itinerary, port times, cabin price, and the adults-versus-kids balance will affect far more hours of the cruise.

Con: Galaxy Pavilion adds indoor variety but also another paid temptation

Encore still has Galaxy Pavilion, an indoor virtual-reality and simulator area that gives families something to do when Alaska weather makes the upper decks less appealing. It is especially useful for teens who are more interested in tech than another scenic lecture.

Galaxy Pavilion is also an additional-cost attraction, while the Aqua Park and youth areas provide other family options. Non-toilet-trained children cannot use slides or the aqua park, so prepare toddler-friendly alternatives before paying a premium for Encore’s family hardware.

Decide before boarding which paid attractions actually matter and give the kids a clear budget. “We will see once we get there” is Norwegian’s most effective method of turning every interesting sign into an additional charge.

Con: the public spaces can feel too crowded for a ship this polished

Encore carries about 3,958 guests at double occupancy, and demand can concentrate around scenic events, buffet meals and theater releases. Crowd levels vary, so plan alternative spaces without turning one busy period into a permanent shipwide label.

Additional balcony inventory occupies space that was once part of the forward Observation Lounge, so more passengers now share slightly less of Encore’s signature indoor viewing area. That does not ruin the design, but it makes timing and alternate scenic spaces more important.

Eat off-peak, use the Waterfront, retreat to Spice H2O when warm, and avoid treating the Observation Lounge as the only scenic space on the ship. Encore rewards people who distribute themselves instead of following every crowd.

Con: the forward elevators get punished by the ship’s best features

The Observation Lounge, Garden Café, theater traffic, port exits, and several major destinations pull passengers toward the forward half of Encore. The result is a forward elevator bank that can become frustratingly slow at exactly the times most people want it.

Choose an aft or mid-aft cabin if nobody in the group needs immediate Observation Lounge access. Using the aft bank for ordinary movement can save more time over a week than being theoretically “closer” to one scenic lounge.

Travelers using a wheelchair or scooter should contact the Access Desk early. Accessible rooms are limited, devices cannot be stored in corridors, and a technically step-free route can still require patience at a busy elevator bank.

Alaska port timing can matter more than the ship’s feature list

Encore itineraries vary in port length, scenic cruising and berth details, and some Alaska calls use Ward Cove instead of downtown Ketchikan. You should check the exact schedule before deciding the ship’s hardware compensates for less time ashore.

Compare exact arrival and departure times before choosing Encore over another Alaska ship. A four-hour port call can shrink quickly once shuttle transportation, gangway lines, and return buffers enter the calculation.

Ward Cove requires transportation into downtown Ketchikan, so independent sightseeing needs extra time. If Creek Street, museums, or an independently booked tour matter, build the shuttle into the schedule instead of treating it as an invisible detail.

The flip side is that Encore is an excellent ship to return to after a short port day. The problem is not being bored onboard; it is deciding whether the ship experience compensates for less time ashore.

Dining is flexible, but open hours and reservations can undercut the Freestyle promise

Encore has complimentary main dining, Garden Café, The Local, specialty restaurants, and whatever dining credits come with the selected promotion. The variety is real, but not every restaurant is open for every meal or at every hour.

Use The Local as the reliable included fallback and reserve only the specialty restaurants that genuinely matter. Waiting until the ship is full to request the most popular dinner time is a poor test of how flexible Freestyle can be.

Garden Cafe demand can be heavy at breakfast and lunch on some sailings. Try The Local or a dining room when open rather than promise that one fixed time always avoids a line.

Palomar, the expanded Cagney’s and Teppanyaki, and other paid venues add dining depth, while our dining guides help separate them from the included choices. Reserve only menus the group genuinely values.

Con: paid attractions and packages can make the real fare climb quickly

Norwegian’s fare guide includes complimentary meals, youth programs and many standard activities while excluding specialty dining, most drinks, internet, spa services, excursions and service charges. Add Speedway, Galaxy Pavilion and the shore plans you actually want before comparing Encore’s total with another ship.

Destination-heavy itineraries make onboard extras easier to overbuy because so much of the vacation budget is already going ashore. Protect the excursions, transportation and port experiences that matter first, then use whatever remains for simulators, specialty dining or spa time.

The best version of Encore does not require every upgrade. Observation Lounge, Waterfront, Spice H2O, The Choir of Man, included dining, and normal programming already provide plenty of value when used well.

Con: The Haven can push Encore into premium-line pricing

The Haven provides private dining, lounge and courtyard access, concierge and butler support, priority and a much more controlled home base. Its private spaces are especially valuable on crowded sea days and scenic itineraries, but the benefit is privacy and service rather than any one destination.

Compare the full Haven total with premium or luxury ships serving the same itinerary rather than assuming the upgrade automatically beats a standard Encore cabin. Once the price changes dramatically, you are comparing vacation products rather than room categories.

The Haven makes sense when you want private service and still plan to use Encore’s public theater, Speedway, Galaxy Pavilion, Waterfront, and other attractions. If your goal is avoiding the rest of the ship entirely, a smaller premium vessel may be the cleaner solution.

Cabin location matters even more around the forward Observation Lounge

Some high-forward balcony cabins occupy former Observation Lounge space, and selected Haven accommodations have been refreshed. Those rooms can be attractive, but motion and elevator traffic matter more than whether the finishes are newer.

High-forward balconies near the Observation Lounge sit alongside standard categories with very different routes and noise exposures. Solo travelers should compare Studio pricing and lounge access with the actual single-occupancy total for an ordinary inside or balcony.

Choose a quiet location between cabin decks before paying for a minor category change with worse surroundings. Our cabin-location guides provide a checklist, and avoid a guarantee when room placement materially affects the trip.

Who should book Norwegian Encore

• Scenic-cruise travelers who want excellent indoor viewing. Observation Lounge and Waterfront make the destination part of the onboard experience.
• Older kids and teens. Speedway, Galaxy Pavilion, waterslides, clubs, food and entertainment offer plenty to do between ports.
• Adults who want a free outdoor retreat plus spa options. Spice H2O improves the adult plan, while the thermal suite is valuable when weather turns cool.
• Groups who care about theater entertainment. The Choir of Man is a legitimate ship-specific reason to protect an evening.
• Travelers comfortable choosing paid extras selectively. Encore works best when you buy the few upgrades you value and ignore the rest.

Who should choose another ship

• Port-first travelers who care more about time ashore than ship features. Compare exact schedules before paying a premium for Encore’s hardware.
• People who hate crowded scenic lounges. The Observation Lounge can become a magnet on marquee scenic days.
• Travelers who want most attractions included. Speedway, Galaxy Pavilion, spa access and premium dining can add up quickly.
• Warm-weather pool-first cruisers. Encore’s public pool deck is not the reason to choose this ship.
• People who need effortless elevator access. The forward bank can become one of the busiest places onboard.

How to book Norwegian Encore

Start with the itinerary rather than the cabin. On Alaska sailings, compare port times, Glacier Bay or other scenic-cruising content and Ward Cove logistics; on warmer routes, compare sea-day count and how much value you will get from Spice H2O, the pool deck and outdoor attractions.

Choose a cabin with elevator flow in mind, especially for anyone with limited mobility, then decide whether the thermal suite or Haven benefits are worth paying for. A new high-forward balcony is not automatically a better room if motion bothers you.

Reserve The Choir of Man and any specialty dining, Speedway or Galaxy Pavilion session the group genuinely cares about. Leave the rest flexible because weather, port days and energy levels will rearrange the plan whether the calendar approves or not.

Keep most discretionary money focused on the parts of the trip that cannot be replicated onboard. Encore already includes strong scenery spaces, entertainment and dining, so the ship does not need every paid upgrade to justify the vacation.

Continue planning with the things to do, cruise tips.

The final verdict

Norwegian Encore works best when you want scenery, entertainment and family technology in the same vacation. Observation Lounge, Waterfront, The Choir of Man, Speedway, Galaxy Pavilion, Spice H2O, the thermal suite, broad dining and The Haven give several generations legitimate reasons to enjoy sea days, with Alaska remaining one of the ship’s strongest use cases.

The tradeoffs come from capacity, location and optional spending rather than a universal service verdict. Scenic spaces can fill, some routes place pressure on the forward elevators, and Speedway, Galaxy Pavilion, spa access and paid dining can raise the total quickly.

If Encore is on your shortlist, compare its exact itinerary, cabin location, likely weather and realistic onboard spending with Norwegian Bliss and one other ship serving the same route. Encore earns the choice when its Observation Lounge, entertainment, adult spaces and family technology matter enough to justify the crowd and cost tradeoffs.

Plan your Norwegian Encore cruise

Cross-check the cabins to avoid, best cabins, and deck guide before trading a quiet Encore location for quicker access to the forward attractions.