Slk1z

That is correct.  Silver cove is exclusive for anyone who rents a Villa only.  It is pricy, but definitely worth it.  The area is beautiful ( the new pool is an amazing addition) as well the service for drinks and the private Buffet only adds to the experience.

It would be nice one day to have a Haven only area…. But who knows if that will ever happen 

The pool at Silver Cove GSC.

Located on the far side of the Lagoon.

I have done both.  

Twice in the Lagoon and last time was in a Ocean.    Either or are great.   The Ocean Villa's seemed slightly smaller in size than the Lagoon Villa's but more than enough space for 4 people. Also the Ocean Villa's are super close to the Buffet .  Where some of the Lagoon are a bit of a hike.

That being said, I found the water temp relative between the Lagoon and Ocean.   The Lagoon's water will come and go quite a but depending on the tide.

Back in Jan.  when we were there they were working on a new pool and bar area on the far side of the Lagoon...  when this does open the Lagoon might be more convenient to access said area.

As I said thou, I don't think you can go wrong with either.   

3 hours ago, BigDaddy75 said:

Does the tram take you only to the reception center or do they take you to Villa as well?  My father in law has a hard time walking. We wanted to rent a lagoon villa so he can rest comfortable while we are on the beach. It seems like the lagoon villas are on the other side of the island.

There is a tram that will take you most of way.  But you will need to walk a little once you get off the Tender to the excursion's pavilion.  Once you check in there, another short walk is required to get to the tram.  ( The tram will take you to the Check-In lounge for the Villa's and then right to the Villa)  

NCL use to only sell so many online and then still have some available for when people boarded.  This however does not seem to be the case any longer.   As I found out last week while on the Encore...

I wanted a few excursions and did not want to pay ahead of time ( Villa on GSC was $800 alone) So as soon as I boarded I wanted to book them.  Even thou I was in the Haven , I was still unable to book what I wanted to do...

On 2/3/2023 at 8:38 AM, cruiseny4life said:

Thank you for posting! I think I can survive with the changes. I'm glad my favorites are still available. Honestly, it looks like the only change is the NY Strip for the Delmonico. I'm glad to see the special request language is still at the bottom of the menu. Then again, I see the pork chop is no longer a tomahawk, but a double cut pork chop (whatever the hell that is). I suppose I'll be posting on how I feel about that change next month. 

 

The restaurant is one of the primary reasons we book Haven, so this is why I was so keen to see what changes occurred. My blood pressure has dropped back to normally high levels. 🙂

The porkchop was still the Tomahawk style chop.( sorry about the colour, it was taken outside )

It was delicious 

17 hours ago, gmbhardy said:

My son is on the Encore right now and he spends most of his time in Vibe. His name is Brad, have you met him yet?

Sorry, they sold over 200 passes for the week.

Haven Menu's.

As mentioned I was they changed on the previous sailing.  

There are a few changes since I was on the Getaway back in July.

Ie: NY steak vs Delmonico 

Breakfast also has a Keto option, which is actually pretty tasty 

Thought I would share my thoughts of our current cruise on the Encore.   This is my second time on the Encore and like 10th NCL cruise.

Embarkation:  The new terminal is really nice.  Easy and quick check-in.   The issues were getting to the terminal as the traffic was nuts!.  There was a marathon in the morning and it seemed that the traffic issues kept growing.   Heard people spent up to 2hours in traffic just to get dropped off.     We witnessed people still boarding at 4pm…..  ( I would be losing my mind if traffic was that bad and boarded that late….)

As everyone is probably aware, NCL has returned to in-person Muster Drills…..  If anyone is wondering if they are as terrible as they once were, absolutely they are.   The reasoning given onboard for the return was that the Coast Guard was pushing due to Covid protocols being eliminated…….( lots out there on this, and everyone can form an opinion for them selves)….  my  opinion, it sucks!

Once underway everything seems to be back to normal ( pre-Covid).   Service on this ship is has been awesome.  Attentive and thoughtful.   I have seen a few….”Karen’s”. But overall everyone seems to be patient and just happy to be on vacation.

One issue:  Shore Excursion….  I did not book before I got onboard as I always wait till I get onboard ( I do this for a few reasons including weather as such).  Well when I got onboard none excursions i wanted were available.   I was put on a wait list for the 3 I wanted.   I was lucky enough to be able to get an Ocean Villa at GSC.  The other were sold out before the cruise even began.  It never use to be that way….. but I guess it is the way it is now.    

The entertainment we have seen has been exceptional.   I know some people are upset about Kinky Boots getting axed, but not something I would have seen anyways.  Choir of Man is the best show I’ve seen on NCL.  
I need to make a mention of Beau Tahana the performer in the District Brewhouse …….  Absolutely downright bloody amazing!!!   As I said I have been on a few NCL cruises and no-one has preformed like Beau.  The place was jammed and the music was great.

Vibe Beach Club:  sold out before sailing( luckily I did purchase pre-cruise).  They seemed to have done away with the wrist bands….. this has caused some issues for people just walking in when the door is open…..  some lady and her pre-teen child snuck in and had to escorted out in which she was not pleased about.   
‘As usual the service in the Vibe has been great.

Haven:  I have been told the menu’s changed on the last sailing.   I will take some pictures and post later.

Internet:   I have the streaming package.   I have managed to watch YouTube videos and stream XM and Spotify without issues.   Loading some websites like CruiseCritic have been painfully slow …….  

It is usually listed under upgrades.   It was on mine for a while and disappeared.  I just called NCL and they were able to add it over the phone.

Its true!  Encore is docked at Taino Bay DR..

Hopefully this will continue

There are / have been many topics regarding NCL Breakaway Class ships and Taino Bay DR.

Ever since the Escape parked itself on a sandbar back in March '22  it seems as if NCL has only stopped at Amber Cove with the larger ships.  One would think that DR would do whatever it could to "fix" the port to ensure as it would get as much traffic as possible.    Amber Cove being a Carnival invested port would lead someone to believe the money generated goes back to the cruise line ( a large portion anyways) and Taino bay could use all the revenue it can to help pay off the overall cost and support the local economy.

There was an article written about the port being dredged out and "testing" needed to be done for NCL to return.   Other than that there hasn't been anything that I could find at least regarding as to anything be done at the port.  For awhile I was under the assumption that no one was using Taino bay , this was / is not the case.  

Everyone keeps opening new threads asking if NCL will be stopping soon...  There was hope as the Taino Bay schedule actually listed some of these ships returning for Jan.   However, this past Tuesday the Encore docked at Amber Cove.   Shortly after that NCL now shows up on the Amber Cove port schedule for the BA ships for the rest of the month.  NO, they have not been removed from Taino Bay, but rest assured the ships aren't going to be docking in Taino for the for-seeable future.   

The actual reason for NCL not stopping at this port for the past or the future has eluded everyone.  I do not think we will ever know unless someone from NCL will actually put a statement out....... which , well we know won't happen.

FUN FACT:  Today Jan 12/2023   Royal's Wonder of the Sea's docked at Taino Bay.......  

NCL Encore 169.000 gross ton

Wonder of the Seas : 236, 800....

So it ain't cause she won't fit.....

12 minutes ago, sun, sand, cocktail said:

Hi,

I’m going on the Joy in March so am also curious.

According to the Joy’s deck plan shown on the NCL website, there is a public sun area outside Vibe. I haven’t been on Joy yet, but have been on Escape and Bliss that had a similar area with its own bar and hot tub.

There is also a Spice H2O on the Joy which is usually a nice quiet place to sun as well.

 

The deck plans for the Joy are wrong.   When the ship was retro fitted for the US market they expanding the Vibe to include that area.  So the Haven gets the front half and the Vibe the rest..

On 12/13/2022 at 11:20 AM, TominNC said:

Portmapper or cruisemapper?  Cruisemapper shows 4 ships (2 Carnival, 1 Celebrity and Encore) at Amber Cove Dec 21

According to the Port schedule @ ambercove.com   Dec 21 only has the 2 Carnival ships listed.

Funny thing is that only more NCL ship listed to port after that point.   As well, none listed for Jan'23..

It would be good to find out they dredged the channel and NCL can finally return to Taino..

The Silver Cove Villa's are you best best.    They will shuttle you to and from and there is only 1 step down to the beach.  

The normal Villa at the Cove will have a full size bathroom as well living area with nice large couch, table and chairs as well loungers on the deck.     I believe they you can do 6 people total in the normal.   The larger 1 bedroom or 2 bedrooms are huge and just add larger decks and bedroom(s).

This is truly one of life's great questions....

We docked at Taino Bay back in Feb and I can say they did a fantastic job on the.  Compared to Amber Cove , in my opinion Taino Bay is far nicer.

That being said, with so much money invested in the Port why is no one stopping there?  One would think that if the Channel needs to be widen, they would do this to have the ships return and get some money rolling back in.....

I have the Encore booked for the end of January '23.   Normally I upgrade to the Premium Plus bevy package.     However, this time the FAS "Plus" package has caught my eye.   With this package the 2nd guest also gets a $50 shore excursion credit.   

This is where my question comes:   Has anyone been able to apply the 2nd guest shore excursion credit towards a Villa on GSC?   

I called NCL, and well I could not get a firm answer.   I was told " I should be able to apply the 2nd guest credit"   BUT,  when the Villa is booked the only cost is listed under the primary guest.

If anyone has success or failure with this please chime and let me know

Thanks

When they list “sleeps up to 6’”  I believe they assume 2 in the main bedroom , 2 in the 2nd bedroom and 2 on the pullout couch.

Yes, there is a Pullman bed which drops from the ceiling in the second bedroom.

In the second bedroom there is no real bed….  The couch folds out into a bed and the Pullman drops down.

Are they comfortable..???…. My opinion….  Even with a mattress topper an adult will get by….   Kids will sleep on pretty much anything….. but a grandparent…..   I wouldn’t subject them to either of those.

hope it. Helps

On 8/2/2022 at 12:53 PM, Imalismom said:

Has anyone had any problems with the concierge service not up to standards recently?

 

I have tried three different times to make reservations with our concierge to be told nothing was available - to go downstairs to guest services and booked what I wanted. 
 

Trying to figure out if it is just post covid changed standards or just the Getaway desk not up to standards.

I was on the Getaway back on July 9-16th.   

The Concierge was brutal...    I spoke with the Assistant Concierge in the terminal prior to boarding asking some questions and he was very polite and answered everything.

When I boarded I went up to the Concierge desk to book a Villa on GSC.   Waited in line for 20ish mins only to be told by the Concierge to go book on the TV monitor at the end of the hall.....  I was dumbfounded.

When that did not work I returned to the desk for him to write it on a piece of paper and tell me " I will get to that later as I am very busy"

I can say without a doubt worst Concierge I have dealt with.     I have done the Haven on all Breakaway and Breakaway Plus and have never has an issue till now...

That being said, as I was leaving the ship I was informed Ivan the assistant Concierge was taking over.

Just off the Getaway yesterday.  Here are a couple pictures of the updated list ( for what we were told is it was updated on July 9…

There is a menu for food….. more like an appetizer menu.  BUT this is not free …. 
If you booked a Cabana it will come with a credit and you can order food off this menu…

Just wondering if anyone has been able to check in without the whole party being present?

Booked in a 2 Bedroom suite.   3 Adults.   2 of the Adults are flying in the day before and can make it to the port early.   The 3rd is coming in the day of due to work.

Question is can 2 Adults check in first and the 3rd when they arrive?   OR do all 3 in the party have to be present to check in?

Looking for some input.  Just booked through the casino at sea and noticed “Admin Fee’s”.   Is this something that new ?  My last booking was In January and i wasn’t charged these fee’s.

The charges in question. First 2 guests are $140/each. And 3rd and 4th are $299/each.

Hopefully some can let me know if they have booked recently with the CAS and if they were charged.

Thanks

On 1/25/2022 at 8:37 PM, gmbhardy said:

Although I purchased a Switch COVID test kit I’m seriously thinking about getting a PCR test in Cozumel Mexico. I found a medical facility that performs PCR Tests for $80.00 US with a one day turn around that’s not too far from the pier. As I stated earlier we are there Thursday and then flying back to Toronto Saturday afternoon so the 24 hour turn around will work fine for us. We’ll use the test kit for another cruise.
 

Not sure that would be acceptable to return as you are returning from the US and not mexico.  

There was a story recently about a Mother and Daughter that returned from Aruba to a US airport and then drove back to Canada and they were fined $8500k each because the test was not done in the USA...

https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/manitoba-traveller-questions-8-500-fines-after-pcr-test-results-rejected-at-border-1.5741189

Just be aware.