Hit Em With The Hein

It’s funny. I was on the same cruise and we literally knew nothing of this fight until we disembarked. 

We had a great cruise. Lots of “washy washy: happy happy” 

I only now heard about a big fight that happened on our cruise in the main 6/7/8 hall early on in the cruise. There is a video online. Literally heard nothing about it until I got home. 
 

1 minute ago, Freckles_51 said:

 

Thanks so much for your review.  The COVID-19 hysteria is crazy, you will be happy that you had your cruise already and don't have to deal with it.

 

Do you find the ship to be rocking a lot?  I've seen several comments that the Encore seems to rock and roll more than other ships. Have you seen anti-nausea pills readily available at guest services or around the ship? Just curious....we will be bringing our own, and ginger, just in case.

Having never been on a cruise, I can’t tell you whether this is better or worse than other ships, but I can tell you that the staff at the kids club told us that it is the worst they have seen it rocking on this voyage due to the seas. 
It’s not bothering my family but we have the anti nausea pills, brackets and stickers for behind the ear with us. We aren’t using any of them though. 

Day at sea was great. Easy living. No problem securing one chair which usually turns into two or three when people next to you leave. I think that’s the secret. My wife is eagle eyed when it comes to finding one chair or someone leaving. We have gone to the pool 4 days and had at least one chair within 5 mins of looking each day. All of those times when we visited were after lunch. 
Le Bistro was an excellent meal. So pleased we booked that one. Service was amazing and food was the Star. Lamb chops done to perfection. 
Ocean dance party to wind down the day last evening. 
Stirrup Cay cancelled due to high waves. We have 14 foot seas with winds gusting to 23.  We sailed by the island and saw the Royal Caribbean island next door with two ships docked. 
Another day at sea for us.  I’m sitting in the observation lounge on deck 15. Kids are back to  kids club and wife and I are reading. 
We are going to do the self disembark tomorrow  because we have a car at 8:00 for a 10:20 flight.

There hasn’t been much worry about coronavirus on the ship. It’s actually been nice to be removed from the hysteria. My mother in law says that the shelves are half full in grocery store. Crazy. I guess we will be back in it tomorrow.  

On 3/4/2020 at 4:44 PM, helloxxannie said:

 

How long is the cab ride to Long Bay Beach? Heading on this ship in a few weeks! Thanks for your updates btw! 

Did the ncl excursion to long bay. Pickup was 10:30 at the end of the pier. Took about 25 mins in 10 passenger van.  Was there for 2 hours. Beautiful beach. Definitely get the ribs and jerk chicken at the tent with the moose. Chairs are 10 each and umbrella is 5. 
The rest of tortolla is pretty sad. Beautiful but when you look how the people actually live, it wasnt very pretty.  1:30 onboard time for 2:00 departure. 
St Thomas is probably our favorite thus far. Good shopping and really enjoyed the synagogue with the sand floor. Full day of fun and sun there. Cab to Magens bay was a little pricey and the drivers are pushy but the beach was beautiful. 
Today is at sea on way to stirrup cay. 

Puerto Rico was fine but short. We took the kids the fiesta Latina show excursion for some local flavor. They took us in a bus to a place that would have been a 5 minute walk but we had some real old timers with the Group. 6/10 

Yesterday during daytime we largely did the same thing but thankfully the weather was warmer and sunnier but wind was still high AND we were pulling 11 foot seas. It has been enough rocking to be highly noticeable (especially in the dining areas) but my family isn’t having difficulties.  Crew is saying this is the worst they have seen on this run. 

 Pulling into San Juan and watching from the port side was a highlight for my family. 

Saw a comedian who was largely underwhelming but had a few funny lines. 
Also saw the Beatles show in the main theater, that was fun. My understanding is that most shows for Beatles are in the cavern club but 2 shows are in the main theater. Easy to get a seat in theatre versus stand room only in cavern club. Plan accordingly. 

St Thomas today. Seas much calmer thus far. We are going to leave kids in kids club while we head in town for shopping. Lunch back on ship. Back out to Meagans bay with kids after lunch. Choir of man tonight. 

Day at sea. Buffet has been great thus far. Literally an omelette station every 10 feet. Rest was solid breakfast cuisine. 
Gym was crowded but the TRX room was a great mostly unused resource for general workout stuff. Finally got on a treadmill and finished in 1.5 hours while kids kicked it in Splash Academy.  Wife and I explored rest of ship that we hadn’t seen yet. 
Lunch was also at buffet and again very good. Kids loved the pizza... I’m not a fan but I went for the grilled chicken and put it on a salad. Solid choice. Also, the Yucca fries were prepared perfectly with a great chimmichurrey sauce. Overall very pleased with the buffet thus far. 
Now, for the main point of contention on the encore, the pool deck. My family of four had no trouble securing 2 chairs in the sun and then a third. It was just about being patient for a few mins and allowing someone to get up. It is very tight spacing. 
Lots of available chairs on deck 17 throughout our 3 hours on the pool deck. 

Both kids loved the tube slide and went again and again. Not a very long line. They aren’t big enough for the ocean loops so we didn’t even check it out but that line wasn’t long either. 
Kids loved the kids play area and the kids pool BUT it is insanely windy. We are seeing winds from 22 knots and the pool deck, even with the sun, it was cool out of the water. 
Pool deck band was fun and upbeat but I could see how some would think that it is very loud. 
It has been rather choppy. Hopefully that dies down after we get to PR. Several people on board have been overheard talking about how they haven’t seen winds like this on a cruise before.  Still slept ok last night but the rocking did wake me in the morning. 
Our favorite things thus far was finding the afternoon snack area in the observation deck. Amazing scones with fruit and clotted cream. Change your life good. Kids loved the jello and pudding. The afternoon snack game is on point in observation. 
Tonight is Los lobos with the kids. Hopefully some more time for them in the kids club and maybe some casino time for daddy. 
 

23 minutes ago, Freckles_51 said:

Hope you have an awesome cruise!

 

If you go to the Video Game Arcade could you please check out approx cost for individual games, green swipe and otherwise?

We know they offer an Ultimate package for the week to play only the green swipe games. Just trying to decide if it is worth buying the package.

 
Also if you are able get the week’s schedule for Entourage teen activities and post it here that would be great. 

 

Thanks

 

I have no doubt I’ll get to the arcade today. I’ll let you know. 

I’ll pick up as I am now live on the Encore. Fist time cruiser here. But I’ve been doing a lot of researching and  my in laws are pros. 
We left port today, uneventfully. Seeming no explanation for the 2 hour late text. We were planning on arriving at 10 but arrived at 11:20 and were in boarding group 19, so it couldn’t have been a much delayed boarding at all. But rooms weren’t ready until 1. 
 

Everywhere we saw people with spray bottles of hand sanitizer more than happy to give you a squirt. (Giggity) 
 

Buffet for lunch, hectic but well controlled.  Indian food that everyone raves about onboard lives up to the hype. Kids enjoyed pizza. 
 

We did the muster drill, which was very efficient and better than I had feared. After that the kids wanted to get in the pool. It was clouds and sun at 75 degrees with a breeze. They were done and frozen in 5 mins. But as we were pulling them out of the pool with ice tongs we noticed we were actually moving past buildings. Apparently we were on our way, without much pomp and circumstance. 
 

Manhattan Room for dinner... very good. Wife and I were both happy with entrees and speed of service didn’t really bother us, even with two small guys (5 and 7). 
 

Threw the monsters in the kids club starting at 8 and did some onboard sight seeing. Mojoto bar is legit. The ginger mojito is my favorite thus far. 
 

Unlimited Internet is probably the most important thing we have purchased thus far... highly recommend. 

59 minutes ago, MarcAndKelley said:

The Escape hasn’t left Miami yet, I’m looking at it right now. It was supposed to leave at 4:00?  A MSC ship is still in port as well, that was supposed to leave at 5:00. Everyone else left on time. 

Edit: Just pulling out now. 

Just saw it pulling out at 6:00 as we were taking the causeway over to Miami Beach. 

Thanks for any additional updates today!  Following 

Hi... would any bar/restaurant be the best place to go to watch live sports from US and/or UK?  

Quick question for those with experience... friend of mine went on encore and said while the pool was crowded, she said that the 15 minute rule was really only enforced for chairs with towels. She said they won’t remove bags or books or other stuff... can anyone confirm?  

Thanks so much for the info!  You mentioned there were people lined up at the social and at tepanyaki right when you got on board and after you lined up at the vibe... isn’t it possible to make all reservations (except vibe) at one of the kiosks instead of lining up at the social?  
thanks in advance, especially for the info on the Beatles show. 

Also, i've read that they drop the price of the upgrade to unlimited wifi to 60 bucks on the second day of the cruise?  Is this at all accurate?

1 hour ago, marktwothousand said:

I love how your review is totally opposite what someone else just posted. So confusing what to believe!

We are also going this weekend.... if everything is as bad as that other guy.... i guess i'll see you in the District Brew House!  lol