smplybcause Posted September 11, 2019 #2301 Share Posted September 11, 2019 7 hours ago, coriemarie said: Over-dramatic here. There was smoking on the water front when I sailed the getaway. It was a 20 ft length area by one of the bars. The waterfront stretches all the way around the ship. This is in no way the smokers 'getting YOUR waterfront'. Except smoke doesn't stay put. Not a big deal if you're not sensitive to smoke, but I couldn't be downwind of them and there wasn't that many seats in front of them. It essentially made one side of the waterfront off-access to me. And as Doug said, it's going to have twice as many or more there on Encore with it being the only spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
partman57 Posted September 12, 2019 #2302 Share Posted September 12, 2019 23 hours ago, eroller said: Having sailed the ESCAPE I hardly agree. Overly crowded and no observation lounges. The ship left me cold and unimpressed. I actually preferred GETAWAY over ESCAPE. BLISS is a step up in so many ways, even the decor. The track means nothing to me. To each their own. I sailed Escape and loved it. Then sailed Bliss loved it more. Will be on Encore in Feb will see how it goes. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
partman57 Posted September 12, 2019 #2303 Share Posted September 12, 2019 On 9/9/2019 at 9:03 AM, coriemarie said: I hope so - I would love to have it right by the bar. But I have heard the smoking area is indoors on deck 8. Bliss you had to smoke inside not on outside deck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDougOut Posted September 12, 2019 Author #2304 Share Posted September 12, 2019 33 minutes ago, partman57 said: Bliss you had to smoke inside not on outside deck. Bliss outdoor smoking was in Spice on the upper deck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorious8 Posted September 12, 2019 #2305 Share Posted September 12, 2019 (edited) 8 hours ago, smplybcause said: Except smoke doesn't stay put. Not a big deal if you're not sensitive to smoke, but I couldn't be downwind of them and there wasn't that many seats in front of them. It essentially made one side of the waterfront off-access to me. And as Doug said, it's going to have twice as many or more there on Encore with it being the only spot. It was pretty awful on the Bliss if I remember. No clue if the waterfront will be better or worse. My roommate on the Bliss is highly sensitive to smoke and the crowd that would form on Spice was pretty large and made it hard for us to enjoy the bar area (Halloween singles cruise so Spice was also an insane spot). If my memory serves me correctly the smoking section was also right next to the bathroom area which would have sucked for someone who was sensitive and also was just awkward since I felt like huge crowds were always loitering near the bathroom door. Edited to add I am sometimes a drunken smoker so I prefer it being more of a challenge, less of a chance I will get drunk and accidentally chain smoke because I am being social. Edited September 12, 2019 by Victorious8 added stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coriemarie Posted September 12, 2019 #2306 Share Posted September 12, 2019 6 hours ago, Victorious8 said: It was pretty awful on the Bliss if I remember. No clue if the waterfront will be better or worse. My roommate on the Bliss is highly sensitive to smoke and the crowd that would form on Spice was pretty large and made it hard for us to enjoy the bar area (Halloween singles cruise so Spice was also an insane spot). If my memory serves me correctly the smoking section was also right next to the bathroom area which would have sucked for someone who was sensitive and also was just awkward since I felt like huge crowds were always loitering near the bathroom door. Edited to add I am sometimes a drunken smoker so I prefer it being more of a challenge, less of a chance I will get drunk and accidentally chain smoke because I am being social. this 'crowd' is a result of them only supplying a single smoking area for a potential 600 guests who smoke. The situation is crappy for smokers and non-smokers. I feel like there are many little unused areas on the ship that they could call small smoke areas so we could be more spread out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smplybcause Posted September 12, 2019 #2307 Share Posted September 12, 2019 8 hours ago, Victorious8 said: It was pretty awful on the Bliss if I remember. No clue if the waterfront will be better or worse. My roommate on the Bliss is highly sensitive to smoke and the crowd that would form on Spice was pretty large and made it hard for us to enjoy the bar area (Halloween singles cruise so Spice was also an insane spot). If my memory serves me correctly the smoking section was also right next to the bathroom area which would have sucked for someone who was sensitive and also was just awkward since I felt like huge crowds were always loitering near the bathroom door. Edited to add I am sometimes a drunken smoker so I prefer it being more of a challenge, less of a chance I will get drunk and accidentally chain smoke because I am being social. There is a bathroom on the smoker side, but there are more bathrooms on the other side. When I was on Bliss it was a lot better than Escape that allowed smoking on all the tables around the bar in Spice in the elevated area (which is a huge chunk of spice) vs just off to the side. And Bliss didn't have any smoking near the pools like Escape. Granted it was an Alaskan cruise so I didn't spend as much time in Spice, but I was fine on Bliss but Escape sent me home to a week of antibiotics and steroids from the smoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare JamieLogical Posted September 12, 2019 #2308 Share Posted September 12, 2019 On 9/11/2019 at 9:50 AM, coriemarie said: agreed. non-smokers just look at smokers as a nuisance. I am also paying for my vacation and want to enjoy it, with a cigarette. I don't begrudge you enjoyment of your vacation. This is on NCL for putting the smoking area in a places that has a lot of "through traffic" and is in the middle of a space that is meant for public relaxation and lounging. On the -away class ships, the jogging tracks are a joke and a lot of people use the Waterfront for walking laps. People use the waterfront as a quiet place to sit and read and enjoy the ocean air. I personally love walking along the Waterfront on my way between the front and back of the ship if the weather's nice and I want some fresh air versus taking an indoor route. Dropping a smoking area in the middle of that will have a serious impact on the enjoyment of my vacation. Smoking areas should be restricted to corners of the ship where people can more easily avoid them. I have no issue with those areas having a bar or lounge space as so smokers can enjoy those things. Like the old smoking area in Spice H2O... I could just avoid it. It wasn't on my way two/from anything. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMike45 Posted September 12, 2019 #2309 Share Posted September 12, 2019 On 9/10/2019 at 6:31 PM, david_sobe said: This is Kelly Clarkson Who's high pitch? A moment like this..... I wonder how many people got this 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_sobe Posted September 12, 2019 #2310 Share Posted September 12, 2019 30 minutes ago, MrMike45 said: I wonder how many people got this I am SO happy someone did. I wish I could give you a prize. I really thought my comment would be lost forever. Good catch. Wish I could buy you a beer. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
partman57 Posted September 12, 2019 #2311 Share Posted September 12, 2019 On 8/29/2019 at 11:51 AM, GA Dave said: Everyone just needs to "vote" on the new deck layout with their wallet. If you truly do not like the Encore's layout, don't sail her. Amen! I have not see anyone board a ship with a gun at their head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owsaw Posted September 12, 2019 #2312 Share Posted September 12, 2019 On 8/29/2019 at 11:51 AM, GA Dave said: Everyone just needs to "vote" on the new deck layout with their wallet. If you truly do not like the Encore's layout, don't sail her. I embrace GA Dave's quote here as perhaps the best solution/answer for all the concerns and complaints regarding the smoking issue. I joined Cruise Critic in 2006 and have read many reviews, postings, threads and articles on this topic. I believe there is reason to conclude...there is no appeasement. Imagine all the changes in policy, location, layout, design and plans in thirteen years. Few people with an investment or concern in this matter have been satisfied...Nothing's changed, "where there's smoke, there's..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser Bruiser Posted September 13, 2019 #2313 Share Posted September 13, 2019 On 9/10/2019 at 12:46 PM, Son of a son of a ... said: She ain't gonna top the "O", tho https://www.cntraveler.com/story/oprah-will-be-the-godmother-of-a-cruise-ship Would it surprise you to learn that many of HAL's, shall we say, "traditional" passengers (at least those that post on CC) despise Oprah and HAL's affiliation with her? It has been the source of many an acrimonious post over on the HAL boards. But, HAL made a smart choice, as Oprah represents where the brand is heading. I imagine that the choice of a godmother is fraught with unintended consequences. I personally love Kelly Clarkson, but maybe not enough to encourage me to sail Encore. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of a son of a ... Posted September 13, 2019 #2314 Share Posted September 13, 2019 13 hours ago, Cruiser Bruiser said: I personally love Kelly Clarkson, but maybe not enough to encourage me to sail Encore. Affinity marketing doesn't draw me either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDougOut Posted September 13, 2019 Author #2315 Share Posted September 13, 2019 (edited) First view with all the lifeboats loaded? (Instagram wiret02) Edited September 13, 2019 by TheDougOut 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailBreakaway Posted September 14, 2019 #2316 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Lifeboats loaded and she’s ready to sail, however back at the Ranch..... Nov 21st huh?? we are sailing on the TA, I’m just happy MW doesn’t build at the same pace as the Miami builder for the new Terminal! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Wheels Only Posted September 14, 2019 #2317 Share Posted September 14, 2019 11 minutes ago, SailBreakaway said: I’m just happy MW doesn’t build at the same pace as the Miami builder for the new Terminal! If they did, Escape would be finished any day now. 😁 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_sobe Posted September 14, 2019 #2318 Share Posted September 14, 2019 (edited) I don't even think they give updates on the construction of the new Miami port anymore. If they did give another potential opening date, everyone would be disappointed again and it would flag how slow the construction actually is. Welcome to Miami. Edited September 14, 2019 by david_sobe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazV Posted September 14, 2019 #2319 Share Posted September 14, 2019 The last update I saw for opening of the new terminal said May/June 2020 ... this was from Port Miami not NCL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirate at 50 Posted September 14, 2019 #2320 Share Posted September 14, 2019 She may be coming along slow but it looks amazing. I am looking forward to a state of the art terminal. I wonder how it will change embark/debark systems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomservo Posted September 14, 2019 #2321 Share Posted September 14, 2019 I found this on the Cagney’s page for the Encore. Dry-aged Certified Angus Beef? This would definitely be an improvement to the menu, albeit with some kind of up-charge. At least it’s an option now. When was the last time Cagney’s even had steak like this? Will this start with Encore and then get rolled our fleet-wide? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BirdTravels Posted September 14, 2019 #2322 Share Posted September 14, 2019 (edited) 26 minutes ago, tomservo said: I found this on the Cagney’s page for the Encore. Dry-aged Certified Angus Beef? This would definitely be an improvement to the menu, albeit with some kind of up-charge. At least it’s an option now. When was the last time Cagney’s even had steak like this? Will this start with Encore and then get rolled our fleet-wide? Don't get your hopes up. Over the past year, we have almost given up on Cagney's because of very poor service and marginal food. Edited September 14, 2019 by BirdTravels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomservo Posted September 14, 2019 #2323 Share Posted September 14, 2019 2 minutes ago, BirdTravels said: That is the normal beef that they serve The current Cagney’s menu refers to it as “Premium Black Angus Beef”, which isn’t the same as Certified Angus Beef. Also no mention of dry aging. I think Cagney’s used to serve CAB at some point but I don’t think I’ve ever seen dry aged on NCL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomservo Posted September 14, 2019 #2324 Share Posted September 14, 2019 As an aside, there is a lot of mis-marketing in the food world. Think “Kobe” beef burgers in the US years ago (up until a certain point they definitely weren’t) or “super premium” ice cream (not an official grade or type of ice cream). It’s just marketing speak made to appear higher quality than it actually is. “Premium Black Angus” essentially just means beef (it’s the most common type sold for steaks) . This is not an indication of USDA grade (Choice, Prime, etc), however being CAB guarantees a minimum grade, ranging from high choice to prime. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Dave Posted September 14, 2019 #2325 Share Posted September 14, 2019 Just a quick note about the smoking thing. My DW and I just visited WDW for a day since it was my granddaughter's first trip there. There are NO smoking areas anywhere within the parks at WDW. When we were in MK on Thursday, my wife had to walk out of the main gate of the park, outside of the security zone, and then to the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon in order to have a cigarette (see bottom/right of attached picture). I do not smoke, but I just thought this was ridiculous. If they are going to prohibit smoking in the park, then they also need to reject people wearing way too much cologne/perfume, those that have not bathed in days, etc. After seeing this, walking to the aft end of the ship does not seem as bad. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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