It's time for some Mojitos - NCL Encore Live Review Sept 4th 2021

[njcate]

On 9/4/2021 at 5:00 PM, Wink87 said:

Omg I'm going to love this! We are on the Sept 25 cruise.

We are too! Can't wait!

[drcarp4]

We're hoping to board in October. We're also in an angled balcony on deck 9. Luggage tags just showed up in the mail.  Really enjoying your review. That's kind of cool that it's not crowded. We've been on ships with 5-6,000 people and sometimes it's like a stockyard. Enjoy your cruise!

[Wink87]

4 hours ago, aubreyc1988 said:

Played some slots, got a few bonuses but still lost money 😆 it was fun tho! 
  
general manager just said only 2300 passengers onboard, and it definitely feels sparse in the cruise ship. He also said no unvaccinated people, even vendors/contractors/etc are allowed, if you are not fully vaccinated, you don’t step on the ship 

 

included a photo of our angled balcony on deck 9, my room steward gave us a lounger which is SO nice! 
 

also, love the alcohol facts lol! 
 

my perfume roller is my mantra! It’s so nice being onboard, hard to describe! Everyone is so nice and people are kind of just automatically doing social distancing in theatres and such! 

Looks like your sea is a little choppy tonight.

[micha200]

Hi Aubrey,

 

Thanks for your report. I'm enjoying following along. I'm curious - are people wearing masks - a smattering, most, none -- while on the ship? I know they're not required except in port but I am curious to know if you see people wearing them on the ship while at sea.

 

Glad you're having a good time!

[ClwtrBoi]

FYI, on this cruise right now, we just got a message that Kinky Boots is also canceled in addition to  Choir of Man. 

[chefchick]

31 minutes ago, ClwtrBoi said:

FYI, on this cruise right now, we just got a message that Kinky Boots is also canceled in addition to  Choir of Man. 

Huh?  We are boarding next week!  Entertainment is, IMO, NCLs strong suit…I was excited that all the shows were back.  Can anyone confirm why?

[Old & Retired]

8 hours ago, ClwtrBoi said:

FYI, on this cruise right now, we just got a message that Kinky Boots is also canceled in addition to  Choir of Man. 

So the bulk of the entertainment is now gone.  Everyone getting some onboard credit as compensation?

Just a guess, but I suspect covid might be the reason.

[ClwtrBoi]

I haven't talked to anyone about it, just seen the message on our TV which says it's due to "personnel and operational difficulties." I have to admit we are pretty bummed, we we're especially looking forward to Choir of Man. 

[aubreyc1988]

A bit of a bummer about the shows but I’m still gonna have so much fun! Ocean Blue was fabulous last night, Went to the 80s party last night, donated to to the casino, and ready for a great  day at icy strait point 

 

Doubt we will get any sort of obc for the show cancellations, things happen but wouldn’t mind if there was an extra 10.00 on my account for a coffee from Starbucks haha 

[Red-Sol]

3 minutes ago, aubreyc1988 said:

A bit of a bummer about the shows but I’m still gonna have so much fun! Ocean Blue was fabulous last night, Went to the 80s party last night, donated to to the casino, and ready for a great  day at icy strait point 

 

Doubt we will get any sort of obc for the show cancellations, things happen but wouldn’t mind if there was an extra 10.00 on my account for a coffee from Starbucks haha 

When given lemons you make lemonade.....keep on keeping on Aubrey...and have a great cruise....it's great watching your postings here!

[purpleally]

Do you have the drink package?  Isn’t Starbucks included

[creosotegirl]

It is sad that the shows are temporarily cancelled.  Hopefully, the other options offered will be entertaining.  I enjoy the shows and will miss them if they aren't back next week.

[Shellbelle28]

20 minutes ago, purpleally said:

Do you have the drink package?  Isn’t Starbucks included

I think Starbucks is only included in the Premium Plus drink package. 

[ColeThornton]

What is included in each drink package:

 

https://www.ncl.com/onboard-packages/beverage-packages

 

🙂

[complawyer]

is there ever a time not for mojitos? thank goodness for sugarcane

[FlGoodShips]

Aubrey, could you post officers on board?

Thank you. 

Have fun🍸

[lotsofkids]

Thank you very much for sharing your cruise with us. I am loving all that you post. Your packing skills and organizing are absolutely top notch! I am on the Encore's 9/18 sailing and you just reminded me to take my portable charging brick! (tks!)

So sorry the shows are canceled....but I love your attitude, so I know you will continue to have a marvelous vacation.

I do have one question about that incredible Prime Rib.....was that offered on the first night/Saturday??
I would hate to miss that if I had a specialty restaurant booked. That deserves to book my dining AROUND that! LOL.

Edited September 7, 2021 by lotsofkids

[JCDCA]

Both shows being canceled without a real explanation was pretty unfortunate.  Also have to disagree about Ocean Blue.  Both of our entrees were overcooked.  Onda on the other hand was great.  

[BeerMan007]

JCDCA : My wife's lobster tail at Ocean Blue was overcooked, but my Halibut and both of our Tiger shrimps were fabulous. Cagney's also has the Tiger Shrimp and my Rib Eye was delicious (but I should have ordered the French Onion Soup over the Lobster Bisque as was recommended by the waiter, but I was too dumb to listen).

[coastcat]

6 hours ago, JCDCA said:

Both shows being canceled without a real explanation was pretty unfortunate.  Also have to disagree about Ocean Blue.  Both of our entrees were overcooked.  Onda on the other hand was great.  

It always just depends, doesn’t it? I tried Onda - fabulous bread, even more fabulous appetizers (octopus)… and a badly overcooked fish entree. Looked pretty, was inedible.

 

I’d still book Onda on my next Encore or Spirit cruise, though. The bread was served with an eggplant dip. I ate the entire bowl. I don’t like eggplant. That’s how good it was. 

 

Right now I’m on Majestic Princess. If this ship comes anywhere near Encore, I’d be sorely tempted to make a beeline to the NCL ship. It’s day 3 of my first Princess cruise and it’s already clear that it’s not a good fit for my style. Also, they only serve one kind of mojito here. 

[Shellbelle28]

18 minutes ago, coastcat said:

Right now I’m on Majestic Princess. If this ship comes anywhere near Encore, I’d be sorely tempted to make a beeline to the NCL ship. It’s day 3 of my first Princess cruise and it’s already clear that it’s not a good fit for my style. Also, they only serve one kind of mojito here. 

Sorry Princess is not a good fit, but it's good to find out, I guess. The Mojito thing is lame though. We will try them all and invent some new ones on Bliss in October!! 

[coastcat]

Just now, Shellbelle28 said:

Sorry Princess is not a good fit, but it's good to find out, I guess. The Mojito thing is lame though. We will try them all and invent some new ones on Bliss in October!! 

It’s a shame because there are some things about Princess which are definitely superior to NCL - coffee quality, bed comfort, MDR food, and the Ocean Medallion wearable tech top the list. Oh well. 

[Wink87]

Watching the bridge cam. The seas are like glass into the glaciers. How nice!

[aubreyc1988]

OK here for a recap! Cruise Critic will not work on my browsers on my phone, plus the internet on the ship has not been great

 

Yesterday was Icy Strait Point. We walked to Hoonah and back, checked out the small town there, talked to a local artist making a commissioned Totem for the city.  I sort of wish we would have done an excursion, but everything was pretty expensive so it is what it is. 

 

Today is Glacier Bay, which has been beautiful! We saw a few small calving, but nothing like what I saw in 2019. Great weather, a bit cold but dry the most part. Went to take a nap, when I opened my eyes and looked out the balcony I saw a ORCA and about lost my mind trying to get out to my balcony to look at it. Very cool!

 

We have ONDA tonight, very excited for it!

 

 

[aubreyc1988]

23 hours ago, FlGoodShips said:

Aubrey, could you post officers on board?

Thank you. 

Have fun🍸

I will go look for that onboard tonight, so look for it later tonight