Shadowmeboy's 2022 Encore Christmas and New Year's Southern Caribbean Cruise Adventure

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

Rommel Temones - Executive Housekeeper

Sarah Mittelstaedt - Guest Service Manager

Marjan Stamenkovic - Beverage Manager (If I remember right)

Jay Hizon - Restaurant Manager

Praveen Mathias - Executive Chef

Vikanm Mohindra - Assistant Food & Beverage Director (If I remember right)

Charles Fernandes - Food & Beverage Manager (If I remember right)

Nomita Rambhunjan - Assistant General Manager

Deepak Punla - General Manager

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

We headed back to the room to drop off some stuff.

Cruise ship in the distance. Unfortunately, I couldn't tell which one.

We headed to the Cruise Critic Meet & Greet

We talked to Jay again at the Meet & Greet and he asked us where we were eating lunch. We said most likely the MDR or the Local after the the Latitudes party. He said that he was going to make a call and for us to go to American Diner after the Latitudes Party. We were not expecting that and we said thank you!

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

Next up on the circuit was the Latitudes Party!

Officer introductions again!

Interesting enough, we sailed with the Captain back in 2017 on the Escape.

After the Party, we made our way up to American Diner.

Menu

Housemade Mozzarella Sticks

Honey Mustard Chicken Club

Loaded Nachos

Look at Susan's face!

S'more Chocolate Bar

Vanilla Cheesecake

We tried...

shadowmeboy · April 3, 2023

We went and checked out Galaxy Pavilion

Personally, I felt Galaxy Pavilion was a waste of space. I would rather have a Spice H2o.

We headed back to the compass, I mean Sugarcane!

justhappy · April 4, 2023

3 hours ago, shadowmeboy said:

We were really full after Los Lobos! So we did the slow walk forward on the ship.

We both didn't want to go to bed yet since we were so full. So we headed for the DBH to hang for a bit.

It was fairly calm in here tonight. I think it was the fact it was the first night and people wore themselves out on the first day and crashed early. I had a hard cider and Susan got a drink she did not like at all. she literally drank two drinks. This is why I like having the drink package. I can try things without regretting my purchase if I don't like something!

I also like trying new foods on cruises. I fell in love with gnocchi aboard a cruise ship. Would I have bought it in a grocery store and tried it? Would I have taken a chance in a restaurant? probably not on both questions.

Needless to say, we crashed when we got up to the room.

End of Day 1

Sea Day tomorrow!

Beau Tahana on the piano ❤️ I loved him when I was on the Encore in March 2020.

gotscrapz · April 4, 2023

Looking at the pano down the side of the ship and seeing those delicious mini chocolate croissants makes me even more excited for my cruise on her in less than a month! I love the tranquility of sitting on the balcony with coffee and those little croissants and watching the sun on the water...

gotscrapz · April 4, 2023

I have to say I am not a fan of those fabric things over the big light fixture ... from far away maybe, but not a fan lol!

bluesea777 · April 4, 2023

2 hours ago, gotscrapz said:

I have to say I am not a fan of those fabric things over the big light fixture ... from far away maybe, but not a fan lol!

Bubble*rap, right?

Sorry, it is the worst chandelier on any of the BA & BA+ ships! My fave is the Joy’s.

shadowmeboy · April 4, 2023

13 hours ago, justhappy said:

Beau Tahana on the piano ❤️ I loved him when I was on the Encore in March 2020.

I will agree, he was good.

shadowmeboy · April 4, 2023

11 hours ago, gotscrapz said:

Looking at the pano down the side of the ship and seeing those delicious mini chocolate croissants makes me even more excited for my cruise on her in less than a month! I love the tranquility of sitting on the balcony with coffee and those little croissants and watching the sun on the water...

I hope you have a wonderful cruise on her. I am assuming its an Alaska itinerary?

shadowmeboy · April 4, 2023

11 hours ago, gotscrapz said:

I have to say I am not a fan of those fabric things over the big light fixture ... from far away maybe, but not a fan lol!

Understandable

8 hours ago, bluesea777 said:

Bubble*rap, right?

Sorry, it is the worst chandelier on any of the BA & BA+ ships! My fave is the Joy’s.

I honestly like the one on the Bliss the best. I haven't sailed the Joy or Getaway to see those though.

shadowmeboy · April 4, 2023

So we went and got ready for pictures. We did the circuit backwards (deck 8 first then deck 6) since we had reservations at Q.

This young lady was really cute in the photos she did with her family. Her brother did not like it when the two of them were posed together.

This was one of my favorite photos out of our package.

Once we were done with the photos, we headed to Q.

Outside Menu

I couldn't get this photo to edit correctly, so I did it two ways. The top picture, the sign is over exposed while Susan is good, and in the bottom one, the sign is better, but Susan is too dark. I couldn't win on that one.

Dinner menu

Drink menu

I always have loved the red cups. They did such a good job making them look like a red solo cup!

Smoked Peach Margarita

Wet wipes!

We both got the Texas Crab Cakes and the Deviled Eggs

The Nelly Rich Band was playing while we were eating!

Susan got the pulled pork.

I got the brisket. Unfortunately, I was too quick moving the phone and it messed up the exposure in the dark of Q.

shadowmeboy · April 4, 2023

Dessert Menu

Aunt Josie's Mason Jar Banana Pudding - This is my second favorite dessert in a Jar NCL has! You will see my favorite later in this review.

Susan got the Pecan Pie

Our server was awesome! We had her a few other times in other venues.

We headed to the Social for our Comedy Reservation

Tim Homayoon was the Comedian

The chocolate outside Coco's!

Overall it was a very nice Christmas Eve!

shadowmeboy · April 4, 2023

Day 3 - Sea Day

December 25th, 2022 - Christmas Day

Location: Caribbean Sea ESE of Cuba

Merry Christmas!

Daily

A little bit more cloudy today, but still beautiful!

I headed out to my spot!

Beautiful Sunrise!

shadowmeboy · April 4, 2023

Look who finally joined me.

shadowmeboy · April 4, 2023

We headed down to Savor for Christmas Day Breakfast

Susan found a duck under the tree as we went into Savor.

Fruit Salad with, OMG, Cottage Cheese

Strawberry Yogurt Parfait

Open-faced smoked salmon bagel

Mushroom and Ham Omelet

shadowmeboy · April 4, 2023

After breakfast, we headed to the Atrium for the Cupcake Decoration Demonstration!

The chef started out showing how they made the gingerbread houses that were on both displays.

Susan and Mom's house didn't look like that.

The chef then started decorating cupcakes.

Chef makes several fun cupcakes.

He then starts three festive cupcakes.

a Christmas tree

A poinsettia type cupcake

shadowmeboy · April 4, 2023

Hey I know that person! Chef called up volunteers to try making one of the three types of cupcakes. Susan decided to make the tree.

All done!

Here she is with her creation!

A closer look!

The little girl sitting in front of us also got selected.

She did an excellent job.

another look at Susan's

The third victim, I mean volunteer!

We had fun!

Chef brought premade cupcakes so others could have one! So I indulged!

Susan eating the tree!

Real romantic there!

We had to get a picture with "Santa"

shadowmeboy · April 4, 2023

We headed up to the room.

It was a beautiful day to be at Sea!

The main reason why we went up was to allow Susan to get proper shoes on. Also to grab the GoPro gear for the next activity.

It was time for Susan to go to her Speedway reservation

They were running doubles when we got up there.

Check-in line

Double Go Cart

Susan getting ready!

Heading to her cart!

Edited April 4, 2023 by shadowmeboy

shadowmeboy · April 4, 2023

Here they go!

There is Susan

It was super windy up on the deck.

shadowmeboy · April 4, 2023

Look at that smile! She had a blast!

Here is the video from the Speedway!

shadowmeboy · April 4, 2023

We finally burnt of the sugar from the cupcakes and headed to lunch in the MDR.

As we were sitting at lunch, I started talking with the table next to us. We asked where they were from and they said Sammamish, WA. We were shocked. We told them we were from Washington as well, and we got talking. Let's just say we became good friends over the cruise!

Susan had the Nicoise Salad

I had the Spinach Caesar

I also had a Caprese Salad

Susan had the Chicken Parmigiana

I got the BLT Sandwich

I got a Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

Susan got the Raspberry Panna Cotta

Oh look, more display photos!

The figurines are outfitted like the officers!

A lot of work went into these displays!

We ended up going back to the room and got ready for Laser Tag. Since I needed both hands, I couldn't bring my still camera. But we got video! Both of us wore GoPro's! Susan wore a chest mount, and I wore the head mount.