Help me decide a ship

[uttu]

I am new to NCL and looking on a cruise soon. Mostly been on CCL in past.

 

Which of these ships is more popular and worth going? Itinerary does not matter. Trying to use a Free cruise voucher from land based casino. I mostly like newer ships so narrowed down to these.

 

Breakaway

Escape

Encore

Joy

 

Thanks for any help!

[complawyer]

if youre just looking for a ship, and dont care about the ports, i understand both the encore and its sister ship bliss, are amazing. dont know personally aboutthe encore, but w were on the bliss 2 years ago to alaska, and i was a beautiful ship. the observation lounge was phenomenal. 

[hallux]

I'm not sure why the Bliss was excluded from that list, unless the coupon doesn't allow use on a cruise on that ship.  I'm just off my 3rd cruise on her, I think NCL hit it out of the park with that ship.  The Escape may be my next choice.

[Daruma]

20 minutes ago, hallux said:

I'm not sure why the Bliss was excluded from that list, unless the coupon doesn't allow use on a cruise on that ship.  I'm just off my 3rd cruise on her, I think NCL hit it out of the park with that ship.  The Escape may be my next choice.

 

Just curious, and this may help the OP too... 

 

What puts the Bliss above the Escape in your mind? 

 

I'm on the Escape 4/13/25.

[hallux]

7 minutes ago, Daruma said:

What puts the Bliss above the Escape in your mind?

They're nearly equals, but the observation lounge gives the Bliss a slight edge.  On a warm-weather itinerary the Escape is an excellent ship, though.

[uttu]

Thank you for the replies so far. I excluded Bliss as I did not want to fly to west coast from East coast.

[skeeter195]

Encore, Bliss and Joy all basically the same.  The Escape used to be our favorite but now it is the Encore or Joy.  the reason for this is that there is a separate small enclosed smoking section of the casino.  No more permeating smoke leaking out to decks 6,7 and 8.  All of the smoke is enclosed into a 30'x40' space.  

[hallux]

43 minutes ago, skeeter195 said:

the reason for this is that there is a separate small enclosed smoking section of the casino

The Bliss has this also...

[RushFan]

Bliss then Encore then Escape.   You will be happy with any of them..  Joy is supposed to be upgraded to near Bliss and I am checking that one out next week.  Upgrade to Haven if you can, we love it.

[IAcruising]

Unlikely you will hear many suggesting the Breakaway over the others on your list. Mostly because the other 3 are enhanced/better versions of the Breakaway.

 

The Escape doesn't have an Observation Lounge but is the most smoker friendly. Larger outside areas without a horrible impact on non-smokers.

 

The Encore doesn't have SpiceH2O but has the largest Vibe Beach Club.

 

The Joy has both, but the latest refurb has removed about 1/3 of the Observation Lounge.

 

Personally, I don't think you'd be disappointed with any of those 3. I can't speak for the Breakaway since I've never been on her.

 

 

 

[IAcruising]

17 minutes ago, hallux said:

The Bliss has this also...

 

3 minutes ago, RushFan said:

Bliss then Encore then Escape.

 

Bliss isn't on the list.

 

[hallux]

9 minutes ago, IAcruising said:

 

 

Bliss isn't on the list.

 

I'm aware, that reply was merely pointing out the omission of the Bliss from the list of those with the enclosed smoking area in the casino.  If you read my previous replies you'll note that I was aware of the Bliss not being on the OP's list as I questioned that omission...

[n4w]

2 hours ago, uttu said:

Thank you for the replies so far. I excluded Bliss as I did not want to fly to west coast from East coast.

I was going to suggest something similar, let your other dollars decide (port fees & taxes, hotel and travel expenses, etc.)  Other people's opinions are theirs, only you can decide for yourself - so at this point, all things are fairly equal.  Consider how the total dollars stack up.  

Edited February 14 by n4w

[IAcruising]

8 minutes ago, hallux said:

If you read my previous replies you'll note that I was aware of the Bliss not being on the OP's list as I questioned that omission...

 

I know. I quoted you by mistake and didn't delete it. My bad.

 

[drumming cruisers]

I know Bliss wasn't on your list, but it's our favorite. Then Encore, and Breakaway. 

We didn't like Joy, not exactly sure why, just a weird vibe. Crew was nice etc, 

[nhtravels]

We've done the Encore, Bliss, Joy and Escape.  (Noting that OP has excluded the Bliss as a West Coast itinerary).

 

Love the Encore and the Joy (and would do the Escape as the 3rd choice) as we enjoy casino time and floors 6,7 and 8 does have a residual smoke issue without having the enclosed smoking casino that the others offer).  The staff on the Joy are some of our favorite of all!

[bluesea777]

We’ve been on all 4 …

 

As we’re retired, we edge toward the Joy, Escape, Breakaway, Encore in this order … we go for aft Spice H2O, Obs Lounge. 
 

We do not care for the Galaxy Pavilion or Laser Tag or Go Karts. 
 

 

[LloydJr]

10 hours ago, hallux said:

They're nearly equals, but the observation lounge gives the Bliss a slight edge.

"Slight" edge?  🤣

[bortman23]

12 hours ago, uttu said:

Breakaway

Escape

Encore

Joy

 

Of these I would suggest the Encore or the Joy. Both have the forward observation lounge that is really nice to have on this class of ship.

 

Joy also has the Spice H2O which is a great space for warm weather cruises.

[dexddd]

Not Breakaway.

[Russiamomm]

I would choose the Joy.  Maybe I’m biased because both times I was on her I was in the Haven, but it’s my favorite NCL ship.  As others have stated, it has both an Observation Lounge and Spice H2O.  It came out of drydock this week and will have a thermal spa in the very near future.  That was the one thing missing on the Joy that I missed.

[Langham1865]

I wish the OP would let us know what makes a ship for them, so we can better recommend which chip may fit their cruising style.  I know many people enjoy the observation lounges.  For me though, when we are talking about enjoying what a ship has to offer, I like the Escape best.  It has the district brewhouse, which Breakaway doesn't have.  I also enjoy the dueling pianos at Howl at the Moon in the evenings, which Joy and Encore do not have.  And I can always relax on the Waterfront, weather permitting.  That said, the ship has never ruined a cruise... but it can enhance them.

[Langham1865]

Also, I know someone will correct me, didn't Joy just come out of drydock?  I do not know how that impacts the observation lounge in relation to the Encore.  If the observation lounge is a factor, I am sure someone here will pipe in with the differences between their lounges.

[wolft927]

My Favorite so fat was the Joy, been on the Escape and Breakaway as well. Joy's SPice H2O has much more covered bar area then the escape. Either way as long as I am on a ship I am happy. 

[hallux]

53 minutes ago, Langham1865 said:

I do not know how that impacts the observation lounge in relation to the Encore

The Joy lost 1/3 of the OL.  With as popular as it is it seems quite controversial to remove part of it.