MIAMI — Norwegian Cruise Line has taken delivery of its newest ship, Norwegian Encore, kickstarting a month-long tour of preview events on both sides of the Atlantic.
In a ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany on Oct. 30, Norwegian Cruise Line’s president and CEO, Andy Stuart, officially welcomed the company’s 17th ship and commemorated the close of NCL’s history-making Breakaway Plus class.
“Our dedication to creating next-level offerings onboard will allow us to continue to deliver meaningful experiences for our guests when Norwegian Encore arrives home in Miami,” he said.
The next month will see the ship make scheduled preview stops in Europe, New York and Miami, including its official naming ceremony on Nov. 21. It departs today from Bremerhaven to Southampton, England for a two-day voyage, after which it will commence its transatlantic sailing to the U.S., arriving in New York on Nov. 10. From there it will sail on to Miami for a series of events, concluding with the christening ceremony that will include a live performance by Godmother Kelly Clarkson.
Norwegian Encore features a wide range of standout attractions, including the world’s longest race tract at sea at 1,100 feet, the largest outdoor laser tag arena at nearly 10,000 square feet, and new immersive escape room and theatre experiences in the 10,000 square-foot Galaxy Pavilion. Other highlights include Onda by Scarpetta, a new elevated Italian dining experience, and the Tony Award-winning musical ‘Kinky Boots’.
As part of a recent partnership with JUST Goods, Inc., Norwegian Encore will also be the first ship in NCL’s fleet to be plastic bottle-free when it debuts. By Jan. 1, 2020, Norwegian Cruise Line will be the first major cruise line to eliminate plastic bottles across its entire fleet.
Launching this fall, Norwegian Encore will offer seven-day voyages to the Eastern Caribbean from Miami beginning Nov. 24; Bermuda, Canada and New England itineraries from New York City beginning April 22, 2020; and voyages to the Western Caribbean from Miami beginning Dec. 12, 2020. In spring 2021, it will make its West Coast debut and sail to Alaska from Seattle.