Norwegian Encore Celebrates Five Years of Service

The Norwegian Encore just completed her fifth year of service, having been delivered to Norwegian Cruise Line on October 30, 2019.

Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany produced the vessel, which is the fourth and last ship of the company’s Breakaway Plus class.

After a series of pre-inaugural festivities and a trans-Atlantic trip, the Norwegian Encore was christened in Miami on November 20, 2019.

Kelly Clarkson, the ship’s godmother as well as a singer and television host, performed live at the naming ceremony.

On November 24, 2019, the Norwegian Encore set sail for its maiden voyage to the Eastern Caribbean, offering a seven-night itinerary.

The itinerary, which sailed roundtrip from Port Miami, included stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, and Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

As part of its maiden season, the Norwegian Encore continues to provide week-long cruises to the Western Caribbean until mid-March 2020.

The ship, like the rest of the cruise industry, went on an operating pause due to the pandemic before returning to service in August 2021 for its debut season in Alaska.

The ship later made appearances in other locations, including the Mexican Riviera, the Panama Canal, and the United States Northeast.

The Norwegian Encore recently drydocked in France and underwent a series of public area improvements before welcoming guests back in early December.

One of the most important changes was the addition of Spice H2O, an adults-only complimentary sun deck that will replace the ship’s laser tag area.

Other upgrades include the enlargement of two of Norwegian’s most popular dining locations, Cagney’s Steakhouse and Teppanyaki, as well as the addition of 24 new cabins in the vessel’s Observation Lounge.

After spending the winter of 2024-25 in the Caribbean, the Norwegian Encore will return to Alaska for the ensuing summer.