By: Hailey Kanipe, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
I recently had an opportunity to sail aboard the Norwegian Encore for a “Seminar at Sea.” A “Seminar at Sea” is an experience put on by Norwegian Cruise Line’s Business Development Managers so that travel agents can become familiar with Norwegian’s cruise ships, ship features, and product offerings. During my recent sailing experience, I was tasked with paying particular attention to features and activities aboard the ship designed specifically for young people. Spoiler alert – there were so many to discover!!
The Norwegian Encore was built with young people in mind. The Encore boasts the largest go-kart track at sea, spanning over 1,100 feet of track. While this activity is not included in the cost of the cruise, adults and children can ride for just $15 per person per ride, or ride as much as you want for the duration of your cruise for a set cost. The Encore also includes an area called the Galaxy Pavilion. For an additional cost, cruisers can immerse themselves in many different virtual reality racing games, mazes, puzzles, and escape rooms. Have you ever played laser tag on a cruise ship? The Norwegian Encore has a huge open-air laser tag arena with Greek and Nordic themes. Hide behind the tail of a serpent and blast your friends, or stand under the fallen Greek pillars to take cover from the enemy. This experience costs $9.95 per person per game.
Ready to splash around and have fun? The Norwegian Encore has a Kids’ Aqua Park complete with water cannons, slides, and tipping buckets. This area is separate from the two large pools and two multi-story waterslides on the lido deck, which are referred to collectively as the “Aqua Park.” The Aqua Racer is a tandem tube slide where you and a partner ride an inner tube down several stories in anticipation of the BIG splash at the end! Ocean Loops is another slide onboard the Encore, although it is not for the faint of heart!! This partially clear tube slide extends over the side of the cruise ship and makes two big loops as you fly downward toward the end of the slide. Both the Aqua Park and Kids’ Aqua Park are accessible to cruise guests at no additional cost.
The Norwegian Encore also has several clubs for young people to enjoy if they’d like to give their parents a break and hang out with their new friends. The Guppies Nursery is for parents and their children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years old. Parents can bring their child to enjoy self-guided play, sensory activities, and toy time led by an Early Years Coordinator. Splash Academy is a youth area for kids aged 3 years to 12 years old. Parents can drop their children off at Splash Academy with Norwegian’s youth staff members to enjoy creative activities, sports competitions, and age-appropriate parties just for kids! Lastly, the Entourage Teen Club is a space dedicated specifically for 13 to 17 year olds to meet and have fun while cruising. This space includes art, movies, arcade games, video games, and scheduled dance parties for teens to enjoy while being supervised by Norwegian’s youth staff members. Youth club availability and activities may be limited due to COVID-19.
Besides physical spaces onboard the Norwegian Encore, there are plenty of fun activities and excursion opportunities that are perfect for young people! Play bingo as a family, enjoy family-friendly karaoke hours, visit the candy store and gelato shop for a sweet treat, or participate in family-friendly deck parties while onboard the ship. In the cruise ports, enjoy excursions like swimming with pigs, snorkeling, zip-lining and mini golf in Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, or swimming with the dolphins at Ocean World in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
Whether your family is the rest and relax type or the type that fills every day with fun and activities, there is so much to do together while onboard the Norwegian Encore. For more information about this ship, visit https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/encore.
Please reach out to Hailey, an agent with Marvelous Mouse Travels to plan your next vacation or you may contact Marvelous Mouse Travels.
