Canadian World Traveller Winter 2019-20 Issue

After wrangling busy airport line-ups and
transfers nothing hits the spot like a sumptuous
lunch and cool drink. The self-serve
Garden Café offers a mouth-watering selection
that pleases all palates from tasty barbeque
dishes to vegan and vegetarian
options. The well-stocked bar provides cocktails
for every taste and the knowledgeable
staff are happy to advise baffled passengers
spoiled for choice. No shipboard buffet
would be complete without an ocean-themed
spread, this pescatarian overwhelmed with
the choice of giant tiger shrimp, calamari
and juicy salmon steaks. Dinner options offer
specialty dining including the award-winning
Onda by Scarpetta, Mediterranean charm
and classic elegance all round. For lovers of
Art Deco and the choice of modern and classic
dishes, the Manhattan Room offers delicious
fare with distinguished presentation, the
high ceilings and retro décor evoking 1920s
decadence.
After a short apres-dejeuner nap it was time
to explore. The Encore offers diverse entertainment
and recreation including the aforementioned
go karts, laser tag and a virtual
reality experience at the Galaxy Pavilion. As a
transit user who doesn’t drive I couldn’t wait
to try my hand at go karting which is a popular
choice requiring early booking. As the
staff helped me into my cart I started to lose
my nerve and felt slightly claustrophobic
when they snapped on the helmet; that said I
was happy to experience the unusual sensation
of whizzing around sharp bends with the
ocean in the background.
For younger guests the Encore provides a
children’s aqua park and for the older set,
the Entourage teen club where music, video
games and movies provide an alternative to
hanging out with the parents. Early years
coordinators assist parents with the youngest
guests at Guppies, sensory activities and toy
time providing self-guided play. Grown ups
can bust a move at the Pulse Fitness Centre
or unwind in the Spa, hot stone massage and
a relaxing steam room just a few of the pampering
options on offer.
A relaxing vacation wouldn’t be complete
without the first brew of the day. I was
cheered to see an actual Starbucks onboard
with the usual selection and even some winter-themed
drinks on offer (think
Gingerbread Latte). Be warned though, the
lineups are ridiculously long and the staterooms
have a coffee maker handy for the
queue-averse. For a post-dinner beverage
pick your poison; rum-lovers will gravitate
towards the Sugarcane Mojito Bar where I
highly recommend the Jalapeno Mojito. For a
more vintage experience the Cellars Wine
Bar and its resident sommelier is an educational
experience whether you favour a beefy
Merlot or flirty rose. My favourite was the
Mixx Bar where the experienced mixologists
provides happy Canadians with a first class
Bloody Caesar!
When traveling to warmer climes it makes
sense to stay hydrated and a major initiative
for the Encore is the elimination of plastic
water bottles with the aim to be plastic free by
Jan 1 2020 with its new plant-based cartons
courtesy of JUST Inc. With the temperatures
reaching the high 70s it made sense to stock
up for our day trip to Great Stirrup Cay, NCLs
private island. Part of the Berry Islands,
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GSC is a former military base that’s
customised for guests of the cruise
line, its meals and drinks included. As we disembarked
from the short tender we were
overwhelmed with the smell of bbq beach
fare, fresh ocean air and the fragrance of
lush tropical blooms. Sun loungers are plentiful,
towels preplaced on each and a variety
of watersports are available including parasailing,
stand up paddling and for the more
timid, floating sunbeds.
For the savvy souvenir shopper check out the
Berry Market where you can hunt down
colourful garments and shell jewellery; I even
got a speedy hairdo courtesy of local stylists.
Although the traditional braids feel a bit like
a bargain facelift they’re the perfect do for a
hot day in the islands and last for a few
weeks. NCL also runs several daily excursions
to Treasure Island to see the famous
Bahamian swimming pigs; due to the popularity
of this tour book early. Also be aware
that the island vendors only take US dollars
and there is no debit or credit available.
After a languid day of sea, sun and sand we
return to the ship to freshen up for dinner,
cocktails and a show. Evening entertainment
is hard to pick; do we rock along to the Tony
Award-winning show “Kinky Boots” or sing
along with “The Choir of Man?” Maybe an
intimate evening with a Beatles cover band in
the cozy Cavern bar or some stand up comedy
at The Social Club? The Encore has it all
so we finally enjoyed the antics of the rabblerousing
reprobates of “The Choir of Man”
and their energetic cover versions of beloved
popular songs set in an Irish pub.
Cruise life isn’t for everyone; if it’s a quiet getaway
you seek the amount of on-board
amenities can be overwhelming and the size
of the Encore alone can be confusing. That
said, where else can you access 5-star dining,
luxury shopping, VIP spa treatment,
Broadway-calibre shows and the opportunity
to swim with pigs on Treasure Island? Many
of us are seeking a break from real life where
we can recharge and regenerate and pack as
much as we can into a vacation. In this, the
Encore delivers.
www.ncl.com
Canadian World Traveller Winter 2019-20