Norwegian Encore
{{Short description|Ship of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
| infobox caption = Norwegian Encore | display title = ital }} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = NCLEncoreJuneau.jpg | Ship caption = Norwegian Encore approaching Juneau, 2022 }} {{Infobox ship career | Ship country = Bahamas | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Bahamas|civil}} | Ship name = Norwegian Encore | Ship owner = Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings | Ship operator = Norwegian Cruise Line | Ship registry = Nassau, {{flag|Bahamas|civil}} | Ship builder = *Meyer Werft | Ship original cost = US$1 billion{{cite web |url= https://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/cruise-ship-review-ncl-norwegian-encore/ |title= NCL Raises the Curtain for New Ship Norwegian Encore |date= 2 November 2019 |accessdate=30 November 2019}} | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = 28 November 2018 | Ship launched = 17 August 2019 | Ship completed = 30 October 2019 | Ship christened = 21 November 2019 | Ship sponsor = Kelly Clarkson | Ship acquired = 30 October 2019 | Ship maiden voyage = 2 November 2019 | Ship in service = 2019–present | Ship out of service = | Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|9751511}}
| Ship status = In Service | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Ship class = Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship | Ship tonnage = *{{GT|169,116}}{{DNV|name=Norwegian Encore|id=33558|accessdate=30 October 2019}}
| Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|333.44|m|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = *{{convert|48.13|m|abbr=on}} (max) | Ship height = 217 ft (66 m) | Ship draught = {{convert|8.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = {{convert|11.6|m|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship decks = *16 passenger decks
| Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship sail plan = | Ship power = *2 × MAN B&W 14V48/60CR | Ship propulsion = | Ship speed = {{convert|22.5|kn|km/h|0}} (cruising) | Ship capacity = 3,998 lower beds | Ship crew = 2,100 | Ship notes = Hull art designed by Eduardo Arranz-Bravo{{cite news |url= https://www.ncl.com/il/en/press-releases/norwegian-encore-hull-artwork-unveiled |title= Norwegian Encore Hull Artwork Unveiled |date= 11 September 2018 |accessdate=6 May 2020}} }} |
Norwegian Encore is a Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). She is the fourth Breakaway Plus-class ship in the fleet, following sister ships Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Escape, and Norwegian Joy, and debuted in November 2019.{{Cite news | url=https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/norwegian-cruise-line-debuts-its-newest-ship-the-norwegian-encore-in-ny.html | title=Norwegian Cruise Line Debuts Its Newest Ship, The Norwegian Encore in NY | last=Hakimi | first=Soheila | work=TravelPulse | date=November 14, 2019}}
History
= Construction and delivery =
File:Norwegian Encore (3).jpg, 2019]]
== Planning and construction ==
On 14 July 2014, NCL announced that it had reached an agreement with Meyer Werft for a €1.6 billion order of two new Breakaway Plus-class ships, scheduled for delivery in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Each ship was initially estimated to be approximately {{GT|164600}} and have 4,200 passenger berths.{{Cite news|date=14 July 2014|title=Norwegian Cruise Line Orders Two New Ships|work=Meyer Werft|url=https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/press/press_detail/norwegian_cruise_line_orders_two_new_ships.jsp}}
In February 2017, it was announced that the ship scheduled for delivery in 2019 would be designed for the Chinese market, much like her sister ship, Norwegian Joy.{{cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/16455-norwegian-to-design-2019-newbuild-for-china.html|title=Norwegian to Design 2019 Newbuild for China - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News|website=cruiseindustrynews.com|date=22 February 2017|accessdate=4 February 2018}} However, in January 2018, it was later announced that the ship would instead be designed for the Western market like her other sister ship, Norwegian Bliss.{{cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/18469-norwegian-encore-will-debut-in-2019-in-miami-not-china.html|title=Norwegian Encore Will Debut in 2019 in Miami, not China - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News|website=cruiseindustrynews.com|date=31 January 2018|accessdate=4 February 2018}}
Construction started with the ship's steel cutting on 31 January 2018, the day her name was also announced as Norwegian Encore.{{Cite web|url=http://www.meyerwerft.de/en/meyerwerft_de/medien/presseticker/pressemitteilung_detail_27840.jsp|title=Steel cutting for Norwegian Encore|website=www.meyerwerft.de|language=en|access-date=2018-03-02}} Her keel-laying ceremony was performed on 28 November 2018, accompanied by a performance from the musical Kinky Boots.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/norwegian-encore-keel-laying-gets-a-kinky-boots-kick/|title=Norwegian Encore keel-laying gets a 'Kinky Boots' kick|date=2018-11-28|website=Seatrade Cruise News|access-date=2019-09-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/meyerwerft_de/medien/presseticker/pressemitteilung_detail_30401.jsp|title=Keel laying ceremony for the Norwegian Encore|date=28 November 2018|website=meyerwerft.de|publisher=Meyer Werft|access-date=6 December 2018}}
Norwegian Encore
== Delivery and christening ==
Norwegian Encore was delivered to NCL on 30 October 2019 in Bremerhaven.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21829-norwegian-takes-encore-delivery.html|title=Norwegian Takes Encore Delivery|last=Staff|first=C. I. N.|date=2019-10-30|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-10-30}} The ship was the 14th and last ship that Meyer Werft has built for NCL.{{Cite web |last=Nachrichten |first=Kieler |date=2019-09-30 |title=Fotostrecke: Meyer Werft baut 14. Schiff für Norwegian Cruise Line |url=https://www.kn-online.de/wirtschaft/fotostrecke-meyer-werft-baut-14-schiff-fuer-norwegian-cruise-line-EZJG6OAQY53YZPXLWKMU3D66FM.html |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=www.kn-online.de |language=de}}
Andy Stuart, then-president and CEO of NCL, announced on The Kelly Clarkson Show on 10 September 2019 that Kelly Clarkson would be the godmother to Norwegian Encore.{{Cite news | url=https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/norwegian-names-kelly-clarkson-as-godmother-of-norwegian-encore.html | title=Norwegian Names Kelly Clarkson as Godmother of Norwegian Encore | first=JANEEN | last=CHRISTOFF | work=TravelPulse | date=September 10, 2019}} Clarkson performed at the christening ceremony and officially named the vessel on 21 November 2019 in Miami{{Cite web|url=https://www.local10.com/news/2019/11/22/norwegian-encore-christened-with-champagne-and-celebration/|title=Norwegian Encore christened with champagne and celebration|website=WPLG|date=22 November 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-11-22}} prior to the ship's debut in the Caribbean on 24 November.
= Deployments and operational career =
For her inaugural season, Norwegian Encore held different preview events in Europe, with a preview cruise from Bremerhaven to Southampton, before her inaugural voyage, an 8-day transatlantic sailing between Southampton and New York. The ship held different preview events in New York and Miami upon her arrival in North America, prior to her christening and debut. Following her debut in Miami, her deployment covered the Eastern Caribbean through the rest of her inaugural season.{{Cite web|title=Florida-bound Norwegian Encore gets first taste of water|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/florida-cruise-guide/os-tr-cru-norwegian-encore-float-out-20190819-yzchcpd44fc2hisot64ulmgz7m-story.html|last=Tribou|first=Richard|website=orlandosentinel.com|access-date=2019-09-13}}
Norwegian Encore was scheduled to homeport in New York in summer 2020 to sail to Bermuda, the Maritimes, and New England, before moving back to Miami in winter 2020 to cruise the Western Caribbean. In spring 2021, she was expected to make her first full Panama Canal transit to be deployed to Seattle for her first summer Alaska season.
However, in March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, NCL suspended all sailings. After the last passengers had disembarked from Norwegian Encore following this suspension, it was reported that several crew members had become sick and one who had already disembarked was later diagnosed with the coronavirus.{{Cite news|last=Dolven|first=Taylor|date=29 March 2020|title=Crew are stuck on Miami cruise ships with COVID-19 spreading. Some aren't being paid.|work=Miami Herald|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article241500941.html|access-date=6 May 2020}}{{Cite news|last1=Teproff|first1=Carli|last2=Dolven|first2=Taylor|date=31 March 2020|title=Norwegian Encore crew member who disembarked a week ago tests positive for COVID-19|work=Miami Herald|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article241667916.html|access-date=6 May 2020}} By early October 2020, the Norwegian Encore was reported at anchor in Weymouth Bay, off the south coast of England. On 18 October, she arrived at the Port of Southampton, where she docked alongside the City Cruise Terminal.{{cite news |url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/18786803.weymouth-portland-welcomes-cruise-ships-norwegian-bliss-encore/ |title=Weymouth and Portland welcomes cruise ships Norwegian Bliss and Encore |work=Dorset Echo |first=Martin |last=Lea |date=12 October 2020 |accessdate=26 October 2020}}{{cite web |url=http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Vessels_Alongside/ |title=Vessels Alongside |publisher=ABP Southampton |accessdate=26 October 2020}}
Design and specifications
Norwegian Encore has an overall length of {{convert|333.5|m|abbr=on}}, moulded beam {{convert|41.50|m|abbr=on}} and maximum draft {{convert|9.00|m|abbr=on}}. The ship has gross tonnage of {{GT|169,116}} and deadweight of {{DWT|11,700}}. Norwegian Encore has 20 decks, 2,043 staterooms and capacity for 4,004 passengers at double occupancy.{{cite web|url=https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/ships/norwegian_encore.jsp|website=meyerwerft.de|title=Norwegian Encore|accessdate=3 March 2020}}
Norwegian Encore has five main engines with total output power of {{convert|102900|hp|MW|abbr=on}}. The vessel has two MAN B&W 14V48/60CR, each with power of {{convert|22520|hp|MW|abbr=on}} and three MAN B&W 12V48/60CR, each with power of {{convert|19300|hp|MW|abbr=on}}. The propulsion system is two ABB Azipod XO units with total power of 40 MW, which allows service speed of 22.5 kts, while the maximum speed during trials exceeds 25.0 kts.{{cite web|url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/norwegian-encore-hull-art-unveiled|title=Norwegian Encore Hull Art Unveiled|date=11 September 2018|access-date=3 March 2020|publisher=The Maritime Executive}} The engines are equipped with scrubbers and a heat recovery system for improved energy efficiency.{{cite press release|url=http://www.meyerwerft.de/en/meyerwerft_de/medien/presseticker/pressemitteilung_detail_23686.jsp|title=Steel cutting for Norwegian Bliss|date=28 October 2016|access-date=25 April 2017|publisher=Meyer Werft}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{official website}}
{{Breakaway class}}
{{Norwegian Cruise Line}}