Something big is afoot for the biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ship ever

02.08.2024 - 15:16 / thepointsguy.com

The biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ship at sea is getting a major makeover.

The Miami-based line on Thursday announced that the massive 169,116-ton Norwegian Encore will head to a shipyard in November for a significant overhaul that will include the addition of new cabins and redesigned suites.

Other changes will include the addition of an all-new adult zone on the ship's top deck and the expansion of two of its most popular dining venues.

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At the same time, Norwegian plans to rip out Norwegian Encore's laser tag arena, one of the vessel's signature decktop features.

Unveiled in 2019, Norwegian Encore was celebrated at the time as the biggest Norwegian vessel ever built, and it has continued to hold the title despite Norwegian's recent debut of two news ships — Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.

Both of the newer vessels are significantly smaller than Norwegian Encore.

Norwegian Encore is also bigger than another new vessel, Norwegian Aqua, that Norwegian plans to unveil in 2025 and a sister ship to Norwegian Aqua coming in 2026.

Related: Norwegian Cruise Line ships ranked by size from biggest to smallest — the complete list

Norwegian Encore will enter the shipyard for an overhaul Nov. 18. The work will last until Dec. 2.

The new adult zone planned for the top of the ship will be called Spice H2O, the same name the line uses for adults-only areas found atop several other vessels. But Norwegian on Thursday said the new area would combine elements of not just those SpiceH2O areas but the adults-only Infinity Beach areas atop Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.

The new adult zone, reserved for passengers 18 and older, will have multiple hot tubs, eight large daybeds surrounded by pools and a large bar serving cocktails.

It'll take up the space that until now has been home to the ship's laser tag area.

The two eateries getting an expansion are Cagney's Steakhouse and the Japanese cuisine-serving Teppanyaki. The two outlets will be bigger by taking over the footprint of two other food venues on the ship: the Mexican restaurant Los Lobos on Deck 8 and gelato-serving Coco's on Deck 6. Neither of those venues will be making a comeback on the vessel.

Related: The 9 classes of Norwegian Cruise Line ships, explained

One other food outlet, seafood-focused Ocean Blue, will be converted into one of the Palomar eateries found on some Norwegian ships. It'll serve what Norwegian calls elevated Mediterranean seafood cuisine.

Norwegian suggested the changes are a response to consumer demand.

"Our guests' wants and needs are at the forefront of every decision that we make, and enhancing Norwegian Encore with more of the experiences they value