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

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.

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.

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 showcases our commitment to just that,” David Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line, said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

New cabins for Norwegian Encore

Among changes to cabins and suites, Norwegian said Norwegian Encore’s two biggest suites (called Premier Owner’s suites) will be expanded from two-bedroom complexes to three-bedroom complexes.

Norwegian debuted three-bedroom complexes on Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, and Norwegian said there has been strong demand for them. There also are three-bedroom suites on the recently revamped Norwegian Joy.

The Premier Owner’s suites are located in Norwegian Encore’s exclusive The Haven area — a private enclave for suite passengers that is found on a number of Norwegian ships.

In addition to three bedrooms, the revamped Premier Owner’s suites will have three-and-a-half bathrooms, a fully renovated living room and a new separate dining room.

The Haven on Norwegian Encore has a private pool area, restaurant and bar, and it comes with concierge service.

Other changes to cabins include the addition of 24 new balcony cabins and two club balcony cabins.

Norwegian is making room for the new cabins by shrinking the size of the ship’s Observation Lounge.

After the overhaul, Norwegian Encore is scheduled to sail a 12-night transatlantic voyage from Southampton, England, to Miami before transitioning into winter sailings out of Miami to the Caribbean.

The ship’s winter schedule will bring seven-night voyages with stops at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas.

The ship will reposition to Seattle in the spring for a season of sailings to Alaska.

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