In Between our 2023 Alaska cruise and this newest cruising in 2025, Norwegian Encore went through a dry dock in fall 2024. NCL revealed a number of updates at the time, and on this journey, we lastly had the possibility to see them for ourselves.
< img width= "1200"height="628" src= "https://www.tastyitinerary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2024-Dry-Dock-Updates-on-NCL-Encore.webp"alt= "featured blog image: Spice H2O location on Norwegian Encore with loungers and plunge swimming pool, included throughout the ship's 2024 dry dock upgrade."/ > Pin Some of the changes made good sense. Others left us scratching our heads. Why minimize the Observation Lounge on 
a ship built for picturesque schedules like Alaska? Observation Lounge on Deck 15 Pin This area was already a bit tight, and the fall 2024 refurbishment slashed off even more to include new veranda cabins. When we sailed in 2023, it was currently a popular area, and finding a seat might be difficult at peak times.
Now it feels a lot more cramped. Every time we walked through on this
journey, the vibe was tense and overcrowded. We never ever stayed long. We’ve likewise seen a lot of chatter in cruise groups about visitors sleeping over night in the lounge to hold their areas. If that’s still occurring, it would not shock me– there isn’t adequate area for everybody anymore. New Veranda Cabins Added The loss of almost half the Observation Lounge was used to include more balcony cabins. It’s an apparent relocate to increase capacity and revenue, but at the expenditure of among the few public areas designed for picturesque watching. On a ship already loaded during peak Alaska season, this compromise feels short-sighted. When we sailed to Alaska in summer 2023, it was wall-to-wall people at times. I honestly can’t envision squeezing even more passengers onto the ship without making modifications somewhere else. Cutting into the Observation Lounge, of all places, makes the crowding more visible.
Los Lobos Gotten rid of, Cagney’s Expanded
< img width="464" height="600"src ="// www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20width='464'%20height='600'%20viewBox='0%200%20464%20600'%3E%3C/svg%3E"alt="Host stand and entrance to Cagney's Steakhouse on Norwegian Repetition, photographed after the 2024 dry dock. "data-src="https://www.tastyitinerary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cagneys-Steakhouse-on-Norwegian-Encore-2025.webp"/ > Pin Los Lobos was gotten, and Cagney’s was broadened into that space. I was honestly a little unfortunate to see it go.
We ate there on our last cruising and enjoyed it. But from what I’ve seen in cruise groups, it never appeared to be a favorite among numerous other cruisers. I will miss the tableside guacamole. Cagney’s is one of NCL’s most popular specialty dining establishments, so it’s not surprising they picked to provide it more space. Personally, I still want they had actually moved Le Restaurant rather, like it is established on Norwegian Pleasure. It’s still located under the go-kart track, and those strong vibrations eliminate from the total dining experience.
Laser Tag Changed by Spice Water
The laser tag arena is gone, and in its location is Spice water– an adults-only outside area with jacuzzis, loungers, a bar, and plunge swimming pools. With the decrease of space in the Observation Lounge, this feels like NCL’s way of including back some public space. On paper, it’s a good addition.
During our cruising, the area already looked a bit dirty. A few of the furniture was covered in ash, likely from the ship’s smokestack. We saw team cleaning things down, so it’s not being ignored– they simply haven’t determined how to manage the soot yet.
That said, once the soot circumstance is under control and the plunge pools are in fact filled, this might be a terrific spot to relax. On an Alaskan cruise, specifically throughout Glacier Bay, it’s the sort of area that might shine with its breathtaking views.
Haven Library Eliminated
< img width="600 "height =" 450 "src ="// www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20width='600'%20height='450'%20viewBox='0%200%20600%20450'%3E%3C/svg%3E" alt ="Spacious seating area inside The Haven Observation Lounge on Norwegian Encore with floor-to-ceiling windows offering scenic ocean views"data-src =" https://www.tastyitinerary.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/The-Haven-Observation-Lounge-on-Norwegian-Encore.webp "/ > Pin One significant change in The Haven was the elimination of the second-floor library and its connection to the observation lounge. I was aware of this from NCL’s statement, however as a first-time Haven guest, I didn’t discover it immediately. You still have those huge, panoramic two-story windows in the observation lounge, so it feels simply as open. But there’s no upstairs access within the lounge any longer. The upper level that used to house the library is now closed off. The Sanctuary itself is still 2 levels, however this particular area isn’t. If you have actually never ever cruised The Haven on Repetition before, you most likely would not even understand anything’s missing out on.
Sanctuary’s Premier Owner’s Suite Upgraded to 3 Bedrooms
The two-bedroom Premier Owner’s Suite on NCL Repetition was updated to a three-bedroom design and revitalized with brand-new furnishings and revamped living and dining locations. These are The Sanctuary’s the majority of luxurious lodgings, and the updates offer bigger families or groups a bit more versatility.
Palomar Changes Ocean Blue
Ocean Blue was eliminated and replaced with Palomar, NCL’s Mediterranean seafood dining establishment that likewise appears on Prima and Viva. We didn’t eat there this time, however I did take a look at the menu, and truthfully, it didn’t seem all that various from what Ocean Blue used.
Still, if you like seafood, this would most likely be your finest alternative onboard.
Teppanyaki Expansion
Teppanyaki, another popular specialty dining establishment that ought to be scheduled in advance, was expanded during the refurbishment. It now occupies area that previously came from Coco’s, a dessert and sweet shop that served over-the-top milkshakes, crepes, and sundaes. I remembered it being an adorable spot, but it wasn’t consisted of with the cruise fare and was never ever hectic.
Since Teppanyaki is one of NCL’s most in-demand specialized restaurants, it makes sense that they assigned more area to it. It fills quickly, particularly on sea days, so the extra seating must assist minimize a few of the schedule concerns.
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Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise author based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time task and for herself, she’s ended up being a pro at crafting memorable delicious schedules. She’s always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise schedules. She firmly believes that life is brief and we need to maximize it, so constantly state yes to dessert.