In early December 2024, the Norwegian Encore, operated by the American Norwegian Cruise Line, will be transferred from Southampton to Miami. Currently, you can book this transatlantic crossing at particularly favourable prices. For 12 nights in a “suite” (basically a glorified slightly larger balcony cabin with no extra benefits), you’ll pay only €929 per person. Normal balcony cabins are available for €883 per person. A highlight, however, is that there is almost no surcharge for solo travellers (except for these “suites”). Each passenger can have an inside/outside/balcony cabin for himself at nearly the same price, e.g. a balcony cabin for only €896.
The mentioned prices include all meals in the main and buffet restaurants, as well as coffee and tea during main meals.
Norwegian Cruise Line will automatically charge a gratuity of $20 per person per day to your onboard account. You can adjust or remove this amount at the reception if you disagree with it.
Route
The cruise starts in Southampton, located in the south of England – the most important departure port for cruise ships in the UK. The Norwegian Encore will first take you to Vigo. This city in the northwest of Spain is only about 30 kilometres away from the Portuguese border and has one of the largest fishing ports in Spain.
The next day, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. After that, Ponta Delgada in the Azores is on the itinerary. A stroll along the harbour promenade or the marina is highly recommended here. You will then enjoy six days at sea, crossing the Atlantic before the Norwegian Encore reaches its final destination, Miami, Florida, after 12 nights.
Here’s the detailed itinerary:
| Date | Location | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 3 | Southampton | 16:00 | |
| December 4 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| December 5 | Vigo, Spain | 09:00 | 18:00 |
| December 6 | Lisbon, Portugal | 09:00 | 18:00 |
| December 7 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| December 8 | Ponta Delgada on São Miguel | 11:30 | 19:30 |
| December 9 – 14 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| December 15 | Miami | 07:00 |
The Ship
The Norwegian Encore was built in 2019 and measures 334 meters in length with a width of 41 meters. The ship accommodates nearly 4,000 passengers and up to 1,735 crew members. It was constructed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg and is one of the largest ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. Along with its sister ships, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Joy, and Norwegian Escape, it belongs to the Breakaway-Plus class.
The ship offers an extensive entertainment program, including Broadway productions, various musicals, and shows in the onboard theatre. There is also an Observation Lounge, providing impressive views of the ocean or passing landscapes. Other highlights include a two-level go-kart track, a Laser Tag arena, a water park with various slides, and a Virtual Reality complex.
The Norwegian Encore has suitable cabins for all target groups. For the needs of solo travellers, special studio cabins have been developed, which also provide access to the Studio Lounge where you can meet other solo travellers. Even the most discerning guests will find something to suit them on board, as the exclusive area The Haven by Norwegian has been created for these customers. This area consists of spacious suites located on the ship’s upper decks.
The onboard language is English, so basic knowledge of English is definitely helpful. The onboard currency is the US dollar, and you can settle your onboard expenses at the end of the cruise either in cash or with major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard).
Flights
As you’re only crossing the Atlantic in one direction on this cruise, you’ll probably need a flight in the other direction, either before or after the cruise. Here are some examples of what transatlantic one-way flights currently cost on the cheapest routes we could find, including luggage:
Before the cruise:
- Newark – Paris: $179 with French bee
- New York – Paris: $207 with Norse
- New York – London Gatwick: $232 with Norse
After the cruise:
- Boston – Reykjavik: €214 with Play
- Orlando – London Gatwick: €233 with Norse
- Miami – Madrid: €403 with TAP
Feel free to use our search form to see how much flights from/to your home town would cost:
Cover Picture: © Norwegian Cruise Line