Being that this is a food blog first, I must address the restaurant situation on board the Encore, because it is truly impressive! I think part of my hesitation for going on a cruise previously was concern over the food quality or predetermined times for eating. Any of those trepidations were erased from the moment I had my first bite of food on board The Norwegian Joy in April and reinforced aboard The Encore. The ship boasts 20 options in all, including 9 that are considered specialty eateries, as well as the full-service Starbucks and dessert shops. We had the chance to visit three of the specialty restaurants for dinner, as well as a sampling of several of them at a specially curated lunch, so I'll do my best to give you the highlights!
The specialty restaurants employ a la carte pricing, or you can book the "Free at Sea" promotion and select free specialty dining as one of your options. All of Norwegian's cruises are also considered "freestyle cruising," which means you can pretty much dine whenever and wherever you want (though reservations are recommended for the more popular restaurants... four of them highlighted below.)
Onda: Brand new (and currently exclusive) to the Norwegian Encore is Onda, by Scarpetta. Onda means "wave" in Italian, and this is an experience not to be missed. The Scarpetta brand has several locations across the U.S., has been nominated for a James Beard award and received a 3-star rating from the New York Times.
We ordered a little of everything from ricotta-stuffed pizza, octopus, short ribs with farro, and of course, several of their signature pastas. I ordered the bolognese pappardelle, while Justin got the short rib ravioli. We quickly devoured both and agreed this was our favorite meal of the trip by far. If you like dessert, definitely save room for the tiramisu and chocolate cake. Onda also features waterfront dining.
Food Republic: Food Republic is like a mini trip around the world with a view of the water as you dine. The restaurant is a collaboration with the Pubbelly Restaurant Group out of Miami, which is helmed by 5-time James Beard Award nominee Jose Mendin, so it comes as no surprise this is one of the more popular NCL restaurants. The tapas offerings at Food Republic span cuisines from Japan, China, and even Peru. You can also find Food Republic on the Norwegian Joy, the Bliss and the Escape.
Q Texas Smokehouse: I would classify myself as somewhat of a BBQ aficionado (I even judged a recent brisket competition back in NYC), so I was both excited and skeptical about a Texas Barbecue restaurant aboard a cruise ship. But again, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of food available at Q. The atmosphere is very Southern down-home rustic, with large wooden tables, antique looking knick knacks adorning the booths and a stage for music. It's also offered on the Joy and Bliss and is the company's first BBQ concept restaurant.
If you want a good sampling of all of the different smoked meats, go for the Pitmaster Platter, which comes with brisket, spare ribs, chicken and jalapeño cornbread. However, all of the meats are also available as single portions. Make sure to save room for starters and sides, as this menu had several standouts in that department. We quickly devoured the deviled eggs topped with maple bacon, the wavy cheese fries, charcuterie platter and fried okra. The restaurant also features live music and dancing available to all cruise goers each night until midnight. (And make sure you try the smoked peach margarita!)
Other dining options:
Cagney's is one of the Hallmarks of Norwegian Cruise Lines, and you will find a version of it on each ship of the company's fleet. Ocean Blue is the ship's premiere seafood spot if you are more of a Pescatarian or just a seafood lover in general. This ship also features Teppanyaki, Mexican, French and plenty of dessert stands.
If you do not opt for the specialty dining package, you still have plenty of options, including the Garden Cafe, where we ate most of our breakfasts and lunches. There are also several bars and lounges to help you unwind at night, including a whiskey bar, wine bar, and mojito bar! For your caffeine fix, there are several Starbucks coffee stands on board.