Norwegian Encore is the youngest and most polished of the Breakaway Plus class, launched in 2019, and she has spent most of her life on the New York–Bermuda run. On the standard seven-night rotation in mid-June, the takeaway is clean: this is the right ship for the route, and the route is one of the most relaxing seven-night cruises currently sold from the East Coast.
The Bermuda Format
The Bermuda itinerary is unusual. The ship sails from New York in the late afternoon, has two full sea days heading southeast, then docks at King's Wharf on Bermuda for three full days and two nights, before returning with two more sea days. Three days in one port — with overnights — is a fundamentally different rhythm than the typical Caribbean rotation, and it works beautifully.
You disembark each morning, explore Bermuda however you wish, and return to the ship for dinner. There's no hurried "all aboard" warning, no scramble to make it back. The result is the most genuinely relaxing Bermuda visit possible without a hotel-based stay.
Cabins
We booked a mid-ship balcony on Deck 13. At 207 square feet plus a 50-square-foot balcony, the cabin is the standard Breakaway Plus size — comfortable for two, tight for three. NCL's bedding remains the standout, with one of the better mass-market mattresses at sea. The bathroom is a walk-in shower (no tub) and is generous in width if compact in length.
The Encore-specific upgrade is the cabin tech — USB-C and USB-A charging at every bedside outlet, a smart thermostat that responds quickly, and a TV interface that doesn't make you want to throw the remote. Small things, but they matter.
Food
NCL's Freestyle dining shines on the Bermuda format because dinner ashore is a real option. We ate ashore in Hamilton on day two and on the dockyard on day three; both were excellent. On board, we used the four-night specialty dining package across Cagney's Steakhouse (excellent), Le Bistro (the best meal on the ship), Teppanyaki (entertaining group meal), and Q Texas Smokehouse (a surprise; the brisket was legitimately good).
The Local Bar & Grill remained the daily lunch refuge — free, fast, and consistently good. Garden Café (buffet) was the standard mass-feeding operation; we ate there once and were satisfied.
The Manhattan Room — Encore's largest main dining room — is genuinely beautiful, with a two-deck atrium and floor-to-ceiling windows on the aft. We ate one MDR dinner there and the food was solidly competent.
Entertainment
Choir of Man — the headline production — is one of the strongest mainstream cruise productions at sea. A pub-set show with twelve singers, real pints poured for the audience, and a script that earns every laugh. Reservations recommended; book on day one.
The Manhattan Music Hall — a small lounge venue — hosts a strong rotating jazz and Latin music program. We ended three evenings there.
The Galaxy Pavilion arcade and the two-deck go-kart track work the same as on Joy: fun, expensive, and worth a visit but not a routine.
Value
Mid-ship balcony for two adults in mid-June, booked four months ahead, came in at $3,640 all in for seven nights including the four-night specialty dining package and basic Wi-Fi. That's $260/night per person — a strong value for the most modern Breakaway Plus ship at peak Bermuda season.
NCL's Free at Sea promotion adds beverage package, specialty dining package, Wi-Fi, and shore excursion credit for a per-cabin add-on. The math depends on your drinking habits and itinerary; for a non-drinker on Bermuda, it's poor value. For a couple who'll consume two or three drinks a day each and use specialty dining, it's excellent value. Read the fine print.
For an alternative North Atlantic Bermuda choice, see our Anthem of the Seas Bermuda review; for the Eastern Mediterranean polish that Norwegian's Breakaway Plus class also delivers, see our Viking Star Mediterranean review.
Bermuda Specifics
Public transit in Bermuda is excellent and cheap — the daily transport pass at $19 covers ferries and buses across the entire island. Use it. Skip the rented two-seat scooters unless you're a confident left-side driver. Horseshoe Bay is the iconic beach but Elbow Beach is quieter and arguably better. Crystal Caves is genuinely impressive. The Royal Naval Dockyard's Maritime Museum is a low-key highlight.
Overall
Encore is NCL's most polished Breakaway Plus ship, on an itinerary that has very few weak days. For East Coast couples who want a real cruise vacation without flying — and want the docked-port format that Bermuda uniquely offers — this is the strongest combination currently sold.
Who It's For
Couples and small families based on the East Coast; first-time NCL guests who want the strongest version of the Breakaway Plus product; travelers who want three days docked in one port with no rushed mornings.
Who It's Not For
Anyone seeking a true warm-weather cruise (the first day out from New York can be cool); cruisers who find Freestyle dining choices fatiguing; travelers who want a less monetized ship experience (NCL upcharges remain pervasive).
Editorial Cross-References
For the broader fleet context and itinerary calendar, see our Norwegian Cruise Line cruise line page. For broader planning context, see our cabin upgrade strategies guide.
