First time cruising on NCL Encore. I’m joining my family last minute and staying in an inside room. I’ve got a bunch of questions, sorry if I sound too picky.
I need to do some work while on the ship. Any tips on quiet places with tables where I can use my laptop?
How many outlets are there in an inside room? Should I bring something to add more outlets?
I tend to get really hot at night. Is the AC any good?
Since norovirus is going around, I want to be super careful. Does the cabin bathroom have bar soap or liquid soap? And are there enough places on board to wash my hands?
I don’t want to buy the water package. Are there spots to refill a reusable water bottle?
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First time cruising on NCL Encore. I’m joining my family last minute and staying in an inside room. I’ve got a bunch of questions, sorry if I sound too picky.
I need to do some work while on the ship. Any tips on quiet places with tables where I can use my laptop?
How many outlets are there in an inside room? Should I bring something to add more outlets?
I tend to get really hot at night. Is the AC any good?
Since norovirus is going around, I want to be super careful. Does the cabin bathroom have bar soap or liquid soap? And are there enough places on board to wash my hands?
I don’t want to buy the water package. Are there spots to refill a reusable water bottle?
The library or card room is probably your best bet for a quiet spot to work. I haven’t been on the Encore, but other NCL ships I’ve been on have libraries that are more for games than reading. They’re not completely silent but not too noisy either.
In the inside rooms I’ve stayed in on similar ships, there weren’t many outlets, and they were all by the desk area. If you need more, you can get an adapter for the European outlet that adds USB ports. Just make sure it doesn’t have surge protection since those aren’t allowed on the ship.
You’ll find sinks for washing hands at the buffet entrance, and staff will remind you to use them. It’s surprising how many people skip this. Other than that, most handwashing stations are in the public bathrooms. They even have paper towels by the doors so you can avoid touching the handles.
For water, the buffet has dispensers. They ask you to use a clean cup to pour into your bottle instead of directly refilling it. This keeps things more hygienic.
I just did an NCL cruise in the Mediterranean, and I stayed in an inside cabin to save money. The AC worked great, with a good range of temperatures. There were USB outlets in the bedside lamps and more outlets near the vanity. Two U.S. plugs and one European outlet at the vanity, plus one in the bathroom.
For a quiet workspace, try the library or game room. Both were mostly empty and peaceful. There was also a small internet area with a couple of desks. Just know the NCL app makes you connect to the ship’s Wi-Fi to get the daily schedule and other info.
They had liquid soap in the bathroom. Buffet areas had water dispensers available 24/7, and there were plenty of hand sanitizer stations. Some handicap-accessible bathrooms were also easy to find around the ship.
I brought a six-foot lightweight extension cord for my CPAP, which was useful. Also, note that room stewards might unplug things when you’re not in the room—it’s a fire safety rule.
Your cabin will have liquid soap, and hand sanitizer is available all over the ship. Some venues, like the buffet, have wash basins outside. On my last cruise, the AC could make the room as cold as I wanted, so I think you’ll be fine.
For outlets, bring a non-surge-protecting multi-outlet device if you have lots to charge. The cabin should have USB outlets on the nightstand, but they’re the older type, not USB-C. The desk usually has two U.S. outlets and one European one.
For quiet workspaces, the library or card room should work. Some bars and lounges are quiet during the day, but there’s usually music playing everywhere. The atrium is loud most of the time.
Skip the water package. NCL uses water in cans now, which isn’t resealable and is annoying to drink from. You can refill your own bottle in the buffet or ask for cups of water at any bar. Just remember to use a clean cup to avoid contaminating dispensers.
For working, the library or card room is usually quiet, but it’s close to the Atrium, so you might hear some noise. Another option is the Observation Lounge. The area farthest from the bar tends to be quieter.
I always bring a small multi-outlet adapter for USB ports, though I found the outlets in my balcony cabin to be enough. There were outlets and USB ports by the bed and more at the desk. There’s also one in the bathroom.
The AC worked fine for me, even on an Alaska cruise where I needed heat at night. If you’re worried about getting stuffy in an inside room, you might want a small USB fan just in case.
The bathroom has liquid soap, and public bathrooms are easy to find. I like to carry hand sanitizer too. You can refill your water bottle at the Observation Lounge, pool deck, and buffet. Just use a clean glass to pour water into your bottle—it’s a hygiene rule, and staff might remind you if they see otherwise.