Some significant footwear will be making Miami home when Norwegian Encore makes its way to Florida after its 2019 debut.
Norwegian Cruise Line announced the signature stage show on board will be Tony-award winning "Kinky Boots," which features original songs by Cyndi Lauper, and is about a partnership between an entertainer and a factory owner. Main character Lola was on hand at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany for the ship's keel-laying ceremony.
"Today's surprise 'Kinky Boots' performance showcases the evolution of the meaningful and unforgettable experiences we are dedicated to providing our guests," said Norwegian Cruise Line President and CEO Andy Stuart. "We are very excited to be the first to feature this award-winning musical at sea."
Norwegian Encore is the last of four Breakaway-Plus class ships from Norwegian Cruise Line. The ship under construction at Meyer Werft shipyard is set to be delivered in October 2019 and begin sailing from Miami in November 2019.
The headlining show that won six Tonys including Best New Musical in 2014 was just part of a bevy of features revealed for the 169,000-gross-ton ship that's set to arrive for the winter season in 2019 to sail seven-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries.
That includes the revelation Encore will have the largest go-kart track in the fleet. Encore is the fourth Breakaway-Plus class ship, following on the heels of Norwegian Escape, Joy and Bliss. Joy was the first to get a go-kart track with Bliss debuting its version this year.
The Encore version will have nearly 1,150 feet of track across a 10-turn course that has four sections that extend up to 13 feet beyond the side of the ship. Also new will be a covered spectator area that will have an interactive feature that allows viewers to target racers with a laser and allow them a bump of speed.
Encore will also follow Bliss' lead with another open-air laser tag course at the top of the deck, but Encore's will be themed to Atlantis and also feature augmented reality options during game play with the use of a headset.
Staying on the top deck, Encore will have an aqua park like Bliss with two water slides. One of them will be a speedy, figure-eight drop slide that sends riders 11 feet over the side of the ship with acrylic tubes that let riders see the water below.
Another borrowed feature from a sister ship, but new to Florida, will be the Galaxy Pavilion, which debuted on Norwegian Joy, a ship that has spent most of its life in Asia. The venue is a 10,000-square-foot interactive entertainment option with virtual reality, an escape room and other technology-based features.
As far as entertainment goes, in addition to "Kinky Boots," Encore will feature "The Choir of Man," a show that also appears on Norwegian Escape that features music, dance and foot-stomping percussion. Also on board will be "Happy Hour Prohibition: The Musical," a cocktail and theater show that debuted on Bliss.
Another entertainment venue will be The Cavern Club, which is themed to The Beatles including a cover band and is an homage to the Liverpool club where the Fab Four made a name for themselves.
The Breakaway-Plus class ships accommodate around 4,000 guests and are the fleet's largest. All feature more than 20 dining options, several with waterfront seating.
Encore will be the third of that class to call Miami home, taking over for Norwegian Bliss next year. Encore will debut Nov. 17, 2019, and sail through April 12, 2020.
To book a cruise on Norwegian Bliss, call 888-625-2784 or visit www.ncl.com for details.
