We sailed Norwegian Getaway at the start of 2025 to check out Norwegian’s Breakaway-class of ships. We specifically chose the first sailing of the year to get the low-down on the cruise operator’s new More at Sea Program which we covered in detail last October. Having already sailed on the bigger Breakaway-Plus class on Norwegian Encore, we bring you the head-to-head competition: Norwegian Getaway versus Norwegian Encore!
More at Sea
We can’t talk about Norwegian Cruise Lines without first highlighting the More at Sea changes. While we won’t rehash it all here, we love the change to having one single cover charge in NCL restaurants. The former program which featured outrageous ala carte pricing was kind of a joke. The simplified price point makes the dining experience so much better. You can check out all of the new NCL Specialty Dining Menus – More at Sea to see the food and price points.
Additionally, More at Sea promises more premium beverages. So, does it deliver? In a nutshell, yes. However, there’s a lot more exclusions than you may think. Norwegian introduced a new Connoisseur Collection that isn’t included in the drinks package. Check out our full coverage of More at Sea from our time on Getaway for all the specifics, including some tips along the way.
Norwegian Getaway Experience
As always, we shared what we loved, didn’t love, and hated in our full reviews for both Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Encore. Check those out for all the details about the specific ships and our experiences on board. Today, I’m providing some highlights from our time on board both ships – along with differences that I think most cruisers will care about.
As mentioned at the start of this post, Norwegian Getaway is a Breakaway-class ship whereas Norwegian Encore is a Breakaway-Plus class ship. In simplest terms, that just means that Norwegian Getaway is almost 25,000 Gross Tons smaller than Norwegian Encore! We did a DEEP DIVE Review of all of the differences across the two classes of ships last year if you really want to geek out.
Noticeable Differences Between Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Encore
While our Deep Dive Review looked at every change across the ships, for this post, I’m highlighting a couple of the biggest changes. With Encore adding additional decks to the top of the ship (it’s where a lot of her growth comes from), the below has multiple additions not included on Getaway.
Outdoor Fun Space
Getaway does not have the multi-story Go Cart track that Norwegian is famous for. Instead, Getaway has more deck space for laying out (which can still be a challenge!). Plus, it has an awesome ropes challenge course. The water slides do take up more space in the center compared to over-edge slides on Encore. With all of that said, I give the point to Getaway as that race track takes up far too much space on Breakaway-Plus ships.
Point Getaway
Observation Lounge
With more space, Encore adds the Observation Lounge that wraps around the front of the ship. We absolutely love this space, and every cruiser we talk to loves it, too! This space has floor-to-ceiling windows making it a perfect ship to visit Alaska as you get great views from the warmth of the ship. Plus, there’s a bar in this space! However, in Encore’s recent dry dock, a portion of this space has been taken back to make more space for rooms. Boo. With that said, Getaway does not have an Observation Lounge of any size on board. It’s an amenity we absolutely missed.
Point Encore
Spice H20 Adults-Only Area
This is a dedicated space for adults to get away on the ship. We appreciated the fact that Getaway has this space at the aft of the ship. When I sailed Encore, there was no Spice H20. But, due to some serious negative guest feedback, in a late 2024 dry dock, the space was added. Norwegian replaced “the world’s largest laser tag on a cruise ship” with this adults-only venue. Now, both ships have this space.
Point: Tie
Specialty Dining Options
Both ships have plenty of choices for dining. Norwegian Encore has my all-time favorite NCL eatery: Food Republic. I love the Asian-Latin fusion restaurant and always leave stuffed. Getaway has a new favorite: Moderno Churrascaria. With a huge salad bar and meats carved tableside, this Brazilian Steakhouse was a huge hit with everyone we sailed with. Both ships have NCL classics like Le Bistro and Cagney’s Steakhouse. They also both have teppanyaki and an Italian joint (Getaway has classic La Cucina while Encore has the new Onda by Scarpetta; both are good).
With More at Sea, everyone gets at least one specialty dining meal included – and that’s a great thing. We love Norwegian’s add-on restaurants. Considering how much we loved these options on both ships, we have no choice but to give a tied score on this one.
Point: Tie
Bars
Once again, both ships have plenty of spots to enjoy the included More at Sea drinks package. With 15 bars each, you won’t have trouble finding a drink on board. Both ships share several of the line’s classics like Sugarcane Mojito Bar, a casino bar, a pub-like bar (O’Sheehan’s on Getaway and crowd-favorite The Local on Encore). Encore has Maltings Whiskey Bar which we preferred compared to the Sunset Bar on Getaway.
With all of that said, the true winner in this category is the Skyy Vodka Ice Bar located on board Norwegian Getaway. It’s the first ice bar we’ve ever done at sea and it was such an awesome experience. If you get a chance to do this on your cruise, it’s absolutely worth the small upcharge to get in. Loved it and it’s what caused the point to tilt in Getaway’s favor!
Point: Getaway
Staterooms
The staterooms between both ships are almost identical. In fact, when we posted our Getaway room tour, we asked viewers to see if they could spot *any* differences between that tour and the Encore tour we had posted a year prior. Both ships suffer from a lack of storage in the stateroom, so no one gets a point here.
Point: No one
Activities, Excursions, and Entertainment
Both ships are going to have a host of activities on board. You’ll find trivia, karaoke, live music, arts and crafts, and more on board both ships. Excursions vary based on the itineraries, so it’s hard to determine a “winner” here. Regardless of the ship you choose, know you’ll have a lot of options for things to do in port. Finally, when it comes to entertainment, the Norwegian Getaway has Million Dollar Quartet as the main stage show. Norwegian Encore has Choir of Man. While tastes vary in terms of theater, I’d absolutely choose Encore’s Choir any day over Getaway’s Quartet. Considering most all things are equal outside of these two shows, I have to give the point to Encore.
Point: Encore
And the winner is…
If you’ve been keeping score in the Norwegian Getaway versus Norwegian Encore competition, you’ll see the winner is… BOTH SHIPS! As I said in our Norwegian Getaway Full Review, the Getaway felt like “coming home” to a ship I already knew and loved. Both ships are very similar to each other. With Norwegian Encore being a Breakaway Plus class of ship, she has more features and amenities (race track, Galaxy Pavilion, Observation Lounge). If you’re specifically looking for those additions, then Encore is the ship for you. With that said, considering how similar both of these ships are, I truly do not think you could go wrong with either one.
Truly, your choice may come down to the itinerary that you’re most excited to sail. Whether you choose Norwegian Getaway or Norwegian Encore, you’re bound to have a great cruise!
Final Thoughts
Have you been on either of these ships? Do you agree with our assessment? Let us know in the comments. And if you have any questions about the Breakaway or Breakaway Plus class of ships from Norwegian Cruise Line, drop us a note. We’re happy to answer questions that come our way.
And if we can help you get booked on either of these ships – or any of the ships in Norwegian’s fleet – don’t hesitate to reach out. We’ve booked many cruisers on Norwegian Cruise Line and have a perfect satisfaction rating across all of our travelers. We’re happy to help YOU make your next vacation dream a reality!