Norwegian Cruise Line held an unforgettable keel laying ceremony for Norwegian Encore today at the Meyer Werft shipyard, unveiling the award-winning entertainment lineup and onboard activities scheduled for the ship’s Fall 2019 debut.

Following the major construction milestone and maritime tradition of embedding a “commemorative coin” within the keel blocks of the ship, attendees were treated to an unexpected presentation.  Five performers disguised as shipyard workers, and wearing red-heeled boots, provided a surprise performance from “Kinky Boots,” confirming the Tony Award^®-winning musical as the headlining act on Norwegian Encore.  Lola, the lead character, and her four dancing angels sang “Land of Lola,” one of the 16 original songs by Grammy Award^® winner Cyndi Lauper. 

“Norwegian Encore’s keel laying ceremony was not only special because we were celebrating a construction milestone, but because it symbolizes the incredible partnership we have had with Meyer Werft building some of our most incredible and innovative ships of the Breakaway and Breakaway-Plus classes,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief operating officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Today’s surprise ‘Kinky Boots’ performance showcases the evolution of the meaningful and unforgettable experiences we are dedicated to providing our guests, and we are excited to be the first to feature this award-winning musical at sea.”

Norwegian Encore will feature the compelling entertainment guests have come to expect from Norwegian. In addition to Kinky Boots, the ship’s onboard entertainment will also include “The Choir of Man,” which recently debuted on Norwegian Escape, and “Happy Hour Prohibition: The Musical,” the interactive cocktails and theater show set on the eve of Prohibition. Guest favorite The Cavern Club will transport audiences back to the legendary Liverpool club with live musical performances from a Beatles cover band.

Norwegian Encore will also be home to a two-level race track, the largest at sea at nearly 1,150 feet, The Galaxy Pavilion, which will offer a virtual reality complex of more than 10,000-square-feet of indoor space, and an open-air laser tag arena, as made popular on Norwegian Bliss, this time as the resurrected lost city of Atlantis with new elements for a more exciting and interactive experience. The ship will also feature the Aqua Park, including two multi-story waterslides, one of which extends 11 feet over the edge of the ship and loops down to the deck below. 

At approximately 169,000 gross tons and accommodating up to 4,000 guests, Norwegian Encore will cruise out of Miami every Sunday and offer 7-day cruises to the Eastern Caribbean, beginning with her first itinerary on November 17, 2019, through April 12, 2020. She’ll begin cruising to Bermuda out of New York in the Summer of 2020.

To read the full press release, click here.