Last year I had the privilege to sail on Norwegian Encore and the Disney Fantasy. Both these ships are similar because they are relatively new vessels in their fleet; however, they aren't the newest ships built by Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line.
Disney Fantasy launched in 2012, whereas Norwegian Encore hit the high seas in 2019. Both ships, until recently, were the newest in their respective fleets.
I sincerely enjoyed getting to see and explore both these vessels, and I am excited to break down some of their similarities and differences!
A Cruise For The Whole Family
(Classic games like shuffleboard can be found onboard the Disney Fantasy)
Something that I appreciated about both Norwegian Encore and Disney Fantasy was that they were designed with the whole family in mind.
Both vessels are great choices for multi-generational cruises. There are activities and areas onboard just for little ones, teens, and adults, as well as things for the whole family to enjoy together.
(One of several themed splash zones that can be found onboard Disney Fantasy)
Disney Fantasy does go above and beyond when it comes to themed areas and activities for children, but Norwegian Encore also has some great youth clubs onboard.
If I were someone traveling with young children, I would gravitate towards Disney Fantasy, as the ship really caters to family-friendly entertainment and activities and would make a great choice for a family vacation.
(Norwegian Speedway viewing platform onboard Norwegian Encore)
If I were someone traveling with teens and older children, I would potentially choose Norwegian Encore. This ship has some awesome activities such as the Norwegian Speedway and Galaxy Pavilion, as well as entertainment like comedy shows that older teens might enjoy.
When it comes to adult-only areas and escapes, both Norwegian Encore and Disney Fantasy have bars and lounges, as well as outdoor lounge spaces, just for adult guests. The Quiet Cove adult-only pool areas onboard Disney Fantasy are complimentary for passengers 18+ years and older. Onboard Norwegian Encore, there is an exclusive adult-only pool area called Vibe Beach Club that does require a paid-for pass.
(Lido deck onboard Norwegian Encore)
When it comes to family-friendly entertainment Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Fantasy may take the cake. However, Norwegian Encore is a great ship with lots to do onboard for every member of the family and would make for a great multi-generational cruise vacation.
Read: What is it like to sail with Disney Cruise Line as an adult with no children?
Staterooms
(Studio Stateroom onboard Norwegian Encore)
When it comes to cruise planning, one of the most important steps is choosing a stateroom. Both Norwegian Encore and Disney Fantasy have a wide variety of stateroom cabins for passengers to choose from.
For those guests traveling as a family, Disney Fantasy has some of the best family accommodations in the industry, including Inside Staterooms that feature a tub shower and a pull-out bed in addition to a queen-sized bed.
(Bathroom area inside a Studio Stateroom onboard Norwegian Encore)
Norwegian Encore features stateroom categories that can fit nearly every need and budget. Something that I think sets Norwegian Encore apart are the Studio Staterooms. These cozy cabins are designed for just one guest and make for the perfect home at sea for solo travelers. Note that these staterooms are not something that can be found onboard Disney Fantasy.
Currently, onboard the Disney Fantasy, guests can find the following stateroom categories: Inside, Oceanview, Verandah, and Concierge (also known as suites).
(Look inside the most affordable stateroom onboard Disney Fantasy)
Onboard Norwegian Encore, guests can find the following stateroom categories: Studio, Inside, Oceanview, Balcony, Club Balcony Suite, and The Haven. Amongst these categories, guests will also be able to find subcategories of these rooms. This allows guests to have a wide range of rooms to choose from to fit their vacation needs as well as budget.
Disney Fantasy has some special magical touches and themes that can be found inside its staterooms, such as the magical porthole windows that are featured in every Inside Stateroom. Keep an eye out for visiting Disney characters that may appear in the window!
Entertainment Galore
Both Norwegian Encore and Disney Fantasy have some of the best onboard entertainment that I have experienced thus far in the cruising industry, as you will find full-length Broadway-style theater production shows, live music, and variety acts and entertainment.
For those who enjoy true Broadway-style shows, Norwegian Encore is a great choice. One of my favorite shows, ‘Choir of Man’, is performed onboard!
('Choir of Man' onboard Norwegian Encore)
Fans of both Disney and Broadway-style shows are in for a treat onboard Disney Fantasy. During our sailing, we were able to see three Broadway-style theater shows: Aladdin The Musical, Frozen The Musical, and Disney’s Believe.
All three of these shows, especially the Aladdin and Frozen musical renditions, were truly awesome. I personally think that members of the whole family, young and old, will enjoy these productions.
Additionally guests will be able to take in some variety entertainment acts, such as comedians, jugglers, and even ventriloquists. On almost every Norwegian Cruise Line ship, guests will be able to enjoy comedic performances nearly every night of a cruise sailing. Onboard Disney Fantasy, we saw a juggler and ventriloquist who were very impressive and entertaining.
For those who enjoy live music, they do not have to look far onboard Disney Fantasy and the Norwegian Encore. Live music can be found on both these ships in several places around the vessels.
(Keep a lookout for the times and locations of all the entertainment onboard in Norwegian Cruise Line's Freestyle Daily)
We even were able to enjoy some live music out by the adult pool near the Quiet Cove one afternoon onboard Disney Fantasy. Onboard Norwegian Encore, guests can catch some live music in the Atrium or in some of the bars and lounges onboard.
Additionally, Disney Fantasy guests can catch a showing of brand-new Disney films that are still in theaters for free!
Of course, you can not mention Disney Fantasy and entertainment without highlighting the exclusive fireworks at sea show and the famous Pirate Night! Disney Cruise Line is the only cruise line in the industry that can launch real fireworks from their ships, making for impressive entertainment while onboard.
Additionally, Disney Fantasy guests will be able to enjoy the fun, entertaining, and unique Pirate Night. This pirate-themed night includes multiple performances and entertainment acts for guests to see, including appearances from classic Disney characters, as well as the most famous pirate himself, Captain Jack Sparrow.
Both Norwegian Encore and Disney Fantasy have lots to explore when it comes to onboard entertainment. I would personally say that it all comes down to individual preference.
If you are someone who really enjoys Disney entertainment, then Disney Fantasy will be an awesome experience. If you are someone who enjoys more generalize entertainment, then Norwegian Encore may be the right choice for you.
Onboard Activities
(Laser Tag course onboard Norwegian Encore)
No guest will be bored when sailing on Disney Fantasy or Norwegian Encore. There is so much to do and see onboard both ships that guests may find themselves wishing for just one more sea day to see and do everything onboard.
One of my favorite onboard activities that can be found on Norwegian Encore is the Norwegian Speedway. The Speedway is entirely unique to Norwegian Cruise Line, and Norwegian Encore has one of the biggest Speedways in the fleet!
(Up close look at the race cars guests can race on the Norwegian Speedway)
This multi-deck real race track allows guests to test their need for speed excitingly and uniquely at sea. Additionally, younger guests are also able to drive these race cars, no driver’s license is required.
It is important to note that many of the activities onboard Norwegian Encore come at an additional cost. These activities include the Speedway, Galaxy Pavilion, and Laser Tag course, all of which range from around $10-$15 per person to participate.
(Pool deck onboard Disney Fantasy)
Onboard Disney Fantasy, guests will find some of the best pools and kids' splash zones at sea. With countless places for ocean viewing, unique Disney-themed entertainment and activities, and the unique opportunity to delve deep into the renowned Disney magic, Disney Fantasy is a great choice for a family cruise vacation.
Overall, I would say that Norwegian Encore does have more onboard activities, including the Speedway, Galaxy Pavilion, Laser Tag Course, and multiple waterslides onboard. However, Disney Fantasy does have many fun activities that guests can enjoy in the onboard ship schedule that can be found in the Disney Cruise Line app.
(AquaDuck onboard Disney Fantasy)
One of my favorite waterslides I have experienced so far is the AquaDuck waterslide onboard Disney Fantasy. This huge slide wraps around the entire top deck of the ship and gives passengers some incredible views.
This slide has some thrilling elements at the beginning but then smooths out to become quite tame. For this reason, I think it is a must-do for all guests sailing onboard the Disney Fantasy.
One of my favorite things to do onboard any cruise ship is walk around in the evening during sunset and take in all the beautiful views while exploring the ship. Cruise ships are destinations in of themselves, after all!
Food And Dining Experiences
(Enchanted Garden main dining restaurant onboard Disney Fantasy)
The food and dining experiences are vastly different onboard Norwegian Encore and Disney Fantasy.
For guests who enjoy a more intimate dinner setting with just your travel party, Norwegian Encore is the perfect choice. Onboard this large NCL vessel, guests will find main dining venues that more closely resemble elegant land-based restaurants.
Because of Norwegian's Freestyle Cruising mantra, guests will never be required to choose a set dining time and location during their cruise.
(I recommend trying out Taste and Savor onboard Norwegian Encore for a great place to enjoy breakfast as well as dinner)
I greatly enjoyed all of the main dining venues onboard Norwegian Encore. The Taste and Savor restaurants serve delicious and refined options that cater to many different tastes and dietary needs.
Onboard all Disney Cruise Line ships, including Disney Fantasy, guests will be assigned a specific dinner time, as well as location, each night of their cruise. Disney utilizes a rotational dining system in which guests will dine at a different restaurant each night of the sailing at a predetermined time.
(Main dining food onboard Disney Fantasy)
Additionally, guests will more often than not be seated with cruisers from other travel parties. Disney does a good job of sitting guests with passengers similar in age or who have party sizes in common. For example, families with small children will be sat with families with other small children, or couples traveling alone will be seated with other couples about the same age.
Passengers can request a private table; however, due to the limited amount of small tables onboard, this request can not always be fulfilled. Sitting with other families and travelers can be a great way to meet other cruisers and can lead to creating new friends and lasting memories onboard!
(Main dining room onboard Disney Fantasy)
When it comes to the quality of food, guests will find that both Norwegian Encore and Disney Fantasy serve excellent dishes. Of course, cruisers have their own food tastes and preferences, but I found that there was always something we enjoyed onboard both ships.
When it comes to buffet dining, I have to say that the buffet onboard Norwegian Encore is one of my favorites onboard any cruise ship. I enjoyed the large selection of offerings, from healthy options to indulgent choices.
If you do get the chance to sail onboard Norwegian Encore, make sure to check out the Indian portion of the buffet; it's awesome and serves up tasty Indian food each day!
(Delicious chicken served at Remy, the adult-only specialty restaurant onboard Disney Fantasy)
For guests who enjoy elevated specialty dining, these types of venues can be found onboard both Disney Fantasy and Norwegian Encore.
I had the privilege of dining at Remy, the premier adult-only specialty restaurant onboard the Disney Fantasy, and I can confidently say this was one of the best meals of my life!
Read: An in-depth review of the most expensive dining experience onboard the Disney Fantasy
Environment And Atmosphere
(Disney Fantasy's atrium)
It might seem obvious, but one of the biggest things that set Disney Fantasy and Norwegian Encore apart is the atmosphere and theming onboard.
For those who love Disney, Disney Fantasy is the perfect cruise ship. The overall details that can be found onboard are something that has to be seen by every fan of the Disney brand.
Norwegian Encore is a beautiful ship with modern design, aesthetics, and amenities. Each of the bars, lounges, and restaurants onboard has its own unique theme and design flare. This makes for an exciting cruise exploring everything onboard.
(The Observation Lounge onboard Norwegian Encore was one of my favorite places to relax onboard)
If you are someone who loves Disney then Disney Fantasy will be a special and exciting cruise vacation. Even guests who are casual Disney fans will appreciate the attention to detail and magic that goes into making Disney Fantasy uniquely Disney.
If you are someone who does not necessarily want to be immersed in everything Disney during your cruise vacation, then Norwegian Encore may be a good fit for you instead.
(Outdoor deck on Disney Fantasy)
Both these vessels are beautiful and unique in their own way. Their overall design and aesthetics are quite different, but both are great ships that provide the perfect surroundings for a great cruise vacation.
Read: 10 things I loved and hated about Norwegian Encore
Itineraries And Destinations
One of the most important parts of any cruise vacation is the itinerary.
One of my favorite things about Norwegian Cruise Line is its wide range of itineraries. Guests can sail on some really unique itineraries that they might not be able to find with other cruise lines.
Currently, Norwegian Encore sails to the following designations around the world: Alaska, The Caribbean, Mexico, Northern Europe, the Panama Canal, and Transatlantic.
(During my sailing onboard Disney Fantasy, I visited the Caribbean islands of Tortola and St. Thomas)
Disney Cruise Line’s itineraries also cover a wide area of the world. They, however, conduct their itineraries differently with less repositioning than NCL. This means that Disney designates certain ships to sail certain regions of the world.
For example, Disney Fantasy currently only sails to The Caribbean and The Bahamas. This could change at any time, however. Disney Fantasy also visits the exclusive Disney private destinations of Castaway Cay and Lighthouse Point, which is set to open later in 2024.
(My solo cruise experience onboard Norwegian Encore embarked from Los Angeles, California)
If you are someone who wants to sail to a destination such as Europe or Alaska, then Norwegian Encore may be a better fit between these two ships. However, if you are someone considering a Caribbean cruise, then the Disney Fantasy may be a good choice.
Read: Everything we know so far about Disney Cruise Line’s newest private island destination
It is difficult to choose a favorite between Norwegian Encore and Disney Fantasy, as both ships are rather unique and feature special amenities, entertainment, and activities
The decision that you make comes down to personal desire and style. I had a wonderful time onboard both ships and think that no matter which you choose, you are in for a special cruise vacation!
Hayley Phillips
Hayley Phillips is a military spouse currently living in Florida and loves all things travel and travel planning.
