NCL has launched its latest ship called ENCORE. Coincidentally, the maiden voyage took place just in the week when Jews in all the synagogues in the world are reading in the Torah the story of Noah's Ark. I was privileged to join the inaugural cruise from Bremerhaven, and was introduced to the ENCORE
On Saturday morning, I prayed Shacharith on a recliner on my cabin balcony, enjoying the cool air, holding my Kipah so the wind wouldn't blow it out of my head, and read the Parsha Noah with Rashi. I was thrilled to discover so much resemblance between the ship I am in and Noah's ark. For the first time in my life these verses in the Torah were given topical significance
The story of Noah's ark starts with the phrase "Noah was in his generations a man righteous" (Genesis 6/9). Rashi and other interpretators are comparing the generation of Noah to later generations. Noah was building the top technical vessel in his generation, and so did NCL in our generation. I thought that if Noah would be alive nowadays, and he'd built the ark in our generation with modern technologies, it would be like the Encore ship
The Torah describes to us the technical specifications of Noah's ark: "And this is how thou shalt make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits" (6/15). In our terms it's 460 ft long by 79 ft wide, and 46 ft high. By contrast, the technical specifications of the Encore are 1,094 ft length and 132 ft bean (wide). Its area is about four times larger than Noah's ark. It can host about 4,000 passengers and 2,000 crew members
There were three decks in Noah's ark, as it says, "with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it" (6/16). On Encore ship there are 18 decks. Rashi interprets: "Three decks one above another, upper floor for human and dinning, Middle floor is dedicated to the living staterooms, and the lower floors for maintenance". It is astonishing to find that the architectural principles of Noah were also utilized in the programs of building the Encore, but with more decks and floors to each division
And the more we continue to read the Torah, it's getting even better correlations
Passengers demographics
The Torah describes to us the passengers in Noah's ark: "There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, male and female" (7/9). Then it is written in the Torah "And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark" (7/7). Nowadays, cruise ships are also made suitable for couples and for families. The concept has not changed
Staterooms
The Torah also refers to the types of rooms in ships. The Lord Almighty gave Noah the production instructions: "Make thee an ark of gopher wood, with rooms shalt thou make the ark" (6/14). Not just "rooms", but the Torah tell us kinds of rooms, and describes: "A light hatch porthole shalt thou make to the ark" (6/16). Namely- a window room, or an "Oceanview Stateroom" as they're called in NCL. From this we understand that in the ark there were also "inside rooms". Nowadays cruise ships have also balcony rooms and suites
In addition, the Encore ship has 80 suites in a private complex called "Haven". Guests of the Haven section have a private pool and hot tub, and a private lounge and dining room. Like a ship inside the ship. All apartments in the Haven area have a glass wall that faces the central pool. It's like first class in airplanes
Gastronomy
As we all know, culinary is one of the most important aspects of cruises. Norwegian has always been a pioneer and innovator, leading that way with the much-copied “Freestyle Dining”. It turns out it already started in Noah's ark. It is written in the Torah: "And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and gather it to thee, and it shall be for food for thee, and for them" (6/21). I think the chief cook at the Encore could not have summarized his job with better words in the context of the variety of dishes and serving times
At the Encore they took this verse much forward. passengers indulge in plenty of dining options. The ship has 29 restaurants and buffets and other food outlets. The 16th floor also has "theme restaurants" such as an Italian restaurant, a fish restaurant, a vegetarian restaurant, an American steak restaurant, and so on. Apart from the dining rooms where waiters serve us, there are also "eat as you can" buffets, which are open 24 hours a day. There is also a fruit bar, a sweets bar, and a beverage bars with 59 types of whiskey, and with about a dozen types of martini and many cocktails
Unfortunately, we, the religious Jewish kosher keepers, cannot enjoy this gastronomic abundance, but NCl is taking care of us too. Last July, the company held a press conference in Tel Aviv, where manager Nick Wilkinson announced the upgrade of kosher food on all the company's ships. In this maiden voyage I was privileged to test and taste the promised upgrade. Well, in the past we were served with platters where a meal is defrosted, like on planes. By now Norwegians are offering melted food in saucers and bowls with large variety to choose from
Entertainment
The Torah writes about the top of the ark, "and to a cubit shalt thou finish it upward" (6/16). The "upward" of the Encore is dedicated to entertainment and to pleasures and fun. They made everything that no passenger will be bored for even a moment. The Norwegian company has set up playgrounds on the ship to fill our time and our children with plenty of fun
Like in Noah's ark, in the maiden voyage a "Flood" was descended on us. But not a flood of water from the sky, but a flood of… fun and treats. This ship brought the attractions to new heights in terms of entertainment
On the top floor, they built the world’s longest race track at sea at 1,100ft with four high-speed curves extending, up to 13ft over the side of the ship. Next to it is a large laser tag gaming complex shaped like a ruined city, with a giant snake roaming around. The downstairs floor has a Galaxy Pavilion with interactive facilities, some with virtual reality masks
On the upper floor there is also a large swimming pool and an Aquapark with a huge water slide. Part of the slide is in a transparent tube that runs outside the ship above the ocean water. Thrilling and exciting. It also has children’s waterpark. The poolside also has a hot tub. The complex has plenty of sunbeds for sunbathing for resting and reading
Encore also has a huge theater hall. Where they presented two Broadway musical each evening, such as Kinky Boots and The Choir of Man. In addition, most of the bars have music performances by musicians. I especially liked the band singing the Beatles songs. An electrifying and exciting performance for my generation that grew up on the Beatles songs
At the fitness center I saw a large selection of options. There is an ice room, Turkish Hamman, steam room, wet sauna, dry sauna, salt room and more. The health complex also has a barbershop for women and a barbershop for men, as well as manicure and pedicure treatments. The wi-fi service is the finest I've ever experienced at sea
Well, those kinds of fun treats were not available at Noah ark, But I was thinking it was more qualified for Adam and Eve when they lived in Paradise
NCL's European sales manager, Nick Wilkinson, told me that there is a chapel on the ship. I wanted to see if there was also a holy ark with a Torah scroll, and if it had Siddurim prayer books, but it wasn't available. Nick promises that till the time the prayer room will be completed, religious travelers will be able to get one of the meeting rooms on the ship for a Minyan. We'd appreciate that these things are in their consciousness at all
Originally founded way back in 1966, NCL has now a fleet of17 ships accommodating 50,000 guests every day. Nick Wilkinson proudly says "Don't write that we have 17 ships. What we have is 17 floating resorts". When I quoted him later to the president of the company, Harry Sommer, he corrected me: "There is not any resort in the world that has even half the amount of restaurants and amusement facilities as our ships. We are much more than floating resorts." i
The company has a platform to boast this innovative ship. To me, it reminds the ship BREAKAWAY. With small differences, as the corridors here seem wider, the public areas on the Encore are much larger
The person responsible for NCL's success is the company's new president, Harry Sommer. To me, he is like "modern Noah", that have built a fantastic "Ark". i
Having built this glorious giant ship, it boasts that the ship is "green" in terms of the environment. Encore isn't using drinking straws and plastic bottles. Even the staff put our waste in paper sacks, and not plastic bags
Mr. Eamonn Perrin, Middle East's director at NCL, says the Israeli market has been very small, and in the last 5 years has grown tremendously, "and you are currently seventh in the world of cruises." i
One Israeli journalist asked why NCL ships rarely arrive in Haifa and Ashdod? And why Israeli passengers can't embark when their ships are docked in Israel? i
Harry Sommer: "In the Mediterranean our ship route tourist sites from Barcelona through France to Italy and Greece. It is not profitable to add Haifa to this route. But I have a dream that when there will be peace and security in your area, we'll establish a special new East Mediterranean itinerary that will include Alexandria (Egypt), Ashdod, Haifa (Israel), Beirut (Lebanon), Latakia (Syria), and Larnaca (Cyprus). In your area there are the most beautiful shore excursions in the world". i
After we disembarked at the Port of Southampton in England, the Encore went on a week-long cruise to Miami. This winter, it will sail from Miami to the Caribbean, and in the spring and summer will sail from New York to the Caribbean. In the spring of 2021, it is scheduled to sail on a route from Seattle to Alaska
It is pleasant and exciting to read Torah the Noah's Parsha when we are on an "ark" that sails in the ocean, and can experience part of Noah's ark in a modern and luxurious version. Harry Sommer is proud that NCL is leading customer satisfaction surveys in the cruise industry. From now on they can add to their stats my satisfaction too
