Getaway Photo Review - Food Focus - Specialty Dining - Chef's Table - Viva Vino

I just booked my daughter and I for October...very much enjoying your review and excited to read the rest! Thank you so much for your very detailed review!

We just booked a cruise for Thanksgiving. I have been reading your review today. I have thoroughly enjoyed it! You are very talented and helpful. Our friends will also be joining us for their first cruise. We will have the UDP. Thanks for the information regarding Illusionarium being included on the first night. Thank you so much for putting so much time into this review. I really appreciate it!

I'm really enjoying your review and am grateful for the time and care that has gone into it. Beautiful pictures and very useful comments. (My husband and I are taking the Getaway in May.)

Awesome review, makes me think i am back on the cruise

After dinner I was booked for the second Levity Comedy Show; same host but different main act. Not ideal having two consecutive nights but it’s just the way things worked out. Disappointingly, the host performed the previous night’s routine verbatim. I thought the main comedians were on a par with one another...

Same host...

Different headliner...

As I made my way back to my cabin, I passed through the Atrium where Groove International were performing a Reggie night, having earlier that evening devoted a set to Bob Marley...

Groove International...

Next time Deck 7 deck tour... Many thanks again for all the comments and questions to which I will try to respond soon...

Marvelous review, Mega, both informative and entertaining. Thanks for the painstaking effort. I didn't think anything could pry me from the Jewel class, but you just might have convinced me to try this new class.

I found this review looking for the wine list. ( I will be bringing my own wine but was curious about the 4 for etc. list) I love your pictures and the information about the ship. Thanks for taking the time to put so much information in one place.

excellent review!

***Following

Following...............

Really enjoying your review and all the wonderful photos especially of the food!

Great review. Great photos. There must be 36 hours in each of your days LOL Do hope you will publish it all in one at the end. My DW will not have the patience to go through the whole thread.

Great review. Great photos. There must be 36 hours in each of your days LOL Do hope you will publish it all in one at the end. My DW will not have the patience to go through the whole thread.

lol I know. Loving this review but holy cow is there a long gap in between :eek:

lol I know. Loving this review but holy cow is there a long gap in between :eek:

Hi there,

You do realise Megacruiser has to work as well as do this review!!:)

Thanks again for taking time out of your day to do this.

Hi there,

 

You do realise Megacruiser has to work as well as do this review!!:)

 

Thanks again for taking time out of your day to do this.

Of course! It's just a fantastic review and can't wait to read the rest. Very greatful for it :)

Megacruiser, thank you so much for your efforts, much appreciated! I also just binge-read your Epic review, since we will board her this Sunday. Will be my second time on this special ship, your review helped refresh a lot of good memories!

Before I post the photos I will give my quick summary of Deck 7, which is my least favourite deck of the trio that comprise 678 Place. The only reason for me to go there was for the Theatre shows and once on the last night when I was determined to sample the Prime Rib that is offered on several nights in O’Sheehan’s Neighbourhood Bar; I sneaked in when they started serving at 5.30pm and was out in half an hour. The Prime Rib was superb; perfectly pink, melt-in-the-mouth-tender, succulent and flavoursome. This was a visit to consume food only; in my view this venue does not lend itself to providing the surroundings or atmosphere where a proper dining experience can be enjoyed.

O’Sheehan’s is a huge multi-function venue and that is partly why I am not keen on it. To me a pub should be a pub. I don’t mind that food is also served here, and in fact it can be convenient for those who wish to dine out with normal hours; but what I dislike is the open plan aspect of it with all the noise from various adjacent games machines and activities like bowling. When it is even slightly busy, the noise can be deafening.

I also hate the fact the NCL locate their casinos in the very heart of their new ships; seemingly a less-than-subtle attempt to induce passengers to play when passing through. The fact that smoking is allowed is another reason that it should be located out of the main passenger flow. In fairness, the smell of smoke was noticeably less then on Epic, so I assume the air conditioning has been improved; however those hyper-sensitive to smoke might still find it is a problem. For whatever reason I also found it easier to avoid than on Epic; and that was much appreciated...

Gambling-focussed passengers have a bar on hand in Bar 21 fitted with counter-top gaming machines, so that losing money whilst drinking is conveniently facilitated. Food is also available from Shanghai’s Noodle Bar; the decor of both seems to have been conceived with the intention of discouraging lingering, and a quick return to the tables or machines. As a dining venue I found Shanghai’s possibly even less inviting then O’Sheehan’s. It is badly lit and has no atmosphere other than the odd wisp of defiant smoke...

Bliss Ultra Lounge, the nightclub, is also located here; can’t work out why unless they wanted all the ugly places in the one area. What a disappointment after the Epic where it was much larger, comfortable and welcoming; and it worked well as a late-night dance venue that was well attended. One look at the decor of this place is enough... a disaster.

Although I didn’t get the chance to dine there, The Tropicana Room is actually rather impressive, with its double-height ceiling that rises up to the space on Deck 8 that lies between Moderno and Cagney’s. I think the decor has the edge over Epic’s Manhattan Room. The room doubles as a dinner-dance venue for passengers and there are professional dance performances staged at various times.

Getaway Theatre...

Bar area...

Seats have an uncomfortable raised ridge towards the rear edge; bad design...

Shanghai's Noodle Bar...

Bliss Ultra Lounge...

Dance classes held out with dining times...

Professional Dance Performance...

That's it for tonight. Sorry that it is taking so long but I did say that I have a job that occupies a lot of my time. So your patience is appreciated. I have not forgotten that I intend to reply to some of the comments and questions, but felt I should get these posts uploaded first.

Next time will be Day 4, which includes the Chef's Table and the Firework Display.. so please stay with me. I'll get this finished as soon as possible... Thanks.

Thank you for the amazing review! I'll be on the Getaway next month for the first time and your review has me so excited!