Not your typical review- A Typical Norwegian Escape Aug 14-20,2016

Just got off the Escape this AM got some time to kill at Ft L. Airport. We left the terminal at 9:00 for a 30min ride, NCL transport and flight not until later.

First of all everyone has seen the typical ship pics. I will post other more unusual pics. And my dailies after I get home.

First about us . We have done NCL a few times and Carnival several times . I consider us experienced. Traveling family of 4 (16 & 18 yr olds)

We arrived in Ft L and had voicemail from GoMJS Transportation . He tried to reach us before we left but I had the phone off. They keep them in an area outside the terminal in holding pattern. Once you get luggage you go out terminal and done to far right commercial transport sign. As the calls keep failing I texted our driver Roy. Lucky for texting he too was having issues. Our driver Roy a very nice older gentleman retired Physicist from England arrived in a very nice Mercedes Van. Chat to us the whole ride. Explained to us all about how each driver is invested in GoMJS and ins for travelers cost $60 + tip. We went to Double tree in Miami.

Double tree on the Bay. Nice hotel but starting to show wear although their clientele is the ritzier crowd. Upon check in they recommend the Seafood dining (their most expensive). We opted for the Italian place as you walk in the door. The food was fabulous and the aroma was to die for. Of course we were starving and Italian. We had the Hawaii flatbread, eggplant and 2 other dishes.

Great work out room! Daughter loved they had free weights. Husband and daughter swam and said it was nice. Had an $8 credit each for breakfast in one of the 4 dining places. We enjoyed our breakfast. Then although they have transportation for like $8 something a person the concierge had recommend a cab. We took one for $15+tip from a nice older lady. ( We would not stay here again. The bay view and boat view was great but would opt for the Hampton Inn next time.- Not a lot in walking distance)

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Welcome back! I can't wait to see all of your pictures and read about your week. We are booked for next summer on the Escape! I'm currently checking airfare this morning, lol.

We arrived at terminal B approx 10:30. No liquids allowed .So dump 1 of water. Go in through security then everyone over 18 fills out a paper. Then onto that magical line where you give edocs and passport (passport recommended over the card). Take everyone's photo. Wait a few min for our key cards and we are off. (Note Terminal B and C next to each other) After short walk got boarding pass group 9 and boarding group photo. Told 11:30 boarding will start. Noticed they started with boarding 3&5, and then 7&9. Because we figured out groups 2&4 and 6&8 were in terminal C. As we waited we saw the B2B boarding and group 1 I think is Haven. They get priority boarding and we had a gentlemen board when we were. They have an escort onto the ship bypassing everyone. At the gangway Terminal B and C merge. After scanning our cards we walked on and was free to go where ever. They already gave us a map of the ship at check in. We immediately went to the box office with a minor detour . We went right when we should have went left upon boarding. Right for Headliner. Nice short line at BO and we got tickets for 2 comedy shows. Already had ones we did online for After Midnight and Brat Pack..

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Then onto guest services . Was suppose to meet with Melvyn but he is on vacation. So Hazel met with us. My teens have nut allergy . While I did the line waiting son went and got his drink glass. While also in line we got extra key for each cabin. So we could access each other's cabin no joining door. Never did make it to front of line they had our problems solved before we hit the front of the line. And off we were to Headliners. The kids ordered their first meal then. Could have done ahead always but they opted not to, Kids! While they did that we got a water package. I would only recommend the small one . We had to toss lots of water. Left 3 in room today would have had to toss anyways. There was some confusion about the package. I thought bag included but it was extra, got it the next day. Of course that took a stop at guest service, the bar they sent me to and the pool towel bar who solved it.

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Which Hampton inn

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Looing forward to more.:)

Sorry double posted. Hampton Inn I will check on which one we considered when I get home.

After our trip to Headliner we were off to Savor for lunch . Very calm in the MDR not the hub bub of the GC. I had the cod but scraped off all the fried coating. I like my fish light . All of us were pleasantly surprised how good the food was since we had read some bad reviews. And their attentiveness to the nut allergies. While we were eating announced cabins ready around 1:00. So after filling out a comment card (Fill out all comment cards) we left for our 2 cabins. 11850 & 11852 balcony.

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If possible, can you please make your pictures larger? Thanks.

More about cabins later. After dropping off the carry on we went exploring to acclimate ourselves. I never truly acclimated just had a general idea. On this exploring we went to the sun deck where I lost my key card (1st time). When I pulled out phone to take these lovely photos! When up on the sun deck I realized the deck below-17 with VIBE( We did not get daughter almost 17 not old enough) was identical on each side. 2 Hot tubs each side, bar, and cooling station. Vibe just had those cool towels and snacks. Which if I asked I bet the bar would have gave us some. Yes they have attentive waiters at Vibe. We had a waiter our side to who was as attentive as you wanted him to be.We are not drinkers so did not matter to us. We did the math in the jacuzzi and realized that NCL gets an additional $10,000 a week for cool towels.

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Hope these are larger. Boarding soon

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Hope these are larger.

After uploading the image using the forum app, remove the "_thumb" from the filename. This will post the larger photo.

Nice start. Looking forward to reading more:D

More please...

Waiting for more

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Thanks for posting your review, looking forward to hearing more :)

Great start. Following your posts.

If possible, can you please make your pictures larger? Thanks.

Read the review on an iPad- as soon as you tap on the photo, they fill the screen. I assume they would do the same on my iPhone. Possibly on my Apple Mac too, but I haven't got it with me too try.

Great job! Cant wait for the rest of your review!

Read the review on an iPad- as soon as you tap on the photo, they fill the screen. I assume they would do the same on my iPhone. Possibly on my Apple Mac too, but I haven't got it with me too try.

On my android, if you tap the photo it will come up by itself and you can then pinch and expand the size.

Following!

Thanks for the review.

Got a little off track talking about deck 19 forward. On to the life boat drill that is mandatory. We were in Taste. When we got there they were making people wait in the hall. I guess they were not ready. They had certain groups in different sections of Taste. Everyone needed to give them your card to scan. They a constantly tracking you on the ship. Big brother always knows where you are. The reason for this scan was it is MANDATORY ! If you miss you will make it up. There was an issue in our group not enough people. So someone had the pleasure of a private life boat drill. I liked that we were inside and could hear them on the PA. But much of it was meet here and get a life jacket and we will show you the escape route which will more than likely be crew passages. At least at this one I got to relax and did not feel like a sardine that wasn't feeling well like on our last cruise.

Now something you should all drool over. First night was dinner in Cagney's! Yes we premade reservations for every night. Some people post the times change by NCL . I don't think so really. Basically the crew in the box office said always think a half hour ahead. So ours was for 6:30 but looked like 6:15. Thus the half hour 15 min prior and 15 min after =30 min and you just lost your reservation to someone waiting. When we came in we asked about dining outside. We weren't sure if you needed to do it prior. They said it is first come first serve. They start at one end and work their way to the aft . But I didn't want to sit at the next table. I wanted privacy since it was just us and another table. I asked and they accommodated us. Let me pick the table . We picked the one where there is an opening in the barrier (between those eating and those walking) I wanted a clear view of the ocean. It did get slightly windy. We laughed because every time our waiter went to serve us food the garnish would fly into the air. The food was to die for. I want to cook a steak that melts in your mouth like that. We had crab cake, oysters, and the pork belly for appetizers. My non veggie eating son even ate the carrots. Entrees were the 16oz ribeye, petite filets (daughter had smaller and waiter talked me into larger one that I did not finish. Sides were asparagus and potatoes. Dessert: raspberry cream brûlée all around- one of our faves from the cruise. Cagney's is not to be missed. It is the best meal on the entire ship!

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