Wetescape2016

Hi Heather. Of course I know who you are from reading my Fascination review. :D

 

We will be going on the Epic here and we are in port from 8-6pm. Was that your port time? I think we have plenty of time to do this on our own instead of paying double for the ship excursion. I'm just trying to wrap my head around how it all works.

 

So, since you stated you left the ship and walked down to the ferry, I assume it's not a long walk then.

 

I just looked at the ferry times and it looks like the first ferry we would be able to catch is at 9am. So doable I guess. However, if the ship pulls out at 6, we need to be back on board around 5-5:30ish. Factor in a 10-15 minute ride to the ferry dock and a 30-40 minute ferry ride then walking back to the dock, I'm guessing we need to be out of there around 3:30 to give us plenty of time for mishaps I guess. It looks like one ferry comes back at 4:30 and the other at 3:15pm. So I guess that's the one we'd have to take. (Sorry, thinking out loud, but yet typing it to see if others agree). :p

 

Do you know how much locker rental was? I guess I'm going to have to invest in a backpack instead of our normal beach bags.

 

The food at the top before the "10 minute" hike down, is that how long it takes to get down to the baths? Is that what you are saying?

 

I would love to see your pics. :D

 

Put those big girl panties on for LFK, you seriously won't be sorry. It's super easy.

I flooded your e-mail with rambling information lol

Check your junk folder just in case it filtered my e-mail address as spam or something :D

Ok, I just finished my last cruise and now it's time to get back to planning this one. When I first read all this information, it seemed so confusing. I just now went back and re-read everything again and I'm still super confused about how this all works.

 

Blue (or anyone) can you give me a step by step directions of what you do during the day after stepping off the ship?

 

Like, exit port and walk? to some ferry area? I'm understanding there is 2 of them. How far of a walk?

 

Get on ferry, 30 min ride to baths area, get off ferry and catch ?any? cab? for $4pp to the entrance of the baths? Are there tons of taxi's waiting for people?

 

There's food there right? As in right at the baths and don't have to walk anywhere or catch a taxi to get there right?

 

Then when ready to leave, catch ride back ($4) to ferry and wait for ferry to arrive, which is at 3:30pm.

 

Is this all right?

 

 

What do you do with your beach bags and stuff while you are there? I assume you have to lug all this around so you want to pack light right?

Hi Kim,

Wow I can't believe I have done something that you are interested in doing! LOL

Ok So if you don't remember who I am, I have just started reading your reviews (obsessively! I am nursing a disc injury and really they are helping me escape while stuck in bed)

Anyways my Kim and I did our first cruise on the Escape in January, and since we are such newbies, we aren't brave enough to venture on our own. We book only ship excursions (though really considering moving our excursions around for our cruise on the Dawn in Feb. to go to LFK)

So we did the Baths excursion through the ship and I know people say its a bit of a rip off, but sometimes I just really need a break from the planning and "worrying".

So what you won't like, this is an EARLY excursion. We met in the Escape theatre at 7am. We got off the ship walked down the pier and got onto a ferry. The ferry ride was around 40 minutes and was a beautiful ride with many islands and mountains. We got off the ferry and boarded open air busses. If I were to guess it was about a 15 minute ride? It wasn't long at all. We arrived at the baths where you can rent a locker at the top for your stuff or you haul it with you. It's a really neat hike down and then you start through the caves. It was really amazing to see. Some tight spots that involved crawling/climbing etc. I am fluffy and was more than doable for me :) It would be very difficult carrying a bunch of bags though. I would recommend back packs for stuff you want at the beach. The beach was beautiful with lots of boulders you could climb. I can't speak to the snorkeling but I would definitely recommend this excursion. As for food/drinks/souvenirs everything was at the top of the hill before the (10ish minute) hike down. So Im quite sure there was nothing in the actual beach area.

I have TONS of pictures and videos of the baths as well as some of the port, but I don't have a host site and have no idea how to get them in here.

If you want you can email me at cavanaughh at gmail dot com and then I can send an e-mail back with the pics and vides. Sorry I'm usually pretty tech savy but I just can't figure out cruise critic lol

Sorry I can't help more on info for getting there on your own, I'm still a little too nervous but may put on my big girl pants to get to LFK :D

Hope that helped in some way

Heather

they do - although everytime I have cruised I forget to get one! I think you have to go to the Cruise next desk?

Hello and Thank you for your response. But I am no longer on the Escape, I was back in January and didn't know about the pins. I am wanting to know if there is someone I can e-mail or call and have them sent to me for a past cruise?

thank you,

Heather

Hey Kim,

So I might be a little hooked on reading your reviews, so have been going back and reading your past cruise reviews. The NCL ship pins. Do they still have these? I didn't know about them being that the Escape in January was our first cruise and so obviously didn't get any. Since I just started with latitudes with that cruise would I be able to get pins yet? Is there something I can do to have them mailed to me? Any info you have would be appreciated!!

Thank you,

Heather

I'm sorry but I find it very sad that you and your family would think it's OK to do this - tear a tiny monkey away from its family group and habitat to keep as a toy or pet. As long as people support this cruel trade it will continue.

http://arff.org/kitts

Its one thing to love monkeys, think they are cute and wish you had one. They did not buy one, nor do they own one...

Is it therefore cruel to own a dog, cat, bird etc? The mothers are forced into getting pregnant and then their babies are "torn" away from them at 8 weeks old (and they don't pose a threat to agriculture..) all for human enjoyment.

Animals are also raised in less than ideal conditions and slaughtered for human consumption.

I'm assuming you don't own pets, never have, and eat a strict vegan diet?

Just saying..

 

 

 

Yea, we have carried pop in with us before and have even carried cans because we know just how long it takes for them to come back with one.

 

I don't know if those would work with her or not and they kinda look like what she already has and doesn't work. But I guess anything is worth a shot. I'll check into them. (Hopefully with her scuba class, she'll learn to pop her ears).

 

Yes, I private home care, as in subcontract from agencies and private people. I pick my own schedule, I picked my own patients, I decide how many I want, and I see the same patients routinely. Then the benefits of taking vacation whenever you want. ;) So once I get a full schedule to my liking, I don't take on any others. I absolutely LOVE my patients and we are so close. I worked for the hospital for over 30 years and the last 4 years before doing this, I was in the ER/Trauma. Fast paced, acute care...and now slow paced chronic care. It's such a switch up. :p But I enjoy it. I work 2-3 hours a day, not standing on my feet for 12 hour days and I'm out in the community (not to mention pay is outstanding obviously).

 

The hubby has been an aggressive skater for 23 years. He started a company 9 years ago selling skates. It progressed in a full blown store with BMX, skateboards, scooters, skates, penny boards, wake boards, long boards and clothing. He absolutely loves it. (Our store bakerized . com). My youngest son, Kolin...age 21, usually runs the store when we are on vacation (he rides BMX bikes) and the hubby runs the online part while on the ship...or beach. :D But, this next vacation, Kolin will be coming with us, so we will probably have to close the store for a week.

 

Wow that sounds like an excellent nursing job!!! And great hours for having a young one, and of course vacationing :D

My kim is on a surgical ortho floor at the hospital a stones throw away from us. She's doing the 12 hour thing right now, I can't imagine how that wears a person down! Though she does get 5 days off after doing 2-12 hour days and 2-12 hour nights, so theres a good amount of recoup time!

I'm a child and youth worker and work with teens with mental health and addictions on a locked in patient unit, but I have more control over my schedule than she does, so thats nice.

Your hubby's store looks AWESOME!!! I kept wondering about his Baker t-shirts i would see in your pics, so that explains them. I was a snowboarder in my teens and 20's. Somehow I aged about 40 years between my 20's and 30's and the winter is just TOOOOO cold to be outside LOL So Instead of spending money on lift passes we vacation in the winter to get away from the cold :D

I feel for Sakari. I would fly a lot when I was a kid too and I can remember the flight attendants would soak face cloths in boiling water, wring them out and put one in each of 2 styrofoam cups to put over my ears. I guess the heat that the cloths would give off would relieve the pressure.. I probably looked like a dope but it worked! I'm sure she will learn how to pop her ears in scuba classes (which sound amazing and you should totally do it too!!)

Have a great day!

Hey Kim,

Just a thanks again for this fantastic review and "getaway" from reality :)

Just thought of a tip for you to get pop for your dinner that we really took advantage of after reading how frustrating it could be to get a drink at dinner in MDR's. So on the escape for example, the MIXX bar is right outside of taste and savour, 2 of 3 MDR's. We would stop there and grab a drink to take with us into dinner. Never had to wait for a drink as when they would come to our table and say "oh you already have drinks" we would say we would like to order more. They would come with dinner :) Never had the frustration.

Also came across these (I love looking at travel accessories) and wondered if they could help Sakari, the reviews seem pretty good.

https://www.amazon.ca/Lewis-Clark-765B-Pressure-Reducing/dp/B0007TBZZ8/ref=sr_1_80?ie=UTF8&qid=1473878288&sr=8-80&keywords=travel+accessories

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of nursing do you do? Home Care? Was just curious since you leave for a couple hours and come back :)

Also curious about hubby's store, you mention it a number of times, but don't mention what kind of store. Just curiosity and absolutely none of my business, so if you don't want to answer, tell me to stop being nosy :D

Well now I have to wait until you come back with more, which is new for me since I've been late to the party with the last two reviews I read.

Thanks again,

Heather

 

Did you like the Escape? I have it booked for next year (it was a random booking done on the ship) and I'm not convinced if I'll be keeping that date they used or not yet.

 

Ahhh, no need to go away after a cruise. Just start reading up on everything, including reviews and reports, and that way when you decide to book again, you'll have an idea of where you want to go and what you want to do. I get ideas all the time by just coming on here and reading. It helps me pick places I want to go in the future.

 

After my next cruise in ....1 month, 29 days, 20 hours, 33 minutes, and 9 seconds from now, we will probably not be cruising again until Spring Break next year (April). We did a birthday cruise for me in Feb this year and then already had a March spring break cruised booked and it was rough that close together. Plus, I don't think they enjoy when I take Sakari out of school for a week at a time. Oops.

 

Sorry, I don't have any advice on what you listed. I'm just not a "mayan ruins" type of girl and if it doesn't involve the beach, I usually don't pay attention. LOL

 

However, in Cozumel, I think you should check out Dolphin Discovery at Chankanaab (over doing it in Roatan). It's an amazing place, located at a National Park, and there's awesome snorkeling there and plenty of other things to see and do there as well (they even have a zip line and some type of alligator thingy there too) since I was there last. There's iguanas walking around everywhere too. Plus, from most reports (and even when I did my swim with the dolphins) they usually throw in a swim with the manatees there too. PLUS, if you really watch their site, they usually have discounts for booking early OR you can sometimes find a Buy one, get one for $1 pricing too. I don't know what you are paying for it at AK, but thought I would just mention it.

 

I have 2 reviews in my signature from Chankanaab if you are interested in seeing what it's like there.

 

Then if you needed something to fill in for Roatan, I highly recommend Little French Key. I don't think I have found a nicer private island to date. We discovered it and go back every time we are in Roatan now. It's pure heaven on earth there! (Several reviews in my siggie for that too).

 

Yep, cruised out of Nola a few times before and LOVE NOLA. Depending on where you stay there, most everything is within walking distance.

 

My Spirit cruise was out of NOLA in 2011. My Star cruise was out of NOLA in 2012. My Jewel cruise was out of NOLA in 2013. So you could say I like it. Honestly, I would probably prefer cruising out of there than any other place.

 

I really wanted to thank you for everything you said. That's the reason I do these reviews, to help people out, get ideas, maybe bring some laughter to those who read it, and most of all to have fun with it. :D

Hey Kim,

Thank you so much for your response! We LOVED the Escape. Mind you we didn't have a lot to base it on. We were a party of 4 (32,33, 33, 35 years old, 3 females, one male-he's a trooper) all very laid back and easy going and just need a comfy spot, a cold drink and we can laugh and entertain ourselves :)

The food was amazing!! My wife and I are both vegetarian and I was concerned about what the veggie options would be. HA! I'm sure I gained at least a pound a day lol The only specialty restaurant wife and I did was food republic, while our friends went to Cagneys (we didn't see any point in us going lol). It was SOOO good. Worth the upcharge but we LOVE asian food! The service was awesome everywhere we went. The staff were ALL so friendly, I don't remember one rude/unhelpful encounter the entire week. I would absolutely recommend it! Especially if you are aiming to sail the fleet, just keep that booking and go for it! I have looked at a lot of pictures of the other ships and it seems like the Escape got the bathroom storage/counter space thing figured out too!

The shows (for the most part) were incredible! Million Dollar Quartet -wish we had booked in to see it more than once!! I LOVED that show. After Midnight-did not love it and started falling asleep. I felt bad :/ But we saw a lot of people just leaving the theatre (and had read about that happening previous to departure)

Howl at the Moon- you seem to love comedy and music. So this show you will go more than once, it's never the same and they are incredible!

Absolutely GO!!!

I'm not a mayan ruins kind of girl either...it's my other half thats the history buff...the things we do for love LOL

I'm a swim with the dolphins kind of girl! :D

Thank you for your suggestions, i will look them up. I did just read about LFK in your review and it looks INCREDIBLE!!

Thank you again!

Heather

Hey Kim,

I am pretty new to cruising, my wife Kim ( who is also an RN :) and I did our first cruise with our best friends on the Escape this past January to the Eastern Caribbean. We were immediately hooked. I am a little obsessed with researching and planning EVERYTHING!! But it's part of the fun of travelling for me. It makes the vacation last longer than a week! Though once the cruise is over I drop off cruise critic because I am too envious of seeing everyone cruising when mine is over LOL I can understand why you enjoy doing your reviews!

So that brings me to your reviews, WOW!!! I am so amazed!!! From your organized extensive planning (so much respect for that!!), to the amazing pictures, to the details in retelling your journey, to the window you give all of us strangers into your family's life, to all the work that goes into a review like yours!!! Thank you SO much!! I truly hope you know what a gift you are giving to a newbie like myself!! I don't like surprises. I mean unless someone were to surprise me with a cruise, that would be acceptable in my books LOL But I like to know about the ship I'm sailing on, the ports I'll be going to etc.

With that being said, we just booked our 2nd cruise for Valentines week 2017 on the Dawn going to Western Caribbean out of NOLA! I am so excited for not just the cruise but to sail out of NOLA, it's been at the top of our travel bucket list as far as US destinations since we met. Then I discover that the Belize port is now at NCL's private island!!! So of course I need to 1) Research about the Dawn 2) Research the ports and low and behold I come across your reviews of the Dawn to Bermuda and Jade to WC. So much fun to read! Now I'm hooked on your reviews and have come over to read this one :)

So as I'm reading your reviews, discovering your sense of humour and what beach goers you all are, you should really book the Dawn out of NOLA for valentines week 2017 LOL

So if you have any advice/tips, we are planning on doing a Mayan Ruins excursion in Costa Maya, just checking out the town in Cozumel (I know you are really tempted to book now!! :), obviously just hanging out at the beach at Harvest Caye in Belize and doing the Dolphin Encounter and swim in Roatan at Anthony's Key Resort. I would be so appreciative of any opinions or recommendations you have on any of those ports/excursions!

Have you been to NOLA, any recommendations there? :)

Well I really just wanted to comment to extend my gratitude to you for all the work you put into these, ended up being a little more long winded than originally planned!

Thanks again,

Heather

Also, Sakari seems like such a sweetie and what a personality! Good job mama!

Heather, I'm glad to hear you had a positive experience on NCL! Good to know.

 

 

 

The vegan cruise I know of is Holistic Holiday at Sea. They are sailing on March 11-18th next year. I want to go so badly! But it will have to wait at least a year, since next year we're taking 2 cruises. :)

Wow!! That looks really good! Thank you for sharing, though we will have to wait too as next years cruise is already booked :)

Happy Cruising!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Also, as a fellow vegan I KNOW you are used to OBNOXIOUS and IGNORANT comments about your diet, so this board is no different! Cruise if thats what you want to do and keep on glowing!

I went on my first cruise on the Norwegian Escape in January of this year. We booked a year in advance and then in September started eating a vegan diet for medical reasons. I figured I would probably starve on the cruise.. wrong! In a bit of a panic I called NCL and they noted on my reservation that I ate a vegan diet. The woman I spoke to was wonderful, I can't remember if she was vegan but she gave me a few tips to navigate my new diet

1) I used almond cream in my coffee, just can't drink it black. So she said to bring a soft cooler and put my almond milk/cream in it with any other snacks I like for protein i.e. nut butter/ trail mix/ almonds, Go Macro Bars (LOVE THESE, and great snacks for port days). She told me to attach one of the NCL luggage tags to it and write "Special Diet" on it so that if anyone questioned why I was bringing these items on board they would look under my file and see that I eat a vegan diet. Since most of these items are not available to me on the ship, it wouldn't be an issue to bring them on (and it wasn't). I asked my room steward to empty the fridge in the room and it was stacked with snacks and almond milk

2) Stick to MDR/specialty dining ( I don't understand the advice given in this thread to eat in the buffet since it's banquet food and already prepared) and speak to Maitre D on embarkation day. This was fantastic! He would speak with me every day about the menu for the following day. If i didn't like what I saw, I could tell them something I would like and they would prepare it. One night the veg option was orzo stuffed tomato. The chefs know what they are doing! Rather than orzo (because the dough is made with egg) my tomato came stuffed with brown rice. Now I am not a strict vegan. I would eat pasta and cakes :D even though the dough/batter is made with eggs, again the switch was for medical reasons and a little cheat here and there didn't bother me. But remembering the menus, a strict vegan diet would do just fine!

I'm sure I gained at least a pound a day on that cruise. I don't know that I will ever do an all inclusive vacation again now that I've experienced cruise dining and the attention to detail!

I was very nervous about taking my first cruise ever, and as a vegan. I'll never worry again... unless its about fitting into my clothes by the end of the week! Must make more of an effort to get more exercise on the ship. Taking the stairs everywhere doesn't cut it!

I have heard of a vegan cruise, don't know the name, a google search should settle that. I would highly recommend Norwegian based on my own experience.

All the best should you decide to cruise!

Heather

Thank you both so much for your responses :)

I know that Norwegian allows power bars, but I have read mixed information about being able to bring a surge protected power bar.

I have a wall mount 3 outlet surge protector that I was going to bring but wondering if I should change to something without a surge protector?

Any help would be appreciated, Thanks!

This is almost identical to the one I have

http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0016IXEWG/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=027YX5FHH8GRFMQ91KJ4&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2055621962&pf_rd_i=desktop

Great review, I especially appreciate it because we usually go to all inclusives, our last experience was horrible which is why we will be boarding our first cruise in just over a week. I am really sorry to hear about your daughters experience. I have friends with various disabilities, and it's always infuriated me when people treat them differently. I can't imagine how I would feel if they were flat out ignored. I'm glad despite this you were able to enjoy your first cruising experience.

May I ask what your buffet secrets are? I have also been all over the message boards to learn as much as possible before we leave, but haven't read any buffet tips :)

I've noticed that if you click the "view more" button under the room details when choosing your room, if the bed is by the balcony it is listed there. Says nothing of the bed location otherwise. I hope this advice is accurate:)

I am not an extremist, I won't go as far to say that this venue was the WHOLE reason I booked this cruise *rolls eyes*. Neither will I go as far as having a full fledged kicking and screaming temper tantrum, vowing to never sail NCL again (someone else WILL fill that gaping hole you have left in NCL's broken heart).

BUT, I do think it's a snake move to change it from it's long advertised complimentary status to a la carte. That being said, I won't bother paying for what they're selling, simple as that. If enough people do this, their plan fails.

If your problem is the principle, which seems to be the consensus, don't go. Enjoy your cruise and all the other dining options!

Mediocre chain hamburgers and french fries should not be so high on anyones list of priorities...or you have bigger problems to worry about

Looking for height and weight minimums fir escapes slides.

 

Thanks.

ok for some reason I can't seem to get a picture in here. But here is a link to great pictures of just about everything. Hopefully the link takes you to the page that holds the picture of the waterslide sign.

http://www.cruisediary.de/einfuehrungsfahrt-mit-der-norwegian-escape/6/