123veranda

Thanks, that’s what I’m thinking.  Gem had them & I’m going on Escape this summer & pics don’t look like she has them.  We like going out of NJ because it’s drivable.  

Thanks

On 2/7/2019 at 7:52 PM, lrsxcchick said:

No problem, it happens! Look at the ship's pages here on CC. They generally have great photos of the pool areas!

Thanks ..great idea.   Didn’t know about that. Great info!

Thanks 4 info.   I meant to type NCL..was having one of those senior moments lol 

Was on Gem last summer with a friend who has limited mobility & they had a pool (it was the ‘family one’ I believe). It was her 1st cruise & she fell in love with cruising. Her favorite thing was this pool that you could walk into with 3 small steps ......no ladder.   Is anyone familiar with this and know if any other RC ships have it.  Thanks so much

I can't answer all of your questions, but I can answer a few.

 

• 
   
  
• None of the balcony walls open up on any NCL ship, to my knowledge.
   
  
• As a Haven Guest, you would only get access to the spa areas you mention if you are specifically in a Haven Spa Suite or your purchase a Spa Pass (usually ~$200 per person).
   
  
• You should have access to pre-cruise concierge services and they can help you with booking shows and restaurants before sailing.
   
  

Thanks for answering...kinda what I thought. How do I get in touch with the pre-concierge services?

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Going on NCL Escape Haven for 1st time & have few ?s

...do the balcony walls open (on 17th floor between

Family & penthouse suites)?

....do u get access to spa salt room & snow room & ,if so , is there an extra charge? In reading

“activities “ it says “free”

....can u make dinner & show reservations using NCL OBC before boarding?

..do u recommend making reservations b4 or wait to board & have concierge do?

Thanks so much. We want to get the most out of this.

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The Escape has a nice outside dining room. We had breakfast there every morning when the weather was nice (see this link https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=55863490&postcount=138 )

 

You may only be able to find lobster at Ocean Blue now. Or cold lobster at the Raw Bar.

Oh yeah! Think I might like that even better than eating by pool. Thanks

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The Escape Haven restaurant is fantastic. We would ahve eaten every meal there if we didnt have a meal plan!

I’ve heard good things about the Haven and will probably eat there a lot. Old menus on-line have lobster for dinner but I’m reading they no longer have. Do you know if that’s true? If so, what restaurants have lobster? Even if I have to pay xtra, I need lobster at least one nite.

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Thank you! Silly but that was the highlight of the cruise. Relaxing by pool & not having to go somewhere else for a light breakfast or lunch.

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Was just on the Gem (in Haven). Am going on the Escape (Haven) next year. The one thing I loved..was in the Haven courtyard on the Gem you could get breakfast & lunch brought to you. Does the Escape do that? I’m thinking “no” (because they have a Haven restaurant that the Gem didn’t have); but hoping “yes”

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Thanks soo much! Couldn’t find pics anywhere. Smaller than I thought, but gosh I got the Haven pool & Haven sundeck

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Anybody stay in Escape penthouse suite on the 17th floor? Good? Bad? Pics?

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Thanks all. One less thing to worry about. She just can’t walk real long distances. It is on the cruise documents so we should be ok. As long as I don’t have to push her & juggle suitcases. Lol

Kinda embarrassed to ask this, but....

Was suggested I get wheelchair assist checking in for person I’m traveling with (NCL - NY). My question is does someone from the cruise line actually push her or am I expected to do it. I won’t be able to push her and carry the carry ons.

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Are you still going or have you cancelled? I did that exact itinerary in August. I saw NCL employees pushing people in wheelchairs with large tires (I think these are called sand wheelchairs). Stopping in Port Canaveral you can take the shuttle to Cocoa Beach. It lets you off near Ron Jon Surf shop and also a hotel. You can shop and have something to eat. The beach itself is a 5-10 minute easy walk. In the Bahamas you can get a taxi to Atlantis or walk to the British Colonial Hilton and get a day pass.

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Thanks, I will do that. But I will prewarn her maybe we won’t be able to. Rather than have her be disappointed there. Thank you for info

We’re still going. I booked this in a hurry when she got somebody to “husband sit”(why I didn’t research). I’ve never booked & paid final payment at same time!!! So,I can’t cancel. Soooo, we’ll go with the possibility of not being able to do things; but we will ask for help & maybe we’ll get it. But thanks

Thanks to all who replied. I don’t think we’ll be able to do this. I feel so bad. I picked the cruise & it’ll probably be her last vacation & I didn’t do enough research. The other ports are Port Canaveral (& there’s nothing there so we were gonna stay on ship) and Bahamas which were gonna try Atlantis beach (excursion says limited walking. ) She wanted to cram all the years she couldn’t go on vacation into this one. Anyhow thanks...... better to know ahead of time.

Thanks ...the shuttles would be great. As far as the wheelchairs ...may be doable if not really far. She’s 72 and I’m in better shape at 69 I don’t think I could push her real far. How far is it to the closest beach? How far to food? Really all she wants is to relax on beach and have lunch.

.

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Stay positive!

Is she bringing a regular folding wheelchair like those lightweight ones? You might want to also post this on the Disabled Cruise Travel board of Cruise Critic so maybe someone who has been to GSC and used a sand beach chair can chime in.

Here is a link: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=190

Thanks. Didn’t know that forum existed. I’m leaning more into not doing; but friend is gonna be sooo disappointed.

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New to NCL & am going on cruise in June with one of the stops Stirrup Cay. I am going with a friend who has limited mobility. This is her 1st trip in many years as she has a completely disabled husband. Well, someone volunteered to stay with him & she is over the moon in happiness being able to get away and she wants to do everything. I’m afraid she won’t be able to do a lot of walking & we’ll be stranded there until the next tender back. Does anybody know what they have there as far as transportation .....trams, golf carts, wheelchairs? She can walk some ....just not long distances. She would be happy just getting to a beach and eating. Thanks for any info.

Is your friend able to go up/down steps? She will have to in order to get on the tender.

Found this from a search - accessible information listed toward the end.

Island: Great Stirrup Cay

Location: Bahamas

Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line

Great Stirrup Cay offers many family friendly activities such as snorkelling, kayaking, Eco-Boat tours, and even a Stingray Encounter

 

 

 

Norwegian Cruise Line has financed numerous noteworthy updates throughout the years in order to continually improve the facilities at Great Stirrup Cay, located in the crystal clear waters of the Bahamas. Today, as a part of Norwegian’s $400 million investment program The Norwegian Edge[emoji769], the cruise line is reforming the destination now through summer 2017 to deliver new luxurious facilities, new adventure activities, improved and expanded dining options that, together, will present an elevated haven for guests visiting the island.

Great Stirrup Cay provides superior new restaurants and amenities, as well as an abundance of smaller details to raise the bar on the island experience even higher. Great Stirrup Cay’s 10 acre beach features a new half mile Oceanside footpath that will span the length of the shore with more than 100,000 square feet of pathway, offering easy access to the white sand beaches, as well as access to new shaded areas with benches for relaxation.

Just adjacent to the beach, guests looking for a more active island experience can visit the new half-acre entertainment and activity complex, containing a stage for live music, games and entertainers; basketball and volleyball courts, complete with bleachers; ping-pong tables; and a shaded picnic area where families can play board games or relax together. A new air-conditioned reception area will serve as the central hub for family-fun where guests can plan their day, reserve activities, rent board games and have access to expansive changing rooms.

Adreneline junkies will be able to enjoy a new zip line course featuring more than 1,000 feet of zip line, allowing guests a bird’s eye view of the island and the sea as they ascend through the air. The island’s two parallel zip lines offer the chance for some sociable rivalry and high-flying races.

Those who wish to take to the sea for exploration can snorkel through the island’s new magical underwater sculpture garden. Using a waterproof map as a guide, adventure seekers can discover nautical creatures that tell stories of the deep from beneath the sea.

From the many new shaded lounge and picnic spaces, to more than $1 million in new landscaping throughout the island, to new restrooms and lockers at the tender marina, guests will find a whole new experience.

All dining and bar venues have been updated island-wide, adding new resort-style decking, shaded areas, high-top seating at all bars and family-style seating.

The new complimentary taco bar, Abaco Taco, has been added near the island’s entertainment hub, where guests can make their own favourite tacos. The island’s 8,500-square foot buffet provides quicker and more well-organized service for guests, and the deck surrounding the buffet will be expanded so guests can enjoy their lunch at new seating areas. The center of the island will feature a sheltered lounge area with up-to-date stylish furniture and bar service, for guests who want to enjoy paradise in style.

Building on the brand’s exclusive partnership with Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Great Stirrup Cay also features a LandShark Bar & Grill. Inspired by the traditional beach bars of the Atlantic Coast, LandShark Bar & Grill offers the perfect mix of casual dining, free-flowing drinks and fun with panoramic ocean views and indoor and outdoor seating. Menu items will be available à la carte.

Guests looking for the ultimate island indulgence will experience a retreat like no other at Great Stirrup Cay’s exclusive lagoon reserve. This private area of Great Stirrup Cay features a private, unspoiled beach; oceanview restaurant; a high-class Mandara Spa; sheltered family area; and 22 air-conditioned private villas available for reservations, ranging in size from studios to two-bedrooms.

The lagoon will be available on a complimentary basis to The Haven and Suite guests, along with guests who purchase an on-island Mandara Spa service. Moreover, a restricted amount of passes to the Lagoon will available for purchase on each sailing.

Guests who purchase a reservation for one of Great Stirrup Cay’s luxury beach villas will be totally spoilt, as they will be whisked away by one of several air-conditioned shuttles running from the tender marina to the lagoon reception area.

Studio villas feature an outdoor terrace, private bathroom and living/dining area, and can accommodate two to four guests. One bedroom villas accommodate four to six guests and feature a bedroom, private bathroom, living and dining areas and outdoor terrace with a hot tub.

The ultimate island escape, Great Stirrup Cay’s two bedroom villas can accommodate up to 10 guests and feature two bedrooms, two private bathrooms, living and dining areas, and an expansive outdoor terrace with a dining area and hot tub.

Exclusively for guests of the lagoon retreat, the two-story Silver Palm restaurant will offer complimentary dining in a spectacular setting, with both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a rooftop terrace overlooking the area’s spread-out ocean views. All luxury beach villas will also include food and beverage service for guests who wish to enjoy refreshments in the privacy of their villa.

Accessibility on Great Stirrup Cay

Your ship uses a gangway to embark passengers onto the tender; it’s not as steep incline than gangways at port. Guests using wheelchairs are transferred to a large flat area at the bow of the tender, and they will stay there during the tendering process. From the tender, ramps are positioned for the disembarkation process.

Norwegian Cruise Line reserves a restricted number of wheelchairs on Great Stirrup Cay that have been designed for use on sand.

They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The wheelchairs are free to hire, and can be picked up at the Tender Pier. The beach wheelchairs are made for use on the sand.

Great Stirrup Cay features a variety of excursions; however, none are wheelchair accessible.

The bar and dining facilities on Great Stirrup Cay are wheelchair accessible.

All of the bathrooms are wheelchair accessible; but, they do not accommodate companions.

She can do steps if they’re not too high and she has a railing to hold onto. She will be so disappointed if she can’t do it. This is the first vacation she’s had in years as she has a handicapped husband who needs round the clock care. A relative of hers has volunteered to stay with him. So she wants to try to do everything. I’ll have to show her what u found & let her decide. Appreciate the info.

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Darn. I’m gonna have to really do some research. If there’s no way to get her from one place to another we can’t go. Especially since tendering. If w get there & she can’t do the walk, how long would we have to wait to tender back? Labadee they had wheelchairs from the ship to islands & then trams to go anywhere u wanted to go.

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Thx 4 the quick reply. There’s hope. She is soooo looking forward to this trip but I know she can’t do long walks. May not need the wheelchair if there are trams & golf carts.

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