NoahtheRed

It's all about "Where can we implement Addtl. fees without upsetting too many people?" The idea of a dining venue with a cover isn't new or drastic. There are already lots of them onboard. Throwing a cover charge on a popular restaurant is a way to A. reduce lines and B. increase revenue and aside from the annoyance we'd experience on here, it'd be business as usual at NCL.

A cover charge for the slide or pool is a bit unprecedented. It'd be a hard pill for a lot of people to swallow and could probably become a PR nightmare. Not to mention, how do you implement that? Bouncers that check wristbands every time a 6 year old runs by?

It's all a game of "What is the price point that I can charge before I start losing money?"

Hmmm, a disagreement over observable facts. Only one way to settle this: BATTLEDOME.

TWO MEN ENTER, ONE MAN LEAVES. NO MERCY! NO RECIEPTS!

Honestly, as much as I like the idea of a craft brew pub.....if they just had better options all around, it'd be worth it. Even if it meant hunting around the ship for the beer I want, I'd be fine with that. Instead of dedicating a whole bar to it, why not just have better options at all your bars?

Honestly, at this point, there's no real way of knowing until you get on board, walk up to the bar, and try to get a drink. NCL has historically been pretty bad about communicating policy changes, especially when one considers the price that people pay for some of these services. I can't say I'd be surprised if the mojito bar was excluded given the current trend, but I can't say I'd say it's "okay".

As it stands, I think most of the frustration with changes isn't the changes themselves. Most rational people understand that NCL is a business and businesses need to make money. The frustration is with how NCL handles and communicates these changes. If NCL has to adjust prices or reduce the number of offerings, fine. We understand. But the fact that we can't get a straight or concise answer from anyone at NCL, from top to bottom, is what's causing the issues.

NCL is thinking of excluding several specialty venues on their newest ship? Okay, it happens. But NCL is thinking of making this decision and having it affect passengers who are after their final payment dates and hasn't told anyone about it? Pretty lame. Yeah, they may have the right to make changes if and when they want, but it doesn't mean they're immune to criticism.

There's no specific formal night. In the past, I remember the first sea day being when most people dress up for dinner. But in all the cruises I've done over the last few years, I don't recall a specific formal night being announced.

Sure, NCL, customers love exclusions to all-inclusives. As much as I love NCL, I'm wondering what life is like on RCCL or Carnival.

FYI - The District Brewhouse is adult only, all the time.

 

(I've not kept up on any posts since I've been on board, so not sure if that had been shared before.)

Best News Ever!

I'm a little disappointed in the whiskey selection:-( Hubby and I are huge fans of Islay whiskeys and I haven't seen any listed! Oh well we are off to Scotland for Christmas and Hogmanay so we will have to wait until then!;)

Yeah, I'm honestly kind of surprised that their selection isn't better. I'm fine with the usuals, but would love to be able to get some different ones from time to time.

i agree with all of you...who does the OP think he is trying to save lives by using "common sense"? lol

 

for the record...it IS unlimited booze pkg...as it stands...until it is limited...

 

we all try to get whatever it is out of a cruise to feel we found good value...for some its booze....for others its eating at the buffet....and for others its trying to protect the 5 lounge chairs that they "claimed Theirs" at 7am...

 

news for all of you...when i get to the sundeck and see loungers with towels only and no one laying on them...their towels are going by by...im removing them...

 

If anyone saw me removing towels off loungers would people say anything? i already have a makeshift box labeled "lost and found" that i will put in the corner for all their ncl cruise hats and cheap sunglasses and long expired people magazines.....im on breakaway this 3/6/16....you have all been warned...

 

and yes, if i make it off the ship alive...lol....i will be sure to give a detailed review of my journey.....whos with me?

 

we have to reclaim our loungers...one chair at a time...

 

-Mark

Hitting the bottle a bit early, huh?

and because of where your friend is employed probably gives him a slightly stanted view.

Well, the whole hottubs being a human soup thing is honestly pretty common knowledge. The warm water + high amount of traffic = basically a breeding ground for all kinds of fun little microbes. Unless they are getting shocked every night (unlikely), the hottubs are not the place to be if cleanliness is a concern.

That said, people have been boozing and boating since booze and boats coexisted. There will always be a few folks who take it too far, but that was happening long before the Unlimited Booze cruises were a thing. You might see a few more people a bit tipsy now, but most people stop long before getting to boofy blitzed status.

So moral of the story is: The sky isn't falling.

On the Epic, you had a silicone wrist band you wore while in the spa and you traded your keycard for a locker key. As far as I know, it's one pass per person. It might depend on how old your daughter is because I'm pretty sure there's an age limit.

That's not good planning to already be out of beer so soon. Oh well plenty other stuff to drink .

Enjoy!! Is the ship crowded ??

I'm guessing they ran out because the Bar and it's tap list are centered around a lot of american breweries and offerings, so they were limited in how many kegs they could get over there. I imagine they're utilizing a better supply chain in Miami so shortages like that aren't an issue :)

Or at least I hope so.

RCL has a similar pub concept with a pretty diverse beer selection and they are frequently empty. The same can be said for RCL's Vintages wine bars, which I believe are being phased out. The District and the Mondavi joints on Escape are roughly the same concept. It will be interesting to see where the crowds end up on NCL's iteration and if they are as popular as they have potential to be.

Well, I'll be doing my part....by basically living in there.

Tobacco Road menu is on my Instagram. Perhaps someone can link it.

 

Looks fairly standard to me.

Thanks a bunch! Yeah, the menu looks like pretty standard offerings. That "Smoke Fashion" looks interesting though

I saw a drink menu from here somewhere. I will try to track it down for you. There were only a few specialty drinks listed. I will get back to you shortly.

 

EDIT: Sorry Freestyle, I quoted the wrong post. I meant to quote Noah.

 

6&8

Mostly I just want to see what their whiskey/bourbon/scotch list is looking like. It seems every time someone posts one from another ship, it's different. Sometimes there's only the staples, and other times there's a nice big list where I can visit the highlands, the lowlands, AND the islands :P It's also helps to know what smokes I should throw in the travel humidor for the best pairings :)

If it was just the daily I would share your point of view but it's programmed in the slots machines displays as a service announcement (in the roll of flasy things that go on on such a display) and permanent in the top of that same screen.

 

Might take a pic later, have to be there as the souvenir shop was a madhouse earlier today hehe.

Neat! I enjoy cigars from time to time (as my question earlier about the Humidor at Tobacco Row may show :P), but I'm definitely pretty impressed that the whole casino aside from the VIP room will be smoke-free. I guess NCL weighed their options and figured that a smoke filled casino in the middle of the ship was going to be less and less popular with their main audience (families) as fewer and fewer people partake in the habit.

I checked back through the past few pages, but didn't see anything. Any chance of a pic of the menu/drink options at Tobacco row? I'm curious if they have a more diverse dark liquor collection there.

Has NCL made any comment on the fact that the Escape Casino is non-smoking? Could it just be that they made it the policy for these early cruises to prevent a bad first impression?

Either way, I'm neutral on it, if not a little happy to hear it. They banned smoking in bars in my state (well, unless you literally build a separate smoking room) and everyone acted like it would single handedly ruin the nightlife industry. Once the law went into effect, bars reported no noticeable drop in revenue (and in some cases, saw improvements) and the world continued to turn.

Is TDBH the spot for daily and nightly trivia contests?

Seems like the best place for it.

According to deck plans on ncl.com there is a Humidor like the other "Away" ships. Right net to Tobacco Road.

 

http://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/escape/deck-plans#dpr11

That's fantastic. I can get my drinks and then head in with a book and a stick.

Since the latest drama appears to be that the current/future status of smoking in the casino, does anyone know any good spots on board for a cigar? My last couple of cruises have been on the Epic, which has a Havana Cigar lounge, so I'm now seeking a new home :P

These days, especially if your flying. Tuxedos, suits, gowns. Are so bulky. And the added expense of checking in bags, really puts the breaks on lugging formal attire onto a cruise.

 

NCL, is very, very casual. However, if you guys want to dress up to the nines. Go for it.

 

Personally my food tastes the same weather I'm in shorts or a formal suit.

I feel like there's got to be a business opportunity here. NCL could let you ship your formalwear ahead of time, they'll have it dry cleaned and ready in your cabin and then ship it back when the cruise is over. Probably still cheaper than having to check it for flights and worry about it getting damaged/lost/stolen by airport personnel.

I'm sure it has been asked before, but some clarification on the UDP as it applies to Escape restaurants (particularly Food Republic)

That vesselfinder link looks perfect! I'll send them that. Yeah, I know how to use the filters, but they'd be totally lost. (These are people that when I tell them to click a link in an email, I'll have to explain that it's the underlined words in blue. Haha)

Does Vesselfinder have an app? How is it? I've got the Marinetraffic app and it's honestly pretty awesome, all things considered.

Tap and bottle list...STAT!

Rayman76 - Again you've given us a glimpse into this transformed ship! You're doing an excellent job sleuthing these photos! :)

 

So much for hoping for a more "EPIC" hull art for her. Although I'm not sure what they'd change it to be but the Breakaway class hull art just outshines the Epic. Seems wrong but whatever... I'm not going to be hanging off the side of the ship staring at the hull art the whole cruise. :D

 

Very interesting lighting addition to the Spice H2O entrance. It definitely looks like it was meant to add something to that space which was decided drab but artwork or painting would have worked better. Lighting adds more to fuel consumption. I'm surprised they would have put those in. I'm sure they're LED lights though.

 

The Cavern Club looks very homely and amazing. I can't wait to get in there and try it out. However, it was a small venue before so I wonder how they're going to make it work. I hope it doesn't become a ticketing venue. :( Something tells me it's going to although it doesn't appear in the booking engine as an option. :cool:

I seem to remember the entrance...tunnel? to Spice as being kind of blah. It had just standard lighting and nothing to really make it feel different (especially considering how colorful the rest of the lido deck is). I think the new colored light installations are going to be a great addition, especially at night.