Escape From Miami - Kinda, Sorta "Live From" - October 7-14, 2017

If something is listed as "Ask," it's usually around a $3 - $5 surcharge before the 18% service charge. There are two big exceptions. They're a $17 surcharge. One is Johnnie Walker Blue. The other is a tequila that doesn't even show up on the list.

 

I should probably point out that Patron Silver is now back on the plan. Unless you're talking the Food Republic cocktail, the "Toro Toro," which was excluded for some unknown reason.

POA1,

 

Thank you for a great live and review thread. One of the best. Tons and of great info and pics along with a few chuckles.

 

Thanks to your review as well as a few other Escape “lives” on the NCL forum, you’ve convinced us to give NCL a try (We’re RCI and Celebrity fans). We are going to give Bliss a try in 2019 for a SuperBowl Cruise.

 

Thanks again.

 

Cheers

Tom

I thought I would post our liquor selection options in the owner's suite. In the OS and DOS, you may choose 3 bottles of liquor to have in your cabin.

 

This is the standard list:

 

Beefeater Gin

Grant’s Blended Scotch Whiskey

Smirnoff Vodka

Jim Beam Bourbon

Seagram’s 7 Crown

Bacardi Superior Rum

Cazadores Blanco Tequila

Dry White Vermouth

Sweet Red Vermouth

Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry

Sandeman Reserve Port

Jameson Irish Whiskey

Kahlua

North & South by Norwegian, Sauvignon Blanc, California

North & South by Norwegian, Red Blend, California

 

 

Bored? Unsatisfied? Yeah, this is the list you get if you don't know any better.

 

 

If you ask shoreside concierge, you might get a list of additional selections to order in your room in advance. Now, these aren't available on all ships. It will depend on what they have on board. For instance, the Chocolate Vodka was unavailable on our cruise. BUT, this will give you an idea of what you might be able to substitute.

 

Your butler may try to tell you there is an up charge. Use common sense ... if it's something available on the UBP, it will probably be covered. If you're going to try to get a bottle with an up charge on the UBP, expect an up charge on your bottle selection. My butler tried to tell me there would be an up charge on my vodka. I said no, i didn't understand why, and he dropped it.

 

 

Anyway, here is the supplemental list of liquors we asked about:

 

 

 

RUM:

 

Appleton VX (OB)

Bacardi 8

Bacardi Select

Leblon

Pussers

Bacardi Black Razz

Bacardi Coco

Bacardi Limon

Bacardi O

Bacardi Oakheart

Bacardi Rock Coconut

Bacardi Superior

Brugal Anejo

Captain Morgan

Malibu

Mount Gay Eclipse

Mount Gay Silver

Myers Dark

 

VODKA:

 

Absolut

Ketel One

Russian Standard

Stolichnaya

Stolichnaya Raz

Ty Ku Soju

Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate

 

WHISKEY/BOURBON:

 

Chivas Regal

Cutty Shark

Jack Daniels Black

Jack Daniels Honey

Jamesons

Jim Bean

Seagrams Crown Royal

Wild Turkey 101

Canadian Club

Seagrams 7

Seagrams VO

TEQUILA:

1800 Reposado

Cazadores Anejo

Cazadores Blanco

Jose Cuervo

 

 

You can ask for most cordials as well.

 

We wound up with Bailey's, Stolichnaya Vanilla Vodka, and Jack Daniels Honey.

 

I asked my butler for a pitcher of lemonade daily for the JDH. We wound up not using the Bailey's (it always seems like a good idea at the time), and we plowed through the vanilla vodka, which as mentioned, pairs well with Diet Pepsi.

 

Also, here is a list of sodas you can have stocked:

 

 

Pepsi

Diet Pepsi

Sierra Mist Soda

Orange Soda

Tonic Water

Ginger Ale

Club Soda

 

 

 

And ... if you want, say sour mix or ice cream mix, just ask your butler. Our friends in the DOS asked for Sour Mix for their whiskey and the butler gave them a whole carton. And then another when we ran out playing Cards Against Humanity ....

I think your photo in the last post is broken.

I think your photo in the last post is broken.

Yeah, there isn't a photo. There was, but it didn't post, so I manually typed out the list instead, and looks like I just forgot to delete what didn't post correctly in the first place.

 

This makes sense in my head ....

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Forums mobile app

We're heading into the home stretch now. A few days before the end of the cruise, we received our disembarkation pamphlet. You can see a copy here:

 

http://www.evernote.com/l/AFibvu0upBxNBbsgRv5mIIy7N6GUkgjAZlI/

 

We chose the color Purple because it was one of the earliest non-elite disembarkation times. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so we gave brief consideration to Pink. Mostly though, we chose purple because it was at 9:00 AM and that should be easy to remember.

 

Some of you may think that we chose the color purple in honor of the 1985 period drama, "The Color Purple," which was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Whoopi Goldberg and Best Supporting Actress for both Margaret Avery and Oprah Winfrey. It failed to win any of them, tying the record set by 1977's The Turning Point for the most Oscar nominations without a single win. That wasn't the reason, although being our luggage tag color is almost as good as winning an Oscar.

 

Thank you for mentioning breast cancer awareness month. If anyone has read my past two Haven reviews, they have followed along on my journey from my diagnosis in July 2015, to my treatments, and then my Build-A-Boob reconstructions. It's been interesting to say the least. I am just over 2 years since my first chemo treatment and I tried an experimental treatment to keep my hair from falling out. It sucked, but it worked. Caps that were 32 degrees below zero Celsius for over 7 hours each treatment hurts so bad. Imagine the worst ice cream headache times a million that doesn't go away for 7 hours. Once you get used to it, it's time to put on a new frozen cap. Breast Cancer treatment was actually not as bad as I feared. They now have meds to keep you from getting sick from the meds. I actually gained weight! And we were able to take our first 14 day Haven cruise 2 weeks after my last of 4 treatments.

I also had Leukemia at 15 and lost my hair then. That was mentally tougher than the 3 years of intense treatment. And a wig isn't the same as keeping your hair. Honestly, wigs sucked.

And they didn't have the same preventive medicine then (30 years ago) so I was near death more times than I care to count.

Anyway, thanks again for mentioning Breast Cancer Awareness.:D And sorry for hijacking your post.

Few other tidbits: I had bought 101 shares of NCLH (1 extra share for good measure) when it took a dip. Got it for just under 37$/share. This has turned out to be a terrific little investment. It's a modest one, but has certainly served its purpose since this was the 3rd cruise we applied and received our 100$ OBC shareholder benefit. Just getting the paperwork ready for our next cruise now. :)

 

Also, the NCL Latitudes page indicates you'll see your Latitudes discount reflected (10% in our case) for shorex you book online once the shorex is in your shopping cart.

 

Um, yeah, no.

 

As we've mentioned, the only shorex we booked online was the Beach Villa at Harvest Caye for a crazy 699$ (high season after all ....). They were happy to charge us the full 699$, not recognizing our status.

 

I had to talk to concierge to let her know we did not receive our discount. Onboard we were refunded 699$ (x2, if you recall) and rebilled 629.10$ (x2).

 

So between the shorex rebate, the shareholder credit, and a bonus 50$ OBC from our TA (which was nice because she had already discounted our fare 11.8%), we wound up with a 128.31$ credit owed us.

 

Given our past experience with NCL OBC refunds (which are not returned to your card on file, but are rather a hard check mailed to you), I expect to see my funds circa January. Year debatable.

 

 

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Forums mobile app

I made a mistake on the list and have "Surcharge" listed next to Patron silver at $9.95. I was working off the old list and did not update the row correctly.

Thanks for this comprehensive and very entertaining review. My husband and I were also on this sailing and had a wonderful time, too. We also had lunch at Pincho's on the last day and wished we had tried it sooner. We had light blue tags so we disembarked late and did not see any fighting. :)

Heather

Thanks for this comprehensive and very entertaining review.

 

 

Hi ....fellow sens fan here. Lived in Ottawa for 25 years moved home to NS 3 years ago.

Sailing on escape in Januarybwoth friend from Ottawa. I was lucky enough to find a rare flight that connects in Ottawa so we can fly from there to FLL together.

Thanks for this comprehensive and very entertaining review.

 

 

Hi ....fellow sens fan here. Lived in Ottawa for 25 years moved home to NS 3 years ago.

Sailing on escape in Januarybwoth friend from Ottawa. I was lucky enough to find a rare flight that connects in Ottawa so we can fly from there to FLL together.

 

Hi fellow Sens fan.:) You now live in a nice part of the country, too. I hope you have a wonderful cruise in January; you'll be lucky to escape the cold winter. That's great about your flights. Have fun!

Heather

I made some mistakes when transcribing the liquor list. I'll go back and fix it.

Hey POA1, did you see that one of the two people doing live Escape reviews today posted that they got the Toro Toro on the UBP? Forgot whether it was Cleveland or Sid.

Edited October 30, 2017 by keeponcruising
Mispelled

Hey POA1, did you see that one of the two people doing live Escape reviews today posted that they got the Toro Toro on the UBP? Forgot whether it was Cleveland or Sid.

I saw the photo from Cleveland. I wonder if I should take it personally. ;)

Best. Review. Ever! Especially so since we will be on the Escape in January for our first NCL cruise. Thank you for all your hard work and details, you have helped immensely in our preparations and in putting our minds at ease when trying a new cruise line. Thank you so much!

 

Cathy

I kinda, sorta think that I have squashed all the bugs in my booze list, so here's the revised version.

 

Beverage - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps - NCL UBP

 

NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

Aqua Fina (Filtered Water) - $5.35 - Excluded - Excluded

Aqua Panna 750ml - $5.50 - Excluded - Excluded

Perrier 750ml - $4.50 - Excluded - Excluded

Perrier 193ml - $2.50 - Excluded - Excluded

Juices - All - - Yes - Yes

Soda - All - $2.95 - Fountain Only - Fountain Only

Red Bull - $4.95 - Excluded - Excluded

Red Bull Sugar Free - $4.95 - Excluded - Excluded

 

WINE - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps # - NCL UDP #

Prosecco - $10.95 - 1 - 1

Pinot Grigio - $8.95 - 1 - 1

Chardonnay - $8.95 - 1 - 1

Riesling - $8.95 - 1 - 1

Moscato - $8.95 - 1 - 1

Sauv Blanc - $9.95 - 1 - 1

Malbec - $8.95 - 1 - 1

Merlot - $9.95 - 1 - 1

Cabernet Sauv - $8.95 - 1 - 1

Shiraz/Syrah - $9.95 - 1 - 1

Sangiovese - $9.95 - 1 - 1

Pinot Noir - $9.95 - 1 - 1

Red Blend - $9.95 - 1 - 1

Rose - $8.95 - 1 - 1

White Zin - $8.95 - 1 - 1

Dessert Wine - $7.25 - 1 - 1

Number Wines Available - - 16 - 16

BEER 12 oz - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps - NCL UDP

Blue Moon - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Bud Light - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Corona - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Corona Light - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Dos Equis - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Heineken - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Heineken Light - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Molson - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Newcastle Brown - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Peroni - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Pislsner Urquell - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Sam Adams Boston Lager - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Sam Adams Seasonal - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Stella Artois - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

 

BEER 16 oz - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps - NCL UDP

Bud - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Bud Light - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Coors Light - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Grolsch - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Michelob Ultra - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Miller Lite - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

 

CIDER'S/OTHER - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps - NCL UDP

Angry Orchard - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

Leinenkugel's Shandy - $6.95 - Yes - Yes

NA Beer - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

Strongbow Cider - $6.75 - Yes - Yes

 

VODKA - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps - NCL UDP

Absolut - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Belvedere - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Ciroc - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Grey Goose - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Grey Goose Cherry Noir - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Grey Goose 'Orange - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Grey Goose La Poire - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Ketel One - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Prairie Organic - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Russian Standard - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Smirnoff - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Soju - $9.50 - Excluded - Yes

Stolichnaya - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Stolichnaya Vanil - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Svedka - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Svedka Citron - $8.50 - Excluded - Yes

Tito's - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Ultimat - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

TY KU - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Voli - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

 

RUM - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps - NCL UDP

Bacardi - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Bacardi 8 - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Bacardi Black - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Bacardi Limon - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Bacardi Oakheart - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Bacardi Razz - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Bacardi Coco - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Brugal - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Captain Morgan - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Crusoe Silver - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Gosling's Black Seal - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Malibu - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Mount Gay Silver - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Myer's Dark - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Pussers - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Pyrat XO - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Zacapa 23 - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

BOURBON/OTHER AMERICAN WHISKEY - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps - NCL UBP

Bulleit - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Gentleman Jack - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Jack Daniels - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Jack Daniels Honey - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Knob Creek - Ask - Excluded - Surcharge

Maker's Mark - Ask - Excluded - Surcharge

Woodford Reserve - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

 

RYE/IRISH WHISKY - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps - NCL UBP

Crown Royal - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Fireball - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Jameson Cask - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Jameson Irish - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Seagram's 7 Crown - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

SCOTCH - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps - NCL UBP

Chivas Regal - $9.50 - Excluded - Yes

Dewar's 12 Year Old - $9.50 - Excluded - Yes

Dewar's White - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Glenfiddich - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Glenfiddich Select - Ask - Excluded - Surcharge

Glenfiddich Reserve - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Glenlivet - Ask - Excluded - Surcharge

Glenmorangie - $9.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Johnnie Walker - Black - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Johnnie Walker - Red - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Johnnie Walker - Blue - Ask - Excluded - Surcharge

Johnnie Walker - Gold - Ask - Excluded - Surcharge

Johnnie Walker - Platinum - Ask - Excluded - Surcharge

Macallan Select Oak - Ask - Excluded - Surcharge

Macallan Whisky Maker's - Ask - Excluded - Surcharge

 

GIN - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps - NCL UBP

Beefeater - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Bombay Sapphire - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Hendricks - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Prairie Organic - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Tanqueray - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Tanqueray 10 - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

 

TEQUILA - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps - NCL UBP

Cazadores Anejo - $16.95 - Excluded - Yes

Cazadores Blanco - $9.50 - Excluded - Yes

Don Julio Reposado - Ask - Excluded - Surcharge

Jose Cuervo 1800 - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Jose Cuervo Gold - $8.95 - Excluded - Yes

Patron Anejo - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Patron Reposado - Ask - Excluded - Surcharge

Patron Silver - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Patron Platinum - Ask - Excluded - Surcharge

 

APERITIF - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps - NCL UBP

Aperol - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Campari - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Pernod - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

COGNAC/ARMAGNAC - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps - NCL UBP

Hennessey VS - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Hennessey XO - Ask - Excluded - Surcharge

Remy Martin VSOP - $16.95 - Excluded - Surcharge

Remy Martin XO - Ask - Excluded - Surcharge

 

LIQUEUR - NCL Price - NCL Corks & Caps - NCL UBP

Amaretto Disaronno - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

B&B - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Baileys Irish Cream - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Chambord - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Cointreau - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

D.O.M. Benedictine - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Drambuie - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Kahlua - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Licor 43 - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Passoa - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Patron Cafe XO - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Patron Citronage - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Pisco - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

SOHO Lychee - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Southern Comfort - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

St. Germain - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Tuaca - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

TY KU Citrus - $9.95 - Excluded - Yes

Thank you so mich for doing this. Juices are covered under the UBP? That's a surprise.

Thank you so mich for doing this. Juices are covered under the UBP? That's a surprise.

Bar juices only. Hope this makes sense.

Bar juices only. Hope this makes sense.

 

Yes. Get it now.

Yes. Get it now.

I'm here to help. ;)

Do they offer any non alcoholic beers anywhere on the ship?

Do they offer any non alcoholic beers anywhere on the ship?

Yes. In most bars. It was Buckler.

Here are links to the compiled scans of the MDR menus, specialty restaurant menus, and Freestyle Dailies. The food & beverage menu for Harvest Caye is included with the specialty menus. I didn't really have a place for it elsewhere.

 

MDR Menus:

 

https://www.evernote.com/pub/skypadfll/escapemdrmenus-october2017

 

 

Specialty Restaurant Menus - including Harvest Caye

 

https://www.evernote.com/pub/skypadfll/escapespecialtymenus-october2017

 

 

Freestyle Dailies - Escape Western Caribbean - October 2017

 

https://www.evernote.com/pub/skypadfll/freestyle-dailies-2017-10

 

When you click on the links, you'll be taken to a page on Evernote's site where you can see the PDFs. You do not need to have an Evernote account to see them. However, if you do happen to be an Evernote user, you can pull the files into your own stack of notebooks.

 

Do not click the "Join Notebook" button. (Even though it's all green and pretty.) Click the "View Notebook" button. Despite the fact that it's gray and boring, it's really the one you want.

 

Thank you for all your work on that Beverage List (and everything else)!

Thank you for all your work on that Beverage List (and everything else)!

Glad to be of service!