MacCruising the Escape; Jan 20-27 review

Review; Escape Jan 20-27*

Miami, Fl/Sea day/Falmouth, Jamica/George Town, Grand Cayman/Costa Maya, Mexico/revised Cozumel, Mexico/Sea day/Miami, Fl.

A little introduction…* I did a lot of research and reading prior to our vacation.* I booked this trip back in March/April so had loads of time to prepare and read reviews.* There are so many awesome reviews (thanks CruiseLifeRick, usckatieh, thedougout, POA1 and so many more!). I’m hoping this may help someone else as they eagerly await their vacation.

Here’s us – hubby, myself and DD5:

Day 1 – Embarkation

We ordered our XL Uber around 11:15 and was headed to the pier by 11:30 in a very nice, big SUV.* Our first view of her: .

Here we go!

Check in through security, getting our sea cards and embarkation was a breeze.* Left our hotel (DoubleTree Biscayne Bay) at 11:30 and on the boat by 12:15.

Wasn’t long after we boarded that we headed to Taste or maybe Savour (couldn’t keep these two straight!) for our first meal on board.

I had popcorn shrimp and a chicken Caesar

with the drink of the day; Daydreamer daiquiri (delicious).* My daughter (DD5), who’s 5, had the pizza off the kids menu but requested pineapple, which they accommodated.

More to come... (apparently I can only post 6 pics per post...and as you can tell I take a lot of pics)

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After lunch, we headed to Splash to register our DD5.* It was a bit of a wait with 6 or so families in front of us.

By the time we were done there, the announcement came on that our rooms were ready – yay!* Luggage wasn’t there but we went to check out our accommodations for the next week.* I had made one request when I started our booking last march with an NCL rep; I wanted the bed next to the balcony. *When I decided to switch from the Epic to the Escape, I reinstated this request and he assured me that that was the layout of our cabin, 11280. *This would allow us access to the balcony while my DD5 slept in the sleeper sofa as she is an early to bed kind of kid.* Every night between 7 and 8 we were in our cabin for the night (except for the Glow Party – more about that on day 6).

Lo and behold, the room layout was not as requested.* I went to see guest services about changing staterooms but got a blank stare and an 'overbooked’ comment.* This obviously wasn’t going to make or break our trip but I got a very dismissive/NCL doesn’t care about us little fish feeling right away.* It was a small request that I had made from the very beginning and was disappointed to see that it wasn’t accommodated.*

We wandered the ship for a bit and just before muster drill DD5 and I decided to get in on the spa tour.*

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Thanks for sharing. Your pics are great!!!

We had just left this weather back in Canada... won't be spending any more time in this room!

We had a lot of fun checking out the different rooms in the thermal spa before heading to muster drill in Taste/Savour.* If I wasn’t travelling with my 5 year old, I would definitely invest in the thermal pass ($199 for the week).

Then it was time for SAIL AWAY! We went up to the main deck/swimming area to take in the festivities.* Music was bumping and drinks were flowing (for me at least, we had the UDP!).* I have loads of pics of great drinks I had during the week but can’t remember all the names of them!* Thanks to amallison for her take on some of the drinks and many thanks to Warm-water Diver/PelicanBill for the complete drink spread sheet!! I printed that list and brought it with me.*

(Most of my sail away pics are on my actual camera, not my cell camera and I have to figure out how to load them)

We dedicded on O’Sheehans for supper that night as hubby was craving some wings.* We sat at the railing overlooking the atrium so we could enjoy Beau at the piano.*

*

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Great review!

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Hubby and I ordered apps plus he got prime rib for dinner, I the salmon Caesar salad and DD5 ordered the Sheppard’s pie.

I shared my app (spinach and artichoke dip) with DD5 and I’m glad I did as her meal and our original drink order only came after we were finished our main meals.** Lesson learned; always request DD’s meal to come with the apps.*

After dinner we headed back to our cabin for the evening.* We met our room attendant, Reynante, who was fantastic.* He delighted us all week with towel animals and obliged my request to have turn down service early.* I could definitely feel the boat rocking so I took a gravol before bed.* Little did I know how rocking the boat can get!

Nighty night.

*

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Can't wait for the rest! Thanks for taking the time.

Love it so far. The Escape is our favorite.

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Beautiful photos!

Great review so far! It will be our first time on the escape this March!

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Terrific review and love the photos.

Keith

I know that it is too late but if you would have asked here, we (me, probably:D ) would have told you the bed location of 11280.

11282 or (even better) 11274 would have worked for you.

We will be in 11284.....decent view from the Balcony ?....bed location ?

Following - we are on the Escape in 3 weeks!

We will be in 11284.....decent view from the Balcony ?....bed location ?

Beautiful view! The very first picture I posted of the 3 of us was from our balcony. Can't comment on bed location for 11284 though.

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I know that it is too late but if you would have asked here, we (me, probably:D ) would have told you the bed location of 11280.

 

 

11282 or (even better) 11274 would have worked for you.

I did do a bit of digging around for the layout of that room but didn't find anything. Not sure what I would've done if I did find out it wasn't the layout I requested though as our NCL agent assured me, via email, that it was the bed next to balcony layout. Call him out on it?

If I could give one piece of advice to someone considering cruising with NCL, I'd say make sure you call until you find a rep that your happy dealing with. It will set and start your vacation off right.

A few from the sail away party...

And my view today while I write this... brrrr

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I'll be on the Escape in April... following!

Glad you had a good time!

I did do a bit of digging around for the layout of that room but didn't find anything. Not sure what I would've done if I did find out it wasn't the layout I requested though as our NCL agent assured me, via email, that it was the bed next to balcony layout. Call him out on it?

It's not really the reps fault. The NCL website has "Bed Near Balcony Door" under the details tab for 11280 (which is incorrect).

For the ships in the BA/BA Plus class, the only way to be 100% sure that a side balcony/mini-suite has the bed by the balcony is if the stateroom sleeps 4. What many people in your situation do is make a mock booking with 4 people. The only side balconies that will be listed are the ones with the bed near the balcony. However, there are some that sleep 3 that also have the bed near the balcony (no pullman). In most cases (alternating layout), the stateroom next to a "bed near balcony" will be "bed near closet" for the side balcony staterooms. Aft-facing balconies which sleep 3 can be either layout.

The exceptions to the pattern make it tricky but by putting the pieces together, the likelihood of getting the desired setup is increased by reading and understanding the deck-plan (which also has errors, btw) instead of trusting NCL's descriptions. BA/GA deck plans have errors as does Escape's deck-plan so be careful. There are also different versions of deck-plans floating around out there with various errors.

Of course, pictures/descriptions from people who have stayed in the exact stateroom are best.

Thanks to amallison for her take on some of the drinks and many thanks to Warm-water Diver/PelicanBill for the complete drink spread sheet!! I printed that list and brought it with me.*

Yay! I'm excited for your review! I'm so thankful someone could benefit from my 'try as many drinks on the list as you can' experiment! There were so many delicious drinks on the lists that Warm-water Diver & PelicanBill came up with. I'll forever be grateful to them!

Excited for your great review! We sail on the Escape in March and would love to see this drink spreadsheet you referred to!

Let's continue....

DAY 2 – Sea Day

Breakfast in bed! *We ordered room service for our breakfast but as it turned out, they are pretty small portions so once we were dressed we headed to the buffet. So so busy. Walked 3/4 of the way around the back of the ship looking for a table before finding one. I eggs Benny with spinach, some salmon mouse, bacon sausage and cheese. I think my fav of the whole morning was the hot carafe of water with our room service! I had picked up my fav tea at Target before boarding the ship and I was glad to have hot water.*Turns out the carafe’s of hot water were hit and miss with some smelling of coffee (tea drinkers unite!).* I ended up keeping one and taking it to the buffet to refill.

After the buffet, we dropped DD off to Splash. Hubby and I took the opportunity to walk around the ship (the waterfront too) and stopped at O'sheehans for a drink and watched Floating hotel presentation.*

Splash;

Floating hotel presentation in the atrium;

Food Republic:

Grotto - never did make it in here.

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Wasn’t long before we picked up DD and headed to the CC M&G. NCL did a great job of this offering beers and appetizers to sample. A wonderful intimate setting to meet with some of the officers as well. This was the first time we met the Restaurant Manager, Jay Hizon but not the last. We ran into him many times over the week and each time he greeted us and chatted for a bit. He also fulfilled my request to have a jug of water delivered to our state room every afternoon, and even went further and had one delivered in the afternoon and evening! We really appreciated this and filled our water bottles often this way. I didn't love going to the buffet to get water for our bottles.

Meet and Greet:

Hubby took DD up to the slides but she only got to go down a couple times before they closed them due to poor weather.

Dinner tonight was at the Manhattan room. Relaxing, great service and delicious food. Our table was right on the dance floor and DD took advantage of that. She had the shrimp and mushroom Alfredo pasta, Derek and I had steaks. He had Caesar salad for app and I had salmon tartar - delicious! I have to say we were pleased with the speed and taste of our first 2 meals in main dining rooms. Also want to mention we never had a wait getting into the MDR's. Mind you we ate early - between 6 and 7 every night.

Salmon tartar:

If I ordered dessert, hubby would order single Glenmorangie (they were generous with the alcohol!);

This is what happens when you don't pay a photographer; (had planned on going to the studio later in the week but things went down hill);

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We walked around the ship for a bit after that then DD and hubby called it a night. I headed to sugarcane mojito bar. Met some fellow CC peeps and had a wonderful night of chatting.

Jonathan and Christian are the bartenders and they were excellent – entertaining and damn good mojito’s. Tried the Raspberry guava, Spicy Passion and the pineapple coconut one (this quickly became my fav).

Tried to grab some grub after a great evening chatting it up, but the buffet was closed and I didn’t see food at the casino. Off to bed… tomorrow Jamaica!

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