Got away on the GETAWAY!

Got away on the GETAWAY!

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I just returned home Saturday (Jan 24, 2015) from a fantastic cruise on NORWEGIAN GETAWAY. I've been wanting to sail on the Breakaway Class since NCL first released details, but somehow I never got around to it until now. Trying out new ship designs is sort of a hobby of mine, so GETAWAY was up against some tough competition. In the past few years I've sailed the latest designs of all the major cruise lines, including the Oasis & Quantum Class with Royal Caribbean, the Solstice Class with Celebrity, Fantasia Class with MSC Cruises, Dream Class with Carnival, Royal Class with Princess Cruises, Dream Class with Disney, and Signature Class with Holland America. So how did GETAWAY stack up? Extremely well! I could not have been more impressed with the ship and in fact how the entire NCL experience has evolved since my last experience a few years ago. My last few cruises on NCL were mediocre at best so the line sort of fell out of favor with me. All that changed with GETAWAY and now NCL is a new favorite! Perhaps not quite a new favorite since I started sailing on NCL back in 1980 on the legendary NORWAY. They were a favorite back then, went through many years of management changes, no direction and hard times, and now have come back with a vengeance to be an industry leader. I'm so pleased to see Norwegian back on top, with a great product that is well executed and excellent new hardware that can go head to head with any other new mega-ship out there. It's funny because I honestly wasn't expecting to love GETAWAY so much, especially after sailing on Royal Caribbean's latest the QUANTUM OF THE SEAS just a few months ago. She is an impressive ship to be sure, but I actually preferred GETAWAY. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why, except to say the ship had a fantastic vibe about her that just hit home with me.

Booking GETAWAY was a last minute decision. I only booked about six days before my sailing and being that my partner and no friends were available on such short notice, I went solo. This prospect left me a bit apprehensive but in the end it was a non issue. I met so many great people onboard and never had to be alone unless I wanted to be. I was hoping to book one of the solo Studio cabins but they were sold out. Fortunately NCL extended the single rate to a standard inside cabin so I was able to enjoy a full sized cabin to myself with no single supplement.

I decided to arrive at the pier early for one particular reason. I wanted to secure a weekly pass to Vibe, the private sun deck. I figured with 4000 other passengers onboard and my love of spending peaceful time on deck in the sun, a spot at Vibe might be crucial to my enjoyment. I discovered only 60 spots are sold to Vibe and you cannot pre-purchase online. The key is being one of the first to embark and going directly to Guest Relations to purchase your pass. My partner dropped me off at the pier around 10:40am and even that early I was in Group 10 to board. Thankfully my plan worked and I succeeded in scoring a Vibe pass at $79 for the cruise. By the time I arrived at Guest Relations there were only about 20 Vibe passes left. They go quick! More on Vibe a little later. The embarkation process was smooth and I felt like I was boarding the ship in no time. The now infamous "washy washy" girls were the first to greet me with a quick squirt of hand sanitizer, then it was onto a red carpet lined with balloons and welcoming staff members along with music. What a nice and festive welcome! First impressions make lasting impressions right, and I immediately felt like this ship and cruise were going to be something special and I was right.

First stop was Guest Relations then a quick tour of the ship and a bite to eat in the Garden Cafe. The cabins were ready around 1:30pm so I made my way down to 12651. When I booked there were not a lot of cabins to choose from, so I was a bit uneasy about this cabin location. It's only a couple cabins away from the aft elevators down a center hall right off the foyer. Surely it was going to be noisy. The reality was it was one of the most quiet cabins I've ever sailed in. I heard absolutely nothing from either side of me or from the foyer. The cabin was small, but extremely functional and well appointed. For one person it was perfection. For two it would be tight (especially the closet space), and for three good luck! I grew to love this cabin with its hidden cubby holes for storage, large bathroom, and super comfy bed and linens. Included were an interactive TV, safe, hair dryer, mini-bar, ice, and soap/shampoo dispensers in the bathroom. One clever feature were two switches that indicated if you wanted the cabin to be serviced or not to be disturbed. When pressed, these lit specific colored lights outside the cabin door so the cabin steward always knew what was desired and if the cabin was occupied. It worked like a charm. Like all modern ships there is an energy saving feature where a card has to be inserted into a slot by the entry door to activate the electricity. The idea is to use your cruise card but any card will work. A word about the interactive TV and iConcierge App available on your smart phone. From the TV you can book and reserve shore excursions, featured entertainment, and times for dining. You can also view everything you have booked on a calendar feature. In addition there are pay per view movies (some are free), regular programming and news channels, ship information channels, and the ability to view your shipboard account. The iConcierge App for your smartphone works very similar to the interactive function of the TV with some important exceptions. While you can book and reserve events just like on the TV, you can't change or cancel them, and there is no calendar function to view your entire weeks schedule. I hope this is something that future releases of iConcierge will include.

First reactions to the GETAWAY were an instant like! The public areas are very attractive and flow extremely well. There are lots of places to eat, drink, and be merry! One of the greatest features that I was perhaps a bit skeptical about is the Waterfront. It's an outdoor deck and promenade on Deck 7 where most of the interior public spaces flow to the outside. The majority of bars, lounges, and restaurants you stroll through on Deck 7 also feature al fresco seating out on the Waterfront. It's a fantastic connection to the sea that just doesn't exist on most new builds these days. Adding a bit of fun to The Waterfront are a couple telescopes fixed to the rail on each side which I enjoyed to spot passing ships. They worked so well I could usually determine the name of the passing ship even at night when they were ablaze with lights. The Waterfront doesn't go around the forward section of the ship, but it does go all the way around the aft section for great unobstructed views of the wake and even the sea below through windows built into the deck. Other features that impressed me were Mixx, which is a great bar between two of the included dining venues. This was a wonderful place to relax and have a drink if a table wasn't immediately available, and something sorely lacking on QUANTUM OF THE SEAS. 678 Ocean Place is the center atrium and so called because it spans decks 6, 7, and 8. The centerpiece is a beautiful chandelier that changes colors throughout the day and night. Another atrium is just forward and this might be considered the heart of the ship. It includes service outlets like Guest Relations and the Shore Excursion Desk, but also a festive and busy bar, a giant video screen, and O'Sheehan's Bar & Grill which is a great 24/7 spot for a meal, some drinks, or even a bit of bowling! Many activities take place in the atrium such as dancing, games, demonstrations, etc. It seemed there was always something going on.

Moving outside and topside is the Aqua Park with five fun filled water slides that I enjoyed over and over again. The blue slide was my favorite, maybe because it's the first one I tried. There is a rock climbing wall, mini-golf course, the spider net, bungee trampoline, a full size basketball court, and the Ropes Course. I especially enjoyed the Ropes Course as it features The Plank, which is a narrow plank extended over the side of the ship which proved to be a harrowing experience to be sure. Not so harrowing that I didn't do it twice! Don't forget to pull the chain to have your picture taken! The toddlers have a great splash pool area featuring all their favorite characters from SpongeBob Squarepants as well as a full size family swimming pool just adjacent. Not to be left out the adults have their own area all the way aft called Spice H20. It includes a large video screen, a full bar, a couple hot tubs, and a waterfall splash zone to cool off. There is another pool midship that is designated adults only and might be considered the main pool and the most active on the ship. The topside space on GETAWAY does not feel spacious and open like on other ships. It's more sectioned off and a bit disjointed, but somehow it works and I really liked it. Up one deck on 17 is the Vibe Beach Club. I touched on this earlier but let me go into more detail now. $79 for the week gets you an uncrowded and quiet deck with two hot tubs, a full bar, a rain-shower type shower to cool off, luxury cushioned chairs, unlimited towels, and superb service! The service from a dedicated staff throughout the day included cold towels, water spritzes, cookies, lemonade, and fresh fruit skewers all brought directly to your lounge chair. Talk about service! Having access to Vibe really enhanced my experience as I prefer a quiet spot where I don't have to fight for a chair even if I don't make it outside till noon or 1pm. I felt it was worth every penny. If you like to be in the center of the action by the main pool then Vibe is probably not for you. As much as I enjoyed the upper decks of GETAWAY, another main pool is badly needed as the two pools for 4000+ passengers are simply not enough. Just forward of the main pool area is the Mandara Spa and fitness center. I enjoyed a week pass to the Thermal Suite in the Mandara Spa, and this included a thermal pool, saunas, a Salt Room, steam room, heated loungers, and fantastic views over the bow of the ship. Just aft of the Mandara Spa is the fitness center. It's actually divided into two sections, with cardio facing the ocean with large windows while bodybuilding and weights were across a hall in an interior section. The fitness center is one of the few opportunities for improvement as it was far too small and crowded for a ship the size of GETAWAY.

One of the biggest surprises on the GETAWAY was the vast improvement in NCL's food and service. I believe there are 28 dining options on the GETAWAY and during my week onboard I never had a bad meal. The included main dining rooms (Savor, Taste, Tropicana), the Garden Cafe (buffet), the Flamingo Bar & Grill, and O'Sheehan's were all included and all excellent. You could exclusively dine in these venues while not spending an cent extra and be quite content. Of course there are many speciality restaurants available as well for an added charge, and all looked very inviting with beautiful surroundings and appetizing menus. Being solo this cruise the only speciality restaurant I dined at was Wasabi. This is the sushi restaurant and I must say it was excellent. Pricing was a la carte which works well for this type of dining experience. I found the Garden Cafe to be an excellent buffet restaurant with a great variety of choices, good quality, and even some surprises like hard scooped premium ice cream with toppings daily. It's rare to find this on any cruise line these days, let alone a contemporary mass-market one. A terrific alternative to the Garden Cafe is the Flamingo Bar & Grill just a deck above. In keeping with the Miami theme of GETAWAY this venue serves Latin inspired cuisine with a Cuban flair. None of these dining options could be successful without the hard working crew that brings it all together. I found the staff and crew onboard GETAWAY to be visible, motivated, friendly, and sincerely happy to be there. Management is obviously doing something right as this is probably the most profound change I found on NCL compared to previous cruises. Visibility of officers is something I rarely see on other ships, but on GETAWAY every day in the Guest Relations area the senior officers from the Hotel Director and Cruise Director on down were not only visible but actively socializing, interacting, and problem solving with any passengers that approached them. I don't think I've seen this level on interaction on any cruise line including the luxury lines like Silversea. The closest in comparison might be Disney and Azamara both of which have top notch crews based on my past experience. Even my cabin steward left me a personalized note on the last night of the cruise, something that has never happened in the past and something I will always remember. As an added bonus on this cruise I was placed on the VIP list which entitled me to some extra special treatment and events. A private Bridge visit, VIP parties in the Ice Bar and The Grammy Experience, front row seating in the Illusionarium, dinner in The Haven (it was excellent), and special treats in the cabin all enhanced my overall experience and made GETAWAY truly one of a kind!

NCL has always been known for entertainment. This goes back to the days of the NORWAY when NCL was the first and only line to feature full scale Broadway productions such as Hello Dolly. Fast forward 35 years and NCL is still delivering top notch entertainment. I place NCL side by side with Disney and Royal Caribbean as having the best entertainment at sea. Onboard GETAWAY we were treated to the Broadway production of Legally Blonde. While I'm not a particular fan of this musical it was very well done with excellent production value and talented singers and actors. Another show was Burn the Floor which received a standing ovation and was simply one of the best shows I've seen at sea. The Illusionarium is a specially created venue to house a magical dinner show complete with special effects, a story, and slight of hand to entertain while you enjoy a lovely dinner. The entire concept really reminded me of something I might find on Disney. A hint here, request the salmon as the main course. It's not on the menu but far superior to the usual offering. Other top rated entertainment can be found in Headliners where comedians from Levity Entertainment Group perform and The Grammy Experience where Grammy award winner artists entertain nightly. While I'm not much for comics, I loved the live performances in The Grammy Experience. Sugar Blue was one of the performers and his harmonica playing is not to be missed. In addition to the shows you can enjoy a supper club in The Tropicana Room, a massive casino, a piano bar in the Sugarcane Lounge, Dueling Pianos in Headliners, a DJ in Bliss Nightclub and Spice H20 outdoors, and Groove International in the atrium nightly. NCL is also known to throw some great parties, and the tradition continues on the GETAWAY. Most are in Spice H20 located outside on Deck 16 aft. Included were the Glow Party (formally the White Party), Norwegian Night Out Dance Party, and the Awesome 80's Party & Fireworks night. Yes fireworks at sea! NCL can't claim to be the first as that honor goes to Disney, but they do a nice job all themed to an 80's party. The fireworks start at 10:45pm (day 4) and are shot off the Portside of the ship. No matter how you look at it, watching fireworks at sea from a moving vessel is a lot of fun!

The ports on this cruise included St Maarten, St Thomas, and Nassau. The "milk run" as it's known in the industry and ports I've been to countless times. NORWEGIAN GETAWAY docks in all ports so no tenders are necessary. This makes for easy on and off the ship. We enjoyed excellent weather throughout the entire cruise with the exception of the first day at sea which was a bit cloudy. I didn't book any tours and basically just strolled around each port on my own, with one mission being to photograph all the other ships docked with us in port. Perhaps you have heard of train spotters and plane spotters? Well I'm a ship spotter! Our numbers are not as great as the more common train & plane spotters, but as a group we are growing as more and more people become interested in ships. In St. Thomas I did take the Paradise Point Tramway up the side of the mountain for excellent views of the island and of course ... ships!

Disembarkation was as easy as embarkation and I was off the ship in no time. It was well organized and I truly left the GETAWAY feeling that I had a vacation of a lifetime on a ship I loved and on a line I have a new admiration for. Onboard I took advantage of a future cruise deal where you put down a $250 deposit towards a future cruise and receive a $100 onboard credit on the current cruise. It's a great deal if you're certain you want to sail NCL again, and I was! It didn't take long to decide on the next one, which will be the maiden voyage of NORWEGIAN ESCAPE sailing 10 days from Southampton to Miami this October. It's hard to imagine ESCAPE will be an improvement over GETAWAY, but I'm willing to give it a shot! NCL is once again finding itself in the midst of management changes as a new President was brought onboard from Darden Restaurants and chief Kevin Sheehan abruptly resigned. Mr. Sheehan has been credited with the reinvention of Norwegian that I so enjoyed on GETAWAY, so it's a little unsettling to see him depart just as I've become reacquainted with the line. My wish is that the new leadership team can stay focused on what was started, keep the momentum going, remain innovative, and continue to evolve Norwegian into a world class cruise company.

Please enjoy the pictures that accompany this review at the links provided (top of page), and any questions are welcomed.

Ernie

Some preview pics from my picture gallery:

Great review. I plan on trying Getaway this summer.

Thanks for the interesting review can't wait to have a look through your pictures I am sailing getaway in October x

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Hi Ernie!

As always, a superb review and wonderful pictures. I really like the looks of this ship, more so than Quantum of the Seas (since I've been on neither one of them I have to rely on your pictures), and, if I didn't like the Royal-class so much, the Norwegian Getaway would be a close second-choice. I'll have to keep saving my pennies, and in a year from now see how things are going and maybe book a last minute deal too!

Keep on cruising...it's the only way, for right now, I'm able to 'get out there'!

:D

Thank you for your wonderful review and lovely photos. We can't wait to sail on the Getaway!

Just one question about the Illusionarium. I normally see steak and shrimps as the main course. It is nice to know that there are other options.

How can you request the salmon as the main course? Do you order it ahead of time? Thanks!

Ernie....we sailed the Getaway Jan 10th-17th. We left feeling like you did.

It was so impressive we have to have 2nd's! We leave next Saturday, Feb 7th to cruise on it again.

Great review and pics. Like you we booked this ship sort of spontaneously for early may and are looking f/w to a great time. :)

Great work as usual Ernie.

Norwegian Epic was the tuning point for NCL. She was of course big (slightly bigger than the Breakaway class) and very brave.

Although I found her cabins to be some of the most stylish at sea, the unconventional bathroom design freaked some people out. She was ahead of her time.

Probably 90% of Epic's features were transposed to the 'Breakaway class', except the revolutionary cabin design. However the addition of the 'Waterfront' was a brilliant addition!

In my opinion, NCL's big ship are the only ships that really compete with RCI's big floating resorts.

Escape should prove impressive, too!

I've yet to try Quantum, but she sounds like her design is influenced by NCL's 'Freestyle'.

Having multiple dining venues automatically changes the design of a ship and its feel. Wow-spaces, such as big, double and triple height rooms, tall atriums and Royal Proms become too much of a luxury. The wow comes from the choice of venues.

Welcome back! Great review Ernie!

You make me excited for my Getaway next month.

EROLLER,

My experience was similar to yours. I have been pretty loyal to royal/celebrity over the years. My experience on the NCL SKY was pretty SUBPAR. I do believe what made my experience was the PEOPLE/MANAGEMENT, Sean the Hotel Director runs a tight ship. My honest opinion is that I felt I had Celebrity level of service, and in some cases better. With RCCL/Carnival fun/activities/ and entertainment. My wife missed the WOW of the Oasis, but for me I loved it!! The SPA!! on the Oasis it is a dungeon in the bow of the ship. I am getting ready for work, however I have been meaning to share my experience with the forum and a even talk about being upgraded to a HAVEN suite.

Thank you for your wonderful review! I don't have my cruise til August, but am excited to cruise on the Getaway. It's great to see a review from someone who stayed outside of the Haven. ;) I wish I could cruise as much as you do! Maybe that will be my new hobby!:D

EROLLER,

 

My experience was similar to yours. I have been pretty loyal to royal/celebrity over the years. My experience on the NCL SKY was pretty SUBPAR. I do believe what made my experience was the PEOPLE/MANAGEMENT, Sean the Hotel Director runs a tight ship. My honest opinion is that I felt I had Celebrity level of service, and in some cases better. With RCCL/Carnival fun/activities/ and entertainment. My wife missed the WOW of the Oasis, but for me I loved it!! The SPA!! on the Oasis it is a dungeon in the bow of the ship. I am getting ready for work, however I have been meaning to share my experience with the forum and a even talk about being upgraded to a HAVEN suite.

I agree Sean is the best Hotel Director I have come across. To be honest on most ships I don't even know who it is. That is the difference with Sean. He is out there face to face all the time, interacting and listening to his passengers. Very hands-on and like you say he runs a tight ship. Fantastic guy!

Thank you for your wonderful review! I don't have my cruise til August, but am excited to cruise on the Getaway. It's great to see a review from someone who stayed outside of the Haven. ;) I wish I could cruise as much as you do! Maybe that will be my new hobby!:D

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.

Hey I've been at this cruising thing for a long time now! Just keep at it. You will catch up to me in no time!

Welcome back! Great review Ernie!

You make me excited for my Getaway next month.

Lucky you! I wish I were going again.

Great work as usual Ernie.

 

Norwegian Epic was the tuning point for NCL. She was of course big (slightly bigger than the Breakaway class) and very brave.

 

Although I found her cabins to be some of the most stylish at sea, the unconventional bathroom design freaked some people out. She was ahead of her time.

 

Probably 90% of Epic's features were transposed to the 'Breakaway class', except the revolutionary cabin design. However the addition of the 'Waterfront' was a brilliant addition!

 

In my opinion, NCL's big ship are the only ships that really compete with RCI's big floating resorts.

 

Escape should prove impressive, too!

 

I've yet to try Quantum, but she sounds like her design is influenced by NCL's 'Freestyle'.

 

Having multiple dining venues automatically changes the design of a ship and its feel. Wow-spaces, such as big, double and triple height rooms, tall atriums and Royal Proms become too much of a luxury. The wow comes from the choice of venues.

Funny I wasn't enamored with EPIC like I was with GETAWAY. Granted I haven't sailed on EPIC but I did visit her twice and had lunch onboard. Maybe I would feel differently if I sailed on her?

QUANTUM is quite different than other RCI ships for sure, but she still feels very much Royal Caribbean with perhaps a touch of Celebrity thrown in. The Dynamic Dining concept is similar to Freestyle yet still a bit different in concept. QUANTUM still has the grand WOW spaces (minus the big dining room) but even with those GETAWAY was the winner for me.

Thank you for your wonderful review and lovely photos. We can't wait to sail on the Getaway!

 

Just one question about the Illusionarium. I normally see steak and shrimps as the main course. It is nice to know that there are other options.

 

How can you request the salmon as the main course? Do you order it ahead of time? Thanks!

No need to pre-order. Just let your server know and they will take care of you. It's really meant for people with allergies but they will still give it to you if you ask no problem. Enjoy!

Hi Ernie!

 

As always, a superb review and wonderful pictures. I really like the looks of this ship, more so than Quantum of the Seas (since I've been on neither one of them I have to rely on your pictures), and, if I didn't like the Royal-class so much, the Norwegian Getaway would be a close second-choice. I'll have to keep saving my pennies, and in a year from now see how things are going and maybe book a last minute deal too!

 

Keep on cruising...it's the only way, for right now, I'm able to 'get out there'!

 

:D

Thanks David! Most would consider QUANTUM the more beautiful ship and of course she has a very expensive art collection that GETAWAY doesn't have, but for me GETAWAY just worked and had such a great vibe. Both ships were built by the same shipyard and I think hands down Meyer-Werft builds the best cruise ships. The quality just shows and this is one thing in common with both QUANTUM and GETAWAY. You might call them kissing cousins! LOL

Glad you enjoyed the review and pics!

Ernie

We had a similar experience on the Getaway. We loved it and it was our first cruise. Just curious how much was the Spa pass? We had the Vibe last time but were not impressed with it, we never had anyone come around with food/spritz etc. and most days it was too windy to sit there. So I was thinking of trying a spa pass next time.

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We had a similar experience on the Getaway. We loved it and it was our first cruise. Just curious how much was the Spa pass? We had the Vibe last time but were not impressed with it, we never had anyone come around with food/spritz etc. and most days it was too windy to sit there. So I was thinking of trying a spa pass next time.

 

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The Spa Pass is $199 for the cruise. Quite expensive actually. You might consider booking a Spa Balcony and compare the price to getting the pass. The Spa Balcony might actually work out cheaper? I suppose it depends on the sailing.

On my cruise Vibe was never windy and the service was superb. I loved every minute I spent there!

No need to pre-order. Just let your server know and they will take care of you. It's really meant for people with allergies but they will still give it to you if you ask no problem. Enjoy!

Awesome! Thanks so much! :)

Thanks so much for the review- we are on the Getaway 2/28 and are getting so excited! We have previously only sailed on Jewel class ships on NCL, so the size of this ship is a little overwhelming to me!

I know that we want to try and get Vibe passes for the week, and was wondering if you could help me figure out where Guest Relations is located compared to where we embark- do we enter the ship on Deck 6? I thin I saw in your description that Deck 6 is where Guest Relations is, and that it is forward of the main atrium- is that correct?

Any tips for the best way to get there? We will be at the pier early and plan to go directly to Guest Relations to hopefully get our passes, but I would feel better if I thought I knew where I was headed! :)

What were your impressions of the cabanas at Vibe? Any thoughts about location of them or how "comfortable" they might be? I am a sun lover, but my husband likes a bit of shade during the day,and thought a cabana might be a nice way to accomodate both preferences....

Thanks so much for the review- we are on the Getaway 2/28 and are getting so excited! We have previously only sailed on Jewel class ships on NCL, so the size of this ship is a little overwhelming to me!

I know that we want to try and get Vibe passes for the week, and was wondering if you could help me figure out where Guest Relations is located compared to where we embark- do we enter the ship on Deck 6? I thin I saw in your description that Deck 6 is where Guest Relations is, and that it is forward of the main atrium- is that correct?

Any tips for the best way to get there? We will be at the pier early and plan to go directly to Guest Relations to hopefully get our passes, but I would feel better if I thought I knew where I was headed! :)

 

What were your impressions of the cabanas at Vibe? Any thoughts about location of them or how "comfortable" they might be? I am a sun lover, but my husband likes a bit of shade during the day,and thought a cabana might be a nice way to accomodate both preferences....

NCL uses Terminal B & C in Miami. Your deck determines which terminal you embark from. B is aft and C is forward but I suppose this could be reversed if the ship docks the other direction. Anyway you embark onto Deck 7. Guest Relations is located one deck down on 6, and in the forward section closest to the forward elevator bank.

For me the Cabanas are not worth the cost although they do look comfortable and private. They all face starboard and are right up against the glass railing so they have great views. If you like sun you can't turn them around to face the sun like you can do with the lounge chairs. There are lots of umbrellas in Vibe and if you want shade just let a Vibe staff member know and they will open one up for you next to your lounge chair.

Hope this helps!

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Thanks eroller! We have an aft cabin (B1) on deck 12 so it sounds like we may be "B".... It definitely helps to know that we will embark on Deck 7 and want to head down one deck and forward- I am determined to get Vibe passes!

It sounds like the cabana may not be necessary/worth the additional expense.... although, if it costs $79 each for the passes and a cabana costs $299 for the week and incudes $100 obc that can be used anywhere (if that's actually true), it's really a pretty nominal difference for the cabana.... hmmmm....

I'm sure it's going to be fabulous either way!

Thanks for the great review and pictures.

We sailed on the Getaway last year. Like you our Getaway experience was totally different from our previous NCL trips. For that reason we sail on the Getaway again on 7/21/15!

While RCCL's Diamond and Celebrity's Elite status trumps all others, we too found NCL and the Getaway to be new favorites.