Norwegian Escape Public Rooms

[bob brown]

The basic deck plans now available suggests that deck 5 has at least some extra space set aside for some public rooms/dining.

 

Existing public spaces could be enlarged, some lost, and some re-themed. For example we do not know that Breakaway+ will have an Ice Bar and Spiegel Tent. The link below provides an analysis:

 

http://wp.me/pfRKD-2oT

I would love it if the smoky casino were relocated to that deck 5 area...but pretty sure that will never happen. More like an improved Bliss type lounge, would be my guess.

[London-Calling]

If I remember correctly, Kevin Sheehan was pretty explicit about saying that the Escape class would have "an additional deck" of public space compared to the Breakaway class.

 

He seems to be wrong!

 

Escape will carry 200 extra passengers to Breakaway (lower berths). That will not warrant a whole extra deck of public spaces.

 

If the deck plans are correct, there is an extra space on deck five where about 100 cabins have been removed (compared to Breakaway). This approximately equates to an extra 25% of a deck for public spaces.

 

Below, deck 5 Breakaway:

 

Below Deck 5, Escape:

 

 

(Source: NCL/Malcolm Oliver Blog)

 

The Haven will of course be bigger and there is an entire deck of cabins.

Edited February 21, 2014 by London-Calling

[Cruisercl]

Can someone tell me if and when the Escape build will start at the Meyer Werft (sp) shipyard? Has it started yet?

 

I would love to see the process; when the Breakaway was being built there was a lot of information and links to watch the process. It was really cool....:)

 

I did not see anything mentioning this timeframe; thanks!!!

 

Happy and safe cruising all!! :D

[barnacle_boy]

Can someone tell me if and when the Escape build will start at the Meyer Werft (sp) shipyard? Has it started yet?

 

I would love to see the process; when the Breakaway was being built there was a lot of information and links to watch the process. It was really cool....:)

 

I did not see anything mentioning this timeframe; thanks!!!

 

Happy and safe cruising all!! :D

 

The first steel cutting should happen fairly soon with the keel laying sometime late this year. There are still two megaships ahead of her (RCI's first two Quantum Class), so you won't see Escape really take shape in the dry-dock until early/mid 2015.

 

Meyer Werft has, by far, the most user-friendly and information rich website out of all the major builders. Regularly updated webcams and high-res renderings.

 

http://www.meyerwerft.de

[Cruisercl]

The first steel cutting should happen fairly soon with the keel laying sometime late this year. There are still two megaships ahead of her (RCI's first two Quantum Class), so you won't see Escape really take shape in the dry-dock until early/mid 2015.

 

Meyer Werft has, by far, the most user-friendly and information rich website out of all the major builders. Regularly updated webcams and high-res renderings.

 

http://www.meyerwerft.de

 

Thank you!!!:)

[bob brown]

Meyer Werft has, by far, the most user-friendly and information rich website out of all the major builders. Regularly updated webcams and high-res renderings.

 

http://www.meyerwerft.de

 

And IMHO, they build the best cruise ships....

I've been on their's, on STX Finland, STX France, and Fincantieri....

only modern one I haven't been on to compare is Mitsubishi...

Of course, a lot depends on the specs ordered by the cruiseline, but in general, I prefer the Meyer Werft product.:)

[barnacle_boy]

And IMHO, they build the best cruise ships....

I've been on their's, on STX Finland, STX France, and Fincantieri....

only modern one I haven't been on to compare is Mitsubishi...

Of course, a lot depends on the specs ordered by the cruiseline, but in general, I prefer the Meyer Werft product.:)

 

I've also sailed on ships built for Lloyd Werft (similarly excellent) and John Brown (obviously an oldie, but built well enough to have made it that far!). You're right, some of the problem lies with the yard's respective partnerships. Carnival will use the same rehashed designs no matter where they go, but I still think that Fincantieri's build quality is appallingly bad (the discrepancy with the CO2 suppression system on Splendor between the plans and what was actually installed was pathetic). To be honest, I rank Chantiers de l'Atlantique (STX France...at least for now) pretty low down there as well. Some of it has to do with mediocre build quality, but most of it has to do with their extremely off-putting attitude. Arson and holding projects hostage for more payment and new contracts seems to be perfectly acceptable to them. It's no wonder that not many lines want to do business with them anymore. My heart sank when I heard RCI had no choice but to award the Oasis 3 contract to Chantiers because the Finnish government wouldn't help secure funding for Turku.

 

I haven't sailed on any Mitsubishi builds yet either, and I don't think I will anytime soon. No plans to sail on Princess's Diamond/Sapphire or a Japanese based line, and I can't speak German. Nonetheless, it doesn't seem like Mitsubishi has done a good job of building a rapport with cruise lines. I've heard through the grapevine that AIDA is already in talks to build a new class of ships back at Meyer Werft.

[Demonyte]

My heart sank when I heard RCI had no choice but to award the Oasis 3 contract to Chantiers because the Finnish government wouldn't help secure funding for Turku.

 

Funny you should say that. :)

 

The ultimate reason why the government backed funding didn't happen was because of the pitch black state STX is in. In Finland they already sold their remaining half of Helsinki Shipyard (home of at least some RCCL ships in the late 90's) to the Russians and closed Rauma Shipyard alltogether. STX has currently major problems with securing funding for anything, they just lost the order of two Scandlines ferries from Turku because of that too. (http://yle.fi/uutiset/stx_turku_loses_out_on_scandlines_order/7093945)

 

Also since STX has already laid off so many people here in Finland, there was a huge public opposition for government backed funding because general concensus was that the risk of STX falling down is not worth it and the money we actually have needs to be put to helping local people who already lost their jobs because of STX instead of helping a multinational company staying afloat.

 

I too would have loved to see the third Oasis class ship built here, but since the planning and many of the suppliers in the supply chain for Oasis class were originally Finnish, the new build has and still will generate a lot of business to the Finnish contractors and suppliers that used to work for STX Turku - just not the shipyard directly.

Edited February 23, 2014 by Demonyte

[barnacle_boy]

Indeed, STX is in terrible financial shape. That's why I put "for now" after mentioning STX France :) But the financial difficulty goes for Chantiers as well as Turku. The difference is that the French, both in terms of shipbuilding historically and their economy more generally, maintain a strong presence and are willing to make smart investments to secure contracts and, as a consequence, retain jobs. The French already own a substantial portion of STX France, I don't think it's too much of a stretch of the imagination to see them buying the rest in the near future.

Edited February 23, 2014 by barnacle_boy

[FreestyleNovice]

But when you open those sliding doors a gale blows in. Plus you could look into the adjacent balconies. So guess they are sheltering the waterfront entrance!

 

Yep it's there on Breakaway as well..

 

Breakaway mid-aft in NY by single_cruiser, on Flickr

 

Looks like they may frost the glass as currently from that spot you can see this..

 

View from End of Waterfront by single_cruiser, on Flickr

 

Nice pics! It seems to be an addition, the render one is more extended (far over the MOB boat and the Marine Ark box (lifesaver))?

[KeithJenner]

Nice pics! It seems to be an addition, the render one is more extended (far over the MOB boat and the Marine Ark box (lifesaver))?

 

 

I think it's basically the same. Renderings are not always totally accurate, and did to the different ship designs, there is no reason why it would be exactly the same, but it looks close enough.

 

Craig is right about the wind blowing through those doors. From memory, the glass on the Breakaway isn't a solid wall, but has gaps (I assume that's how the final picture was taken.

 

Perhaps they've decided to close the gaps and have it frosted. Just as likely is that this is how it's come out on the renderings and it will be the same as the Breakaway.

 

Whatever, I don't think it's anything major.

[barnacle_boy]

I think it's basically the same. Renderings are not always totally accurate, and did to the different ship designs, there is no reason why it would be exactly the same, but it looks close enough.

Whatever, I don't think it's anything major.

 

Actually, FreestyleNovice is absolutely right! Nice catch there, wouldn't have caught it myself. Here's a comparison of deck plans. Escape's Waterfront indeed extends considerably further forward than on Breakaway/Getaway. They've lost 18 balcony cabins for some sort of new public area. Will be interesting to see if the location, and the glass windscreen enclosure, will lead to something different from what's on Breakaway/Getaway.

 

Getaway (Early version with redacted Grammy Experience)

 

Escape

[KeithJenner]

Actually, FreestyleNovice is absolutely right! Nice catch there, wouldn't have caught it myself. Here's a comparison of deck plans. Escape's Waterfront indeed extends considerably further forward than on Breakaway/Getaway. They've lost 18 balcony cabins for some sort of new public area. Will be interesting to see if the location, and the glass windscreen enclosure, will lead to something different from what's on Breakaway/Getaway.

 

 

 

Getaway (Early version with redacted Grammy Experience)

 

 

 

 

Escape

 

 

 

Hmm, yes, I see what you mean. You can actually see it by counting the number of balconies above, or windows below, this area covers.

 

If there is more space on 8 here, and some on 5 then that is potentially a reasonable amount of new public space.

 

I really need to have a better look at these deck plans. I'm stuck using my phone at the moment which doesn't help. I'm looking forward to being able to have a better look next week when I get back on my computer.

[FreestyleNovice]

Besides a walkaround above the pool stage (the big white box with the two radar domes), a bit higher rock climbing wall and a canopy above the Spice hottubs I can't see any else..

 

A bit wondering about the two tiny bumps on the Vibe deck, half circle outside the superstructure/windscreen near the hottubs. See their shades. Fancy glass bottom shower with seaview or something? :D

 

As soon as the build starts an Everything Escape topic needs to be started! :)

[barnacle_boy]

I have a feeling that the the little bumps on Deck 19 are for cantilever hot tubs. The projections look to be about the right size and they are a popular fixture on other lines, particularly RCI. One of the weakest aspects of NCL's latest ships is the severe lack of pool/hot tub capacity. Hopefully NCL has figured this out and this will be a step towards solving the issue. The bumps are also positioned well if the divisions are maintained from Breakaway/Getaway. One cantilever hot tub for the haven, one for Vibe, and two for the public sundeck area.

[FreestyleNovice]

I have a feeling that the the little bumps on Deck 19 are for cantilever hot tubs. The projections look to be about the right size and they are a popular fixture on other lines, particularly RCI. One of the weakest aspects of NCL's latest ships is the severe lack of pool/hot tub capacity. Hopefully NCL has figured this out and this will be a step towards solving the issue. The bumps are also positioned well if the divisions are maintained from Breakaway/Getaway. One cantilever hot tub for the haven, one for Vibe, and two for the public sundeck area.

 

Sticking with that. :D On the (older?) renders an even bigger bump is seen:

 

[time2cruise1]

Sticking with that. :D On the (older?) renders an even bigger bump is seen:

 

 

If those bump outs are hot tubs I don't want to book the Haven suites with their balconies directly below them:eek:

[FreestyleNovice]

If those bump outs are hot tubs I don't want to book the Haven suites with their balconies directly below them:eek:

 

Quick collage:

 

 

It appears so..? But extra hot tubs are welcome anytime, can't have enough of them on a cruise ship. :D

[time2cruise1]

Quick collage:

 

 

It appears so..? But extra hot tubs are welcome anytime, can't have enough of them on a cruise ship. :D

 

I guess. The more human soup bowls the better :eek:

[bob brown]

Now if those tubs had glass bottoms, that would be interesting.....sort of 'one-upping' those skywalks on the Royal Princess.....

[time2cruise1]

Now if those tubs had glass bottoms, that would be interesting.....sort of 'one-upping' those skywalks on the Royal Princess.....

 

Then I might want a balcony under them :D:D:D

[CruisinMaterial]

One thing is certain from the deckplans there will be more public space. Most of deck 5 has been added to 6,7,8 on the Breakaway/Getaway class. I was told the noodle bar and Bliss will no longer be in the casino space but not sure where they are going.

 

Bliss needs severe enlargement. It's postage stamp size and it's poor location for bathrooms was a bit silly on Breakaway and Getaway. It worked fine where it was on Epic and the size it was on Epic. You could get cozy and lounge or get up and dance if you wanted to. The LED lights are cool but the room needs to be a LOT bigger. :cool:

[London-Calling]

Escape's Waterfront indeed extends considerably further forward than on Breakaway/Getaway. They've lost 18 balcony cabins for some sort of new public area.

 

Well spotted guys.

 

With extra passengers the Waterfront will need a little help.

 

It curious that we agree that there is a new space created on deck 5, but no new windows on the rendering - just cabin style windows.

 

Mind you renderings can be revised!;)

[FreestyleNovice]

Having compared the Breakaway and Escape's deck plans and searching on the renders, here are my further speculations;

 

- Spa pool appears to be very wide, deck 16 on top of the bridge, a peek inside:

- Studios will have a small three story atrium?

- Missing port and starboard balconies and have 2 disabled side by side on deck 12 and 14 (near aft, hump). Stateroom numbers also jump. Hallway? Flaw?

- Larger midship hump on Escape, hallway also bumps out making it regular balconies.

-Splash back to 1 floor?

- Extended sundeck on port side of the large funnel?

- Pooldeck/H2O deck is a bit wider with a slight bump but nothing significant to spot?

[barnacle_boy]

The "very wide" spa pool looks like the reflection of the deck above the bridge. Since you can see the balcony openings on the port side of the ship through the DOS/OS, it doesn't appear that this model has any meaningful interior structure.

 

The rendering of the Studio Lounge doesn't appear to have an atrium. The plans show three dispersed flights of stairs (rather than the circular staircase on Breakaway/Getaway), so it seems unlikely. Would be nice though!

 

 

The bumps on the pool decks are peculiar since they don't naturally mesh well with the layout of Breakaway/Getaway's pool decks. Honestly, NCL needs to work on this area anyway, so a redesign would be great!

 

Another interesting thing is that the DOS layout appears to have changed substantially. The rendering shows the master bath opening onto a balcony, which is completely different from the layout on Breakaway/Getaway.On top of that, the DOS description now says "it’s 1,307 square feet of luxury at sea with two spacious balconies." A return to the sort of two balcony OS on the earlier Dawn/Jewel Class? The extra 100 sq. ft. from an additional side balcony?