Getaway Review

[wiselindag]

I am an avid cruiser and always try to write a review while on board (though I don't always get around to posting it when I return!) Here are my experiences and impressions of the new Getaway, from which we disembarked on Saturday.

 

February 22, 2014 – Embarkation and First Day

 

There is always excitement when about to embark on a voyage, and that feeling of anticipation is intensified when the ship is brand new, so we were more than ready to board the Norwegian Getaway in its third week of cruising from the Port of Miami. My six companions and I were bound for St. Martin, St. Thomas and Nassau, but truth be told, the ship was the destination and we were bound for the new Getaway which was incidentally sailing around the Caribbean for a week.

 

I was sailing with a family close enough to be considered relatives of mine, although they are not. The group consisted of two octogenarians who are frail and needy, their sons, both in their 40’s, one grandson, one girlfriend and me. We have all sailed together previously on the Epic and the Breakaway and also sailed together on the Pearl. In all, I have been on 43 cruises.

 

First impressions are important, and in that respect, the shore-side team came up as big winners on day 1. We needed to check in and get our key cards at Terminal C, but one of our party had reserved a scooter with Special Needs Group, and that needed to be picked up at the Access Desk at Terminal B. Because we were in the Haven, our first stop after security was Priority Check-In, and Amir came to our rescue. He arranged for two wheelchairs for our elderly guests and took us upstairs where he and the scooter occupant could go over to the desk and obtain the scooter. Then they met us at the gangway so we could all get on board together. The operation was seamless and we were on the ship quickly and efficiently, so compliments to Amir, who really understands guest service.

 

We headed up to the Haven and found our old friend with whom we have sailed two and now a third time, Anoop Bhanu, the Concierge on this ship. Anoop is a consummate professional and we were very pleased to have him work with us on this trip. No matter what we need, Anoop is always there to assist. In fact, he came down to greet us before we ever got on the ship after seeing our names on the list. He and his assistant, Ram, quickly got my list of requested dining venues and shows arranged into a schedule Ram termed a “work of art.” The third member of the Concierge team, Noemi, was also very helpful all week.

 

We met our cabin team, the Steward Achmed, and the Butler, Gian, both of whom demonstrated excellence within the first few hours and throughout the week. We were able to exchange our Welcome Champagne for red wine, and I got the bathrobe I requested along with a topper for my very firm bed. Later, when the Scooter guest needed to get his scooter charged, Gian came up with a plan to make that happen overnight.

 

There were some glitches, though no fault of the ship’s staff. I had checked with the Access Desk at Norwegian concerning the door width and the scooter to make sure it was feasible to use in a non-handicapped cabin. I was assured in writing that it would be no problem. Sure enough, when we brought the scooter on board, it fit through the door of the cabin. Unfortunately, the hallways are so narrow on this ship, though, that there was insufficient room to turn the scooter in order to get in. Our staff fixed the problem by allowing the scooter to be parked in the lounge opposite our cabin, but I'm not sure what happens with scooters and perhaps wheelchairs elsewhere on the ship.

 

We lunched in the Haven Restaurant. Before noon, when the restaurant opened, the staff passed around Sliders and fries on oversize plates, a perfect lunch snack which helped alleviate the usual crush to gain entry to the restaurant when it opened at 12. Kudos to the person who thought of that!

 

Lunch was the same as it always is in the Haven… they have kept the menu the same and since it’s a good menu, I would suggest they simply add a special or two every day to create some interest and variety. Three of us lunched there and we each ate something different. For me, after seeing the sliders, I ordered a Cheeseburger, which came with fries. The Cheeseburger was very good, but the French Fries were just average… not really worth the calories. Definitely worth every calorie, though, was dessert. I always order the Brownie with Macadamia Nut Ice Ceam on the first day, and I am never disappointed… it’s delicious.

 

After lunch, it was time for some quick walk around the ship to explore before the safety drill. I surveyed the buffet and thought the assortment and presentation were both very good. Pretty much everything you could think of was there including hot dishes, Asian food, Pizza, Pasta, a carving station, grill items, salads and desserts.

 

The Safety Muster Drill was quick and efficient, which is not surprising since the Cruise Director was Julie Valeriote., and that kind of efficiency is her hallmark. She tells you what you need to know and gets you out of there quickly. I like Julie very much and was very pleased that she ran the show this week… excellent Cruise Director!

 

After an excellent dinner in La Cucina (Fettucine with Lobster was my entrée), I went to the Welcome Aboard Show and thought it was quite good. Jeff Hobson is a very funny comedic magician and he did a great job, as did the cast of “Legally Blonde” and Burn the Floor.

The folks I have issues with are the designers of the Getaway. Many spaces are smaller. For example, how can you justify the suite prices on a ship where the suite balconies have shrunk to embarrassingly small sizes? I have had more space and better seating (with foot rests… did someone forget the foot rests??) in balcony cabins on other cruise lines than what we have on this ship. The Haven Suites on the Jewel Class ships and the Epic were all good sizes… the balcony we had on Getaway was ridiculously small.

 

The two bedroom suite on the Epic was perfect. As on the Breakway, the designers of the Getaway moved the bathroom of the second bedroom to the other side of the cabin and made the bed too big. As a result, when you open the bathroom door, it bangs into the bed. In my opinion, that is a stupid design. The hallways are too narrow making it difficult to get around when the cleaning carts are out there. As previously noted, getting a scooter or wheelchair into cabins can be a problem because there’s no room to turn.

 

I noticed there was no information on the elevators regarding what is to be found on each floor. There is an electronic sign in each elevator but there is no information displayed so perhaps that is in the plans, but has not yet come to fruition.) It would help people get where they are going.

 

My last issue is the Casino, partly because none of the games I like are there. They have substituted a bunch of machines with incomprehensible games on them which cost more money and are impossible to understand. $3.00 a pull on a penny machine is highway robbery. Playing a machine on which you have no idea how to win and on which what appear to be winning lines are either not compensated or compensated with half of what you just bet are annoying. Reading all the instructions?? You could read them all night and it still wouldn’t make sense.

 

Sunday, February 23 – Sea Day

 

Total relaxation! Breakfast in the Haven and for me, Crab Cakes Benedict along with lots of fruit from the buffet. A morning of exploration … checking out the pool deck and then heading down to Cagney’s for the Cruise Critics Party. A big plus for Norwegian—the senior officers always turn out for the CC party and they make themselves available to chat and answer questions, too. I had the opportunity to renew my acquaintance with the CD, Julie, and also to chat with Sean Wurmhoeringer. the Hotel Director and Errol Bailey, the F and B Manager… all excellent officers who really listen to passengers input.

 

I often like to sample foods in the buffet for lunch, but wanted to check out the new Tropicana Bar and Grill which features Cuban food. It was good… Maduros, Fried Yucca, Empanadas, Chicken Croquettes, Pulled Pork, Cuban Burgers, pastellitos, Flan, Rice Pudding and more.

 

I wanted to relax during the afternoon and sat both up on the Haven deck and down in the Haven courtyard for many hours, reading a book, chatting with fellow passengers, and enjoying the sunshine.

 

We had a cocktail party with Haven guests and all the senior staff and Captain at 6:30, followed by the theater performance of “Burn the Floor” and then a late dinner in Moderno. The show was excellent and the dinner good. I’m not sure if the Moderno buffet and menu has gotten old for me or if the execution on this ship is not as good as the others, but it was somewhat disappointing. I do like the Salad Bar, and this one seemed as good as the ones we have enjoyed on the Pearl, the Epic, and the Breakaway, but somehow the meat was underwhelming.

 

Monday, February 24 – Sea Day

 

Two sea days in a row made for a very relaxing cruise! That, coupled with the time change (we lost an hour over night) caused me to oversleep and miss the Haven breakfast, but no problem. I checked out the Buffet, where they were still serving breakfast, and discovered they were still serving breakfast in the Tropicana Grill, too. Breakfast Sandwiches, Scrambled Eggs and Bacon, and more Pastellitos… plenty to eat! I took a couple of extra turns on deck and returned to the Buffet when it opened for lunch to check the Asian food. Today it was Noodles with Beef, Saffron Rice, Dal, Curry, and a cheese dish. Then I had my customary ice cream and headed back up to the Haven for a wonderful afternoon of reading and lazing.

 

Tonight we went to the Illusionarium… the new magic show which has a dinner attached to it. The concept was clever, but the magic acts were ordinary. Jeff Hobson’s act is a portion of the one he does when he performs on the regular stage… I’ve seen his magic acts before and he performed the same familiar tricks. The other people were unfamiliar to us, but their magic tricks were not original or especially interesting. It is always fun, though, to see magic up close and we were seated very near the raised platform on which the tricks were performed. The dinner was also familiar from the Circus on Epic and Breakaway… salad, Filet Mignon (this time with a pepper sauce with too much pepper for my taste), Potatoes and Broccoli (not sure why they chose the latter!), and a dessert sampler. I ate some of it and later had a snack in the Noodle Bar. The Noodle Bar has a limited menu, but the Chef, who was very pleasant to speak with, said you can mix and match and change the menu items if you don’t see what you want. I questioned the presence of red peppers in the Singapore Noodles since the menu did not list them among the ingredients and I chose not to order the Lo Mein because that dish did list them. Both the waiter and the chef said to cross off what you don’t want, but you can’t cross off what isn’t listed.

 

Tuesday, February 25 – St. Maarten

 

Tuesday dawned sunny and warm and the entire day was just about perfect from a weather perspective. After rising in a leisurely fashion and having breakfast, we left the ship and took a taxi across the island to Marigot. We always go to the French Market there and I went in search of the artist, Mika. Last year I bought a print from her and it now sits in my new condo. Since I love that print, I wanted to go back and get more of her work, but remembered to take cash with me since she doesn’t take credit cards. I ended up with five new prints and six tiles which will ultimately fit into my kitchen backsplash… love everything I bought. Then we took a taxi back to the ship and I headed for the Wifi Center on the pier ($8 for an hour). We had a long day today, docked from 8 am until 6 p.m. When I returned to the ship, I went to my favorite lunch spot – the Tropicana Bar and Grill – for a snack since I had skipped lunch and we had an early dinner scheduled. The Cuban cuisine was delicious. Then I took advantage of an empty Haven courtyard area and read my book until I dozed off for an hour or so.

 

Dinner tonight was the Chef’s Table gourmet dinner, which is held in the Haven Restaurant. It was the same menu we had the last time (nine courses along with wine pairings) we did this dinner on Epic, but it was all just as excellent. I would suggest that they decrease portion sizes, though. They are so large that by the time you get to the end, it's difficult to find the space for the veal chop. They gave us a souvenir menu and set of photographs along with after-dinner coffee and drinks in the lounge.By the end of the evening we had enjoyed conversing with most of the people at the table... lovely dining companions.

 

Wednesday, January 26 – St Thomas

 

Another gorgeous day and another leisurely start with breakfast in the Haven. I was bound for my inexpensive internet place – the Buddha - where for $5 I had unlimited internet use for the full day. I didn’t have a full day, of course, since the ship was scheduled to sail at 4, but I did get a good quiet hour and a half to get some work finished. Then I shopped in the Havensight stores and took a good look at our companions at the pier – the Disney Fantasy and the Freedom of the Seas.

 

For lunch, I ate in the buffet so I could eat some Indian food. I had noticed a lack of Mango Chutney on the counter in my previous visit, so I asked one of the guys for some. He told me it would take a few minutes, but eventually he returned with a jar and doled some out to me. I suggested he tell his boss the chutney should be out in a dish on the counter, but there were cost savings in evidence throughout the ship (no Splenda even in the Haven, which seems silly to me given the prices of the suites, but apparently not to the Norwegian Revenue folks). At any rate, I said I would be surprised if the chutney reappeared without asking for it… so stay tuned.

 

Some quiet reading time up on deck was a pleasure and then the horn boomed on our ship followed by “Wish Upon A Star” from the Disney ship, and it was time to depart. I always enjoy watching the ships leave port and given the scenic island of St. Thomas, the beautiful blue waters, and the bright sunshine, this departure was no exception. We had an early dinner scheduled in Le Bistro so we could go to the 7:30 performance of “Legally Blonde”, so we were the first diners in the restaurant. Dinner was as it always is in Le Bistro… good. I had the Escargot and the Duck Two Ways followed by the Crème Brulee. Then we saw the show… very silly, but well performed. I wish I could say the same for my performance in the Casino, but that had been disappointing in many ways, and this night was no exception. I usually have a few fun nights in the Casino on a cruise ship (I won't say I win much because it is, after all, a cruise ship and I don't expect that), but this one seemed exceptionally tight, and every night was a disappointment.

 

Thursday, February 27, 2014 – Sea Day

 

Perfect day in many respects. The weather was sunny and warm all day… ideal for lying in a deck chair enjoying the ocean. The seas were calm. I sometimes forget that my favorite pastime on a cruise ship is reading in a deck chair and today was a great day for that. Breakfast in the Haven as usual, but I had reached a point in the week where I needed to dial back a bit on the overeating, so instead of a Waffle or Pancakes or French Toast, I opted for Fruit and Oatmeal. (Note: I gained six pounds on this one-week cruise. Given what I ate, that is not surprising but I can't pass up dessert with every meal and often have more than one... then there's that Cuban food with all the fried items and four course dinners, and it wouldn't have surprised me if I had gained even more.!)

 

After breakfast, I took my computer down to the IT guy to figure out how to get back on line. For several nights, I had been unable to work but, am happy to report that after much effort, he was able to figure out how to get me back on line on the ship. I then spent some time working in the internet area while listening to the Magicians Round Table, an interesting bit of Q and A with the magicians including some history about the Illusionarium and the magicians themselves.

 

Then it was back up to the Haven Roof Deck for some chat with cruisers and a lovely time in the sun with a great breeze… the perfect spot on the ship… quiet and great conditions. For lunch, I went back to the Tropicana Bar and Grill and enjoyed seeing friends from earlier in the week who were sampling the food for the first time. That’s another pleasure which goes along with sea days later in the week… you can visit with all the friends you have accumulated during the week. After lunch it was back up to the roof deck area for more reading and a little napping. The afternoon stayed perfect from beginning to end.

 

Dinner was at Cagney’s, the Steak House we always enjoy. Following dinner we attended the Levity Live Comedy Show with Quinn Dahle. While the steak was excellent at Cagney’s, there were two problems. It was extremely noisy and difficult to hear what others were saying at the table and service was slow. Both issues were due to a full house, but the staff serving our table were quick to make amends. We were so late leaving the restaurant, that I thought we would miss the comedy show, but as it turned out, we were able to get in and take some of the last stools remaining in Headliners. The Maitre D’ offered us extra wine to compensate for the slowness of the service, to be delivered to Le Bistro for our final dinner.

 

Friday, February 28 – Nassau

 

We were not due to arrive into Nassau until noon, so the morning was once again leisurely, although very different because it was raining. I took a stroll around the ship and after we docked, noticed that we were parked next to the Disney Fantasy and the Celebrity Constellation on one side, and the Disney Wonder and the Disney Dream on the other side… lots of ships in port! I was especially happy to see the Constellation... an old friend on which I sailed twice.

 

Given the weather conditions, we were happy to stay on board and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. I had a light Asian lunch in the buffet and ok, I admit it, went up to the Haven Restaurant for a few more courses including soup, salad, and dessert… couldn’t resist one more serving of the most excellent Brownie with Macadamia Nut Ice Cream.

 

I spent the rest of the afternoon reading and packing so I’d have the evening free to enjoy dinner and one more turn in the Casino… it may be a very unsatisfying Casino, but the slot machines kept calling to me.

 

Dinner was quite good and comical in a way. Since we complained about the snail-paced service in Cagney’s the night before, the team in Le Bistro seemed determined to move us right along and out in record time. While dinner last night took two hours, the Le Bistro dinner tonight was finished in just over an hour… very funny. Although the Cagney’s Maitre D’ had promised two bottles of wine for tonight, no wine appeared on the table, but we asked the Le Bistro team to check and two bottles of red wine were brought over. Several people have recommended the Le Bistro steak to me, and since this was our second visit of the week, it seemed a good time to check it out. Indeed, the steak was excellent… tender and delicious. I also had the Mushroom Soup, Salad, and the Tarte Tatin a la mode and enjoyed the meal quite a bit.

 

Saturday, March 1 – Miami Debarkation

 

Debarkation with assistance from Anoop, was as easy as embarkation. We ordered a wheelchair and were escorted down and off the ship in record time. We went to the exit and found the Special Needs folks in order to return the scooter. It turned out that the staff person was the President of the company, so I was able to meet him and discuss the issue with the scooter and the turning problem on the Getaway.

 

All in all, with my small quibbles, this was an excellent cruise on a beautiful new ship. I would recommend it for families, young adults, and those who enjoy Freestyle, casual cruising. I would especially recommend it for those who can afford to cruise in the Haven since Norwegian really does a great job with its suites and ship within a ship concept.

 

A final note - We purchased the Ultimate Dining Package, but in doing the Math, it was clear that we would have saved money without it. Because we dined at the Chef's Table and at the Illusionarium, both of which were not included, and also in restaurants with lower charges (La Cucina, Moderno, and Le Bistro), because I am Platinum and we therefore had coupons for specialty dining, we overspent. We also ended up not eating dinner in the Haven even one night, and have enjoyed that experience in the past, but with the UDP, we wanted to eat at a Specialty Restaurant every chance we got.

 

I welcome your questions and will do my best to provide answers.

[mrobstad]

Best review ever! Can't wait to getaway on 4/12.

 

 

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[miataman19]

Very thorough review. Thank you. Will be sailing in June on Getaway in our first Haven Suite on NCL. Looking forward to it.

 

 

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[Sundiego]

Really enjoyed your review! Thanks for so much detail!!

[cinglehart]

Wonderful review, thank you! We sail in May and first time in Haven we are very excited. This will be our third cruise in two years, just love NCL. Glad you had a good experience.

 

 

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[inghilch]

Thanks so much for your thorough review. Love all the dining tips. Did you speak to anyone that dined at ocean blue? I purchased the UDP for my upcoming 4/12 cruise. Agree I may not utilize it fully but one major bonus is I've been able to make prime time reservations for the week ahead of time. Definitely worth it for that! Can you also give me info about the chef table. Is that for Haven guests only?

[Demonyte]

Thanks so much for your thorough review. Love all the dining tips. Did you speak to anyone that dined at ocean blue? I purchased the UDP for my upcoming 4/12 cruise. Agree I may not utilize it fully but one major bonus is I've been able to make prime time reservations for the week ahead of time. Definitely worth it for that! Can you also give me info about the chef table. Is that for Haven guests only?

 

I'm not OP, but you can make speciality dining reservations in advance with or without UDP, so that is not exactly a bonus from having the package. ;) Chef's table is open for all, very limited seating, sign up at Guest Services. Cost ($75pp, I think?) includes wines paired with the food.

[sdmike]

Thanks for your review. I'm glad you had a good time!

[wiselindag]

With regard to Ocean Blue, we ate there on Breakaway (had to try it although I was very unhappy with such a huge upcharge!) The food was excellent, and others who ate there on Getaway also said the food was terrific, so that's not the issue. What is in issue for me, and a big one, is that they only give you three courses (starter, entree, and dessert) for your extra $49. If you want a soup and a salad or salad and appetizer, there is an additional charge. What nerve! On a cruise ship! I won't eat there again.

 

As to the Chef's Table, it came up as an option when I went into dining reservations. On the Epic last year, we were given reservations but then told it was full. Our Concierge got us in, but clearly it fills up very fast since it's just one long table for about 12 people. If you want it, and if you are a foodie I think it's well worth it, I would try to make the reservation in advance since Guest Services on Day 1 could be too late.

[inghilch]

Great, thank you. That's helpful re Ocean Blue and Chef Table. We are definitely foodies and tried the Chef Table experience on a Royal Caribbean Europe cruise. It was a highlight.

Re dining reservations and the UDP. What I meant is I though it was easier to pay the $119 and then I could may several reservations at various times instead of being charged for each restaurant. I'm looking at it more like it makes the specialty dining all inclusive. Easier for me. Maybe not for everyone. Thank you again for your help!

[seguincruiser]

Was there a place to cool off on the roof top deck?

[CruiseGirlKS]

Great review! :)

[Winchester Ranger]

Great review - it certainly makes me relieved that we sprung for a Haven Suite.

 

But I have certainly heard several comments about the incredibly small balconies - they even look tiny in the NCL promotional photos, so that would be a disappointment especially as we like to eat breakfast on the balcony - maybe we'll just have to take turns !! :D

[OnTheGoMom921]

Terrific review...although I gained 2 pounds just from reading it! ;)

 

We did the Haven on the Breakaway, and it really makes a difference in your relaxation quality

[wiselindag]

If I mentioned all the desserts I ate, I would have been embarrassed, and you would have gained even more from reading it, OntheGoMom!

 

The roof deck is open with glass shields, so lots of breeze when under way. There is an area inside on that level which has comfortable lounges (have fallen asleep there lots of times on assorted ships!) which is air conditioned, but you miss the view of the water... just a view of the Haven.

 

We also used the UDP as a sort of easy pass in the same way that I like the soda pass, but you still get a bill in each restaurant and you still need to add tips, of course. The UDP does appear in the booking although the confirmation I received after purchasing them for our party was completely blank! The on land Concierge said, "don't worry -- we see it on the screen." You get a sticker on your keycard, by the way and another neat feature (wish I'd known the first time or I would have ordered more lobster, I thought, although that woud have been silly in the steak restaurant) is that they waived the extra charge items in Cagney's.

[gelo7]

Excellent review.

[Fairydust312]

Thank you so much for your review. Quick question about the Haven. Is there an outdoor eating area for breakfast and lunch similar to the Haven on the Jewel class ships? Or is it more like the Epic where the Haven grill is off to the side and enclosed?

[Ironmikereith]

The bed in the second room is it the same size as the bed on the Epic. I just got off the Epic and was suprised the size of the bed in the second bedroom. I heard that it was very small but my wife and I were satisfied with it (I am 6'1" and 240).

[wiselindag]

There is an outdoor grill area in the courtyard of the Haven... no indoor casual area as there is on the Epic.

 

Yes, the bed is the same size, but the room is smaller and the bathroom is next to the bed so the door bangs into it all week.

[jdrouin]

Great review! Thank you for taking the time to post.

[Wildcatllamas]

What a wonderful review. I will be on the Getaway in May and after your review so looking forward to it. I have a couple of questions.

 

The steak with pepper sauce at Illusionarium - can it be ordered without the pepper sauce? I have issues with to much pepper.

 

When was the earliest you were able to make reservations for the Chef's Table?

[wiselindag]

Wildcatllamas - I know you can ask for alternate dining items at illusionarium... two of our group are vegetarians and they had a different entree. You can certainly request the steak without the "au poivre." I am not certain they can do that, but I suspect it's possible. If not, you can simply order whatever alternatives are offered. They did inquire also about food allergies.

 

I don't know how early you can reserve the Chef's Table, but suspect it's probably whenever Specialty Dining opens up. If you are in the Haven, check with the Land Concierge. If not, ask Guest Relations.

[alishac]

Wildcatllamas - I know you can ask for alternate dining items at illusionarium... two of our group are vegetarians and they had a different entree. You can certainly request the steak without the "au poivre." I am not certain they can do that, but I suspect it's possible. If not, you can simply order whatever alternatives are offered. They did inquire also about food allergies.

 

I don't know how early you can reserve the Chef's Table, but suspect it's probably whenever Specialty Dining opens up. If you are in the Haven, check with the Land Concierge. If not, ask Guest Relations.

 

Do you happen to remember what the vegetarian entree was in the Illusionarium? I haven't been able to find any info on the veggie option.

[mtns2sea]

Thanks for the review.

 

 

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[jdvmd]

Awesome review! Thanks for sharing it with us!