CamaCama's Family Vacation on the Escape 11/21/2015 (Detailed PICTURE Review!!!!!!)

[CamaCama]

We are cruising May 21 and really getting excited.

I wanted to tell you that your children are adorable!. What a very nice family. You did a wonderful review. Thank you.

 

Thank you so much, have fun on your upcoming cruise!!

[CamaCama]

Thanks so much for taking the time to do this review. Like all of the others before me, I found it to be awesome and again like the others, your girls are just adorable.

We are taking this same trip on Escape in December with the whole group, Nana, Papa (me) all three of our kids, their spouses and 4 grand kids. The kids will be 11, 10, 7 and 3 when we cruise so your review was certainly informative.

I know at one point you mentioned a fee for "sessions" for the kids. Is that for the Splash Academy?

We are also Floridians, west coast, and love the fact that we can drive to 4 different cruise ports.

 

Thank you, I appreciate all your sweet comments! The kids will have so much fun. When I talked about the fee sessions I was talking about the under 3yo sessions where you can drop off your little one under 3. Once they hit 3 years old, there are no fees, they go to the regular splash academy camp. :)

 

One of the reasons I love living in FL is being so close to the ports (we are originally from NY) even though we don't cruise as much as I'd like to! But, I love that we don't have to factor in airfare when we cruise.

[ilovetotravel1977]

 

I'm pretty picky when it comes to soap and body wash but I loved the body wash they had in the shower dispenser.

 

Did you happen to try the shampoo?

[Lonione15]

Thank you for such a thoughtful review. The details and pictures are amazing. We will be traveling with a similar contingent of 3 generations so I found this especially helpful. I have a couple follow up questions:

 

1. How many bathing suits and outfits did you pack for your daughters? Was it enough/too much? We are trying to limit ourselves to a carry on but I don't want to under pack.

 

2. We are thinking of doing a day pass at a resort in Nassau. Do you have any feedback on that? It seemed like Nassau was a fairly short visit?

 

3. Did you bring a separate video camera or does the digital camera you posted about have video functionality? Or maybe you used your phone?

 

Thank you again!

Edited March 20, 2016 by Lonione15

[sns1009]

Thank you so very much for the awesome review! It was so helpful!

 

I was just wondering if there are places outside where you can take your buffet food to eat. Something like the Great Outdoors on the older ships. We love being outside as much as possible.

[RandomIam]

Thanks so much for this review. We too live in Florida and have only sailed on Disney since the kids were really little, this will be our first cruise on Norwegian and I was beginning to wonder what we are going to do since we don't have the unlimited drinks lol. I laughed at that pic or the girls watching the movie on the Disney ship. Ours will probably be trying to switch ships they're so used to Disney! This is he first review I've seen from someone with young children. We will be sailing with our kids and their grandparents. Looks like you all were able to have a good time and glad to see everyone enjoyed it.

Plus I saw your husband wearing a crossfit shirt in one of the pictures so i know you're good people haha!

[CamaCama]

Did you happen to try the shampoo?

 

No, sorry just the body wash which was great.

[CamaCama]

Thank you for such a thoughtful review. The details and pictures are amazing. We will be traveling with a similar contingent of 3 generations so I found this especially helpful. I have a couple follow up questions:

 

1. How many bathing suits and outfits did you pack for your daughters? Was it enough/too much? We are trying to limit ourselves to a carry on but I don't want to under pack. Their clothes are still pretty small and easy to pack, I packed all of their stuff into a medium suitcase. Carry on was too small. I packed 3 suits for little one and probably 6 for big one, she wanted to wear all her new ones. 2 outfits per day for each (shorts/shirts for daytime over bathing suits and dresses/nice outfits for nighttime) plus 4 pairs of pjs for each. Wayyy too many shoes, next time I'm bringing them 2 pairs each and sneakers, they hardly wore any of them LOL.

 

2. We are thinking of doing a day pass at a resort in Nassau. Do you have any feedback on that? It seemed like Nassau was a fairly short visit? This time in Nassau we only walked around a bit and spent most of the day on the ship. I wasn't a fan of this itinerary, I like the last day to be a sea day so we kinda made it one. We were there 12-7pm. Next time we're in Nassau I'd like to do blue lagoon island, we're thinking of doing that in June when we go on enchantment.

 

3. Did you bring a separate video camera or does the digital camera you posted about have video functionality? Or maybe you used your phone? The camera I brought takes photo and video, I also used my iphone for some. It's the Olympus Tough TG-860, awesome quality and waterproof!

 

Thank you again!

 

Hi! Thanks, it was a fun week that I was happy to share. :) Answers in RED above.

[CamaCama]

Thank you so very much for the awesome review! It was so helpful!

 

I was just wondering if there are places outside where you can take your buffet food to eat. Something like the Great Outdoors on the older ships. We love being outside as much as possible.

 

Yes, we loved eating lunch outside... go out the doors leading to the pool deck on either side and there are several tables/chairs there to eat. We also at right on our lounge chairs sometimes if the baby was napping.

[CamaCama]

Thanks so much for this review. We too live in Florida and have only sailed on Disney since the kids were really little, this will be our first cruise on Norwegian and I was beginning to wonder what we are going to do since we don't have the unlimited drinks lol. I laughed at that pic or the girls watching the movie on the Disney ship. Ours will probably be trying to switch ships they're so used to Disney! This is he first review I've seen from someone with young children. We will be sailing with our kids and their grandparents. Looks like you all were able to have a good time and glad to see everyone enjoyed it.

Plus I saw your husband wearing a crossfit shirt in one of the pictures so i know you're good people haha!

 

LOL about crossfit, we actually started in 2008 when it wasn't all that popular yet before I got pregnant with my older daughter... found out I was pregnant with her less than 2 months after we started! Being a first pregnancy and the nervous nelly I was I didn't want to continue to workout out so hard so I stopped. Then once we had her we couldn't justify the cost for the 2 of us so that was that. That shirt he's wearing is probably from '08! We still do the workouts but from our own garage gym. WISH we had the time/money to do it, maybe someday!

 

Now that the crossfit talk is out of the way, we've never been on a Disney cruise, we're just not Disney people (only go when family goes and we meet them there for a day or two max) and there is no casino!! The escape was a great ship for the kids, we totally want to go back on to do more adult stuff but really great ship. The camp was incredible, such nice staff, great carnival show on the last sea day, fun activities, can't imagine any other line being better.

 

When do you go??

[SMHCPA]

Subscribing so I can find this when kids go to bed

 

 

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[tiggrbaby]

Pictures from Brewers Bay were just what I needed to convince my DH to head there when we sail in a few weeks.

 

Thanks for taking the time to post such a detailed review!

[CamaCama]

Subscribing so I can find this when kids go to bed

 

:D:D:D:D:D

 

Pictures from Brewers Bay were just what I needed to convince my DH to head there when we sail in a few weeks.

 

Thanks for taking the time to post such a detailed review!

 

You're welcome, enjoy Brewers! It was a nice, relaxing day at the beach, so beautiful.

[SMHCPA]

Thank you for this excellent review! We aren't even going on that ship but it really helped me to get an idea of what sailing with the kids will be like!

 

And also persuaded me to switch all our dining reservations closer to sixish than fiveish lol. My boys are 6 and 8 and we are doing a 12 night on Anthem.

 

 

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[firejake51]

Thank you for the review it was great the pic's where awesome and I cant wait to go on yours cruise.

[shadowmeboy]

Great review. The DW and I are sailing escape June of 2017 on the same eastern Caribbean itinerary. you insights are most helpful.

[ShannonSC2]

Sorry about the interior room comment, I was feeling under the weather yesterday and must of misread it. Those balcony rooms look really nice, and the balcony actually looks larger than the ones in Breakaway. My guess is that NCL decided to increase the size after all the complaining. But you're right, they are still small when compared to say Oasis. I hope I get to upgrade to a balcony, but I bought at such a low price that I am not sure that it will dip any lower than that. But one can hope, right?

 

The pool area is definitely tinny for that ship, I noticed that long time ago. It was actually small on Breakaway, so I can only imagine how it feels on this ship. Hopefully there is some room for mom and I in the free Jacuzzis, because I have no intention in paving extra for Vibe/Spa.

 

I was not aware of the smoke issue, I thought they had enclosed the smoking section fully.

 

Once again thank you, you're doing a fantastic job :)

 

 

I often wonder why the pool deck is smaller on these big ships. The Getaway has a small pool deck also. Of course I am not one who likes to sit close to a pool. I do like to people watch though and there is a lot of entertainment on these big ships.

[cruisingbajan]

Really enjoyed your review.

[Cie]

If you just go in with the mindset that not everything is perfect but you're on vacation and you'll make it what it is, you'll have a great time! There were a few things that weren't ideal but definitely did not ruin our cruise! Not even close. It's a great ship and I'd actually love to go on again without the kids or when they are older so we can take advantage of more of the bars, shows, adult only areas, etc. To be honest, we did miss the promenade to walk around (like on the new RCI ships), the parades they have there and character meet ups, etc but we can always book a future cruise on RCI. :p

 

LOVED reading your full review TY.

 

I am in the process of booking a family cruise including my 4 grandchildren ages 3 - 10. All together we will be 13 including my elderly parents. Question is I am flip flopping between the NCL Escape and the new RC Harmony. I have been on the Allure and loved all the activities I saw for the kids. We never felt crowded. It seems like you were being upcharged a few times on the cruise. The price right now between both ships is about the same.

 

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks

[TenForward]

Thank you so much for this review! It was so helpful and a pleasure to read and makes me all the more excited for mine!

 

Your girls are adorable.

[CamaCama]

Thanks everyone who commented above, I really appreciate it and am glad my review is helping you plan!!

 

LOVED reading your full review TY.

 

I am in the process of booking a family cruise including my 4 grandchildren ages 3 - 10. All together we will be 13 including my elderly parents. Question is I am flip flopping between the NCL Escape and the new RC Harmony. I have been on the Allure and loved all the activities I saw for the kids. We never felt crowded. It seems like you were being upcharged a few times on the cruise. The price right now between both ships is about the same.

 

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks

 

Harmony looks incredible. To be honest, I've been dreaming about going on the oasis class ships since they were built several years ago. The prices were never right for us (we got an insane deal on Escape last thanksgiving and jumped on it) BUT we are suuuuuuuuuuuper close to booking Allure for Nov of this year with friends.

 

Escape was awesome though and the camp for the kids was top notch, my 6 year old absolutely LOVED it and whenever we talk about maybe going on another cruise she says "and I can go to the camp?!!".. that really was the highlight for her. And the slides. haha

 

IF the price is the same including free UBP and UDP on Escape I'd probably go for Escape. Only since you've been on Allure already. I'm all for trying out different lines and ships.

[CP3o]

For what it's worth, with Rccl having 3 mega ships sailing from Florida and other ships like NCL recently adding large capacity ships, and zika, I think there will be good deals on thanksgiving cruises. I did pretty well twice on allure/oasis thanksgiving cruises. Last year after final payment there was 674 fare for inside cabin at one point.

 

 

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[CamaCama]

For what it's worth, with Rccl having 3 mega ships sailing from Florida and other ships like NCL recently adding large capacity ships, and zika, I think there will be good deals on thanksgiving cruises. I did pretty well twice on allure/oasis thanksgiving cruises. Last year after final payment there was 674 fare for inside cabin at one point.

 

We booked Allure 11/13 western!!! Just the 2 of us with friends, can't wait! :D:D

[Yorkvillain]

We booked Allure 11/13 western!!! Just the 2 of us with friends, can't wait! :D:D

 

Nice! I hope you do another review. The Oasis class is pretty amazing.

[CamaCama]

Nice! I hope you do another review. The Oasis class is pretty amazing.

 

I can't believe we're actually booked on Allure, never thought it would happen!! So excited, I'm sure i'll do a review of it, unless I'm having too much fun to remember to take pictures hahaha (it's kid-free). ;) We cancelled enchantment in June to do this one.

Edited April 11, 2016 by CamaCama