Mini Review of Escape Jan 23-30th

[blueclawfan]

First thing embarkation was a nightmare. We didn't start boarding till noon or so and found out only 1 gangway was in operation. No announcement as to why in the terminal. Communication is a key ncl you need to learn that.

 

I am going to try and keep this is a mini but can't promise. Today we are in port at Nassau before our journey home. Our 3 ports that we visited I must say had beautiful weather. St. Thomas I played golf and had a great time with the 3 others on board that also played. It was surprising to me that only 4 of us on the entire ship of 4800 played golf. Mahoney run was narrow challenging and scenic. It was in great shape. Tortola is a wasted port on this itenary. Nassau is Nassau weather was great.

 

What I have read about the smoke on this ship is true. As a non smoker it was more than horrible. On decks 6,7 and 8 you can smell the smoke and it's not nice. It choked me and how people could eat in the French restaurant is beyond my comprehension. However the smoke seemed to be concentrated around the atrium and did not extend further.

 

The ship did feel like it had 4800 or so guests on board. It was really crowded on sea days as expected but I have been on the oasis and allure and did not feel like that. Imo the ship funnels everyone to the middle where other ships you walk around the middle with seats and little hide aways that you can enjoy. The escape most all your seating is inside. Elevators were pretty quick but some days to get one you would be better going up to go down and down to go up...hint ..that made it faster. The library forward was small and whomever designed the door should be fired. Every time someone came in or left all you hear was a loud banging noise no closer or electric eye on this door. Service at the bars was average . Everyone seemed to have the beverage package. There are many less servers to take your orders and this has to be because of the giveaway package now.

 

Found the food to be acceptable. I'm not a food critic but everything we had was good. Desserts seemed to lack a bit of taste. Specialty restaurants were good but a little too fancy for me. More basic dishes for a steak house or Italian restaurant would have been better. The buffet ncl has definitely solved the crowded buffet syndrome. Whatever they have done other lines need to learn from them. Only thing if you get eggs use the omelet station for fresh eggs instead of scrambled eggs out of the package. Those are nasty. We ate breakfast mostly at the savor and taste. We had a wonderful server Ruth M. She actually should be the ncl ambassador she was that good and friendly and efficient.

 

Our brat pack show was cancelled on this cruise. 2nd week in a row I was told. After midnight was not my cup of tea so we did leave that show. Million dollar quartet was fantastic . May have been the best show we have ever seen on our 20 cruises we have taken on various lines. That all being said didn't feel there was enough entertainment for the size of the ship. They were moving and cancelling shows later in the cruise.

 

The iconcierg app worked great. Schedules and your account showing up and reservations could be made . One thing though try and make your show reservations 90 days out well worth it.

 

Overall impression of the escape is If you are a party person and all you want to do is drink and eat this is your ship. If you are a person who likes a bit more than that then suggest you try another line. Again this is one persons opinion and you need to make up your own mind. I just tried to be honest.

 

Have a great cruise!!!!

[LrgPizza]

Thanks for your thoughts. I also loved MDQ! Too bad the other show was canceled.

 

We view Tortola differently- it's my favorite place in the Caribbean so far! Then again, I've not yet visited from a ship.

[cecil89]

Thank you for your review . We are sailing on escape feb 27th.

We have sailed Ncl many times and you are right , no one seems interested in golfing. I have been on the role call, with no answer.

My husband has golfed with Ncl before , always alone, and the last time transportation was not included, which makes it very expensive.

 

Wad your excursion with Ncl, or did u book directly with mahogony run?

How far was it to the golf course.

 

I hope he gets to golf as I don't .

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Golf widow

[brookie848]

Thanks for your thoughts. I also loved MDQ! Too bad the other show was canceled.

 

We view Tortola differently- it's my favorite place in the Caribbean so far! Then again, I've not yet visited from a ship.

 

I think many people feel Tortola is a waste because of the port time -- from 7-3.

 

We're on the ship in three weeks. Thanks for your review. I'd rather read everyone's honest opinions. They help me know what to expect!

[blueclawfan]

I booked my golf excursion with ncl at the old price and transportation was included. I do not know how much transportation costs without ncl. It is a lot cheaper to book direct. Mahogany was not very busy but it took us 5 hrs to play.

[blueclawfan]

Sorry golf course is about 30 minutes from ship

[cecil89]

Tyvm for your quick response .

Hope it was a great cruise.

[blueclawfan]

Anytime away from the snow is great and it's beautiful weather here today

[Rob0519]

We were on Tortola on the inaugural cruise in November. It was our first time on the island and part of the day was overcast and rainy while we did get several hours of sun. My wife, son and I took a bus tour and spent about an hour a the beach. Our two adult daughters went zip-lining. All in all, it was a very good day for us and we would like to back some day in the future.

 

While the could use some modernization, I just hope the cruise lines don't destroy it and over build.

[Aloha 1]

Thanks for your review! As an experienced cruiser, I just don't understand the mentality of those who simply want to get wasted for 7 straight days...nor the smoke (and I say that as a reformed smoker who saw the light). We have a trip planned that lands us in Miami with time to take the 7 day Escape run next month,so looking at a new ship, I thought why not? I'm hoping we didn't make a huge mistake.

 

Please tell us your take on the restaurants on board and other, non drunk activities.

Edited January 29, 2016 by Aloha 1

[collectingcoke]

Thx we go next week still hoping they get the entertainment straightened out.

[TheDougOut]

Thx we go next week still hoping they get the entertainment straightened out.

 

I have reservations for the Brat Pack tomorrow at 8:30pm... fingers crossed! I'll report back once I know if the show is going to happen.

[kneught77]

I was on the sailing last week.. I did not find the smoke to be that bad. And I HATE smoke... there was a couple times throughout the week later at night where it got a bit worse. But overall.. it didn't bother me.. and I spent a fair bit of time in the casino. It was hardly noticeable once you left the casino... maybe this cruise had less smokers? No idea.. but it just was not nearly as bad as people made it out to be. :confused:

[Aloha 1]

I was on the sailing last week.. I did not find the smoke to be that bad. And I HATE smoke... there was a couple times throughout the week later at night where it got a bit worse. But overall.. it didn't bother me.. and I spent a fair bit of time in the casino. It was hardly noticeable once you left the casino... maybe this cruise had less smokers? No idea.. but it just was not nearly as bad as people made it out to be. :confused:

 

Really appreciate your comment! We've booked Cagney's (twice), La Cucina, and Le Bistro for our SDP. First and last nights we're thinking the MDR's. Any thoughts?

[17cruisesnsl]

 

We always book a specialty the first and last nights -- the first because the MDR is usually packed until everyone works out their schedules and the last night as a toast to a great cruise. It's a matter of personal preference

[blueclawfan]

Smell of smoke is different for all people. You are right it was contained in casino area but also the 3 stories of the atrium. One of the ships officers told me there was a club group of smokers on board. My luck i guess

[kneught77]

Really appreciate your comment! We've booked Cagney's (twice), La Cucina, and Le Bistro for our SDP. First and last nights we're thinking the MDR's. Any thoughts?

 

Food can be subjective.. but I will give you my two bits.

 

We ate at Cagneys... La Cucina... Teppanyaki and Moderno (on the last night only because we were credited back our dinner after Brat Pack was cancelled)

 

LOVED Cagneys.. I got the prime rib.. and everything was just delicious. All the sides and everything were also great. Service was top notch.. no complaints here

 

La Cucina was good... and I enjoyed my rack of lamb and rigatoni as an appetizer. The pasta appetizers are HUGE.. like a meal in its own. I would consider that when ordering.

 

I did not try La Bistro.. but I would have gone there instead of Moderno if it wasn't booked up. Moderno was okay... just not great. If you like meat.. its a decent option though.

 

My favorite by far.. was Teppanyaki (benihanas type).. cook right in front of you.. it was like dinner and a show. Our chef Mike was AMAZING!.. so funny and the food was cooked perfectly. I would recommend that one more than any other.. but maybe that is just me.

 

Overall... I found the food at the specialty restaurants to be "A".. and the MDR to be "B".. but the service is the real difference. Much better in the specialty restaurants. But I was still happy with everything in the Manhattan room.. the smaller restaurants (Taste and Savor) were just a bit "boring" in my opinion. A little more intimate.

 

If you haven't seen it already... below is the website that shows all the menus.. gives you a nice idea before hand. Enjoy the trip.. you will love it!

 

http://www.beyondships2.com/norwegian-escape-menus.html

[cruisestan2]

Thank you for your post Always great to hear from people. For us, we like to have ultimate drinks and food is very important. I work hard all year and yes want to party and drink without having to drive. Saying this I respect your thoughts.:):):):D

[CruiseRansier]

Thanks for your review! We sail in a week! Feb 6. While no cruise is perfect we love NCL! Can't wait to sail on the Escape!

[Seatbelt_Bag_LOVE]

I didn't think the smoke was too bad. I personally hate smoke, and wasn't bothered by it except when I walked past several smokers that were chain smoking. I did like Tortola. We took a private tour catamaran & went snorkeling at Norman island. It was a fun filled day, but I do wish the port time was longer. I would have liked to go to Jost Van dike. I agree that the buffet didn't feel crowded. We easily found a place to sit every time. I do wish there was a bit more variety from day to day in the buffet. The only place that felt very crowded to me was the pool deck, especially on the last sea day which was the best weather. Luckily, I hate the pool deck, so crowding up there is never an issue for me. My party got awesome service especially at the atrium, margaritaville, 5 o'clock somewhere & the district brewhouse. We always got called by name and drinks right away. Overall, it was a great cruise.

[blueclawfan]

Everything is subjective as i said but also wanted to say when we were on our balcony which was on the aft side deck 15 we had smoke coming up to our balcony quite strong.

 

Also i ate in cagneys first night and last night . Service was outstanding . La Cucina which we also ate at to me was average. Lasange was all meat to me not that good. We never ate in Manahattan Dinning room we tried savor and taste. Service for dinner was average and thats because all the good servers go to the specialty restaraunts.

[helen haywood]

I was on this cruise as well. We ate five dinners in Taste and we loved it. If you've sailed Celebrity lately....their tables for two are tiny and are 4 inches away from another table. At Taste when the two of us were seated, it was at a table for four, the other two setups were removed and the next table was a respectable several feet away. We had some indifferent servers and some spectacular servers (especially Charles!!) The food was good to extremely good. The desserts were by far better than Celebrity or Royals! Odd that they were so good in Taste but terrible in the Buffet where I guess they have to use a lot of gelatin as a stabilizer. We had a chocolate orange mousse, a Key Lime parfait and an After Eight chocolate mousse....all were outstanding. And the chocolate lava cake with stracciatella is to die for!

 

We, too, had the beverage package. It seemed everyone did. We joked that the way to tell the few who did not was they were drinking bottled water. We tipped a few dollars with each drink and never had a wait at all. The best Long Island Tea I had all week came from the Waterfront 5 O Clock Somewhere bar.

[Sand and Seas]

Tortola has been a favorite of ours for year as we were lucky enough to spend a few days there years ago. NCL really needs to give you more time in port so you can travel to Cane Garden Bay, visit Jost Van Dyke, the Baths at Virgin Gorda, or just walk around the small town and spend some time at Pussers Bar & Restaurant. Hours of 7-3 in this port just aren't sufficient to really enjoy this lovely laid back island. The best part of our Escape visit to the British Virgin Islands was the nice afternoon sail through this chain of islands due to leaving port so early.