JW and Jerome's Adventure on The Norwegian Escape

[cruiseguys2009]

What a treat to have you back,JW! My only disappointment is that you guys won't be on our cruise March 4th!!! Your wonderful review is what cinched this cruise for us. Always sailed RC before. We won't be getting Vibe, but are excited about the other venues and bars,esp.the District and five o'clock somewhere!!! I see myself hanging out at the Waterfront and Spice H2O.We have a fun group of 12 who are all looking forward to a great time! Thanks again for all your input and great advice!!!

 

 

Well Thank you and it's good to be back for The Upcoming Trilogy Finale.

 

Yes, Jerome and I wish we were on the March 4th sailing too. I know you are going to have a blast because for the most part, your sailing is going to be mostly adults as you are sailing on the cusp of SPRING BREAK! And not full force "Collegiate Kiddiesville" like we will be. (But that could very well be the reason we chose March 25th:rolleyes:)

 

Now there are a few things that are a MUST DO:

 

You simply must get a Badge of Honor in The District! (Badge of Honors are awarded to those brave folks who can down every single beer in a 7 day period, but in attempting to do so, please understand that some, really expensive and fabulous beers, you'd have to pay the difference for, as they are not included in the UBP) Now there's over 90 kinds of beer and most of them are on the UBP....Oh, just Go For it! With all those beers it will really be a Tinklefest! Plus, the entertainment in The District most evenings is usually the best kept secret aboard. Hopefully you will have one of the outrageous "Adult" musical entertainers that we had when we sailed, and who packed the place by the last night because of the passenger word-of-mouth advertising during the week.

 

The Waterfront was Jerome and my favorite spot to lounge, even though we had that awesomely huuuuuge balcony in our Secret Hallway Mini Suite, we loved the comfy sofas in the shade of the Waterfront and imbibed many cocktails as we relaxed lazily when we were in port and did not get off the ship. When we were in port, one side of the ship always had a nice breeze, so we would alternate depending where that was.

 

We did not attempt to eat outside on The Waterfront at Moderno, Bayamo or Cagneys at night while the ship was underway, as our previous sailings were June and August and HOT. However, the beautiful Caribbean breeze should be welcoming in March, so I would definitely recommend seating Al Fresco in those restaurants I mentioned.

 

SPICE H2O! Since you have a large group, this is the place to be. You've got a full service bar, some fun foods available to nosh on, a water feature that they call The Grotto which keeps ya cool in the heat of the afternoon, and some great sounds to lounge by. It gets crowded later, as the folks who usually go to Spice H2O get up later. It is a party area and it is what fun you make of it, and with a large group, sounds to me that will be loads of party fun.

 

Yes we do wish we were going with you. The slide awaits you and so does the ropes course. Do them both, because then you have something to really awesomely remember.

 

This is your time, your cruise! It is almost here. Remember. You worked hard to pay for your experience. You have practically Tinkled with anticipation for the day to finally arrive. If you don't like something, no matter how small, SAY something and let Norwegian make an attempt to please you. I can't wait to hear about all your "Adventures"! Please keep us posted when you return. I will have lots of questions for you!

 

Bon Voyage!!!!!!

[HBCcruiser]

Cruiseguys2009 - I have thoroughly enjoyed learning, laughing and traveling "with" you during your adventures! I am a "virgin" NCL cruiser and really appreciate all of the tips and insights you have provided. Heading out June 11 on the BA. Not too late to join the fun! Can't wait! BTW your video is the ONLY one I have seen where time was taken to carefully show the room, and where I didn't get dizzy with blurry, crazy camera movement. Job well done! Thanks!!

 

 

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[cruiseguys2009]

Cruiseguys2009 - I have thoroughly enjoyed learning, laughing and traveling "with" you during your adventures! I am a "virgin" NCL cruiser and really appreciate all of the tips and insights you have provided. Heading out June 11 on the BA. Not too late to join the fun! Can't wait! BTW your video is the ONLY one I have seen where time was taken to carefully show the room, and where I didn't get dizzy with blurry, crazy camera movement. Job well done! Thanks!!

 

 

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Thank you so much and WELCOME TO CRUISE CRITIC!!!!!!!!

 

You have officially graduated from "Lurker" to "Involved Poster"! Lets see some more of this! Plus you will have so much more fun if you join your Roll Call and participate in all the activities like the Slot Pull, Cabin Crawl etc.

 

Welcome once again!

 

JW and Jerome!

[HBCcruiser]

LOL "lurker!" You crack me up! I am hoping to TRY to simulate some of what you did with regards to sharing my adventure. I'm not nearly as descriptively funny as you, but I can take photos and share my experience so others can learn. Got a while before we go...Tick-tock...

 

 

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[cruiseguys2009]

Welcome back, JW!! It was a pleasure meeting you and Jerome on that cruise and I have to thank you again for all the laughs in the casino as we"touched the babies". LOL.

 

There were definitely some "characters" -- ok crazy people -- on that cruise!

 

Looking forward to the next installment.

 

Tracy

 

 

Thank you Tracy!

 

Yes, I remember when the woman yelled at me, as she stormed away from the slot machine, calling me a "Sick-O Pervert!" when I merely pointed out to her that if you "Touch The Babies" on the screen in front of her, the babies giggle and it is supposed to bring you luck. Geez. Weren't you sitting in on the other side of the aisle from me playing the Poker Machine when she yelled at me? I think we laughed so hard we almost Tinkled right there.

 

So folks, if ya don't know which machine in the Casino we are talking about, then you really would think I am a pervert just by reading this. Trust me. It is an Asian inspired high bonus slot machine that has two Budda Babies on the screen, a boy and a girl. If you tickle them on the screen by tapping your fingers or swiping the babies, they giggle and rock back and forth. The Japanese players love this machine and it was a Japanese lady who sat next to me as we both played this same machine on The Carnival Breeze that filled me in on the superstitious luck. I had no idea that if you touch the babies they would giggle and move. So ever since then, I tell everyone sitting next to me playing that machine to "Touch the Babies". The looks I get, geez.

 

As a matter of fact, when we were on The Royal Princess this past November, there were a whole bunch of Touch the Baby machines in a row. I had imbibed several Martini's by this point and a woman came and sat next to me, put her money into the Baby machine and I merely pointed out, that it would bring her luck if she "Touched the Babies". "Whaaa?", she said, glaring at me. I stood up and "Touched the Babies" on her screen and they giggled cutely and then the woman proceeded to slap my arm saying "Now look what you did!" "You brought me bad luck!" She cashed out her money without playing and left abruptly. Jerome, who was standing behind me nursing a Manhattan looked at me when I turned around and he simply said "Well!"

 

At that moment, another lady came and sat down, and put her money in and the first thing she did, was what? She TOUCHED THE BABIES. Yes! I turned around and looked at Jerome and he nodded his head in sarcastic agreement, as if saying "See?"

 

Drop my drawers, on the first spin (at frigging MAX Bet) she gets the Firecracker Bonus, and gets to pick until a Mini/Minor/Major/Mega Bonus Match, and somanabisch, don't you know that she wins the Mega Bonus Match of $3,700! Hmmmm. Touch the Babies indeed. Good for her! I just couldn't wait to find the "Lady Un-Lucky" who said I brought her bad luck to tell her of her lost fortune by someone else who Touched the Babies. The bells rang loud and long for the jackpot winning woman as she waited for a Casino Manager Pay Out at the Machine. I sneered over my Martini glass at Miss Missy "Lady Un-Lucky" as she walked by us to check out the noise and crowd just to see what she lost out on by not following Auntie JW's directions.

 

Listen to Auntie JW now. "TOUCH THE BABIES!" (Only On the slot machine screen)

[medicalma'am]

 

This review is the BEST! I have read the whole thing today, off and on. I have laughed out loud until I cried. :p I really needed that. Thanks JW!!!

 

Now I have to W A I T for installment #3 of the trilogy. It will be worth it I am sure.

 

You actually got me searching for an Escape cruise to share with the other Ma'ams. I just can't stand looking at my NCL and seeing no booked cruise. I am only 12 points from Platinum Plus..... I. Must. Cruise.

[ABC Cruisers]

I know what you mean, there are certain times a year that I will not sail. Did you go at Thanksgiving in November?

 

The week before Thanksgiving. Vibe was our shelter from the storm lol, the outside decks were just jam packed, Ruby was great!

[mr&mrscruiselover]

 

This review is the BEST! I have read the whole thing today' date=' off and on. I have laughed out loud until I cried. :p I really needed that. Thanks JW!!!

 

Now I have to W A I T for installment #3 of the trilogy. It will be worth it I am sure.

 

You actually got me searching for an Escape cruise to share with the other Ma'ams. I just can't stand looking at my NCL and seeing no booked cruise. I am only 12 points from Platinum Plus..... I. Must. Cruise. [/size']

 

 

Is there a review for your January Cruise?

[mr&mrscruiselover]

JW and Jerome

 

Love your reviews. Can't wait for the 3rd installment.

[johnnyjay]

JW

 

In regards to the large balcony on Escape deck 8, is any portion of it shaded in case you wanted to get out of direct sunlight?

[cruiseguys2009]

JW

 

In regards to the large balcony on Escape deck 8, is any portion of it shaded in case you wanted to get out of direct sunlight?

 

It is our experience for the most part, it is in the full hot sun most days, and depending on which side of the ship you are on, there is about a two foot hang over that does provide shade at times, but it is wide open to the world. Did you see the video of the cabin we posted, it give the full sun effect on the balcony at about the 12 noon hour.

 

The, what some would call, drawback is that the balcony is HOT during the day. I could be out on it during sail a ways and as we pulled into ports but to lay out, I tried, and remember, it was the months of June and August. It was HOT!

[Wetescape2016]

This was FABULOUS to read JW!! Thank you so much for all your time, effort and creativity with how you delivered your experiences! My wife and I sailed on the Escape Jan '16 as our first cruise with our best friends and had the most amazing time. We will board the dawn in a week so I'm going to hop over to that review of yours. Thank you again and hope one day we cross paths! All the best for you upcoming trilogy adventure and hope the 3rd time is as charming as the first!

Heather

 

 

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[cruiseguys2009]

This was FABULOUS to read JW!! Thank you so much for all your time, effort and creativity with how you delivered your experiences! My wife and I sailed on the Escape Jan '16 as our first cruise with our best friends and had the most amazing time. We will board the dawn in a week so I'm going to hop over to that review of yours. Thank you again and hope one day we cross paths! All the best for you upcoming trilogy adventure and hope the 3rd time is as charming as the first!

Heather

 

 

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Thank you and there is more to come! I am glad you enjoyed The Norwegian Escape like we did. Enjoy The Norwegian Dawn. There is a special place our my heart for her.

[Toni Wilson]

Glad your back. Enjoyed your review we went on the Escape in Nov. and this Nov on the Jade for 10 days.

 

 

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[medicalma'am]

Not yet Mr&mrscruiselover. I have almost all of my pictures uploaded to photob. I am working on by continuing education hours for my license this week. When that is done, I will start on it. Keep checking back!

[ready4sunshine]

Hubby and I are going in December. This will be our first cruise ever. Thank you so much for such a fabulous review. The good and the bad! I look forward to reading more!

 

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[StlGal]

Welcome back JW!!! We obviously were all going through withdrawals without our daily dose of the cruise adventures... and to leave us on such a cliff hanger too... just not right! :p Glad you and Jerome are well and have rejoined us! Can't wait for the next installment!

[lostone65]

So glad you are back! There will be 7 of us sailing on the Escape on the 18th (less than 2 weeks now) and I have read your reviews a few times for tips and giggles!

 

Thanks for the laughs I'll be sure to touch the babies!

 

Tammy

 

 

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[buckeye rob]

Hello Fellows. Glad to see that you are back. Pam and I were worried that you guys had been permanently disabled from the August 20th weirdness. We are going to try Alaska this August. We felt possibly being chased by a bear will be less traumatizing then our last August sashay into the Caribbean. Just kidding. We met some wonderful people including yourselves on that cruise. We spoke a couple times. Chatted as the wine bar was closing. Never hurts to help close a bar. Regards, Gerry.

"We are baaaaaack!!"

 

Yes, it is true. JW and Jerome are back and going on the Third Adventure of The Norwegian Escape on March 25th, 2017.

 

We are also sailing with some NCL Escape (1st Adventure) friends and we hope you are looking forward to the final chapters and additions to "The Adventures".

 

It's a Trilogy!

 

A word of note as to our absence. When we returned from The Second Adventure sailing on The Escape this past August, 2016, the experience we had on the second sailing was nothing remotely like what we had just six weeks earlier on the same ship. Six weeks earlier, Jerome and I had, what quite literally was, the Best Cruise Ever out of our 45+ sailings together. On the second journey, though each and every cruise is different, I truly felt that I could not write about it fairly and in my unique style, as it would not be appreciated as such and I did not want it to ever be misinterpreted as a negative review. Consistency is what is important. Every life experience is always new, sometimes good and then other times not so good. The second sailing experience for me, simply put, was difficult to write about and it took me some time to come around, as I just wanted to be left alone for a while to process the benign experience.

 

That August sailing on the Escape was truly a Murphy's Law Theory put into practice, as what can go wrong did, from the very first minute we stepped on board the ship, and you know me, Trouble follows me everywhere. There were so many troubling situations we encountered, that frankly, none were directly the fault of Norwegian, the Crew or the ship, it was just that the passengers were completely off the chain, and, I might say, it was a "Perfect Storm" of constant passenger misbehaving issues. "Wild" is too nice a word to use for this cruise.

 

I will note that there was a combination of a completely new Senior Officer Crew (as the senior crew just went on vacation) on their first sailing together on The Escape, a whole host of new procedures that were not properly rolled out or communicated, new crew members bumping into each other (a lot of new mid-level Chiefs getting to know their new duties) and add a thorough tossed salad of weirdness and violence in passengers that we have never experienced in our 45+ sailings, (it was like a full moon every night) and then throw "me" into it all and literally all heck breaks loose.

 

One such event, you heard me allude to in previous posts, was our last night's dinner at Teppanaki. On the first Escape Sailing, we had dinner in Teppanaki (also on the last night) and it was a "less than stellar" (and Auntie JW is being kind here) experience. You know me, if there is a challenge, then speak up and let the company provide TRUE "Customer Service" and a chance to recover. Norwegian, knowing that we would be sailing again in 6 weeks, offered us a chance to re-experience Teppanaki the way it was supposed to be on the second sailing, and to be completely fair, It was an awesome experience. The Show, the Presentation, the Food, the Lobster, the Service. All were exceptional. It was a big WOW. All the more reason to feel positive and uplifted on our very last night, of what had been a very weird, passenger-horrific, cruise. It seems that Jerome and I would have these awesome experiences each day and night, then have our incredible feelings ruined by strange and nasty occurrences with wild and unruly passengers.

 

Jerome and I spent our last night, instead of enjoying our final moments of vacation at the bar, with Security. All because a deranged passenger came into Teppanaki just as everyone at our performance table were finishing a perfectly marvelous meal and experience. Then, all of the sudden, this crazed woman starts picking up dishes that are preset at the tables in front of us and, at random, begins hurling dishes across the room directly at us and most of which went crashing behind Jerome's head on the wall. I screamed, as saw the first one coming in, yelling at the table "Incoming! "Everyone, Everyone Duck" Crash! Then another, Crash! Another, Crash! We all hovered below the table. Then a barrage of F* Bombs as the passenger got closer to the table, seemingly her yelling was directed at all of us as to why we did not wait for her to have dinner? (Mind you, we were there for about 2 hours already and were finishing up our desserts and conversations). She proceeded to target one person at our table and grabbing a filled beverage glass, she spilled the drink all over this woman. She was then surrounded by the quick thinking restaurant staff until Security arrived moments later. "OK Jerome, here we go again", I said, "On our last night, Security!"

 

Apparently, her dining partner, a woman who was by herself at our table of 10, was the one who had not waited for this outraged passenger to go to dinner with her. I could not make heads or tails of what exactly she was saying but it seemed to me that this crazy woman had too much to drink and passed out in their cabin and so the other woman, well, she decided to dine alone. Oh well, that started the fire storm which led to dishes flying and Jerome and I with security for an "Interview" and forms to be filled out on our last night of the sailing. Once Security arrived, the woman who was screaming and yelling spilled out into the central atrium and further interrupted folks having, perhaps what was once a few minutes earlier, a lovely dinner at Le Bistro Al Fresco dining. Security dealt with the issue right there in the atrium, in front of everyone, so it was embarrassing as folks thought that we were somehow involved when it was Jerome who had narrowly missed incoming fine china missiles at dinner. So we had to fill out these forms and be "Interviewed" right there, all on our last night aboard, and then having to go to bed feeling completely worn and stressed out. I realize that it could have been worse. We could have been in the Infirmary getting stitches from broken glass, or who knows from this random kooky person going nuts. But this was literally the icing on the cake from a week's worth of many passengers misbehaving badly and violent incidents that, though I was not involved with, "Trouble" just happened to be around and witnessed the incidents when they occurred, causing me to be "Interviewed" by Security more than once. At that time, I could not wait to get off the ship and the last thing I wanted to do was write about the experiences. I can just imagine what they are saying now. "Oh Crapola, JW'S COMING BACK, BATTON DOWN THE HATCHES!!!!" "Oy!"

 

So, on this next sailing, once I am home, when I write the conclusion, we are going to average in all the restaurants experiences - times 3, all the on-board experiences - times 3, all the bar experiences - times 3, all the staff accolades - times 3 and I will be leaving out all the Non-NCL issues (unless they are funny and embarrassingly happen to me) and provide a fun filled, thorough accounting of a Martini laced, "District's 85 Beer" different beer sampling, Cappuccino with Baileys Adventure like you all are used too. It's a Trilogy! I Love it!

 

Until then, Auntie JW says "Have a Martini or Seven, Every Night when on a Cruise!" (or when you're not on a cruise, that is perfectly fine too, as long as you don't drink and drive)

 

[cruiseguys2009]

Hello Fellows. Glad to see that you are back. Pam and I were worried that you guys had been permanently disabled from the August 20th weirdness. We are going to try Alaska this August. We felt possibly being chased by a bear will be less traumatizing then our last August sashay into the Caribbean. Just kidding. We met some wonderful people including yourselves on that cruise. We spoke a couple times. Chatted as the wine bar was closing. Never hurts to help close a bar. Regards, Gerry.

 

 

Thanks and yes we remember you! What a traumatic night that was! So much has gone on and I just could not wait to get off the ship and get home. We do love The Escape and hopefully this upcoming cruise will be awesome as usually expected and anticipated it being. Enjoy Alaska!

[cruiseguys2009]

So glad you are back! There will be 7 of us sailing on the Escape on the 18th (less than 2 weeks now) and I have read your reviews a few times for tips and giggles!

 

Thanks for the laughs I'll be sure to touch the babies!

 

Tammy

 

 

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Yay! Thanks for the loyal support! I am glad you enjoyed our Adventures, though some untimely....... You all will have an amazing time I am sure, especially with the UBP! Seven folks traveling, that is an adventure in and of itself. You will have much to talk and write about which I hope you will do. Let me know how you enjoyed your vacation on The Es-Caw-Pay, please chime back in here.

[cruiseguys2009]

Welcome back JW!!! We obviously were all going through withdrawals without our daily dose of the cruise adventures... and to leave us on such a cliff hanger too... just not right! :p Glad you and Jerome are well and have rejoined us! Can't wait for the next installment!

 

 

I promise to not disappoint this time and thank you for sticking in there. Our Trilogy should have some rip roaring new adventures and I am so looking forward to March 25th!

[LrgPizza]

Nothing this exciting ever happens to me. If it does, I hope JW and Jerome can be there for some laughs.

[cruiseguys2009]

Nothing this exciting ever happens to me. If it does, I hope JW and Jerome can be there for some laughs.

 

 

Hey Hey! Hahahahaha. How are ya? You know I am one of your biggest fans! Always great to hear from you, since we travel together via Cruise Critic often, on other threads! It would be a blast sailing with you, I can guarantee it.

[LrgPizza]

Hey Hey! Hahahahaha. How are ya? You know I am one of your biggest fans! Always great to hear from you, since we travel together via Cruise Critic often, on other threads! It would be a blast sailing with you, I can guarantee it.

 

Oh, we definitely would have a blast. I'm not kidding, if I was in Teppanyaki and plates were flying, I'd be the one laughing my ass off and ordering another drink! For some reason I find everything funny.