Delayed NCL Escape Review - Cruise PTSD easing...

[L1211]

So, now it is Wednesday and we have a short day in Tortola. What a gorgeous place! DH and I got up early and walked the town before waking the girls for a trip to Cane Garden Bay. Chair rentals and drinks are quite affordable and the girls paddle boarded. It was an easy and lovely beach day. I highly recommend CGB! Another referral from my sister and it was a good one!

 

 

[mking8288]

What a great suggestion! And what a good use of those large balconies which we just loved. I can honestly say for some reason we never even thought of room service- I don't think I even read the menu ... Will give it a try!

As for pics, they were taken with my Iphone ... ome come out that way... Any suggestions??

Folks sit out there over breakfast, so why not do lunch or even dinner, especially when you are in a "large" balcony. Gem's room service menu is limited, items similar to O'SH's but 2 items - roast chicken and grilled salmon as entrees, choice of potatoe & vegetable ... get a salad, perhaps a bowl of soup, plate of seasonal fruits & dessert ... doesn't have to be fancy or gourmet.

 

Got it, I had issues uploading directly on our iPhone 5S - something with the auto orientation/display settings. Install and try the free Tapatalk App to access & post directly into CC - that's what I've been doing for the last 3 years, especially for those quick & speed posts - fewer clicks to cycle thru and it's formatted correctly 95% of the time, maybe a random edit every now & then. Give it a try - sometimes, I will edit & fix up the little details while I can (20 minutes is the cutoff for edit/changes to the post) - once it's posted, re-sized and mobile browser friendly.

 

Tapatalk installed on the iPad mini, iPhone and Android smartphone & tablet ... made mobile browsing and posts so much easier.

 

BTW, the ship has an anesthesiologist on board - the MD and the nurse, of course - but, that's a wow.

[L1211]

Ahhhh to be back on Cane Garden Bay...

 

 

 

 

[L1211]

Folks sit out there over breakfast, so why not do lunch or even dinner, especially when you are in a "large" balcony. Gem's room service menu is limited, items similar to O'SH's but 2 items - roast chicken and grilled salmon as entrees, choice of potatoe & vegetable ... get a salad, perhaps a bowl of soup, plate of seasonal fruits & dessert ... doesn't have to be fancy or gourmet.

 

Got it, I had issues uploading directly on our iPhone 5S - something with the auto orientation/display settings. Install and try the free Tapatalk App to access & post directly into CC - that's what I've been doing for the last 3 years, especially for those quick & speed posts - fewer clicks to cycle thru and it's formatted correctly 95% of the time, maybe a random edit every now & then. Give it a try - sometimes, I will edit & fix up the little details while I can (20 minutes is the cutoff for edit/changes to the post) - once it's posted, re-sized and mobile browser friendly.

 

Tapatalk installed on the iPad mini, iPhone and Android smartphone & tablet ... made mobile browsing and posts so much easier.

 

BTW, the ship has an anesthesiologist on board - the MD and the nurse, of course - but, that's a wow.

 

 

I see "submitted from tap to talk" on posts often but didn't know that was an app. Sounds like a must try! I've been adding to paint, formatting, re-saving, argh! Right on the med center - seriously, they were wishing for a scope, they'd have patched me up and I would have walked right out! They did give it their best try.

[L1211]

Yet another happy note! I was following the "favorite NCL drinks" thread and printed the list for my December sailing - which I see is still growing. I had my first Pain Killer and was addicted! Seems ironic, I know... I'm mostly a wine drinker so the list was fun - i tried things I never knew existed. Thanks to all who helped compile that list!

[L1211]

Till next time BVI...

 

 

[L1211]

Tobacco Road turned out to be a favorite - maybe something to do with bourbon drinks? We're from KY, bourbon country and the DH is a collector. He was impressed with the drinks from Tobacco Road, that and it is just a nice place to be. OK, maybe because they serve these great bar snacks and did I mention the lack of midday food options - yep, we did quite a bit of dining on that snack mix...

 

 

[L1211]

I just found another happy pic. La Cucina's just before...

 

[L1211]

We departed Tortola midday and the family found a great set of seats on the Waterfront to watch the BVIs go by. I think I could sail the newer NCL ships with an inside room because of the Waterfront. What an amazing space. I used it for walking early AM - not a fan of the jogging track -seemed like a dangerous place to be but I totally respected the relentless joggers who braved it. We used the Waterfront for afternoon drinks, sail away, night caps, just a great place to slow down and take in the sea.

 

Dinner Wednesday was a repeat of Cagneys. This time there was no outdoor seating because of strong winds. Of course, the restaurant is lovely so no problem there. The oldest, who was "suffering" from the sunburn was continuing to complain all day about aches and pains. She rallied again and showed for dinner, but cried with tears dripping in her plate. We sent her to her room and the sweet waiters who saw her distress sent soup to her room for dinner. The drama was too much and DH had had it. Well, until later when he became the "drama queen"...

[L1211]

The oldest had her soup and went straight to bed. The rest of the family headed back to Howl at the Moon, somehow it never seemed to get old! Later, we saw them assembling this lovely Christmas scene. Now that's what I call Christmas decorations!

 

[L1211]

The next morning, DH couldn't get out of bed - seemed a flu bug had hit. Yep, terrible sunburn, an evening in the med center, emergency surgery in St Thomas and now the flu??? The youngest steered clear of the others - she was healthy! The good news, it seemed to pass pretty quickly. That and the DH knows how to rally... Dinner was Teppanyaki. Always a family favorite. The show, the food, the others at our table - it was all a delight!

 

[LSKC]

Enjoying your review :)

[Lorey2007]

Also enjoying your review.

[All-ready2cruise]

Really wonderful review, thank you for your time.

[Still Dreaming]

Oh my!!! Loving your review but feeling the pain!

[cuterlmt]

Oh my goodness. I sure am glad you're able to do this review. Thank you for sharing.

[Gershep]

Enjoying your review.

[L1211]

Isn't this a great "community"? No judging, just some kind words from fellow CC members which I appreciate more than you could imagine. My girls refer to this as "best family vacation ever". Mom still tries to smile and remember the good times of which there were many - thank you NCL. I'm considering the Eastern Caribbean do-over tour, but have not quite yet booked. It took me a while to do this post because I did not want to seem bitter. And, to be really honest, I was for a bit. I've not even posted the final "are you kidding me" part of the cruise or even the post cruise gift of a five day hospital stay, but still trying to find the good in time with family on an extraordinary vacation - one my family will NOT forget any time soon . So thank you CC community for not judging, but just joining us for the ride!

[Faulkh]

I am in awe, you had emergency surgery at a vacation island, and you promptly re boarded and went to the wine cellar. You are my kind of hero! I think I reread that post 5 times. I could not believe it. Thanks for sharing the good, the bad and the ugly about this cruise. But to still be calling it a good family vacation takes a special kind of women. One who always see the glass half full. Thanks for getting back in the saddle for cruising. Wishing you all the best on your next cruise. We are on the Escape on Aug 12 sailing and this is a first NCL and only 3rd cruise for us. Can I asked did you have Trip insurance that covered the medivac, I hate to think it was a money/insurance thing that more care/concern did not come from medical staff on board.

[L1211]

I am in awe, you had emergency surgery at a vacation island, and you promptly re boarded and went to the wine cellar. You are my kind of hero! I think I reread that post 5 times. I could not believe it. Thanks for sharing the good, the bad and the ugly about this cruise. But to still be calling it a good family vacation takes a special kind of women. One who always see the glass half full. Thanks for getting back in the saddle for cruising. Wishing you all the best on your next cruise. We are on the Escape on Aug 12 sailing and this is a first NCL and only 3rd cruise for us. Can I asked did you have Trip insurance that covered the medivac, I hate to think it was a money/insurance thing that more care/concern did not come from medical staff on board.

 

 

How kind of you - yes, I guess I'm the "wine" glass half full kind of mom! I did have trip insurance purchased through NCL - how crazy is that? That seemed to play no part in the "we can't call the coast guard, you are not sick enough yet need emergency surgery" medical declaration, But, oddly at the med center, they really don't care if you have trip insurance, provider insurance, honestly, all charges just go to your bill and it it your problem from there. I'm literally thousands in the hole from the medical center that I'm still trying to get reimbursed from my own health insurance. The emergency surgery in St Thomas also required cash payment in full. So, the trip insurance seems to be only a "hope" at reimbursement although who thinks of that when purchasing? - they expect you to settle fully with your primary health insurance before even filing with the trip insurer, We found you need plenty of room on the credit card to get medical care are sea...

[L1211]

I am in awe, you had emergency surgery at a vacation island, and you promptly re boarded and went to the wine cellar. You are my kind of hero! I think I reread that post 5 times. I could not believe it. Thanks for sharing the good, the bad and the ugly about this cruise. But to still be calling it a good family vacation takes a special kind of women. One who always see the glass half full. Thanks for getting back in the saddle for cruising. Wishing you all the best on your next cruise. We are on the Escape on Aug 12 sailing and this is a first NCL and only 3rd cruise for us. Can I asked did you have Trip insurance that covered the medivac, I hate to think it was a money/insurance thing that more care/concern did not come from medical staff on board.

 

 

And one more thing, I'm soooo excited for your upcoming Escape trip! I wish my pics did the ship justice. It is truly amazing, We experienced, great food, service, guests - honestly, other than our own issues, the trip could not have been better - same for our July Getaway sailing. Enjoy all it has to offer, happy to answer any questions!!

[L1211]

I am in awe, you had emergency surgery at a vacation island, and you promptly re boarded and went to the wine cellar. You are my kind of hero! I think I reread that post 5 times. I could not believe it. Thanks for sharing the good, the bad and the ugly about this cruise. But to still be calling it a good family vacation takes a special kind of women. One who always see the glass half full. Thanks for getting back in the saddle for cruising. Wishing you all the best on your next cruise. We are on the Escape on Aug 12 sailing and this is a first NCL and only 3rd cruise for us. Can I asked did you have Trip insurance that covered the medivac, I hate to think it was a money/insurance thing that more care/concern did not come from medical staff on board.

 

One last tidbit... Once I reboarded - I did the surgery alone because I did not want the girls left alone on the ship, afraid I wouldn't make it, then what - would they sail without me? I felt sure once that taxi door shut and my NCL escort was headed back to the ship, I was no longer NCL's problem, it was clear I was on my own. Once I made it back to the ship, my youngest was having terrible Mom anxiety, so, like any mom would do, I put on the swimsuit and went to the water slides with the youngest teen! Now, I can't help but wonder if that decision contributed to the five day hospital stay upon my return, who knows! But, what I know was I was among the eating and drinking again and had a kid worried about mom. That, and the water park on NCL large ships does not disappoint!

[tawaik]

Yeah. Happy to find this review. Going on the Escape in October. Decor reminds me of the Getaway. Nice!

[SquishTheWhale]

Wow, enjoying your review but can't believe all the problems you had! Have to say I'm feeling it for your eldest daughter. On a trip to Cornwall (in the UK) last year I burnt really badly- as it was the UK so I thought I was fine with only one application of sun cream all day even though it was hot. I'd live to regret that- especially as we were camping! Trying to sleep in an insulated sleeping bag whilst badly sunburnt- not fun at all.

[slightlysilly]

I'm riveted!!!! Dying to see what happens next! Your attitude is way commendable (and I'm sure wine helps with that). So glad you made it out of there to tell your tale!