Feb 12 Escape Full Review - Ship, Haven, Restaurants and Ports

[ElizaSTN]

Norwegian Escape, February 12-19.  Sailing out of Port Canaveral, with stops in the DR, St Thomas, Tortola and GSC.

 

I’ll say in advance that I know this review is very long, but we benefitted so much from all the information on this forum and wanted to return the favor and share what we experienced.  Thanks for your indulgence and happy to answer any questions.

 

For context, we were a group of 10 family members celebrating 3 milestone birthdays — my mom’s 70^th, brother’s 40^th and cousin’s 30^th.  In addition, it was myself and my husband (43), two sets of aunts and uncles (60s) and another cousin (late 20s.)  

 

We were in a Haven Aft cabin.  My aunt and uncle were also in a Haven aft and the others were in regular aft balcony cabins. We were all on deck 9, four cabins right in a row and then the other Aft corner.  It was a great arrangement. 

 

Most of the family are veteran cruisers, including two Haven regulars.  Though I loved the few cruises I took many years ago, my husband and I have chosen to spend our vacation dollars in other ways in the last 12 years.  I did convince him to take his first cruise in 2018 — a Carnival 5-day – to “try out” cruising.  Big mistake. Afterwards he strongly implied that he would not be doing something like that ever again (extremely rowdy crowd, with multiple huge brawls breaking out on the Lido Deck.) I am thrilled to report that NCL helped me succeed in one of my primary objectives — which was to turn my husband into a cruiser 🙂 

 

Long story short, we had an amazing vacation.  The stress of covid, cancellations, quarantines, masks/no masks, nose swabs and everything else – it was all worth it and then some.  10/10 recommend – and I have very high standards when it comes to travel.

 

Pre-Cruise/Post-Cruise

 

We flew into Orlando airport from Nashville on Tuesday on Southwest – no issues, left exactly on time and landed early.  We stayed at the Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek at a family timeshare which was excellent.  The hotel portion of the property also looked beautiful.  A great way to get into vacation mode.  Bonus – we could see the Epcot fireworks from our balcony!

 

We did our pre-boarding antigen covid test at a CVS in Orlando.  Super easy.  

 

For all of our transports, we used Tiffany Towncar. We booked 2 separate airport pickups (different days), then one from the timeshare to the port and from the port to the airport. All drivers were on time/early, met us in the terminal and helped with luggage, excellent communication throughout and all late model, immaculate Suburbans.  Not the cheapest option, but I thought the prices were reasonable for the service offered.  Highly recommend.

 

Embarkation

Our embarkation process was totally painless.  I’ll share, though it will be largely irrelevant after March 1.  The arrival time for our group of 4 was 9-9:30 and we arrived at Port Canaveral at exactly 9:30.  No lines anywhere — we walked from station to station with no waiting.  Showed passport, vax card and boarding pass in first tent, swabbed our noses in 2^nd tent and waited 20 minutes in 3^rd tent. While waiting, a couple of people did get called, but just to re-swab because the first one didn’t register.  They were not positive — this was not the dreaded confirmation PCR test — and did make it on the boat.  

 

The entire process took no more than 40 minutes.  Then into the terminal for check-in.  We were Haven and the others with us were not.  The non-Haven guests were actually onboard before us.   

 

We waited about 10 minutes in the Haven lounge to check-in, enough time to grab a piece of focaccia (which was delicious!)  Check-in process took another 10 minutes (our guy was chatty) and then we were escorted onto the boat and directly to our muster station, where they scanned our cards and demonstrated how to put on a life vest – took 3 minutes and we were the only ones there.  Then into the Haven lounge!  

 

Overall, from the time we arrived at the port to the time we were in the Haven was under 90 minutes — but that included time for my brother to have a quick cigarette and we also weren’t rushing.  And again, no waiting.  With the exception of the 20 minute wait for test results we were moving constantly.

 

Others in our party had an arrival time of noon — and it took them a bit longer, with no cigarette break 🙂  A few people in their test tent (including one member of a party of 😎 did test positive and were all denied boarding.  

 

Again, this won’t matter after March 1, but mask compliance was maybe 50% and enforcement was zero.  Even fewer people in the Haven wearing masks.  By the end of the cruise…very few masks.  I will not get into a debate on the pros and cons of this, this is FYI only.

 

Disembarkation

Also completely painless.  Our entire group of 10 was able to disembark from the Haven.    We headed to the Lounge at 8:15AM, were escorted down the service elevator right to the disembarkation area by 8:30, scanned our face, walked right off the boat, found our luggage and walked right out to the passenger pick up area.  No customs or anything.  We were never even asked if we had anything to declare (we did not.)

 

Most of our party flew out on disembarkation day, but my husband and I  stayed a few extra days at the DoubleTree Cocoa Beach.  We stayed on points and while it was not as luxurious as our accommodations on the ship, it was very nice .  The hotel was recently remodeled.  The pool was smallish but plenty of loungers and shade, the beers were ice cold at the pool bar and the beach was gorgeous.  We watched a SpaceX launch on Monday morning from the beach which was so freaking cool.  Overall, a nice transition back to real life.

 

We flew out on Wednesday, also on Southwest.  MCO security line was terrible but we made it through and took off exactly on time.  Landed 20 minutes early, to 35 degree weather in Nashville – ho hum!

[ElizaSTN]

The Ship

The Escape is lovely. Having only sailed on smaller ships, we weren’t sure what to expect but we loved it.  All common areas were beautiful.  Passenger count was 1800, so obviously no crowds anywhere.  It did feel a little bit empty at times – there was hardly anyone at any of the Waterfront venues, with the exception of the last sea day.  We probably would have spent more time at those bars if they were a bit livelier.  However, between spending time with our group and spending time in the Haven, this wasn’t an issue.

 

The Haven Aft cabin was spectacular.  We loved the extra space and the two bathrooms.  The balcony was amazing.  Tons of storage.  The bed was so comfortable we actually looked up how to buy one of the mattresses. Having stayed in regular cabins before, there is just no going back from an upgrade like this.  Cannot say enough.  We didn’t mind the walk to the actual Haven at all — it’s really not long.  We would take the Aft stairs down one deck to 8, walk along the Waterfront to the front of the boat and hop on the elevator. I loved the Nespresso machine for pre-breakfast coffee, although it is loud.  In the bedroom, there were no outlets next to one side of the bed, which was annoying. Also, the power in the cabin shuts off without a key card in the slot, which means you can’t charge things when not in the room.  You can use any type of card to keep the power on (a casino players card, for example) but I don’t think you’re supposed to leave things charging unattended.

 

One slight drawback – we did notice the smell of exhaust most days.  Mostly very faint, but stronger on one or two nights.  Would not stop us from booking this cabin again, but something to note if you’re very sensitive to things like that.  I’ve seen complaints about noise or vibration in Aft cabins on some ships, but this was not an issue for us at all.  (Again, we were on deck 9.) We did not have issues with the motion either, with the exception of one night that was very rocky (huge swells, it was actually pretty neat watching the sea from the back of the ship.)  I got a little seasick, but started feeling that way at dinner mid-ship, so not related to the cabin location.

 

Sail Away

We spent sail away on the balcony of the 2^nd Haven Aft cabin in our group, which was incredible.  My aunt had arranged in advance for some basic snacks and some beers to be dropped off, and I brought the champagne (carried on the boat, with corkage fee) and a killer Spotify playlist.  It was an absolutely perfect start to our cruise with the family.

 

Spice H2O

We did spend some time at Spice H2O, which is the adults only section on the aft of the ship.  Always lively when we were there.  We watched the Super Bowl there on the huge screen and it was an absolute BLAST.  They had some munchies set out (nachos, wings and popcorn) which helped soak up the large quantity of beer (and mini beer shots!) that we drank.  We also did the Glow Party, which — at least if you’re a Gen Xer like us — featured super fun dance music.  Good times. 

 

I will caution – when hanging at SpiceH2O, don’t wear white.  There was a soot issue at times.  Not terrible (and not constant) but it did ruin one of my husband’s white shirts.  

 

At all bars, we tipped with every round (or bigger tips every few rounds) and our service was noticeably better than those who didn’t.  Not a huge amount – a buck or two a drink — but it made a difference, especially at really busy times like the Super Bowl party.  Just do it, these people are working their rear ends off while we drink rum runners.

 

Regular pool

We only spent a few hours here one day in the afternoon.  Found a lounger poolside no problem.  Servers were around, but we just fetched our drinks from the bar.  There was a band playing and they were OK.  It was pretty loud (guess we’re getting old!) but everyone seemed to be having fun whenever we passed through.

 

Casino

Sadly, our time in the casino was not profitable (for us), but it was fun.  We played Texas Hold ‘Em, Three Card Poker, Blackjack, Craps and some slots.  Drink service was good at the tables, but we were tipping well.  The “club” is open to the casino and it was very lively every night we were there.  A great DJ and lots of rhythm-challenged dancing going on.  Fun fun fun.  One note – we took out a line of credit with Casino At Sea prior to embarkation. While a little bit of a process, it worked extremely well and it was nice not to have to carry cash or charge to our onboard account (which comes at a 3% fee.)

 

Spa 

We went to the Thermal Spa one day (one day pass = $59 pp.)  It was lovely.  The heated loungers were awesome.  Pools were great, very strong jets felt good on sore muscles (from all the dancing.)  The Snow Room was our favorite — the cold felt so good after the sauna.  I was nervous to go in, but it’s  not actually THAT cold. So refreshing. But do wear footwear as recommended because the floor is literally ice.

 

Entertainment

The only show we caught was one of the comedy shows which we thought was very funny.  It was the 11PM show, so adult-oriented but still pretty tame (to our sensibilities.)  Others in our party did lots of trivia and that type of thing, which they really enjoyed.  My aunt won “Queen of Bingo” the first day so got free bingo for the rest of the cruise.

 

While we didn’t take advantage of much of it, all entertainment was running.  After Midnight and Choir of Man both ran two nights each.  The 2^nd CoM show was the very last night, which wasn’t ideal.  People like us who leave everything to the last minute have lots to do before disembarkation J

 

Laundry 

The “one-bag for $29” laundry special was on Tuesday, which was too early in the cruise for us.  We sent our laundry out on Thursday evening, which technically should have incurred an expedite fee to get it back by Friday night, but they didn’t charge us extra.  This was the best thing ever — getting our laundry back neatly folded and ready to stick in our luggage = awesome.  Still took me forever to pack.  

 

Overall, we loved the ship.  Big enough to provide something for everyone, but we never felt overwhelmed.  Despite the low passenger count, there was always a lively scene to be had somewhere or a quiet place for a drink.  Of course, that may be different when the ship is at capacity.  We’re glad we got to experience the ship this way.

[ElizaSTN]

The Haven

This was our first time in the Haven and – as so many have said – we won’t cruise on Norwegian any other way.  We loved the atmosphere of the space itself and having access to the Concierge and Butler who could help with any requests.  It was wonderful and we recommend unreservedly.  That said there were some hiccups despite the fact that we took all the advice found on this forum and felt we were very well-prepared.

 

First, the good (and it was very very good!)

 

The Haven itself really is a haven.  The service was beyond excellent and the atmosphere was tranquil but upbeat, without being too stuffy.  Despite the low overall capacity, the Haven was totally sold out but it never felt crowded with the slight exception of the first day when everyone was waiting for their rooms to be ready.  (Which was around 12:30.)

 

We spent the most time on the sun deck, where we met some really great, fun people of all ages and walks of life (from former military helicopter pilots, to teachers, nurses, engineers and former members of the UK Parliament.)  None of them stuffy.  Our drinks were never empty – the servers came around very frequently.  Everything was immaculate at all times.  

 

The Haven Restaurant was truly the standout.  The food was just so good.  For breakfast, the Poached Eggs Meurette was my favorite, steak and eggs and omelettes were delicious.  The french press coffee and almond croissants were as good as we’d heard.  We ate lunch there most days.  Best in class:  lobster bisque, chicken consume with little dumplings, the fish sandwich, chicken Milanese and the French dip.  We only had dinner once, but the prime rib was next level, the lobster was perfect and the raviolo was unique and excellent. Joseph and Gretyl were our regular servers and they were both top-notch.  Joseph made me little napkin animals every day, which were completely adorable (and I still have.). In addition to tipping at each meal, we found them both on the last day, as well as the Haven Restaurant maitre’d.  

 

We didn’t take enough advantage of the Haven Bar, to our regret.  We just had too much going on with the rest of our group.  I did have some excellent Old Fashioneds. 

 

Our Butler was Dave and he provided great service.  We didn’t meet him the first day except in passing.  He delivered breakfast the next day and we had a proper introduction and gave him our letter, which was not as lengthy as some versions 🙂 Taking advice from this forum, we asked for the room to be stocked with a pitcher of iced tea, M&Ms, cream for my coffee in the AM.  We also asked for a standing room service “mid-night snack” order of sandwiches and milk and cookies, which was the best idea ever.

 

We let Dave know at that time that we were planning on hosting guests in-suite for a pre-dinner birthday celebration on Tuesday, which we worked with him and the Concierge to plan and it was perfect.  We had an excellent cheese and meat platter, shrimp cocktail, crudite and a variety of beer delivered, and again had wine we’d brought on board. We didn’t ask for service during the party. We did give him an initial tip with that letter. I know some disagree with this, but we wanted him to know that we take care of those who take care of us.  And since we did have these requests, we felt it was the right move.  We also tipped him again at the end.  All of our requests were handled well and we were very pleased.  I will say that some of our interactions felt rushed but I know that they are very busy.  Our daily canapés were the standard ones – we didn’t get the multiple plates of “extras” that I’ve seen on this forum, but that was 100% fine as we could hardly eat what we had.

 

David was our Concierge and we loved him.  He was always around, at the desk or circulating throughout the Haven.  He checked on us regularly.  When we encountered some issues, he bent over backward to do everything he could to help.  Having access to such service is a big selling point for the Haven and we appreciated him. 

 

Some Hiccups

Like many things in life, vacations are an expectations game.  And based on our other experiences at luxury properties and everything we had heard about the Haven, our expectations were sky high.  By the end of the cruise, those expectations had been met.  However, there were some hiccups in the first few days that initially caused some degree of stress.  And I relay them here, not to complain, but to help others mitigate any similar issues.  

 

We made specialty dining reservations before the cruise with the pre-board concierge. When we got to the Haven, those reservations could not be found in the system even though I had the printed confirmations (included with our eDocs) and could see the reservations on my app. The person helping me at the Concierge desk (not David or the assistant) was able to make the reservations we wanted but at much later times than originally requested and not ideal. He also seemed a bit put out about the whole thing.  The next day, I asked David for help and he was able to get better times so it did work out. But it was very stressful on that first day, especially because one dinner was a special birthday celebration and the 8:30PM time we were initially given was just not acceptable. 

 

I also made reservations with the assistant concierge for the Canvas by You painting class, for myself and my mother and aunts.  When we showed up on Wednesday our names weren’t on the list and we couldn’t take the class. This was very embarrassing for me. David was able to get us into Thursday’s class but it didn’t work with our schedule.  He was so incredibly apologetic and tried everything he could to make it work but it wasn’t meant to be.  My recommendation would be to ask for a written confirmation for things Iike this – like the little cards they give for spa appointments.  Just to avoid confusion.

 

The first two days, we ordered room service breakfast using the door hanger to which we attached specific requests from the Haven Restaurant.  The food we got was from the main dining room – plain poached eggs and French toast, not what was on the Haven menu.  From then on, we called the Butler in the morning with our order and that worked just fine but we missed the convenience of having it pre-ordered the night before. 

 

And lastly, we ordered those platters for our in-suite party for which there was a charge (which we expected.)  That charge ($200+) appeared twice on our account. I brought it to the attention of the assistant concierge and was assured it would be taken care of, but when I got our final invoice via email (after disembarkation) it was still there.  I’m trying to get resolution and hope it will work out.  

 

Ultimately, none of these things were anywhere close to dealbreakers, but my expectations were so high that I initially felt disappointment that everything wasn’t completely perfect and that I had to spend time dealing with issues.  It was also stressful to coordinate a trip for 10 people, with all the details that went along with that, so I was on edge – which contributed to these feelings.  We still had an absolutely fabulous time and loved this cruise, the Haven and the service we received there.  My advice is to be flexible, be “on vacation,” don’t get caught up in sweating the small stuff and ask for the help you need — you’ll get it.

[ElizaSTN]

Restaurants

The specialty restaurants were overall good.  We were a party of 8 or 10 for each meal which I think presents some challenges for the staff (which I understand.)  Food service was almost universally excellent, but drink orders were just a weird sticking point.  I already reported on the initial issues we had using the PP+ wine bottle service, so I won’t go into that again here.  But at a couple of restaurants, no one took regular drink orders until we asked (sometimes more than once.) Even a beer or a soft drink took awhile and sometimes also had to be requested more than once. It was just kind of an odd thing.

 

La Cucina — We ate here the first night because we didn’t want anything too formal.  I’d read some so-so reviews, but we found the food to be really very good.  I had burrata (excellent) and  the salmon which was exceptional — a very pleasant surprise.  Several in our party had the spicy shrimp dish which most liked but was too spicy for one person.  That’s a personal preference though (and hello, it said spicy right on the menu.)  The veal was also good.  I did not care for the cannoli dessert, but I grew up in NYC and have extremely high cannoli standards J

 

Bayamou — This was a little bit of a miss.  The drink issue was a problem, but also some dishes were served lukewarm (if that.)  The scallop/pork belly appetizer was a highlight.  I had the grouper which was ok. My husband had the halibut which he loved. None of the other meals really stood out.  Desserts were good, including some excellent key lime pie and cheesecake in a jar.  

 

Teppanyaki — This was really great fun.  Our chef was hysterical and got the whole table into the act.  The atmosphere in the whole restaurant was just super fun.  The food was great and a TON of it.  Drink service here was over-the-top good, but this was where we had the personal visit from the Food and Beverage Manager after previous issues, so everyone was definitely taking exceptional care of us.  We loved this meal and highly recommend for a fun, lighthearted night.

 

Le Bistro — Also very good.  French onion soup, mushroom soup and the scallop appetizer with the cauliflower veloute were exceptional (though the scallops are small.)  Escargot was ok, not spectacular.  Dover sole and filet both outstanding.  Desserts all great but others who had been before missed the creme brûlée.  I think the wine steward was a little scared of me at this point (even though I am not scary and never rude!!!)  Our initial choice of the Isabel Mondavi Pinot Noir was unavailable, but a good substitute was provided and the drinks flowed.  

 

The last night we ate at the main dining room.  The food was good but service felt rushed and impersonal.  This could be because it was the last night and very busy.  We enjoyed ourselves but after experiencing the Haven and specialty restaurants, it felt lackluster.  Nothing wrong or bad, but other meals were better.  I will say that some in our group ate in a MDR another night and said they had a really great meal.    

 

The one disappointment was that we didn’t get to try Pinchos.  I was REALLY looking forward to this but it was only listed as open during dinner hours.  However, when we walked by during those times, no one was ever there and it didn’t LOOK open.  We had dinner plans every night but were hoping it would be open for lunch, but no luck.  Next time!

[ElizaSTN]

Ports

We didn’t book this cruise for the ports so even when other sailings were cancelling stops, we weren’t too concerned.  But our sailing made every port as scheduled, which was wonderful.

 

Dominican Republic

Those in our group who got off the boat enjoyed the new port area.  Huge pool, lots of loungers (free for cruise passengers), bars, restaurants and the usual shops. Said it felt very safe.  There was a sandy area with loungers overlooking the ocean, but no “beach” or swimming area.  We met others onboard who walked to the park area and fort thing near the port and said they enjoyed that as well.  

 

St Thomas 

We didn’t book an excursion but instead walked off the boat and got a taxi.  Well, one of those open air truck things.  The driver took us to Mountain Top, where we admired the view, had delicious (though absurdly expensive) banana daiquiris and bought typical overpriced souvenirs.  Was nice, but probably wouldn’t do again.  Our driver then took us to Sapphire Beach where we spent 2-3 hours.  It was nice.  A little crowded, even with only 3 ships at reduced capacity in port.  The scenery looking out from the beach was beautiful and the water was lovely (after a bit of an initial chill!)  I guess I just have high standards for beaches, because I wasn’t wowed.  Beach chairs were $9 a piece and we were lucky enough to find a nice shady spot under a tree.  Lots of chickens running around, which was cute…they didn’t bother anyone.  The beach bar prices were reasonable - $4 for a beer.  Note they do NOT take American Express.  Also note, masks were 100% mandatory when ordering at the bar or restaurant – not a problem.  We didn’t eat but heard great things about the burgers.  Our driver then took us back to the ship.  For 5 of us, with just us in the vehicle and the driver waiting at each spot, it was $150.  Maybe we could have gotten it cheaper if we had walked further out of the port but it was worth it for the convenience and lack of hassle.  I will say that the drive could be considered nerve wracking, up steep hills and hairpin turns, with other big vehicles coming the opposite direction. Stuff like that doesn’t bother us (was far from the worst we’ve experienced in our travels) but YMMV.

 

Tortola — No one in our group got off the boat here, since we got to port at 6:00AM (way too early for us) and all aboard was 1:30.

 

Great Stirrup Cay

This was the absolute standout and a huge highlight of the entire trip.  For the ten of us, we rented the 2-bedroom villa which was $899 I believe.  It. Was. Awesome.  Completely worth it.  We were on the first tender (villa guests get first dibs along with Haven.)  Took a golf cart to Silver Cove.  All in all, from lining up for the tender to walking into the villa it took about an hour.  The villa itself was fabulous.  Plenty of room and seating (both inside and out) for everyone.  It was nice to have the bedrooms for changing.  Two bathrooms, which was great for showers before heading back to the ship. Outside porch with huge table, couch, multiple loungers.  More loungers and floaties on the beach.  The buffet (just for Silver Cove) was good – a golf cart was available for anyone who didn’t want to walk but it was not far.  The Moët Bar and all the cocktails available there were outstanding.  Our waiters (Prince and James) were fantastic and always around.  Prince convinced us to try many of the Moët cocktails and the Hennessy Pina Colada (which sounds weird but was off-the-charts good.)  The lagoon was calm and beautiful, but with a a steep drop off 4-5 steps in, so be wary of that.  I’m 5’9 and couldn’t stand.  The lagoon floor did have some non-slimy seaweed plants, but you get used to it and was fine - my husband thought it was pleasantly ticklish.  Overall, a perfect day.  Cannot recommend a villa enough.  Only complaint was that we wished our time on-island was longer!  We were on the last tender back at 4:30 or so, when they were literally kicking us out.

 

Well, that’s about it.  I seem to have run out of superlatives, but that’s how much we enjoyed this trip.  It was so special to be together with our family for a real celebration after the last two years.  Only thing left to do is book our next cruise (with the Cruise Next certs we enthusiastically purchased on-board.)  

 

Breakaway January 2023, we’re coming for you!!!

 

[ElizaSTN]

And just one last point, in re-reading what I’ve posted.  Any criticisms that I’ve shared are 100% picking nits and only meant as advice to help others make the most of their cruise.  This was such a fun trip.  We have travelled all over the world, for work and for leisure, and were cruise-skeptic for a long time.  We can’t wait to cruise again.  

[Karaboudjan]

6 hours ago, ElizaSTN said:

And just one last point, in re-reading what I’ve posted.  Any criticisms that I’ve shared are 100% picking nits and only meant as advice to help others make the most of their cruise.  This was such a fun trip.  We have travelled all over the world, for work and for leisure, and were cruise-skeptic for a long time.  We can’t wait to cruise again.  

 

Thanks for the review.  Did you get any figure for occupancy on your cruise?

 

BTW, we were on Escape 2 weeks and also wondered about Pinchos since it was not obviously closed but we never saw anyone eating.

[theolivers777]

Thank you for such a thorough review.  We are on the Escape in a few weeks and were wondering if the ropes course and water slides were open for the kids?

 

[brookie848]

Tip for future Haven cruises:

If you know you want breakfast the next morning, leave your order on the table where you butler drops off your snacks the day before, or call him/her the day before and give your order. We've done this the last few times that we've ordered an early breakfast for delivery -- including the dreaded early arrival in Tortola. We've actually had it delivered before the delivery hours are scheduled to begin.

 

We always bring a small notebook with us so we can leave notes for our butler.

 

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. We've been on the Escape twice and it is one of our favorite ships.

[Two Wheels Only]

7 hours ago, ElizaSTN said:

Several in our party had the spicy shrimp dish which most liked but was too spicy for one person.  That’s a personal preference though (and hello, it said spicy right on the menu.)

 

Neither the arrabiata nor the fra diavolo served on NCL is spicy. My theory is that NCL is catering to an "older" crowd who tend to be more sensitive to spicy food.  

 

7 hours ago, ElizaSTN said:

 I did not care for the cannoli dessert, but I grew up in NYC and have extremely high cannoli standards

 

BELIEVE ME, I know the feeling. 😁

I was born and raised in NYC and finding a good, fresh, well-made cannoli in Florida might be impossible. The standards on a cruise ship are to be expected. 

 

7 hours ago, ElizaSTN said:

 

Man, I have a bottle of Ice Imperial that I'm waiting to find an excuse to pop and seeing this makes me think that the bottle won't survive the weekend. 🤣

[ElizaSTN]

1 hour ago, Karaboudjan said:

 

Thanks for the review.  Did you get any figure for occupancy on your cruise?

 

BTW, we were on Escape 2 weeks and also wondered about Pinchos since it was not obviously closed but we never saw anyone eating.

 

we heard 1800 from several sources.
 

1 hour ago, theolivers777 said:

Thank you for such a thorough review.  We are on the Escape in a few weeks and were wondering if the ropes course and water slides were open for the kids?

 

The slides definitely were open. I’m not 100% sure about the ropes, but I believe so.  Never heard or saw anything about them being closed.  

[SplashOfWater]

Thank you for the detailed review! We have been looking at the Escape Haven for March or April, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. 

[Karaboudjan]

11 minutes ago, ElizaSTN said:

 

we heard 1800 from several sources.
 

The slides definitely were open. I’m not 100% sure about the ropes, but I believe so.  Never heard or saw anything about them being closed.  

 

Ropes course was open on the 1/29 sailing.

[kuku77254]

Thanks for the review. Those yellow floats you guys are on at GSC, do those come with the villa or did you have to rent them somewhere?

[Karaboudjan]

3 minutes ago, kuku77254 said:

Thanks for the review. Those yellow floats you guys are on at GSC, do those come with the villa or did you have to rent them somewhere?

I don't know about the villas, but if you are on the main beach you can rent them.  IIRC they were somewhere around $15.

[ElizaSTN]

1 hour ago, kuku77254 said:

Thanks for the review. Those yellow floats you guys are on at GSC, do those come with the villa or did you have to rent them somewhere?

They came with the villa, along with beach loungers and umbrellas.  

[mnpurple]

Is there another bar on Great Stirrup that has drinks more in line with pricing of the standard drink package?  I'm debating trying to upgrade when we get on board and see if only one or two of us can, so that would help.  But, after paying for a villa, I'd rather not pay $10/drink for six of us all day long

[ElizaSTN]

43 minutes ago, mnpurple said:

Is there another bar on Great Stirrup that has drinks more in line with pricing of the standard drink package?  I'm debating trying to upgrade when we get on board and see if only one or two of us can, so that would help.  But, after paying for a villa, I'd rather not pay $10/drink for six of us all day long

There is another bar with regular drinks and the servers will get you orders from there as well.  

[KurtMo]

There's a Bacardi Bar and a Patron Bar with numerous drinks that fit the standard package prices.

[ggTexasGal]

3 hours ago, mnpurple said:

Is there another bar on Great Stirrup that has drinks more in line with pricing of the standard drink package?  I'm debating trying to upgrade when we get on board and see if only one or two of us can, so that would help.  But, after paying for a villa, I'd rather not pay $10/drink for six of us all day long

https://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/great-stirrup-cay#gsc-map  (Click on the orange and white circles for different venues).

* In Silver Cove, there is the Silver Cove bar which will have more standard drinks than the Moet Bar. 

If you are not booked in the Villas at Silver Cove (far left on the map), then you will be spending your time on the island closer to where the tenders load/unload passengers (right on the map).

From the Tenders location, several bars are nearby.  Also, there are directional signs!!!

Edited February 25, 2022 by ggTexasGal
added info *

[luckyinpa]

OP did you ever have filet for bfast in haven? i've heard it's not standard anymore and that you need to request it a day before. 

 

also regarding the party charge which you were aware of. were the items on the menu under special category (ie party platters) or did you just give a list of things you wanted and knew youd be charged

Edited February 25, 2022 by luckyinpa

[ElizaSTN]

2 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

OP did you ever have filet for bfast in haven? i've heard it's not standard anymore and that you need to request it a day before. 

 

also regarding the party charge which you were aware of. were the items on the menu under special category (ie party platters) or did you just give a list of things you wanted and knew youd be charged

We requested a filet the first day via the door hanger but did not receive and then didn’t request it again.  We didn’t try ordering it in the restaurant itself or asking the butler.  If we had followed up I’m sure we could have gotten it, but never bothered.

 

I had seen things listed here:  https://www.ncl.com/onboard-gifts/gourmet-treats

 

And those aligned with what we like to eat so just went with some of those, and wrote it down for the Butler.  But I’m sure we could have asked for other things or gotten suggestions from the Butler.

 

[barb65]

Excellent review. Easy to read and very informative. Thanks for taking the time to post. Escape is our favorite NCL ship.