Help deciding!

[KKB]

On 6/16/2022 at 8:06 PM, Ally2725 said:

Hi all,

 

I was hoping I could gather some advice about what ship I should be sailing next.

 

My options are the Escape leaving from port Canaveral (I've sailed the Escape once before) or the Encore leaving from Miami. They are both 7 days and both Carribean sailings with the same ports.

 

I was worried from what I saw that the Encore has quite a few on board expenses like go karts etc. Has anyone sailed these ships have any preferences or experience they can share that may help sway my decision? 

 

Thank you 😀

 

 

I have not sailed either ship.  

But I am sailing out of Port Canaveral in August & let me tell, you, IT IS A PITA!

Transfers are a nightmare. I wanted to be at the port bright & early Saturday to try to get a Vibe pass. 

Nope. I can get Lyft/Uber with surge prices (typical on Sat/Sun to port)--so $75-150.

I fly in the day b4 but there are no afternoon shuttles to PC from companies that even get reasonable reviews. So $75 Lyft/Uber. PLUS hotels at PC are double the rates of Orlando hotels.

So I've given up my pipe dream of a Vibe pass, got a reasonably priced hotel & a 9:40 shuttle to PC from CONTRANS (best reviews) for $50 RT.

 

 

Sail MIA--SO SO much easier to get from airport to port, and generally more reasonable hotel prices.

Edited June 24, 2022 by KKB

[Seraphine]

5 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

I'm thinking about booking a cruise on the Encore - for all the reasons you dislike haha...laser tag and go karts! But, I am really curious about the spaces where you felt claustrophobic. Where was this? In your room? Public spaces? Waterfront? Etc...could definitely keep me from sailing the Encore if it's this pronounced.

I went on the Go-carts, but kept getting rear ended by an obnoxious 10 year old who was eventually got escorted off the track for hitting me so many times.  I have zero interest in laser tag 😞  

The library space that lead to the Observation Bar at the front... while the bar was more open, I could reach up and touch parts of the ceiling.   It just seemed weird to me as that never happens.

The cabin was fine, but yes, the public spaces seemed cramped (and there was only about 75% occupancy... I'd hate to see it full).   No big "wow" spaces, nothing that made you step back and think, "that's cool/impressive/not a shopping mall"   If I wanted small, uninspiring spaces, I'd stay home.

I'm sure some people will like it, but it really made me evaluate what I did like about NCL ships, and that's what I seek out now.  

[Seraphine]

5 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

I'm thinking about booking a cruise on the Encore - for all the reasons you dislike haha...laser tag and go karts! But, I am really curious about the spaces where you felt claustrophobic. Where was this? In your room? Public spaces? Waterfront? Etc...could definitely keep me from sailing the Encore if it's this pronounced.

I went on the Go-carts, but kept getting rear ended by an obnoxious 10 year old who was eventually got escorted off the track for hitting me so many times.  I have zero interest in laser tag 😞  

The library space that lead to the Observation Bar at the front... while the bar was more open, I could reach up and touch parts of the ceiling.   It just seemed weird to me as that never happens.

The cabin was fine, but yes, the public spaces seemed cramped (and there was only about 75% occupancy... I'd hate to see it full).   No big "wow" spaces, nothing that made you step back and think, "that's cool/impressive/not a shopping mall"   If I wanted small, uninspiring spaces, I'd stay home.

I'm sure some people will like it, but it really made me evaluate what I did like about NCL ships, and that's what I seek out now.