Live From The Getaway..... 1-8-2023

[Laszlo]

Had dinner last night with friends in the Tropicana room. The overall experience was not good. They seem to be seriously understaffed. We order drinks and dinner, appetizers took 45 minutes, drinks came 15 later, main course came at the 90 minute mark. All the tables around us were having the same problem. We won’t be dinning here again, either specialty restaurants or the Haven restaurant. Walked around last night, we did not see any shows. Walked thru the casino, I don’t care if people smoke, it normally doesn’t bother me but good grief the casino stank, the whole place stunk 

 

Our Haven Spa cabin is nice, plenty of room for all our stuff. It’s an easy 30 second walk to the Haven courtyard l. Having been in the Haven one other time on the Escape I can see the Escape has a much nicer courtyard compared to the Getaway, larger and nicer

 

 

[cruise crazed]

Just got off the 12/31 sailing of the Getaway and also had a similar experience in the Tropicana Dining Room.  However, our other dining experiences were pleasant and enjoyable.

The Haven staff were excellent.

[mking8288]

Good morning and thanks for the update, glad to know that the Haven experience is good & great whereas satellite WiFi isn't so smooth.  I'm sure one of you will get the #'s on how full the ship is for this sailing & headcounts, etc. later on.  Regardless, we've come to expect slower services in general in the large Tropicana Room, but even on the first evening and that's not good, coupled with staffing "adjustments" - can't imagine what the last 3 sea days will be like, as nearly everyone discovered it by then and do the "let's go try out the MDR" because they are done with the buffet mindset.  

 

Following along and have a great day ahead, how' the "ride" thus far and weather for later today.  

[Laszlo]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

Good morning and thanks for the update, glad to know that the Haven experience is good & great whereas satellite WiFi isn't so smooth.  I'm sure one of you will get the #'s on how full the ship is for this sailing & headcounts, etc. later on.  Regardless, we've come to expect slower services in general in the large Tropicana Room, but even on the first evening and that's not good, coupled with staffing "adjustments" - can't imagine what the last 3 sea days will be like, as nearly everyone discovered it by then and do the "let's go try out the MDR" because they are done with the buffet mindset.  

 

Following along and have a great day ahead, how' the "ride" thus far and weather for later today.  

Our friends went back for breakfast and they said it was terrible, how do fried eggs come out cold. Meanwhile my wife and I enjoyed an excellent breakfast in the Haven Restaurant. Thermal Spa is fairly busy, heard something about cold rooms from a number of people. Cloudy today, some drizzle and about 60f at the moment

[bren61]

I have the Tropicana schedule 2 times during our cruise and Savor & Taste each 3 times, so if we have a bad experience with Tropicana the first night, I will cancel the second night and go somewhere else. We also have 2 nights of specialty dining, Le Bistro & Ocean Blue. Laszlo, please keep us posted as to your experiences in the different restaurants. Have a great rest of your cruise!!

 

[Fischmom]

I am on this cruise too. According to the entertainment info on the television Syd’s will have the band this week. First show is supposed to be tomorrow.  It is also showing under entertainment in the app now. It was gone as of a few days ago. Fingers crossed this isn’t a glitch and they really are on the ship!

[Rubybadu]

Can I ask how busy it is? 
 

also could you let us know when you notice the weather changing. I thought the route down would be a bit more direct, going the direction you’ve shown means it’s going to be cold a bit longer 

[Mike C]

6 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Good morning and thanks for the update, glad to know that the Haven experience is good & great whereas satellite WiFi isn't so smooth.  I'm sure one of you will get the #'s on how full the ship is for this sailing & headcounts, etc. later on.  Regardless, we've come to expect slower services in general in the large Tropicana Room, but even on the first evening and that's not good, coupled with staffing "adjustments" - can't imagine what the last 3 sea days will be like, as nearly everyone discovered it by then and do the "let's go try out the MDR" because they are done with the buffet mindset.  

 

Following along and have a great day ahead, how' the "ride" thus far and weather for later today.  

It was announced this morning at the M&G that there are 3888 passengers on board.

[Laszlo]

27 minutes ago, Rubybadu said:

Can I ask how busy it is? 
 

also could you let us know when you notice the weather changing. I thought the route down would be a bit more direct, going the direction you’ve shown means it’s going to be cold a bit longer 

Currently it’s about 64f and the sun is trying to come out. Saw a few flying fish, weather is what it is. Good day for the thermal spa, thanks tomorrow and Wednesday will be in the Haven courtyard and sun deck 

[EllieinNJ]

7 hours ago, Fischmom said:

I am on this cruise too. According to the entertainment info on the television Syd’s will have the band this week. First show is supposed to be tomorrow.  It is also showing under entertainment in the app now. It was gone as of a few days ago. Fingers crossed this isn’t a glitch and they really are on the ship!

That's great to hear.  Please come back and let us know if you got in, who was playing, etc.  We are on February 1st.

[Laszlo]

The day ended up on a positive note, the 4 of us had dinner and Cagney's and it was excellent. Clocks go head one hour tonight

[bren61]

10 minutes ago, Laszlo said:

The day ended up on a positive note, the 4 of us had dinner and Cagney's and it was excellent. Clocks go head one hour tonight

What did you all have? Pics please😁

 

[Fischmom]

1 hour ago, EllieinNJ said:

That's great to hear.  Please come back and let us know if you got in, who was playing, etc.  We are on February 1st.

We plan on getting in line tomorrow night. We heard them rehearsing today when we walked by!  I was so disappointed when we thought they wouldn’t be playing. 

[cusematt4]

Hi @Laszlo

 

Enjoy your cruise on the Getaway.

 

Zennhitt band was the best of any cruise.  Also if you want a great drink and to meet the most above and beyond crew member we’ve ever met, stop by the sugar cane bar and say hi to Deserie.  Feel free to tell her Matt and family from the Christmas week sailing say hi.

 

Only feedback for NCL from our cruise was that the entertainment lacked especially the fly on acts such as comedians and variety type shows.  We were also disappointed with such little live music and the elimination of Syds and the rock band.

 

have fun. 

[slatch]

@lazlo, thanks for posting!!!

 

I will be on the Getaway for the Feb. 18th sailing and am very much looking forward to it. It is great to see what the ship has to offer for dining and entertainment. If anyone on this sailing has a chance, please post pics of the dailies. Thanks and have a great trip. 

Edited January 10, 2023 by slatch

[sailorusvi]

5 minutes ago, slatch said:

@lazlo, thanks for posting!!!

 

I will be on the Getaway for the Feb. 18th sailing and am very much looking forward to it. It is great to see what the ship has to offer for dining and entertainment. If anyone on this sailing has a chance, please post pics of the dailies. Thanks and have a great trip. 

Us too!  It's our first cruise with NCL (husband's first cruise ever) and I want to learn all I can about the ship and "NCL secrets" , even if it's not the exact itinerary.

[mking8288]

Just a comment - Getaway's satellite WiFi has been reported by multiple CC'er posting onboard recently that connectivity isn't great, coverage is spotty.  My understanding is that she's sailing further east out in the North Atlantic toward San Juan due to jet streams & weather, and high-orbit coverage via satellite isn't the best in that region ... it is NOT Starlink (currently in use/pilot testing on the Breakaway).  Probably, when they can, with a better & faster connection - you will / should see those photos coming live - it's not a matter of what, but when - this sailing's itinerary is different compared to last week's Live Report.  

 

We're on the Getaway last March and the benchmarked #'s were not good at all - my guess is that, it isn't much better with the ship sailing at 98% occupancy vs. 50% last year.  Laszlo and/or Jimesopus (and others) onboard can check & compare the WiFi "status" this week.  Just as eager to see what's changed, different, new and enhanced ... 

 

 

 

These were unlimited (non-streaming) WiFi speed - not a chance that streaming is going to work even if stepped up to premium streaming, IMHO over the shared narrow bandwidth. 

Edited January 10, 2023 by mking8288

[Laszlo]

7 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

These were unlimited (non-streaming) WiFi speed - not a chance that streaming is going to work even if stepped up to premium streaming, IMHO over the shared narrow bandwidth. 

You’re right, it’s not great, coverage is hit or miss and the speed is not great. I have unlimited and at times it’s so slow I just can’t use it effectively.

[cruiseinfoseeker]

[cruiseinfoseeker]

Day 2

[cruiseinfoseeker]

Day 3

[cruiseinfoseeker]

[Laszlo]

[Chesneygirl]

2 minutes ago, Laszlo said:

Love the photos! 

[f1rstxlas7]

9 hours ago, slatch said:

@lazlo, thanks for posting!!!

 

I will be on the Getaway for the Feb. 18th sailing and am very much looking forward to it. It is great to see what the ship has to offer for dining and entertainment. If anyone on this sailing has a chance, please post pics of the dailies. Thanks and have a great trip. 

  

9 hours ago, sailorusvi said:

Us too!  It's our first cruise with NCL (husband's first cruise ever) and I want to learn all I can about the ship and "NCL secrets" , even if it's not the exact itinerary.

 

 

I'll be on it too, we have a Roll call thread for it here:

 

Edited January 10, 2023 by f1rstxlas7