Recent Vibe Experience for NCL Escape out of Orlando?

[bcolli]

Good Morning.  I have been reading the forums for years, so I appreciate the information on these forums and any assistance for my specific question.  I have experience and success getting Vibe tickets (sometimes the very last 2 available) on several sailings.  After reading the forums over the last 2 weeks, I learned that now SOME tickets are available to pre-book.  Unfortunately, I did not learn that little trick until it was far too late and there are none available.  That said, I am checking every day in case there are any cancellations.

 

I have also learned that the new location for getting the Vibe tickets seems to be at a small table just outside of Teppanayaki.  Previously it was at guest services in a dedicated line.

 

My wife & I are Latitudes Gold, which doesn't seem to help us with any priority check-in.

 

Obviously, the Escape having a smaller Vibe, there will be less available tickets, and due to pre-sales even less than that.  The Vibe is very important to me, especially because I believe my upcoming cruise may be fully booked due to the searches I have done for other rooms.

 

Here are my questions from those who have recent experience or other tips that I have not learned:

 

• Does anyone actually know how many Vibe passes are held back for purchase on board?
• My "port time" is 10:30 (earliest available when I checked in, I didn't realize I should do it at midnight - doh!) what is the earliest port time, and what happens if I show up at that earliest time and try to get in line?  We will be arriving by Uber or Hotel Shuttle depending on availability.
• I have read many posts saying that the $199 Priority Access isn't worth it.  However, does it really get me in before boarding group 1?  If so, as expensive as it is, it may be worth it anyway.
• Is the table outside of Teppanayki still the accurate location?
• What level of the ship do we board?  If memory serves, it is on deck 6 aft.  So, my plan is to literally RUN as soon as I am able (carefully going around the slower people boarding, <showing my patience - that I unfortunately don't really have> who seem to only show up when I'm in a hurry, stopping frequently on the gangway - lol) to the table, while DW stops at Mixx for our first set of Champagne (whatever is currently available on the Premium Plus beverage package) and will meet me in the Vibe line.
• Realistically, what are my chances of getting passes at this point on a full ship?
• Do you have any additional tips that I'm not thinking of?

 

And yes, for us, the price of the Vibe is well worth the price as we often stay in the Vibe even on port days -- we get our money's worth and the staff and camaraderie and folks we meet in the Vibe always makes the trip better!  So glad I stumbled across it before our first trip years ago on the Breakaway.

 

Thank you all in advance for your assistance.

Edited January 13 by bcolli

[BirdTravels]

All vibe passes are sold in advance, online, to eliminate the running on embarkation. 
 

Yes, there are cancellations that are sold on a first come first serve basis. There is not a mad dash because everyone who wanted them bought them pre-cruise. 
 

Regardless of checkin time, you can show up as early as you want. 
 

You embark Deck 7 and enter forward or aft (depending on where they direct you). Reservations are on Deck 6 mid-ship. 
 

I have never seen a desk outside Teppanyaki. But I am not looking for one. We were last on the Escape in May. 

[seemoreroyals]

@bcolli Good luck to you and I hope you are able to get vibe tickets.  We booked ours a year in advance for our Escape cruise this coming December.  If you are able to get in,  there is an elevator to get to deck 19 where the vibe is located that is not on the deck plans for some reason.  

 

As more people find out about the vibe,  the price is going to continue to go up but it is worth every penny.  In regards to your port time of 10:30 you should be okay as they normally don't start letting people on until about 11.  I disagree with @BirdTravels regarding the mad rush to get vibe passes.  There might not be literally a mad dash but there will be others that will be wanting to get vibe passes.

 

You might want to continue to check your reservation daily between now and then as some people may have cancelled resulting in some availability. Keep us posted.  Hope you get in.

[JandC_Cruising]

@bcolliWe have been on the Escape several times and always get the Vibe pass, regardless of ship.  We agree it's totally worth the $'s for us. Escape is only 1/2  the size of other ship as you noted, so there are less passes to go around.

Regarding time to pier, get there as early as feasible for you.  You can wait in line and be one of the first to enter the terminal, ensuring you get "boarding group 1".  You will then board after Haven, disabled, and platinum and above, or those that "purchased the priority boarding".  Personally, I would not spend the extra for "priority boarding" if you are simply hoping to get the chance for a vibe pass 

You will board on 7.  Go directly down to 6.  IF there are passes to sell, they will either be at Headliners or Guest Services.  We used to buy them at Headliners on Escape prior to the online pre-sell days.

Of course, keep looking online each day to see if you can buy online.  Cancellations happen.   

Good luck!