Back on Getaway after 10 years... 3/24/24 review

[blackwing]

Wife, 2 kids (teens) and I sailed on Getaway during her inaugural season in 2014.  Just got back, it was our first time sailing out of NY and first time to Bermuda.  We had received a text the day before letting us know our embarkation was delayed as the ship was late in getting back to port.  Text said to get to port between 3 and 6 PM on Sunday.  We got there just after 3, expecting the process to take hours.  It didn't.  Line moved fast and we were onboard before we knew it.  Parked our bags in the casino, explored a little, and went to dinner.  By the time we were done with dinner, our cabins were ready.

 

The seas were very choppy the first day.  I got seasick for the first time ever.  Ugh.  It was announced that we would be delayed to Bermuda for a full day, and wouldn't arrive until Wednesday morning, so they gave every cabin onboard credit of $100.  We also departed Bermuda on Thursday at 6 pm instead of Friday at 8 am, so they gave every cabin another credit of $100.  The extra day in Bermuda would have been nice, but we got $400 OBC instead, which my kids spent almost all of it in the arcade!

 

In Bermuda on the first day we took a taxi to Warwick Long Bay.  It was practically empty and the sand was soft and nice.  Then we walked along the path to Horseshoe.  I liked the various beaches and rock formations along the way.  Horseshoe was pretty crowded and the sand didn't feel as nice, it was more packed down from all the people.  My son was hungry so we walked up the hill and went to the first restaurant we saw, Gulfstream, where we sat on the patio and had some expensive but good pizzas.  While we were there around 3 pm we saw multiple ambulances headed down the hill to the beach.  We later learned that a cruise ship passenger, a man from either Getaway or the Celebrity Constellation died while trying to rescue an unrelated girl who was swimming and got into trouble.  The water was freezing, don't know why anyone would go so far out where they could get into trouble.  So sad for the family of the good samaritan who died.

 

On Thursday, nobody but me wanted to take the ferry to St. George ("it's too early and too far") so we just walked around Dockyards and did some shopping.  I wanted to go to the National Museum and take pictures from the Governor's House of the ship, but was again voted down.  Got back to the ship early and enjoyed the activities which were open.

 

Two more sea days.  Friday was really choppy and bad, everything outdoors was closed.  Saturday they opened the corkscrew slides.  I don't think the drop slides opened at all on the sea days, perhaps only when in port in Bermuda.

 

It's been a while since we last cruised, so I was surprised there was no Welcome Show.  I remember a welcome show where the entertainment team previews some of the entertainment during the upcoming week, and the cruise director introduces himself and the officers.  On some cruises I would see the cruise director everywhere and chat with him.  This time, I didn't see Paquito until the Thursday evening show.  Maybe we just didn't go to the right events?

 

The Illusionarium seems really underused.  There used to be a (paid) magic show most nights.  And I definitely remember having a (paid) Wine Lovers Musical lunch there.  Now it seems to mostly sit empty.

 

Million Dollar Quartet was fantastic, especially the guy who played Jerry Lee Lewis.  They also sang Broadway show tunes in a folk music style in the Illusionarium.  They should have done this show in the Theater.  The Illusionarium was packed, doors open 30 minutes before showtime, we got there right at that time and got some of the last remaining seats in the very last row.

 

I very much enjoyed Burn the Floor and was sad when it was announced that we had just seen the very final BTF show on Getaway which was leaving permanently after 10 years on the ship.  Last time I seem to remember them teaching a lot more dance classes, this time I only saw one on the schedule.  And only one night in Tropicana.

 

Ship itself looked great for the most part.  I did notice some changes.  Biggest change for us was the ropes course and mini golf.  I distinctly remember ziplining by a rock wall and over people seated below.  The rock wall is gone and I think the basketball court might have been expanded because now it goes all the way to the funnel.  10 years ago, a big deal was made about walking the plank that jutted out about 6 feet over the edge of the ship.  At the end, you pull a cord and it takes your photo.  I also remember a photographer taking pictures as we ziplined.  Since they no longer print out actual photos for preview, I guess this would be impossible to do with the plank.  The course also had a brown wood paint scheme to emphasize the pirate theme which went along with the pirate mini golf.  We were sad that the mini golf is gone... this was always a good thing to do together as a family.  Anyone know why it was removed?  It's now just completely empty space.  Seems like a waste not to have anything there at all.  The bungee trampoline and the spider climb are also gone.

 

The Grammy Experience bar got re-themed and is now a pour house, which I really liked.  The Flamingo Grill on 16 by the arcade got re-themed as American Diner.  One pleasant surprise was that the Shanghai Noodle Bar and the American Diner are now complimentary.  The lines for the noodle bar were always ridiculous.  We went at 9:45 just before closing and got seated.  The noodles in the Beef Chow Fun were the same noodles that my son had in the pad thai in the Main Dining Room earlier.  I had the Pork Char Siu noodle soup which was the same noodles but in broth and with three very tiny pieces of thinly sliced pork.  I didn't think it was worth the hype, but at least we tried it.

 

Overall, a great cruise.  Good memories of our first time on Getaway 10 years ago and made new ones this time.  We really liked the entertainers around the ship, especially Louis Razon and Nicos Duo.  Our favorite place to watch them was at the mojito bar.  My son also really really liked Howl at the Moon, which I'm pretty sure he can't go to on land.  We didn't go see them until their last night, and will keep this in mind for next cruise to look for them earlier.

 

 

[zaylyn2590]

I was on this cruise with my 7 year old daughter. That noodle bar wait was insane! Like they just opened up 15 minutes ago at 5pm  and yet the wait was until 930. 

 

That's really sad about the person who died! Thoughts and prayers to their family. 

[L1211]

Thanks for the review and trip down memory lane!  Glad you enjoyed the cruise!!

[omahabob]

Mini golf? Didn't see that last year. Time to book another Getaway cruise I guess.

[blackwing]

1 hour ago, omahabob said:

Mini golf? Didn't see that last year. Time to book another Getaway cruise I guess.

Sorry if I was confusing.  The mini golf course was there 10 years ago, and it was really fun.  Most holes had some kind of obstacle, not just the green and hole like what I remember on a RCCL ship.

 

There was no mini golf course last week.  Not sure when or why it was removed.  It's now just empty space.  On a cruise ship where space is at a premium, you'd think they'd find some better use of the space than just leaving it empty.

[blackwing]

FOOD:

Leading up to our cruise, I saw quite a number of comments saying the quality of the food has greatly declined.  I don't think I agree.  A cruise is what you make of it, and I didn't expect 5 star dining, I expected something which would make me happy.

 

Was there ever escargot as an appetizer on a daily or frequent or even occasional basis, or am I confusing this with another cruise line?  Because I didn't see it in the MDR at all, unless it was on the two days we went to Ocean Blue and Le Bistro.  The only escargot I had all week was in Le Bistro.

 

I really enjoyed the food for the most part.  Especially the lamb at Le Bistro and the cioppino at Ocean Blue.  The one thing I think NCL was a consistent miss with was fish.  Of any kind.  My wife said the sea bass at Ocean Blue was mediocre.  Then she got the dover sole at Le Bistro and promptly gave me half of it.  It was kind of tasteless.  And it tasted a lot like some bluefish entree I had for lunch in MDR, which tasted a lot like some kind of hawaiian fish (hoki) that I had for lunch in MDR on another day.  I know it must be hard to cook fish in mass quantities, so I must remember this for next time.

 

DRINKS:

When did the drink menus change, and why?  The bar menu in the NCL app, as well as bar menus posted online, still has all of the familiar drinks.  The bar menu has changed and some bartenders wouldn't make some of the old ones.  I completely struck out trying to get my favorite, a Rebellious Fish.  Isn't it vodka, passion fruit, orange juice, prosecco, maybe some Cointreau?  Every bartender said they don't make it anymore.  I thought it used to be NCL's signature drink!

 

Some bartenders would make me a Painkiller.  Some wouldn't.  One said they don't make it because they don't have the spiced rum.  I asked if he could use regular rum and he did.  It's rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, cream of coconut.  Just as good.  I never tried going up to a bartender and asking for it by ingredients, I wonder what would happen if I listed them and said use Painkiller proportions.  I was 100% on Bahama Mama, which seems fairly similar to Painkiller just without the coconut cream.

 

New drinks I discovered I liked were the Pineapple Surplus and the Sparkling Garden (vodka, elderflower, pineapple juice, lime juice, prosecco, agave).  Tried a Botanical spritz which was supposed to have basil in it and it basically tasted like a vodka grapefruit soda to me.

 

I also liked the Pineapple Coconut Mojito, the Raspberry Guava Mojito, and a Smoky Peach Margarita.

 

Now I am thirsty...

[PatJim]

Really enjoyed your comparison of the Getaway changes, both good and not so good.  Thank you for taking the time to post.

 

To slake your thirst, here’s the recipe for the Rebellious Fish, one of my favorites, too.

REBELLIOUS FISH

 Ingredients:

• 1/2 oz. Passion Fruit Liqueur
• 1 oz. Vodka
• 1/4 oz. Orange Liqueur
• 2 oz. Orange Juice
• Sparkling Wine (for topping)

 Garnish:

• Fresh Berries

[snorklinbarb]

Really appreciate your review as I'm going on Getaway in a few days and the last time was when she first came out!  So things like the magic-dinner show in Illusionarium rang true.  Good to know MDQ as good as I remembered it.  It'll be good to experience some changes as well. 

 

Did you by chance have a M & G and could you share the list of officers from that card?

 

Will definitely check out the musicians you mentioned!  Thanks!

 

Was there a house band/Caribbean band?

 

 

[TenForward]

Thanks for posting your review.  I'll be on the Getaway in 18 days... I was on her for NYE 2022 and interested in seeing what's changed.  My husband's go-to daytime drink is the Painkiller (I like it too).

Edited April 2 by TenForward

[DuckTollerFans]

19 hours ago, blackwing said:

The bar menu in the NCL app

Is this only on the app once you're onboard? That would be very handy.

 

19 hours ago, blackwing said:

Sparkling Garden (vodka, elderflower, pineapple juice, lime juice, prosecco, agave).

Made a note to try this .. sounds great!

[thedoc29ca]

Thanks for posting your review.   Brought back memories for us as well.  We love the Getaway - four times worth.   We just returned from a Breakaway cruise and the loss of the rock wall, climbing structures and especially the mini golf was a big miss for my nephews.   
 

I can understand the removal of the rock wall as it needs to be staffed.  Mini golf seems pretty low cost.  
 

We still had a great cruise but it would have been better with those amenities.   

[blackwing]

6 hours ago, DuckTollerFans said:

Is this only on the app once you're onboard? That would be very handy.

 

Made a note to try this .. sounds great!

Yes, when you are on board, go to the app and click on bars and you can see the bar menu.  On the app it still displayed the “old” menu, but the actual regular bars (Atrium, Mixx, Casino, Waves) only had the “new” menu.

[blackwing]

7 hours ago, snorklinbarb said:

Really appreciate your review as I'm going on Getaway in a few days and the last time was when she first came out!  So things like the magic-dinner show in Illusionarium rang true.  Good to know MDQ as good as I remembered it.  It'll be good to experience some changes as well. 

 

Did you by chance have a M & G and could you share the list of officers from that card?

 

Will definitely check out the musicians you mentioned!  Thanks!

 

Was there a house band/Caribbean band?

 

 

If there was a M&G, I missed it.  We also missed the Latitudes party where some officers get introduced.  
 

There was a house band, I think they are called New Generation, but I didn’t see them as much as the others. 

[JinxyB]

11 hours ago, thedoc29ca said:

Thanks for posting your review.   Brought back memories for us as well.  We love the Getaway - four times worth.   We just returned from a Breakaway cruise and the loss of the rock wall, climbing structures and especially the mini golf was a big miss for my nephews.   
 

I can understand the removal of the rock wall as it needs to be staffed.  Mini golf seems pretty low cost.  
 

We still had a great cruise but it would have been better with those amenities.   

That’s really disappointing to hear they removed mini-golf on the Breakaway, too. We are just off the Viva, and they charged $10pp to play on their mini-golf course, which I refused to pay. I’m assuming they are going to ‘upgrade’ to the for-fee mini golf on the older ships eventually. The ‘Away’ ships are my favorite, but it really stinks they removed something so simple as free mini golf!