firegal2539

Embarkation and disembarkation was the easiest I have ever done. From the time I arrived at the Fort Lauderdale airport, took an NCL shuttle to the Port of Miami and got to my cabin, was approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. The return was about the same. The only problem I had was the port porters asking for tips. All the porter does is take your bag and throw it on a cart. It takes them 30 seconds and they expect a $5 tip. Sorry, not from this woman!!

My steward, Sharon, was wonderful, and kept the cabin clean and neat. As soon as I arrived I asked for ice twice a day and immediately received it without a problem. Clean towels and sheets provided when needed.

Savor, Taste and the Manhattan Room are the Main Dining Rooms (MDR). The menu is the same for all 3 MDRs. The Manhattan Room has a live band and dancing while eating. I am not a fan of Free Style Dining, I want a set time and the same table, table mates and wait staff. The food in the MDRs was good, some nights it was great. I bought a specialty dinner package of 3 meals and ate all in Cagney’s. I just say enough about Cagney’s. It is wonderful, the steak melts in my mouth, the Parmesan Truffle Fries are the most amazing food I've eaten and the Crème Brulee is to die for. I didn’t care for Moderno, meat was tough and dry, Teppanyaki’s is great, the chefs put on a great show, Le Bistro was just ok.

Another favorite spot of mine was O’Sheehan’s Pub. Open 24 hours, great food and service, the prime rib was great. It was a good breakfast spot, not crowded, could get seated right away. The Garden Café (buffet) was terrible. I went one time put 1 piece of meat on my plate, looked at it, laid it on a table and walked out and never went back, it had a greenish tinge to it.

Margaritaville is a la carte dining, hamburger type foods. I tried 1 time, sat at a table, but no waiter approached me or asked what I needed so after 15 minutes I left.

Another small hint, early in the morning you can go to O’Sheehan’s and sit at a table and ask for a basket of their breakfast pastries and coffee. Pick it up and take it to your room, save the room service charge. I sat on my balcony and ate breakfast two mornings this way.

The first comment I want to make is many reviewers complained about the massive size of the Escape. I have taken over 20 cruises, most being between 1,900 to 2,800 passengers plus crew. The Escape has 4,248 passengers and 1,738 crew. The Escape is enormous and was almost completely sold out. I never felt that it was crowded or passengers were pushing or shoving, no long waits for elevators, restaurants or shows. The only wait was for Guest Services, Shore Excursions and Restaurant Reservations.

I found the Escape to be easily navigable. Everything was centrally located with most things located at 678 Ocean Place, including restaurants, stores, bars/lounges, casino, art gallery, internet café, all guest service offices, library, meeting rooms, and theaters. Deck 16 had the pool, hot tubs, water slides, The Market Place (cool souvenir place) and the Garden Café (buffet). Deck 17 has the Haven, Margaritaville and a well-hidden secret, H20 adult only pool. I never had any problem finding anything and the crew was ever present to ask directions, advice or suggestions from.

During the day a great place to seek peace, quiet and to relax is the Waterfront on Deck 8. The inside restaurants have outside tables where you can sit and eat. Chaise loungers are scattered around the whole deck for passengers to read, eat or just watch the ocean. I truly loved this spot.

Deck 8 has the shops. I have been on so many cruises where they have the watch and jewelry sales and the cruise line sets up folding tables in the hallway and block them, strollers, walkers, scooters, and passengers who use canes, can’t get through because it is so congested. The Escape built counters from the walls of the shops where 2 employees and a cash register fit. This does not cause the hallways to become so congested and passengers can get through.

A small hint, look at the carpeting and see which way the fish are swimming. The fish always swim to the Bow (front) of the ship. This helps you from going in the wrong direction.

I just got off of the Escape and booked everything well ahead of time. Restaurants Reservations on the ship, you had to wait in line for at least an hour and were told most times between 530 and 730 p.m. were all taken, so you had to eat later. All a la carte restaurants are included in the plan.

I would book my MDR reservations before you board because all of the good times are gone when you get on the ship.

I love Cagney's Steak House, one of the better steaks I have had. Teppanyaki was good and the chefs put on a great show. I didn't like Modernos, the meat was tough and tasted like rubber. Le Bistro was good.

I just posted a huge review about the Escape. I would highly recommend Cagney's Steak House, Headliners Comedy Club Dueling Pianos, the Brat Pack. I wanted peace, quiet and relaxation so I spent most mornings on Deck 8 at the Waterfront. It has tables, chairs, and loungers and hardly anybody goes there. I loved O'Sheehan's for breakfast and lunch, not crowded and good food.

Tyler Gray is the CD and one of the best I have seen on a ship. He is energetic, friendly, loud, keeps everyone involved and exhausting to watch.

I highly recommend buying your beverage and specialty dining packages before you get on the ship because they go up in price when you get on.

I always book insurance for all cruises. You can look at all the different kinds and compare them by using http://www.insuremytrip.com. This will give you rates and extras you can add on. I always make sure it covers my air and I add hospital of choice (you pick where you want to be taken) and add extra luggage.

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I just got off of the Escape on Sunday. You only have 6 hours in Nassau, it is not enough time to do much. Atlantis Waterpark really can't be done in that amount of time. I would stay on the ship and have a great time in the pool.

Coral World was terrible. Most of the coral was dead and was a gray color. The building had air conditioning but it barely worked which made it hot and sticky. I wouldn't waste the money on Coral World.

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Does anyone know the management team on the Sun? I will be sailing in 4 weeks and would like to have their names, Captain, Cruise, Director, F&B, etc. Thanks for the help.

Candie

I just sailed the NCL Escape on August 6 through August 14, 2016. I couldn't get all of the officers names but here are a few:

Captain - Giovanni Cutugno

Hotel Director - Jovo Sekulovic

Assistant Hotel Director - Errol Nelson

Food & Beverage Director - Anil Chinthapattia

Cruise Director - Tyler Gray

Sorry I couldn't get more, if I do I will update this.

Out of the 20 something cruises I have taken the Escape ranks in my top 5.

You can call TravelGuard or Allianez Insurance. They will customize any policy. Or make sure she is not pregnant when you go. I understand you want to cruise but you and your wife need to make a decision, a cruise or trying to have another child.

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For my carry on bag I bought a Lug (no s on the end) north/south Puddle Jumper. It is deceiving because it carries so much. Handbags I change every month, right now I am using a Michael Kors Leopard bag. I have many colors, Aqua, coral, black and brown. I buy good handbags that last forever. For cruising I carry a small black Coach in my luggage, it can be used for any occasion.

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I have been closely following this review since I will be on the Escape on Saturday. I am sad to see that smoke is such a problem in the casino. The casino is where is spend a lot of my time and have problems with smoke, hopefully I can handle it.

I did read that they are trying to find a fix for the smoke problem. The last NCL cruise I was on, the casino had the best smoke eaters I have ever seen. They weren't noisy and you couldn't smell the smoke hardly at all in the casino. I commented to the casino manager and he said they had just been put in and had really helped with the complaints about the smoke.

Candie

Suzanne and www3traveler,

Thank you for all of your help and information. I appreciate it.

Candie

Thank you for your review. I am on the Escape for 8 days on August 6, 2016. I have never been on as a ship as she is and was wondering if I would enjoy all that is going on, especially since I am a solo cruiser. Your review of the shows was wonderful because I booked both of them, but not the supper club, (I didn't like the reviews it got). I can't wait and thank you again.

I bought the door hanger and two extra strong magnetic hooks. The hooks go on any doors in the cabin and the hanger has two holes on the top that goes over the hooks.

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I get casino deals from Carnival and Norwegian and they are not free cruises. There are fees you have to pay. I am leaving next week on a free Eastern Caribbean that cost me $450 for an OV. I have called and called for a balcony upgrade/upsell. No balcony upsells available but they would have given me a suite for $1500 times 2 since I am a solo cruiser. Carnival has never offered me an upgrade of my casino cabins.

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I don't like guarantee. I have only done it once and I asked my TA to beg for a cabin above deck 6. I ended up on deck 3, was miserable from the noise above me. Just like the other poster I am to picky about my cabin. I would do what she advises. You seem to have a crappy room but you can look up reviews by Googling ship name, cabin number & reviews. Then with that knowledge either call and see what better OV you can change to, what balcony you can upgrade to or stay in your cabin and make the best of it but since it is your honeymoon you want it to be special.

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I ordered one from Amazon, around $7 and it was skinnier then all the others. It actually said made to fit on ship cabin doors.

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I love Bonton"s, they have about 7 stores under their umbrella, Carson"s, Bergner"s, Herberger"s to name a few. Online because none are near me, Boscov"s. Century21 has beautiful clothes, most designer but good prices. 6pm.com has some of the best clearance prices on clothes and especially shoes, name brand stuff.

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I love Michael Kors, J Crew, Calvin Klein, Jessica Simpson makes beautiful plus size and fashionable clothing that anyone can wear, clothing. Every once in a while Forever 21 will have something I love. Just bought online a Forever 21 maxi dress that fit perfect and looked fantastic. I agree with previous poster that you should not be relegated to one style or store. More and more designers are making plus size and older women fashionable clothing.

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Thanks so much for the information Suzanne, I appreciate it.

Do you have the names for the Sun and the Jewel?

You look so familiar to me. I sailed on the Dawn in the fall last year, by any chance were you on a Dawn cruise during this time?

The reason I ask is I met two sister, who sail all the time on NCL, they were from New York. They were so helpful with information about CAS and the crew.

Thanks, Candie

The rule of thumb for all cruise lines is between 11 am and 12 pm for flights after a cruise. You can call your line and find out what time the earliest flight can be caught. The lines want you off the ship but there is no guarantee that you will be first off the ship and the lines don't care if your flight us at 11 am they won't get you off any faster.

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Thanks for the info. I will wait for Suzy to reply. I made friends with the casino manager on the Dawn but he left their employ about 2 months later and never heard from him again.

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I have heard that Tyler is amazing. The reviews are great on him.

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Good morning and hello to all,

After searching CC for hours to find this thread I am finally here and am writing down how to find it again.

I am sailing on the Escape on August 6 and was wondering if you had a list of all officers/cruise director, etc.?

I am sailing on the Sun on September 30 and the Jewel on November 13. I know the list could change by then but do you have a list for these two ships?

My curiosity is killing me, sjnyc323, how do you know all of this information? You must sail alot but I know they are constantly changing.

Thanks for your help and information you can give me.

Candie

I am on the Escape in two weeks and was wondering if you could tell me who the Cruise Director was, who the Captain was, etc.? If you got their names I would appreciate a post.

Thanks!