Two Wheels Only

There is no guarantee as to which side of ship will face the dock.

They are mirror images of each other. Size and configuration are the same.

Does MSC get half credit or full credit when there is a 1/2 door? ...or no actual door?😉

...but you have to act fast since NCL is eliminating built-in Spa access for staterooms. 🤪

The OP might not know that the SDP can be used for lunch at some restaurants.

It's 3 meals, not just dinner. It can also be lunch, depending on the restaurant.

There were some reports that things were back to normal.... ...but there are many factors as to what vibrations will be felt and how severe they will be.

Deck 12 is my favorite aft-facing deck on Escape. Fortunately, NCL charges the same price for all of the aft-facing suites on Escape (HA). On BA/GA/Joy/Bliss/Encore, NCL charges more for the suites with the larger balcony.

NCL already dropped an extra $50,000,000 on Joy when bringing the ship from the Asian market to North America. Adding what you suggest would cost even more.

Which decks for the aft-facing suites are available? Stateroom configuration and balcony size differ depending on deck.

People use the term "nickel and dime" when it doesn't always apply. If you want coffee, it's included. If you want specialty coffee (Starbucks), it cost extra. If you want dining, it's included. If you want specialty dining, it cost extra. If you want an adults-only sundeck, it's (usually) included. If you want an exclusive adults-only sundeck, it cost extra. If you have the SDP and want Cagney's, it's covered. If you have the SDP and want Cagney's with crab cakes, it cost extra. People are given options but some expect those options to always be included. If those options aren't included, those same people will complain using "nickel and dime" comments.

Here's a mixture of some old videos and some newer videos about the Yacht Club on MSC. There are a few mispronunciations in the video but otherwise, the video is ok.

Escape is very well liked. The newer ships have go-karts and Observation Lounges but Escape has more "open to everyone" space on the sundeck. Escape has 3 adults-only sundecks. One is included for everyone (adults-only during the day), one requires a VIBE pass (limited number of passes sold), and one is only for Haven guests. The Spa is also adults-only and requires purchasing a pass. Crowds can be avoided by going to places that aren't usually crowded such as The Waterfront. The upper sundecks (above the pool decks) usually have plenty of available loungers but because so many people crowd around the pool, some reviews complain that there aren't enough loungers. There are usually alternate routes when crowds cause bottlenecks in the main areas. Escape is one of the better large ships (along with Bliss) as far as giving NCL a try. Different ships have strengths and weaknesses but Escape is a very good all-around cruise ship. It's not an Oasis Class nor is it an ICON Class but it's more like the Quantum Class from RCCL.

What you currently have includes all of those. If you drop the current PBP promo, you could use what is refunded to you to buy a soda package just to save a few dollars. You might as well keep what you have and enjoy multiple mocktails with your sister.

Have you seen the current VIBE Beach Club on Getaway? 😲

I've also had bad luck with Walgreens/CVS for photos. Luckily, it was caught before sending in the paperwork. We use the post office for photos. They have more experience and are less likely to get it wrong.

I don't believe that the cost is a valid issue. I believe that people choose to spend their money on other things instead of on a passport. When you look at the cost of a passport including photos and how long it is valid (for adults), the cost per year is trivial. If we really want to throw the thread for a loop, we should compare the cost of having a passport for 10 years vs. the cost of 1 week of DSC. 😈

At this point, your options are limited. Only you can decide if "jumping through hoops" (and paying a bit more) is worth it. I don't know if your card company will refund anything (we know that NCL won't) but the option posted by dbrown84 might be worth a shot. Focusing on what should have happened won't cure the problem that actually did happen.

Either someone or something saw "...Escape - Room..." and figured that it was a thread about the Escape Room... which is not on deck 15. 🤔

The site has been a bit worse than usual, lately. They are probably in the process of making changes but won't take the site down in the meantime. Usually, things get back to "normal" by Mondays (the weekends are the worst). Clearing out your cache sometimes helps but for now.... ...just ride it out....😉

I'm not 100% sure, though. The most recent dailies that I have seen for Epic didn't include POSH as a smoking area.

In Spice H2O, you have one side in the aft section (starboard) on deck 16. There is also a side somewhere on deck 15. I don't think that smoking is currently allowed in POSH. I think (not sure) that smoking was eliminated there after the refurb.

It may or may not be the case but with MSC Seascape (same builder as Prima/Viva), there is something that needs to be fixed. MSC is prohibited from fixing it because Fincantieri has to fix it under warranty (whatever they call it). If the issue is Fincantieri's responsibility, it may not be NCL who should get the blame.

I believe that Seascape is first come/first serve except for the Royal Suites and the Owner's Suites.

I've sailed both classes and before sailing Seashore, I had the same concerns as you. It turned out to be a non-issue. Even if I didn't have a pergola, I would have found plenty of space on the sundeck and dining service was no different. We still got our preferred/requested table and waiter. I want to sail all 4 but I can't seem to mesh with Seaview. Before COVID, I was very close to booking Seaview for the Southern Caribbean but it would have been cancelled, anyway. I'd gladly sail any of them in the Yacht Club without concern. I'm also booked for World America and now I have overcrowding concerns with that one. Hopefully, it will be a non-issue there, too.