PegNRay

Cruised out of PC in late January. We arrived around 9:30am and had a 9:30am check in only to find out the building didn’t open until 10am. It was in the 40’s so those in shorts were none too pleased.

23 hours ago, The Traveling Man said:

Every night?

Yes

8 hours ago, hoopslover said:

Has anyone done the Supper Club on the Escape?  If so please give me details.  This is our first time on this ship.  Have done other NCL ships but that wasn't an option I don't think.

We did the supper club in January. We elected to go just for the show as no one wanted chicken parm for dinner. We were seated in the back and the service for those having dinner seemed lacking. People were just getting dinner as others were having desert. We were never approached by a bar server despite being told one would stop by.

On the bright side, however, we did enjoy the show.

20 hours ago, MCMC100 said:

You have a few options. First, and IMO easiest, is to use the large touchscreens located in the elevator/stairway area on each deck.(I would recommend going to a deck besides 6/7/8 which will be busy early in the embarkation process. Walk up the stairs to a random deck that is all cabins and use the screen there. Fewer people will be there using the screens). The screens are relatively self explanatory- you choose the dining tab, select restaurants, party size and available seating time-scan your key card and PRESTO-you’re booked. Another option is to locate the restaurant reservation desk on embarkation day and make your reservations there. Someone here will weigh in as to its current location on the Escape. If memory serves me it was at Teppanyaki when I last sailed Escape. Third, you can use the app on your phone after boarding. I find this the most complicated and least reliable method. 

It was in Headliners on embarkation day a few weeks ago.

The wheelchair assistance at Port Canaveral is excellent. For disembarking we had to check with guest services as to where to meet the morning of the last day. People were escorted out based on the color of their luggage tags. If you are gold or higher ask for yellow luggage tags at guest services.

Just off the Escape and had yellow luggage tags as we are gold latitudes. There were many people standing off to the side in luggage hall as their luggage tag color had not been called yet. They were blocked from retrieving their luggage. Also noticed that there was lots of luggage still outside.

Just used GoPort post cruise. Per their website, they state that they will drop off passengers at all terminals. Turned out not to be true as they dropped off everyone at terminal A. When questioned the driver just stated that they were all connected. It is a considerable walking distance between terminals and one member had mobility problems.

15 minutes ago, schmoopie17 said:

I know it's a still picture, but I don't detect a sense of urgency from people arriving 35 minutes late.

Especially the one on the right...taking her own sweet time.

Too bad the Captain didn’t get on the horn.

On 12/17/2023 at 9:39 AM, APDMOM said:

Luggage:

For the first time in all our cruises, we decided to carry our luggage on.  We read on another cruiseline, at another port, that luggage got soaking wet due to rain.  Since this was such a stormy day and we were early, we felt we would not hold up the security lines if we took our luggage through.  

 

TIP: When you get onto the ship, you can go straight to the casino to drop off your luggage.  They have security and give you a claim ticket.  You can leave carry on luggage here with peace of mind. 

 

TIP:  If you want to make reservations for shows, Supper Club, and tendering, go straight to the Box office on deck 7 Forward - to the right (Starboard) of the ship.  The boarding (gangway) took us straight onto deck 7, so just head forward from there.  You can also make reservations at the touch screens or in the app, but this one stop was quick and easy for us.

 

We booked our tender tickets and supper club for one night.  We already had a reservation for "The Choir of Man", which we booked a few weeks ago on the app.

 

 

My understanding is that you don’t need tender tickets if going on a shre excursion. Do you know if that is correct? Thanks!

This sometimes happens when the name on your reservation doesn’t match your latitudes account. For example the reservation doesn’t have your middle name but your latitudes account does.

1 hour ago, graphicguy said:

I don’t mind sharing tables either.  I love meeting new people and find it refreshing conversation.  Whenever they ask…”do you mind sitting with someone else?”  I always say yes, enthusiastically.

 

EXCEPT….this was several years ago, I was seated with 5 different people (6 with me).  Two couples who didn’t know each other and another solo.  None of us had ever met before..  Everyone was having a grand time.  The other solo, after a bottle of wine, really started to pour his heart out.  He was probably in his mid 40s.  His GF had just broken up with him.  He had decided to take a cruise and “lick his wounds”.  He eventually became quite morbid about what he wanted to do to his ex-GF…to the point where I was stunned.

 

Then, he said he didn’t know if he should just “off himself” while on the cruise.

 

Our entire table tried to console him, but were mostly just stunned.

 

At that point, I got up to excuse myself and immediately let the maitre’ d know about the mental state of this man.

 

Within a few minutes, some crew (not exactly sure if they were security or medical personnel) met us as we were leaving the table.  They asked me to point to the man (which I thought was a little too obvious who reported the incident).  And, they calmly asked him to accompany them.

 

Surprisingly, he didn’t ask why, or offer resistance.  He just went with them.  Never saw him the rest of the cruise.

You may have saved the poor guy’s life.

3 hours ago, ggTexasGal said:

Regarding Great Stirrup Cay... It is a tender stop, so be certain to obtain your tender ticket if you do not book an excursion (or if in the Haven).  NOTE: sometimes they have to terminate the stop if there is rough weather/winds/water.

If you like snorkeling, they have their own designed area:

 

Do they announce when tender tickets are available?

Thanks

18 hours ago, Always Cruising said:

You might check - I don't think it does.  I know my plan doesn't, and friends with varying types of Advantage plan have no coverage abroad also

My Advantage plan does cover me for out of country emergency services and I have double checked this with the insurer.

16 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Like a land-based hotel. You are paying for a room when it is ready and not before. 

But when told it is ready I expect it to be clean!

2 minutes ago, LoungerOnBalcony55 said:

That's what they used to do. Pizza, hot dogs, maybe a leftover dish or two from dinner, some cakes and cookies, etc. It was really great. 

I never went to the buffet after dinner. I guess you have explained why my now grown teenagers made it their gathering place in the evenings.

NCL could switch the buffet to snacks between 9:30 and 11pm. Things like ice cream, pizza, cake or my favorite crepes. Those wanting something more substantial could head to O’Sheehans.

As an alternative to putting down a credit card NCL allows you to use traveler's checks or cash as a deposit against onboard charges. If your credit card is declined for the name issue I would think you could go to an ATM machine onboard to withdraw cash for a deposit.

So, if one is booking a cruise on NCL without using NCL air then the middle name doesn’t matter if I understand correctly.

I just booked a cruise with a travel agent who claimed the middle name was not necessary. This goes against everything I have been told in the past.

2 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Today the Escape is calling in Cozumel. As yesterday, Mexican customs and border control were inspecting bags. Today, the inspectors and dogs seemed to be targeting food. 
 

Yesterday, in Costa Maya, they were confiscating various contraband items. 

What were the “various contraband items.”

6 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

And I'm completely sure she'll report that she has to pay for the goose. Thank you for sending an intrepid report on Escape for us all! 🙂

Have her check out what the upcharge is for the goose if one has the regular beverage package.

Thanks!

You do need to make a reservation as they do check. There is always a stand by line that opens to the theatre about 10 minutes before the show starts. At that point seat selection will not be that great.

I used the vibe on the Breakaway last month. It was very quiet. The current 

Breakaway itinerary has only 2 sea days so there wasn’t that many people up there.

You can also go to the main dining room.

I did see on a TA site that Ncl is offering 2 extra latitude points per night on select cruises booked by 12/5/22. This is for cruises in 2023.

5 hours ago, reeinaz said:

No coupon for me. I am Gold and have the military discount.

Same here.