myra711

I'm no expert by any means, but is this your only chance, realistically, of visiting Norway? If so, and if that is so important, perhaps that is the deciding factor.

One strategy for deciding is to "choose" one option and live with it for a day. Do you feel relieved or regretful? Then switch, and try again for a day of living with that decision.

Both options may really leave you feeling like you are missing something that the other option includes. If so, realize that neither is a bad choice, just a different one. Life is full of these quandries! The important thing is that, once you choose, let it go! Don't waste energy on vascillating anymore after you choose; focus instead on how happy you are about the choice you made.

Lucky you! Have a wonderful cruise!

Strawberry, Mango, Pina base flavors all come in cartons of mix. No powders.

 

Not sure how you make a "fresh" Pina short of cracking a coconut and squeezing the meat for coconut milk.

LOL! I meant using non-premixed ingredients, such as some sort of coconut milk/syrup, pineapple juice or pineapple, etc. I wasn't speaking only of pina coladas, anyway!

Thank you both. Mojitos may be my go-to!

Hi all! I have seen other people on this forum write about drinks (eg, Pina Colada) made "fresh" vs made with powdered mix. Are there bars on the Escape that are more likely to make drinks from scratch. I am not sailing in the Haven.

Thanks!

I like to call it the "anticipatory value portion of the cruise". If you are excited in the time before the cruise I think that is getting value out of the cruise before you are even onboard.

Enjoy the anticipation! The dream is almost as fun as the reality that awaits.

;p

I am the same way! I enjoy the vacation for months before it actually occurs, and when I sadly had to cancel vacation plans a few years ago, I was consoled (a little!) by the fun I had for all the time preceding the cancellation. So it is a good thing to be excited and think/research ahead of time!

I can confirm that ONLY the first 2 passengers in a Spa Balcony get access to the spa. I just booked Thanksgiving on Encore today and she read the "terms and conditions" of the Spa Balcony room... Must be 18 to use the spa; only the first two passengers have free access; if I add a third person, we must buy an additional pass if they want to use the spa; blah blah blah...

 

So no, a spa room does not include all 3 people in the price. Sorry to say but I've confirmed this on multiple occasions as we usually book a spa room.

This is the only place that I have heard this; the description of the room (I'll be on the Escape) and the reports of others implies that all people in the Spa Balcony rooms have access to the spa.

I very much hope that you are incorrect.

In addition to the access to the spa, I have heard that you get upgraded bathroom soaps. A small thing, but if you are looking at what you get, there it is.

Thank you for getting back to us with your impressions!

Maybe it is time to book the spa?

Ziplock bags are your friend. When I know I have to clear some type of security I put all the stuff in baggies ahead of time. Drop in tray and disperse as time allows after clearing.

Thank you for that advice! So obvious, but we hadn't thought of it.

LOL! He's not much of a swimmer unless it's in the ocean so I'm sure he won't be wearing swimwear much on the ship itself (he's more of a sip a drink and wander around person). I make fun of him all the time for the amount of stuff that he considers necessary to don every day (multitool, flashlight, handkerchief, wallet, lip balm, pen, etc) it's funny to watch him take all his stuff out of his pockets at the end of the day. But he says he uses them multiple times a day, no matter what he's doing...

 

It's just one of his quirks. But it does make him handy to be around if I have a tag that needs cut off, or dropped something into a dark corner, or...

Hah! My husband is your husband's brother in spirit. In addition to most of the above he also carries hand sanitizer, non-latex gloves, and other EMT stuff! Going through airport security takes extra time due to all the loading/unloading of pockets. Oh, and a ton of coins, for some reason.

(In best Jerry Seinfeld voice)

 

"How can you have plastic glasses? It's either made of plastic or it's made of glass" "Whats next? I need to fix the hot water heater? Hot water doesn't need heated".

 

LOL....forgive the bad humor.

Heh heh, not bad!

Great reviews/comparisons. thanks!

Thank you for your insight to the Escape Haven. My two adult (21+) kids and I will be there the week of Thanksgiving. We are in the 2 bedroom suite which works best for us, hence no other options. As everyone knows, it's very expensive, but worth it to get away from the masses. This is supposed to be a chill vacation for all of us, as we don't care much about the itinerary. Do you have any thoughts on how many families might be onboard during Thanksgiving week? I know when my kids were young we didn't travel that week... I'm hoping that's still true for others. Not that I don't like kids, but as many others have said, the reason we booked Haven is so that we can have a relaxing time... otherwise we'd get two rooms at half the price and deal with the crowds.

Deb, maybe the two rooms wouldn't be a bad choice for you and your family. We decided to get spa balcony rooms in part because we wanted to have some uncrowded (and child-free) areas. I have been thinking about what to do if we get an offer to bid for a Haven room...don't think we would do it.

Why? If they can behave properly, what’s the problem?

I'm not in the medical field, but I think that it is for health reasons - they have so much more surface area and so much less body mass that I think it is easier for them to overheat in a shorter time than an adult body would. Remember, even adults are not supposed to stay in a hot tub for very extended periods of time.

Thank you for your review! We are sailing on the Escape in August and staying in a spa balcony room (15156), too! I hope that our bed is near the balcony, like yours was. I didn't know that we would have special toiletries! :) This will be my DH's first cruise, and I am going to have him read this as well. DS will be with us, same cabin, as well - he will be 25. We will make it work.

As my kids got into the older grades - middle school and high school - there really was too much work that they would miss to consider taking them out for a vacation. It is tough, though, to afford/enjoy vacations when EVERYONE else is also on vacation. But taking them out didn't work for us.

Thanks for your recap! I'm looking forward to trying her out over the summer; I've been on the Gem and Breakaway. It is due to experiences like yours that I decided to book a spa balcony for this trip, in the hopes/expectations that having a quieter and less crowded spot will counteract the crowds. It is so helpful to hear people's experiences.

I've been putting aside $ every week so that when we go on vacation, it's all or mostly paid for. In other years, there was no extra $ to put aside, so no vacations :(

NCL use to sign 5-year contracts for shows (takes a lot of effort install a show in a floating theater). They have been some exceptions which have caused gaps in performances on the ships.

Thanks for the info!

How often do the shows change? I'll be on the Escape in August; do you think the same shows will be featured?

FWIW, when I was on the Breakaway there were Sabbath services Friday night in a room around the card room/library area. I am pretty certain that it wasn't a dedicated space. Perhaps if you look at the Dailies for Sundays (I'm assuming) you will find that they are offering service space somewhere on the ship. When I went it was a do-it-yourself deal, although there were some books available for the "congregation".

Sorry that this happened to you. When I booked my balcony cabin for two and asked about adding a third later, I was definitely told that it depended on lifeboat capacity, and the sooner I added the third passenger the better the odds. I hope that you can make this happen in some way so that your wife can enjoy the cruise with you.

Wonderful story! I wish you many years of happy cruising together!