dongordon

What is the best bar to get a Martini on the Escape.....more specifically, an Espresso Martini!!;)

Don:cool:

None of the bathrooms have night lights. You can take tea lights, flashlight, or I use tap on/tap off light. There are many different ways you can see to go!

I keep my bathroom light on all night.

Still sleep great on my cruises! ;)

Don:cool:

Irish sausage

Never had it....any good?

Is it anything like Italian Sausage, Breakfast Sausage or Kielbasa?

The main is bangers and mashed. It's all traditional pub food.

What kind of food is "Bangers?"

Yes! I had wine during the performance! You just have to flag down a waiter to ask. They don't really check on you like they would at a restaurant, just serve you the pre-set menu and bring around the beer, which I think was Newcastle Brown Ale.

Thank you..."Wine is Fine!";)

Don:cool:

Best show I've seen on a cruise ship by far! If you're a beer lover you'll be over the moon with the amount of beer passed around, and if you don't like beer (like me), its still an amazing show. And to let others know, one of the pre-set meals is salmon, but you can get salad instead if you have allergies/not-a-seafood eater. Also, you may get a chance to see them perform again for free if you attend Howl at the Moon. We went every night Howl at the Moon was playing, and the guys showed up "off-duty" just to hang out twice, and would go up and help them sing some songs. It would usually be later in the evening after 11pm though, so you'll have to be a night owl to catch them.

If you don't like beer, can you get wine or a regular drink?

Thanks.

Don:cool:

In the end....gratuities are a personal thing.

I enjoy the special attention I get from the waiters, bartenders, etc. and I believe these people work hard and long hours and deserve it. Many sacrifice a lot and are away from their family for months.....

You can tell when they talk about their "countdown" of when they are going home. They are counting the months, weeks and days!;)

I like to include a tip with a "thank you" card at the end of my cruise vacation and fill out the "NCL hero card" and I think that means a lot to them.

Don:cool:

My husband carried a bunch of $1. Every time he handed them his card, he included a $1. Not much, but if that bartender waited on him frequently, he would get several $1. Small gesture, but they always appreciated it & no one was left out.

We do the same on our cruises....it works and they do appreciate it.

We also like to talk to our bartenders and get to know them on a personal level when they are not too busy.

In the Haven, halfway through the cruise, we gave our main bartender there a $10 tip and at the end a thank you note with $20.

She was so nice a really helped make our 14 day cruise so enjoyable!

Don:cool:

I am satisfied with my Platinum Plus status.

I really do not see enough of an advantage for the Ambassador status.

As previously stated, the complimentary 7 day cruise, unless it was every year does not appeal to me and I doubt it is.

I'm happy with my 14 day winter cruise each year out of NYC...no hassles with flying....after I leave home, an hour and a half later I am enjoying a cocktail onboard my beautiful ship!;)

Don:cool:

Our March 24, 2019 cruise on the Dawn still shows Tortola, but DomInica was taken off the itinerary. We are also going the week before and Martinique was removed from that itinerary.

I'm wondering why my Escape January 20th cruise passengers have not been notified about itinerary changes.

It could be that some cruises are still on course to visit these ports and they are limiting the number of ships visiting the ports during their recovery since the tourist venues may be limited and some may have been destroyed by the hurricanes.

Don:cool:

Has NCL changed itineraries which have Tortola and Dominica as ports?

Are they providing information on any changes?

Love this beautiful island.

Hoping their recovery is going well so I can spend my $$ there on my upcoming January 2019 cruise.

Don

That is terrible news...it is so sad.

Hopefully, the beach can be restored and even if Mr. Busby's could reopen as a small beach bar would be nice.

I would like to go there on my January cruise and spend my $$ at one of my favorite spots in the Caribbean.

Don

Cruising in January on the Escape to Dominica, St. Marteen and Barbados.

Does anyone know the status of these islands after getting hit so hard by the two hurricanes?

I heard my favorite Beach Bar (Mr. Busby's) at Dawn Beach had been destroyed. We had been going there for the last 10 years. I hope they can rebuild....feel so bad for them.

I read that Dawn Beach was hit hard by the two hurricanes and Mr. Busby's restaurant and Bar was destroyed.

This was my favorite beach and beach bar in St. Marteen and I had going there on my cruises for the last 10 years.

Any word on the rebuilding?

Bali Hai the outdoor bar one deck above the pool.

Yes, certainly the best place to enjoy a great cigar and a nice bourbon on the rocks!:D

Don:cool:

Just curious...for NYC cruisers is this something you just kind of expect? I mean when sailing during the winter do you just assume weather might be an issue and just hope for the best.

Absolutely....

That being said, it is hit and miss and it is usually the first or last day at sea.

My last two cruises this year on the GEM (January) and Breakaway (February), we had beautiful weather all days at sea. ;)

Don:cool:

On my last Breakaway cruise, I told Mary Grace....the Maitre 'D that I missed the Chicken Parm at La Cucina (no longer on the menu) and she called the restaurant and made my reservation and ordered my favorite for both my wife an me. She is fantastic as was the entire Haven restaurant staff!!

It is things like this that really make the Haven venue so special.

Don:cool:

My next cruise is on the Escape.

I have heard some good things about the "Supper Club."

What exactly is the venue and what kind of food (is it a prefixed menu?) is served and what is the entertainment featured?

Does anyone happen to have a menu to show?

Thanks.

Don:cool:

Just wondering if "Deal or No Deal" slots are available on the Escape.....going on the Escape next January.:)

We had so much fun playing these slots on the Breakaway!:D

Loved the Dirty Banana drink at the Breakaway casino bar as well.;)

Don

Thank You, some people are never happy.

Seen Jersey Boys and it was very good.

Looking forward to seeing it again.:cool:

Agree 100%!!

Jersey Boys was one of the best shows I have seen on Broadway!

Grew up on the Four Seasons music....they even appeared on my college campus back in the 60's!! I'm one of those "young old guys!" :D;p

Don:cool:

Don, check out the "Everything Bliss" thread further down the page. It may have the info you are looking for:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2474192

Thanks Colin....

So far, there seems to be little known about these cabins, but some believe it will be very similar to the Escape.

I would like to book, but thinking perhaps someone might find out some more information about these cabins.

Don:cool: :cool:

I know it is early, but does anyone know anything about the Bliss' Haven Aft-Facing Penthouse Suites?

Are the balconies basically all the same size on all decks?

(On the deck plans, Deck 15's balcony seems cut off...what is that?)

Are there entrances from both the bedroom and living room onto the balcony as on the Breakaway?

How do these suites on the Bliss differ from the Breakaway and Escape or is it basically the same.

I know the Bliss has not even launched, but I'm looking to book early for 2020.

There are some very knowledgeable people on these boards and hoping someone can answer these questions.

Don:cool::cool:

I was so tempted, it was only another $250! But at least we have a new countdown with Ncl, really looking forward to checking out this new ship!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

You know could change your cabin selection usually with a small penalty if any depending on your Travel Agent..

You might want to investigate this option.

Don:cool:

We will be on the Breakaway this May for the Baltic itinerary. Not worried. Completed 10 cruises to date, we find NCL to be our favorite. We are easy going people so we dont let small things ruin the cruise.

Leaving on the Breakaway this Friday.

DITTO!;)

Don:cool: