Everything.. ESCAPE (live 29 Oct 2015!)

[bucade]

Ok, maybe I'm slow or just not getting this but someone please help! Do we have to make reservations for dining in even the complementary venues? I was on ncl.com today and saw Manhattan Room listed and then under it said complementary. That doesn't seem very freestyle if we do?:confused:

[LrgPizza]

Ok, maybe I'm slow or just not getting this but someone please help! Do we have to make reservations for dining in even the complementary venues? I was on ncl.com today and saw Manhattan Room listed and then under it said complementary. That doesn't seem very freestyle if we do?:confused:

 

You can if you want, you don't have to. Very freestyle that way.

[bucade]

Great! Thanks! Just wanted to make sure that if we wanted to just walk up we could.

[Blazen]

I was just booking my dinner and shows for my upcoming Escape cruise and I just realized that I have signed up for a 7pm show but the splash academy doesn't open until 7pm. Does it happen to open any earlier for people going to the show or I am going to have to be late for the show?

 

Thanks

Greg

[cookie38]

any experience with the alcohol waiver on Escape? I read on other NCL ships, they seem more lax and even allow this group to purchase anything?

 

just curious so I can monitor!

 

I have 3 18-20 year olds with us on Escape this January!:eek:

[happy cruzin]

I took the picture Saturday about 4:30PM from South Beach...

 

Excellent picture....thanks :)

[eroller]

Not my post! Y'all assume great pics of Essie are post of mine har har, first step to world domination by the Dutch. The truth is that we really need a new ship to stalk and formerly Bliss won't be as popular! :D

 

 

MSC SEASIDE is the next to stalk. She looks amazing. Totally new design with some amazing features. Deck plans were released yesterday and bookings opened up as well. Can't wait for this ship!

[barnacle_boy]

MSC SEASIDE is the next to stalk. She looks amazing. Totally new design with some amazing features. Deck plans were released yesterday and bookings opened up as well. Can't wait for this ship!

 

 

Agreed. MSC is the next big thing.

[eroller]

Agreed. MSC is the next big thing.

 

After MSC SEASIDE then Celebrity's new Edge class of ships will catch my attention. So far not even so much as a rendering or sketch, at least not that I have seen.

[barnacle_boy]

After MSC SEASIDE then Celebrity's new Edge class of ships will catch my attention. So far not even so much as a rendering or sketch, at least not that I have seen.

 

 

There are renderings of a concept balcony cabin floating around. I'm not really close with anyone from St. Nazaire or Celebrity, but it would be an interesting choice. Not too dissimilar from Mein Schiff.

[eroller]

There are renderings of a concept balcony cabin floating around. I'm not really close with anyone from St. Nazaire or Celebrity, but it would be an interesting choice. Not too dissimilar from Mein Schiff.

 

I love the new TUI ships so if Edge follows suit to MEIN SCHIFF, count me in! It does make sense considering the relationship between RCI, Celebrity, and TUI. I think Harri Kulovaara has had major involvement with all the newbuilds.

[KeithJenner]

I was just booking my dinner and shows for my upcoming Escape cruise and I just realized that I have signed up for a 7pm show but the splash academy doesn't open until 7pm. Does it happen to open any earlier for people going to the show or I am going to have to be late for the show?

 

Thanks

Greg

 

 

On other ships the kids club has opened a bit early due to show times.

 

I don't know whether that will be the case on your cruise though.

[blueclawfan]

MSC SEASIDE is the next to stalk. She looks amazing. Totally new design with some amazing features. Deck plans were released yesterday and bookings opened up as well. Can't wait for this ship!

 

I was on a msc cruise a few years ago for nothing a company trip. Ports were great but i wouldnt go on another msc ship again if you paid me. Cold food , no manners just mop but others also felt the same was. Venice,athens great ship was bad. Msc musica

[eroller]

I was on a msc cruise a few years ago for nothing a company trip. Ports were great but i wouldnt go on another msc ship again if you paid me. Cold food , no manners just mop but others also felt the same was. Venice,athens great ship was bad. Msc musica

 

 

Totally different experience out of the US.

[barnacle_boy]

I was on a msc cruise a few years ago for nothing a company trip. Ports were great but i wouldnt go on another msc ship again if you paid me. Cold food , no manners just mop but others also felt the same was. Venice,athens great ship was bad. Msc musica

 

 

Nothwithstanding the much older MSC ships that have since been retired and their Lauro heritage, MSC is a relative newcomer. There were/are teething problems, but they'll be great before long.

[FreestyleNovice]

The best way to take a photograph of those lovely large M6 balconies? From the bridge!

 

[FreestyleNovice]

Agreed on X's Edge, although the X board on CC isn't my cup of tea lol..

The balcony room renders had an Epic style bathroom btw, might not suit X's demography. Also looking forward to MSC's newbuilds, major Mediterranean takeover within the coming years if you ask me. We might end up with the Spirit doing 3 days from Barcelona a la Sky if NCL doesn't gives the Euros a BA or BA+ soon. :D

[eroller]

Agreed on X's Edge, although the X board on CC isn't my cup of tea lol..

The balcony room renders had an Epic style bathroom btw, might not suit X's demography. Also looking forward to MSC's newbuilds,

 

 

 

I would be very surprised if those concept cabins for Project Edge actually make the cut. I don't see Celebrity going for exposed sinks in the cabin. EPIC's cabin "experiment" along with its popularity or lack there of is very well known throughout the cruise industry. Regardless it's interesting to see what different design firms come up with.

 

Funny you say that about the Celebrity CC board. I visit most all the boards because I cruise on just about every cruise line. I find NCL along with Carnival to be the most hostile group.

[juneo23]

The best way to take a photograph of those lovely large M6 balconies? From the bridge!

 

 

Great Photo!!! I will be in a M6 January 30th! Thank you for the preview :)

[FreestyleNovice]

I would be very surprised if those concept cabins for Project Edge actually make the cut. I don't see Celebrity going for exposed sinks in the cabin. EPIC's cabin "experiment" along with its popularity or lack there of is very well known throughout the cruise industry. Regardless it's interesting to see what different design firms come up with.

 

Funny you say that about the Celebrity CC board. I visit most all the boards because I cruise on just about every cruise line. I find NCL along with Carnival to be the most hostile group.

 

Hehe, I feel out of place on the X board. One for being a lot younger and less experienced on their ships. Two for being happy with (the now discontinued) 123Go offer and X's total product where the hardcore Celebs are in an uprise over taking away water bottles from Aqua class.. Must feel the same for a NCL newbie on here. ;)

BTW I might stalk the new MSC private island, will do a search on that or make a thread. :D

[FreestyleNovice]

And a pic to make up the offtopic:

 

[happy cruzin]

And a pic to make up the offtopic:

 

 

 

 

 

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!

[Spaniel Lover]

The truth is that we really need a new ship to stalk... :D

 

I think you ought to be taking a close look at the first three ships for Viking Ocean Cruises: The Viking Star, Viking Sea, and Viking Sky. These are the first ocean-going vessels from the folks who dominate the world of river cruises. The Viking Star is coming to the Caribbean in October of 2016... and once I started looking in to what's so different about the way Viking does cruising, I was immediately hooked.

 

Basically, they've taken a very strong stance against nickel-and-diming their passengers. It's the exact opposite strategy of most of the major cruise lines!

 

Look at this beautiful thermal suite within their spa... available to every passenger at no additional charge! That would cost you $400 per couple on Norwegian Cruise Line.

 

 

And here's something about the Viking Star's spa that I totally respect... if you go in and pay for a massage, they never once try to sell you any products or additional treatments or anything. It's a totally relaxing experience, without a sales pitch. They are not trying to get any additional revenue out of you.

 

It's the first cruise ship with an infinity pool!

 



 

 

The main pool is quite lovely, too...

and features a glass dome that can be closed during cool, windy, or rainy weather.

 



 

 

I really like the beautiful interior design and color scheme.

It's like if you had IKEA design your cruise ship!

 

 

 

Another thing that's really cool about the Viking Star is that their buffet restaurant, the World Cafe, has its own kitchen right there... not 10 decks below. Have you ever noticed when you eat in the buffet on most cruise lines, it tastes like the food was cooked several hours ago? That's because in many cases, it was. There's nothing like having breakfast at 8 AM and eating bacon that was cooked at 5 AM, is there?!? Well, on the Viking Star, they don't make their buffet food hours in advance like that. Hot stuff is served hot and cold stuff is served cold... because it wasn't prepared hours earlier.

 

Back to their policy against nickel-and-diming...

Want a beer with lunch or dinner? Or wine? Or even a coca-cola? It's all included. Want to eat at one of their specialty restaurants? No additional charge. There's also unlimited Internet access at no additional charge, and a free shore excursion offered in every port of call. Need to do some laundry? The self-service laundry facilities are totally free, even the detergent. Room service is free, too. They're really serious about the no nickel and diming thing on Viking Ocean Cruises.

 

By the way, in most cases, there are no sea days! The itinieraries are very port intensive. On the 11-day Caribbean explorer itineraries, you visit 10 different ports of call! The ships are fairly small, too... roughly the size of Carnival's Fantasy-class. Total guest capacity: just 930 passengers. And even the least expensive stateroom has a balcony. There are no interior staterooms at all.

 

Another amazing thing about Viking Ocean Cruises is that there aren't any children onboard. None! The minimum age to cruise is sixteen years old.

 

So, if you need a new ship to stalk...

my advice is to look in to Viking Ocean Cruises, and to look at their Caribbean itineraries which begin next Fall.

[barnacle_boy]

I think you ought to be taking a close look at the first three ships for Viking Ocean Cruises: The Viking Star, Viking Sea, and Viking Sky.

 

 

They are lovely ships, but with the first in the class already in service, there's not much to "stalk."

[eroller]

.

 

 

 

So, if you need a new ship to stalk...

 

my advice is to look in to Viking Ocean Cruises, and to look at their Caribbean itineraries which begin next Fall.

 

 

 

 

 

I've been watching Viking Ocean closely. Very refreshing product. Love that there are no kids and no nickel and diming (about as opposite of NCL as you can get). They are on my short list to sail, and it will be interesting to compare them to Azamara and Silversea which I greatly enjoy. One thing I don't like about Viking is their deposit, final payment, and cancellation policies. Probably the most restrictive in the industry.