Getaway - Just thoughts, not really a review...

[Lovex4]

Sailed on the Getaway from May 17 - 24. Below are just some of my thoughts and observations...

 

• The ship is big and gorgeous. It was nice to be able to sail its inagural season.
  
• Embarkation was easy and fast. We were having lunch in O'Sheehans by 11:30.
  
• Cabin layout was very nice and roomy - lots of storage.
  
• Upon entering our cabin we notice that the floor had not been vacuumed from the previous occupants and when opening the closet to hang up clothes it was full of balled up sheets, towel animals, and wet pool towels.
  
• The layout of the ship is easy to navigate and as you walk around you can tell that every inch of the ship was designed to generate revenue - natural of course from a business perspective... We missed being able to have a panoramic view from the front of the ship as Vibe takes up half of the front top deck area.
  
• Decks 6-9 were very nice but why run the main hallway through the smoke filled casino? Revenue.
  
• The Waterfront (deck 8 outside) was very nice. My wife walked there everyday. Just wish it wrapped around the front of the ship. Outside dining and bars were nice - reminded me of the outside area on the Sun.
  
• We did not eat in specialty restaurants as there were plenty of no cost options. We find NCL food to be very bland but no so much that we feel the need for the upcharge restaurants. We just miss the days of old when the big main dining room food was exceptional. It now costs extra. Besides, there are just too many specialty restaurants. Specialty dining is nice but I think it's overkill now.
  
• The cruse director and his staff were excellent (the best we have ever had) and visible everywhere. Joel did a great job.
  
• Entertainment was very good. One note to NCL: If you are going to have a "Meet and Greet" with dancers, please make sure they meet and greet the passengers. Our daughter has danced for years and watched Burn the Floor with eyes wide open. She couldn't wait to meet some of the dancers and afterwards they had a M&G with the two tall Austrailian dancers. The dancers were talking to each other and when it was my daughters turn for a photo with the dancers they didn't acknowledge her but when the photographer said "smile" they both turned to the camera quickly then resumed talking. They never once acknowledged or even looked at my daughter. The photo looked great but my daughter later disappointedly asked "Why didn't they like me?" Heartbreaking.
  
• The main pool is very small for the size of the ship. A lot of deckspace is taken up with the ropes course and water slides - they were fun but we like the pools too. You always had to make your way through passengers to get to the pool. There was an overcrowded feel on the sun decks.
  
• H2O was nice and the fountains are refreshing but it would have been better with a pool.
  
• Ports were nice but the same old places. We really booked because of the ship. From now on it will be for the itenerary.
  
• We walked off of the ship and were at FLL and waiting for our plane by 9:30.
  
• All in all a nice vacation for the family but my wife and I have decided that the smaller ships are better for us - just our opinion.
  

[Jenjer]

Thanks for the info

[MPH711]

Thanks for your thoughts. Did they have any good bands in the lounge where they played a good variety of music?

 

 

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[LrgPizza]

 

... We missed being able to have a panoramic view from the front of the ship as Vibe takes up half of the front top deck area.

 

Vibe doesn't go all the way to the front of the ship. At the very front, half is Haven, and the other half is open deck for anyone.

[Lovex4]

Thanks for your thoughts. Did they have any good bands in the lounge where they played a good variety of music?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

Yes, we thought all of the bands/singers were very good - and a lot of variety. Don't miss dueling pianos - they played everything and were a hoot.

[Lovex4]

Vibe doesn't go all the way to the front of the ship. At the very front, half is Haven, and the other half is open deck for anyone.

 

 

Okay, it all looked the same from our perspecitve - a big wall.

[LrgPizza]

Okay, it all looked the same from our perspecitve - a big wall.

I'm sorry you missed it!

[Medtech2]

OMG, the story of your daughter and those dancers riled up my "protective parent mode"!

 

I think I would have mentioned that to the Entertainment Director!

[mjm325]

who was the performer at the Grammy Experience?? we sail this weekend =)

[candygirl27540]

OMG, the story of your daughter and those dancers riled up my "protective parent mode"!

 

I think I would have mentioned that to the Entertainment Director!

 

I agree with this. I hate to think of being so disappointed.

NCL does read these boards,I hope this gets someone's attention. It would be a win-win all round if the entertainers were accessible for these occasions. Good PR for NCL.Special something for the guests.

[Susie51]

So sorry for your daughter's experience.

[Lovex4]

who was the performer at the Grammy Experience?? we sail this weekend =)

 

It was the harmonica player - can't remember his name.

[SissasMomE]

Vibe doesn't go all the way to the front of the ship. At the very front, half is Haven, and the other half is open deck for anyone.

 

Very true. We were up there a lot. Never crowded and what a nice view!

[LrgPizza]

It was the harmonica player - can't remember his name.

It's Sugar Blue! He's a legend. I can't wait to see him.

[blackwing]

Sorry you had a bad experience with the dancers. On our cruise, the dancers at our exit were indeed the tall Australian female, Kally Anne, and one of the Italian guys. We chatted with Kally Anne and found her to be extremely friendly. I later saw her as a judge at Dancing with the Getaway Stars and she remembered me and we talked some more. Don't know why she wouldn't have talked to your daughter.

 

I thought the photo ops with the entertainment crew were good, only that with Legally Blonde the photographer refused to allow us to use our own camera. We had Elle and Emmet and two others and they talked with everyone. The second night, I went to see the show again on my own. The stars at the exit were Paulette and one of the males (I think maybe the one who played the gay pool boy). I felt bad because hardly anybody wanted to take a picture with them. I would have done so, but I was solo that night and thought it would have been weird!