Cabin & Location... Still uncertain

[lastchamp64]

A few weeks ago I asked about choosing between a mini-suite large balcony and a mini-suite spa and which to choose. Please forgive me since cruising is really new to me with only being on a 4 night cruise back in the 80's. Let me rephrase the question and ask it another way.

 

There will be three of us, my wife and I along with our 19 year old daughter. I am currently booked for a Western Caribbean cruise out of Miami next May on the Escape and have suite 8122 booked. This is a Mini-Suite W/Large balcony (M6) and located at the front of the ship on deck 8. I was also considering a Spa Mini-Suite with balcony (M9) which is located on deck 15 in the middle of the ship.

 

The question I have is this: Not factoring in the larger balcony or access to a spa, which one would you recommend? To really make this confusing there is also the option to go with just a Mini-Suite with balcony (MA,MB,MC) all mid ship on decks 10-15.

 

The cost with all of them is not really a big deal for me since they are all within a couple hundred dollars of each. Right now like I said, I have #8122 booked but really undecided about this choice. My biggest concerns are it being toward the front of the ship instead of toward the center. I'm not really too concerned that it is located on a deck with a lot of restaurants and etc. Thoughts? :confused:

Edited June 16, 2016 by lastchamp64

[Sauer-kraut]

Aren't there only 2 elevator banks on the Escape, fore and aft so look at the deck plans and see how far you'd be for each of your cabin choices.

[zqvol]

I prefer closer to mid ship, I really don't like either the front or the back of the ship.

[cruizinwithkids]

 

The question I have is this: Not factoring in the larger balcony or access to a spa, which one would you recommend? To really make this confusing there is also the option to go with just a Mini-Suite with balcony (MA,MB,MC) all mid ship on decks 10-15.

 

 

Not sure why you don't want to factor in the larger balcony or access to the spa. These are major points to the cabins in question.

 

However, middle of the ship is supposed to provide more stability - so if there is a concern about sea sickness that is something to consider.

 

With there being only two banks of elevators (I think) on a large ship, you might want to choose something closer to an elevator if a long walk gives you any concern. And by concern, I just mean it can be a big pain in the butt.

 

Look at the decks above and below. Are their cabins or are there public areas in the location. There can be considerable furniture movement if you are below the pool deck area. There can be loud music if you are near a music venue, especially Spice (if that's what it's called on the Escape).

 

I personally have no concerns about stability or the elevator. I would avoid the deck below the public areas. If it is not in the public area, I would choose the spa room because spa access really is great - even if you don't want to consider that. :D

[hawkeyetlse]

It definitely sounds like you want to be mid-ship. I looked up your current M6 8122 and I wouldn't want to be that far forward, either. It's a long walk to the buffet/MDR for breakfast in the morning! :p I would also be concerned about noise from the theater just underneath, but I don't know if this is an issue on the Escape.

 

If you are at all interested in the spa, I would switch to an M9. The location is mid-ship, and the added price is a good deal for 3 people to get spa access (especially if you have 3rd guest free on your booking). With 3 in the cabin, having the spa showers just up the stairs can make life a lot easier!

 

If you don't care about the spa, then it doesn't make sense to pay the higher fare for an M9 spa mini-suite. The room itself is exactly the same as an MA-MB-MC.

[lastchamp64]

Not sure why you don't want to factor in the larger balcony or access to the spa. These are major points to the cabins in question.

 

 

 

I personally have no concerns about stability or the elevator. I would avoid the deck below the public areas. If it is not in the public area, I would choose the spa room because spa access really is great - even if you don't want to consider that. :D

 

I appreciate your thoughts. It's not that I don't want to factor in the larger balcony or the spa, I actually do. They are both nice features and is one I'll have to pick from. I was asking more for ship location than these two nice features. Also I did notice that deck 15 is below the pool and sundeck on deck 16.

 

It definitely sounds like you want to be mid-ship. I looked up your current M6 8122 and I wouldn't want to be that far forward, either. It's a long walk to the buffet/MDR for breakfast in the morning! :p I would also be concerned about noise from the theater just underneath, but I don't know if this is an issue on the Escape.

 

If you are at all interested in the spa, I would switch to an M9. The location is mid-ship, and the added price is a good deal for 3 people to get spa access (especially if you have 3rd guest free on your booking). With 3 in the cabin, having the spa showers just up the stairs can make life a lot easier!

 

If you don't care about the spa, then it doesn't make sense to pay the higher fare for an M9 spa mini-suite. The room itself is exactly the same as an MA-MB-MC.

 

Is the room the same with the M6 and the M9 other than the balcony? What would be your thoughts on the spa suites being below the pool area on deck 16?

Edited June 16, 2016 by lastchamp64

[hawkeyetlse]

Is the room the same with the M6 and the M9 other than the balcony? What would be your thoughts on the spa suites being below the pool area on deck 16?

First of all, you are talking about "mini-suites" not "suites" (not trying to be pedantic, just want to avoid confusion because suites are a completely different thing on NCL).

 

There is a possible issue with noise from the pool deck in Deck 15 mid-ship cabins, although I haven't seen reports like on other ships where there is noise in the middle of the night, or noise all day long, completely ruined our cruise, etc. etc. But another thing is that the pool deck extends far out over Deck 15 and you may not like the way it hangs over your mid-ship balcony. (Or you may appreciate the shade.) See the following thread for some photos and comments about both issues:

Norwegian Escape - Deck 15 below the pools?

[Viva_la_Vida]

I just came from an M9 Spa Mini-Suite on the Breakaway on deck 14. It looks like deck 15 of Escape is the same as 14 on the Breakaway in that you have the pool deck area right above you. If you're light sleepers, I would definitely worry about that. We are not light sleepers, however were woken up a few times around 5 am from the decks being hosed down above and deck chairs being set out and dragged around. We were able to go right back to sleep, but some would not have that luxury.

 

That being said, we loved our spa mini-suite and I would especially love it if there was an extra person. It's slightly bigger and the bathroom is definitely more spacious and nice with the extra sink and nicer shower. Here are a couple of pics of the room/bathroom.

 

 

 

I LOVED the location mid-ship and since we mostly were walking back and forth from the pool/spa, it was nice to be just one flight of stairs away from that action. The spa was also a major perk and we loved it as well. We felt very little motion, the least I've ever felt in a room, despite sailing through the tail end of a tropical storm.

 

Deck 8 has the advantage of being close to the waterfront and assuming you're up for a flight or two of stairs, not having to take the elevator to dinner. And there's that awesome balcony too. . . .the regular balconies are tiny. No choice is a bad choice and I'm sure you'll enjoy the cruise no matter which cabin you pick.

[punkincc]

I appreciate your thoughts. It's not that I don't want to factor in the larger balcony or the spa, I actually do. They are both nice features and is one I'll have to pick from. I was asking more for ship location than these two nice features. Also I did notice that deck 15 is below the pool and sundeck on deck 16.

 

Is the room the same with the M6 and the M9 other than the balcony? What would be your thoughts on the spa suites being below the pool area on deck 16?

 

Always preferable IMO to be above something potentially noisy rather than below it. The only time we have had noise issues, it was from overhead. I would not want the pool deck above me. The theatre after all, will be closed after the last show ends, and we have had M6 cabins twice with no noise issues. Very quiet there.

 

We think the M6 location on deck 8 is near perfect. The cabin and bathroom of the M6 look pretty identical to the M9 pictures above. The only real difference is the location and the spa pass, and you can always buy spa passes if you choose the M6. The elevator banks are actually located forward and aft, so I don't see why midship is any more preferable. The elevator bank is right at the end of the hall. Also can pop out to the Waterfront there. The mid ships 678 with shops, casino, atrium, etc is just beyond the elevator bank. You'll be surprised how much time you actually spend there. I really could not see any difference in ship motion between our forward location and mid ship. That big balcony is great and has both shade and sun. Personally, I think the high decks mid ship are too far from the action.

Edited June 16, 2016 by punkincc

[lastchamp64]

Thanks all,

 

I am just going to stick with the Mini-Suite W/Large Balcony (M6) and not give another thought to this. I'm use to booking Disney World vacations every year and have a habit of being a bit over analytical when it comes to things. I'm sure I'll be this way for this trip as well. :)

[brabrant10]

U will enjoy the large balcony --nice lounge chairs -even the bathroom in the minisuite has some nice amenities -his & her sinks -very nice cabin